Lesson Two
The "What" Of Prayer
INTRODUCTION:
1. Having studied some preliminaries of prayer (see lesson one), we will in the remainder of our study consider the "What", "Who", "Why", Where" and "How" of acceptable prayer to God.
2. In this lesson we will study more precisely from scripture what prayer is.
I. PRE-REQUISITES TO ACCEPTABLE PRAYER:
A. An acceptance of our human frailities and complete dependence on God - 1 Ki. 3:7; Jere. 10:23
B. Faith in a personal God, who is intelligent, concerned, powerful, knowledgeable to man's needs - one with whom man can communicate with confidence of an answer.
C. Faith in God who is compassionate, tender and loving, who acts out of love for our good, never out of impulse.
D. Faith in God who is infinite in all His attributes (knowledge, wisdom, power, holiness, etc.), therefore man must submit to His wisdom and will: "Thy will, not mine, be done" - cf. Eccl. 6:12 (man doesn't know).
II. WHAT PRAYER IS
A. Prayer is...
1. Acknowledging dependence upon God; an exercise of our sense of dependence on Him.
2. An act of faith.
a. We don't see God, but believe He's there - Heb. 11:1, 6
b. We don't know how He will answer our prayers, but we believe that He hears, is concerned, is able, and will respond according to His will & knowledge of what's best.
3. More than wishful thinking; it is our heart's desire expressed to God - Rom. 10:1
B. Types of prayer - 1 Tim. 2:1-2
1. Supplication (Grk. deesis; found 19 times in N.T.) - an asking or entreaty to God which grows out of need - cf. Romans 10:1; Phil. 1:4, James 5:16
2. Prayer (Grk. proseuche) - emphasizes the element of communion, devotion, worship and fellowship with God. Occasionally, it has reference to petitions for personal needs.
a. In prayer, one simply talks to God about his problems or necessities - Luke 6:12; Phil. 4:6
b. Prayer is not...
(1) to give information to God.
(2) to free us from responsibility God has given us.
(3) to ask God to do for us what we are to do for ourselves.
3. Intercession (Grk. enteuxis) - to make petition, to seek God on behalf of others; an intervention of the saint on another's behalf
a. This grows out of a relationship with both God and other people.
b. Examples:
1) Abraham's prayer for Sodom & Gomorrah - Gen. 18:22-33
2) Moses' prayer for the people of Israel - Exod. 32:30-33
3) Jesus' prayer for Peter - Luke 22:31-32
4) Paul's prayer for the Jews - Rom. 9:2-3
4. Thanksgiving (Grk. eucharistia) - expression of gratitude/grateful praise to the Lord for his blessings.
a. Motivated by a thankful spirit - Col. 3:15
b. Terrible consequence follow those who refuse to acknowledge God and give thanks in their lives - Rom. 1:21-28
c. Christians should develop a grateful spirit to find something in every experience of life for which to give thanks - Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Thess. 5:16-18
C. Prayer is a spiritual exercise.
1. Not "saying a prayer" by rote, nor as a formal ritual done out of habit or tradition.
a. This is not to say, however, that we shouldn't have set times to pray - cf.Dan. 6:10
2. Prayer need not be any longer that to relate the need, desire or feeling one desires to express to God - cf. Luke 18:13; Nehemiah 2:4
CONCLUSION: Prayer should have first priority in our lives - Lk. 18:1, 8; Matt. 7:7-11; 1 Thess. 5:17
QUESTIONS
1. What was Solomon's response when he was made king according to 1 Kings 3:7?
2. What does Jeremiah 10:23 suggest about man's capability without God?
3. What does Eccl. 6:12 say about man's knowledge without God?
4. Why is prayer an act of faith?
5. List and the different types of prayer found in 1 Timothy 2:1-2.
6. For what need does Paul make supplication for in Rom. 10:1?
7. Whose prayer avails much according to James 5:16?
8. Prayer is the remedy of what according to Philippians 4:6.
9. For what did Jesus pray concerning Peter (Luke 22:31-32)?
10. Discuss the importance of gratitude / thanksgiving in our prayers.
