BURUBURU COMMUNITY CENTRE CHURCH OF GOD
THEME: THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S GOODNESS AND ABUNDACE (PSALM 65:11)
LEARNING LESSON FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2022: ‘’PRAYER’’
Key Scripture: Luke 11: 1-10
Introduction
Prayer from Biblical and Christian point of view is communication or conversation between man and God. Effective communication is a two way communication. Two way communications provides room for clarification by asking questions and or receiving answers. We talk to God through prayer and he speaks to us through his Word the Bible. Although the bible does not define prayer, as children of God, we know that prayer is the way we converse with God our heavenly father. Through prayer every child of God has an opportunity to tap the Lord’s
Goodness and Abundance in his life. Jesus taught us how to pray (Luke11: 1-10), and prayer was his life style.
Objectives
1. We observed four parts of prayer which help us as children of God learn to appreciate the great blessing of prayer and to teach us how to pray effectively.
2. The messages sought to set forth the Scriptural elements of prayer namely Adoration or Praise, Petitions, Thanksgiving and Intercession.
Why we pray
We present to God our prayer for a purpose. There are various reasons why we come to God in Prayer including the four elements mentioned above. In prayer we express various feelings and attitudes to our creator, including: Joy, Sorrow, Awe, Devotion, Faith, Worship, Adoration and others. Prayer is the connection part of humanity in relation to God the creator. We see man starting to call on the name of God in Genesis 4:26. Abraham prayed to God (Genesis 12:8; 20:17) Prayer became part of worshipping God the creator.
To whom and how believers should pray
Believers should pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ the Son and by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:13; Romans 8:26; Luke11:2-4).We should pray with the right motive and a right relationship with God (Matthew 6:5; Luke 11:11-13). It should be a prayer with a real trust in the Lord avoiding empty words said to impress hearers (Psalm 55; 16,17; Matthew 6:7,8).God approves a prayer offered simply in faith. God does not hear the prayer of:
Self-righteous people (Luke 18:9-14; John 14:13,14), those who live in sin and hide sin in their
hearts (Isaiah59:2; James 4:3; 28).
When to pray
Many examples in the Bible of people who prayed had regular times of the day set aside specifically for prayer. There were three set periods in a day Morning, Noon and Evening (Psalm 55:16-17; Daniel 6:41). Such prayer should avoid meaningless religious rituals. Jesus Christ himself set periods and reasons for prayer to his father. He prayed early in the morning, (Mark
1:35). He prayed all night (Luke6:12); also prayed before each meal (Mark 6:41). Need for prayer and be presented before God at any time- praying without ceasing. What and who do we pray for?
We pray for ourselves. Jabez cried out to God to bless him (1 Chronicles 4:10). We pray for others. James advised to confess sins to each other and pray for each other (James 5:16). We pray for Ministers in the body of Christ. Paul asks fellow believer to pray for them and the message of the Lord that may spread rapidly and be honored (2 Timothy 3:1). We pray for the sick. Prayer of the righteous person has great power (James 5:14-16). We pray for those enslaved by sin. The Apostle John says if any sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life (1 John 5:16).
When we pray, we have a helper in prayer. Our helper the Holy Spirit helps us to pray when we do not know how to pray or what to pray. He intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26). He teaches us how and guides us in prayer and helping us in our faith (Luke 12:12; Romans 8:27; Ephesians 3:16,17).
Let us come back to the four elements of prayer. Adoration or Praise Adoration or praise in a prayer is a way of eulogizing God. Jesus set the pattern of prayer in teaching his disciples how to pray. He begun by eulogizing God with a prayer of adoration by
saying: ‘’This then, is how you should pray ‘’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” (Luke11:2; Matthew 6:9). Adoration is worshipping God the only one worthy our worship.
Since worship is an expression of love for and devotion to God, prayer which recognizes him; which appeals to his love, mercy, grace and power and shows reliance on him and need to communicate with him is surely worship. The worship exalts God as the object of our praise. He becomes the recipient of our love and source of our blessings. In turn, God displays his providential care and love for us his children by hearing and answering our prayers. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears- whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of
him” (1 John 5:14,15).
When we ask we receive, when we seek we find and when we knock the door is opened for us (Matthew 7:7). An example the prayer of the disciples after Peter and John had been released from prisons was full of praises and adoration (Acts 4: 24-31). In our Lord’s prayer Jesus praised his Father before he made his requests (Luke 11:2; Matthew 6:9) Praising God puts us in the right frame of mind
to tell God our needs. We can only have conversation with someone whom we are acquainted with and whom we have a good relationship with and with good fellowship. It is possible to have a relationship of father and son which is sour and this is when the two cannot fellowship together in a conversation leading to unanswered prayers.
Petitions
Petition is a humble prayer acknowledging needs, expressing them and trustfully depending on God to meet them out of his sovereign resources of wisdom and goodness. Petition includes pleas for one’s needs. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us and if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked (1 John 5: 14,15). It also includes supplications “….And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.’’
(Ephesians 6:18). It may include confession of sins and pleas for forgiveness (1 John 1: 9-22). The example of Simon (Acts 8:14-24). Ezra chapter nine contains a prayer of confession of sin (Ezra 9:6-10). The prayer of David in Psalm 51 is an acknowledgement of his sin and a plea for forgiveness of it (Psalm 51; 1-4).
