“The Spirit Helps Us To Pray”

A Biblical Theology of Prayer

“Biblical Prayer for Dummies”

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the

Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

Romans 8:26

“The Spirit Helps Us To Pray”

About this Study

What you will need:

Book

Title: “The Spirit Helps Us Pray--A Biblical Theology of Prayer”

By: Robert L. Brandt & Zenas J. Bicket

Publisher: Logion Press ISBN: 0-88243-678-3

Bible & a willingness to Learn and Pray!

What we will do: Meet every Tuesday – 7:00 – 8:30

February 23rd – May 18th

45 to 60 minutes – Study/Discussion

30 to 45 minutes – Prayer

Objectives

Explore, mainly from a Biblical perspective, the entire scope of prayer

Enrich our lives through a study of the prayers of the people we find in the Bible

Encounter the various expressions of prayer we find in the Bible

Purpose

expand our understanding of the power of prayer for transforming our lives

engage in a deeper relationship with God to experience more of His presence in our lives

encourage an active prayer life to progress Christ’s Kingdom for God’s glory

Lesson No. 1

An Introduction to Prayer

What is Prayer? • “Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best

what is good for us.” Socrates

• “The greatest prayer is patience” Buddha

• “Salat is an obligation. Whether your heart is attentive or not, it must be performed. You cannot give up Prayer because to you it appears useless.” Khurram Murad

• “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” Mahatma Gandhi

• “I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it.” Voltaire

What is Prayer?Catholic – Rosary Islam – Salat

Hindu – Japa Mala Buddhist – Khor

What is Prayer? • "Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of

His willingness."  --Martin Luther.

• "Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own.” --John Calvin

• "Prayer is the greatest of all forces, because it honors God and brings him into active aid."  --E.M. Bounds

• “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.” --Oswald Chambers

• “Some people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God.” --Andrew Murray

What is Biblical Prayer?Biblical prayer is…

• Distinguished by Biblical understanding, • Evidenced by right thinking about the greatness of

God, • Understanding of the supremacy of Christ, • Appreciating our own unworthiness and weakness,

for the• Purpose of knowing the Father more fully, • Experiencing the Holy Spirit more wholly, and• Cooperating with Jesus mission more completely,• For the transforming of our lives and that of others• All for God’s glory and honor!

Why so little prayer?• • We live in an culture that avoids intimacy and close

relationships

• We live to perform rather than to be, preferring the active life more than character and relationships

• We fail to understand the purpose of and role of prayer in maintaining our relationships

• We do not appreciate the awesomeness of the gift we have been given in what should be our primary relationship

• We lack understanding of God’s ultimate purpose and therefore think much smaller about God than we should

Why so little prayer?• Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.• Satan trembles when he sees, The weakest saint upon his knees.• Satan does not fear because we are eager and earnest Bible students —provided we are little in prayer.• Satan loves to see us “up to our eyes” in work: provided we do not pray.• Satan’s chief way of hindering us is to try to fill our minds with the thought of our needs, so that they shall not be occupied with thoughts of God, our loving Father, to Whom we pray.” The Kneeling Christian (Author Unknown)

Why Pray? Because Jesus suggested it’s a good idea: Matthew 26:41 “Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will

overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!”

Luke 18:1 “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Because Paul needed something to do: Ephesians 6:18 “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.”

Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray continually”

How to pray?• Adoration – deep love or esteem • Communication – a two-way exchange of information • Communion – intimate fellowship• Confession – acknowledgement or declaration • Contrition – the act of grieving • Entreaty – pleading urgently • Intercession – to put pressure on • Mediation – to focus one’s attention • Petition – an earnest request • Submission – surrender • Supplication – To ask for humbly or earnestly

• Thanksgiving – public acknowledgement of divine goodness

• Travail – painful or laborious work

• Worship – ardent devotion

How to Pray? With a understanding of Christ’s Supremacy

– TO us – His supremacy is eternally rooted in His nature – FOR us – His supremacy became fully visible through His

incarnation – OVER us – His supremacy as Ruler of history and Lord over the

nations – BEFORE us – His supremacy is displayed also by His

pioneering leadership – WITHIN us – His supremacy is revealed through His saving

presence – THROUGH us – His supremacy reaches out by His Spirit

through His Church

– UPON us – His supremacy fully realized at His return

Time to Pray

• Pray for God to prepare your heart for the journey ahead – Psalm 51:10

• Pray to know and understand Christ’s supremacy in your life and relationships

• Pray to witness Christ’s supremacy in our city and region

• Pray for Christ’s Supremacy and God‘s glory to fill the earth

Next Week

Prayers of the Patriarchs and Their Contemporaries

Pages 35-56