Bible Studies

INTRODUCTION

Prayer is vital in the life of every Christian. It is so important to pray privately, and to gather for prayer as one of the functions of the local church.

PRIVATE PRAYER

I call it "private prayer" because the Lord Jesus spoke of the need to enter your own room, shut the door, and "pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Mt 6.6). If your accommodation allows it, have a set place where you regularly meet with God. Daniel had his upper room where on three occasions every day he kneeled to pray (Dan 6.10). His routine holds lessons for us. There was a place he went to. There was a posture he adopted. (It is not necessary to kneel to pray, but kneeling does indicate an awareness of the greatness of God, and a sense of reverence on your part.) There was a pattern he followed: he did it three times a day. It is so important to have a disciplined attitude to prayer. Daniel is an example of the Bible command, "Continue in prayer" (Col 4.2).

Nehemiah illustrates that command in a different way. Reading his book, you get the impression that he was constantly speaking to God. For example, read ch.2.4-5, where in an emergency he tells us, "So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king…". In the split second of crisis, he prayed, before he spoke or acted. Cultivate this habit of living in the presence of God, spontaneously speaking to Him about each new circumstance that emerges throughout the day.

Prayer must be

• Sincere This was lacking from the Pharisees' prayers (Mt 23.14). Sincerity involves behaviour suitable for the presence of God (Ps 66.18).
• Earnest Elijah prayed "earnestly" (James 5.17).
• Specific We call specific prayer supplication. Read the pattern prayer of Matthew 6.9-13 to see the specific items that are mentioned.
• Unselfish We call unselfish prayer intercession, that is, praying for others. You can intercede for the following people: Unsaved people (Rom 10.1). Believers in spiritual danger (Lk 22.31-32). The Lord's servants (1 Thess 5.25). Those who are sick (James 5.14-15). The Authorities (1 Tim 2.1-2).
• Persistent "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5.17).
• Grateful That is, always blended "with thanksgiving" (Phil 4.6).
• Believing "Ask in faith" (James 1.6).

PUBLIC PRAYER

Obviously, features of personal prayer will be seen in public prayers also, but guidance for the prayer meeting of the local church is given in 1 Timothy 2. Please read the chapter and note that the prayer meeting ought to be a top priority for everyone as is indicated in the phrase, "first of all" (v.1). Why are there so many absentees? What about you? Also note:

• How to pray. There should be a blend of "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks" (v.1). There is no need for stereotyped prayers and persistent repetition.
• For whom to pray. "All men…kings etc." (vv.1-2). There is great scope here, and the kind of people mentioned in the previous section can be prayed for publicly.
• Who should pray? "Men" (v.8). (The Greek word for men in this verse means males.) The rule of silence for the women (1 Cor 14.34) is in place for the prayer meeting also. The males who do take part must have "holy hands" (v.8). The women should attend, and should be dressed in a modest way (v.9; see also Acts 1.14). They will pray silently as illustrated in Hannah (1 Sam 1.13).

PASSAGES TO STUDY AND QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

1. When reading Luke's Gospel, look out for the great emphasis on the prayer life of the Lord Jesus. What was happening when He prayed in ch.3? What happened to Him when He prayed on the mountain in ch.9?
2. Peter is seen as a man of prayer in the Acts of the Apostles. At what time did he and John go to pray in ch.3? Where and when did he pray in ch.10?
3. Of whom was it said in Acts 9, "Behold he prayeth"?
4. Read the parable that teaches the importance of persistent prayer (Lk 18.1-8). Make sure that you understand that parables have a main point, and that we are not expected to make every detail mean something. So, we must not think that the unjust judge represents God! The point of the parable is that we ought to be as persistent as the widow. How many widows are mentioned in Luke's Gospel? Your concordance will help here if you have been able to get one.
5. While on the subject of persistent prayer, be sure that what you are asking for would be for your spiritual good. See James 4.3. There was an occasion when the people of Israel got what they wanted, but with it came "leanness" of soul (Ps 106.15).
6. The notes have encouraged you to have a regular location for prayer. Actually, you can pray anywhere. Where did the following people pray? A) The Lord Jesus (Mk 1). B) Jonah (Jonah 2). C) Paul (two very different places, Acts 16).
7. Possibly the first hint of prayer in Scripture is at the end of Genesis 4, when men began "to call upon the name of the Lord". Which man in Genesis 12 did that, and where was he living at the time?
8. Read the pattern prayer for disciples in Matthew 6.9-13. Note that most of the requests relate to spiritual things. What one request has to do with something physical?
9. Someone mentioned in the notes did the same as Paul did in Ephesians 3.14. Who?
10. Prayer should be addressed to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus (Jn 15.16). The Holy Spirit gives assistance in prayer (Rom 8.26-27), so each Person of the Godhead is involved. Find a verse in Ephesians 6 that speaks about praying "in the Spirit". Find another similar verse in the Epistle by Jude. In both cases, the value of the truth of God in conjunction with prayer is emphasised, in the one instance being described as, "the word of God", and in the other as, "your most holy faith".