PRAYER IS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE OF ALL

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

(John 5:14-15)

The main essence of prayer is talking to God and listening to Him, though there are many other sides a person can incorporate into their prayer life. Maintaining an active prayer life will help you achieve victory when going through trials and tribulations in life. Talking to God will help you overcome temptations that come your way.

God’s Word supplies many prayers throughout the Bible to prove His love and mercy toward believers. These prayers intercede for us and are examples for us to consider in our prayer life. God’s prayer for us expands the volume of Scripture. Read the Book of Psalms and pray them to God for yourself.

Jesus gives us guidance on how to pray in The Lord’s Prayer (Some refer to it as The Model Prayer) in Matthew 6:8-13. However, in John Chapter 17, we find the Prayer of Jesus, where He prays for Himself, His disciples, and all believers.

The most important prayer you can ever pray is (The Sinner’s Prayer), the one that invites Jesus into your heart to forgive your sins. Paul sums up the power behind this prayer of forgiveness: But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and your heart” (that is, the Word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:8-10).

God’s summation of our Prayer Life in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is a remarkable exhortation! “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

PRAYER IS A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Prayer is worship that includes all the attitudes of the human spirit in its approach to God.  The Christian worships God when he adores, confesses, praises, and supplicates to God in Prayer, (Supplicates means to make requests to God). The highest activity of which the human spirit is capable of is communion with God, so long as the due emphasis is upon divine initiative.

Jesus tells us that ideal prayer holds both a request for personal forgiveness and a request for a forgiving spirit.

A man prays because God has already touched his spirit.  Prayer in the Bible made by an unregenerate man is not a ‘natural response’ (see John. 4:21). “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.”  Consequently, the Lord does not hear every prayer. The biblical doctrine of worship emphasizes the character of God, the necessity of a man’s being in a saved relationship with Him. Thus, allowing access to all the privileges and obligations of that relationship with God.

God speaks to our spiritual ears, revealing Himself to our spiritual eyes, and draws near to touch with our spiritual hands.

TO WHOM SHOULD WE PRAY?

Looking at the unique roles that each member of the Trinity plays when it comes to prayer, will best answer this question.

GOD THE FATHER – THE SOURCE OF ALL OUR NEEDS

God, the Father, occupies the seat of sovereignty and acts on behalf of His spiritual children.  The Father desires that we approach Him with the warm, tender cry of a child – “Abba, Father.”  Jesus pointed His disciples to the Father when they spoke in Prayer, and always addressed the Father in His prayers.

JESUS CHRIST – THE MEDIATOR

The Son’s role in prayer is the Mediator, the High Priest, and the Revealer of God.  By His death for us, Jesus Christ opened the way to the Father and gave us His name to carry our concerns to the Father in Prayer. He became our eternal High Priest, interceding for us with the Father because He understands our fears, giving us the confidence to draw near to God (Hebrews 4:14-16). 

The standard practice of the apostles and the saints is to address the Father in Jesus’ name. We ask Jesus because He is the high priest that intercedes for us before the throne of God. Jesus argues our case for our standing in Him just as a lawyer would do in court.

THE HOLY SPIRIT – THE ENABLER

The Holy Spirit, as the third member of the Trinity, acts as the Enabler and the Interceder in Prayer.  The Holy Spirit makes the believer aware of his status as a child of God (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6). He motivates and empowers us as we “pray in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).  The spirit also comes alongside the believer in prayer and helps “carry the load” and directs the believer when they do not know what to ask or how to pray (Romans 8:26-27).

The typical pattern of prayer and worship involves the unique roles of each member of the Trinity:

• We address our prayers to the Father (the Source)
• We pray in the name of Jesus Christ (the Mediator)
• We pray with the power of the Holy Spirit (the Enabler).

THE LORD’S PRAYER – MODEL PRAYER

Matthew 6:9-13

One day Jesus was praying in a specific place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1).

The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught His disciples, commonly called The Lord’s Prayer”. Jesus teaches us, “After this manner, therefore, pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom comes Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.” Amen

CONNECT WITH GOD YOUR FATHER

“Our Father in heaven…”

You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15 NLT).

We should draw near unto the Throne of Grace with suitable apprehensions of God’s sovereign majesty and power. Also, with complete confidence and faith in His fatherly goodness.

Let us first understand that our Great God is most graciously ready to grant us an audience. By directing us to address Him as our Father, it assures us of His love and power. 

These words, “which art in heaven,” call our attention to the providence of God.  Thus, declaring the fact that He is directing all things from on high.  These words proclaim His ability to undertake for us, for our Father is the Almighty. God loves for us to call Him our Father. Establish your intimate relationship with Him and give thanks for everything He is going to do for you.

WORSHIP HIS NAME

“…Hallowed be Your Name…”

God’s name is a place of protection—the righteous can run there and be safe (Proverbs 18:10 MSG).

God should be the center of our world. “Hallowed be Your name,” It reminds me that God and His Kingdom are more important than my everyday desire.  It quiets my heart and gives the urgency of my needs to the higher priority of His purposes.

