4.  Prayer - Praying with a right heart (1)

Luk 19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
 

Ps 145: 18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
 

Ps 145: 19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them
 

2 Chron. 7: 14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

     When we pray, we need to examine ourselves to see if we are hindering the blessings of God in our attitudes and intentions of the heart.  Are we truly seeking to know and live God's truth? If not, are we willing to change?

5.  Prayer - Praying with a right heart (2)

Isa 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
 

Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Pro 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Pro 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

     Christians are no longer under a law covenant but are under grace, and anyone who comes to God through Christ is accepted with Him, in which God calls us His children, not servants.  Today, He still asks us to join ourselves to Him in our minds and hearts, and to remain in His love, so that our prayers will be answered, and our joy will be full.  

6. Prayer - Praying with a right heart (3)

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

     As we grow in our understanding of God's righteousness, and that we are made whole solely through the sacrifice of Christ, for in our carnal nature there is no good thing, then we will understand true humility versus self-righteousness. True humility doesn't dwell on condemnation, for we are not condemned, but gratefully considers the reality of God's redemptive love within.

7.  Prayer - Praying with a right heart (4)

Jam 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
 

1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
 

1Jo 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

     As we read and study the Word of God, we become familiar with the will of God for His people, in which we can pray with understanding and confidence.  Powerful are the prayers of the saints who remain in Him. 

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8.  Prayer - How to pray (1)

In private without vain repetitions

Mat 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. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
 

Mat 6:6 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.
 

Mat 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.
 

Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

     Reward - V. 5: mis-thos'
 

Apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad: - hire, reward, wages.

Shall reward thee - V. 6: apodidōmi

To give away, that is, up, over, back, etc. (in various applications): - deliver (again), give (again), pay, perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward, sell, yield,

Openly - shining, that is, apparent (literally or figuratively); neuter (as adverb) publicly, externally: - abroad, + appear, known, manifest, open [+ -ly], outward ([+ -ly]).
 

9.  Prayer - How to pray (2)

To Our Father

Luk 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he 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.

Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
 

Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
 

Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

     Jesus models a prayer that demonstrates our relationship to God as our "Father," a Father Who is holy, faithful to His promises, provider of our needs, forgiver of our sins, and our deliverer from all evil. 

10.  Prayer - How to pray (3)

Ask the Father in the name of Jesus Christ

John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
   

John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 16: 23: And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
  

John 16:24: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
 

Ask

The present imperative, implying continuous asking. Be asking.

Compare - Mar 6:22, the aorist imperative, marking a single, definite petition.
 

11.  Prayer - How to pray (4)

 con't . . . To the Father / in Jesus Christ's name / as children of God

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
 

Joh 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Joh 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Mat 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

The name of Jesus Christ represents all of His character, work, authority, and power, in which we approach the Father with His Word and promises. 

Because of the Spirit of Christ in us, we are the children of God and we approach God as our Father. 

Advocate - one who pleads the cause of another in a court of civil law, for Christ is the propitiation for our sins.  Jesus Christ is our legal advocate and intercessor.

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12.  Prayer - How to pray (5)

 Thanking the Father in the name of Jesus Christ

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel . . . he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
 

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
 

1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

supplications - a petition

prayers - worship

intercessions - petition in behalf of another

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13.  Prayer - How to pray (6)

 Giving thanks because . . .

 1Co 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
 

1Ch 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psa 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

   

 In prayer, we remember and are thankful to God in Christ because:

•  We have God's grace in Christ (undeserved kindness).

•  We have been given an inheritance in Christ.

•  We are highly esteemed by God in Christ.

•  We have the victory in Christ.

•  We have fellowship in Christ, with God, Who is good, merciful, and holy.

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13.  Prayer - How to pray (7)

 A.  Without wrath and doubting

1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath [violent passion] and doubting.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath [violent passion]; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Jam 1:20 For the wrath [violent passion] of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

     Great spiritual fruit awaits the Christian, who learns to overcome the flesh with the power of Christ. 

14.  Prayer - How to pray (8)

 B.  Con't . . . Without wrath and doubting

Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
 

Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
 

Jam 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive (take hold of) any thing of the Lord.
 

Jam 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
 

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Wavering: V. 6

Greek - diakrinō

From G1223 and G2919; to separate thoroughly, that is, (literally and reflexively) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figuratively to discriminate (by implication decide), or (reflexively) hesitate: - contend, make (to) differ (-ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, waver (Strong).

