Prayer- A Glorious Priviledge, Something to Learn

Prayer - A Glorious Priviledge, Something to Learn



Prayer is a Part of Worship



Prayer is the conversation of the soul with God. In prayer there is adoration of God, thankfulness in all that He is does and grants to His creation. Within prayer there is also confession of sin. In all that prayer is we can conclude that prayer is truly an act of worship in the soul as one approaches God from the heart of belief that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6).



It is in prayer that we express to God:



1. Our reverence
2. Our love for His divine perfections
3. Our gratitude for aB His mercies
4. Our penitence for our sins of thoughts words and actions
5. Our hope in His forgiving love
6. Our submission to His authority
7. Our confidence in His care
8. Our desire to be partakers of His favor
9. Our need for His providential care
10. Our need for His spiritual blessings for ourselves and for others
11. Etc., etc., etc.




The Object of Prayer – God



A. Prayer must be made to God alone.
Prayer involves ascribing divine attributes to a being. Therefore we must conclude that the object to which Christians pray to God alone. That is to the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob or to put it another way the God of the Bible, the only true God.




You may ask, “Who does the nonbeliever pray to?” When the non-Christian enters prayers it is to their idol or the gods they have made for themselves either in their minds or idols they may have crafted. Many non believers may say "My prayers are with you." However it is probably they do not even “pray” at all but are just are seeking to speak "words of comfort". Even if they do bow the head for some sort of “prayer” since it is not supplication, praises, thanksgivings and petitions spoken to the true Divine One they are not real prayers.



In the Old and New Testaments of the Bible prayers were directed to the Divine Being, (ie. the Creator, Provider, Sustainer, etc.) (Ps. 50:15, 62:8; Matt 6:9ff). In the New Testament prayers are either addressed to God as the Triune God or to the Father, to the Son and / or to the HolySpirit.




What is Required In Acceptable Prayer




What are the requisites of acceptable prayer before God? Does it take perfection and must we ensure that there is no sin in us prior to praying? The simple answer is no! No, it does not take a perfect being to pray. If that were the case then none of us would ever be able to pray for we sin daily in thought word and deed. Acceptable prayers that we offer up is not a good work we do that makes us acceptable to Him. The act of prayer is an effect of the Holy Spirit working in the believer. We have been born again by the Holy Spirit (Jn3) and are being led in sanctification so that we approach the throne of Grace to find mercy to help in times of need. Acceptable prayer is from we who are born again by the Holy Spirit (Jn 3). Because of God’s work in us we can pray. Amen!




Being Born again and knowing that we have entrance into the kingdom of God is important for us to know that we have access to the Lord Sabaoth. In approaching the Lord in prayer other things should be considered as being required in praying in an acceptable manner. These include: a. sincerity, b. reverence, c. humility, d. persistence, e. submission, f. faith, g. prayer offered in the name of Christ,



A. Sincerity - God is not satisfied with merely our words. He desires our coming to Him with all our being in heart soul mind and strength. (Jas. 1:5-7; 5:13-18)



B. Reverence- God is to be revered as the infimtfy exhalted Being that He is. Holy or hallowed is His name. We are to come in prayer, in faith thinking of and relying upon His majesty, power and wisdom.



C. Humility - In approaching God as the One High and lifted up Holy One of Israel we must think also of ourselves as mere creatures which he has made in His image. We must acknowledge our short comings and acknowledge that we are deserving to come into His presence only by the blood of Christ our blessed redeemer, His beloved Son. We must not regardsin in our hearts for if we do God will not hear us. Let us approach Him honestly with humility.



D. Persistence - God requires that we be persistent in our praying. He desires that we appreciate the value of the blessings that we ask for. In being persistent we are also showing that we do earnestly desire that for which we are praying for. Our Lord impressed upon the disciples the need of persistence in prayer three times: 1. Matt 15:22; 2. Lk. 18:5-8; 3. Lk. 11:5-8. So it is something that must impress us as we seek the Lord in prayer.



E. Submission - Our prayers are to be in the manner, "Lord not my will but thine be done.” Let us not pray seeking just our desires. We need to let the principles and precepts of the Scriptures be the cause of our service and desires in life. Let us pray that we seek and submit to His righteousness and kingdom and then the necessities of life will follow. (Jn. 6:33; also see James in asking amiss)



F. Faith - m coming to God we must believe that God is. We must believe that He exists and that He does work in the affairs of men. We must trust that He hears our prayers and that He answers them. We must believe that He is disposed to answer them and He will answer them if they areconsistent with His wise purposes and for our best good.



