Lesson 1 Types of Prayer

Transcription

1 Outcome of Lesson: You will know how to engage God in different ways for specific purposes This lesson will give us some insights on how to use the different forms of prayer effectively and the results that we desire. Introduction Prayer is not like throwing coins into a wishing well, but a personal engagement with our Heavenly father. We are in an amazing position as sons/daughters of the Living God to come into His throne of grace and to to confidently ask Him what we need and also partner with Him to see His will accomplished on earth. In this lesson we are going to take a look at three different types of prayer: Petition, Devotion and Intercession. Discussion Read Phil. 4:5-7 Phil. 4:5 Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Php 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Php 4:7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Q. What benefits do we get from praying? A. 1. Freedom from worrying. We know that God is going to help. 2. Peace from God. Petition Petition or supplication means a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority. This is

2 a wonderful privilege of the children of God given by our Father. Read Matt. 7:9-11 Mat. 7:9 Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Mat 7:10 Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? Mat 7:11 As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. Q. What confidence do we have that when we pray to our Father, He will give what we ask from Him? A. He is a good Father whose desire is to meet our needs and to give good gifts to all of us. In John 16:27, the Lord stated that God the Father loves you because you love me, and you believe that I have come from Him. It is the love of the Father that gives us the assurance that He wants to bless us and will give the best for us. There are four conditions that make our petitions effective: Read Matt. 21:22 If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for. 1. We must do it in faith. Read John 15:7 Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered. 2. We must remain in a right relationship with Christ. Read James 4:2-3

3 You want something you don't have, and you will do anything to get it. You will even kill! But you still cannot get what you want, and you won't get it by fighting and arguing. You should pray for it. Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons. 3. We must have the right motive. Read 1 John 5:14-15 We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered. 4. We must ask according to the will of God. Q. How do we know what pleases God and is His Will? A. The best way is to search what the Scripture says about certain things that you want from God. For example, you desire for a husband or wife because you now feel you re ready for a more serious and intimate relationship. Examine the Scripture, utilise available tools like Bible Concordance or Dictionaries and see what it says about who is the right person for you, then bring your petition to the Lord Testimony In the book Prayer that Brings Revival, Paul/David Yonggi Cho, the well known pastor of the largest Church in the world, shared his testimony that when he was starting his ministry in the once impoverished country of Korea, he prayed for three things that he needed for his work, a bicycle, a table and a chair. He repeatedly bombarded heaven with these requests for several months. He was greatly discouraged with God because he received no answers from Him. Six months later he wrote, he heard the still small voice within him saying, son, I heard you the first day you prayed six months ago. Then why didn t You give them to me? he asked. You asked me for a bicycle. Right? God continued. However, there are many makes of bicycles. What kind do you want? There are also different desks made out of different kinds of wood. What kind of desk do you want? There are number of makes and kinds of chairs. What kind chair do you want?. Those words, revolutionized my life. Then he goes on to say that he asked the Lord for three specific things: a bicycle

4 made in the United States, a desk made of mahogany wood from the Philippines and a chair with little wheels in the bottom so he could wheel around his room like a big shot. And within two weeks his requests were granted. Ask one or two people in your Lifegroup to testify of when they have asked for a specific request from God. Devotion Man was created with that inward desire to have communion with God. It was the Dutch philosopher Soren Kierkegaard who said that within the man is a vacuum that only God can fill. Devotion is a time of earnest desire to have an intimate fellowship with God. God is longing for our fellowship where the Father and son/daughter relationship is being developed. Since time immemorial, the Lord was seeking for someone who will go deep down in the presence of God. The key factor for an effective devotion is intimacy. Read John 14:19-21 John In a little while the people of this world won't be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. Joh 14:20 Then you will know that I am one with the Father. You will know that you are one with me, and I am one with you. Joh 14:21 If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like. Q. This passage is full of love language. What are the words or phrases that implied intimacy? A. but you will see me, I live, you will live, know, one with me, one with you, you will do what I said, love you, show you what I m like. Oftentimes during devotional time, you are there to listen rather than to ask. This is the time that you will receive revelation from God by tuning in your spirit to the live streaming of the Spirit of God. Read Mark 1:35

5 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. As we see here and last week, Jesus had a dynamic devotional life. Q: How do you describe the devotional life of Jesus? A: It was based on deep desire to meet with God (evidenced by the time He got up to pray) it was intentional, it was a private time devoted for prayer. Intercession Intercession means standing in the gap, on behalf of others. This is the time that you carry the burden and sufferings of others. Everyone is called to intercession. It is one of the most important ministries of the Church because it supplies the oil that keeps the light of the Church burning. Example of intercessors in the Bible: Moses for Israel Exo. 32:32 Samuel for Israel 1Sam. 7:5 David for Israel.. 1 Chro. 21:17 Paul for Christians in Philippi Phil. 1:9-11 Read Luke 2:25-35 Luke 2:25 At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him Luk 2:26 and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord. Luk 2:27 When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. Luk 2:28 Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, Luk 2:29 "Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. Luk 2:30 With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people, Luk 2:31 and foreign nations will also see this. Luk 2:32 Your mighty power is a light for all nations, and it will bring honor to your people Israel." Luk 2:33 Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. Luk 2:34 Then he blessed them and told Mary, "This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, Luk 2:35 and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking."

6 Just as we can and need to pray for the second coming of Jesus, Simon was one of the intercessors who prayed for the first coming of our Lord. Q. Taking Simon as an example, what are the qualities of a good intercessor? A. 1.He was devout. He loved God so much and spent much of his time praying in the temple. 2. He was patient. He waited for the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of Israel. 3.He was full of the Holy Spirit. His life was under submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 4.He trusted God. He believed the word of the Holy Spirit and trusted Him that he s not going to die until he will see the Lord. 5.He was a man of vision. He saw the salvation of many nations and of Israel in the future. Conclusion Praying is a wonderful privilege that should be used to receive the blessings of God and to bless others. There is nothing more powerful on earth that could turn any situation other than prayer. We could tap the limitless power of God to receive what we desire according to His will. Feedback on the Lesson How did this lesson help you in being committed to pray? Prayer Father we ask that you teach us how to pray. We desire to be more committed and to persevere in seeking your will and praying for it. We claim your promises that we learn today in Jesus name. Amen Remember: Take time to pray for our June/July Mission Teams Application of the Lesson In Your Life Make a commitment to appoint a time for prayer each day. You can begin by praying for others, and then for your own needs. Try also to spend time studying

7 God s word, worshipping Him and enjoying an intimate fellowship with your heavenly Father. Development: If you would like to develop further in your prayer life, why not join the Elements 3 Small Group, it delves deeper into the topics in this lesson.