Effective Prayer

A split rail fence and cabin that Hector walked past on his way to his grandfathers home in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Oaxaca

Effective Prayer

To understand how to pray we must understand the Character, Circumstance, Content, and Consequences of prayer.

1. The early church – Acts 2:42; 4:24
Q. How can we pray with the same fervency and effectiveness today?

I. The Character of prayer

1. Supplications - reverence before a sovereign king
2. Prayers – an attitude of worship-literally bending the knee.
3. Intercessions
a. Used when trying to obtain something for another.
b. Prayers made for the sick
4. Thanksgivings
a. Giving of thanks
b. Used for all blessings that come our way

II. The Circumstance of prayer
A. In the assembly. ( I Tim. 2:8 )
a. General prayers ( I tim. 2:1-3 )
b. Praying around the Lord’s table ( I Cor. 11:23-25 )
c. Closing prayers ( Acts 20:36 )
B. Around the dinner table ( Matt. 14:19; 15:36 ; I Tim. 4:4-5 )
C. In private devotion ( Mark 6:46 ; Luke 5:16; 22:41 )
D. The example of Paul ( Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:4 ; Col. 1:9 )

III. The content of prayer
A. Address – To God the Father ( Col. 3:17; Matt. 6:9 )
B. Body of Christ ( Phil. 4:6
1). Give thanks for:
a. The Christ
b. The Word
c. Our jobs
d. Our food
e. Our families
2). Request Guidance for:
a). for ourselves
b). the church ( local and universal )
c). family
d). government
3). Specifics
a). Enemies ( Matt. 5:44 )
b). The sick ( Jaes 5:13-14 )
c). More workers in the kingdom ( Matt. 9:38 )
d). That the gospel will go forth ( 2 Thes. 3:1 )
e). That our love may abound ( Phil. 1:9 )
f). That God will open doors for the gospel ( Col. 4:3 )

IV. The Consequences of prayer
1. Physical consequences ( James 5:15-18 )
2. Spiritual consequences ( Phil. 4:6-7 )
3. That your prayers will be heard ( I Pet. 3:12 )
4. Parable of the unjust judge ( Luke 18:1-8 )

Conclusion - Matt. 7:7-11

Material moderated by Richard Fogie 2/28/08 met in home of Myron and Ruth
Material taken from “Sermon On Prayer” y Kevin Cauley
www.preachersfiles.com/prayer
Next Bible study in home of Myron and Ruth on 3/6/08 … topic, “The Year of Jubilee”