G. Offered in Ac Name of Christ - To offer prayer in the name of Christ is to acknowledge His work as priest. It is through His work of going to the cross and making the sacrificial atonement in our place that we can enter into the very presence of God. To pray in Christ's name is to acknowledge all that He has accomplished and that all that we ask would be done for His glory. It is the Holy Spirit which has given the believer the ability to offer prayer in the name of the Savior (see commentaries on this passage) Jn 16:23,24, 15:16, 14:13




The Power of Prayer




Human events are not controlled by physical force alone. Contrary to popular public thinking the events of history and today's happenings and non happening "just because" men thought them to happen. Many different forces are at work in all that is happening in the affairs and in the governing of men. There are:


1. Ideas of men whether they are ideas based on truth or false taking a part in the governing decisions in me affairs of men


2. Ideas of men based on truth


3. Love and human sympathy being shown


4. The conscience at work and


5. The Work(s) of the Supreme Power which is Jehovah God



The Supreme Power is over the world which He has created. He is an intelligent, personal, voluntary power who is orchestrating and working and controlling the world and the creatures He created in such a way that He does not violate nor disturb their natures and character but also in such a way that nothing comes by chance but by His own good pleasure.
God uses the prayers of people as at least one tool to move Him to action. That this is the clear teaching of Scripture can be acknowledged from the following:



1. Moses saved the Israelites from destruction by prayer to God.


2. It was by prayer from Samuel that the army of the Philistines weredispersed.


3. Elijah prayed that it not rain and it did not for three and one halfyears. He then prayed for rain and it did rain again.


4. The Apostle Paul acknowledged the need for God to work openingdoors and making hearts receptive to the message of the gospel



We must not think that we can do things in, of and by ourselves. We must acknowledge in prayer that we need the Lord to work for us laying the proper ground work for our message to be heard, also working in us to have the living and life changing message from His word. We need toacknowledge the Lord as the Sovereign Potentate moving in, with, and through His creation guiding the affairs of men above and beyond all their laid out plans. Let us seek to be in step with what we see the Lord is doing in the lives which we come in contact with always praying the Lord will graciously bless His message and redeem men and women. In prayer it is the power ofthe Lord we are seeking to work in all that we are asking. We need His power and not ours, His strength to enable us to be faithful, and His power to turn hearts and to change events.




Prayer and the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is me Spirit of prayer. In Zechariah 12:10, a prophecy foretelling Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "spirit of grace and supplication". Supplication being a name for prayer we see that the indwelling Holy Spirit causes and empowers Christians to pray.




In praying in the Holy Spirit is to have the presence of the Holy Spirit. Only Christians can pray in the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that regenerated men and then sanctifies them. The Holy Spirits indwelling in man's deep regions of the soul awakens them to the sins in his life and therefore moves him to the throne of grace for help, forgiveness and deliverance in accordance to the Scripture. Only the Christians can know their sin, by the work of the Holy Spirit, and can have to come boldly to the throne of grace asking God's will and seek forgiveness. To do this takes the presence of the Holy Spirit and prayer in the Holy Spirit.




Prayer in the Holy Spirit is also to have the assurance that God will hear and answer our prayers. Christians pray believing that God is eagerly wanting His will in their lives and therefore will hear and answers their prayers. They pray knowing that He desires to purify them and to enable them to live more and more after the image of Christ.




To pray in the Holy Spirit is to pray the Scripture in their intent and desire. The New Testament uses the praying in the Spirit phrase two times: (Eph. 6;18; Jude 20) To pray in the Spirit is to pray, with His power according to the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the "author" of Holy Writ. Therefore in praying in the Spirit our prayers will be in accordance with the Bible.




As a way of practical application we need to understand that if we who believe regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us. Therefore as the Holy Spirit sanctifies us we will sin less and less and we put out of our mind and lives regard for sin. Prayer in the Holy Spirit helps us push out regard for sin so therefore let us pray in the Holy Spirit.



Prayer By the Holy Spirit



The Holy Spirit prays for Christians (Rom. 8:26-17). This is a great need of believers. Many times Christians are at times confused, do not know what to pray for, do not even understand their needs, at times may be in such a state of health mat they cannot pray and even if they can they may not even understand God's will in their praying. The Holy Spirit then is an intercessorinterceding and praying for the believer according to the perfect will of the Father.


There have been generally two ways of understanding what actually happens in what the Holy Spirit does for the Christian in the praying. a. Some say that the Holy Spirit simply stirs up the souls groanings and desires that are never articulated because they are to deep to be uttered. Therefore in this the Holy Spirit is praying through us.



The best explanation and understanding of this teaching is this: that the Holy Spirit who dwells in me believer intercedes for them by Himself apart from them. He knows them, what they really need and prays for them according to the perfect will of the Father.



There is great comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit that indwells me is God of the godhead and he prays to the Father for me in the perfect will of the Father. .



Prayer to the Each Member of the Trinity is Acceptable



Most prayer is to the Father through the Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit. The church has recognized that at times it is proper to pray to each Person of the Holy Trinity because of their special relationships to us and that they have done special works for us. The Father elected andpredestined our salvation, the Son accomplished the redemption in his life and death, and the Holy Spirit applies our salvation and seals us unto the day of redemption. Therefore it is most proper to pray for the Person of the Trinity in each functional area of calling, salvation, and sanctification that each performs. (Note: For a quick acknowledgment of this truth read severalhymns in the good hymn books.)





