Prayer Basics for Adults Lesson 6: Why Should We Pray? (A study guide resource built to accompany the book Prayer Basics: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Prayer and brought to you by the Office of Prayer and Spiritual Care, a ministry of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.) The Office of Prayer and Spiritual Care Equipping the Church......Answering the Call.
Prayer Basics For Adults (A Study Guide) LESSON 6: So Much Depends on It! STUDY TEXT: 2 Kings 6:16-18; 1 Chronicles 6:18; 2 Chronicles 7:14,15; Psalm 143:1,8; Matthew 6:10; 9:37,38; 14:13-21; Luke 18:1; Acts 16:16-34; Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:2,3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 1:5; 5:17,18; 1 John 1:9 LESSON FOCUS: Prayer is a fundamental ingredient in our spiritual growth and health; it opens our eyes and our hearts to all He has planned for us. KEY VERSE: Colossians 4:2 Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful (NIV). Open the Study DISCUSSION STARTER: Have students respond this question: How faithful are you when it comes to reading and following instructions when doing a project, such as putting together a piece of furniture or installing a piece of plumbing? Why aren t you more (or less) concerned with the directions given in the box? Talk about why it is important to follow directions, as well as what kinds of consequences a person might suffer if he or she ignores the instructions. Also discuss why some people ignore instructions even when they are offered to them. We receive instructions every day. Some instructions are of the type that almost everyone will follow them closely. For example, a police officer directing traffic through an accident zone usually gets the undivided attention of drivers as they pass by. Other times instructions aren t as carefully regarded. Few people read instructions on packaging if it seems obvious how the product is to be used. Even assembly instructions can tend to be ignored, depending on the personality of the user. Sadly, instructions even get overlooked in our walk with God. This can be especially true in the area of prayer. We know the Bible says we need to pray, or risk serious spiritual consequences. It s a message we have heard in sermons and read in books on spiritual disciplines more times that we can count. Yet it s easy to cut corners in this area. Often, prayer is relegated to a quick word while we re doing other things. Yet the fact remains that prayer sincere, focused, uninterrupted prayer is among the most important things we can do as Christians. We ought never to lack for answers when we ask ourselves, Why do I need to pray? Why do we need to pray? (Take a moment for students to share specific reasons prayer is important. Then explain that this session will ponder specific reasons why Christians are wise to adopt a consistent, faithful practice of prayer for their lives.)
Examine the Word 1. God Commands Us To Pray 1 Timothy 2:8 Why do you think God commands us to pray? Doesn t He already know what s on our minds, as well as what needs and problems we are facing? In this verse, the apostle Paul referred to the good relationships we will build with others as we unite in prayer. (He was specifically addressing the problem of some Christians in Ephesus having let bad feelings develop among themselves.) Prayer has to be a big priority in order for us to have good relationships with others as well as with God. And this relational aspect of prayer is vital. Yet we also experience a lot of personal benefits and blessings when we pray. DISCUSS: Talk about some of the personal benefits we can experience when we pray. Guide discussion so as not to view prayer as a means of getting what we want, but rather as a source of enhancing our lives and experiencing God s blessings. Read the Scriptures below, noting that each contains a specific command to pray. Talk about principles of prayer we can gain from each passage. 1 Chronicles 6:18 (We need the strength of the Lord; seek[ing] His face always ought to be our default setting for how to respond to the challenges of life.) Luke 18:1 (Consistency and persistence are characteristics of a strong prayer life. Inevitably, times will come when that persistence is challenged. It is then that we most need to seek His face and follow His command to pray.) Colossians 4:2 (The command to watchfulness here serves as a reminder that we face spiritual battles. It is vital that we remain alert, and prayer is a fundamental part of staying focused on God.) INVITE: Encourage students to respond to the following questions, then talk about how their lives can be personally and powerfully altered by a strong commitment to God s prayer commands. What are some specific ways prayer has made a powerful impact on your life? How, specifically, can you make prayer an even bigger priority? What ways might your life change if you did? What are some needs or concerns in your life right now that are calling you to prayer?
