Five Focus Ministry BIBLE STUDY Lord, Teach Us to Pray Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church Dr. Stephen Greene Howard, Senior Pastor
I. PRAYER 1. Prayer is communication with God. Prayer is an evidence that one has a relationship with God. Relationships of any kind need to be cultivated, nourished and strengthened. Prayer is the bases for Christian strength.
As we desire to become a House of Prayer, we must see Prayers through the life of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Prayed A. Wisdom to children; Matthew 11:25-26 B. Lazarus Tomb; John 11:41-42 C. High Priestly Prayer of Christ; John 17 D. Three times in the Garden of Gethsemane; Matthew 26:42
Jesus Prayed E. Three Times on The Cross 1. Father forgive them; Luke 23:34 2. My God, My God why; Mark 15:34 3. Father into Thy Hands; Luke 23:46 F. There are other references to Christ praying: Baptism; Healing; For Peter; etc.
Jesus lifestyle was that of Prayer. It was Christ s lifestyle of Praying that led to what we have as a Model Prayer or the Lord s Prayer. (Luke 11:1)
Jesus Lifestyle of Prayer A. Lord You can t pray right if Christ is not Lord of your life. B. Teach You can t pray right if Christ is not leading and directing you! Can t pray if you can t follow
Jesus Lifestyle of Prayer C. Luke 11:2 When you Pray Matthew 6:5-6 When you Pray When At the time During the time that
There ought to be a time for prayer. NOTE: Not IF - conditional; Prayer is not an option; Prayer is a command; an obligation; a requirement; a pre-condition to start the relationship with God and prayer is compost that keeps the relationship going.
Why Pray? A. Prayer keeps us in tune with God B. Prayer enables us to hear God s voice C. Prayer strengthens our connections with God D. Prayer enables shifts in the prayer s life
Why Pray? E. Prayer Avails James 5:16b Avails To be strong in the body; to be robust; to be sound in health; to have power as seen as extraordinary deeds; to widen power, to be able, etc.
Lord, teach us to pray.
Different Types of Prayers A. Prayer of Adoration The Prayer of Adoration is also referred to as the Prayer of Praise. This is a prayer centered wholly upon God and God s eternal characteristics God s majesty, glory, and power; God s beauty and lavish love; God s mercy and grace. Personal devotional prayer should begin with this type of prayer. Psalm 111:1-4
Different Types of Prayers B. Prayer of Penitence The Prayer of Penitence is also referred to as the Prayer of Confession. This is the next step in personal prayer, asking for forgiveness of sin. Psalm 51 is our best known prayer of penitence in the Bible. Psalm 51
Different Types of Prayers C. Prayer of Petition The Prayer of Petition is also referred to as the Prayer of Supplication. In Supplication, we make request of the Divine for ourselves. Petition means to ask for something. Because we are wholly dependent upon God for life, God loves to have us ask for things. Perhaps this is the most used and misused prayer of all time. We all want material prosperity and popularity-but whenever we ask for material things we should remember to add, Your will be done. Although God cares about anything that concerns us and God wants us to ask for what we need, yet it pleases God most when we ask for the Holy Spirit and the characteristics of Jesus. Philippians 4:6
Different Types of Prayers D. Prayer of Thanksgiving This is a prayer of appreciation for the gifts God has given us. Learning to be thankful is one of the best ways to combat depression and self-pity. Thanksgiving should be a part of every prayer. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Different Types of Prayers E. Prayer of Intercession When we intercede for others we come closest to God s heart. Jesus, in heaven, is our High Priest and His ministry is to intercede with the Father for mankind. When we join Him in praying for others, we are most like Him. Romans 8:34
THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace! That where there is hatred, I may bring love. That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness. That where there is discord, I may bring harmony. That where there is error, I may bring truth. That where there is doubt, I may bring faith. That where there is despair, I may bring hope. That where there are shadows, I may bring light. That where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted. To understand, than to be understood. To love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Saint Francis of Assisi
Five Focus Ministry BIBLE STUDY Lord, Teach Us to Pray Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church Dr. Stephen Greene Howard, Senior Pastor