LEARNING TO PRAY

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this session is to communicate what it means to pray, and to encourage and equip you to develop your personal prayer life.

Learning Objectives: This session is designed to help you:

1. Understand what prayer is.
2. Understand why prayer is important.
3. Understand how to pray.

Scripture References: Philippians 4:6; Psalm 62:8; Acts 4:23-33

INTRODUCTION

How would you define prayer?

"Jesus wants to be involved in every area of our lives.  He cares about us and about all of our concerns."
"Communication is a vital element in any successful relationship, including our relationship with God.  God wants us to communicate with Him about our cares and concerns, and He desires that we talk to Him about every area of our lives.  This communication with God is called prayer."

I. WHAT IS PRAYER?

A. Prayer is personal communication with God.

"It is easy to become overly concerned with our choice of words. Prayer, however, is simply talking to God as we would to our dearest friend."

1. Prayer is the privilege of believers.
   "From the moment we received Christ we began a relationship with God.  This personal relationship includes the privilege of open communication with Him."
2. Our communication with God is like a child to a father.
   "Let's look at how we, as children, relate to God as our Father."
   1. God loves us and cares about us (Ephesians 2:4,5,8; 1 Peter 5:7).
      4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5Made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions  it is by grace you have been saved.  Ephesians 2:4,5
      "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith  and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."  Ephesians 2:8
      "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7
      "When we communicate with God it is important to remember that He loves and cares for us.  This lays a foundation for open communication."
      "Because God loves and cares for us . . . "
   2. He wants to hear what we have to say (Psalm 62:8; 65:2; Proverbs 15:8).
   3. He delights in us and longs for our fellowship (Psalm 27:8; John 4:23b; Proverbs 15:8).
   4. We want to be with the Father, share what is on our heart and experience the security of the Father's love.
      "The closer our relationship with God, the freer our communication can be with Him."
3. We can talk to God about anything (Philippians 4:6; Psalm 62:8), at any time and in any place (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
   "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Philippians 4:6
   "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."  Psalm 62:8
   "Because of our relationship with God we can talk with Him about anything, any time.  We are encouraged to `pour out our hearts.'  He longs for you to commune with Him, to tell Him what is on your heart."
   1. Pray about circumstances (Hebrews 4:16).
      "People often turn to God in prayer when circumstances are bad.  When things are going well, remember to take time to thank God for His goodness and provision."
   2. Pray about people (Ephesians 3:14-19; Colossians 1:9-12).
      "Pray for their salvation, their walk with God (if they are Christians) and their needs."
   3. Pray about your feelings (Psalm 62:8).
      "We can express all our feelings to God because He understands (see Hebrews 4:14,15)."
      "We can talk to God any place and any time."

B. Prayer involves listening to God as He speaks to us through His Word.

16All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16,17
18Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.
34Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law and obey it with all my heart.
103How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Psalm 119:18,34,103,104
"As you study God's Word, ask God to speak to you through His Word and then stop to listen.  Quiet your mind and heart before Him.  But do not become introspective.  Tell Him how much you want to please Him."

II. WHY IS PRAYER IMPORTANT?

What would (or would not) happen if I stopped praying? Therefore, why is it important to pray?  What happens when we pray?

A. It glorifies God (John 14:13).

"We glorify God through prayer as we acknowledge who God is, our dependence on Him, His ability to answer our prayer, and our confidence in Him."

B. Prayer builds intimacy with God.

"Communication draws us closer to God and deepens our personal relationship with Him."

C. God commands us to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

"Pray continually."  1 Thessalonians 5:17 
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."  Ephesians 6:18

D. Prayer unleashes the power of God and enables us to have an impact on the world (Acts 4:23-33; see also Matthew 9:38).

What does Acts 4:23-31 teach us about prayer?

23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:  'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain.  26The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'  27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."  31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.  Acts 4:23-31 

"When the believers prayed, God's great power was released as they went out to witness boldly."

III. HOW TO PRAY

A. Prayer involves our intellect, will and emotions.

"As in any meaningful conversation, prayer also involves our thoughts, our feelings and our responses.  Our mind must be engaged as we pray and our will be in submission to the Lord.  While we do not always experience worshipful feelings, these will often follow as we pray in obedience and in faith."

B. We pray to the Father in the name and authority of Jesus through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 15:16; Romans 8:26,27).

"Our prayers are validated by Jesus Christ and are interpreted to God the Father by the Holy Spirit.  But since God is one God manifested in three persons, it is also perfectly acceptable to pray to Jesus or the Holy Spirit."

