Prayer - A Study in the Scriptures

PRAYER

"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into
a solitary place, and there prayed." Mark 1:35

I. Prayer is the backbone of the ministry.

A. Because of his unique relationship with God, the scriptures say of Moses that "there arose
not a prophet since in Israel like unto" him, "whom the Lord knew face to face."
Deuteronomy 34:10 (See also Exodus chapters 32-33 and Deuteronomy chapter 9.)

B. Jesus Himself spent much time alone in prayer.

Matthew 14:23
Mark 1:35; 6:46; 14:32-40
Luke 3:21-22; 5:16; 6:12-13; 9:18, 28-29; 11:1; 22:31-32, 39-46; 23:34
John 6:15
Hebrews 5:7

C. The New Testament epistles reveal an intense devotional life of prayer in the ministry
of Paul the apostle.

Romans 1:9 "... without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."
2 Corinthians 12:8
Ephesians 1:16 "Cease not ... making mention of you in my prayers."
Philippians 1:3, 4 "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy."
Colossians 1:9 "... since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you ..."
Philemon 4 "... making mention of thee always in my prayers."
2 Timothy 1:3 "...without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day."

D. The early church knew the importance of prayer and intercession in behalf of its leaders.

Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly ... in prayers."
Acts 1:14 "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication ..."
Acts 12:5, 12 "... but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
2 Corinthians 1:11 "Ye also helping together by prayer for us ..."

II. Scripture teaches that we are to have a regular and consistent life of prayer.

Luke 18:1 "... men ought always to pray, and not to faint."
Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always ..."
Acts 6:4 "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer ..."
Acts 12:5
Ephesians 6:18, 19 "Praying always ..."
Colossians 1:3 "... praying always for you."
Colossians 4:2 "Continue in prayer, and watch ..."
1 Thessalonians 1:2 "always"
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "without ceasing"
2 Timothy 1:3 "... without ceasing ..."

A. Daily.

Psalms 86:3
Acts 2:46

B. In the early morning.

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

Psalms 88:13; 119:147

Mark 1:35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,
he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

C. In the evening.

Genesis 24:63 "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide ...."

D. Three times a day.

Psalms 55:17 "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:
and he shall hear my voice."
Daniel 6:10, 13 "Now [Daniel] ... kneeled upon his knees three times a day,
and prayed ..."
Acts 2:1, 15; 10:9, 30

E. Day and night.

Psalms 22:1, 2 "O my God, I cry in the daytime ... and in the night season,
and am not silent."
Psalms 77:2 "In the day of trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night,
and ceased not ..."
Psalms 88:1
Nehemiah 1:6
Luke 18:7
1 Thessalonians 3:10 "Night and day praying exceedingly ..."
2 Timothy 1:3

F. At midnight.

Psalms 119:62 "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee ..."
Acts 16:25 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God ..."

G. All night.

Psalms 63:6 "When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee
in the night watches."
Isaiah 26:8, 9 "With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit
within me will I seek thee early ..."
Luke 6:12 "... and continued all night in prayer to God."

III. For whom and for what should we pray?

Scripture says we should pray "for all men " (1 Timothy 2:1), for anything (Philippians 4:6).

A. For those in spiritual leadership.

2 Corinthians 1:11
1 Thessalonians 5:25
Hebrews 13:17-18a

1. For boldness to speak the truth.

Ephesians 6:19, 20

2. For their divine protection.

Acts 12:5
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

3. For an open door of ministry.

   Romans 15:30-32
   Colossians 4:3
   2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

B. For fellow-believers.

Romans 1:9
Ephesians 6:18

1. For their healing.

Acts 28:8
James 5:16

2. For their spiritual development and maturity.

Ephesians 3:14-16
Colossians 4:12
1 Thessalonians 3:10-13
2 Thessalonians 1:11
1 Peter 5:10

3. For unity.

John 17:9, 11, 20-22

4. For divine protection, spiritual strength, and victory over the enemy.

Luke 22:31-32
John 17:15

C. For ourselves.

1 Chronicles 4:10 "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying,
Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that
thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil,
that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."
Psalms 106:4, 5
Hebrews 5:7