2. Prayer Links Us with God Prayer gives us opportunities to impact our world in two ways: First, when prayer is a top priority, we re better equipped to respond when God places us in positions to make a difference. We are more attuned to identifying those opportunities when they present themselves. Second, God has designed prayer in such a way that it can impact events we may never observe or even be aware are happening. Let s look at several examples of how prayer can link us with God and His purposes at work within us. Prayer makes a difference in telling our world about Christ. Matthew 9:37,38 Why do you think prayer makes a difference when we are preparing to share our faith with others? EMPHASIZE: Note that when we pray, we hear from God. Then, as a result, we become more focused on spiritual priorities. Prayer reminds us of the incredible spiritual need in our world as well as the horrible consequences of rejecting Jesus. Our conversations with God can result in Him calling us to do things that we never imagined possible. When we function as people of prayer, we are prepared to respond to Him when He sends us out, whether it is across the street or around the world. Prayer helps us understand and follow God s will. Matthew 6:10 What do you think it means to pray that God s kingdom would come and His will would be done? Note that God wants us to pray that we become focused on His kingdom instead of this world. We look forward to eternity, and prepare ourselves for Christ s return. We also pray that God s will is fulfilled a prayer that has a very personal element. We want His will to be our will, His plans to be enacted in and through us. Prayer helps us keep our priorities in line with what s happening in heaven, rather than focusing on what is occurring here on earth. CHALLENGE: Invite students to examine their hearts and determine if they do in fact want God s will to be done in their lives. This is no small request, as it can involve radical changes in how we think and live. As a result, in what ways might they need to change their attitudes and actions to better conform to His will? What will happen when they sincerely want and pray for God s will to be done in them? Encourage students to pray this prayer regularly, then note how such a prayer impacts their lives.
Prayer keeps our relationship with God strong. 1 John 1:9 What should we do when we realize that we ve sinned? What are some other ways people respond to this realization? Note that when confronted by sin, we re tempted to blame others, justify what we did, rationalize that our actions weren t that bad, or deny even doing it. Talk about what will happen if we cling to one of these responses. Then explain that the Bible tells us there s only one right response when we sin: prayer. God wants us to talk to Him, to confess our wrongs, and ask for help so we can change in the future. This conversation a fundamental aspect of prayer is a big part of keeping a strong relationship with God. Prayer helps us recognize our purpose in life. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 What do you think Scripture means when it talks about our calling? Note that in one sense every Christian has the same calling: to honor God, reject temptation, persevere, and listen to God when sensing His guidance. Yet God also holds specific plans and intentions for each of us. We discover and follow these plans through prayer. INVITE: Invite students to talk about a time when they had a strong sense of God leading them to do something. Emphasize that this doesn t have to involve a life calling, though such a calling certainly falls into this category. Our purpose can be revealed every day, as God leads us to help someone find Jesus, encourage a hurting Christian, or use our talents for His kingdom s sake. Have them describe how prayer made a difference in them finding their purpose. 3. Prayer Moves God s Hand Through prayer we can move the hand of God in powerful and amazing ways to accomplish His kingdom purposes. This is not manipulation, as we cannot force God to do anything against His will. Instead, prayer is collaboration with God in line with His will. DISCUSS: Read the Scriptures below, then talk about what each teaches concerning the power of prayer to change circumstances and make a difference in the world around us.
