Prayer Lesson 2- Prayer in the Bible

This portion of the series will focus primarily on Bible verses showing us why we pray. It is our hope that you learn from this and can use it to explain WHY we need to pray. Not all verses are typed out for you because this is a STUDY. 🙂 Please look them up and use your Bible. Some are given so that you have a break from looking them ALL up.

Lesson:

The following verses and outline were taken from:
The Praying Church Idea Book
by Douglas A. Kamstra
CRC Pulbications, 2001
ISBN: 1-56212-558-3

• God Commands Us to Pray
  Be faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12)
  Pray Continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Jesus Modeled Prayer
  Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:29, Mark 6:46, Matthew 26:27, etc.
• Scripture emphasizes the importance of prayer
  I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone (1 Timothy 2:1)
• Prayer Works
  Scripture is full of accounts of answered prayers. See Exodus 17:8-16, 1 Kings 18:36, Daniel 6, Acts 12:1-18, Acts 16:25-34, etc.
  History is also full of answered prayers. Reformation, revival, the collapse of the Berlin Wall which many prayed fore, etc. Look at the greats of these: Martin Luther, John Bunyan, etc.
• Prayer Pleases Jesus
  This [requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving] is good, and pleases our Savior (1 Timothy 2:3)
• Prayer Reminds us that God is in control
  Jeremiah 32:16-17
• Through prayer we recieve God’s gifts
  Ask and it will be given to you (Matthew 7:7, 1 John 5:14-15)
• Prayer Provides a foundation for sharing the Gospel
  See Colossians 4:2-4, 12
• Prayer plays a significant role in bringing people to salvation
  See 1 Timothy 2:1-4
• Prayer is how we receive strength to endure trials
  See Philippians 4:6-7
• Prayer prevents us from falling into temptation
  See Matthew 26:41
• Prayer gives power over demons
  See Mark 9:29
• Prayer brings healing to the nations
  See 2 Chronicles 7:14
• Prayer brings healing to the people
  See James 5:13-16
• Prayer enhances our fellowship
  See Jude 20

Study Questions:

1.  Is prayer important?
2. Does the Bible teach us to pray? Does it give us examples of prayer?
3. Is there power in praying?

Think About It

Why do YOU pray? Examine why you are praying. Make note of it in your journal and reflect on it throughout the series. See if things change.

Prayer Series Index | Prayer Lesson 3

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