What is prayer Prayer is the language

What is prayer?

Prayer is the language we speak with God

What is prayer? l Intercession – Latin: intercedo = come in-between l To open up yourself to God l Spiritual contact with God l An experience of faith l Not about your will, but His will l Expressed differently by different people l Essential for conversion, repentance etc.

Why pray? "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible. " l Col. 3: 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. l Is. 55: 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. l Mk. 10: 27

Why do we pray? l Prayer is the key to the heart of God. l Prayer is the key to a personal relationship with God. l We know that He hears and answers all our prayers (1 Jn. 5: 14). l We are confident that God knows and wants what is best for us. l There is nothing we can’t pray about.

What do we pray? l Confessing our sins and accepting His forgiveness (Rom. 3: 23 -26). l For His will to be done in our lives. l For the Holy Spirit to guide us. l To be filled with all the fullness of God. l (Spiritual) understanding & wisdom (Pr. 2: 6 -8, 3: 5). l With thanksgiving for all the ways He blesses us (Philip. 4: 6). l When we are ill, lonely, going through trials or interceding for others (James 5: 14 -16, 2 Cor. 12: 9 -10). l To worship Him (Ps. 95: 6 -7).

How do we learn to pray? l l l l l From what we read in books. From what we study in Bible School. From one another. From trial and error. In times of difficulty & prosperity. In times of need & breakthrough. From the Word. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit. From Jesus’ life. Simply, when we pray.

What prayer does l Prayers fill the bowls in heaven … each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Rev 5: 8). l God heals when we pray: (James 5: 14 -16). l God saves the lost (1 Jn. 5: 16). l God helps people in need (Luke 11: 5 -11). l God heals nations in answer to repentance (2 Chron. 7: 14).

What prayer does l Peace & quiet in the land comes when we pray for those in authority (1 Tim. 2: 1). l God blesses us when we pray: Jabez prayer. (1 Chr. 4: 10. Ask and it will be given to you: Mtt. 7: 7 -8). l Priestly blessing was to lay God’s Name upon others in prayer: Num. 6: 24 -27 = "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. " '

What hinders prayer l l l l God gives 7, 000 promises in the Bible for us to remind Him of. Busy-ness hinders prayer. Sin puts a distance between you and the Lord in prayer. Disappointments can put a distance between you /make you feel seperated from the Lord. Feelings of unworthiness, rejection, failure. Inward focus discourages people to pray. Demonic resistance.

l What does ‘Intercession’ mean? l Latin: l What intercedo = come in-between. is Intercessory Prayer? l Intercessory l What l An prayer is prayer for others. is an intercessor? intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another's case.

l Praise l Worship l Fasting l Prostration l Kneeling l Supplication l Spiritual songs l Hymns l Thanksgiving l Intercessory l Travailing l Listening l Waiting Types of prayer l Nations l Contemplative l Meditative l Silent l Declaration l Proclamation l Command / Authoritive l Protection l Warfare l Prophetic l Apostolic l Lifting hands l Devotional l Faith l Simple l Tabernacle l Promises l Salvation l Confession l Repentance l Our Father l Jesus l Peace of Jerusalem

Types of Prayer l l l Meditate - To think something over and over, to ponder upon it. Contemplate - To consider the ways (Ps. 119: 15) of God and how to make it part of your own life. Remember - To think back about something God did / happened in your own life. Thought about your ways – is to compare your ways to that of God, and how your life should change. Humbling yourself – once you realise where your life falls short of God’s ways, you can humble yourself in all honesty before Him, telling Him all that is in your heart.

Types of Prayer Meditation/Remember/Think about/Contemplate l l Ps. 119: 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. Ps. 55: 1 … A contemplation of David. Ps. 119: 97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Ps. 119: 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. l Ps. 119: 55 I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, and I keep Your law. Ps. 119: 59 I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. l Prayer time focussing on His Word: Ps. 119: 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. – This is how I learn to pray according to His will. l Prayer of humility: 2 Chron. 32: 25 -26 But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favour shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. l

Types of Prayer Silent/Still/Quiet In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. l Is. 30: 15 l There is power in speaking aloud our concerns and delights to God. There is an equal and perhaps even greater, power to silence in prayer. Here we pray in our heart or simply quieten our hearts before God. Silent and waiting prayer goes together.

