And It's Relation to Evangelism
By Lewis A. Armstrong
December 3, 2003
If you have questions, please contact a preacher at a church
of Christ.
By Lewis A. Armstrong
December 3, 2003
If you have questions, please contact a preacher at a church
of Christ.
Anne Frank’s sentiment:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before
starting to improve the world.”
Could we say?
“How wonderful it is that no Christian need wait a single moment before
starting to save the world.”
Scriptures for Prayer
Matt 6:5-15 Jesus taught His _____________ to pray.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.
I
tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when
you
pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is
unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And
when
you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will
be
heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father
knows
what you need before you ask him. "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. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not
into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men
when
they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But
if
you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your
sins.
Luke 22:42 Jesus pleaded with _______ to take away his
________.
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will,
but yours be done."
Luke 22:44 . He prayed so earnestly that His sweat
became like great drops of __________.
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became
like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Rom 1:9 Paul prayed ____________.
God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his
Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
Rom 12:10-12 We must continue _______________ in prayer.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above
yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer.
1 Cor 14:15 We must pray with ______________.
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray
with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my
mind.
2 Cor 9:14 God’s __________ is involved in
praying.
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because
of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Eph 6:17-18 We are to pray for the _____________.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of
prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on
praying for all
the saints.
Phil 4:6-7 We are ____________ for nothing through prayer.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Col 4:2 Our attitude toward prayer is ______________.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Thess 2:13 Paul prayed _____________ (i.e., all the time).
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word
of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of
men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you
who believe.
1 Thess 5:16-18 We __________ all the time by __________ all
the time.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Tim 2:8 We must pray lifting up holy hands ("holy
hands" denotes being holy and thus righteousness before God), without
__________, without ___________.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or
disputing.
James 1:6-7 Ask in ____________ not _______________.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts
is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man
should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
James 5:16 The righteous man prayer ________ much.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and
effective.
1 Pet. 5:6-7 We humbly cast our ________ upon _______
through prayer.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift
you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for
you.
1 Pet. 3:7 Husbands must act properly toward their
wives
or their prayers will be ___________.
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives,
and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you
of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Pet. 3:12 As righteous individuals, God is
______________ to our prayer.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are
attentive
to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do
evil."
Jude 20-21 We _______ ourselves up and it keeps us in the
________ of God.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and
pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for
the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Is 59:1-2 God ______ _____ ______ our prayers if we are
living
in sin
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too
dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your
God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
I Chron 4:9-10 _________ asked God to _________ him.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him
Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to
the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my
territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I
will be free from pain." And God
granted his request.
Jesus Taught His Disciples to Pray.
Jesus’ words when the disciples ask Him to teach them how to pray.
Luke 11:2-4 He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come Give us each day our daily
bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins
against us. And lead
us not into temptation. ' "
First Let’s Look at Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you: Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will
be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” And Then, John
14:13-14 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name,
I will do it.
Let’s work together to complete responses below for things we might
pray in our own words.
“Father, Hallowed by Your Name”
1._______________________________________________ 2.____________________________________________________
“Your Kingdom Come”
1._______________________________________________ 2.____________________________________________________
“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”
1._______________________________________________ 3.____________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________ 4.____________________________________________________
“Forgive Us Our Sins”
1._______________________________________________ 3.____________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________ 4.____________________________________________________
“For We Also Forgive Everyone Who sins against Us”
1._______________________________________________ 3.____________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________ 4.____________________________________________________
“And Lead Us Not Into Temptation”
1._______________________________________________ 3.____________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________ 4.____________________________________________________
Internet Resources (Posted 11-30-03)
40 Great Prayers of the Bible, http://www.crossties.org/prayer/menu
Be Praying Christians, http://normanmacintyre.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/BePrayingChristians.pdf
Bible Study Guide: Prayer, http://www.biblestudyguide.org/topical/prayer.htm
Healing and Prayer, http://members.datafast.net.au/sggram/f930.htm
History of the Sinners Prayer, http://www.bible.ca/g-sinners-prayer.htm
Prayer, http://www.netbiblestudy.net/worship/lesson_13.htm
Prayer and Providence, http://members.datafast.net.au/sggram/dlist2.htm#PProv
Prayer Luke 11:1, http://www.bible.ca/ntx-prayer.htm
Prayer Matters, http://www.prayermatters.org/
Praying: Acts of Dependence, http://www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/chadwell/2002/010602am.htm
School of Prayer, http://www.calhounchurch.org/sop3.htm
Steadfast in Prayer, http://www.biblestudyresources.com/sermons/topical/church/steadfast_in_prayer.html
Verses About Prayer, http://www.biblestudyguide.org/topical/prayer.htm
For these dead sites, Check in the Internet Archive at Berkeley
at http://www.archive.org/index.php
If praying a prayer of faith (e.g., the sinner's prayer) to
be saved is not in the Bible, where did it come from? http://www.biblestudyguide.org/bible-answers/prayer-faith-where.htm
Prayer of Jabez (6 Sermons),
http://www.athenschurchofchrist.org/Jabez.htm
(1 Chronicles 4:9-10)
Prayer: Questions
Questions adapted from http://www.netbiblestudy.net/worship/lesson_13.htm
(12-3-03)
1) (John 9:31) Whose prayer does God hear?
___ Everyone’s.
___ God’s favorites.
___ The worshipper who does God’s will.
2) God does not hear the prayer of those who don’t do His
will. ____True ____False
3) (Isaiah 59:2) What separates us from God so He does not hear
our prayer?
