How Not To Pray
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What we are going to cover:
The Lord’s prayer: where we are going to look into what the Lord means when he says, “pray like this:”
We will also cover these topics:
Does God need our prayers.
What does it mean to ask of me (Jesus) and I (Jesus) will give you?
Is it alright to ask for signs?
What is the deep truth of prayer?
Do we need to agonize in prayer?
Does God always answer prayer?
Hindrances to prayer.
Who can pray?
Introduction:
Introduction:
Prayer, From the Westminster Catechism:
What is prayer?
Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies.
Are we to pray unto God only?
God only being able to search the hearts, hear the requests, pardon the sins, and fulfil the desires of all; and only to be believed in, and worshiped with religious worship; prayer, which is a special part thereof, is to be made by all to him alone, and to none other.
In reading through a passage on prayer what did the Lord show you?
In reading through a passage on prayer what did the Lord show you?
Review:
Review:
Remember that the purpose of prayer is to commune with our great God. To have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, expressed in adoration, thanksgiving, and intercession, through which we get to draw near to God and learn more of his will for our lives.
Fun facts about prayer:
650 prayers listed in the Bible.
450 recorded answers to prayer in the Bible.
First mention of prayer in the Bible: Genesis 4:26
26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
First time the word “pray” is used in scripture: Genesis 20:7
7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
The first time “amen” is used in the Bible: Numbers 5:22
22 May this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your womb swell and your thigh fall away.’ And the woman shall say, ‘Amen, Amen.’
Jesus is recorded in the Bible praying 25 different times during His time on earth.
Paul mentions prayer 41 times through his epistles.
5 specific postures of prayer mentioned in Scripture:
Sitting, standing, kneeling, one’s face to the ground, and with hands lifted up.
The Bible has at least nine main types of prayer:
Faith, agreement (corporate prayer), request (supplication), thanksgiving, worship, consecration (dedication), intercession, imprecation, and praying in the Spirit.
v 5) Seen by others
v 5) Seen by others
Jesus warns His disciples against hypocrisy when they pray. They shouldn’t purposely position themselves in public areas so that others would see them praying and be impressed by their “holiness”
At the set time of prayer, pious Jews would stop what they were doing and pray, some discreetly, but others with pretentious display.
What is hypocrisy? and how might we demonstrate that in our prayer lives today?
This is an issue of the heart and is caused by wrong motives. Hypocrites are praying to be seen by others.
Two preliminary things:
Praying—even loving to pray—is not a sign that a person really knows God.
The fact that a person really knows God means that they do pray. No matter what a person may think in their mind, if they really knows God and really believes in God, they talk to God.
A person who prays primarily in public and little in private, must search the genuineness of their heart and profession.
What I believe the Lord is getting at here is the issue of loving recognition.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
v 6) Praying in secret
v 6) Praying in secret
The right motive for prayer is praying to be heard by God.
What are some preliminary points you notice in verse 6?
The willingness to take time to pray.
Private prayer is a must.
There needs to be a personal relationship with God.
To have good devotions is to, not only read Scripture, but to spend time in prayer as well. If our real motive is to get through to God, He will hear and answer.
It is reading too much into the passage to use these verses to prohibit public prayer. The early church met together for collective prayer (Acts 2:42; 12:12; 13:3; 14:23;20:36). The point is not where we pray. The real issue is why we pray—and that is to be seen by people or to be heard by God.
v 7) Empty phrases:
v 7) Empty phrases:
Prayer cannot be consistent vain repetitions. Repeated words and empty phrases. Unsaved people pray like that, God isn’t impressed by the mere multiplication of many words.
26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.
34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Jesus is prohibiting mindless, mechanical repetition, not the earnest repetition that flows from the imploring heart.
39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
He wants to hear the sincere expressions of the heart.
v. 8) Father knows best:
v. 8) Father knows best:
Since our Father knows the things we have need of, even before we ask Him, then it is reasonable to ask, “Why pray at all?”
[[Example: Being a dad]]
In prayer, we acknowledge our need and dependence on Him. It is the basis of our communicating with God. Also God does things in answer to prayer that He would not have done otherwise: James 4:1-3
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
How does prayer help our faith?
God knows all things and that includes our needs. We do not have to worry. Our concern should be living rightly in the presence of God, taking enough time to share and to fellowship with God.
The more we share and have fellowship with God, the more we will know God and learn to trust and to depend upon God’s care and promises.
What blows my mind is that God desires to hear from each of us… He has ordained prayer as the medium through which He blesses and moves among us.
19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Prayer time:
Prayer time:
Homework:
Homework:
In preparation for next week, your homework is to find a passage of Scripture that reveals His character. We will be looking at adoration which is: an attitude of worship characterized by love and reverence towards God. With an emphasis on the character of God.
For example: Ps 31:23
23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
And pray about sharing next week.