“Divine Dialogue” Pt 9
More Patterns of Prayer
I. PERSPECTIVE ON PRAYER -- What is prayer?
II. PURPOSE OF PRAYER – Why Pray?
III. PREREQUISITES FOR PRAYER – Who can pray?
IV. PROMISES REGARDING PRAYER – What does God promise to do?
V. PURPOSES FOR UNANSERED PRAYER – Why doesn’t God answer?
VI. POSTURES IN PRAYER – What should I do with my body?
VII. PASSION OF PRAYER – What priority should I give to prayer?
VIII. PATTERNS OF PRAYER – What should I pray?
As we mentioned previously, since prayer is dialogue with God, then such conversation is not something you can script. The content of the prayer follows the heart and mind of the individual. At times, we find ourselves at a loss as to what to pray for one another as well as ourselves in accord with God’s will. Taking clues from recorded prayers of God’s servants in the Bible proves an invaluable resource. Plus if we take clues from God’s appointed servants, we can be sure that those request will be in tune with God’s will. Remember description is not necessarily prescription. Just because it appears in the Bible does not necessarily validate its use.
Gideon testing God with the fleece is not a suggested practice for us but was the action of a fearful servant of God. It was not a demonstration of faith but fear.
Last week we explored the pattern given by Jesus to His disciples.
A. The Disciples Model Prayer
B. T.I.M.E.S. with God
Talk – Invite – Meditate – Embrace - Submit
C. A.C.T.S Pattern
ADORATION
This time focuses on the character of God. Acknowledge and praise Him for who He is not necessary for what He has done (although sometimes they are closely linked). Thanksgiving comes later. Help in this area can come from the “faith” section of the notebook where God’s attributes are listed. He is great! He is good! He is Holy!
CONFESSION
Take time to let the Holy Spirit bring to the surface areas that should be addressed. Help for this section can be found in the confession section of the notebook.
THANKSGIVING
This is the time to bring God thanks for all the things that come to mind regarding His blessing to mankind and us as individuals. Look for some clues in the thanksgiving section.
SUPPLICATION
Now we are ready to bring requests on our behalf and on behalf of those we love and even our enemies as Christ instructed us to pray for our enemies. Start with yourself and move outward as time allows.
D. Jabez Pattern
This come from a relatively unknown person in the Bible names Jabez. His prayer was popularized in a book written by Bruce Wilkinson year ago. It is not as monumental as it was made out to be but could serve as a model.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore him with pain." Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
• Bless me indeed.
• Enlarge my borders
• Empower me with your presence
• Protect me from pain.
E. The P.R.A.Y Pattern
Praise
Repent
Ask
Yield
F. New Testament prayers
1. Paul prayed for Enlightenment Ephesians 1:15-23
Having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe
Paul often referenced the continuous nature of his prayer for believers.
PRAYER REQUEST
God would give them a fuller knowledge of Him resulting in a spirit of wisdom and revelation. He expanded on his request by illuminating the details of this knowledge. This knowledge resulting in a spirit of wisdom and revelation regarding life in a fallen world comes from God’s work of enlightening a dark heart. The word enlighten means to “give light, make to see, illuminate”. This knowledge comes when God enlightens our hearts to see and understand truth. The verb tense here is significant. Paul employed the perfect tense indicating an enlightenment that took place a specific time and it continues to affect the life of the enlightened one. This enlightenment revolves around three specific grand truths. He switches to a different term translated “to know”
The first term indicates a knowledge gained by experience. “I know not to touch a hot stove ever since I burned my fingers.” God grants an experiential knowledge of Him through the truth of His word. Then there is also a knowledge that come by intuition. God instills an intuitive knowledge of three basic truths. Again, we have a perfect tense which means we intuitively realize these things and it continually affects our walk.
Know what is the HOPE of His calling
God wants every follower to have an intuitive sense of the certainty that come from having been called by Him to be in His family.
Know what is the GLORY of His (Christ’s) inheritance in the saints.
Used to think that this had to do with knowing the glory of our inheritance. Other Scriptures do reference a glorious inheritance in store for family members. This one calls for understanding how Christ considers US a glorious inheritance. It’s HIS inheritance in us.
Know what is the surpassing greatness of His power into us.
God grants every child of God His Divine resources. What kind of power does He have in mind?
It is the power in accordance with His working in the world.
It is the power that raised Jesus from the dead.
It is the power of authority.
Many of us fail to understand our amazing position as a child of God. Paul prayed that God would enlighten them to the point of wisdom and revelation as needed to faithfully follow Him.
2. Paul prayed for empowerment Ephesians 3:14-20
I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
The foundation of this prayer deals with spiritual strengthening.
It is a strengthening by the Holy Spirit.
It is a strengthening in the inner soul.
This strengthening enables subsequent stages.
That Christ may be the central focus of our life.
That we will comprehend the amazing depth of His love for us.
That we may ultimately be filled up to all the fulness of God.
3. Paul prayed to know God’s will Colossians 1:9-12
We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Colossians 1:9-12
The core request is a saturation with the knowledge of God’s will. This knowledge of God’s will results in another chain reaction…
• That you will live in a manner worth of the Lord.
• That you will please Him in all respects by bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
• That you will be strengthened with all divine power to attain all steadfastness and longsuffering while joyously given thanks to the Father.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. Colossians 4:12
4. Paul prayed for unity Rom 5:5-6
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6
This unit enables a unified glorying of God.
