The Weapons of our Warfare 2 Prayer – Session 3 Practicalities
- Danger of just learning principles and thinking âWe can do it now!â
Revelation is essential â Lord teach US to pray - Prayer is not so much something we do, more what we are
- âFaith is essential to prayerâ (W. E. Vine) âthe recognition of, and committal of ourselves and our matters to, the faithfulness of Godâ
- Faith is not power over God or situations â faith is trust in the Lord who has the power and reliance on His faithfulness
- Engages our understanding 1 Cor. 14:15 and our will Col. 4:12
- Whatâs on Godâs heart?
- Praying Godâs Word back to Him â His Will is in His Word
Jesusâ Teaching on Prayer
Matt 6:5-15
- Not for show â comes from the heart
- Private and public prayer â God always hears us John 11:41-42
- The Lordâs company â delight in Him
- The pattern prayer all in the plural â unity essential
- Dependence and reliance on God
- Answered prayer is our ârewardâ 2 Kings 4:33-35; 1 Kings 17:19-23
- Recognition of our relationship to our Father
- Repair the altar 1 Kings 18:30
- Right relationship with others
- Donât tell God what He already knows
Paulâs Teaching on Prayer
All kinds of prayers Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1-8.
- Need to get our instructions from our Father
- Different postures and modes of prayer
- Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (A C T S)
- Sincere cry for help â may involve weeping or praying in tongues (when we donât know what to pray)
- Petition Habakkuk 2:1; 3:2
- Paul prays for what is excellent Col. 1:9-10
- Tied to the long view
- The urgent or the important?
- For the Glory of God
Words used, with example Scripture refs (a concordance will give many more!):
Nouns | Verbs | ||
Proseuche | Prayer in general (to God) Mat. 21:22; Luke 6:12; Eph. 6:18; Phil 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1; 5:5 | Proseuchomai | To pray (to God) Matt. 6:6-9 Eph. 6:18; Phil. 1:9; 1 Tim.2:8 |
Euche | Prayer (request) Jas, 5:15 | Euchomai | To pray (express a desire) 2 Cor. 13:7 (Pray),9 (wish) |
Deesis | Supplication (stresses sense of need) Heb. 5:7 (1) Prayers | Deomai | Beg, plead, desire 2 Cor. 5:20; 8:4 |
Hiketeria | Supplication Heb 5:7 (2) in conjunction with Deesis | ||
Enteuxis | Intercession an interview (petition to a superior) 1 Tim. 4:5 | ||
Agrupneo | watching (stay awake!) Mark 13:31; Luke 21:36; Eph, 6:18; Heb. 13:17 | ||
Eucharista | Thanksgiving Eph. 5:4; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1 | Eucharisteo | To give thanks Rom. 1:8; Eph. 1:16; Col. 1:3 |
Parakaleo | Call near (to help), implore Matt. 26:53; Mark 5:17,18; Acts 16:9 | ||
Erotao | Interrogate, request, ask John 14:16; 16:26; 17:9 |
Paulâs Example Phil. 1:9-11 (D. Carson “A Call to Spiritual Reformation” ch.8)
- Paul prays for what is excellent = the love he prays for is a means to an end â discernment of what is excellent
- Paulâs prayer is tied to the long view âthat they may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ
- Paul prays to the glory of God, not the pursuit of excellence which can be idolatrous!
Hindrances (some taken from L. Lambert “My House shall be a House of Prayer” ch. 9)
- Unforgiveness Matt. 6:14-15
- Unconfessed sin Psa. 66:18; Prov. 28:9
- Sense of defilement John 13:10
- Disbelief Mark 11:22-24; 1 John 5:14-15
- Doubt and Doublemindedness James 1:5-7
- Distraction Psa. 73:2-3, 13-17
- Tiredness Mark 14:37-39
- Disharmony Phil. 1:27; 4:2; Psa. 133
- Husband and wife relationships 1 Pet. 3:5-7
- Self-centredness
- Spirit of Despair (immobilizes) Isa. 61
Excuses for not praying (including some from Carson [ibid.] ch. 7)
- Donât know what to say Rom. 8:26
- Too busy Martha Luke 10:38-42
- Too much effort? Not based on feelings! Persistent widow Luke 18:1-8
- Donât feel the need â self-sufficiency, pride Josh. 9:14-15
- Too bitter Eph. 4:31-32
- Too ashamed 1 John 1:9; Heb. 4:15; 10:19
- Content with mediocrity Phil. 1:9-11
- Happy with the Status quo? Prov. 19:24; 20:4; Jas. 1:6-7; 4:2
- Godâs going to do His Will anyway, so why pray! Eph. 1:11; Ezek. 22:30; Isa. 63:5 – not âQue sera, seraâ! Gid is looking for people whi will ‘stand in the gap’ and pray His will into being. Example of Moses Ex. 33-34