Discipleship Series: PRAYER – PRIVILEGE & POWER

The Discipleship Series on Prayer was taught by Bro. Robert Farron.  As I have done in the past, I will paste into my blog portions of the lesson. Prayer is powerful and very necessary.  Many battles are won only by prayeer. I do my best to not go a day without spending time in prayer.

 PRAYER – THE VOCATION OF THE BELIEVER

Psalm 65:2 – “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” Psalm 145:18 – “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” James 4:8 – “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” 1 Timothy 2:8 – “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” Jude 1:20 – “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” 1 Peter 4:7 – “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.”  Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Prayer is the most important Christian discipline that a believer can learn – for without prayer, spiritual survival is impossible. Prayer is like spiritual breath – we pray or we die.  If we learn to develop a steady, consistent “prayer life” in the beginning of our Christian walk, we will have less difficulty in following God and our spiritual progress will be tremendously improved. Prayer activates the strength and power that we need to overcome every obstacle and difficulty of life. Prayer, together with fasting and the Word of God, will bring us victory over every problem

PRAYER - THE GREAT SPIRITUAL WEAPON

 The “Armor of God” is listed in Ephesians 6:14-17. However, immediately following the list of our spiritual armor, prayer is emphasized as the activating weapon that makes the rest of the arsenal effective.  Ephesians 6:14-18 – “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplications.

 In the Bible, great people of God became great because they knew how to pray. The people who did mighty things for God, who had powerful ministries, and who lived holy lives, were always mighty in prayer. • Elijah’s prayer brought victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. (1 Kings 18:37-38) • Joshua's prayer caused the sun to stand still. (Joshua 10:12-14) • King David made a daily habit of prayer. (Psalm 55:17) • Hannah’s prayer resulted in the birth of Samuel, the prophet. (1 Samuel 1:27) • Moses prayed in intercession for Israel and they were spared. (Deuteronomy 9:25-26) • Daniel prayed three times a day, even at the risk of his own life. (Daniel 6:10) • Anna prayed fervently and was allowed to see the newborn Messiah. (Luke 2:36-37)

God is willing to answer prayer. His readiness to answer our prayers surpasses even our willingness to provide necessary things for our children. The Lord is more eager to “open” than we are to “knock.” • Matthew 7:7-11 – “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” 

WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY FOR? A. There is no end to the list of things for which we should seek God in earnest prayer. Scripture gives us examples of many things for which we should pray. 1. Pray for your physical needs. (Matthew 6:11) 2. Pray for your spiritual needs. (Matthew 26:41; Jude 1:20; James 5:13; Colossians 1:9-12) 3. Pray for forgiveness. (Matthew 6:12) 4. Pray for deliverance. (Matthew 6:13) 5. Pray for your family, your friends and acquaintances – all people (1 Timothy 2:1) 6. Pray for your enemies. (Matthew 5:44) 7. Pray for your church, your pastors and spiritual leaders. (1 Thessalonians 5:25) 8. Pray for your civic and governmental leaders. (1Timothy 2:1-2) 9. Pray that the gospel would be preached freely and without restraint. (2 Thessalonians 3:1) 10. Pray for the lost. (Romans 10:1; Matthew 9:38) 11. Pray for ministers, preachers, and missionaries around the world. (Ephesians 6:18-20) 12. Pray for those who are sick. (James 5:16) 13. Pray for those who are oppressed, afflicted or in hardship. (James 5:13) 

 Again, this list mentions only a few of the things for which we should pray. All of our requests and petitions should be brought to the throne of God in prayer – and the list of needs is endless. • Philippians 4:6 – “Be careful (fearful) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” • 1 John 5:15 – “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

. We must pray in sincerity. • Matthew 23:14 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” 1. In the parable of the Pharisee and Publican, Jesus taught us that insincere prayer is worthless. (Luke 18:9-14) 2. Mindless repetition, repeating “holy” words, and reciting memorized prayers over and over again are of no real value. • Matthew 6:7 – (Jesus said) “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”

. We must pray in faith. • Matthew 21:22 – “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” • James 1:6-7 – “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” C. We must pray according to the will of God. • Luke 22:42 – “(Jesus’ prayer) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” • 1 John 5:14 – “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” • James 4:3 – “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss (badly), that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” D. We must pray in the name of Jesus Christ. • John 14:13-14 – “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” • John 16:26 – “(Jesus said) At that day ye shall ask in my name…” • Colossians 3:17 – “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” E. We must pray persistently. • Luke 18:1 – “And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always (at all times) to pray, and not to faint (become weary of praying).” • Jacob wrestled with the angel in prayer until his prayer was answered. (Genesis 32:24-28) • Daniel prayed for twenty-one days until his prayer was answered. (Daniel 10:12-13) • Jesus taught the parable of the Persistent Friend. (Luke 11:5-10) • Jesus taught the parable of the Importunate Widow and the Unjust Judge. (Luke 18:1-8) 1. Importunity is the ability to hold on, to press on, to wait with unrelaxed grasp; with restless desire. It is a dogged determination that will not stop, will not quit, will not let go. 2. In prayer, we must learn to P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens. • Colossians 4:2 – “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”

 “Our Father, which art in heaven” – Begin by directing your prayer to God. He is your Father, so make your prayer personal. (John 14:13-13; 15:16; 16:23-24; 16:26) E. “Hallowed be thy name” – Praise before you petition. Begin your prayer with a time of worship. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and adoration! Allow plenty of time for this element of prayer. F. “Thy kingdom come” – Thy kingdom come. My kingdom go! G. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – Seek God’s will for your life and the lives of your family members and acquaintances. Ask for God’s will to be accomplished in the church locally and worldwide. H. “Give us this day our daily bread” – Petition God for all your needs: spiritual, physical, emotional, etc. I. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” – Sincerely ask God to forgive you for your weaknesses and faults. None of us is perfect; each of us needs to seek God’s forgiveness every day. J. “Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil” – Ask the Lord to keep you from temptation and the snares of Satan. K. “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” – End your prayer as you began, with a time of praise, worship and thanksgiving.

CONCLUSION: A. Prayer is the believer’s greatest privilege. Nothing is more powerful than prayer! B. The greatest thing about prayer is not learning about it – but doing it. To learn more about prayer – pray! C. If you have not already done so, begin your “prayer life” today. If you find it helpful, use a “Prayer Chart.” a “Prayer List” or a “Prayer Clock” to help you structure your prayer time more effectively. D. Set aside a special time each day to be alone with God. Guard and protect that time and make sure you keep your appointment with the King of Kings each day. E. Remember, the discipline of prayer is a life-long process. Prayer facilitates God’s plan, frustrates the Devil’s power, and fulfills God’s purpose. F. Whatever you do – pray! 

God is good!