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07.07.07 : LFTD -
"Pray Continually" (PME3)
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(Home) (VN) (C1) (C2) (K) (S) (F) (It) (De) (Ar) ("Pray To Receive Christ") -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Be joyful always; 17 Pray Continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -- Ephesians 6:18 And Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of Prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on Praying for all the saints. 
I. Where and to Whom should I Pray? II. When and How and What Should I Pray? III. Prayer Topics in the Acts of the Apostles IV- Praying on your Own V- Praying in a Small Group VI. For How Long Should I Pray? VII. The Lord's Prayer VIII. Jesus at Prayer IX. Praising God Despite Everything
(<<) I. Where And to Whom should I Pray? He Who Has Learned How To Pray, Has Learned The Greatest Secret of A Happy And Holy Life. ~ W.L. Who am I Praying to? Many people think of God as: * a distant tyrant * a sort of slot-machine * an impersonal force When we Pray we are talking to a good and loving Father - the sort of Father all our fathers ought to copy. Pray to a Loving Father 1. A Loving Father -- Luke 11:11 + Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? -- Matthew 7:11 + So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him. -- 1 John 3:1 + See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2. Your Father -- John 1:12 + Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -- Galatians 3:26 + For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. -- Galatians 4:6 + And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” -- Romans 8:16 + The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Where to Pray 1. In Private -- Matthew 6:6 + But when you Pray, go into your room, close the door and Pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. -- Mark 1:35 + 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. -- Matthew 14:23 + After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to Pray. When evening came, He was there alone. -- Matthew 26:36 + Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and Pray." 2. In Public -- John 11:42 + I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me. -- Mathew 18:19-20 + 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among them. -- Acts 2:42, 46 + 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to Prayer. + 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. -- Acts 4:31 + After they Prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 3. Anywhere - "Pray Continually" -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 + Pray Continually. -- Romans 12:12 + Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in Prayer. -- Ephesians 6:18 + And Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of Prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on Praying for all the saints. -- Colossians 4:2 + Devote yourselves to Prayer, being watchful and thankful. -- Psalms 119:164 + Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws. Pray Wherever you are 1. As you Wake up -- Psalms 5:3 + In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. -- Psalms 88:13 + But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my Prayer comes before You. -- Psalms 90:14 + Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 2. As you Wash and Dress. As you wash let the running water be a symbol of God's cleansing and His refreshment of your soul. As you dress say over in your mind or aloud a phrase from a Bible verse you know. Or, think about one of Jesus' kind action recorded in the Gospels. 3. In the Middle of the Day Snatch a moment to be quiet in your mind. Recall a promise of Jesus, like, "I am with you always." -- Matthew 28:20 + And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. 4. As you Go to Sleep Make a promise to God as you lay on your pillow to rest. -- Psalm 4:8 + I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. 5. If you are Wakeful Try repeating over and over again a Bible verse or part of a verse, about God's comfort. -- Psalm 23:1 + The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
(<<) II. When and How and What Should I Pray? You Will Never Be Able to Pray Everywhere, All The Time, Until You Have Learned To Pray Somewhere, Some of The Time. + Set Times for Prayer There's no one rule about this. Many Christians like to Pray first thing in the morning and last thing at night. + In addition, some people try to follow the practice of short periods of Prayer at 6 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 9 pm, and 12 midnight. -- Psalm 119:164 + Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. + Should I kneel when I Pray? You can kneel, sit, stand, or raise your hands. It really doesn't matter. Prayer is meant to be a time when we express our dependence on God. Many Christians find that kneeling helps them to do this. How did people Pray in the Bible? 1. They often knelt -- Psalm 95:6-7 + 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; 7 for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. Today, if you hear His voice. -- Romans 14:11 + For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." (Isaiah 45:23) -- Acts 21:5 + But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to Pray. 2. They lifted up their hands -- Psalm 134:2 + Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. -- Psalm 63:4 + I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. -- 1 Timothy 2:1,8 + 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, Prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. + 8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in Prayer, without anger or disputing. What Should I Pray for? If you want to Pray for the same kinds of things that the early Christians Prayed for, go through a Pslam and a New Testament letter and see what the writer Prayed for and what he asked Prayer for.
(<<) III. Prayer Topics in the Acts of the Apostles Topic Reference in Acts 1. Prayer for unity -- Acts 1:14 + They all joined together constantly in Prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 2. Prayer to know God's will -- Acts 1:24 + Then they Prayed, "Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chose." 3. Prayer in church services -- Acts 3:1 + One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of Prayer -- at three in the afternoon. 4. Prayer linked to preaching -- Acts 6:3-4 + 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 And will give our attention to Prayer and the ministry of the Word. 5. Prayer for new Christians -- Acts 8:15 + When they arrived, they Prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 6. Prayer for persecuted Christians -- Acts 12:5 + So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly Praying to God for him. 7. Prayer for Missionaries and Evangelism -- Acts 13:2-4 + 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and Prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 8. Prayer when in severe trouble -- Acts 16:25 + About midnight Paul and Silas were Praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 9. Prayer for Christian leaders -- Acts 21:5 + But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to Pray. 10. Prayer for healing -- Acts 28:8 + His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after Prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
(<<) IV. Praying on your Own O Lord, You Know How Busy I Must Be This Day, If I Forget You, Do Not Forget Me. ~ General Lord Astley (1600') 1. Praying in the Spirit All true Prayer is Praying in the Spirit. For you either Pray just using your own efforts or else you Pray in the Spirit, with the help of the Holy Spirit. -- Jude 1:20 + But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and Pray in the Holy Spirit. -- Ephesians 6:18 + And Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of Prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on Praying for all the saints. -- Philippians 4:13 + I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. -- John 15:5 + I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. 2. A Book of Prayers Try Praying one Prayer a day from a book of traditional or contemporary Prayers (or Devotional.) + Prayer Using High Tech Help Prayer made easier using the computer, the internet, other high tech equipments, softwares and the vast digital library of Christian literatures, specially the digital on-line Bible. The personal high tech communications like phones and emails can also quickly and easily help us to fellowship, to keep in touch, and to Pray for other Christians. 3. Coping with Distractions: For some people, like mothers with toddlers, there is hardly five minutes of calm and quiet in the day or even through the night! + Don't worry if you're unable to have a long time of quiet for Prayer. You can still Pray short Prayers (sometimes called sentence Prayers) to God through your day. Remember: Jesus understands. He grew up in a large family. He had at least four younger half-brothers and at least two younger half-sisters. -- (Matthew 13:55) Mark 6:3 + Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. -- Psalms 119:164 + Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 + Pray Continually; -- Ephesians 6:18 + And Pray in the Spirit on all occasions .... + But even without the demands of a family, some people find that their thoughts begin to wander as soon as they start to Pray. If you find that you start to think about things you had forgotten, keep a pencil and paper at hand to write these things down. Then you can forget them until you have finished Praying. 4. Are my Prayers being heard? : Most Christians have wondered about this. We have Jesus' promises to rest on - nothing more and nothing less. -- John 16:24 + Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. -- Matthew 7:7 + Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. -- Psalms 65:2 + O You Who answer Prayer! To You all flesh shall come. -- Psalms 66:18-20 + 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 19 But God has surely listened and heard my voice in Prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my Prayer or withheld His love from me! -- Psalms 69:13 + But I Pray to You, O LORD, in the time of Your favor; in Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. 5. Spiritual Warfare: Remember: Prayer is a great spiritual battle. The last thing in the world Satan wants you to be able to do is to have a time when you Pray to God. -- Matthew 4:1-11 + 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 The tempter came to Him and said, "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." ++ 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Deut. 8:3) 5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If You are the Son of God," he said, "throw Yourself down. For it is written: "’He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" (Ps.91:11-12) ++ 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Deut. 6:16) 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give You," he said, "if You will bow down and worship me." ++ 10 Jesus said to Him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." (Deut. 6:13) 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him. -- Luke 22:31-32 + 31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have Prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. -- Matthew 26:41 (Mark 14:38) + Watch and Pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. -- Ephesians 6:12-13 + 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. -- Romans 7:21-25 + 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ++ 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. -- Romans 8:1-2 + 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. -- James 4:7-8 + 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 6. God promised for Holy Spirit help and guidance: -- Acts 1:8 + But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. -- John 14:16-17; 25-27 + 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. ++ 25 All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -- Romans 8:26-28 + 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to Pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. ++ 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. -- Jude 1:20 + But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and Pray in the Holy Spirit. -- 2 Corinthians 3:3-6, 17 + 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant -- not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ++ 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 7. Jesus is interested in you and your needs: Think positively. God is our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and Friend. So you have the unique privilege of speaking directly with your heavenly Father through Him. -- John 1:12 + Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -- John 15:5-7, 14-15 + 4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ++ 7 If you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ++ 14 You are My friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. 