IN HIS PRESENCE (Part One)
Memory Verse
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matthew 7:7
BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 6:5-15
INTRODUCTION
It is a common practice to lock up valuables in special rooms and with special keys. Where to keep these valuables whether in the outer rooms or in the inner strong rooms, depends on how valuable they are to you. Though there are different keys to these rooms, there is a 'master key, however, that is available to the master of the house to unlock at will any of the doors to these rooms. Today, we will begin to examine the spiritual master key of the house to unlock doors to answers to petitions of God's children, that is, prayer.
OUTLINES
1. WHAT IS PRAYER?
2. WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?
3. WHERE AND WHEN CAN ONE PRAY?
WHAT IS PRAYER?
Prayer, simply put, is the soul of man talking to God. It is worship addressed to God the Father, in the name of God the Son and through the power of the Holy Spirit Acts 12:5; John14:13; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26-27. Prayer should consist of the following:
(a) Adoration i.e. praises and worship of God for what God is e.g. God is good, merciful, kind, powerful, faithful, just etc. When you praise God for what He is rather than what He has done for you, it is true worship - Ps. 95:6. (b) Confession and repentance from every known sin - Ps. 32:5. Washing in the blood of Christ will follow. If you are already sanctified and you have no sin to confess, wash in the blood all the same. You can never be too clean.
(c) Thanksgiving. Be thankful for anything and everything that God has done - Phil. 4:6.
(d) Supplication Le. Intercession, requests, petitions and desires can now be addressed to God, in the name of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit – ITim. 2:1.
WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?
God commands us to pray - Luke 18:1; 1 Thess.5:17; 1 Chron.16:11; James 5:13; Psalm 50:15. Jesus prayed and Christian followers of Jesus are expected to pray - Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Luke 3:21. The early Church prayed, so, churches too should pray - Acts 4:23-31; Acts 12:5-6; Eph. 1:15-20; CoI.4:12. The believers of old prayed too e.g. Moses in Exodus 15:23-25; Jesus, Matthew 26:39-42, David in Psalm 51:1-2 and Elijah too1 Kgs.18:37-39; James 5:17-18.
WHERE AND WHEN CAN ONE PRAY?
We can pray everywhere - I Timothy 2:8, in the closet - Matthew 6:6, or in the church, - Luke 18:10. Private prayer may be made in the secret place. Family prayer will involve a large group and may be made in the sitting room while public prayer may be made before the congregation.
We can pray in the morning - Psalm 5:3, at noon and in the evening Psalm 55: 17, day and night - Psalm 88: 1, daily - Psalm 86:3, and always Luke 18:1-. It is not only when you are on your knees with your eyes closed that you can pray. You can pray as you drive to work, while at work or while resting. Singing praises to God is also a form of prayer. Pray without ceasing 1 Thess. 5:17.
CONCLUSION
We have just discovered some fundamental truths about the master key, especially the aspects of when and where to apply it. Let us, therefore, act now and present all our petitions to God in the name of Jesus Christ. It is certain that He will answer accordingly to His perfect will for us.
QUESTIONS
1. What is prayer?
2. Where can we pray?
3. Why should we pray?
4. When can we pray as believers?
BLESSED WEEK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
MONDAY: Mark 11:24 - God is ready to answer us when we pray to Him in faith.
TUESDAY: John 15:7 - Requests placed before God will be answered according to the word of God only.
WED: I John 5:4-15 - The will of God is an essential condition to answered prayers.
THURSDAY: Philip. 4:6 - Anxiety is a negative response or reaction to situations. Pray instead of being anxious
FRIDAY: Hebrews 4:6 - The divine promise of eternal rest is obtainable only through
SATURDAY: Luke 18:1 - Do not be scared by prayers. Though time and energy consuming, the prayer time is always a blessing time after all.
SUNDAY: John 16:24 - The name of Jesus is the needed prerequisite in all our requests to God, for our prayers to be answered.
IN HIS PRESENCE (Part Two)
Memory Verse
"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6
BIBLE PASSAGE: Philippians 4:4-9
INTRODUCTION
In our last study, considerations were given to the definition of prayer, reasons for praying and where and when to pray. Hopefully, most of us should have cultivated the regular attitude of prayer by now, as we consider other aspects of prayer today. May the Holy Spirit help us even as we continue in our studies on the master key, prayer.
OUTLINES
1. FOR WHAT SHOULD I PRAY?
2. HOW SHOULD I PRAY?
3. WHY ARE SOME PRAYERS UNANSWERED?
FOR WHAT SHOULD I PRAY?
Subject for prayers includes the following:
(a) Pray for the sick - James 5: 13-16.
(b) Pray for all men, for the President, Governors, Commissioners, the General Superintendent, Pastors, Deacons, workers, the Choir, the ushers, the Sunday School Teachers, the children, the youths and the elders -I Timothy 2: 1-4.
(c) Pray for every Christian to be made perfect in Christ Jesus - Col.1:28.
(d) Pray for your enemies - Matthew 5:38-48.
(e) Pray for wisdom and understanding -I Kings 3:5-9.
(f) Pray for personal safety and the safety of others - Daniel 6:18-23. (g) Pray for a longer life -Isaiah 38:1-5.
(h) Pray for the second coming of Christ, that you may be able to do the will of the Lord, to receive daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, victory over temptation and sin - Matthew 6:9-13.
(i) Include your own individual requests.
Do you think it is still difficult to pray without ceasing?
HOW SHOULD I PRAY?
(a) The Holy Spirit should guide us in our praying - Romans 8:26-27.
(b) We must pray with faith in the existence of God - Hebrews 11: 6.
(c) We must pray persistently- Luke 18:1-8.
(d) We must pray with humility - 2 Chronicles 7:14.
(e) We must not ask God to do anything contrary to His will- Matt. 26:39.
(f) Must forgive others if we want God to answer our prayers - Mark 11:25.
(g) We must be obedient to God -I John 3:22.
(h) We must not stray from the way-John 15:7.
(i) We must pray in Jesus' name - John 16:24.
WHY ARE SOME PRAYERS UNANSWERED?
There are four major causes of unanswered prayers, namely:
- Unbelief -James 1:6-7.
- An unforgiving spirit - Mark 11:25.
- Sin - Psalm 66:18.
- Asking amiss i.e. asking with wrong motives or against the will of God- James 4:3.
CONCLUSION
Has any of your prayers been answered? Do you enjoy talking to the Almighty God? God enjoys listening to you as you talk to Him. Any sinner is privileged too to pray a simple prayer that God should be merciful to him or her.
QUESTIONS
1. List some terms of prayers.
2. How should a Christian pray?
3. Mention four reasons some prayers are unanswered.
BLESSED WEEK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
MONDAY: Ezra 9:5 - Pray in humility.
TUESDAY: Daniel6:10 –Pray with boldness. .
WEDNESDAY: 1 Kings 8:22 - Pray with a surrendering heart.
THURSDAY: Luke22:44 - Pray fervently.
FRIDAY: Ephesians 6:18 - Remember to always intercede as you pray.
SATURDAY: Exodus 2:23 - The Lord hears prayers.
SUNDAY: James 4:3 - Do not ask amiss for lustful pleasure.