Petition is a kind of prayer that recognizes both our poverty and God’s riches, highlighting the grace of God who desires to provide for us. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray by encouraging them to begin with adoration and to focus on God’s will (Luke 11:1-4). He also acknowledged that at one time or another they would have needs. This is the reason that he also told them to pray “Give us this day our daily bread (Luke 11:3)- a prayer of petition. Prayer of petition is not only one of the most common forms of prayer in our lives. It is also one of the most common in the pages of the scripture.
Petitions make up the balk of our prayer lives. There are forms of petitions from men and women crying out for mercy asking for forgiveness or praying for healing. They are prayers that get most of clear answers because they are prayers that express one’s unworthy before God who is worthy. Then he answers our prayers of petition in his own way. An example is Paul who prayed a prayer of petition three times asking for the thorn in his flesh to be removed but he received a simple word My grace is sufficient for you for power is perfect in wickedness
(2 Corinthians 12: 9). God used Paul’s trials to move fully and form him into the image of Christ. Some of our petitions may not be positively answered, but God knows and understands everything that is good for us in his plan. “All things work together for good to those who love God; to those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)
Thanksgiving
Adoration or Praise is the first element in the approach to God, yet praise and thanksgiving both go in company. They are so near alike that it is not easy to distinguish between them. Praise offers to God truths about him and his works, expressed in words and music which arise from the heart. Thanksgiving on the other hand, is typically appreciation expressed to God for particular blessings received. It is the verbal expression of thanks arising from gratitude within the heart. The two partners are seen in the Old Testament especially in the Psalms which are filled with praises and thanksgiving. “Hallel” a name given to Psalms of Praise Psalms 113 – 118
were mostly recited during the principal Jewish festivals including Passover meal (Matthew 26:30) at Jesus Last Supper.
In the New Testament, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Colossians 4:2) the Apostle Paul is among many others who instructed believers to pray with thanks giving always. Prayer should be characterized by thanksgiving for blessings received. “Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving; present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’’ (Philippians 4: 6, 7). These were the words of Paul to the Philippian believers. Every Christian should be abounding in thanksgiving. ‘’So then, just as Christ Jesus as Lord , continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians. 2: 6, 7; 4: 2).
Prayer without thanks giving poses some danger. It could lead to selfish requests. Prayer coupled with watchful eye of thanksgiving will help preserve us from selfish requests (James 4:3). Such prayer puts anxiety against prayer of thanksgiving and will hinder answered prayer. Paul’s instructions were: “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces. Anxiety keeps us focused on our uncertainties while thanksgiving keeps us focused on God’s certainties and depending on him for answered prayers.
Thanksgiving in a prayer is the will of God for every believer. It helps us preserved from selfish requests and from anxiety. It also acknowledges the blessings we have received including thanks for answered prayers for ourselves and for others (Ephesians 1:15,16; Colossians 1: 3,4; 5
Philippians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2,3; 2:13). Thanksgiving in a prayer is the will of God for every believer. Paul is an example of one who always thanked God for his blessings to himself and to others.
Intercession
The Greek word translated intercession in the New Testament is “enteuxis”. It is a petition, a term for approaching a king and so for approaching God in intercession. It is a prayer that pleads with God for your needs and the needs of others. It is also much more than that. It involves taking hold of God’s will and refusing to let go until his will comes to pass. When Jacob fought with an Angel of God refused to let go until he was blessed (Genesis 32: 22-30).
Intercessory prayer is warfare and the key to God’s battle plan for our lives. The battleground is not of this earth. The Scripture says we are not fighting flesh and blood. We are fighting the rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in the heavens above (Ephesians 6:12). Intercessory prayer takes place in this spiritual world where the battle for our own lives, our families, and our nation are won or lost. Intercessory prayer is a target prayer that you discover God’s battle plan for the situation you may be facing. It serious matters like a soldier who is preparing for battle. You cannot take on an enemy without weapons and preparation. Get to the battle ground armed for spiritual conflict (2 Corinthians 10: 3,4). First recognize that you are not alone Jesus the Commander of the army is in control of the situation. He rules over forces, authorities, powers and rulers over this world and heavens (Ephesians 1:21; Matthew 28:18). He who is in us is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4). Every born again is a child of God (James 1:2) A child of God has a direct connection to reach God at any time (Hebrews 4:16) and call for re-enforcement. Jesus will be with you on the battleground interceding on your behalf (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 28:26, 27).
Intercessory is a prayer of persisting in the battle. It a prayer of wrestling to overcome every obstacle. It presses on until we apprehend God’s will in whatever are facing (Philippians 3: 12). It is a prayer of breakthroughs in our lives and of those around us. Jesus gave an example of a persisting neighbor until he got what he was asking for (Luke 11:8).
Conclusion
As a child of God, there is every reason to pray. It is commanded that we pray without ceasing. It is God’s will for us to pray to the Father, to pray for one another and to pray for our enemies. The world is becoming more and more evil and we need to be closer to God more than ever before. We need to watch and pray for ourselves and others. We need to pray for those without Christ and for those being persecuted for their faith. Jesus did just that praying for us
(John 17:9, 20). God calls for every Christian as a child of God to join his battle plan for this world. Rise up and take your place in the spiritual battle. The world must be won for Christ. God is not looking for perfect prayer warriors. But just willing hearts who want to see his will come to pass on earth. Respectfully submitted by
Henry A. Ambundo
6th,13th, 20th and 27th March 2022