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1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Slide 2 1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Slide 3 Numbers 22-24 Balaams prayers to curse Israel were not answered. Slide 4 James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures Slide 5 James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures Amiss Gr. kakos Badly (Strong) Improperly Wrongly (ESV) Slide 6 Direction of Prayer The proper direction of prayer under Christ Perverting Prayer Definition of PrayerPower of Prayer Slide 7 Proper Direction of Prayer Under Christ 1. Under Moses, prayer was directed towards the temple (1 Kings 8:26-30). In exile, Daniel prayed towards Jerusalem (Dan. 6:10). 2. Under Christ, we come to the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22-24). Prayer now must not be directed to Jerusalem, Mecca, or any earthly shrine but to heaven. 3. Mosaic prayer towards Jerusalem was not worship of Jerusalem, but of God. Now prayer towards heaven must not be worship of heaven, but of Him who dwells there. Slide 8 Direction of Prayer The proper direction of prayer under Christ Conditions of approaching God Perverting Prayer Definition of PrayerPower of Prayer Slide 9 Conditions of Approaching God 1. The pagan prays to things which by nature are not gods (Gal. 4:8). 2. The ecumenical prayers ignore the terms by which man may come to the true God. 3. In this age all prayer must come through Christ. a. The proper relationship with God in Christ through obedience to the gospel (John 14:6). b. Prayer must be directed to the Father through the intercession of Jesus (John 16:23). Slide 10 Direction of Prayer The proper direction of prayer under Christ Conditions of approaching God Improper direction in prayer Perverting Prayer Definition of PrayerPower of Prayer Slide 11 Improper Direction in Prayer 1. Prayer to Mary Slide 12 Prayers together with all the Christian faithful that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary the nations may be led to the knowledge of the truth as soon as possible Documents of Vatican II Decree on the Missionary Work of the Church, December 7, 1965 Slide 13 Improper Direction in Prayer 1. Prayer to Mary 2. Prayer to dead saints Slide 14 The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayerTheir intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world. Catholic Catechism IV. Christian Prayer, 1. Prayer in the Christian Life, no. 2683 Slide 15 Improper Direction in Prayer 1. Prayer to Mary 2. Prayer to dead saints 3. In biblical terms a saint is simply a Christian (1 Cor. 1:1-2). 4. The Bible never teaches that the dead may be petitioned, or that they can offer intercession for the living. 5. All prayer in Christ is to God the Father through Christ alone (1 Tim. 2:3-6). Slide 16 Direction of Prayer Types of biblical prayer Perverting Prayer Definition of PrayerPower of Prayer Slide 17 Types of Biblical Prayer A.May involve supplications, prayers, inter- cessions, and giving of thanks (1 Tim. 2:1-3). 1. Jesus demonstrates these aspects of prayer in His model prayer (Matt. 6:9-10). 2. Prayer may be silent (1 Sam. 1:12-13), audible (Acts 1:24-25), public (1 Cor. 14:16), or private (Matt. 6:6), but it is communication. 3.Pagan and eastern concepts imagine a mystical trance which raise a participant to a heightened spiritual state. Slide 18 Direction of Prayer Types of biblical prayer Improper definitions of prayer Perverting Prayer Definition of PrayerPower of Prayer Slide 19 Improper Definitions of Prayer A.Mental Prayer. Slide 20 Mental Prayer An imagined type of prayer called an elevation of the soul to God John of Damascus Eighth century Greek theologian On the Orthodox Faith, 3.24 Slide 21 Improper Definitions of Prayer A.Mental Prayer. 1.The Bible teaches value in meditating on truth (Phil. 4:8), but meditation is not prayer. B.Holy Spirit Prayer Language. Slide 22 Holy Spirit Prayer Language Even though we may not know what the will of God is the Holy Spirit does and prays accordingly. Therefore, pray in the Holy Spirit by using an unknown prayer language as you pray in the Holy Spirit (prayer language), you are praying in the perfect will of God Daniel Bernard, Praying Up a Storm, 37 Slide 23 Improper Definitions of Prayer A.Mental Prayer. 