8. Paul says to Pray like this: -- Philippians 4:6-7 + Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by Prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 9. ++ Prayer for Children Ministries and Evangelism Children Ministries and Evangelism are the most essential and critical needed for daily Prayer. Most statistics show alarm decline in Christian faith among the youths and college students. Our Faithful Prayers and the Power of God will save our children and youths, and the future of Christian families, communities, churches, states, and countries. -- Matthew 19:13-14 (Mark 10:13-14) + 13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and Pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -- Deuteronomy 4:8-9 + 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? 9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. -- Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (Deut. 11:18-22) + 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. -- Proverbs 22:6 + Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
(<<) V. Praying in a Small Group Praying Is Like Riding A Bicycle Or Swimming You Learn By Doing The Acts 2:42 model The first Christian did not just Pray as isolated individuals -- they encouraged each other as they Prayed together. -- ACTS 2:42 + They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to Prayer. 1. Lessons to Learn : + They devoted themselves ... They took their spiritual life very seriously + to the apostles' teaching ... They wanted to build up their faith with teaching. (The Bible) + and to the fellowship ... They kept in close contact with fellow Christians. + to the breaking of the bread ... They remembered Jesus' death and resurrection. + and to Prayer. ... Prayer was essential to them 2. Prayer Partners Some churches and college fellowships encourage people to Pray with one or two other Christians. In two's they are called Prayer partners; in three's they called Prayer triplets, etc. 3. Seek out a small Prayer group or a be a third of a Prayer triplet! 4. A Word of Warning: It's easy to operate independently and free of restraints in small groups where no one can read your mind or see your heart. 5. To talk spiritually is one thing - to be spiritually is something altogether different. You need to be just as spiritually alert in a small group as in a large congregation. 6. Jesus warned against such hypocrisy: -- Matthew 15:8-9 + 8 These people worship Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. (Isaiah 29:13) -- Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18 + 1 Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ++ 5 And when you Pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to Pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you Pray, go into your room, close the door and Pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you Pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. ++ 16 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. -- John 4:23-24 + 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. -- Proverbs 15:8 + The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the Prayer of the upright pleases Him. -- Psalms 66:18-20 + 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in Prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my Prayer or withheld His love from me! 7. The way to stop yourself from being careless about Prayer, either on your own or with other people, is to ask God to keep you humble. -- 2 Chronicles 7:14 + If My people, who are called by My name, will Humble themselves and Pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -- Isaiah 66:2 + "Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is Humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word." -- James 4:10 + Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. -- 1 Peter 5:6-7 + 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. -- Luke 18:9-14 + 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: + "10 Two men went up to the temple to Pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and Prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men -- robbers, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ + 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ++ 14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." -- Matthew 6:1, 5-6 + 1 Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ++ 5 And when you Pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to Pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you Pray, go into your room, close the door and Pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 8. The Bible and Prayer Praying and reading the Bible should always be linked. You should Pray before, during and after you read the Bible. You should expect God to speak to you as you read, and then Pray about what He has said. Our experience at these times should be like that of the two disciples who walked to Emmaus with the risen Lord Jesus. -- Luke 24:32, 45 + 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" ++ 45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. -- Acts 2:42, 46-47 + 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to Prayer. ++ 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. -- Acts 6:3-4 + 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ++ 4 And will give our attention to Prayer and the ministry of the Word. -- Ephesians 6:19 + Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, -- Psalms 104:34 + May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD. -- Psalms 119:105 + Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. -- Jeremiah 15:16 + When Your Words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God Almighty.
(<<) VI. For How Long Should I Pray? -- Matthew 6:7 + And when you Pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 1. There is no set time length to aim at It is best to start small. Try setting aside five minutes a day. It's better to manage a short time of Prayer than to be continually failing to Pray for a longer period. After a while you will doubtless find that you want to Pray for longer than five minutes a day. 2. All Night? -- Luke 6:12-16 + 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to Pray, and spent the night Praying to God. (This was unusual. It was also for a specific reason.) + 13 When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom He named Peter), His brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 3. Persistence in Prayer On many occasions Jesus taught that His followers should persist in Prayer. -- Matthew 7:7-8 + 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. -- Luke 18:1 + Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always Pray and not give up. -- Romans 12:12 + Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in Prayer. 4. He Waited for Twenty Years There was one man in the Old Testament who had to wait twenty years for his Prayer to be answered. -- Genesis 25:19-21, 26 + 19 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac Prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his Prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. ++ 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. + Point to note: 1- Isaac was forty when he was married. 2- Rebekah was barren. Isaac Pray Continually. 3- Isaac was sixty when Rebekah became pregnant. /////////////////////////////// O Most Merciful Redeemer Friend and Brother, May We Know You More Clearly, Love You More Dearly, And Follow You More Nearly, Day By Day. -- Richard of Chichester
(<<) VII. The Lord's Prayer I Am Convinced That When A Christian Rightly Prays The Lord's Prayer... His Praying Is More Than Adequate. ~ Martin Luther The Lord's Prayer has been given many names: The Lord's Prayer; The Jesus Prayer; The Our Father; Pater Noster (the first two words in Latin, translating "Our Father"); The Christian's Model Prayer. It has also been called The Disciple's Prayer. When we Pray The Lord's Prayer, We come to: -- Matthew 6:9-13 + 9 This, then, is how you should 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 today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." 1. As God's children ... 9 Our Father in heaven, 2. As Worshipers ... Hallowed be Your name. 3. As Subject ... 10 Your Kingdom come, 4. As Servants ... Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 5. As Recipients ... 11 Give us today our daily bread. 6. As Sinners ... 12 Forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors. 7. As Tempted Ones. ... 13 And lead us not into temptation, 8. As Victorious People ... But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. ++ Try Praying through the Lord's Prayer, slowly, taking up to a minute per petition, remembering all the different "people" you are. ///////////////////////////////// I cannot say I cannot say "Our" if I live only for myself. I cannot say "Father in heaven" if I am laying up no treasure there. I cannot say "Hallowed be Your name" if I am not striving for holiness. I cannot say "Your kingdom come" if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event. I cannot say "Your will be done" if I am disobedient to His word. I cannot say "on earth as it is in heaven" if I'll not serve Him here and now. I cannot say "give us today our daily bread" if I am dishonest or seeking things by subterfuge. I cannot say "forgive us our debts (sins)" if I am not confess sins and still harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say "lead us not into temptation" if I deliberately place myself in its path. I cannot say "deliver us from evil" if I do not put on the whole armor of God. I cannot say "Yours is the kingdom" if I do not give the King the loyalty due Him from a faithful subject. I cannot attribute to Him "the power" if I fear what men may do. I cannot ascribe to Him "the glory" if I'm seeking honor only for myself. And I cannot say "for ever" if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by time. -- Author Unknown
(<<) VIII. Jesus at Prayer 1. Jesus often Prayed Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record fifteen occasions when Jesus Prayed. The writer to the Hebrew adds, -- Hebrew 5:7 + During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up Prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. -- Luke 5:16 + But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and Prayed 2. Jesus is our model There are many ways in which we can imitate Jesus in His Praying. + Jesus praised God -- Luke 10:21 + At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was Your good pleasure." + Jesus gave thanks to God Before feeding the 5,000, Jesus asked God to bless the five loaves and two fish. -- Mark 6:41 + Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. + Jesus asked for things in His Prayers In His moment of great distress Jesus Prayed to His Heavenly Father. -- Luke 22:40-44 + 40 On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and Prayed, 42 "Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And being in anguish, He Prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. + Jesus Prayed for other people -- John 17:8-23 + 8 For I gave them the Words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9 I Pray for them. I am not Praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to Me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name -- the name You gave Me -- so that they may be one as We are One. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by That Name You gave Me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. (Ps. 41:9) + 13 "I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. 