Study 4: Talking with God

Meaning of Prayer To petition; to entreat; to bow down; to ask; to wait; to interrogate; to wish; to call for. To talk to God in Jesus’ name by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

If you make Jesus your Lord, you have access to the throne of Almighty God. He has every solution to every problem you’ll ever have and He is just waiting for you to come to Him, so that He can give you the answer. It may take some private time alone with Him, but He will never disappoint you.

How to Pray
According to Jesus, our prayers should be simple and uncomplicated.  He gave the greatest key to prayer in Matthew 26:39 when He said “not as I will, but as you will”.  It is not us asking for what we want, but allowing God to tell us what we need, and what He has therefore purposed to give us.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 suggests that we should “pray continually…” to be in constant communion with God.

So we should pray:

a) Simply

b) Not hypocritically

c) To the Father

d) Always – continually and, therefore,

e) Everywhere

f) In the Name of Jesus.

Prayer takes many forms, like all communication.

Praise – Psalm 52:9; Psalm 68:3

Worship – Psalm 100:2

Waiting – Psalm 46:10

Confession – Psalm 139:23

Word praying – Jeremiah 29:29

Listening to God – Colossians 4:2; Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

Intercession – 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Petition – Matthew 7:7; Genesis 25:21

Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Meditation – Joshua 1:8

In the Spirit – Romans 8:26; Ephesians 6:18

Agreement – Matthew 18:19

Binding and Loosing – Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18

Prayer of Faith – James 5:15.

Private prayer – Jesus went to a place alone with the Father. Matthew 14:23.

Overcoming prayer – Matthew 6:6 Matthew 26:40-41; Philippians 4:6-7; Exodus 32:9-14.

With fasting – Luke 4:1, 2; Acts 13:2-3

Why Pray?

There are as many reasons for praying as there are needs. As born again children of the Most High God we have children’s rights but we need to spend time with the Father to see His plans and perspective on all situations in our life. We were created for fellowship with the Father and that is what He wants, a love relationship with His children. Prayer is the best way to develop this relationship. If we want to grow in a love relationship with a human we need to spend time together, share our hearts, and just be together. How much more our relationship with God?

For Healing – James 5:15
For Missionaries – 2 Corinthians 1:11; Colossians 4:2-4
For Forgiveness – Hosea 14:2; Mark 11:25
For Power – Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 3:16
For our Enemies – Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28
For Nearness to God – Deuteronomy 4:7
For Healing of our Land – 2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Timothy 2:1-4
For Royalty – Ezra 6:10; 1 Timothy 2:2
For Peace of Jerusalem – Psalm 122:6
For Prosperity of the City – Jeremiah 29:7
For Strength in Trouble – Matthew 26:38-42; John 12:27; Psalm 91:15
For Strength against Temptation – Matthew 26:41; Luke 22:40
For Everything – Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Colossians 4:2
For Unsaved – John 17:20
For Knowledge of the Love of God – Ephesians 3:17-19
For Life Worthy of God – Colossians 1:10
For Revival – Habakkuk 3:2

How to pray for other Christians:

1. Be thankful for their faith and changed lives. – Colossians 1:3-5.
 2. Ask God to help them know what He wants them to do – Colossians 1:9.
3. Ask God to give them spiritual understanding. – Colossians 1:9.
 4. Ask God to help them live for Him. – Colossians 1:10.
5. Ask God to give them more knowledge of Him. – Colossians 1:10.
 6. Ask God to give them strength for endurance. – Colossians 1:11.
7. Ask God to fill them with joy, strength, and thankfulness. – Colossians 1:11

Who Should Pray?

Every disciple of Jesus Christ should pray.

Colossians 4:2. Don’t be weary in prayer. Keep at it. Watch for God’s answers and remember to be thankful when they come.

Matthew 6:5. “And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who pretend piety by praying publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. Truly, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

Philippians 4:6. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for His answers.

1 Peter 4:7. The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore be earnest, thoughtful people of prayer.

Matthew 26:41 Keep alert and pray; otherwise temptation will overpower you. “For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!”

1 Timothy 2:8. “So I want people everywhere to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from sin and anger and resentment.”

Opposition to our praying will arise in three areas:

Self – The self-life (we sometimes call it “the old nature”) Romans 7:18-25
Sin – Separates us from God and breaks the communion. (Answer – 1 John 1:7-9)
Satan – He will always oppose our praying.  Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 26:36-46. This shows the opposition against Jesus’ life work.

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

 

 

04 Living with Jesus – Challenge Questions

1.  What did you enjoy most about the previous study?

 

 

2.  Are you applying what you have learnt, and how are you growing as a Christian? Describe how.

 

 

3.  In Luke 11:1 we read that Jesus’ disciples asked “How should we pray?” Look at how Jesus replied to them.  In Matthew 6:5-15 the picture is made even clearer.  There are clearly four “Do nots” and four “Dos” in this short passage. Complete each passage by writing the missing words.

     Do not be like the (verse 5)…………

     Do not (verse 7-8)………………….

     Do not be like the (verse 7-8)……….

     Do not (verse 14-15)…………………

BUT when you pray

     Do go (verse 6)……………………..

     Do close the (verse 6)……………….

     Do forgive (verse 14-15)………………..

     Do pray to your Father (verse 6)………

Read the notes on “Talking with God.”

4.  Take two points from the list “How?” that you feel you are doing and look up the scriptures beside them. Can you learn something new from these verses?

 

 

5.  Look at two points from the list “How?” that you are not doing, look up the verses beside them and see how you can put them into your prayer time. Note them down here so you can look back and remind yourself of all that God has done for you.

 

 

6.  From the list of “Why?” Give the most important reason for praying in your opinion, and what you pray for the most. Is there anything that you feel God wants you to pray for from the list?

 

 

7.  What is the most common tactic that the devil uses to stop you communicating with your Father? What plan has God given you to have victory in this area of your life?

 

 

8.  What plan have you got after this study to spend time talking and listening to God? Be specific and committed. Your relationship with your heavenly Father is the most important, so it needs time. What verse has spoken to you most and why?

 

 

Answer the following question with “True” or “False”. If you have a scripture from the study, please add this.