1.The Bible teaches value in meditating on truth (Phil. 4:8), but meditation is not prayer. B.Holy Spirit Prayer Language. 1.Misunderstanding of Romans 8:26. 2. With groanings which cannot be uttered. Paul addresses how Gods Spirit knows our spirit. This is not an unknown prayer language (cf. Rom. 8:27; 1 Chron.28:9; Prov. 20:27). 3.Paul condemns prayer without the understanding of what is said (1 Cor. 14:15). Slide 24 Improper Definitions of Prayer C. Vain Repetitions (Matt. 6:7-8). 1. Scripture does not teach prescribed, formulaic prayers. We reject the rosary or prayer books. 2. Mindless repetition of stock phrases. 3. A true relationship with Christ grants the Christian boldness and access with confidence (Eph. 3:12). 4. Audience with the All-Mighty in prayer must avoid the extremes of stoic showy formality and a loose irreverent informality. Slide 25 Direction of Prayer We have confidence in prayer Perverting Prayer Definition of PrayerPower of Prayer Slide 26 We Can Have Confidence in Prayer 1.In Christ we have confidence in the effectiveness of prayer. (James 5:16). 2.Man often distorts scriptural teaching about the power of prayer. Slide 27 Direction of Prayer We have confidence in prayer Distorting the power of prayer Perverting Prayer Definition of PrayerPower of Prayer Slide 28 Distorting the Power of Prayer A. The Sinners Prayer. Scripture does not teach salvation through saying the Sinners Prayer. 1. God is aware of the prayers of a sinner (Acts 10:4), but alien sinners do not have access to request forgiveness (1 Pet. 3:10-12). 2. This comes through faith in Jesus (Gal. 3:26- 27), repenting of sins (Acts 2:38), confessing Christ (Rom. 10:10), and baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16). 3. Only Christians can pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:20-22). Slide 29 Distorting the Power of Prayer A.The Sinners Prayer. Scripture does not teach salvation through saying the Sinners Prayer. B.Praying Through to God. Slide 30 Praying Through to God For one year I was tossed on the waves of uncertaintylaboring, praying, and striving to obtain saving faithsometimes desponding, and almost despairing of ever getting it Works of Elder B. W. Stone, p. 14 Slide 31 Distorting the Power of Prayer A.The Sinners Prayer. Scripture does not teach salvation through saying the Sinners Prayer. B.Praying Through to God. 1. Any who are cut to the heart can obey Christ now (Acts 2:37-41). Slide 32 Distorting the Power of Prayer C. Repentance and Prayer. 1. Christians cant pray for forgiveness without repentance (1 John 5:14; cf. Acts 8:22). 2.Christians are to pray for the forgiveness of other Christians (James 5:15-16), but this also is conditioned upon their repentance. 3.Unrepentant sin is sin unto death, for which John forbids us to pray (1 John 5:16-17). 4. We cannot pray for forgiveness of the unrepentant dead. Man is judged for what is done in the body (2 Cor. 5:9-10). Slide 33 Distorting the Power of Prayer C. Repentance and Prayer. 5. Some appeal to the apocryphal account of Judas Maccabeus prayer for the sins of Jews slain in battle as authority for prayer for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:38-45). 6.Apocryphal books were never viewed by the Jews as inspired, nor does Jesus quote from them. 7.The account simply records what happened and the writers belief. It does not prove it was acceptable to God. Slide 34 Distorting the Power of Prayer D. Imagined Power in the Process of Prayer. 1. Confidence in prayers power is confidence in Gods power. There is no magic in prayer. 2. Vague appeals to a higher power which ignore the terms of a true relationship with God are merely revived pagan animism (i. e. the belief that spirits inhabit and influence nature). 3. God promises to hear His people under His terms (2 Chron. 7:12-14). Slide 35 Distorting the Power of Prayer D. Imagined Power in the Process of Prayer. 4.God wants His people to pray to Him, but this isnt prayer by petition. 5.Some speak as if prayer in sufficient numbers compels God to protect or bless when He would not otherwise have done so. 6. If the prayer of faithful Elijah led God to stop the rain (James 5:17-18), God is not waiting in heaven for a certain number of names on the petition to answer prayer.