What Is Prayer

WHAT IS PRAYER?
LUKE 11: 1 – 13
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.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

What is prayer?
I. Matt. 6: 6 Prayer is communication with God. Praising him.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, 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.
How do we know that we do not have to go into a closet, all the time, to be heard of God?
A. Matt. 6: 9 Praising God in a mountain place.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Holy is the name of God.
B. John 17: 1 Jesus with his disciples prayed .
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:






C. Luke 23: 34 – 37 Jesus prayed on the cross.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
D. Eph. 1: 12 Praise to His glory
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.


II. 1 Tim. 1: 12 Prayer is communicating with God. Thanking God
Paul tells Timothy he thanked Christ.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
How often do we thank Christ?
A. Rev. 11: 16 - 17 Giving thanks to God.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
In heaven God is continued to be praised and thanked.
1. Col. 1: 12 Giving thanks to God.
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
2. 1 Cor. 15: 57 Thankful for Jesus Christ
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. 1 Thess. 5: 18 It is the will of God.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.



C. Eph. 5: 20 For all things
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
God is the giver of all good things and we should thank him in prayer in Jesus name.
III. Phil. 4: 6 Prayer is communication with God.
Making our request to God.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
A. James 5: 16 Brotherly love.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
It should be a comfort knowing our brothers and sisters in Christ are praying for us and with us.
B. Acts 12: 5 Continue in prayer
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
He was released from prision.
C. John 12: 27 Jesus pleaded with God, His father.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name.
Jesus knew how hard it was going to be to be nailed to the cross and die. He also new to glorify the name of the Lord. In doing so he had to die.
D. Heb. 5: 6 – 10 The Bible reads,
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
With pray and humble pleading, strong crying and tears learned Jesus obedience to God the Father.
Prayer is a gift of God to His children. Let us receive it with joy and love.
Prayer is a communication with God through;
Praising God
Thanking God and
Making our request unto God.
Are we praying as God would have us pray.
Our God and Father in heaven, holy is His
name.
Do you need to come to Jesus tonight?
Do you need to be baptized?
Do you need to rededicate you life to God?
Do you need the prayers of the church?
Let us pray.
Will you come now as we stand and sing.