Types of Prayer Waiting Ps. 27: 14 Wait on the LORD … He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! l Ps. 37: 9 … those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. l Is. 40: 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. l

Types of Prayer Faith But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. l 1 Cor. 12: 9 … to another the gift of faith by the same Spirit… l Level of faith equals your revelation of the Lord! l Heb. 11: 6

Types of Prayer Simple l Ps. 119: 94 I am Yours, save me. l Ps. 23: 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. l Lk. 22: 42 … Not My will, but Yours, be done. l Jn. 3: 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Types of Prayer Jesus prayer(s) l Lk. 18: 13 Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. l Lk. 22: 42 … Not My will, but Yours, be done. l Lk. 11: 2 Our Father prayer. l Jn. 17 Jesus’ prayer to the Father. l Search out the different prayers Jesus prayed and begin to pray them on a regular basis.

Types of Prayer Listening/Obey God’s voice l Dt. 28: 1 … if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, … the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. l Heb. 5: 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Types of Prayer Travailing/Agony/Distress/Cry Lk. 22: 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. l Is. 21: 3 …Pangs have taken hold of me, like the pangs of a woman in labour. I was distressed when I heard it; I was dismayed when I saw it. l Ps. 18: 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. l

Types of Prayer Apostolic Eph. 1: 15 -23 Therefore I … do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints… l Praying the prayers of the apostles for the church, believers and God’s purposes to be established. l

Types of Prayer Prophetic l Is. 60: 1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. l Is. 61: 1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me …. l Is. 52: 6 Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks: 'Behold, it is I. ' "

Types of Prayer Thanksgiving Ps. 136: 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. l Ps. 119: 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments. l It is important to give thanks to God when He answers our prayers, often also to give thanks in faith because we trust that He is going to answer/provide. l

Types of Prayer Intercessory Ezek. 22: 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. l Ps. 106: 30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped. And that was accounted to him for righteousness To all generations forevermore. l Active position in prayer for an issue until a breakthrough manifests. l

Types of Prayer: Fasting l l A nation for one day: Neh. 9: 1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. 40 Days: One man on behalf of a nation: Ex. 34: 28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. 3 Days: One woman on behalf of a nation: Est. 4: 16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" 10 Days waiting upon outpouring of Holy Spirit, in other words, setting yourself aside from any other activities: Act 1: 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. "

Types of Prayer Praise: Song/Out loud/In heart Ps. 138: 1 I will praise You with my whole heart, before the gods I will sing praises to You. l Ps. 111: 1 Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. (3 Levels: l Individual, close friends, larger church). l Ps. 142: 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name, the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me. (Imprisoned soul have difficulty praising God. )

Types of Prayer Worship: Song/Out loud/In heart/Dance l Jn. 4: 23 -24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. "

Types of Prayer Songs/from the heart/Spontaneous Ps. 98: 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. l Ps. 45: 1 A Song of Love. My heart is overflowing with a good theme… l Ps. 96: 1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. l Ps. 118: 14 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. l

Types of Prayer Spiritual songs/Making melody/Psalms l Eph. 5: 19 …speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord l Col. 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Types of Prayer Supplication/Requests/Needs l 1 Ki. 8: 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, … listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today. (Solomon at opening of temple). l 1 Tim. 2: 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men…

Types of Prayer Hymns l These refer to known songs e. g. in a songbook/CD etc. l Eph. 5: 19 …speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Types of Prayer Promises Heb. 8: 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. l 2 Tim. 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. l Jn. 14: 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. l

Types of Prayer Confession that leads to restitution l Admit/telling our wrong doings before/to God. l Neh. 9: 2 Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. l Lev. 5: 5 … when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing

Types of Prayer Repentance This is a place of sincere prayer flowing out in a life style that sets itself away from old patterns. Turn away the other direction. Stop sinning. l Rom. 2: 4 … knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance… l Ezr 9: 5 -6 At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and … fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. … "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. l

Types of Prayer Salvation l Jn. 3: 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. l Jn. 3: 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Types of Prayer Command / Authoritive l Act 16: 18 … Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. " And he came out that very hour. l Mk. 4: 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Types of Prayer Proclamation l l Ex. 33: 19 …I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. 1 Chron. 16: 23 … proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 1 Ki. 21: 9 She wrote in the letters, saying, proclaim a fast… Proclamation is like confession made AGGRESSIVE, releasing the authority of God's Word into a situation.