14 I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My Prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ++ 17 Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. (Ps.119:9-11,105; Jn.8:32; 15:3; Ac.15:8-9; 1Pet.1:22-23; ...) 18 As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. ++ 20 My Prayer is not for them alone. I Pray also for those who will believe in Me through their Message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One: 23 I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. -- Luke 22:31-32 + 31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have Prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. -- Luke 23:33,34 + 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals -- one on His right, the other on His left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. Jesus Prayed at critical times in His life 1. At His baptism -- Luke 3:21-22 + 21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was Praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased. 2. Before He chose His twelve disciples -- Luke 6:12-16 + 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to Pray, and spent the night Praying to God. 13 When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), His brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 3. In Face of Temptation After the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand the people tried to make Jesus their king. This was a temptation to avoid the cross and Jesus overcame this temptation by seeking refuge in Prayer. -- John 6:14-15 + 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself. -- Matthew 4:1-11 + 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. .... -- Hebrews 2:18 + Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. -- Hebrews 4:15-16 + 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 4. From the Cross -- Luke 23:34, 43, 46 + 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots. ++ 43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise." ++ 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last. -- John 19:30 + When He had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
(<<) IX. Praising God Despite Everything 1. Pray Anyway There are no times when we should not Pray. But different kinds of Prayers are appropriate to different situations. -- James 5:13 + Is any one of you in trouble? He should Pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray Continually. -- Ephesians 6:18 And Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of Prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on Praying for all the saints. 2. God's promised presence -- Deuteronomy 4:7 + What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we Pray to Him? -- Psalms 145:18-20 + 18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. -- Isaiah 55:6 + Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. -- Ephesians 2:12-22 + 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. -- James 4:7-8 + 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. + So God is close to us when we Pray, whether we feel Him or not; whether we are on our own or with many other people. This is good to remember when we just don't feel like Praying. 3. Adversity and Prayer In time of Difficulty and Adversity, Prayer will be the best option of faith in God's Love, compassion, rescuing, comfort, and blessing. -- Luke 1:50 + His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. -- John 14:27 + Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -- Matthew 11:28-30 + 28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. -- Matthew 14:14 + When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick -- 2 Corinthians 1:2-5 + 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. -- James 5:13-16 + 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should Pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to Pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the Prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The Prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. -- Psalms 18:6 + In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears. -- Psalms 28:2 + Hear my cry for mercy as I call to You for help, as I lift up my hands toward Your Most Holy Place. -- Psalms 50:15 + And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me. -- Psalms 86:1-12, 15 + 1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to You. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You. 3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. 4 Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. 6 Hear my Prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me. 8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours. 9 All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord; they will bring glory to Your name. 10 For You are great and do marvelous deeds; You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. 12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. ++ 15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. -- Lamentation 3:22-23 + 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. //////////////////////////////////// If Anyone Would Tell You The Shortest Way To All Happiness And All Perfection. He Must Tell You To Make It A Rule To Yourself To Thank and Praise God For Everything That Happens To You. ++ For It Is Certain That Whatever Calamity Happens To You If You Thanks And Praise God For It. You Turn It Into A Blessing. ~ W.L. //////////////////////////////////// -- Jeremiah 29:11-13 + 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and Pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." -- Jeremiah 33:2-3 + 2 "I made the earth, formed it, and set it in place. My name is the LORD." This is what the LORD says: 3 "Call to Me, and I will Answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know." -- Psalms 69:13 + But I Pray to You, O LORD, in the time of Your favor; in Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. -- Hebrews 4:16 + Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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