James 5:17,18 (The laws and processes of nature were themselves changed in response to the prayers of Elijah.) 2 Kings 6:16-18 (God granted visions of victory in battle, accompanied by the means necessary to make that victory possible. While we don t face military battles, we do indeed engage in battle with a spiritual enemy every day.) Matthew 14:13-21 (God provided life s necessities in response to prayer.) Acts 16:16-34 (God responded to the prayers and praises of Paul and Silas by freeing them from prison. God is also able to bring freedom to our lives through prayer. Note as well that God brought about a powerful and eternal purpose through the circumstances, by bringing salvation to the jailer and his family. He can bring positive fruit out of the hardest of situations we face as well.) God s hand has moved through prayer to bring about revival and renewal to cities and nations. Political and religious strongholds have fallen because of prayer, opening doors for the gospel to be shared in closed mission fields around the world. Disease, famine, and storms have been averted in response to prayer. Spiritual strongholds have been challenged and great victories have been won against the powers of darkness. God responds to our prayers. 4. Prayer Brings Guidance BRAINSTORM: Ask the class to name circumstances and situations where it is vital to receive God s direction. Note that such direction is an ongoing need, yet there are also situations that call for special guidance. These situations move us to prayer. Psalm 143:1,8 Note that David experienced a lot of difficult times, from life-destroying sins of adultery and conspiracy, to murder, to dangerous moments when others threatened his life. It was during such dark times that he wrote these verses. He needed help, hope, and direction. DISCUSS: Have students list the things David asked God for in these verses. Answers include mercy, love, faithfulness, and relief. He also asked for direction. Talk about what these requests say about David s priorities and desires. Note that he was humble, and he surrendered his will to God in hopes of receiving direction. Note that before asking God for direction, we must surrender ourselves completely to Him, recognizing that His plans and ways are better than ours. It s only after we recognize our own limitations and our incredible need for God that we will truly trust His direction in big and small decisions we make every day.
Read the Scriptures below, noting what the apostle Paul prayed for in each. Ephesians 6:19 (Prayer enables us to be more effective when we serve God. Paul asked to be fearless when he preached the gospel. We, too, can pray that God will give us knowledge and boldness in evangelism. Emphasize that Paul already knew how to preach, and boldness seemed to be a natural characteristic of his personality. The fearlessness described in his prayer involved supreme confidence that the words he used were from God. Such confidence only comes through prayer.) Colossians 4:3 (It s tempting to take matters into our own hands when telling others about Jesus. We re overcome with zeal and try to open doors by ourselves. That s why prayer is important; it causes us to trust God s direction and opportunities. Even the best of intentions can turn bad when we try to do things in our own power. But when we ask God for direction, He will help us in ways we can t imagine.) Why is it important to trust God for words and open doors when telling others about Him? (Note that we need God s direction because we never know where people s hearts are at. His direction, then, is vital when we seek to avoid saying the wrong thing [or saying the right thing at the wrong time]. We are also unable to fully understand a situation, making it vital that we seek God for guidance.) James 1:5 Name some specific times in your life when you need wisdom from God. (Invite students to share personal stories of past experiences when they didn t know what to do. How did God help them? How will they need His help in the future?) What do you think it means to say that God will give wisdom generously to all without finding fault? (Note that receiving advice isn t a particularly good experience when the person giving it makes you feel silly for needing it or reminds you of past mistakes. Thankfully, God doesn t hesitate to give us wisdom when we pray and He does so without rubbing it in or reminding us of past wrongs. That s why we can pray for direction every day, without hesitation.) Emphasize that everybody needs direction. In some cases we can feel desperate to receive it. Other times the need is extremely urgent because we re doing something that can make a difference in eternity. Thankfully, when we re willing to humble ourselves to God and trust Him to give what we need we can be confident in God s guidance to take us wherever we need to go.
CLOSING ACTIVITY: Explain that prayer is the engine behind all our endeavors to play a part in furthering God s purposes around the world. Have students read the following passages, noting how they define the plans God has for His people. Encourage them to examine themselves, noting their commitment to prayer in each of these areas. Challenge them to increase their commitment to prayer as necessary. Finally, close the session with a time of corporate prayer, having students pray for one another and believe for God s purposes to be fulfilled through them. 2 Chronicles 7:14,15 (Prayer impacts spiritual healing and restoration, and brings forth a healthy spiritual climate among God s people.) Matthew 9:37,38 (Prayer has an impact on world evangelism. So, while we can have a direct impact on our neighborhoods and communities through our own Spirit-led efforts of sharing the gospel, we also have the privilege of impacting the spread of the gospel around the globe through our prayers.) REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Encourage students to ponder these questions during the coming week. Based on this study and personal experience, how would you answer someone who says prayer makes little difference in a person s life? How has prayer affected your personal destiny? Since so much depends upon prayer, what steps will you take to strengthen this vital discipline in your life? All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.