The Fundamentals of Prayer

fundamentals of prayer

Prayer – The Fundamentals

matthew 6:5-13

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “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 also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

The starting point:

matthew 6:5-7

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

•Don’t make it a big show.

•Prayer is an intimate thing and can be a private thing.

•Be thoughtful and reverent when you pray

supporting scriptures

matthew 18:19-20

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

acts 2:42

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

hebrews 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

my notes:

proper description

matthew 6:9

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Remember the One to Whom we speak: God the Father

God is not a man...

numbers 23:19

God is not man, that he should lie,

or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?

Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

God is a consuming fire

deuteronomy 4:24

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

my notes:

God is the Rock who enables

2 samuel 22:32-34

“For who is God, but the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?

33 This God is my strong refuge

and has made my way blameless.

34 He made my feet like the feet of a deer

and set me secure on the heights.

My salvation and honor depend on Him, our Refuge

psalm 62:7-8

On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

God shares our burdens and saves

psalm 68:19-20

Blessed be the Lord,

who daily bears us up;

God is our salvation. Selah

20 Our God is a God of salvation,

and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

God is the strength of my heart

psalm 73:25-26

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

The gift of God

romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is able to make all grace abound

2 corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

God is love

1 john 4:16

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

my notes:

Remember the One in Whose name we pray: God the Son

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega

revelation 22:13

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Jesus is our Burden Bearer

matthew 11:28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Jesus is the Eternal Creator

john 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus has all authority on Earth

matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

my notes:

Jesus is the Righteous One

isaiah 53:11

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

Jesus had no deceit

1 peter 2:22

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Jesus is merciful

hebrews 2:17

herefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Jesus came to save sinners

luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Jesus is our Advocate

1 john 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life

john 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus came back for Thomas

john 20:24-29

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

•Thomas’ beautiful declaration

my notes:

Jesus is our Great High Priest

hebrews 4:14-16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

•Jesus sympathizes with our weakness

my notes:

proper submission

matthew 6:10

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Submit yourself then to God...

james 4:7-8

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Delight yourself in the Lord...

psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Seek the Lord, His Strength and Presence continually!

1 chronicles 16:11

Seek the Lord and his strength;

seek his presence continually!

my notes:

Your Great Renown

Our hearts are longing for

The glory of the Lord

To be made known in all the Earth

Lord let Your kingdom come

Lord let Your will be done

Yours is the greatest name of all

We want to see the nations bow

We want to hear the rising sound

Of the worship that You deserve

We want this passion to abound

A burden for Your great renown

Yours is the greatest name of all

Our hearts are longing for

The wisdom of the Lord

To be proclaimed in all the Earth

Your ways are higher than

The dreams of any man

Yours is the greatest name of all

Our hearts are hungry for

The power of the Lord

To be displayed in all the Earth

The message of the Cross

Will bring hope to the lost

Yours is the greatest name of all

isaiah 26:8

In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.

proper focus and requests

matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread

Seek first the Kingdom of God...

matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

With thanksgiving present your requests

philippians 4:6

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Cast all your anxiety on Him...

1 peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

If any of you lacks wisdom

james 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

The Lord listens to the righteous

psalm 34:15-18

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous

and his ears toward their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears

and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

Seek the Lordwhile He may be found

isaiah 55:6

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near...”

He is our deliverer

psalm 50:15

and call upon me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Confess and pray together

james 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

•Prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective

Pray and be proactive

nehemiah 4:9

And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.

Praise and thank Him for answered prayer

psalm 66:17-20

I cried to him with my mouth,

and high praise was on my tongue.

18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened.

19 But truly God has listened;

he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God,

because he has not rejected my prayer

or removed his steadfast love from me!

my notes:

sin hinders our prayers:

matthew 6:12

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

... but your iniquities have made a seperation...

isaiah 59:1-2

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,

or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

2 but your iniquities have made a separation

between you and your God,

and your sins have hidden his face from you

so that he does not hear.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart...

psalm 66:18

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened.

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

proverbs 28:9

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord...

proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

Asking with wrong motives

james 4:1-3

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

... so your prayers will not be hindered

1 peter 3:7

my notes:

Pray for forgiveness:

IF my people who are called by my Name...

2 chronicles 7:14

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Come to me all you who are weary...

matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

IF we confess our sins He is faithful...

1 john 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confess and pray together

james 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective

james 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord...

romans 10:13

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Forgive others:

...but if you do not forgive others…

matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

my notes:

proper reliance

matthew 5:13

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Watch and pray... the spirit is willing but the body is weak.

matthew 26:41

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Praying in the Spirit at all times

ephesians 6:18

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

This is the confidence we have...

1 john 5:14

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

... because we keep His commandments...

1 john 3:22

and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

Ask, seek and knock

luke 11:9

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

All these in one accord were devoting themselves to prayer

acts 1:14

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

...for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him

matthew 6:8

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear

isaiah 65:24

Before they call I will answer;

while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant

romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances

1 thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The One Who called you…

1 thessalonians 5:24

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

My house shall be called a house of prayer...

isaiah 56:7

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

my notes: