Prayer In 2005

1. Desperate prayers. “Lord, help me” (Matt. 15:25).

- How: No preparation, no formula, just a sincere call.

- Who: Those who are in trouble. “This poor man cried and the Lord delivered him out of all his trouble” (Psa. 34:6).

- Why: Because the Lord will help. “The Lord also will . . . be a refuge in times of trouble” (Psa. 9:9).

- What: _____________________________________________

2. Worship prayers. “Hallowed be Thy name” (Matt. 6:9).

- Why: Because the Lord cannot worship Himself. “The Father seeks those to worship Him” (John 4:23).

- Who: You will get the Lord’s presence. “O Thou who inhabits the praises of Israel” (Psa. 22:2). If you praise Him, He will come.

- How: Praises, exaltation, worship, and magnify.

- What: _____________________________________________

3. Faith prayers. “The prayer of faith” (James 5:15).

- How: You know you will get the answer before you pray.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

- Why: You have the smallest irreducible amount of trust in God.

“If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to the mountain, remove . . . it shall be removed” (Matt. 17:20).

- Who: It’s not the strength of your faith, but you must have God’s faith. “Jesus’ answer, ‘Have God’s faith dwelling in you’” (Mark 11:22, ELT). “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says

to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says’” (Mark 11:23).

- What: _________________________________________

4. Prayers in Jesus’ name. “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do” (John 14:14).

- Condition one: You must ask. “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2).

- Condition two: Ask according to Scripture. “If . . . My words abide in you . . . you shall ask what you will . . . it will be done” (John 15:7).

- Condition three: Ask because you serve Him. “Go and bring forth fruit . . . that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you” (James 15:16).

- Condition four: Ask according to His will. “If we ask anything according to His will, he hears us” (I John 5:14).

- Condition five: Ask because you are clean from sin. “We know God heareth not sinners” (John 3:1).

- What: ______________________________________________

5. Redemptive prayer.

- Who: You sacrifice yourself in intercession. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10:1).

- Why: You are expected to be an intercessor. “I exhort that . . . intercessions . . . be made for all men” (I Tim. 2:1).

- How: To stand between people and God. “I sought for a man . . . to stand in the gap before me for people that I should not destroy them” (Ex. 22:30). “God is not willing that any should perish” (II Peter 3:9).

- What: ____________________________________________

6. Fellowship prayer. “Pray intermittently” (I Thess. 5:17, ELT).

“Pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17, KJV).

- Who: you talk to God intermittently throughout the day when there is a need. “When the king said to me . . . I prayed to the God of heaven” (Neh. 2:4).

- How: Praying to God is as natural and necessary as breathing.

“Men ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1).

- Why: Because you want and need God to do something for you. As Nehemiah confronted the rulers of Israel he prayed, “Remember me, O God . . .” (Neh. 13:14).

- What: ___________________________________________

7. Your assignment for 2005.

- Find Bible verses on prayer in a concordance. Write down as many ways to pray as you can find.

- Begin a list of items to guide your prayers.

- Commit to a place of prayer every day.

- Commit to a daily length of prayer.

- Tell another to become accountable. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.