Lesson One HOW TO PRAY

BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH Lesson One HOW TO PRAY TWELVE LESSONS ON PRAYER STUDY TEXT: Matthew 6:5 15. KEY THOUGHT: Prayer is not learned in a classroom, but in the closet E. M. Bounds. INTRODUCTION: There are three settings for prayer found in the New Testament: 1. Personal Prayer e.g., Acts 10:9 (see also: Daniel 6:10). 2. Partnership Prayer e.g., Acts 3:1; Matthew 18:19 (see also: Daniel 2:17 18). 3. Public Prayer e.g., Acts 4:23 31; I Corinthians 14:15 17. This lesson concerns itself with the first of these three settings. Without the discipline of personal or private prayer, praying in other environments will be found wanting. LESSON: I. YOU NEED TO PREPARE TO PRAY verses 5 6. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. A. You must be SINCERE: 1. Remove all pretentiousness thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are. 2. God hates pretense Matthew 15:7 9. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (See: Isaiah 29:13.) a. Hypocrites pray for personal satisfaction they love to pray (verse 5 a ). b. Hypocrites pray for public show that they may be seen of men (verse 5 b ). And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation Mark 12:38 40. B. You Must Cultivate TRUE PIETY: Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me WITH ALL YOUR HEART Jeremiah 29:12 13. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him IN TRUTH Psalm 145:18. 1

C. You must have a SCHEDULE: 1. A special time WHEN thou prayest (verse 6 a ). And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed Mark 1:35. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he [Jesus] went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone Matthew 14:23. 2. A special place enter into thy closet (verse 6 b ). 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. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray Mark 6:46. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples John 18:1 2. John G. Paton (1824 1907) was a Scottish missionary to the islands that are now called Vanuatu, in the south Pacific. In his autobiography, he wrote of his father s prayer closet: The closet was a very small apartment betwixt the other two, having room only for a bed, a little table and a chair, with a diminutive window shedding diminutive light on the scene. This was the Sanctuary of that cottage home. Thither daily, and oftentimes a day, generally after each meal, we saw our father retire, and shut to the door; and we children got to understand by a sort of spiritual instinct (for the thing was too sacred to be talked about) that prayers were being poured out there for us, as of old by the High Priest within the veil in the Most Holy Place. We occasionally heard the pathetic echoes of a trembling voice pleading as if for life, and we learned to slip out and in past that door on tiptoe, not to disturb the holy colloquy. The outside world might not know, but we knew, whence came that happy light as of a new born smile that always was dawning on my father's face: it was a reflection from the Divine Presence, in the consciousness of which he lived. Never, in temple or cathedral, on mountain or in glen, can I hope to feel that the Lord God is more near, more visibly walking and talking with men, than under that humble cottage roof of thatch and oaken wattles. Though everything else in religion were by some unthinkable catastrophe to be swept out of memory, or blotted from my understanding, my soul would wander back to those early scenes, and shut itself up once again in that Sanctuary Closet, and, hearing still the echoes of those cries to God, would hurl back all doubt with the victorious appeal, He walked with God, why may not I? II. YOU NEED TO BE PERSUADED WHEN YOU PRAY verses 6 7. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking Matthew 6:6 7. But without faith it is impossible to please him Hebrews 11:6 a. 2

If we would pray aright, the first thing we should do is to see to it that we really get an audience with God; that we really get into His very presence. Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him R. A. Torrey. A. Pray with faith that God RECOGNIZES your prayers: I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah Psalm 3:4. The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer Psalm 6:9. Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him Psalm 28:6 7. But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer Psalm 66:19. A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me Psalm 120:1. B. Pray with faith that God REWARDS your prayers: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Hebrews 11:6. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it Psalm 81:10. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us Ephesians 3:20. III. YOU NEED TO BE PURPOSEFUL WHEN YOU PRAY verses 8 15. A. In relation to the RUDIMENTS of prayer: 1. We pray to the FATHER when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father (verse 6 b ). Note: We are not taught to pray to Jesus, or to the Holy Spirit! And if ye call on THE FATHER, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear I Peter 1:17. For this cause I bow my knees unto THE FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 3:14. 2. We pray in JESUS NAME. a. He is our Access: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me John 14:6. For through him [Christ] we both have ACCESS by one Spirit unto the Father Ephesians 2:18. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh Hebrews 10:19 20. b. He is our Authority: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you John 15:16. 3

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full John 16:24. c. Through Christ we have Acceptance: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ I Peter 2:5. BY HIM therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name Hebrews 13:15. Note: On our own, we have nothing to recommend us to God. We come to Him, not based upon our own merit, but Christ s. We ask Him to work on our behalf, not for our sakes, but for His. Our sinfulness should elicit God s wrath, but because we are Christ s and come in His name, we find acceptance and God willing to work on our behalf for Christ s sake. O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it FOR THY NAME S SAKE: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee Jeremiah 14:7. Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. FOR MY NAME S SAKE will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for MINE OWN SAKE, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another Isaiah 48:8 11. Read: Ezekiel 20:5 22. d. He Gives us Assurance: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, THAT WILL I DO, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I WILL DO IT John 14:13 14. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Hebrews 7:25. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly [confidently] unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need Hebrews 4:14 16. 3. We Pray in the Holy Spirit: Praying always with all prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints Ephesians 6:18. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying IN THE HOLY GHOST Jude 20. Note: This means we are to pray with His help and power. If we are grieving Him, we will not have that help; if we are resisting Him, we cannot expect His power. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind 4

of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God Romans 8:26 27. 4. We are to Pray with Thanksgiving: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God Philippians 4:6. 5. We are to Pray with Perseverance: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint Luke 18:1. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer Romans 12:12. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving Colossians 4:2. On persevering prayer: I look at a stone cutter hammering away at a rock a hundred times without so much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101 st blow it splits in two. I know it was not the one blow that did it, but all that had gone before. 6. We are to Pray in Faith: And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive Matthew 21:22. B. In relation to the REQUIREMENTS for prayer: 1. You must give him your Worship hallowed by thy name. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts Malachi 1:11. Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things! Andrew Murray. 2. You must give him your Will thy will be done. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen Hebrews 13:20 21. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God I Peter 4:1 2. C. In relation to the REQUESTS of prayer: 1. Our intercession for others: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way I Samuel 12:23. The Bible is full of instruction on how to pray for others, and we will look more specifically in future lessons about how to for our church, family, pastors, evangelists, enemies, the sick, etc. 5

CONCLUSION: 2. Our petitions for ourselves: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need Hebrews 4:16. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God Philippians 4:6. 3. Our confession and seeking of forgiveness: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness I John 1:9. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Proverbs 28:13. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me Psalm 66:18. 1. Samuel Chadwick: Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, or prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray. 2. Reuben Archer Torrey: When the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, he trembles as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end. 3. J. Sidlow Baxter: Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers. 4. Edward McKendree Bounds Prayer is not learned in a classroom but in the closet. Lesson prepared by: Evangelist Mike McDowell. The quotations from other men that have been utilized in this lesson does not necessarily imply or constitute our full or partial agreement with their faith and/or practice. 6