What is Prayer? (Video – 52m)

• Luke 5:15-16; Acts 2:42; 6:4 – prayer = a foundation and priority
• 650+ prayers in the Bible
• Matt. 6:7-13 (cf. Luke 11:1)
  • 6:7-8 – often associated with “asking” (cf. Matt. 7:11; Luke 11:13; John 14:16; James 4:2)

• • • Declarations (e.g. Acts 3:6) may be requests (cf. Josh. 10:12)
    • Like incense, prayer goes up only (Psalm 141:2; Rev. 5:8; 8:4). It is not spoken of as dialogue in Scripture (God doesn’t pray to us; we pray to Him).

• • 6:9-13 – Prayer Template
    1. “Our” – corporate nature/identification
    2. Praise/Thank God for who He is (cf. 1 Tim. 2:1)
    3. Focus on His will (cf. Eph. 5:17; 1 John 5:14-15)
    4. Focus on needs
    5. (assumes we forgive – Matt. 5:23-24; Mark 11:25)
    6. Against Satan (cf. Luke 18:1-8)
• Luke 11:5-10; 18:1-8
  • we are poor
  • God is rich
  • we must plead (cf. Proverbs 18:23)
• God’s will, in a sense, is reliant on our prayers: Isaiah 37:21; Dan. 9:1-4; Zech. 10:1; Matt. 6:10; James 4:2-3; 1 John 5:14-15; Rev. 5:8
• Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-22 – boldness in prayer comes through knowing God’s will and the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice
• …with songs: 1 Cor. 14:15; Rev. 5:8
• …in the Spirit and understanding: 1 Cor. 14:15
• …with fasting: Acts 13:2-3