LESSON 16 BIBLICAL COUNSEL ON PRAYER


Why should we pray?

Because of the affliction of sin and sorrow:

And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. 2 Chronicles 33:12, 13

For Divine intervention:

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer. Nehemiah 1:11

When in distress:

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

Distress—Tight place (usually trouble), opponent (as crowding), trouble, narrow.

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

When should we pray?

At any time:

Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. Nehemiah 2:4, 5

Morning and evening:

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

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17

To whom do we pray:

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

Prayer is to be continual without fainting:

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Luke 18:1

So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened. Luke 11:9, 10 AMP

It is a part of God’s plan to grant us in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow upon us if we did we not ask. Therefore, let us not assume because God already knows our wants and needs it is not necessary to be specific in our prayers.

Why is there not more faith and power among Christians if God is our Father?

A. We let go of the promises, strength and comfort of the Lord too soon. We must press our petitions boldly unto “the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6:18

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

For what should we pray?

We are to pray for healing:

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD.… Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. Isaiah 38:1, 2, 5

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:13, 14

We are to pray for forgiveness:

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. 2 Chronicles 7:14

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. Give us day by day our daily bread. 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. Luke 11:2–4

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:5

We are to pray to be kept from temptation:

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

We are to pray for God’s keeping in trouble:

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. Psalm 61:1–3

We are to pray for protection from our enemies:

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity. Psalm 64:1

We are to pray for God to teach us:

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Psalm 119:33–36

We are to pray for victory:

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. Psalm 141:3, 4

Incline—To give a tendency or propensity to the will or affections, to turn.

We are to pray for God’s direction:

Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Psalm 143:1, 8

We are to pray for rulers and kingdoms:

And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. Jeremiah 29:7

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:1, 2

We are to pray because of the the sins of God’s people:

And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God. Daniel 9:20

We are to pray for our persecutors:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matthew 5:44 (See also Luke 6:28.)

We are to pray to overcome the evil of the last days:

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:34–36

Overcharged—Burden.

Surfeiting—To feed with meat or drink, so as to oppress the stomach and derange the functions of the system. To overfeed and produce sickness or uneasiness. The act of feeding to excess; gluttony.

But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose. Luke 21:34 AMP

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Peter 4:7

Sober—To be of a sound mind, figurative moderate.

We are to pray for God’s work:

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:38

We are to pray with thanksgiving:

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

Careful—To be anxious about.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 AMP

We are to pray for fellow believers:

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6:18

Watching—Keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance.

Why is our prayer is not answered?

Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Psalm 17:1

Feigned—Fraud, deceitful.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. Psalm 66:18–20

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

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil. Isaiah 1:15, 16

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

[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. James 4:3 AMP

When we do not receive the very things we asked for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers according to His loving kindness. We as sinful human beings are faulty and shortsighted and though sincere, we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us. Our heavenly Father in love answers our prayers by giving us that which will be for our highest good—that which we ourselves would also desire if we could see all things as they really are.

When our prayers seem not to be answered we should examine our hearts to check our motives in praying, and then we are to cling to the promises of God’s word; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most. However to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the specific thing that we desire, is presumption. God is too wise to make a mistake, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, “ask, and it shall be given you.”

Why does God answer our prayers?

Because of His goodness:

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Psalm 69:16

Because of His faithfulness:

Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. Psalm 143:1

Because of our great need:

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Psalm 86:1

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

When feel our need of help from God He has promised, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground” (Isaiah 44:3). Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who long after God, may be sure that they will be filled. Our great need and God’s great goodness is an argument that pleads in our behalf. For “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

God answers prayer as we have a forgiving spirit:

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

God answers prayer as we live in obedience:

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. John 9:31

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

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

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

God answers prayer in the name of Jesus:

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 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 14:14; 16:23

To pray in Christ’s name means much more than the words we use in prayer. It means that we are to accept His character to be worked out in our life that we might truly pray “our Father who art in heaven… Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” (Luke 11:2). The Saviors promise is given on condition. “If ye love Me,” He says, “keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The gospel of Christ saves men, not in sin, but from sin, and those who love Him will show their love by obedience, and therefore can rightly pray in Jesus name.

God answers prayer that He may be glorified:

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

Prayer is not manipulating God; but submission to His will and purpose, and His answers are due to His glory and goodness.

God answers prayer according as we pray for His will to be done:

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

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that is we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan) He listens to and hears us. 1 John 5:14 AMP

False prayers:

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. Matthew 6:5

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense [to cover it up] make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Matthew 23:14

And you pretend to be holy, with all your long, public prayers in the streets, while you are evicting widows from their homes. Matthew 23:14 TLB

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:7

Christ prayed for His disciples, and these prayers extend to us if we will claim them by faith.

Jesus prayed that we would be kept from the evil in this world:

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15

Jesus prayed that the Father would give us the Holy Spirit:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. John 14:16

Jesus prayed that we would have His joy:

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13

Jesus prayed that we would be made holy:

Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] through thy truth; thy word is truth. John 17:17

Jesus prayed that His followers would be one as He and the Father:

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21

Jesus prayed we would be in Heaven with Him:

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24
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