STUDY – 1 IMPORTANCE OF PRAYERA- GOD`S PROMIESES REGARDIN PRAYER
1- By what title does the psalmist address God?
“O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” Psalm 65:2.
2- Of whom does the Bible teach that God is a rewarder?
“A rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.
3- How willing is God to hear and answer prayer?
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good fights unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him”? Matthew 7:11.
4- What above all else shows God’s willingness to do this?
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.
B- THE FIRST STEP IN PRAYER
5- Upon what conditions are we promised needed blessing?
“Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that kocketh is shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7, 8.
Note: “Prayer is not the overcoming of God’s reluctance; it is the taking hold of God’s willingness.” “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.” Prayer does not change God; but it does change us and our relation to God. It places us in the channel of blessings, and in that frame of mind in which God can consistently and safely grant our requests.
6- From whom do all good and perfect gifts come?
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17.
C- CONDITIONS TO ANSWERED PRAYER
7- How must one ask in order to receive?
“But let him ask in fait, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think the he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7 – Mark 11:24.
Note: “Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence.”
8- Under what condition does the Lord not hear prayer?
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18 – see Isaiah 59:1, 2; James 4:3.
9- Whose prayers does Solomon say are an abomination?
“He that turmeth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9.
Note: Contention and discord quench the spirit of prayer. (1 Peter 3:1-7). Many grieve the Spirit and drive Christ from their homes by giving way to impatience. Angels of God flee from homes where there are unkind words, contention, and strife.
10- For whom did Christ teach us to pray?
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44.
11- When praying, what must we do in order to be forgiven?
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgives you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25.
D- TIME, PLACE, AND CONTENT OF PRAYER
12- What did Christ say concerning secret prayer?
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closest, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
13- To what place did Jesus retire for secret devotion?
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23.
14- With what should our prayers be mingled?
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6.
15- How often should we pray?
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Ephesians 6:18. “Pray without ceasing.” 1Thessalonians 5:17. “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.” Psalm 145:2.
16- How often did David say he would pray?
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17 – Daniel 6:10.
17- What is said of Cornelius and his family?
“A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the peoples, and prayed to God always.” Acts 10:2
18- In whose name did Christ teach us to pray?
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do.” John 14:13.
19- Why did the unjust judge answer the widow’s prayer?
“Though I fear not God, not regard man; yet because this widow troublet me. I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” Luke 18:4, 5.
Note: The lesson of the parable is that “men ought always to pray, and not faint.” Luke 18:1. If this woman, by her persistence in asking obtained her request from such a man, surely God, who is just, will answer the earnest, persistent prayers of His people, through the answer may be long delayed.
STUDY – 2 MEDITATION AND PRAYER
A- SUBJECTS OF MEDITATION
1- What was one of Paul’s injunctions to Timothy?
“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them.” 1 Timothy 4:15
Note: Meditation is to the soul what digestion is to the body. It assimilates, appropriates, and makes personal and practical that witch has been see, heard, or read.
2- When did David say he would praise God with joyful lips?
“When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” Psalm 63:6.
3- How will such meditation be to one who loves God?
“My meditation of him shall be sweet.” Psalm 104:34
4- In what does the psalmist say the man who is blessed delights and meditates?
“His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2.
B- TEMPTATION AND MEDITATION
5- With what adversary do we constantly have to contend?
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
6- When is a man tempted?
“But every man is tempted, when be is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed.” James 1:14.
7- That we may not be overcome, what are we told to do?
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41.
C- NECESSITY OF CONSTANT PRAYER ATTITUDE
8- How constantly should we pray?
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. “Continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12.
Note: This does not mean that we should be constantly bowed before God in prayer, but that we should not neglect prayer, and that we should ever be in a prayerful frame of mind, even when walking by the way or engaged in the duties of live ever ready to send up our petitions to heaven for help in time of need.
D- PREPARATION FOR CHRIST´S RETURN
9- That we might be prepared for His coming, what admonition did Christ give?
“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is…And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:33-37 – Luke 21:36.
10- Why are watchfulness and prayer especially imperative in the last days?
“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12
STUDY – 3 WATCHING UNTO PRAYER
A- THE COMMAND TO WATCH
1- Unto what are we exhorted to watch?
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7.
“But the end of all thins is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4.7.
2- How general is the command to watch?
“And what I say unto you, I say unto all, WATHCH.” Mark 13:37.
B- TEMPTATION AND WATCHING
3- What is one of the petitions of the Lord’s prayer?
“Lead us not into temptation.” Matthew 6:13.
4- By what means can we escape temptation?
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41.
5- How faithful should we be in this matter?
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saint.” Ephesians 6:18.
C- SUCCESS OR FAILURE
6- How many we escape the evils coming on the world?
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:36.
Note – Vigilance, as well as prayer, is necessary if we would escape the evils, delusions, and calamities of the last days.
7- What will be the result of not watching?
“But and if that servant say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” Luke 12:45, 46.
8- What will Christ’s servants be doing when He comes?
“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching.” Luke 12:35-37.
STUDY - 4 ANSWERS TO PRAYER
A- GOD`S UNLIMITED ABILITY
1- How does God anticipate the needs of His children?
“And is shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24.
2- Is there any limit to God’s ability to help?
“How unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask our think.” Ephesians 3:20.
3- How fully has God promised to supply our needs?
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
B- MANS`S LIMITED UNDERSTANDING
4- Do we always know what to pray for?
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray as we ought.” Romans 8:26.
5- Does God always see fit to grant our petitions?
“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9.
Note: Paul’s affliction, some have thought, was impaired sight (Acts 9:8, 9, 18; 22:11-13). The retaining of such an imperfection would be a constant reminder to him of his conversion, and hence a blessing in disguise.
C- PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE
6- If an answer does not come at once, what should we do?
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7.
7- Why was the parable of the importunate widow given?
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1.
Note: The importunate widow got her request because of her persistency. God wants us to seek Him, and to seek Him earnestly, when we pray. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
8- How did Elijah pray before obtaining his request?
“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave train, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James 5:17, 18 – see Revelation 11:3-5.
D- TWO FUNDAMENTAL CONDITIONS
9- Upon what condition does Christ say we shall receive?
“Therefore I say unto you. What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.
10- Without this faith, will God answer prayer?
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that her shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7.
11- What petitions many we confidently expect god to bear?
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15.
Note: God’s will is expressed in His law, His promises, and His word. Psalm 40:8; Romans 2:17, 18: 1 Peter 1:4.
E- EXAMPLES OF ANSWERED PRAYER
12- When Daniel and his fellows were about to be slain because the wise men of Babylon could not reveal to Nebuchadnezzar his dream, how did God answer their united prayers?
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Daniel 2:19.
13- When Peter was imprisoned and about to be executed by Herod, what did the church do?
“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” Acts 12:5.
14- How were their prayers answered?
“Behind, the angel of the Lord came upon him…and he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me…And they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.” Acts 12:7-10.
15- Because Solomon asked for wisdom rather than for long life and riches, what besides wisdom did God give him?
“Because thou hast asked this thing…behold, I have done according to thy words: Io, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart…And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour.” 1 Kings 3:11-13.
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