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PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER (Part 2)

October 19, 2003

 

WE LEARN TO PRAY
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he [Jesus] 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.
 
Praying according to God’s will
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
 
Understand God’s will
Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
 
God’s will is found in his commandments
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments (God’s revealed will), and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.                                            
          
WE ARE TO PRAY WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING
1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
 
PRAY NOT IN VAIN REPETITION
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
 
Think about what you are praying
Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 
 
DON’T PRAY AS THE HYPOCRITES
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men [no faith]. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
 
JESUS CONDEMNED LONG PRAYERS FOR SHOW
Luke 20:47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation [at the Judgment Seat of Christ].
 
Be honest in prayer
Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
 
Pray fervently
James 5:16-18 “… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.   18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
 
PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING AND INSIGHT
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
 
So we might walk worthy
Colossian 1: 10-11 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
 
Pray for mercy in order to see
Matthew 20:30,33,34 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
 
To see the son
John 6:40 Jesus said, And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have age lasting life (in the kingdom age, Mk. 10:30): and I will raise him up (to a position of honor) in the last day (the 7th day the millennial day).
 
PRAY TO BE KEPT BLAMELESS unto the 2nd coming
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved [kept] blameless [not guilty] unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Pray for strength to stand before the son
Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy [“that you may have strength,” NASB] to escape all these things that shall come to pass [the snare of falling away in last days v.35], and to stand before the Son of man [approved for the kingdom].
 
PRAY for others to stand approved
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete (approval) in all the will of God (before the future Judgment Seat of Christ 2Cor.5:10).  
 
PRAY THAT WE CAN BE COUNTED WORTHY OF OUR CALLING
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 
 
the calling is to the millennial kingdom
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdomand glory (that is to “…reign with him a thousand years,” Rev.20:6).
 
PRAY FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH TO ABOUND MORE IN LOVE
Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge [doctrinal truth] and in all judgment [discernment]; 
 
pray for those that despitefully use you
Luke 6:28 Jesus said, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
 
PRAY IN THE MIDST OF DIFFICULTIES AND ADVERSITIES
Acts 16:25 And at midnight (in prison) Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
 
DON’T WORRY BUT INSTEAD PRAY
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing [don’t be worried or full of cares, distracted with cares]; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
 
Our prayers are recorded by God
Acts 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
 
GOD REWARDS SECRET PRAYER
Matthew 6:6 Jesus said, But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.