B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: Why Pray?
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalms 51:1-19
GOLDEN TEXT: James 5:16
1. What is prayer?
Note: Prayer is an address, petition or an earnest request to God in word or thought. It is the practice of praying or talking to God.
Why should a Christian pray?
Note: We pray to God in order to give Him praise and adoration and to make petitions of God for our prayers and our requests. Prayer is a personal, intimate and understanding communication with God Almighty.
2. Does the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avail much? (James 5:16.)
3. How is effective prayer described in the Bible? (Psalms 27:7, 2 Chronicles 32:20, Psalms 62:8.)
Note: Notice the words "cry," "cried" or "poured out your heart." We at times must cry out figuratively and actually at times we will shed tears.
4. Are we shown by David’s example, that we should throw our whole heart into our prayers? (Psalms 119:58, 145.)
5. Did Jesus set us an example of fervent prayer? (Luke 22:42-44, Hebrews 5:7.)
Note: Before Jesus died for us on the cross, He prepared for His ordeal with fervent prayer. He was so earnest in seeking His Father’s will (Verse 42,) that His sweat was like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
6. What is Christ’s command to all who would follow Him? (Luke 22:45-46.)
Note: Jesus set us the example by praying fervently and frequently to God the Father for spiritual strength to have victory over sin and death. We also need to pray fervently to God for strength to resist sin.
7. Should we pray with a fervent desire to have our prayers answered? (Psalms 27:7-9, 102:1-2.)
8. Can we have absolute confidence that our heavenly Father will hear us and deliver us from our fears and troubles? (Psalms 34:4, 6, 17, 19.)
9. Does God promise us all kinds of help if we ask Him in faithful, believing prayer? (Matthew 21:22.)
10. Should our faith in the fact that God will hear us be unwavering? (James 5:1-7.)
Note: You must learn to trust God to the utmost and learn to expect answers to your prayers. God reveals Himself as being a real living God. You must take God at His word without doubting Him.
11. Should we place our wholehearted trust in God? (Psalms 71:1.)
Note: If we trust in God we will never be put to shame or confused.
12. Can we be confident that if we pray to God, He will take care of all of our needs? (Matthew 6:11, Psalms 23:1-6.)
13. Can we offer up our prayers to God with absolute faith that He will watch over us because He is concerned for our very best interests? (Matthew 7:7-11.)
Note: God is very willing to give us His Holy Spirit of power if we will ask for it.
14. Following David’s example, what should we pray that God will do within us after He has forgiven us our sins? (Psalms 51:1-17 - Notice especially verse 10.)
Note: Read and study this Psalm of David’s wholehearted and total repentance of his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. We must have a similar attitude of repentance for our sins so that God will hear our prayers.
15. Does God make it clear that He is primarily concerned with what is going on in our hearts and mind? (Isaiah 66:2.) Isn’t it clear that man’s heart and mind is far from right in God’s sight? (Isaiah 64:6-7.)
Note: David realized that he needed God Almighty to create a clean heart within him (Psalms 51:10.) God wants us to pray as David did, and ask Him to change our human nature. That is the purpose for prayer in helping us to develop God’s spiritual character so we can attain the goal for which we have been born.
16. If we ask, will God be our helper? (Psalms 30:10.) Can we ask God to lead us in righteousness? (Psalms 5:8.)
17. Will God cleanse us of our secret faults, those which lie hidden in our human nature? (Psalms 19:12.) Will God help us to keep ourselves from exalting the self and being presumptuous? (Verse 13.)
18. Can we ask and expect God to examine our inner motives and to test us in order to help us to overcome sin in our lives? (Psalms 26:2.)
19. How can a young person cleanse his ways before God? (Psalms 119:9.) Doesn’t this apply to anyone who seeks God with his whole heart? (Verse 10.) Is it also necessary to know and study God’s Word to be able to keep from sinning? (Verse 11.) Are we to bring every thought into captivity? (2 Corinthians 10:5.)
20. Should we continue to be instant in prayer? (Romans 12:12.)
21. Did Daniel know that regular contact with God was extremely important? (Daniel 6:10.)
22. Did David know that daily prayer was important to his spiritual life? (Psalms 55:17.) Did David spend much time praising God in prayer? (Psalms 119:164.) Did David think about God’s Law all day long? (Psalms 119:97.)
23. Are we admonished not to give up praying every day? (1 Thessalonians 5:17.)
Note: You should always feel free to take all of your innermost thoughts to God in prayer and ask Him to guide you. Ask God to direct your daily life.
24. If we pray as we should, will we be confident, thankful, and have the peace of God in our hearts? (Philippians 4:6-7.)
In Conclusion: God wants us to be in His Kingdom and He wants us to come to Him for forgiveness and the power to grow in His character. He wants us to ask Him to help us overcome sin in our lives, and live by His Commandments. But God cannot help us unless we come to Him and ask for that help in prayer.
Pray to God every day. Pray continually, regularly, fervently and have faith and expect God to answer.
Scriptures
Scripture Reading:
(Psalms 51 NKJV) Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. {4} Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. {5} Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. {6} Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. {7} Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. {8} Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. {9} Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. {10} Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. {13} Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. {14} Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. {15} O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. {16} For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise. {18} Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. {19} Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
Golden Text:
(James 5:16 NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
1.)
2.) (James 5:16 NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
3.)(Psalms 27:7 NKJV) Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
(2 Chronicles 32:20 NKJV) Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven.
(Psalms 62:8 NKJV) Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
4. (Psalms 119:58 NKJV) I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word.
(Psalms 119:145 NKJV) I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes.
5.) (Luke 22:42-44 NKJV) saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." {43} Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. {44} And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
(Hebrews 5:7 NKJV) who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
6. (Luke 22:45-46 NKJV) When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. {46} Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."
7. (Psalms 27:7-9 NKJV) Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. {8} When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." {9} Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
(Psalms 102:1-2 NKJV) Hear my prayer, O LORD, And let my cry come to You. {2} Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily.
8. (Psalms 34:4 NKJV) I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
(Psalms 34:6 NKJV) This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
(Psalms 34:17 NKJV) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
(Psalms 34:19 NKJV) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
9. (Matthew 21:22 NKJV) "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
10. (James 5:1-7 NKJV) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! {2} Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. {3} Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. {4} Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. {5} You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. {6} You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. {7} Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
11. (Psalms 71:1 NKJV) In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.
12. (Matthew 6:11 NKJV) Give us this day our daily bread.
(Psalms 23 NKJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. {2} He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. {3} He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. {4} Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. {5} You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. {6} Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
13. (Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. {8} "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. {9} "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? {10} "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? {11} "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
14. (Psalms 51:1-17 NKJV) Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. {4} Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. {5} Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. {6} Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. {7} Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. {8} Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. {9} Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. {10} Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. {13} Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. {14} Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. {15} O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. {16} For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise.
15. (Isaiah 66:2 NKJV) For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
(Isaiah 64:6-7 NKJV) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. {7} And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities.
16. (Psalms 30:10 NKJV) Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!"
(Psalms 5:8 NKJV) Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.
17. (Psalms 19:12-13 NKJV) Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. {13} Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
18. (Psalms 26:2 NKJV) Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
19. (Psalms 119:9-11 NKJV) How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. {10} With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! {11} Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
(2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
20. (Romans 12:12 NKJV) rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
21. (Daniel 6:10 NKJV) Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
22. (Psalms 55:17 NKJV) Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.
(Psalms 119:164 NKJV) Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments.
(Psalms 119:97 NKJV) Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
23. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV) pray without ceasing,
24. (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; {7} and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.