CIRCLE OF LOVE

MARCH 9, 2010

EFFECTIVE PRAYING

PART 1

EFFECTIVE PRAYING  

Prayer refers to the multifaceted communication of believers with the Lord.  In addition to such words as “prayer” and “praying,” this activity is described as:

     • calling on God (PS 17:6)

     • Calling on the name of the Lord (Gen 4:26)

     • Crying aloud to the Lord (Ps 3:4)

     • Lifting up ones soul to the Lord (Ps 25:1)

     • Seeking the Lord (Isa 55:6)

     • Approaching the throne of grace with confidence (Heb 4:16)

     • Drawing near to God (Heb 10:22)

REASONS FOR PRAYER

The Bible provides clear reasons why God’s people ought to pray.

A. .First and foremost, believers are commanded by God to pray.

     • The psalmists (1 Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4)

     • The prophets (Isa 55:6; Amos 5:4,6)

     • The apostles (Eph 6:17-18; Col 4:2; 1 Th. 5:17)

     • The Lord Jesus (Mt 26:14; Luke 18:1; John 16:24)

God desires our fellowship and by prayer we maintain our relationship with him.

B. Prayer is the necessary link to receiving God’s blessings and power, and the fulfillment of his promises.

Numerous passages illustrate this principle.

     • Jesus promised that his followers would receive the Holy Spirit IF they persisted in asking, seeking and         knocking at the door of their heavenly Father. (Luke 11:5-13).

His followers joined together constantly in prayer in the upper room until the power of the Holy Spirit descended upon them in a miraculous way on the Day of Pentecost.

     • The Apostle Paul frequently requested prayers on his behalf, knowing that his work would not be successful         unless Christians were praying for him. (Ro 15:30-32; 2 Co 1:11; Eph 6:18-20, Php 1:19, Col 4:3-4)

     • James states explicitly that physical healing can come to the believer in response to “the prayer offered in         faith” )Jas 5:14-15

C. In his plan of salvation for humankind God has ordained that believers be co-workers with him in the redemptive process.  In some respects God has limited himself to the holy, believing, persevering prayers of his people.  There are many things that will not be accomplished in God’s kingdom without the intercessory prayers of believers.

God wants everyone to turn to him for salvation so that they will not die in their sins.  Believers should share God’s desire for the repentance with everyone who does not know Him.  This is a sad indictment of pew warming Sunday Christians.

In other words, God’s power to accomplish many of his purposes is released only through his people’s earnest prayers on behalf of the progress of his kingdom,  If we fail to pray, we may actually be hindering the accomplishment of God’s redemptive purpose, both for ourselves as individuals and for the church as a body.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT MONTH....

The next meeting is April 13th.