___ A great distance.
___ Our sins.
___ Time.
4) God will hear and answer all prayers. ____True
____False
5) (Proverbs 28:9) One who will not hear God’s law
___ His prayer is an abomination.
___ God still desires to hear his prayer.
___ Is a friend of God.
6) God looks with disgust at the prayer of one who is not
faithfully following His will. ____True ____False
7) (Matthew 6:5, 7) When we pray we should
___ Try to be seen of men.
___ Not try to be seen of men.
___ Use vain repetitions.
8) We should not try to receive recognition of others when we
pray. ____True ____False
9) (James 1:6-7) When we pray
___ We should try to impress God as to how good we are.
___ God may not hear our prayer even though we are faithful to Him.
___ We should ask in faith, nothing doubting.
10) When we pray we should doubt that God will hear our
prayer. ____True ____False
11) (Mark 11:25-26) When we ask God to forgive us
___ We must be forgiving of others.
___ We do not have to be forgiving of others.
___ We don’t have to mean it.
12) God will forgive us even though we don’t forgive
others. ____True ____False
13) (James 5:17) What type of prayer avails much?
___ A long prayer.
___ A prayer that impresses people.
___ The fervent prayer of a righteous man.
14) If we expect our prayer to avail much, it must be fervent and
we must be righteous. ___True ___ False
15) (1 John 5:14) In our prayers we must
___ Make them sound impressive.
___ Ask according to God’s will.
___ Ask for our own selfish desires.
16) Our prayers must not contradict God’s will. ____True
____False
17) I have prayed often for our minister(s) ____True ____False
18) Before I complain or criticize, I have prayed. ____True
____False
Praying for People
We who are Christians need to be very careful about judging the hearts
and motives of other Christians. We who are Christians need to give
great attention to our own hearts and motives. We who are Christians
must learn to humble ourselves before God now in the full understanding
that whatever we do now, we will without exception bow before God and
Christ in judgment. And as we are on our knees, we will
personally give God an account of our hearts and our behavior.
Praying for those who are lost and for one another.
On one side of the Card
List names of up to ten people you know that you want to come to Christ
1.________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________
These should be people in the community that you know or people with whom you work, but they also may be family, Romans 10:1 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved."
On the other side,
List the names of up to five members of our congregation.
1.________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________
Praying for a person
Then begin praying for the 10 people on
your list every morning and evening. Begin to spend even more
time talking with God about each person as you continue in your periods
of prayer, day after day. You will see a change in yourself as
you make these daily appeals to God. Prayer is the only way that
God will act in our lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray.
There is no question that we may have the armor
of
God Eph 6:10-17, but we are also charged with praying v 18. “And pray
in
the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
saints.” And we are to pray for the minister v.19 “Pray also for
me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will
fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 …… Pray that I may
declare it fearlessly,
as I should.” We should be praying for our minister(s).
We cannot do anything without
God. When we work on a church service project, do we pray?
When we sit down at a church related meeting, do we pray? Before
we left home for the assembly or on a family trip, do we pray?
Pray for those who don't know Jesus.
(These should be local people, but may be family, that you have contact
on a regular basis.)
Introduce them to God. Give a thorough introduction of each
individual. God already knows about them, but wants to hear
you
tell Him about the person.
Tell God how much you love that person.
Pray that God will soften their heart that they would want to hear the
Word and obey it.
Pray for the person’s health and safety, asking God to watch over them.
Pray for members of that person’s family, by name, that they will be
receptive to Christ as well.
Pray for their marriage that they have a sound, faithful relationship.
Pray for their children, by name, that they will do well in school.
Pray for their success in their job or educational endeavors.
Pray for yourself that you will quickly find the opportunity to ask
them to study the Gospel with you.
Pray you will have the courage to discuss Christ with them.
And in addition to praying for them, morning and evening, study the
Word and ask God to give you wisdom.
Each subsequent time that you pray for them, tell God, Remember
_____ ______ that I have introduced to you.
Re-introduce them. He/She is a sweet and kind person.
After you find the person is responsive, give God the thanks and ask
God to continue to give His attention to the person using the
statements similar to those above.
You may want to let the person know that you are praying for them at
some point.
Note Paul’s Admonition: Romans 10:1 1Brothers, my heart's
desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
More Verses for your consideration.
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 19:13
Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands
on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought
them.
Luke 6:28
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
John 17:9
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have
given me, for they are yours.
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know
what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
with groans that words cannot express.
Colossians 1:3
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray
for you,
Colossians 4:3
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that
we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
1 Thessalonians 5:25
Brothers, pray for us.
2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count
you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every
good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread
rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to
live honorably in every way.
Ephesians 6:19
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me
so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Ephesians 6:20
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it
fearlessly, as I should.
Philippians 1:3
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in
knowledge and depth of insight,
Philippians 1:19
for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit
of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my
deliverance.[
1:19 Or salvation]
Colossians 1:3
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray
for you,
Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped
praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his
will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 4:3
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that
we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Colossians 4:4
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends
greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand
firm in all
the will of God, mature and fully assured.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and
supply what is lacking in your faith.
1 Thessalonians 5:25
Brothers, pray for us.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because
your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has
for
each other is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count
you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every
good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
2 Thessalonians 1:12
We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in
you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord
Jesus Christ. [1:12 Or God and Lord, Jesus Christ]
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread
rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
2 Thessalonians 3:2
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not
everyone has faith.
1 Timothy 2:1
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone–
1 Timothy 4:5
because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 5:5
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God
and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
2 Timothy 1:3
I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear
conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
Philemon 1:4
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
Philemon 1:6
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will
have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Philemon 1:22
And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be
restored to you in answer to your prayers.
Conclusion: We should never underestimate the
power of prayer, nor should we fail to pray to God, daily and then much
more then once a day.
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