DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRAYERS
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: Philippians 4:6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Supporting Texts: James 5:16, Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:1-4, 1 Timothy 2:1-2
INTRODUCTION:
Prayer is an essential practice for the believer, as it is the primary way we communicate with God. There are different types of prayers, each serving a specific purpose and addressing different needs. This message will discuss the various types of prayers, showing how each one helps us connect with God, strengthen our faith, and fulfill His will.
1. THE PRAYER OF ADORATION
The prayer of adoration focuses on praising and worshipping God for who He is, without asking for anything in return.
a) Acknowledging God’s greatness (Psalm 145:3)
We adore God for His infinite greatness, majesty, and power.
b) Worshipping Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24)
True adoration comes from a heart that worships God sincerely, recognizing His worth.
c) Focusing on God's attributes (Psalm 103:1-5)
In adoration, we reflect on God's attributes such as His holiness, love, mercy, and faithfulness.
d) Honouring God’s supremacy (Revelation 4:11)
We honour God’s position as the Creator and King of all creation.
e) Biblical Example: The Prayer of King David (Psalm 8:1-9)
David praises God for His majesty, acknowledging the greatness of His name and His creation.
2. THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Confession is a prayer where we admit our sins before God, asking for forgiveness and restoration.
a) Acknowledging our sinfulness (1 John 1:9)
We must come before God with a repentant heart, acknowledging our wrongdoings and shortcomings.
b) Seeking forgiveness and cleansing (Psalm 51:1-2)
Confession brings forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness, restoring us to fellowship with God.
c) Embracing God’s mercy (Psalm 103:12)
We confess knowing that God is merciful and will forgive us, casting our sins far from us.
d) Turning away from sin (Acts 3:19)
True confession involves repentance—a turning away from sin to live a life pleasing to God.
e) Biblical Example: David’s Confession (Psalm 51:1-17)
David, after his sin with Bathsheba, offered a sincere confession, asking for God’s forgiveness and mercy.
3. THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
This prayer is offered to express gratitude to God for His goodness, blessings, and answered prayers.
a) Recognizing God’s provision (Psalm 107:8-9)
Thanksgiving acknowledges God’s provision in our lives, whether material or spiritual.
b) Thanking God for His grace and mercy (Ephesians 5:20)
We thank God for His unmerited grace and mercy, which He freely gives us each day.
c) Celebrating answered prayers (Luke 17:15-16)
Gratitude should follow when God answers our prayers, as we remember His faithfulness.
d) Recalling God’s past faithfulness (Psalm 103:2)
We offer thanks for what God has done in the past, which strengthens our trust in His future provisions.
e) Biblical Example: Jesus’ Thanksgiving Prayer (John 11:41-42)
Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for what God had already done.
4. THE PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION
This is a prayer in which we ask God for our needs, desires, and the needs of others.
a) Asking for personal needs (Matthew 7:7)
In supplication, we bring our personal needs before God, trusting Him to provide according to His will.
b) Interceding for others (1 Timothy 2:1)
We are called to pray for others, asking God to meet their needs and intervene in their lives.
c) Recognizing God’s ability to provide (Philippians 4:19)
Supplication reflects our trust in God’s ability to meet all of our needs, physical, emotional, and spiritual.
d) Asking with faith (Mark 11:24)
Supplication involves asking God with confidence and faith, believing that He will answer according to His will.
e) Biblical Example: Hannah’s Supplication (1 Samuel 1:9-20)
Hannah prayed earnestly for a child, and God answered her prayer with the birth of Samuel.
5. THE PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Intercessory prayer is when we stand in the gap for others, praying on their behalf for their needs and concerns.
a) Praying for the salvation of others (Romans 10:1)
We intercede for the lost, asking God to bring salvation and transformation into their lives.
b) Asking for God’s intervention in others’ lives (Ezekiel 22:30)
Intercessors pray for God's intervention, asking for His mercy and guidance in the lives of individuals, communities, and nations.
c) Pleading for God's mercy (Exodus 32:11-14)
Intercessors plead for God’s mercy on behalf of others, asking for His forgiveness and grace.
d) Standing in the gap in times of crisis (Nehemiah 1:4-11)
Intercessory prayer is crucial in times of national or personal crisis, where we seek God's help and mercy.
e) Biblical Example: Abraham’s Intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33)
Abraham interceded on behalf of Sodom, pleading with God to spare the city for the sake of the righteous.
6. THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
Consecration is a prayer of dedication, where we offer ourselves fully to God and commit to doing His will.
a) Surrendering to God's will (Romans 12:1-2)
Consecration involves presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, dedicating ourselves entirely to God’s service.
b) Committing our lives to God’s service (Luke 22:42)
We dedicate ourselves to God’s work, just as Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
c) Yielding our plans and desires (Proverbs 3:5-6)
In consecration, we yield our desires and plans, trusting God’s purpose for our lives.
d) Seeking holiness and purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
Consecration also involves striving to live a holy life, set apart for God’s use.
e) Biblical Example: Jesus’ Prayer of Consecration (Luke 22:41-42)
Jesus, in His moment of surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed for God’s will to be done, fully consecrating Himself to His Father’s plan.
7. THE PRAYER OF FAITH
The prayer of faith is based on trusting and believing in God's ability to answer our requests according to His will.
a) Believing in God’s promises (Mark 11:24)
The prayer of faith involves trusting in God’s promises and believing He will fulfill them.
b) Praying with confidence and assurance (Hebrews 11:1)
It’s about praying with certainty, knowing that God hears and answers prayers.
c) Acting in faith while waiting (James 5:15)
Praying in faith also involves acting in expectation, awaiting God’s intervention with confidence.
d) Trusting God’s timing (Isaiah 40:31)
The prayer of faith involves trusting that God will answer in His perfect time.
e) Biblical Example: The Centurion’s Faith (Matthew 8:5-13)
The centurion displayed great faith by trusting that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word.
CONCLUSION:
Understanding the different types of prayers equips believers to engage with God in a more intentional and meaningful way. Each type of prayer serves a unique purpose—whether it is adoring God, confessing sins, thanking Him, supplicating for needs, interceding for others, consecrating our lives, or praying with faith. Through these varied expressions of prayer, we build a deeper relationship with God and align ourselves with His will.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, help me to adore You with all my heart, acknowledging Your greatness and majesty.
2. Father, I confess my sins before You and ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing.
3. Lord, I thank You for Your provision and the blessings You have given me.
4. Father, I bring my needs before You, trusting that You will supply all I require.
5. Lord, I intercede for the lost, asking for their salvation and transformation.
6. Father, help me to consecrate my life to You, living according to Your will.
7. Lord, I pray with faith, believing that You will answer according to Your promises.
8. Father, strengthen my prayer life and help me to develop a heart that prays continuously.
9. Lord, teach me to pray with understanding and wisdom, recognizing the power of prayer.
10. Father, may my prayers be in alignment with Your will, bringing glory to Your name.
