THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

THE IMPORTANCE
OF PRAYER
HOW TO DEVELOP A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER
By: Sis. Verelyn (HSV)
6/20/14
EXPLORING PRAYER
Scripture
Munroe’s Theory
Why So?
But When We
Pray
Hindrances to
Prayer
Prayer Gears
Man Being
Called to Pray
Glorifying God
Through Prayer
The Prayer
Guide
Prayer Gears:
God’s Way
God’s Primary
Purposes For
Prayer
Praying Effective
Prayers
How to Develop
a Prayerful
Lifestyle
Spiritual
Achievements of
Prayer
Ignorance’s to
Prayer
Let’s Begin to
Pray
What is prayer?
Colossians 1:9-14
• For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped
praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of
his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so
that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being
strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may
have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the
kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
PRAYER GEARS
God’s
Will
God’s
Plan
God’s
Purpose
PRAYER GEARS: GOD’S WAY
WILL
• We Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding but in all our ways we acknowledge Him and He will
direct our path; and we pray one for another
• We come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may find grace to help in the time of need
• We cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for you; and give thanks in all things
PLAN
• For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future
(Jer. 29:11)
• And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19)
PURPOSE
• God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes (Phil. 2:13)
• Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it the LORD’s purpose that prevails (Prov. 19:21-22)
WHAT IS PRAYER?
Definitions by: Myles Munroe
Understanding the Purposes and Power of Prayer
• Prayer is man giving God the legal right and permission to interfere in earth’s
affairs
• Prayer is man giving heaven earthly license to influence earth
• Prayer is a terrestrial license for celestial interference
• Prayer is man exercising his legal authority on earth to invoke heaven’s
influence on the planet.
MUNROE’S THEORY
WHY SO?
• Munroe’s theory states that man’s initial order to prayer began when the Triune God
took counsel together and said, “let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let
them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all
the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Gen. 1:26-27).
• The earth is the domain of spiritual beings in a body (you and me) and because God
has given us authority over this sphere; God will never go back on his words; what he
has commanded from the foundation of the earth stands in eternity.
• So for the promises of God to be released unto us, someone (spiritual being in a body) has
to pray and invoke the manifestation of His words on earth.
MAN BEING CALLED
TO PRAY
• If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chron. 7:14)
• Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always
pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1-2)
• And pray in the Spirit (using God’s word they are spirit and life) on all occasions
with all kinds of prayer and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always
keep in praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:17-18
MAN BEING CALLED TO
PRAY - CONT’D
• Be joyful always; pray continually without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-19)
• I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
(Matt. 16:19-20)
• I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of
you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father
in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
(Matt. 18:18-20)
GOD’S PRIMARY PURPOSES
FOR PRAYER
• Is far more than just meeting needs, prayer is one God’s plan for us to know Him, worship Him and
experience transformation through the indwelling Christ (Holy Spirit).
• Prayer is never about what we can get out of God, but God fulfilling the purposes of creation in and
through us for His own pleasure and glory
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•
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Prayer is the way in which we learn to communicate with God and hear His voice.
Prayer, enable us to abide in Him and allow Him to live through us.
Prayer allows us to be purified by Christ and build His Kingdom on earth as in heaven.
One of the greatest secret of prayer is to align ourselves to God’s purposes rather than seeking to
align God to ours (we can forget it, we can never align God to our way).
• Until we are totally convinced of the importance of a lifestyle of prayer, we are not likely to take
steps to achieve one.
• “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Ps.33:11)
SPIRITUAL ACHIEVEMENTS
OF PRAYER?
• When we commune with God we become one with Him.
• We achieve the purposes of unity and singleness of thought, desire, will,
reason, motive, objective and feelings.
• We connect soul and spirit with the Invisible and Sovereign God
• The human spirit affects and is affected by the will and purpose of the
Devine Creator.
• Live a victorious Life (in prosperity of the soul, thoughts, and spirit)
BUT WHEN YOU PRAY
• We are praying for the visible manifestation of the invisible on earth.
• We are calling those things not seen as thou they are (Romans 4:17)
• “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so
that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3)
• Heavens give heed to words of your prayers
• God hears you from is throne and the opposer of the second heaven eavesdrop on your
conversation with God
BUT WHEN YOU PRAY
• You are allowing God to honor His words above His name
• Your are calling forth and establishing what God has already purposed and
predestinated for you and for those you prayed for.
• Your are establishing the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven
• You are adorning yourself with priceless ornaments (blessings, crowns and
rewards)
BUT WHEN YOU PRAY
Provision
Protection
Patience
Purpose
Praise
Power
Peace
GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH
PRAYER
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Prayer builds intimacy with God – more real and personal (Matt. 22:37, John 17:3)
Brings honor to the God’s nature and character
Prayer brings respect to God’s integrity
Prayer enable belief in God’s word
Prayer builds trust in God’s love
Prayer affirm God’s purposes and will for you
Prayer appropriate God’s promises
PRAYING EFFECTIVE PRAYERS
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You will experience ever-deepening holiness and life transforming discipleship.
Your ability to clearly hear God’s voice will be sharpened dramatically (James 1:5; Jeremiah 29:13).
The spiritual power of your life and ministry will increase greatly (John 14:12-14; Acts 1:8).
You will experience a dramatic increase in answered prayer, nothing will be impossible for you (John
15:7).
• You will experience far greater power to withstand trials, temptations, and spiritual attacks (2
Corinthians 10:3-5).
• You will learn to effectively pray for the lost, you will see many people saved.
