Lesson One OUR GOD TO WHOM WE PRAY
INTRODUCTION:
1. Prayer is "an earnest entreaty addressed to God" (Webster); Scripture defines it as our hearts desire expressed to God (Rom. 10:1).
2. Are we, as Christians, spending much time in prayer?
a. Some are not because their faith in God is eroding.
1) Some have had an extremist response to the Pentecostal doctrine of present-day miracles and, based on their strong belief that God doesn't work miracles today, wonder how prayer can be answered.
2) Others hold to a deistic concept of God, who is impersonal, far removed from us, wind this world up like an alarm clock until it runs down.
3. To pray effectively (scripturally), our concept of God must be scriptural.
a. When we pray, we've got to believe our prayers will make a difference.
b. To merely pray out of a sense of duty and a sense of futility, one will not pray often nor will it be a prayer of faith.
c. To believe God hears/answers prayer demands the following concepts be accepted:
I. THAT GOD EXISTS
A. If no God, prayer would be silly.
B. We know why atheists & agnostics don't pray (Psalm 14:1) - WHAT'S OUR EXCUSE?
C. A praying person must believe God is and that he is the rewarder of them who diligently seek him - Heb. 11:6
D. We can know that God exists - Psalm 19:1; Acts 14:17; Rom. 1:19-20
II. THAT GOD HEARS
A. The concept that God hears my prayers demonstrates my faith in God's omniscience.
B. God is described as: "O thou that hearest prayer" - Psa. 65:2
1. God is immutable - "...thou art the same" - Psa 102:27
2. If we believe He does not change, we know He is unchanged also with respect to hearing prayer.
C. An impersonal "force" or power does not respond to prayer.
III. THAT GOD CARES
A. To believe God hears/answers prayer is to believe God cares - Lk. 12:6-7; Matt. 6:31-33; 1 Pet. 5:7
B. Read words of song, "Does Jesus Care?"
IV. THAT GOD IS ABLE
A. To pray in faith to God is to believe He is able to answer and relieve my needs - this implies God's omnipotence - Eph. 3:20; James 1:17
B. If not, about all God could do is show sympathy/pity.
V. THAT GOD WILL ACT
A. I must believe my prayer will have an impact on God, motivating Him to act in my behalf - Matt. 7:7-11
1. God responded to Israel's cries and raised up Moses as a deliverer - Exod. 3:9
2. When Elijah prayed that it not rain, it didn't rain for 3 1/2 yrs - Jas. 5:18
3. When Hezekiah prayed, God added 15 yrs to his life - 2 Kgs 20:1-7
4. When the church prayed, Peter was released from prison - Acts 12:1-11
B. I must believe this same God cares the for me and will act in response to my prayers.
VI. THAT GOD HAS INFINITE WISDOM
A. I must pray as Jesus did, "Not my will but thine be done" - Luke 22:42
1. I recognize I don't always ask for what I need, or might not know what I need.
2. God will exercise the wisdom & decide how to answer my prayers, not always giving me what I ask for, but always giving me what I need and that which is for my good..
B. Note this inscription by a Confederate soldier almost a century ago:
I asked for help, that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for - but everything I hoped for.
Despite myself, my prayers were answered.
I am among all me, most richly blessed.
CONCLUSION:
1. Jesus concluded a parable teaching us that "men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Lk. 18:1), with this statement: "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" MEN WILL NOT PRAY UNLESS THEY HAVE FAITH.
2. If we're not praying, brethren, we lack faith; we must reaffirm our committment to these fundamental concepts of God.
QUESTIONS:
1. Define prayer:
2. How important is it to have a proper concept of God when considering prayer?
3. Give two reasons for an eroding faith in prayer?
4. Could this be the beginning of an acceptable prayer: "Dear God, if there is a God, ......"? Why?
5. According to Psalm 14:1, who is it who doesn't believe in God?
6. What two points about God is made in Hebrews 11:6 that must be believed before we can pray?
7. Study Psalm 19:1; Acts 14:17 and Rom. 1:19-20. What proof do we have that God exists?
8. How does the fact that God doesn't change strengthen our faith concerning prayer?
9. What kind of things do people worry about that show a lack of faith in God? What does Jesus teach about this (Matt. 6:31-33)?
10. What does the apostle Peter teach regarding worry (1 Pet. 5:7)?
11. From the above scriptures, answer these questions:
a. Is God limited in what He can do?
b. What kind of gifts does he give?
12. Answer from Matt. 7:7-11
a. How is God portrayed in this passage?
b. What kind of "gifts" will He give?
c. Upon what condition will one receive God's gifts?
13. With what attitude should we always pray?
14. Should we expect our prayers to be answered as we want them to be?
