Bible Study #8: The Power of Prayer
What is Prayer?
Write your own definition of prayer (NOTE: definition of prayer - Communication with God: communication between you and God. Communication only happens when message is sent by sender; received by receiver; receiver communicates to sender what was received; and sender knows receiver heard and understood what was intended.
Why Should You Pray?
You are Commanded to Pray: Identify the commands to pray in the
following texts:
Jeremiah 33:3 God commands us to call on Him and He will answer
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Bible commands us to pray without ceasing (NOTE: ask student how we do this? Prayer includes listen for God to speak to us in answer to our prayers, we can always be listening for God to answer our prayers)
Luke 18:1 Jesus commands us to pray at all times and not lose heart
Colossians 4:2 Paul commands us to devote ourselves to prayer
1 Timothy 2:1-4 Paul commands us to prayer all kinds of prayers for all men - ultimately because God wants all men to be saved
The Bible Models Prayer: In the following texts identify the person
praying and anything that evidences the importance of prayer to them:
Mark 1:35 Jesus prayed; He withdrew from others and prayed by Himself alone
Mark 6:45-47 Jesus after a hard day - got alone to pray
Luke 6:12 Jesus prayed; He spent all night in prayer
Acts 1:14 early church persisted in prayer, was devoted to prayer
Acts 6:2-4 leaders of church prayed; ministry of prayer was so important appointed others to take care of physical needs
Prayer Benefits You: Identify how prayer benefits you in these texts
John 15:7, 11 answered prayer (vv7) is one of things (vv11) that allows us to have Joy of Jesus and our joy be made full
John 16:23-24 asking and receiving is for the purpose of our joy being made full
Greatest resource you can receive from prayer
Study Luke 11:9-13 and identify the greatest resource God will give you
in answer to your prayers: when we ask, seek and find; God ultimately gives us Holy Spirit(vv13 - make sure to help student see Jesus’ argument from lesser - human fathers to greater - Heavenly Father; point out if human fathers who are sinners/evil give good things to child how much more Father gives Holy Spirit)
How is Acts 4:24-31 an example of the above truth? Church prayed that they speak the word with boldness (vv28) and all were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with boldness
God’s Attitude Towards Your Prayers: Read Proverbs 15:8 and identify
God’s attitude toward your prayers. My prayers are a delight to God - He is pleased to hear my prayers
Jesus’ Promises Concerning Prayer
Read the texts below and identify the promises Jesus makes about prayer:
Matthew 7:7-11 when we ask, seek and knock; Jesus declares we will be given, find, and it be opened to us - God will give us what is good to those who ask
Matthew 21:20-22 everything we ask in prayer, if we believe (have faith and do not doubt) we shall receive
What do these two texts seem to suggest about our prayers? If we ask anything in prayer we will receive what is good from God - what we ask (NOTE: understand - that these texts must be taken in context of all of the teaching of Bible - in isolation these texts seem to suggest ask and you will get it, however in context of Bible - there are conditions to answered prayer)
The Bible teaches certain conditions must be met for God to answer our
prayers. Study the texts below and identify these conditions:
Mark 11:22-24 to receive God’s answer to prayer requires faith without doubting (NOTE: understand this faith is believing God hears and will answer their prayers)
1 John 5:14-15 for God to hear and answer our prayer requires praying according to God’s will (NOTE: understand God will not give us what we ask contrary to His will - Jesus’ prayer in garden - let cup pass from Me - not My will but Yours be done)
John 14:13-14 ask anything in Jesus’ name and Jesus will do it, thus we must ask in Jesus name (NOTE: understand what this means; it doesn’t mean literally saying in Jesus’ name {its okay to do this} but it means praying in agreement with person, character, and teaching of Jesus; also pray in the authority of Jesus {Matt 28:18})
James 4:2-3 we need to pray with right motives - motives that would agree with teaching of Bible, person and character of God
1 John 3:22 we need right relationship of obedience with God - living a lifestyle that is pleasing to God
The Relationship of Our Prayers and Our Work for God
Jesus spoke of our work and prayer together in the following texts. Study
the texts and identify the relationship of prayer and works?
John 14:12-14 Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will do the works He did and even greater works (finish building His church He started) because He was going to the Father; (NOTE: the “and” {NASV} connects vv13 to vv12) Jesus then promised in vv13-14 whatever we ask in His Name He would do. In context this asking would relate to the works of Jesus that we do; thus prayer empowers and resources us through Jesus to do these works
John 15:5-8 in vv5 Jesus teaches whoever abides in Him bears much fruit - apart from Me you can do nothing! in vv7 Jesus teaches that power and resources of answered prayer are conditioned upon abiding in Him. Both fruit bearing (the results of our work) and the power and resources of answered prayer are dependant on abiding in Jesus. In context the power and resources of answered prayer empower us to ask Jesus for whatever we need to bear fruit
John 15:16 Jesus makes clear that we did not choose Him but He choose us; Jesus identified at least two purposes for choosing us: #1 we should go and bear fruit; #2 whatever we ask of the Father, He may give us. Again we find our work (bearing fruit) and prayer (the ability to empower and resource that work) connected in Jesus teaching (NOTE; understand that prayer is a resource to empower us and provide every need we might have to do the work of bearing fruit)
Paul’s prayers evidence he believed prayers empowered his work for God.
