Lessons by Mike Smith

2. Prayer
Basics
• Why Pray?
Eph. 6:13,18; 1 Tim.6:12; Lk.11:1; Mt. 6:9-13
• What is prayer?
– “Prayer is the conversational part of the most
important love relationship in our lives... with
God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.”
– It’s a spiritual communion with God --Acts 2:42
– Prayer is as universal as man --Gen. 4:26;
Ps. 65:2

3. Prayer
Basics
• What does prayer include?
– Giving of Praise – Mt. 6:9
– Giving of Thanks – Eph. 5:20; 1 Thes. 5:17-18
– Confession of Our Sins – 1 Jn. 1:9; Acts 8:22
– Supplication “a petition, to ask, a request to call
to one’s aid” – Phil. 4:6-7; Lk. 22:40-44
– Intercession “begging on behalf of others”
-- Rom. 15:30-31; Lk. 23:34; Eph. 6:18-19

4. Prayer
Basics
• What is God’s will concerning prayer?
– God wants our life to be filled with prayer!
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
– “Always… and never give up” your life of
prayer -- Luke 18:1-7
– “For all men… everywhere” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 8

5. Prayer
Basics
• Whose prayer will God not hear?
– He will not hear those who turn away from His
law… Proverbs 28:9
– He will not hear those who have wickedness in
their hearts… Psalm 66:18
– He will not hear the prayer of the proud…
Job 35:12; 1 Peter 5:5
– He will not hear sinners… John 9:31

6. Prayer
Basics
• Whose prayer will God hear?
– He will hear the prayers of those who worship
Him. John 9:31; Mt. 7:21
– He will hear the prayer of the humble. Ps. 9:12
– He will hear the prayer of the righteous.1 Pet. 3:12
– He will hear the prayers of those who keep His
commandments. 1 John 3:22

7. Prayer
Basics
• How then should we pray?
– We should pray in the spirit of forgiveness.
Mark 11:25
– We should pray in faith. James 1:6
– We must pray in harmony with God’s will. 1 Jn.5:14
– We must pray in the “name of” Christ. Col. 3:17
– We must pray in the spirit of sincerity. Mt. 6:5

8. Prayer
Basics
• Why then do we feel some prayers go
“unanswered”? Many prayers go “Unfinished”!
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–
–
–
–
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–
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Pray for health - obey laws of health. 1 Cor. 3:17
Pray for sick – must help them get well. Jas. 5:14
Pray for the bereaved – must comfort them.1Thes.5:14
Pray for wisdom – then must study. Jas. 1:5
Pray for Spir. Growth – must take Spir. Food. 1 Pet.2:2
Pray for salvation of sinners – seek & study. Ac. 20:20
Pray for unity of the church – work for it. Eph. 4:3
Pray for church growth – be a faithful member.
Heb. 10:25-26

9. Answer Jesus’
call to save you!
• Only those abiding in God’s will are heard
by God. John 9:31
• Sinners God does not hear.
• We must obey someone to stop sinning!
Who? Hebrews 5:9
• The Gospel plan of salvation says to…
•
•
•
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Believe the gospel – Romans 10:9;1 Cor. 15:3-4
Repent - Acts 2:38
Confess – Acts 8:37
Be Baptized – Acts 22:16

10. Seeking the Why of Prayer

11. Prayer is Understandable
• Elijah was a man of prayer – Jas. 5:16-17
– We can relate to him, had was like we are…
• Many have misconceptions about prayer.
– Superstitious, magic, to be selfish, to hurt others, to
tell God what to do, etc.
• Prayer is not just a religious duty. Mt. 6:7
• Prayer is Vital! Luke 18:1
• Prayer was key to Jesus’ life! Mark 6:46

12. Prayer is Learnable
• Jesus disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to
pray, as John also taught his disciples,” then He
taught them… Luke 11:1-4
• In John chapters 14 -17 Jesus says some
things over and over to teach us what is really
important concerning our prayer life.
• Jesus teaches us four things that reveal to us
why we pray.

13. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Dedication! John 15:4-8
• Are you dedicated to God in prayer? Acts 2:42
• Prayer is a type of Spiritual life support
system.
• We are abiding in Him because His words are
truly abiding in us when we pray as He
instructs us to.
• When we are faithful in this we have life in “the
vine” - Jesus.
– “Continue steadfastly in prayer” Col. 4:2

14. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Communication! John 15:15-16
– Communication is a wonderful things if that is what
you are really doing. Luke 18:9-ff
– We cannot truly communicate with someone unless
we know what our relationship is with them.
1 Peter 3:12; John 9:31; Psalm 32:6
• Sometimes we don’t pray because we don’t
understand what a great privilege it is to pray to
God. Psalm 144:3

15. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Supplication! Philippians 4:6
•
We should pray seeking God’s help and grace!
1 Peter 5:6-7; Hebrews 4:16
•
God knows our needs etc. but requires we A.S.K.
anyway! Matt.7:7-12; Jn.16:22-24
•
Why don’t we have? Why do we lack? James
4:2; Psalm 145:19; 37:4; 84:11

16. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Cooperation!
• Team up with God… John 14:11-15
– God’s plan has always been that we
cooperate with His plan to bring about His
will in this world. 1 John 5:14
– Matthew 6:10 “…Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven”
– Do you do God’s will on earth?

17. We Should Pray
• Because we know that God delights to answer
• Because it’s of the most important things we
can do as a Christian… Ephesians 6:18
• This church should pray because a praying
church is a holy, devoted, committed, sensitive,
enthusiastic, happy church!
• Are we a church of prayer? Commit to it!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18