Lesson : PRAYER

Lesson : PRAYER

How important is Prayer in Our Life?

A Christian can ONLY be as strong as his prayer life!

Prayer is simply your direct communication TO God.

When you read the Bible, God speaks TO you. (When you have your heart in it and are consistent)

Your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father CANNOT grow without proper communication.

Read John 15: 1 and 4 - 5

The purpose of this lesson is to teach the basics of a proper prayer life so that these lines of communication can be open and effective in your life.

II.

What is the purpose of Prayer?

Prayer is NOT to change God’s will or His mind; it is for you to be conformed to His will.

Read I John 5: 14 Read Philippians 2: 5 Read I Corinthians 2: 16 Read John 15: 15

The "mind of Christ" is the Word - John 1: 1 Therefore: this King James Bible is the "Mind of Christ".

Our prayers should be for God to change us!

Read Psalm 51: 10 Read Psalm 37: 4 - 5

Jacob wrestled with God and it was Jacob who changed.

Read Genesis 32: 24 - 32

A proper prayer life ensures peace of heart and mind.

Read Philippians 4: 6 - 7

To draw you close to God so He can prove His sufficiency for your every need.

Read I Peter 5: 6 - 7

God is active in every detail of your life. He knows exactly what you need before you ask.

Read Matthew 6: 6 - 8 Read Matthew 6: 31 - 33

Spiritual needs 1st and foremost!

God allows needs to come into your life so He can draw you to Him to meet with Him.

Read Psalm 50: 15 Read Psalm 107: 4 - 6

Sometimes it is afflictions.

Read Psalm 119: 67 and 71

God uses afflictions to teach, mature AND to set you up for a blessing.

The most dangerous time in your life is when YOU FEEL all your needs are met.

Read Revelation 3: 14 - 17 Read Deuteronomy 8: 11 - 18

It is also essential to give thanks in everything -- including and especially -- needs and difficult times of life.

Read I Thessalonians 5: 18 Read Philippians 4: 11 - 12

It is absolutely essential to develop a consistent prayer attitude, where your 1st reaction in a difficult moment or situation is to go to God in prayer.

Read I Thessalonians 5: 17 Read Jeremiah 17: 10 Read Psalm 66: 10 - 12 Read 2 Chronicles 32: 31

So when God is proving you, you can come out Victorious!

III.

How Do I Pray?

Here are some basic guidelines.

Pray always -- develop a lifestyle of prayer -- 1st reaction should be as natural as breathing.

Read Luke 18: 1 Also - I Thessalonians 5 : 17

Don’t let despair over take you!

Read Psalm 63: 1 - 8

Jesus was up early and late.

Don’t repeat the same words over and over.

Read Matthew 6: 7

Talk to God as a friend, He IS your friend. (But keep it in balance)

Read Exodus 33: 11 Read Proverbs 18: 24 Read John 15: 13

God gets as excited as a parent does when their child first starts to talk with them when they’re babies!

God truly desires to hear from you.

Realize that you have DIRECT access to God personally. You do not need to go through anyone or anything to talk to God.

Read I Timothy 2: 5 Read Mark 15: 38 Read Ephesians 2: 13 - 18

Sometimes we don’t know what to pray for or how to pray. That is why the Holy Spirit who lives inside you intercedes for you in prayer.

Read Romans 8: 26 - 27

IV.

Be sure to keep your basic relationship with God in good standing. There are some things in your life which will hinder your prayers.

1.	Unconfessed Sin - Read Psalm 66: 18 Read Isaiah 59: 1 - 2 Make sure you practice -- I Jn 1 : 9
2.	An Unforgiving Spirit - Read Matthew 6: 14 - 15 Read 2 Corinthians 2: 10 - 11
3.	Bitterness toward your mate (as well as others) - Read I Peter 3: 7 Read Job 42: 10
4.	Not Asking - Read James 4 : 2
5.	Asking with selfish or other wrong motives - Read James 4: 3 Read Proverbs 21: 13
6.	Insensitivity to the Word of God - Read Proverbs 28: 9 Read John 15: 7 If you won’t listen to God, He will NOT hear you.
7.	Idolatry in your heart - Read Ezekiel 14: 2 - 4 Read Proverbs 14: 14 God will let you believe what you want to believe.
8.	Religion without relationship - Read Matthew 6: 7 Read Matthew 7: 21 - 23 Read Matthew 15: 7 - 9 Read Psalm 50: 15 - 17

There are 4 basic types of prayer. Read I Tim. 2 : 1

1.	Supplication - specific requests. Read Philippians 4: 6 Too many prayers are wasted because they are so general. Example: "Father please give me a blessing." God’s Answer: "Which one? How do you want me to bless you?"
2.	Prayers - This is a summation; a term used to classify most communication with God.
3.	Intercession - prayer for others. Here it is important to keep your motives pure and keep your selfish eyes off yourself.Read Philippians 2: 3 - 4 Samuel said it was a sin against God not to pray for others. Read I Samuel 12: 23 Jesus said to pray for your enemies. Read Matthew 5: 44 WHY?!? Read Romans 12: 17 - 21 Read Proverbs 25: 21 - 22 The Apostle Paul was constantly praying for others. Read Romans 1: 9 - 12 Read Ephesians 1: 15 - 17 Read Ephesians 3: 14 - 16 Read Colossians 1: 9 -12 Paul asks for intercession. Read Colossians 4: 2 - 4 Read 2 Thessalonians 3: 1 - 2
4.	Giving of thanks - we enter the presence of God through thanksgiving and praise. Read Psalm 100: 4 Read Psalm 116: 17

VI.

Keep track of your prayer requests.

A.	Making a list will help you remember what to pray for. Otherwise your prayer life will not be consistent.
B.	Keeping a list of answered prayers is tremendously important to reinforce your faith in Gods ability to answer prayer in your life. Especially in down times.

VII.

THE MOST IMPORTANT VERSES PERTAINING TO PRAYER ARE THESE:

A.	Hebrews 4: 14 - 16
B.	I John 3: 22
THESE VERSES ARE KEY !

VIII.

In many churches today, some popular teachings are:

A.	Man should pray to idols, to saints, to or through other men.
B.	If you pray long enough or hard enough, God will change his mind and do what you want.
C.	The best prayers are those written by others and are just "said" by you.
D.	Prayer must be at a set time in a set format.

From the principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that

these teachings are false and why.

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