Lesson 2 - How to Pray

Introduction: More Important than any rule or law is our love relationship with Jesus Christ, which is developed through spending time in Bible study, prayer, and witnessing. When we study the Bible, God speaks to us. When we pray, we speak to Him. And when we witness, we speak to others about Him. In this lesson we will discover the secrets of prayer and how we can enjoy this privilege.

1. Prayer is talking to God from the heart as to a friend. How do we know that God will always answer our prayers in the best way? Rom. 8:32 [The Further-study verses are Psalms 102:17; 147:3-6]

(Romans 8:32 NKJV) "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

2. How should we pray in these solemn times? 1 Peter 4:7 [Luke 21:34-36]

(1 Peter 4:7 NKJV) "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers."

3. What did the disciples want Jesus to teach them? Luke 11:1. In response, what did Jesus say should be included in our prayers, Verses 2-4. And finally, what principle did Jesus give for obtaining answers to prayer? Verses 5-9.

(Luke 11:1 NKJV) "Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.""

(Luke 11:2-4 NKJV) "So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. {3} Give us day by day our daily bread. {4} And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.""

(Luke 11:5-9 NKJV) "And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; {6} 'for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; {7} "and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? {8} "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. {9} "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

[Note: In verses 2-4, Jesus was not giving a formal prayer to recite but was answering the disciples' request, "Teach us to pray." Here He taught us what type of things to pray about and how we should persist in prayer. Matt. 6:9-13; 7:7-11; Luke 18:1-7; 1 Thess. 5:17]

4. In Luke 11:2, above, Jesus taught us to pray to the Father. In whose name, or by whose authority, should we address the Father? John 15:16

(John 15:16 NKJV) ""You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

[Note: We pray in Jesus' name because He is our mediator and Savior. Through His merits we gain access to the very throne of the universe. John 14:12-15; 16:23, 24; 1 Tim. 2:5]

5. When especially should we pray? Ps. 5:3 [Mark 1:35; Ps. 55:16, 17].

(Psalms 5:3 NKJV) "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up."

6. What kind of prayers should these morning prayers be? Matt. 6:5-8

(Matthew 6:5-8 NKJV) ""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. {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."

[Ans: Personal, private prayers rather than formal, "prayerbook" prayers. Matt. 23:14]

7. Besides our private prayers, is there also a place for public prayer? Matt. 18:19, 20 [Acts 1:14; 2:1]

(Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV) ""Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. {20} "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.""

8. What attitude toward God should we exhibit in our prayers? Ps. 95:6, 7

(Psalms 95:6-7 NKJV) "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. {7} For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:"

[Ans: Reverence such as is shown by kneeling in awe and humility when possible. Isaiah 45:23; Phil 2:9, 10; Daniel 6:10; 2 Chron. 6:13; Ps. 141:1, 2]

9. On what specific occasions did Jesus and the apostles pray? Acts 27:35

(Acts 27:35 NKJV) "And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat."

[Ans: At meal times. Luke 24:30] Thus far we have noted four things that will make our prayers effective. We might call these conditions, or principles, of prayer. The four principles we have noted are: (1) being persistent, (2) praying with Jesus' authority, (3) being personal, and (4) having reverence. Now let us look at five more principles of prayer. See if you can remember all nine when we have completed the lesson.

10. What is a fifth condition? Ps. 37:5

(Psalms 37:5 NKJV) "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass."

[Ans: We must trust God. James 1:5-7; Heb. 11:6; Mark 11:24]

11. What is a sixth condition? 1 John 5:14

(1 John 5:14 NKJV) "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

[Ans: We must want Cod's will to be done. This is a matter of faith. If we really believe God's way is best, we will want His will to be done. Matt. 26:39; James 4:3; Rom. 8:26-28]

12. What is a seventh condition? Prov. 28:9

(Proverbs 28:9 NKJV) "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination."

[Ans: we must listen to God and obey Him. Why should we expect God to hear us, if we will not hear Him? And why should we expect Him to do what we ask, if we will not do what He asks? 1 John 3:22; Luke 6:46; John 14:12-15]

13. What is an eighth condition? Phil. 4:6

(Philippians 4:6 NKJV) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;"

[Ans: we should praise God and be thankful for His goodness. Col. 4:2; Ps. 34:1]

14. What is a ninth condition? Mark 11:25, 26

(Mark 11:25-26 NKJV) ""And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. {26} "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.""

[Ans: We should be willing to forgive others as we expect God to forgive us. Matt. 6:14, 15; 18:21-35]

Commitment: Will you plan to become better acquainted with Jesus by setting apart some time every morning to talk with Him in personal, private prayer?

Further Study Verses

Question 1 - Further Study

(Psalms 102:17 NKJV) "He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer."

(Psalms 147:3-6 NKJV) "He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. {4} He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. {5} Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. {6} The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground." -->Back to Study

Question 2 - Further Study

(Luke 21:34-36 NKJV) ""But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. {35} "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. {36} "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."" -->Back to Study

Question 3 - Further Study

(Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV) ""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. {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."

(Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV) ""Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. {8} "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. {9} "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? {10} "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? {11} "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

(Luke 18:1-7 NKJV) "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, {2} saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. {3} "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' {4} "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, {5} 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" {6} Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. {7} "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?"

(1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV) "pray without ceasing," -->Back to Study

Question 4 - Further Study

(John 14:12-15 NKJV) ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. {13} "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. {14} "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. {15} "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

(John 16:23-24 NKJV) ""And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. {24} "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

(1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV) "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus," -->Back to Study

Question 5 - Further Study

(Psalms 55:16-17 NKJV) "As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. {17} Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice."

(Mark 1:35 NKJV) "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." -->Back to Study

Question 6 - Further Study

(Matthew 23:14 NKJV) ""Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation." -->Back to Study

Question 7 - Further Study

(Acts 1:14 NKJV) "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."

(Acts 2:1 NKJV) "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." -->Back to Study

Question 8 - Further Study

(Isaiah 45:23 NKJV) "I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath."

(Philippians 2:9-10 NKJV) "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,"

(Daniel 6:10 NKJV) "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days."

(2 Chronicles 6:13 NKJV) "(for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven);"

(Psalms 141:1-2 NKJV) "LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. {2} Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." -->Back to Study

Question 9 - Further Study

(Luke 24:30 NKJV) "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them." -->Back to Study

Question 10 - Further Study

(James 1:5-7 NKJV) "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. {6} But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. {7} For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;"

(Hebrews 11:6 NKJV) "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

(Mark 11:24 NKJV) ""Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." -->Back to Study

Question 11 - Further Study

(Matthew 26:39 NKJV) "He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.""

(James 4:3 NKJV) "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."

(Romans 8:26-28 NKJV) "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. {27} Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. {28} And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." -->Back to Study

Question 12 - Further Study

(1 John 3:22 NKJV) "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."

(Luke 6:46 NKJV) ""But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?"

Question 13 - Further Study

(Colossians 4:2 NKJV) "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;"

(Psalms 34:1 NKJV) "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." -->Back to Study

Question 14 - Further Study

(Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV) ""For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

(Matthew 18:21-35 NKJV) "Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" {22} Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. {23} "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. {24} "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. {25} "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. {26} "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' {27} "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. {28} "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' {29} "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' {30} "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. {31} "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. {32} "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. {33} 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' {34} "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. {35} "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."" -->Back to Study

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Last Updated: 06/18/03