Prayer I. Introduction A. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12 B. Prayer critical in the life of a Christian C. Unfortunately, often ironic 1. A simple thing to do, yet difficult to find the time to do 2. Costs no money, yet takes up resources we don't often want to give it 3. Recognition of its importance, yet too often neglected D. Prayer represents our communication with God; it cannot be neglected! E. Let us consider prayer today II. What is Prayer? A. Prayer represents making one's petitions to God 1. Mark 11:24 2. Romans 1:10 3. Making requests known to God B. A great opportunity! 1. Think about it: the Creator of the Universe, the most holy and mighty God, wants you to communicate with Him! 2. Even though He is so much greater than us (Isaiah 55:8-9), He loves us, and seeks us (John 3:16) C. A desire for real communication 1. We must always recognize how holy and superior God is 2. On the other hand, through the blood of Christ, we may approach God with boldness (Hebrews 10:19-22) 3. Romans 8:14-17: our redemption has allowed us to be adopted as sons, by which we may call, "Abba, Father!" 4. This means that God desires us to communicate with Him in familiar yet respectful terms: as a child communicates with his earthly father 5. We must always maintain proper humility before God: but that does not mean that we are to speak in a different way than we normally would, or feel as if we must hold back in our praying D. What Prayer is Not 1. Prayer is not to be a rote exercise, nor is it to be mindless speaking 2. Matthew 6:5-8 3. Prayer is not to seem pious to others, nor should it be drawn out just to show how "holy" we are 4. Prayer is not to be false in any way! E. What Prayer is 1. Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:1-4 2. Jesus provides model prayers for His disciples 3. The intention was never to recite these by rote, but to provide examples of the types of things for which we are to pray 4. Recognition of sanctity of God 5. Desire to further and promote His Kingdom 6. Request to provide for our daily needs 7. Request for forgiveness as we forgive others 8. Request to be kept from temptation 9. Quite basic, yet very profound and important F. The Continuity of Prayer 1. God desires for us to make prayer a continual habit, a continuing relationship, and not something infrequent or on an emergency basis 2. Romans 12:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 3. We must be steadfast and unceasing in prayer! III. The Value of Prayer A. Prayer has value in every regard B. Communication with the Father 1. Ephesians 6:18-19 2. You can only know where God will direct you if you are in communication with Him! 3. Just as the front line needs constant orders from the commander in war, so we must always get direction in prayer! C. Receiving 1. Mark 11:24, Matthew 7:7 2. If we ask honestly, we will receive! 3. Not in doubt: James 1:5-7 4. Not asking to fulfill the desires of the flesh, but instead the desires of the Spirit (James 4:3) 5. Perhaps we do not gain because we have not truly, diligently prayed? 6. We had better watch what we ask for: we may get it! D. Closer association with God and brethren 1. Prayer brings you into the presence of God 2. It's more difficult to sin when you are continually in prayer with God! 3. In praying, you give up your burdens to God, and He will provide for you (1 Peter 5:7) 4. In so doing, you will get closer to God! 5. By praying for and with your brethren, you get closer to them also! E. Unimagined blessings 1. By having close communication with God, God may bless you in all kinds of ways that cannot be described 2. It will help you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) 3. God may act in your life in ways that may not be perceived, but will lead to great results! IV. Examples of Prayer A. We can also consider examples of prayer in days of old B. Jesus 1. Although God, Jesus Himself prayed continually to the Father 2. Matthew 14:23, Matthew 26:36-44 C. Paul 1. In good times and bad, Paul prayed to God (Acts 16:25) 2. Prayed for the betterment of others (Romans 1:9) 3. Requested the prayers of brethren on his behalf (Romans 15:30) D. Old Testament examples 1. Hezekiah during the Assyrian difficulties (2 Kings 19) 2. Esther during the Haman crisis (Esther 4) E. James 5:16-18 1. James speaks of the example of Elijah and his praying (1 Kings 17-18) 2. A man "of like passions" 3. He was not so different from us! V. Conclusion A. We have seen the great value of prayer B. Matthew 17:20 C. Are we of little faith? 1. Do we really believe that God is able to do what we would request? 2. Are we willing to place confidence in God to believe that He can do great things in working through our prayers? 3. Are we willing to pray in such ways so as to change the world? D. Let us consider our prayer life and be devoted to God in prayer! E. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: “Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). Prayer is communication with God. We can speak with God, thank Him for what He has done, and ask Him to do things. Let us be ever thankful for this privilege and use it responsibly! 2: “And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward” (Matthew 6:5). Prayer is not about the appearance of holiness in order to look pious before men. That can happen, but such people have their reward, and God is not pleased. Let us pray with integrity, sincerity, and with meaning! 3: With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). As communication with headquarters is vital to an army in war, so prayer is an essential aspect of the armor of the Christian. Christians should pray to stand firm, persevere, and to make request for fellow Christians to do the same. Let us continually pray to God! 4: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures (James 4:3). Prayer is important, and we must pray in faith, but we cannot imagine that anything we might pray for is automatically good or will be granted. Many pray not for spiritual benefit but for carnal reasons; we should not expect such prayers to be granted. Let us pray for spiritual blessings and be satisfied in God in Christ!