Beth-El Baptist Church

02/15/2009

Greg Tomlinson


What is the primary purpose of prayer?


When difficulties in life happen, people often tell people to turn to prayer. When stressed with the fear of impending death, people often turn to prayer. Beth-El Baptist church has a dedicated time of prayer on Wednesday. Often prayer is taking place without evaluating its purpose, its definition, nor its actual usefulness.


  1. What is prayer?

Luke 1:11-47 Acts 10:30-31

James 5:13-15 Genesis 20:6-8, 17-18

Exodus 33:12-14 Numbers 11:1-2; 21:7-9; 22:18-20

Deuteronomy 9:18-29


The ideas that surround prayer is truly multifaceted. It often consists of the placing of a desire before the one who can fulfill it. We generally view God as the fulfiller. It often consists of a prophetic intervention before God on behalf of another. In its most general sense, prayer is talking to God, about anything. Moses talked about his desires, struggles, status of the people Israel. Prayer often consists of the every day needs of life. One part of prayer that people often forget, is the opportunity to listen to what God has to say. We often spend so much time talking, that we forget to listen to God.


  1. Why should a person pray?

Judged 6:36-40 Judges 16:28-30

1 Samuel 1:10-11, 26-2:10; 7:3-6; 8:5-8; 12:20-25

2 Samuel 7:25-29 1 Kings 8:26-28, 29-34, 35-53

2 Kings 4:32-35; 6:15-18; 19:1-6, 15-19; 20:1-5

1 Chronicles 21:17-20 Nehemiah 1:4-11; 2:3-5; 4:8-9

Matthew 17:21; 19:13-15; 26:41 Acts 1:24-26


There are many reasons to pray. People pray to seek to understand the choices that are before them. They pray to receive something from God that they can receive no other way. Prayer is made to confess sins to God. Prayer is made to intervene on man's behalf to God so that God will not destroy them. Prayer is made to give thanks to God for the great blessings that God has given. Prayer is made to seek forgiveness for sins. Prayer is made so that truth is revealed and God is honored and glorified. Prayer is the conduit for something great to happen. Prayer is used to impart a blessing on another. Prayer is made to be strengthened in the midst of difficulties.


Job 42:8 Matthew 9:38; 14:23; 21:13

Luke 6:12; 9:28-29


One of the greatest reasons for prayer is that God asks us to pray. Pray because Jesus asks us to. Pray because Jesus modeled prayer for us, he prayed. Prayer is so important that God's house is to be called a house of prayer. It is to be a primary focus of what is occurring in His house.


  1. What does prayer in reality accomplish for the one praying?

Job 21:12-17 Psalm 5:1-12; 6:1-10; 17:1-15; 32:1-11; 54:1-7

Psalm 55:1-23; 66:1-8


Prayer acknowledges the supremacy of God. Therefore, the one praying is forced to recognize his humility and his inability to do anything because he is dependent upon God to do what no one else is capable of doing. Prayer changes the one praying. His prayer may begin as a complaint about the way live is occurring. There is often a sense of helplessness and futility but in the end, the one praying able to give praise to God because God is just and perfect and righteous. Prayer then acknowledges the supremacy of God and that God is always right. The best way to understand the ideals behind prayer is to read the Psalms for many of them are prayers.


Matthew 5:43-45


Prayer identifies who you are. When you pray, you are recognizing the supremacy of God and identifying yourself as a child of God who is dependent upon Him.


  1. What are some guidelines for praying?

Matthew 6:5-8; 21:22 Mark 11:24-26

Luke 18:1-8; 9-14 Romans 8:26-28

Philippians 4:6-7 1 Peter 3:7-10


Prayer is to be made not for public show but to express your heart's desire to God. Pray believing. Pray to forgive and for forgiveness. Pray continually. Pray with humble submission to God. Pray, knowing that the Holy Spirit purifies our prayers unto perfection. Pray for everything knowing that peace will be one of the ultimate results. Pray with a life of honor toward your spouse.


James 4:3 1 John 5:14-15


Of great importance is that our prayers not be focused upon us but upon God's will and desire. When we pray according to the will of God, we will be heard and they will not be focused on our lusts but on God's will and desire.


Summary:


There are many good and valid reasons to pray unto God. The most fundamental or primary appears to be to truly humble yourself before God recognizing His supremacy and your inadequacy. It is by recognizing this relationship, that the one praying will be able to be comforted, receive what is being prayed for, willing to place all concerns upon God. By recognizing that prayer is very much about acknowledging God's sovereignty and man's dependency, we willingly submit ourselves to His will and recognize that everything that we have comes from God.