Our Worship in Prayer

1. Read: Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

2. About the Text:

1) The early church was a praying church.

2) Read Acts 4:24-31

3) How can we pray with the same fervency and effectiveness today?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Supplications

i. The Greek word indicates reverence before sovereignty.

ii. It was used in situations where petitions were made before kings.

2. Prayers

i. The Greek word indicates an attitude of worship–literally bending the knee.

ii. The word expresses the idea of wish–requesting the way we would want things to be.

3. Intercessions

i. Usually used when trying to obtain something for another.

ii. Prayers made for the sick usually involve this type of prayer.

4. Thanksgivings

i. Giving of thanks.

ii. Used for all blessings that come our way.

1. In the assembly.

i. Men are to utter these prayers — “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Tim.2:8).

ii. General prayers — (1 Tim.2:1-3 quoted above)

iii. Prayers around the Lord’s table — “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor.11:23-25).

iv. Closing Prayers — “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.” (Acts 20:36)

2. Around the dinner table.

i. The example of Jesus in the feeding of the five and four thousand (Matt.14:19; Matt 15:36).

ii. Paul says that the food we eat is sanctified by prayer — “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Tim.4:4,5).

3. In private devotion.

i. The example of our Lord

1) After the feeding of the five thousand — Mark 6:46 “And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”

2) After great multitudes had followed him–Luke 5:16 “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”

3) Before his crucifixion–Luke 22:41″And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed.”

4. The example of Paul

i. Ephesians 1:16 “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers”

ii. Philippians 1:4 “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy”

iii. Colossians 1:9 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”

1. Address — To the Father: Col.3:17 “To God the Father through Him”; Matt.6:9 “Our Father . . . .”

2. Body — Phil.4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”

i. Give Thanks for

1) The Christ

2) The Word

3) Our Jobs

4) Our Food

5) Our Families

ii. Request Guidance For

1) Self–to have attributes that God wants us to have (humility, wisdom, patience, forgiveness).

2) The church (local and universal)

3) Family (each role–Father, Mother, Children)

4) Government (Ours and the Worlds for peace)

5) In any other thing you want God to help you and others.

6) Specify people and situations to God.

iii. Specifics

1) Enemies–Matt.5:44

2) The sick–James 5:13,14

3) More workers in the kingdom–Matt.9:38

4) That the gospel will go forth–2 Thess.3:1

5) That our love may abound–Phil1:9

6) That God will open doors for the gospel–Col.4:3

iv. Close–Col.3:17–through Christ our mediator (Heb.7:25; John 2:1).

1. Some consequences–James 5:15-18 “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 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. 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 rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

2. Some consequences–Phil.4:6,7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

3. Your prayers will be heard–1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”

4. Parable of the unjust judge–Luke 18:1-8a “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”

1. Matthew 7:7-11 “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 knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

2. Let us remember these four basic things regarding prayer.

i. The Character of Prayer

ii. The Circumstance of Prayer

iii. The Content of Prayer

iv. The Consequences of Prayer

3. Invitation