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Christian Prayer. Lesson 19. Why Pray?. Psalm 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Why Pray?. Psalm 50:15 … Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Why Pray?. Our prayers honor God Prayer is worship. Why Pray?.
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Christian Prayer Lesson 19
Why Pray? • Psalm 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Why Pray? • Psalm 50:15 … Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.
Why Pray? • Our prayers honor God • Prayer is worship
Why Pray? • Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Why Pray? • 1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome…
Why Pray? • Our prayers honor God • Prayer is worship • God tells us to pray and we want to pray
Why Pray? • Luke 11:5-10 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Why Pray? • Our prayers honor God • Prayer is worship • God tells us to pray and we want to pray • God promises to bless us when we pray
Who can pray? • John 14:13-14 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Who can pray? Those who… • Pray in Jesus’ name • Only believers!
Who can pray? • Matthew 4:10 10 Jesus said to [the devil], “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Who can pray? Those who… • Pray in Jesus’ name • Pray to the true God • Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Who can pray? • Psalm 66:18 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened…
Who can pray? • Mark 11:25 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Who can pray? • Isaiah 59:1-2 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Who can pray? Those who… • Pray in Jesus’ name • Pray to the Triune God • Repent and change sinful lives
Who can pray? • James 4:3 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Who can pray? Those who… • Pray in Jesus’ name • Pray to the Triune God • Repent and change sinful lives • Pray for a God-pleasing reason
Who can pray? • James 1:6-7 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.
Who can pray? Those who… • Pray in Jesus’ name • Pray to the Triune God • Repent and change sinful lives • Pray for a God-pleasing reason • Pray trusting that God hears and answers
Who can pray? • 1 John 5:14 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Who can pray? Those who… • Pray in Jesus’ name • Pray to the Triune God • Repent and change sinful lives • Pray for a God-pleasing reason • Pray trusting that God hears and answers • Ask that God’s will be done
Prayer Guidelines • Posture? • Hands folded • Eyes closed • Kneeling • Hands up to heaven
Prayer Guidelines • Posture? • Combine prayer with Bible study • A pattern to follow: • doration • onfession • hanksgiving • upplication • Humble request • Petition (request) • Intercession (prayer for someone else)
Lord, teach us to pray! • Matthew 6:9-13 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ”‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Lord, teach us to pray! • Pray like children praying to Father • God’s honor, kingdom and will are the most important • Spiritual first, physical second • Praise! • End with “Amen” • “It shall be so!”