Prayer is an offering up of our desires to GOD for all things lawful and needful with humble confidence that we shall obtain them through the meditations of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. JESUS said in John 14:6,” I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me”. Prayer is a holy privilege made possible by the sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST on our behalf.
Prayer is a relationship with GOD. It is a conversation between you and GOD. God seeks a love relationship with you. GOD desires your fellowship and he wants us to love him with all your heart, Deut. 6:5. He wants us to know him and experience his love and presence. This love relationship is the point of which effectual prayer begins.
PRAY in KJV occurs 306 times, O.T. 240 times, N.T. 66 times
PRAYER in the KJV occurs 104 times, O.T. 73 times N.T. 31 times
The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexiconon Prayer
Strong's Number: 08605 Original WordWord Origin hllpt from (06419) Transliterated Word T@phillah tef-il-law' Definition: prayer, pray a prayer, house of prayer, hear prayer in Ps titles (of poetic or liturgical prayer)
The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon on Prayer
Strong's Number: 4335 Original WordWord Origin proseuchv from (4336) Transliterated Word Proseuche Phonetic Spelling pros-yoo-khay' Definition: prayer addressed to God, a place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer, a synagogue, a place in the open air where the Jews were wont to pray, outside the cities, where they had no synagogue, such places were situated upon the bank of a stream or the shore of a sea, where there was a supply of water for washing the hands before prayer
1. TO WHOM TO PRAY
A. Pray unto GOD, Acts 12:5, Ps. 5:1-3, Job 33:26
B. In my name (JESUS), John 14:13, John 16: 23, 26
1. A. Not to pray or worship to Angels, Rev. 22: 8-9
2. WHEN TO PRAY
A. Always, Eph 6:18, Luke 18: 1 B. Without ceasing, 1 Thes. 5:17 C. Three times a day, Ps 55:17 D. Continue in prayer, Col. 4:2 E. In public, Acts 1:14
3. WHERE TO PRAY
A. In your closet, Matt. 6:6 B. On the mountain, Luke 6:12 C. In the upper room, Acts 2:14 D.In the house of GOD, Acts 3:1 E. In the jail, Acts 16: 25 F. With anxious souls, Acts 10th chapter G. In the temple, Acts 2:42-47 H. On the shore, Acts 21:5 I. House to house, Acts 2:46 J. Everywhere, 1 Tim. 2: 8
4. HOW TO PRAY
A. ASK---Mathew 7:7, John 15:7, John 14:14 B. Ernest prayer (In the Holy Spirit), Romans 8:26 C. Praying in persecution, Mathew 5:44 D. Answers to prayer, Mark 11:24, Ps 65:2 E. Mandate to prayer, Luke 18:1 F. The privilege to prayer, Acts 16:4 G. Power in prayer, Romans 5:2, Eph 2:18 H. Without doubting, 1 Timothy 2:8 I. Effectual prayer, James 5:16 J. Power of prayer, Hebrews 4:16 K. Belief, Mathew 21:22 L. Subjects for prayer, (Everything), Phil. 4:6
M.Two or three gathered, Mathew 18:19-20
PETITION PRAYERS
A. Asking For yourself, Acts 8:24, B. Asking for others to pray for you, Romans 15:30
A. All Saints. Eph. 6:18 with Col.1:3; 4:12 B. All Men. 1 Tim. 2:1 with Matt.5:14. C. All Things. Matt.21:12 with Phil.4:6
PRAYER
A. Personal -----Eph.1:16,3:14
B. Church--------Acts 2:42, 12:5
C. Social-----------Acts12:12
D. Secret---------Matt. 6:6
5. TEN ELEMENTS OF PRAYER
A. Adoration, Ps.95:6, Dan 6:10 B. Confession, Ps 32:5, Dan 9: 4 C. Restitution, Luke 19:8, Lev. 9:2, 5 D. Unity, John 17:11, 21 E. Faith, Hebrew 11: 6, Mark 11: 24, Matt. 21:22 F. Perseverance, Gen. 32:26, James 5:17 G. Petition, Is 37:14, 1 John 5:14, 15 Num. 22:42 H. Submission, Luke 22:42 I. Willingness to give, Mal. 3:10, 1 Cor.16:1 J. Thanksgiving, Phil. 4:6 K. Praise and Worship, (LORD'S Prayer ---Matt 6:9-13), Phil :3, Acts 2: 46-47, Acts 13: 2, Acts 16:25, Luke 24: 52-23, 11 Chron. 20:18, 22
LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
1. CHRIST’S first prayer (JESUS being baptized and praying), Luke 3:21 Garden of Gethsemane, Luke 22: 39-46, Mark 14: 32-42, Matt.26:39
2. CHRIST’S prayer to the FATHER, John 17
3. CHRIST taught his disciples how to pray, Mathew 6: 9-13
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11. Give us this day our daily bread. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 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.
