What The Bible Teaches About Praye

Illus: When a young man felt God was calling him into the ministry, we take it for granted that if he can, he will go to Bible college and seminary and get all the training that is available.

But those who start late in life into the ministry they are not able to do this because they already have a family to support

But in Paul's day, ministerial training was done mostly one-on-one.

This has proven to be one of the best ways or training and still is today.

Such as:

• Brick layers

• Plumbers

• Electricians

• Carpentry

• Mechanics

All used this method of training.

Illus: Before a doctor can be a doctor and start his practice he has to serve two years as an intern to serve under qualified doctors.

The New Testament church placed a big emphasis on one-on-one training, much more than the church today.

Illus: For example, during the New Testament times, when you led someone to the Lord, the next step was to teach them how to serve the Lord.

One reason they had such strong Christians in the New Testament church, was because of the discipleship program that they had operating within the church.

• Now if a young man was going into the ministry, the same thing happened.

• He was taken under the wings of a mature Pastor, and was taught the things he needed to know.

This is exactly what Paul was doing as he wrote to young Timothy.

He asserts his authority as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus, and he is training him for the ministry.

As we read through 1 and 2 Timothy, we are allowed to peek in on those training sessions.

In 1 Timothy chapter two, he talks to him about two things he is concerned about.

Such as:

I. HIS CONCERN FOR PRAYER

Paul recognized that:

• If a child of God is ever going to get on his feet, he must first get on his knees.

Paul is the minister who tells us to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING IN I Thessalonians 5:17.

To “pray without ceasing,” can be confusing.

Paul is not referring to non-stop talking, but rather an attitude of God-consciousness and God-surrender that we carry with us all the time.

• God honors no drafts where there are no deposits.

• Prayer that is not prayed cannot be answered.

Paul, and all the members of the early church, placed great value on prayer.

Because of that, Paul writes to his spiritual son concerning prayer.

He mention four things:

I. THE POSITION OF PRAYER

Look at 1 Timothy 1:2. We read, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

Paul exhorted Timothy and all Christians to PRAY.

The early Christians saw their need for prayer.

Remember, the disciples came to the Lord one day in Luke 11:1. “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

If they thought they had a need to be taught, how much more do we need to be taught?

When children start Sunday school, we teach them how to POSITION to pray properly.

Illus: For example, have we not all been taught, as children, to fold our hands, close our eyes, and then ask God for what we want?

We adults still this day close our eyes and many of us still fold our hands as we pray.

In fact, some feel that it is not sacred to pray unless we do this.

When the disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray, He did not say a thing about folding our hands and closing our eyes.

Why?

Because you can do these things, and still not know how to pray.

We teach children to pray like this for a reason:

• So that they won’t be taking their hands and hitting each other,

• And we teach them to close their eyes so that they can concentrate on God.

But you can do these things and still not pray.

In this POSTURE OF PRAYER, the Lord does not emphasize the POSITION OF PRAYER.

But let us also look at-

II. THE PEOPLE OF PRAYER

So often when we pray, we get on our knees and we pray, “God bless me and my family and no one else.”

If you really want to get a good look at RAW selfishness, all you have to do is listen to the prayers of God’s people.

Illus: They make you think of a spoiled brat in a candy store, “I want one of these, three of these, and lots of those!”