A Closer Walk With God - Principles Of Prayer
One of the greatest blessings enjoyed by Christians in this life is the privilege of prayer, by which we can approach God... Through prayer, the Christian can find forgiveness for sins - 1 Jn 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Through prayer, the Christian can find peace to replace anxiety - Ph 4:6-7 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Through prayer, the Christian can receive strength from God through His Spirit - Ep 3:14-16 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,". For such reasons, Paul frequently exhorted Christians to be diligent in their prayers... "praying always with all prayer and supplication..." - Ep 6:18. "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" - Co 4:2. "Pray without ceasing" - 1 Th 5:17. Yet Jesus knew that people would tend to become slack in their prayers - Lk 18:1 "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.. It is out of a similar concern that prompts two lessons devoted specifically to prayer. It is hoped that you will be encouraged to be more diligent in prayer as we examine:
Basic principles of prayer taught in God's Word.
Suggestions concerning the practice of prayer in our daily lives.
In this lesson, then, we will examine some "Principles Of Prayer", beginning with the characteristics of acceptable prayer. Prayer must be offered "in faith". "And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." - Mt 21:22. We must have faith in God, and in His ability to answer - He 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.. Otherwise, prayer will not be answered - note for example Ja 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.". Is our faith weak? Then increase it with the help of God's Word - Ro 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Prayer must be offered "in the spirit of humility". Notice the example of the Pharisee and the publican - Lk 18:9-14 "He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."' Remember, "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit" - Psa 34:18 "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." As quoted by James: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" - Ja 4:6.
Prayer must be offered "in harmony with God's will". God answers prayer that is offered "according to His will" - 1 Jn 5:14 "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." Jesus provided the example for us in His prayers at Gethsemane - Lk 22:42 "saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."' Too often, prayers are unanswered because they are more concerned with OUR will, rather than GOD'S will! - Ja 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
Prayer must be offered "by those righteous before God". "For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil" - 1 Pe 3:12. The prayers of the righteous person are effective - Ja 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." But those continuing in sin He will not hear! - Pro 28:9 "If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination."; Isa 59:1-2 "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." To be righteous before God requires that we submit to the "righteousness of God" offered in Christ - Ro 10:1-4 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." In other words, respond to the gospel of Christ - Ro 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."'
Prayer must be offered "in the spirit of thanksgiving". "giving thanks always for all things to God" - Ep 5:20. "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving" - Ph 4:6. "...prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" - Co 4:2. "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks" - 1 Th 5:17-18 -- Do we think God will help us with our "present burdens" if don't take the time to thank Him for "past blessings"?
Prayer must be offered "with persistence". Jesus illustrated this aspect of prayer through two parables. The parable of the persistent friend - Lk 11:5-10 and the parable of the persistent widow - Lk 18:1-8. The virtue of persistence is demonstrated in the prayers of:
Jesus at Gethsemane - Mt 26:44 "So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again."
Paul, pertaining to his "thorn in the flesh" - 2 Co 12:7-8 "So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me."
The early church - Ac 2:42 "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
Prayer must be offered "in the name of Jesus". "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" - Ep 5:20. This means much more than simply adding a little phrase "in Jesus' name" at the end of our prayers! We must realize that Jesus is the only way by which we can approach God - Jn 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We must view Him as our "high priest" who intercedes for us - He 7:24-25 "but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."; Jn 14:13 "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Appealing to God in the name of His Son can give us great confidence that God will give us what we need! - He 4:14-16 "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Such are the conditions that make prayer acceptable to God. But it might be helpful to also notice a few obstacles to prayer.
Having looked at prayer in general we will turn and look at some obstacles to prayer in the continuation of this lesson.