1. For material needs.

Matthew 6:11
Proverbs 30:7, 8

2. For guidance.

Psalms 27:11; 31:3
Jeremiah 33:3
Daniel 2:17-19
Colossians 1:9, 10
James 1:5

3. For victory over temptation.

Matthew 6:13
Luke 22:40

4. For wisdom.

1 Kings 3:5-12
Proverbs 2:3
James 1:5

5. For forgiveness of sin.

Numbers 5:6, 7
1 Kings 8:47-50
Ezra 9:15; 10:1
Psalms 25:11; 32:5; 51:1
Daniel 9:4-5, 20
Matthew 6:12
Luke 11:4; 18:13
Acts 8:22

6. For physical healing.

1 Samuel 1:5, 10-20
1 Kings 13:4-6
2 Kings 20:1-6 (Isaiah 38:1-5; 2 Chronicles 32:24)
Psalms 30:2
James 5:14
Matthew 8:2-3 (Mark 1:40-43; Luke 5:12, 13)

D. For temporal rulers.

1 Timothy 2:1-3

E. For the unsaved, whether an individual, a city (Psalms 122:6; Jeremiah
29:7; Daniel 9:3, 16-19), or a nation (Romans 10:1); that God will send
laborers into the harvest (Matthew 9:38).

F. For our enemies.

Matthew 5:44
Luke 6:28; 23:34
Acts 7:59-60

IV. How are we to pray?

This is not such an unreasonable question. The disciples asked Jesus how
to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus answered them by giving them a model prayer
(Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4), often called The Lord's Prayer. However,
this was never intended to become "vain repetition" to them (Matthew 6:7).
Jesus did not say, "Repeat after Me ..." Rather, He said, "After this manner "
– that is, "in this way" – prayer should be offered to God (Matthew 6:9).

A. Secretly, or alone (Matthew 6:5-6; 14:13, 23; Mark 1:35; 6:46, 47; 1 Kings
4:33; Acts 9:40), as well as in the presence of others (1 Kings 8:22-23;
Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 12:5, 12; Romans 15:30; 2 Corinthians 1:11).

B. In Jesus' name (as His representative).

John 14:14; 16:23-24

C. In faith.

Matthew 21:22
Mark 11:24
Hebrews 11:6
James 1:5-7; 5:15

D. According to the will of God.

Mark 14:32-36
John 15:7
Romans 8:27
1 John 5:14, 15

E. In the spirit (Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-15; Ephesians
6:18; Jude 20), as well as with the understanding (1 Corinthians 14:9, 13-17).

F. In any position physically.

1. Kneeling.

1 Kings 8:54; 2 Chronicles 6:13; Ezra 9:5; Daniel 6:10
Matthew 17:14; Mark 1:40; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5
Ephesians 3:14

2. Standing.

Isaiah 38:2-3; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:13

3. Sitting.

Nehemiah 1:4; Acts 2:2; 16:13

4. Lying down (prostrate), face to the ground.

Numbers 16:22; Joshua 7:6, 10; Ezra 10:1
Ezekiel 9:8; 11:13; Matthew 26:39

5. Kneeling with face between the knees.

1 Kings 18:42

G. In any place (1 Timothy 2:8 "everywhere"), not necessarily in a building
specifically designated for worship. God "does not dwell in temples made
with hands."

1 Kings 8:27
2 Chronicles 6:18
Isaiah 66:1-2
Jeremiah 7:4
Mark 13:1-2
Acts 7:48-50; 17:24-25, 29-30
2 Corinthians 5:1

1. At home.

Daniel 6:10
Acts 9:11; 12:12

2. On the battlefield.

1 Chronicles 5:20
2 Chronicles 13:13-16

3. In a mountain.

Matthew 14:23
Mark 6:46
Luke 6:12; 9:28

4. On a housetop.

Acts 9:9

5. In a garden.

Matthew 26:36
Mark 14:32-40
Luke 22:39-40

6. In a desert or secret place.

Matthew 14:13
Mark 1:35
Luke 5:16

7. In a field.

Genesis 24:63

8. On a riverside.

Acts 16:13; 21:5

9. In the belly of a fish.

Jonah 2:1

10. In a closet.

Matthew 6:6

11. In jail.

Acts 16:25

V. What hinders the answers to our prayers?

A. It was a Satanic hindrance that withheld the answer to Daniel's prayer
for 21 days (Daniel chapter 10, particularly vv. 12-13).

See Ephesians 6:12.

