Bible Teaching on Prayer

by Shane Montgomery

       Matt 6:5-15, Christ's lesson on prayer (see separate sheet)

- ingredients from Mt 6:  adoration, surrender, supplication, confession, victory, motivation

       Example Prayers

         - Jesus  Jn 17:1-26

         - David  II Sam 7:18-29

         - Hezekiah  II King 19:14-19

         - Nehemiah  1:4-11

         - Moses  Ex 32:7-14

       We're commanded to pray:

         - God wants it because it is good for "us",  Mt 6:8

         - Lk 18:1, always

         - I Thes 5:17, without ceasing

         - I Chr 16:11, continually

         - Ps 55:17, evening, morning, noon

         - I Tim 2:8, everywhere

         - prayerlessness is sin (disbelief in God)

        

       If we don't pray, God will bring trials to make us pray:

         - Ps 78:34, they returned

         - II Chr 33:1-13, example in Manasseh

         - Ps 119:67, 71, David's affliction brought him back

         - Jonah 2:1, affliction brought Jonah to prayer

       God wants to answer our prayers:

         - Ps 65:2, He hears them

         - Pr 15:8, delights in them

         - Ps 81:10, tells us to open mouth wide

         - Jas 4:2, don't receive because we don't ask

       Elements of Prayer:

         1. Communion - Godward   Mt 6:9-10  (It is a relationship)

            Praise  Act 16:25

            Adoration/Worship  (recognizing God's power)

            Thanksgiving  Phil 4:6; Col 4:2

            Confession  I Jn 1:9

         2. Intercession - Outward (for others)

            Mt 6:12; Jas 5:16; I Tim 2:1

            Christians  Eph 6:18

            Unsaved (known and the world)  Mt 9:37-38

         3. Petition - Inward  Mt 6:11  (based upon promises)

            Material 

            Spiritual  Jas 1:5

       What Prayer Can Do For Us:

         1. Keep us cleansed of sin   I Jn 1:9; Ps 66:18

         2. Give deliverance from temptation  Mt 6:13; 26:41

         3. Strengthen our faith  Mt 7:7; Heb 11:6

         4. Make us more like Christ  Jn 15:7  Give power

         5. Make God more Lord of our lives by daily consulting him

            about decisions  Jas 1:5; Rom 12:1-2

         6. Avoid worry  Phil 4:6-7; Mt 11:28

         7. Give grace to help in time of need  Heb 4:16

         8. Give joy  Ps 16:11

     

       How to Pray:

         1. Humbly  II Chr 7:14

         2. Reverently  Ps 51:17    In the fear of God  Ps 145:19

         3. Thankfully  Phil 4:6; Col 4:2

         4. Continually  Ps 55:17; I Thes 5:17; Lk 11:5-8; 18:1;

                         I Chr 16:11; Rom 12:12

         5. Specifically  Jas 4:2   Without repetitions  Mt 6:7

         6. Privately  Mt 6:6

         7. Obediently  I Jn 3:22; Prov 15:8, 29; I Pet 3:12;

                        Jas 5:16  Delighting in Him  Ps 37:4

         8. Concerned for Souls  Jn 15:16

         9. In faith  Mt 21:22; Heb 11:6; Jas 1:6-7; Mt 7:7-11;

                      Mk 11:23-24; 9:23; I Tim 2:8 (claiming promises)

         10. Honestly  Ps 145:18

         11. In Jesus' name  Jn 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-26

         12. According to His will  I Jn 5:14

         13. Abiding in Him  Jn 15:7   In the Spirit  Eph 6:18

       Hinderances to Answered Prayer:

         1. Unconfessed Sin  Ps 66:18; Prov 28:13; I Jn 1:9

         2. Unforgiveness/Unrighted wrongs  Mt 5:23-24; Mk 11:25

         3. Covetousness/Selfishness (idols)  Mal 3:9; Jas 4:3; I Jn 5:14

         4. Rebellion to the Word (sin)  Prov 15:8; Is 59:1-2; I Jn 3:22

         5. Indifference to the Bible  Prov 28:9

         6. Wrong Husband/Wife relationship  I Pet 3:7

         7. Unbelieving  Jas 1:6-7; Heb 11:6; Mt 21:22

         8. Don't Ask  Jas 4:2

       What we should pray for, from Matt 6 (previous lesson)

Corporate Prayer

God's promise of His presence:  Mt 18:19-20 (context of church discipline?)

God began His lesson on prayer with a warning about public prayer:  Mt 6:5

Corporate Prayer Appears to be in response to a special need:

Lu 24:49, told to tarry until Holy Ghost came (special request):  Ac 1:13-14

- "one accord" - they were unified in their purpose for prayer

In response to persecution:  Ac 4:23-31; 16:25

- "one accord"

Ac 12:5-17, Jas 5:14-15:  praying for a special need

As a farewell:  Ac 20:36; 21:5

Warnings about spreading information:

- Pr 11:13, a talebearer revealeth secrets:  but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the mater

- Pr 16:28, a whisperer separateth friends

- Pr 17:9, he that repeateth a matter, separateth friends

- I Ti 5:11-13, young widows prone to be tattlers and busybodies

- 1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's               matters.