His Names and attributes:

• Righteousness – He makes me clean
• Sanctifier – He has called me and set me apart
• Healer – He heals all my diseases
• Banner of Victory – He has defeated my enemy
• Shepherd – He speaks to me and leads me
• Peace – He is my peace in every storm
• Provider – He supplies all my needs

PRAY HIS AGENDA FIRST

“…Your Kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”

He will always give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God, your primary concern (Luke 12:31 TLB). When we pray “Your Kingdom come,” we are expressing a longing not only for His future reign but for His authority over our lives now. To show it, the Kingdom is where the King is.  So, early in the gospels, we read of the good news:  “The Kingdom of God is near you” (Luke 10:9).  The Kingdom was near because the King was near. The scriptures speak of the Kingdom as coming, at some unexpected future time, because the King Himself is coming again.  And the day is coming when we will partake in His endless reign.

DEPEND ON HIM FOR EVERYTHING

“…Give us this day our daily bread…”

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!  (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT).

In asking God for our daily bread, we ask that He might graciously provide us with a part of outward things such as He sees will be best suited to our calling and station.  Jesus cares about the details in the Human drama-not just the outcome.

When we pray for our daily bread, we are bringing God into the center of our lives, asking for temporal blessings in the same spirit in which we’d ask for forgiveness.  Paul taught us that the “mundane” is not so mundane when he urged us in I Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Ask God for what you want and need and then trust Him for the answer. If He decides to give us the key to His treasury of resources, then praise Him. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Jesus gave us this bottom line of assurance:  “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on, for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:25, 32-33).

 As we step out in faith, we’ll discover it’s a firm foundation we’re standing on, not thin air. We will meet the God who truly makes a difference in our daily lives.

GET YOUR HEART RIGHT WITH GOD AND PEOPLE

“…Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…”

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Sincerely prayed, it can be the healing of a fractured spiritual life and broken human relationships. It is our Lord’s second excellent instruction on how we ought to pray concerning ourselves.  This petition is a specific prayer for forgiveness, “Forgive us our debts,” and it is also an implicit prayer for a forgiving spirit: “…as we forgive our debtors.”

So, Jesus is telling us that ideal prayer holds both a request for personal forgiveness and a request for a forgiving spirit.

Ask God to check your heart and motives. Receive His forgiveness for any area that He suggests. Forgive anyone who has offended you in any way.

ENGAGE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

 “…And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one…”

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

Let’s clarify this petition: “And do not lead us into temptation.” This word “lead” gives us the wrong impression because James says God does not tempt any man. A better translation here would be, “Do not leave us in temptation.” It does not mean to keep us out of it, but when we are in it, do not leave us there. The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

NOTE: The biblical statement written by James to Christians was “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man:   But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13-14).

So, take your stand against the enemy and fight the good fight of faith. Replace every lie that the enemy has told you with the truth of God’s Word.

EXPRESS FAITH IN GOD’S ABILITY

 “…For yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.”

“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17).

All Prayer should begin and end with a recognition of God’s nature.  Praise is that aspect of prayer that vocally esteems God for His virtues and accomplishments. End your prayer time by reminding yourself of God’s ability.

“Yours is the Kingdom” – all rule belongs to You

“Yours is the Power” – all mightiness flows from You

“Yours is the Glory” – Your victory shall be complete

The Apostle John brings to our attention the power of praying, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (I John 5:14-15).

PRAYING SCRIPTURE EMPOWERS OUR PRAYER LIFE

As we mature in our faith and knowledge of God’s Word, we often find ourselves praying familiar verses and promises of Scripture in our prayers. This form helps us pray God’s will, reminding (although He is all-knowing) Him of the promises He has made to us, which strengthens our prayers.

• When we pray God’s Word—our prayers become Swords in our hands that defeat the powers of darkness.

• So powerful and sharper than any double-edged sword that will reveal the thoughts and attitudes of the heart

• His words do not return empty but carry out God’s desired purpose.

• The presence and power of the Holy Spirit aid us in the situations we cover with Prayer.

Praying God’s will be vital in fulfilling our purpose and ministry. When we add Scriptures, we can be sure that God will hear our spiritual concerns. Including Scripture in our prayer life will help confirm we’re praying God’s will because His Word is His will. When we pray it, He hears and addresses our prayers. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask— we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14).

THE BENEFITS OF MAINTAINING A CONSISTENT PRAYER LIFE

PRAYER: How do we make prayer a part of our everyday life? We can learn from three things that Jesus did:

A CERTAIN TIME: Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. For prayer to work, we should do the same. Make a daily appointment with God and keep it. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).

A CERTAIN PLACE: Jesus had a prayer place. Your prayer place needs to be an undistracted environment where you can pray out loud and perhaps have some worship music playing in the background.

A CERTAIN PLAN: Go into your prayer time with a plan. If it changes, that’s fine. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave His disciples a prayer outline. We call it the Lord’s Prayer.

PRAYER WARRIORS PRODUCE FRUIT AND MATURITY

Jesus suggests to His prayer warriors, “But thou, when thou prays, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).

The Apostle Luke tells us of this spiritual power provided by God, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

• Something is going to happen to your entire life. You are going to experience productivity, enabling you to produce the life God has called you to live.  Such a life is fruitful in your spiritual life and your ministry for God.

Incorporating and relying on Scripture to bring about productivity according to God’s will, dramatically increases our success. Finally, after Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God, he closes this section of Scripture by urging us to pray always. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” Ephesians 6: 18).

A PROMISE

 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (John 5:14-15)

A PRAYER

Father, I confess that so often I have failed the test: that I’ve allowed the flesh to rule over the spirit. Forgive me, Lord, and cleanse me. Let me be governed by Your Holy Spirit and by Your eternal Word of truth. Your Word promises that you will continue the work you have begun in me. This I pray. IN JESUS; NAME, AMEN