Chapter 4 - Principles of Prayer

Chapter Four

"Trouble and perplexity drive me to prayer, and prayer drives away perplexity and trouble."
—Philipp Melanchthon

PRAYER PROMISES AND COMMANDS

Since God is our refuge, what are we told to do? (Psa. 62:8)

With what attitude should we approach God in prayer? (Heb. 10:22) (Select correct answer.)
Fearfully.
With unqualified confidence.
Being alert, cleansed and cautious.
With great care that we're praying correctly.

In Luke 11:9 what three words does Jesus use to describe prayer, and what promise is connected with each?
1. Command / Promise
1. Command / Promise
1. Command / Promise

In Philippians 4:6,7
1. What are we told not to do?
1. What are we to do?
1. What is promised?

1. In Psalm 50:15, what is God's command?
1. What is His promise?

"Sometimes, perhaps you hear another pray with much freedom and fluency, while you can hardly get out a few broken words. Hence you are ready to accuse yourself and admire him, as if the gilding of the key made it open the door better."
—William Gurnall

What are two reasons that God answers our prayers?
1. John 14:13
1. John 16:24

Review your chapter on "The Devotional Life" in Book 2 for further Scripture and help on prayer.

In your own words write out (paraphrase) I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Jeremiah 33:3 and Ephesians 3:20 teach that if we call upon Him (Select correct answer.)
He will answer if we use the right form of prayer.
He will answer and give greater things than we had thought of.
He will answer if we pray powerfully and loudly.

Thou art coming to a King
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much!
—John Newton

CONDITIONS OF PRAYER

What is one thing we must do to receive answers to prayer? (John 16:24)

Upon Whose merits (in Whose name) should we pray? (John 14:13,14)

We enter the presence of God only on the basis of the blood of Jesus Christ shed for our sins. Thus cleansed, we may boldly enter the King's throne room with all the privileges of membership in the Royal Family (Heb. 10:19).

The Divine pattern of prayer is to pray to the Father, in the Name of the Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

As we pray our attitude should follow Jesus' example, "Not My
(Luke 22:42)

What is another condition for answered prayer? (Heb. 11:6, Matt. 21:22)

What gives us faith that God will hear us? (I John 5:14,15) (Select correct answer.)
Repeating the same prayer many times a day.
Asking according to God's revealed will.
Asking in sincerity.

How do we find God's will and build faith for answers? (John 15:7) (Select correct answer.)
By abiding in prayer long enough.
By reading the Bible before we pray.
By maintaining a vital fellowship with Christ, and having His Word in our hearts.

"The more I pray, the more I feel my need of the Word. The more I read God's Word, the more I have to pray, and the more power I have in prayer."
—Andrew Murray

What is one hindrance to answered prayer? (Psa. 66:18)

The "Power in Prayer" chapter in Book 6 covers more on getting answers to prayer.

Briefly summarize the conditions of prayer in questions 9 to 15.

"We should pray when we are in a praying mood, for it would be sinful to neglect so fair an opportunity. We should pray when we are not in a proper mood, for it would be dangerous to remain in so unhealthy a condition."
—Charles H. Spurgeon

WHAT TO PRAY FOR

In Romans 10:1
1. How does Paul describe his concern for his lost countrymen?
1. What did he do about it?
1. What was his goal for them?

According to I Timothy 2:1-4
1. What three groups of people should we pray for?
1. Why?

What does the Lord especially want us to pray for? (Matt. 9:37,38)

What should we ask for those who serve Christ around the world?
1. Eph. 6:19,20
1. II Thess. 3:1,2

According to Ephesians 6:18-20 we should: (Select all correct answers.)
Pray occasionally for other Christians.
Pray diligently.
Allow God's Spirit to lead us in prayer.
Pray for all Christians.
Pray only for those who preach or teach.

What should we ask for ourselves?
1. James 1:5
1. Psa. 119:34
1. Psa. 119:133
1. Matt. 26:41
1. Psa. 51:2,10
1. Psa. 37:5
1. Psa. 19:14

Whom else should we pray for? (Matt. 5:44)

Have you been using a prayer list? You will find it a helpful reminder in praying
It can include:
• your family
• your non-Christian friends and acquaintances
• your pastor and church
• missionaries and Christian workers you know
• your personal needs

Be definite with God, and God will be definite with you.

AN EXAMPLE OF PRAYER

In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus teaches certain principles which we should include in our personal praying. Read this passage carefully and answer the following questions.
1. Whom should we address in prayer?
1. Whose Name should we honor and worship?
1. What do you think "Thy Kingdom come" means?
1. What phrase includes our personal submission to God?
1. What specific needs should we ask to be supplied?
1. As we ask God to forgive our offenses, what obligation do we have?
1. What two things should we pray to be kept from?

What is the most important thing you have learned about prayer in this chapter? How can you put it into practice?

"I cannot tell why there should come to me
A thought of someone miles and years away,
In swift insistence on the memory,
Unless there is a need that I should pray.

"Perhaps just then my friend has fiercer fight,
A more appalling weakness, a decay
Of courage, darkness, some lost sense of right;
And so, in case he needs my prayers, I pray."*

*Mrs. Jonathan Goforth, How I Know God Answers Prayer, Moody Press

DEFINITIONS

Asunder — Apart.
Bonds — Chains.
Breaking of bread — Sometimes Communion (The Lord's Supper); otherwise just eating together.
Careful — Worried; anxious.
Chief Shepherd — The Lord Jesus Christ.
Commend — Speak well of; recommend for use.
Communicate — Share; help financially.
Conversation — Behavior; manner of life; conduct.
Edify — To build up; to instruct and improve spiritually.
Ensamples — Examples.
Err — To make a mistake; to sin.
Expound — To explain.
Firstfruits — First products of harvest. In Romans 16:5 this term is used to refer to the first ones to come to Christ in Achaia.
Forbearing — Restraining oneself in order to be patient and loving; making allowances.
Free course — To run freely; to spread rapidly and unhindered.
Hallowed — In Matthew 6:9, "May Your name be held sacred (treated as holy; reverenced; honored)."
Hitherto — Before this; until now.
Incorruptible — Imperishable.
Infirmities — Weaknesses.
Iniquity — Sin.
Inspiration — Term used to indicate the Scriptures are God-breathed (God-given), the Word of God.
Intercession — Prayer.
Interpretation — Explanation.
Longsuffering — Patient endurance.
Lucre — Gain in money or goods; riches.
Mystery — A divine truth once hidden but now revealed; a revelation; God's offer of salvation to the world through Jesus Christ.
Precept — A practical teaching or rule to guide behavior.
Prophet — One who speaks for God—sometimes foretelling, sometimes forthtelling (preaching or teaching).
Regard — (In Psalm 66:18) Cherish; hold onto.
Reprove, reproof — Convince; rebuke; expose.
Saint — Any true believer in Christ, therefore one who has been cleansed and set apart for God.
Schism — Division.
Scripture, Scriptures — The Bible; a verse or verses in the Bible.
Selah — Pause (and calmly think of that). Since the Psalms were songs, this term seems to indicate a rest; probably for the singers to cease while only the instruments played.
Simple — Teachable; open-minded; humble.
Statute — An established truth or commandment.
Supplication — Prayer; entreaty.
Table (of the heart) — Tablet: has the meaning of a stone tablet upon which writing was permanently engraved.
Throughly — Thoroughly; completely.
Upbraideth — Scolds; reproaches.