C. Prayer often includes the following elements:

1. Praise and worship (Psalm 147:1; Psalm 145).
   "Praise is our expression of adoration to God.  It means honoring and praising our Father and regarding Him with fervent devotion.  We praise God for who He is and what He is like.  We honor Him for the wonderful things He has done and for providing His Son to take away our sins.  We can declare our love and devotion to Him because He first loved us.  Psalms 145-150 will give you beautiful biblical examples of adoration, praise and worship."
2. Confession.
   "The word `confess' means to agree with God about our sins.  If we become aware of an attitude or action displeasing to God, we need to talk to Him about it and make a decision to change our actions in the power of the Holy Spirit.  When we sin in attitude or action, confession cleanses our hearts and God will then hear our prayers."
3. Giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 107:1).
   "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18  
   "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."  Psalm 107:1
   "Giving thanks provides the opportunity to express to God that we appreciate Him for who He is, as well as for what He has done for us.  It is an expression of gratitude and also demonstrates faith."
   "As conversation is expressed in many different ways, so prayer can be expressed in different ways."
4. Supplication--making requests (Philippians 4:6,7; Matthew 6:11,13).
   "This is when we pray for other people and their needs and for our own needs.  We are to pray for everything that concerns us as well as for the needs of others."
   "Give us today our daily bread . . .  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."  Matthew 6:11,13
   6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6,7

D. Different ways to pray.

1. Silent prayer (personal or corporate).
2. Conversational prayer in a large or small group.
   "Conversational prayer is praying in a group, one person at a time, staying on one subject to cover it thoroughly before another subject is introduced.  Conversational prayer is simply people having a conversation with God."
3. Praying through the Scripture.
   "When you pray through Scripture, you read each verse or sentence and turn it into prayer.  You give praise or thanks, make requests and so on, according to the thoughts that are expressed or suggested in the Scripture passage."
   "Generally, the prayers will be short prayers of one or two sentences.  A person may pray many times about the subject or they may not pray at all."

IV. DEMONSTRATION OF PRAYER

"Let's pretend that `a' has a Training Group that has been meeting together for six weeks.  The group members have been growing in their walks with God and in their relationships with one another.  Each member of the group is developing their personal ministry of evangelism and discipleship.  Tonight, their group has been meeting for 45 minutes.  They have spent time sharing what has been happening in their lives, had some time in the word together, and now they are going to pray conversationally.  Let's join them as the group continues."
A. "As we pray together tonight, what are some things you want to pray about?"
C. "I am starting my new Training Group on Saturday.  I would like us to pray about that."
D. "My mother goes into the hospital for surgery tomorrow.  I would like prayer for her."
B. "As I shared earlier tonight, I talked to my sister, Anna, last night about Christ and she was not very receptive.  It has been on my mind all day.  I would like us to pray for her."
A. "Ok.  Let us pray about these things together."
`Father, thank You that You are a God who cares about us.'"
C. "Yes, thank You that You hear us and that You desire our fellowship."
D. "Thank You that `B' was able to tell Anna about You last night."
B. "Yes, Father.  Thank You for such a natural opportunity to tell Anna about You.  I ask that You would continue to work in Anna's heart so that she would see how much she needs to know You."
C. "I agree, Lord.  I pray that the Holy Spirit would convict her about her sin and need for a Savior.  I also ask that she would become more open to hearing about You."
A. "We ask that You would provide more opportunities for `B' to talk with Anna and that she would encounter other Christians who will talk to her as well."
D. "Thank You, Father, that You desire for people to enter a relationship with You."
C. "Thank You, too, that You not only care but You also answer our prayers.  There is no one more powerful than You."
B. "Father, I would like to pray for 'D's mother, who is facing surgery tomorrow.  I am sure she feels nervous.  I pray You will calm her and help her trust You through this." 
A. "I agree, Lord.  We recognize that You are in control of this situation.  I do pray for the surgeon, that You will give him wisdom and concentration as he performs the surgery."
D. "I pray that there will be no complications after surgery and that she will heal quickly."

[Brief pause]

A. "Thank You, Father, for the Training Group that `C' is starting on Saturday.  I thank You that You have brought `C' into contact with so many interested people.  I ask that they would grow into committed multiplying disciples who will help reach the world for Christ."
B. "I agree.  Right now, though, I ask that they would remember to come on Saturday and that they would be faithful."
C. "I have to admit, Father, that I feel nervous about leading this group.  I ask for Your help as I do it."
B. "I pray You would help `C' as he/she prepares for the group, that he/she would understand the material and would be able to communicate it clearly."
D. "Thank You, Lord, that You hear us; that You care and are involved in our lives.  Thank You, too, that You are able to answer.  We are grateful.  And thank You for this time in prayer together with You.  In Jesus' name, amen."

[Demonstration ends.]

"What are some observations you made about this demonstration of conversational prayer?"
1. Prayed about one topic at a time.
2. Each person prayed as they thought of something on that topic.
3. The prayers were brief.]

V. PERSONAL APPLICATION OF PRAYER

"Now I would like us to take a few minutes to apply some of the things we have learned.  Please form groups of 3 or 4 and pray conversationally about your concerns."
"Each person can briefly share one concern with the group; then as a group, pray conversationally about these concerns.  I will close our time of prayer in a few minutes."