Prayer

Prayer

Positions

  1. 2 Samuel 7:18  David sat.
  2. 1 Kings 8:22  Solomon stood
  3. 1 Kings 8:54  Solomon knelt
  4. Ezra 9:5  Ezra knelt
  5. Nehemiah 8:6  The people bowed their heads
  6. Psalm 28:2  David raised his hands
  7. Daniel 6:10  Daniel knelt
  8. 1 Corinthians 11:4 – 5  Prophets uncovered their heads; prophetesses covered their heads
  9. Ephesians 3:14  Paul knelt
  10. 1 Timothy 2:8  Men lifted their hands

Promises regarding Prayer

  1. The role of the Spirit (Romans 8:26 – 27, 1 John 5:14, Jude 20)
    1. The Spirit brings our prayers up to God’s standards
    1. The Spirit modifies our prayer to conform to the will of God
    1. If it is according to His will, He hears
    1. Praying in the Holy Spirit
  2. Appropriate occasions (James 5:13 – 18, 1:5 – 8, 1 Timothy 2:1 – 2, Philippians 4:6 – 7, Ephesians 6:18)
    1. Relief from affliction
    1. Recovery from illness
    1. Forgiveness for me and for others
    1. Adjustments to nature to get the attention of unbelievers
    1. Ask for wisdom
    1. For world leaders that we live in peace
    1. Relief from anxiety
    1. With thanksgiving
    1. For all the saints
  3. Cautions about prayer (James 4:1 – 2, 1 Corinthians 14:15, 1 John 3:22, 1 Timothy 2:8, 1 Peter 4:7)
    1. Failing to ask
    1. Asking with poor motives
    1. Pray with understanding
    1. Whatever we ask we receive because we keep His commandments (v23: the commandments are faith and love)
    1. Without wrath or doubting
    1. Be serious and watchful in your prayers
  4. Attitudes of prayer (Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12, 1 John 4:15, Philippians 4:7)
    1. Boldly
    1. Confidently
    1. We know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him
    1. The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds

Qualities of Prayer

  • Matthew 6:5 – 15, Luke 11:1 – 13 – private, meaningful, praising God, invoking promises, asking for things and for forgiveness
  • Matthew 7:7 – 12 – ask for what is good
  • Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47 – not for appearances
  • Luke 18:1 – 8 – repeatedly, for justice
  • Romans 8:26, Jude 20 – with faith in the Spirit
  • 1 Corinthians 14:15 – 17 – edification
  • James 1:5 – 6 – in faith, without doubt
  • 1 Peter 4:7 – sound judgment and sober spirit
  • 1 John 5:14 – with confidence

In Jesus’ Name We Pray

  1. “The name of” means “the essential quality of.”  So, “in the name of Jesus I pray” means “I ask as one who is immersed in the character of Jesus.”
  2. Jesus was speaking to eleven men in these passages.  Many promises in this section obviously refer only to them, not every faithful person thereafter.
    1. John 14:13 – 14 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
    1. John 15:16 (15:7)  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
    1. John 16:23 – 26  …Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give to you.  Until now, you have asked nothing in My name…In that day you will ask in My name…
  3. Other passages concerning “in the name of Jesus” that have been used to prescribe the customary prayer formula.
    1. Ephesians 5:20 (Hebrews 13:15)  “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”  Thank God while in the character of Jesus.  If it refers to saying the words, then every song must end with “in the name of Jesus I sing.”
    1. Philippians 2:9 – 10  “Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”  The quality of Jesus will cause all faithful people to bow.
    1. Colossians 3:17  “Whatever you do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord”  Do all with the character of Jesus.
    1.      2 Thessalonians 1:12 (1 Timothy 6:1, 2 Timothy 2:19, James 2:7)  “That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you.”  That the character of Jesus may be demonstrated as a parade of His character traits in you.