Study the texts below and identify the works empowered by prayer.
Romans 15:30-31 prayer empowered Paul’s deliverance and service in Jerusalem
2 Corinthians 1:9-11 prayer empowered Paul’s deliverance from sentence of death and bestowed favor on him
Ephesians 6:18-20 prayer empowered to speak boldly preaching the gospel
Colossians 4:2-4 Prayer touched God to open the door of the opportunity for Paul to speak forth the gospel
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 prayer empowered the spreading of the word and deliverance for those who spoke it
Personal Prayer: How Do I Pray?
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:5-13. Study this text,
then identify as many instructions as you found about how to pray.
(After you have completed this study, review the outline on the back page)
Hallowed - make holy God’s name: set God apart in your prayers - give Him the place of priority - 1st place;
Thy Kingdom come: pray for God’s rule in our lives and world
Thy will be done on earth as in heaven: pray for God to show you His will and for your obedience to His will
Give us our daily bread: express utter dependence on God for our daily needs; pray first (this is the priority) for spiritual nourishment/needs through His word and Holy Spirit; then trust God to provide all physical needs;
Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors: ask God to show you any sins or unforgiveness you might have against others; confess your sins and forgive anyone you might have issue with
Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from the evil one: prayer to God to protect you from sin and its temptation
Our Sins Effect on Prayer
Read the following texts and identify how sin effects our prayers:
Isaiah 59:1-2 Our sins separate us from God and causes God to hide His face and not hear our prayers (NOTE: this is separation from fellowship and blessings)
John 9:31 God doesn’t hear sinners - those who don’t hear Him or refuse to do His will
What is the solution to sin’s effect on our prayers? (hint: 1 John 1:9) when we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us and cleanse us from our sins
Your Prayer Partners in Difficult Times
Sometimes you will struggle to pray, either not knowing what to pray or due
to circumstances unable to pray. In such cases Paul promised us we have
prayer partners: Read Romans 8:26-27, 34 and identify these partners. The Holy Spirit and Jesus intercede for us in times when we struggle in prayer
Prayer for sick
Read James 5:13-18. What makes your prayers for the sick effective? V15 - prayer in faith; prayer of righteous man, i.e., a right relationship with God; vv13-16 prayers for others not self - i.e., prayed with right motives; v14 anointing him in the name of the Lord - i.e., prayers offered in the name of Jesus; (NOTE: this fulfills 4 of 5 conditions for answered prayer
What determines if the sick are healed (see Mark 1:40-42)? the sick will be healed if Jesus is willing to heal them. God’s will determines who is healed, not our prayers of faith
Does Jesus physically heal everyone (see John 5:1-9)? According to vv3 a multitude of sick were surrounding the pool, but Jesus only healed one man that day - vv7-9; thus we are taught that Jesus does not heal everyone that is sick.
What is the ultimate healing God gives (see 1 Cor 15:53-57)? When death is swallowed up in victory and we who are perishable and mortal put on imperishable and immortal. Thus the ultimate healing God has for mortal man is death, the door to eternal life in heaven with God and Jesus.
What is the most effective prayer you can pray for the sick? To pray for God’s will to be done. Only God knows what is best for the individual who is sick. We should never presume to know what is best. We may express to God our feelings - our needs - our heart desires - but we must follow the example of Jesus and pray, “Not my will but Your will be done”
Prayer as a Priority
Based on what you have learned, why should prayer be a priority in your
life? (NOTE: captured the major teachings of this lesson as the reasons prayer show be a priority in their life)
Outline of Matthew 6:9-13
God’s agenda
Hallowed be Thy name: set God apart positional in your prayer - give Him first place by speaking with God in words of:
Adoration; Love; Worship; Praise; Thanksgiving
Confiding in Him your deepest feelings
Thy Kingdom come: express your passion for God’s lordship in your life;
Empty your heart of self
Invite God to reign in everything in your life for this day
Ask God to show you any multiple masters, idols or other priorities you might have - listen for God to speak
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven: focus on looking into God’s heart and discover His desires for our daily life
Ask God to grow your love and desire to please Him
Seek obedience in every aspect of your life
Ask God to show you His will and spend time listening for Him to speak
Our Agenda
Give us this day our daily bread: Express to God your utter dependence upon Him for all daily needs - all that sustains your life
Make your spiritual needs the priority of your prayer - Jesus and God’s word alive and effective in your daily life - empowering and strengthening you
Trust God for your physical needs
Forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven others: confess specific sins to God and seek His forgiveness for these sins
First ask God to show you any unforgiveness you may have towards others - listen to God
Work through your anger, hurt, disappoints, frustrations with these individuals and give up the right to get even i.e., forgive them
Ask God to convict you of your sins specifically.
Listen for God to convict you of your sins
Ask His forgiveness for these sins & help to not let them return in your life
Do not lead us into temptation/testing, but deliver us from the evil one: Express to God your need for His protection
Ask God to keep His hedge of protection around us and spare us from testing if it is His will
Seek God’s strength to endure any test that might be His will
Ask God to protect from the attacks of the devil