He shall receive: V. 7

Greek - lambanō
 

To take, get hold of, or seize - Active not passive or subjective

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15.  Prayer - How to pray (9)

Pouring out the heart

Psa 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
 

1Sa 1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
 

Lam 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

Psa 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

       There is great peace in spending time alone with God and pouring out our hearts before Him, and know that He hears our every word. 

16.  Prayer - How to pray (10)

 Earnestly seek God

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psa 5:2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
 

Psa 27:7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
 

Psa 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Psa 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Psa 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
 

       Seek - A primitive root; properly to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication to seek or ask; specifically to worship.

     It is always God's will that we seek Him in prayer; we are never to think that God will not hear us, or that He is unwilling to meet our need.

     Also as Christians, seeking the face of the Lord is more than just a request; it is a lifestyle, in which God is our sufficiency in everything as we stand on His promises in Christ, and worship God in Spirit and in Truth. When we pray to God, we pray to Him in truth and confess those promises in our worship and requests.

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17.  Prayer - How to pray (11)

 Know that the Word of God is the will of God

Psa 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
 

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Jer 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Psa 43:3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

       The Lord has given us His Holy Spirit and the written Word, and as we are led, we approach the throne of God with His truth and light.  In doing this, we need to understand the will of God for His Church by rightly dividing the Word of Truth, from times past to times present.

18.  Prayer - How to pray (12)

 Know that God seeks to perform His good will on earth

Psa 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
 

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
 

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Psa 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
 

Psa 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

       God is always light; He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, in which He seeks to perform all His good will on earth. Many times Christians will pray and ask for something without any assurance of receiving the thing, because they wonder if it is God's will.  We can pray more effectively, if we remind ourselves that God's will isn't a secret, and all of His promises in Christ are yea and Amen. 

19.  Prayer - How to pray (13)

Self-encouragement in faith

Psa 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Psa 77:11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

Psa 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Psa 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Psa 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

Psa 42:6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Psa 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

       When David sought the Lord, he encouraged himself against doubt, by recalling and verbalizing the faithfulness of God in times past. 

20.  Prayer - How to pray (14)

21.  Prayer - How to pray (15)

Testing our faith

Psa 88:13 But unto thee, O Jehovah, have I cried; And in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.

Psa 65:2  O thou that hearest prayer, Unto thee shall all flesh come.

1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Psa 6:9  Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah will receive my prayer.

One way we can measure our faith in prayer is whether or not we are experiencing confidence in God.  Faith knows that God is listening.

22.  Prayer - The Power of Faith (1)

The Lord demonstrates the power of faith in prayer

Mar 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he [Jesus] came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs.
 

Mar 11:14 And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it.
 

Mar 11:21 And Peter [the next day] calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
 

Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
 

Mar 11:23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.
 

Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 When it comes to faith, we are never at the end of our rope, but we are always challenged to take God at His Word, and all that Christ is and believe. 

23.  Prayer - The Power of Faith (2)

The Lord assures our faith (1)

Luk 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
 

Luk 11:6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

Luk 11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

Luk 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

       Here the perfect love and willingness of God to answer our prayers is in contrast to the inconsistencies of a good friend.  The Lord here is not teaching persistence in prayer as though the Father, at times, would need our determination to convince Him to respond to our needs.  If it's possible to convince  the unwilling to help us, how much more will God hear our requests. 

23.  Prayer - The Power of Faith (3)

The Lord assures our faith (2)

Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
 

Luk 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
 

Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

     The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, brings the family context into view, as a common ground of understanding the special bond that exists between God and His children. 

 24.  Prayer - Ask (1)

     Asking amiss 

Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
 

Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
 

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
 

Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
 

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
 

Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
 

Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
 

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

     This section of Scripture is a great illustration of the Kingdom of Light, for understanding the lusts of the flesh versus the love of God's Spirit.   Their desire, to reserve the best seats of God's house for themselves, is a reflection of human nature, but the only way we can truly reign with God, is to walk in His love.

25.  Prayer - Ask (2)

     Asking & fellowship 

1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
 

Keep

From "teros"

A watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from G5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus
 

 26.  Prayer - Ask (3)

     United in Prayer 

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Act 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
 

Act 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
 

Act 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

These Scriptures are a great source of inspiration for Christians to unite together in prayer and in faith to expect God's answer. 
 

27.  Prayer - Ask (4)

     Ask anything 

1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

Psa 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Jer 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Psa 119:117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

We can ask God for anything according to His revealed will.  We can go to God for salvation for others, deliverance, healing, and strength.