PRAYER
1 Samuel 12:23, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:”
Definition of prayer: A reverent petition made to God; An act of communion with God, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving; A fervent request.
To pray: To utter or address a prayer or prayers to God; to make a fervent request or an entreaty.
I. EXAMPLES OF PRAYER:
A. Moses prayed for the people, Numbers 21:7, “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”
B. Moses prayed for Aaron, Deuteronomy 9:20, “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”
C. Abraham prayed for Lot in Sodom, Genesis 18:20-33.
II. GOD PLACES GREAT IMPORTANCE ON PRAYER:
A. Job prayed for his friends and healed, Job 42:10, “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
B. Samuel saw the importance on prayer, 1 Samuel 12:23, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:”
C. Peter was prayed for by the Church in Jerusalem, Acts12:5, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
D. Hezekiah prayed for those who were unclear and yet ate the Passover, 2 Chronicles 30:18, “For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one.”
E. Jesus taught his disciples that men ought always to pray, Luke 18:1, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
F. Jesus prayed for Simon Peter, Luke 22:30, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
G. Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans, Acts 8:15, “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”
H. Paul prayed:
1. For the churches:
a. At Rome, Romans 1:9, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;”
b. At Colosse, Colossians 1:9, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”
c. At Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 3:9, “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?”
2. For the Brethren:
a. For Timothy, 2 Timothy 1:3, “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;”
b. For the testimony of God’s people, 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
G. How God expects you to pray, Matthew 6:5-6, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
III. How Jesus prayed:
A. Alone, Matthew 14:23, “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Mark 6:46, “And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”
B. Before major decisions, Luke 6:12, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
C. Before His disciples in order to manifest His Glory, Luke 9:28, “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29-And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30-And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31-Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.”
Jesus taught His Disciples how to pray, Luke 11:1, “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
To the Father, Luke 11:2-4, “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3-Give us day by day our daily bread. 4-And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
In Jesus’ name, 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. 14-If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 16:23-24, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24-Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
In the proper attitude, Luke 18:10-14, “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11-The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12-I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13-And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14-I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
In the spirit of intercession, Colossians 1:9, “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:”
The occasion for prayer:
When God’s people gather for worship, Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
When we need help, 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.”
When we are destitute in this world, Psalm 102:17-22, “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18-This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. 19-For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20-To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21-To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 22-When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.”
When God has blessed us and we are thankful, Psalm 95:2-3, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3-For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
When we are watching for His Coming, Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” 1 Peter 4:7, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
CONCLUSION