Lord Teach us to Pray!



Some may not know how to pray. Do you? If not in conclusion I want to state the prayer the Lord taught us to pray. I have also places some comments regarding the meaning of the prayer we are to pray so that we all can see if great importance and always keep it before us as we cease not top pray always. I do hope it helps.


WHAT IS THE PRAYER THAT THE LORD TAUGHT THE DISCIPLES TO PRAY:


Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.




It is commonly known that in the lord's prayer there is the address followed by six requests and then a conclusion . Let's briefly look at each one of these for an understanding of the profound prayer that our lord taught us to pray.



THE ADDRESS:


In the address we call upon god as our father to hear us and to answer our prayer. Father is a term that we can use because we are adopted into the family of God through faith in the Lord Jesus. It is with child like faith that we approach our heavenly father asking him for the things necessary for this life and in the life to come.



We also acknowledge his place and position in heaven . He is in heaven and from his throne he rules over all. Even though we are his children we must approach him with all honor and respect because of who he is and the position that he holds as the God over all. We, therefore, approach God with reverence, in child like faith, with a knowledge that we will be heard.



The first petition:



The first petition is "hallowed be thy name". In this petition we are asking and seeking to set God the Father's name above every name. I am also asking that I be enabled to put away all thoughts that would confuse my mind as to just who God is. In other words that, in my mind approaching the throne in prayer, i may not have any improper thoughts of god. It may be that i am angry and denying him the honor that he is due. I may even have some atheistic thoughts by not acknowledging god's providence in what is happening in my particular circumstances.



We are asking in the first petition to help us bless him and praise him. We are seeking him to enable us to be aware of his power, justice, holiness, goodness, and truth. To put it another way we are asking god to direct all our thoughts as we approach him in prayer so that he will never be dishonored.



The second petition:



The second petition is "thy kingdom come". To request this in our prayer is to ask that God would crush all satanic forces and destroy all that would try to stand against the advancement of the kingdom of God.



It is also a petition that God would regenerate the hearts of man that they would come to Christ as Saviour in repentance and faith.



We are also in this request praying that the kingdom of God would be fully established and that all the enemies of Christ would be his footstool.



The third petition:



The third petition is "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". In heaven there is no sin and that is where the heart of the believer should be in reference to their lives and in the lives of others in the world. The request is that as completely as the will of God is done in heaven so let that perfect will be done on Earth.


We are asking God to so sanctify and make us holy that we will deny our own selves and not love this world but purely love god so that the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are mortified. We pray this so that we will carry forth the will of God without any hindrance. We pray that we will do all that God has requested of us as faithfully as the angels carry forth the will of God in heaven.



The fourth petition:



The fourth petition is "give us this day our daily bread". In this petition we ask God to graciously provide all that is needed for life. That we would have the health to labor for the food and all the domestic needs of the family and personal life. Also in requesting this we are looking to the one who holds the keys of death and hell asking him to grant to us life and health in this present world for his glory and the expansion of his kingdom.



In the getting of the necessities of life from God we also must acknowledge that he is keeping us from worry and from all doubt as to whether he is loving and caring. So there is an element of peace and security in this prayer as we see God provide for us day by day. As we pray we are not looking at man nor any other creature for our daily provision but to god alone. And in that I find great comfort.



The fifth petition:



The fifth petition is "and forgive us our debts,as we forgive our debtors". It is here that we see our need to be forgiven. We are recognizing our sin and are asking the blood of Christ to cleanse us and that as we are cleansed by Christ and forgiven so grant to us that we forgive others. The consolation given to us by God should and must be communicated to society around us. In salvation we have a work in our hearts and a love now not only to love our gracious god but also we are to love our neighbors even though they may owe a debt to us.



The sixth petition:



The sixth petition is "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil". In this petition we understand that we battle satanic forces in this life. If that would be all then maybe it would be easier to live godly but there is also our own flesh and our own worldy lusts that are our own worst enemies. These guys never leave me alone!!!!!


We in this part of the prayer ask that God would deliver us from Satan, the devouring lion, and the sinful things that he can orchestrate and bring into our lives causing temptation and stumbling. We also ask that he would deliver us from our own sin and selfishness. It is sometimes that we Christians are our own worst enemies and we just need delivered from the love of the world.



The conclusion:



In the conclusion we read the words "for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,forever, amen". We are closing the address we have had with the Father in an acknowledgement that the answering of these requests are in his power. In the ascribing to God the attributes of glory, power and immortality we are letting our heavenly father know that he is a God who is tender to his children and it is our understanding that He is willing to answer these requests.


In testifying to the assurance of the requests we have given, we end the prayer with the word "amen" which is a term that signifies that all we requested is sure to be. AMEN!!