3. In the Sermon on the Mount, CHRIST had announced the new basis of prayer (relationship). The believer is a child of GOD through the new birth (John 3:3). CHRIST'S law of prayer may be summarized: 1. He grounds prayer upon relationship, and reveals GOD as freely charging Himself with all the responsibilities, as His heart glows with all the affections of a Father toward all who believe on JESUS CHRIST (Matt 6: 26-32; 7: 9-11). Prayer, therefore, is a child of God petition to an all-wise, all-loving, and all-powerful, Father-GOD. 2. In the LORD'S prayer CHRIST gives an incomparable model for all prayer. It teaches that right prayer begins with worship; puts the interest of the kingdom before merely personal interests; accepts beforehand the Father's will, whether to grant or to withhold; and petitions for present need, leaving the future to the Father's care and love. The LORD'S prayer in Matt. 6:9-13 was not (in the name of JESUS CHRIST ), but as a child of GOD through the new birth (John 3: 3-6). JESUS answered and said unto him, Verily verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of GOD. Being born from above, we can come to the Father in the name of JESUS CHRIST (John 14: 6). The new promise and privilege in prayer, says in John 14: 13-14, " And whatsoever ye ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. 14. If yeask any thing in my name, I will do it. It says in John:16: 23-24 JESUS said, " And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24; Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
We are a now generation, we want everything right now, including our prayers answered right now. We are to believe (Matt. 21: 22) "And all things, whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall recieve". We have to remember it's GOD's timing and will for us to answer our prayers. I for one don't want anything if it is not in GOD'S will. In Psalms 65:2 GOD hears our prayers and in Mark 11: 24 when we pray, believe that ye recievethem, and ye shall have them.
4. CHRIST INSTRUCTS them to pray for laborers, Matt 9:37-38, Luke 10: 2
5. CHRIST speaks of House of Prayer, Matt. 21:13, Mk.11: 17, Luke 19: 46, see also Thus saith the LORD, Isaiah 56:7
6. CHRIST teaches where to pray, Matt. 6:5-6
7. CHRIST teaches when to pray, Luke 18:1
8. CHRIST illustrates the Spirit we should have when we pray, Luke 18 :10-14, Matt. 6:5-7
9. What did CHRIST do when he began to pray, John 17: 1
10. What did CHRIST say about eternal life in his prayer, John 17: 2-3
11. What did CHRIST say about praying for us, John 17: 20-23
12. CHRIST prayed for GOD'S love to be in his disciples, John 17: 25-26 13. CHRIST’S last prayer on the cross, Luke 23:34, 46, Matt 27:46, Mark 15: 34
THE FOUR ALLS
Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You. - PSALM 32:6
If the effectiveness of our spiritual warfare depends not just on wearing the six pieces of armor (Eph 6:14-17), but also on constant, believing prayer, then we must ask ourselves: What can we do to make our prayer lives more effective?
The place given to prayer in both the Old and New Testaments is remarkable. All the great saints of the Old Testament knew how to pray - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, to mention just a few. The same prowess in prayer can be seen also in the New Testament Jesus, as the chief shepherd leading the way, Mathew 6: 9-13.
But of course the greatest Person of prayer was none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Although He possessed great knowledge and wisdom, He found it essential to turn aside time and time again to pray. On certain occasions He would spend whole nights in prayer or rise long before dawn in order to pray and maintain His communion with God.
Is it surprising, therefore, that being so dependent on prayer, He should have told His disciples: "Pray always and [do] not become discouraged" (Luke 18:1). Praying is the only alternative to fainting - we must pray or else we faint.
Paul's teaching with regard to prayer in Ephesians 6:18 revolves around four "alls." We are to pray at all times, with all prayer, with all perseverance, and for all the saints. Most Christians, however, pray at some times, with some prayer, and some degree of perseverance for some of God's saints. When we replace "some" by "all" in these expressions, we are on our way to effective praying.
Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,'
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said , We have sinned , for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And Hannah prayed , and said , My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies ; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
And Elisha prayed , and said , LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see . And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw : and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Now when Ezra had prayed , and when he had confessed , weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying , the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed , he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed , and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime .
And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession , and said , O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down , and taught the people out of the ship.
And it came to pass , that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased , one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray , as John also taught his disciples.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down , and prayed ; and turning him to the body said , Tabitha, arise . And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up .
