PRAYER What Should We Pray For? The ability to approach the God of the universe in prayer is an awesome thought. To know that He is not just conscious of our meager existence but that He loves us. Not only does He love us but He wants to hear from us regularly thru the avenue of. 1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing, Ro 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 1
If we are to pray without ceasing and to continue steadfastly in prayer then what should we be praying for? We determine the things we should pray for the same way we determine everything else we do in religion. By looking at the pattern. God has not left us to guess about these things. is not a good work that we are not equipped for. 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. If we don t know what to pray for it is because we have either a lack of knowledge or understanding of the scriptures. 2
Many believe we cannot know the things we are to pray for. That there must be a direct intervention by the Holy Spirit in order for us to pray acceptably to God. Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. This was written during the time of supernatural gifts (miracles). The New Testament was incomplete. They needed help from the Holy Spirit to know what to pray for. They also needed help from the Spirit in teaching, understanding, communicating and singing during this time. Around the end of the 1 st century, the need for this help came to an end. 3
When the New Testament was completed the need for the Spirits direct intervention in these matters was over. 1Co 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When that which is perfect came, the completed New Testament, then there was no longer a need for the Holy Spirit s direct intervention in these matters. If we want to know what to believe and teach then we go to the completed Word of God. If we want to know what to pray for then we go to the completed Word of God. The Spirit still helps in our prayers but He does it thru the Word! 4
What does the Word teach us to pray for? Jesus gives us a perfect pattern of how we should pray. After being asked by His disciples how to pray Jesus gives the following instructions. Mt 6:5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Mt 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 5
First Jesus tells them things they should not do in their prayers. They should not be done in order to impress men. They should not use vain repetitions. The idea here is saying the same things over and over again as if God can only hear us by our repetition. The prophets of Baal were a good example of this. 1Ki 18:26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. The repeating of the Hail Mary prayer by Catholics is another good example of it. It is so repetitive they use the rosary beads to make sure they repeat it enough times. 6
God knows what we need. He will not understand it any better because we repeat it thoughtlessly over and over again. Jesus goes on and instructs them in a pattern of prayer. Mt 6:9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Mt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. I believe thru a study of the Lord s prayer we can determine several elements that should be included in our prayers. 7
The first thing we notice is who the prayer is addressed to. Our Father in heaven not to our physical father, some man claiming to be a religious father, any dead saint, angel, Idol or Mary. Our prayers should be to God the Father. We may use different terms in order to express this but He is the one our prayers should be sent to and no one else. The Apostle Paul followed this same example of praying to the father. Col 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, The next thing we see in His prayer is praise of God. Hallowed by the name Hallowed comes from the Greek word Hagiazo which means to be holy. 8
We should regard the name of God as holy and not use it in profane ways. Thirdly, Jesus prays that God s will be done. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. your kingdom come is the reason we cannot recite this prayer word for word today. God s kingdom has already come! Many people today are still looking for His kingdom to be established. But, It was established during the 1 st century The Kingdom is the Church! Lu 9:27 "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God." 9
Even in difficult circumstances we should always pray that God s will be done and not ours. Jesus even put this practice in His own prayers Lu 22:42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. Fourthly, Jesus instruct his disciples to ask God for their daily necessities. give us this day our daily bread Asking God for these things shows that we recognize where these blessings truly come from. We then should go out and work in order to do everything we can to make this prayer come about. 2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 10
Fifthly, We should ask for forgiveness of our sins. Mt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. This isn t referring to our monetary debts that we owe but rather to our sins we have committed against God. The price of these sins must be paid or forgiven. Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. In order to obtain this forgiveness we must do the things God has required of us in order to obtain it. The alien sinner must Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess and be Baptized The Christian must repent and pray for forgiveness of his sins 11
This is what Peter told Simon the sorcerer to do. Ac 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. This is a very important aspect of prayer. This is the only remedy given for a Christian who has become involved in sin. Therefore it is extremely important that we ask for forgiveness of both our known and unknown sins on a regular basis. Finally Jesus instructs His disciples to ask for guidance from God in order to avoid sin and the snares of the Devil. Mt 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. This guidance is found in the scriptures. We should not be looking for some direct revelation from God in a dream or vision. God does not deal with us in these supernatural ways anymore. 12
Jesus when He was tempted in Matthew 4 used the scriptures to answer each temptation by saying it is written. Again, when we ask for guidance from God we must do everything in our power to obtain that guidance. We must study His Word! We have talked about in other lessons how important our spiritual food is. Recap of the elements contained in the Lord s prayer It is addressed to God the Father It contained praise to God It expressed a desire that God s will be done A petition to God for our daily necessities A request for forgiveness A request for guidance from God. All of these things should be included in our prayers regularly 13
There are certainly other things that we are instructed to pray for. I m not saying we need to include all of these things in every prayer we say but we should certainly include them on a very regular basis. We should pray for Wisdom Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. We should pray for other Christians Col 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, We should give thanks to God in our prayer Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 14
1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. We can pray that others might come to a knowledge of the Truth. Ro 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. We are to pray for our enemies. Mt 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Many of the leaders of this country are wicked and evil people who are in the process of destroying our nation. When is the last time I prayed for them? 15
Conclusion This has certainly not been an exhaustive list of all the things we should pray for. Hopefully we have been able to establish a pattern for our prayers and things that should be included in them. I certainly don t believe there is anything wrong with a short quick prayer but we need to make time in our lives to pray to God and include all of these elements we have talked about today on a regular basis. Are we continuing steadfastly in prayer? 16