• You will discover how to pray effectively for revival and spiritual awakening in your church, city, and
nation (Ezekiel 22:30).
BASIC TYPES OF PRAYER
Adoration, Praise,
Thanksgiving and
Worship
Meditative
Listening
Intercession /
warfare
Confession and
Repentance
Petition /
Supplication
ADORATION, PRAISE,
THANKSGIVING AND WORSHIP
• Praise and thanksgiving give adoration and worship to God.
• A prayer life requires consistent time in deep praise and thanksgiving to God.
• We must allow in our prayer time to experience genuine praise and thanksgiving to God.
• We were created to praise and worship the Father. The first commandment says, “Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
(Matthew 22:37)
• We should daily ask God to grow us in effective praise and worship.
• When we get our praise right, it brings glory and honor to God
• Readings: Ps. 100:1-5; 22:3; 50:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Hebrews 13:15
CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE
• Confession is how we receive God’s forgiveness and maintain a Spirit-filled life.
• A balanced prayer life requires regular confession to God. Only then can God keep us truly
filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• Confession cleanses us and allow us to grow spiritually and be conformed in the image of
Christ. Unconfessed sin can block us from the presence of the Lord, “If I regard iniquity in
my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18)
• Confession must be thorough. The psalmist said, “Search me O God and see if there be
any wicked way in me” (Ps. 139:23-24)
• Readings: Ps. 6:18; 139:23-24; 24:3-5; 51:6-10; Pro. 28:13; 1 John 1:9; Matt. 5:23; 6:14
PETITION/SUPPLICATION
• Petition is the type of prayer in which we present our needs and desires to God.
• A balanced prayer life is built on petitions that are biblically based and born from the heart
of God Himself.
• There is nothing selfish about presenting our needs to God. He wants us to come to Him
with every need and concern. Jesus invites us to ask, “Hitherto have you asked nothing in
my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24)
• It is important that we learn how to focus our personal petitions on God’s greatest good for
our lives; so that we will reap the eternal good of the land.
• Readings: John 15:7; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:15-16
INTERCESSION/WARFARE
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Intercession is the type of prayer that focuses on the needs of others.
A balanced prayer life must include consistent intercession for all the great Kingdom issues.
To intercede for someone is to spiritually stand in the gap as mentioned in Ezekiel 22:30.
Intercession is a broad category of prayer that covers anything from praying for the lost to
praying for God’s blessing on a great evangelist or pastor.
• God has ordained intercession as the primary way He works to save the lost and empower
the church.
• God has called all believers to intercession (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
• Readings: Ezekiel 22:30; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-17
MEDIATIVE LISTENING
• Mediation is the act of reflecting on God’s Word and quietly listening for His still small voice.
• A balanced prayer life includes time to pause and listen for God’s still small voice. He speaks most to those
who consistently still their hearts to listen. “You will search for me and you will find me when you search for
me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)
• A healthy relationship must be two-way! When we pray we talk to God; when we mediate God talks to us.
• In prayer time, meditation is the period in which you quietly reflect on your Scripture reading and the
impressions God has given.
• Through meditating, you learn to hear God’s leading and thus your prayers initiate from His heart and mind.
• “Listening to God” is the fundamental key to an effective prayer life.
• Readings: Psalms 1:2; 63:6; 77:12; 143:5; Jeremiah 29:13; 1 John 5:14-15
IGNORANCE’S TO PRAYER
• Ignorance's to prayer accounts for reasoning's like these:
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Why should I pray when God knows everything
God is in control of everything
He already predetermines everything
He does not change, so why pray?
I don’t know how to pray
• Like so and so
• I wish I could pray (stop wishing and start praying)
• “The LORD Almighty has sworn, surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I
have purposed, so it will stand” (Isa. 14:24)
HINDRANCES TO PRAYER
SIN
UNFORGIVNESS
UNBELIEVE
BITTERNESS
WRONG MOTIVES
GUILT
FEAR
DOUBT
IDOLS
Please note that this listing is not exhausted, there are many more
hindrances to prayer.
THE PRAYER GUIDE
• Please note the only request that Jesus’ disciples had asked of Him was for
Jesus to teach them how to pray.
• “This then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your
kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matt.6:9-11)
How to Develop a Prayerful Lifestyle
• Develop intimacy with God (reading the word and fellowshipping with the
Holy Spirit)
• Set a schedule
• when will you pray
• Make a prayer list and maintain a prayer journal
• Focus on what to pray and record what the Lord says to you
• Have a right view of God (faithful, loving, just, pure, holy, etc)
• Causes us to want to pray
How to Develop a Prayerful Lifestyle
• Try to learn scriptures and pray them
• Get yourself a devotional that provides a theme and scripture for that day
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• Youversion.com (they give daily scripture and set reminders)
• Our Daily bread (sign up and they will send it daily to your e-mail)
Mediate on the word of God and let the word speak to you (listen carefully)
Apply the word of God to your life (ask how can this word apply to me?)
Share the truth you just learn or discover with someone else
Live a life of love and thankfulness
Start off praying saying something (5 minutes and make it a habit)
LET US BEGIN TO PRAY!
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It’s not difficult
Pray to God the way you communicate with your parents (just be real)
Give thanks in all things (good or bad)
Exercise forgiveness and confession they are keys to unlock the kingdom of
heaven
• Rejoice always!
FOR PRAYER
FOR COPY OF
PRESENTATION
• Visit: iinhimministries.org
• E-mail: [email protected]
CREDITS
• Dr. Myles Munroe: Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer
• The Holy Bible