B. The fault may lie within the petition itself.

1. Unbelief.

James 1:6, 7

2. A wrong motive.

James 4:3

C. Sin or disobedience may be the barrier.

Psalms 66:18
Proverbs 15:29; 28:9
Isaiah 59:1, 2
Jeremiah 5:25
John 9:31

1. Selfishness.

Proverbs 21:13

2. Pride.

Hosea 5:5-7

3. Unforgiveness.

Mark 11:25-26

4. Disharmony in the home.

Matthew 5:23-24
1 Peter 3:7

5. Religious hypocrisy.

Isaiah 1:11-15, esp. v. 15
Matthew 23:5, 14, 27-28

6. Rebellion against hearing God's word.

Proverbs 1:24-25, 28
Zechariah 7:11-13

7. Idolatry.

Ezekiel 14:1-7

8. Deceit; injustice.

Jeremiah 5:25-31

D. An effective prayer life is conditional upon our personal walk and relationship with Jesus Christ.

1. Obedience.

John 9:31
1 John 3:22

2. Righteousness.

Psalms 34:15, 17
Proverbs 15:8, 29
James 5:16

3. Humility.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15
Psalms 9:12; 10:17; 102:17
Matthew 23:5, 14, 27-28
Luke 18:13-14

4. Faith.

Matthew 21:22
Mark 11:22-24
1 Timothy 2:8
James 1:6-7
1 John 5:13-15

5. The fear of the Lord.

Psalms 145:19

6. Abiding in Christ.

Psalms 91:1, 14-15
John 15:7

VI. Sometimes God chooses to delay the answers to our prayers.

Jeremiah 42:7, 2-4
Luke 18:7

A. Though Job was "perfect and upright in the sight of God (see chapter
1:1, 8; 2:3), the Lord allowed him to suffer tremendously – but not
without purpose. Job 23:10

B. God's intention in delaying an answer to a request may be to work into
our character a specific quality desirable in His sight.

1. Patience.

James 5:11

2. Obedience.

Hebrews 5:8

3. Humility.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9, etc.

C. God answers prayer according to His time and will (see Psalms 40:1).
But we must be persistent in seeking Him for answers to our requests.

Genesis 32:26-29 "1 will not let thee go, except thou bless me ...
And He blessed him there."
Song of Songs 3:14; 5:2-6
Isaiah 62:6-7 " ... keep not silence, and give Him no rest ... "
Matthew 7:7 "Keep on asking ... keep on seeking ... keep on ..."
(The Greek tense denotes continual action.)
Matthew 15:22-28 "... kept praying ..."
Luke 11:5-13, esp. v. 8 "... because of his importunity ... "
Luke 18:1-8 "...by her continual coming ..."

VII. It is important to realize that God really hears our prayers.

2 Chronicles 7:15 "... Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears
attentive unto the prayer that is made in this place."
Psalms 10:17 "Lord, thou has heard the desire of the humble ... thou
wilt cause thine ear to hear."
Psalms 18:6
Psalms 34:15, 17 "... his ears are open unto their cry ... The righteous cry,
and the Lord heareth ..."
Psalms 102:17 "He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise
their prayer."
Psalms 66:19, 20; 106:44
Psalms 116:1, 2 "1 love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice
and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore
will I call upon him as long as I live."
Psalms 141:2; 145:19
Psalms 32:6 "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee
in a time when thou mayest be found..."
Proverbs 15:8, 29 " ... the prayer of the upright is his delight."
James 5:16b "... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

A. Our prayers rise like incense before Him.

Exodus 30:8
Psalms 141:2
Revelation 5:8; 8:3, 4

B. He promises an answer.

Matthew 7:7-11; 21:22
Mark 11:24
Luke 11:9-13
John 15:7, 16; 16:23-24
1 John 3:22; 5:14-15

C. It requires discipline on the part of the flesh to submit to God in prayer.

Mark 14:37-41

D. Satan desperately tries to hinder and disturb our prayer life (Daniel 6:7,
12; 10:2-3, 10-14, etc.). But this only proves the importance of perseverance
in prayer.

VIII. If God knows our needs before we ask Him (Isaiah 65:24; Matthew 6:8), and
we have the promise of His provision (Psalms 84:11; Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians
9:8; Philippians 4:19), why should we pray?

A. It builds up our faith.

Jude 20

B. It humbles us.

2 Chronicles 7:14

C. Prayer strengthens us.

Psalms 27:14
Psalms 138:3
Isaiah 30:15

D. It gives us an inner peace.

Philippians 4:6-7
Isaiah 26:3

E. Scripture says "ye have not because ye ask not."

John 16:22
James 4:2

F. We are exhorted to make mention of our needs before God (Philippians
4:6) so that, when the answer comes, God will get the glory for it (John
11:4142, 45).

Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234

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