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Prayer
- Asking from God

The S of ACTS is Supplication, an old fashioned word for 'Asking'. There are two distinct areas of asking:
  • for ourselves and our own needs
  • for others (sometimes called Intercession)
See again Philippians 4:6: 'present your requests to God'

 This thread (Prayer):
  1. Why pray?
  2. Adoring God
  3. Confessing to God
  4. Thanking God
  5. Asking from God

God's willingness

Read Matthew 7:7-12 -
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

We need to remember in praying that we are not browbeating God into reluctantly doing something nice! He is a loving Father, who wants good things for us. However, neither can we manipulate Him into doing what he knows is not good for us. He is a good Father, not an overindulgent one.

 

Praying a broad agenda

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4 -
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God wants us to pray a broad agenda, and not just selfishly. Think and make a list of the sort of people or things that need to be included in our prayers.

See James 4:1-3 for a warning about selfish praying.
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

But see James 5:13-16 for a positive way of praying - especially for people to be made well.
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

 

Praying God's agenda

Read John 15:16 -
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

and John 16:23 -
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Does Jesus mean that we will get everything we ask for, whatever it is?

The key phrase is "in my name". What do you think this might mean?

 

'In my name' can mean 'on my behalf', or more usually, 'with my authority'.
Booking a table at an expensive restaurant in your boss's name means that he has authorised the booking, and he takes responsibility for footing the bill.

So to pray 'in the name of Jesus' is to pray those things that He wants. Other, selfish, prayers will not be in His name and may not be honoured by God.

How do we know what is God's will, so that we can pray it?

We know God's agenda by reading the bible, and by praying for His wisdom and guidance.

 

Unanswered Prayer

Why might some of our prayers go apparently unanswered.

Consider the following possibilities about 'unanswered' prayer.

  • God's answers may be 'Yes', 'No', or 'Wait'.

  • prayers may be selfish (so I may not get my Ferrari after all!)

  • prayers may conflict with others (farmers pray for rain; holidaymakers pray for sunshine)

  • God may have a better thing in store than we could think of

  • spoiled brats who get everything they want are not very mature

  • God respects human freedom - even to do evil. Our prayers give Him permission to work, but others may be actively denying Him room

  • prayer works through faith. James (5:15) says it is the prayer offered in faith which is effective

  • we may not deserve it. e.g. praying to pass my exam when I've done no work!

 

Practice

Prayers could go on for ever, since there are so many things and people that need God's help. Put together a short list of things and people to pray for. Try to be as broad as possible (not just local people you know for instance). Then pray.

 

Any questions?

If you have any queries, or comments, then e-mail us and we'll get back to you

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