5. Paul prayed for increased love for one another
Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
The increase in love strengthens us and demonstrates holiness.
6. Paul prayed for greater holiness and preservation
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Brethren, pray for us. 1 Thess 5:16-25
7. Paul prayed for goodness and faith 2 Thess 1:11,12
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
8. Paul prayed for comfort and strength 2 Thes 2:16-17
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thes 2:13-17
9. Paul prayed for love and steadfastness
May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thess 3:1-5
10. Prayed for equipping for ministry Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb 13:20-21
11. Jesus Prayed for unity, protection, purity John 17
G. Old Testament Examples
1. Numerous prayers in the Psalms
2. Abraham’s prayer of intercession Exodus 32-33
3. Hannah’s prayer 1 Samuel 1:9-11; 2:1-10
4. Ezra’s prayer of confession Ezra 9:5-10:4
5. Nehemiah’s prayer of repentance Neh 1:4-11
6. Daniel’s prayer of repentance Dan 9:1-19
H. Converting specific Bible passages into prayer
1. Prayer for more perfect love – 1 Cor 13
Father, I realize that when I fail to love, my words turn out like an irritating clanging sound. If I fail to love, all of my good ideas and lofty wise words bring be no notoriety. If I fail to love, even my unflagging faith to believe You for great things falls miserably short. I may even give everything I own to feed the poor and sacrifice my time and energy and maybe my life but if I fail to pursue meaningful relationship with people it has no benefit for me or them. The love You generate in me is longsuffering. Teach me to control my responses to people. Your love is kind. May I learn to treat people with the kindness You demonstrate. You are kind to just and the unjust. Your love is not jealous. Your love is humble not arrogant and doesn’t have to brag about personal accomplishment. Help me be humble and consider others more important than myself. In fact, Your love does not seek its own. Help me to focus on the needs of others rather than my selfish desires. Your love is not easily provoked. It doesn’t take much to set me off. That is a glaring indication that I have not allowed Your love to control my heart. Bring my emotions and reactions under the control of your Holy Spirit. Your love does not keep record of other’s offenses. Help me to forgive easily. Rip out those bitter roots that keep perpetuating plants of destruction to my relationships. Your love does not find pleasure in hurtful things but rejoices in the truth. Your love is unassailable. It always endures. It believes the best in people. It endures hardship and injury. It is a love that I want to see demonstrate in my live. It is the greatest demonstration of a change life there is. That is the kind of love I want. Help me love like You love.
2. Prayer for a dedicated life of genuine love. Rom 12
Father, I dedicate my physical body and my entire life to You as an acceptable holy sacrifice (1). Help me not to allow the world to influence the way I live but I offer myself to be transformed by the renewing of mind (2). Enable me not to think more highly of myself than I ought but accept where you have put me in Your body and life my life by the faith You supply (3). May I fully exercise the gift You provided for the growth the body (4). I want to live with genuine love, not hypocritical love. I want a love that abhors evil but clings to all that is good. Enable a greater commitment to those in Your body by giving preference and honor to others. Help me now be lazy in my service to You but fervent by rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoting myself to prayer, contributing to the needs of others, practicing hospitality. I promise to bless and not curse those who persecute me. I purpose to identify with my fellow followers of You; rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. I need You to help me like-minded and not high-minded. My I not neglect those less fortunate than I am. May I not think I am smarter than anyone else. I agree to never pay back evil to anyone while respecting what is right. Help take personal responsibility on my part to be at peace with everyone. I agree never to take revenge but leave room for You to deal with the situation. Help me not to be overcome with evil but to overcome evil with good. Help me have a healthy response to the authorities over me. Help me love my neighbor as myself and purpose to do no wrong. Guard my lifestyle that it may reflect Your light and not the world’s darkness. I want to live like Jesus and give the flesh no opportunity to dictate my behavior.
3. Warfare prayer Psalm 3
Lord of armies, it seems like I am surrounded by enemies. I feel like Satan is telling me there is no sense trusting you to deliver me. But I know that You are a shield about me. You cause me to lift my head in hope of glory. I cry to You and You have answered me before. I wake up in the morning because You sustain me. I have not need to be afraid of however many stand against me. Even a thousand demons are no match for You. I call on You to rise up against my enemies and save me. You have certainly defeated Satan and his demons. Through Jesus You have struck them on the cheek and shattered their teeth. He is a toothless lion no matter how load he may roar. Salvation comes only from You. May Your blessing not only fall on me but all those who call on You.
4. Commitment to God’s word Psalm 119
This Psalm is long, but filled with declarations about God’s word and rich responses to it. It forms a great basis for conversation with God. Following is a brief example of turning it into a prayer.
You have charged me to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! Psalm 119:4-8
How can I stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Psalm 119:9-16
I. Prayers based on selected passages
Any passage can be transformed into a prayer that the truth of that passage may transform my everyday life.
A study that gathers numerous passages on a specific topic is also a rich resource for prayer.
Passages on the family. (Children, wives, husbands, marriage)
Passages on repentance.
Passages on spiritual growth.
Passages on the church.
Passages on spiritual warfare. (Many of the Psalms make great warfare prayers.
Because my sermons contain numerous passages related to a specific topic you could easily go back through the notes and pray the passages asking God to make the truth a reality in your own life and the life of the church.
J. Prayers of God’s people
There are some beautiful recorded prayers that express sentiment that may correspond to what we are feeling.
These may help to enflame our own expressions.
Take some time this week to use these examples in your prayer time.