Types of Prayer Declaration/Decree l l l A decree is an official order, edict or decision, an announcement or formal statement. Declaring e. g. Scripture out loud, word for word, as it is written over circumstances. Ps. 24: 1 The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. Dt. 5: 5 I (Moses) stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. Est. 8: 17 And in every province and city, wherever the king's command decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness… Ps. 2: 7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

Types of Prayer Devotional/Quiet time/Personal Ps. 27: 3 -4 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. l Ps. 109: 4 In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer. l

Types of Prayer Protection Prov. 18: 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Ps. 61: 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. l James 4: 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. l Armour of God: Eph. 6: 10 -24: truth, righteousness, feet with the preparation , shield of faith , helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit, praying always. l

Types of Prayer Warfare Eph. 6: 13 -18 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstanding the evil day, and having done all, to stand… l James 4: 7 -8 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (Means not to give in, not to fight). l

Types of Prayer Blessing l Bless the O my soul! Lord: Ps. 104: 1 Bless the LORD, l Bless others: Num 6: 23 -27 … 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: "The LORD bless you and keep you, …make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; …. lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. " So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.

Types of Prayer Calling on His Name Ps. 118: 10 -12 All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. … They surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. They surrounded me like bees, they were quenched like a fire of thorns; for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. l Ps. 124: 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. l Ps. 116: 13 I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. (Calling on Him is taking up salvation from the enemy and His wrath). l

Types of Prayer Room Idea: Tabernacle Old Testament tabernacle in relation to New Testament symbolism. (Ex. 25 -40, Jn. 14: 6). l Entrance to the Outer Court (also known as the WAY); a) The Brazen Altar – Confession b) The Laver (Basin) - Cleansing l Entrance to the Holy Place (also known as the TRUTH) a) The Lamp stand - Holy Spirit: Baptism, gifts & fruit. b) The Table of Showbread - Communion c) The Golden Altar of Incense - Praise, worship & intercession l Entrance to the Holy of Holies (also known as the LIFE) a) The Veil – Circumcision of the heart b) The Ark contains 3 items: l * Aaron’s staff – new life in Christ * Pot with manna – God’s provision * Stones with Law on it – Jesus carried judgment of law

Types of Prayer Room Idea: Our Father l Excellent prayer model to spend time in prayer during your quiet time, corporate prayer etc. l Enter His gates l Our Father who is in heaven l Hallowed be Your Name l Your kingdom come l Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven l Give us today our daily bread l Forgive our trespasses l As we also have forgiven those who have trespassed against us l Lead us not into temptation l But deliver us from evil, l Yours is the kingdom, And the power and the glory forever, Amen

Types of Prayer Room Idea: Fruit of Holy Spirit l Excellent prayer model to pray for Church to grow and come into right standing with God (Gal. 5). Set up a prayer room with these stations, encouraging people to trust God for their own spiritual growth: l Walk in the Spirit l Love l Joy l Peace l Longsuffering l Kindness l Goodness l Faithfulness l Gentleness l Self-control

Types of Prayer More Prayer Room Ideas Stations can be put up in a prayer room to represent some of the following: l. Holy Spirit gifts to manifest in the church l. Parables of Jesus l. Miracles of Jesus l. Journeys of Paul l. Beatitudes l 5 Fold ministry l. Characteristics of God l. Names of God l. Promises l. Spiritual mapping l. Postures of prayer

Postures of prayer Hands & face: Lifting/Spread/Stretch out l l l l Ps. 88: 9 My eye wastes away because of affliction. LORD, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You. Ex. 9: 29 So Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD's. Ps. 28: 2 Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. Ps. 63: 4 … I will lift up my hands in Your name. Ezek. 9: 6 … I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God Job 10: 15 If I am wicked, … even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. Ps. 3: 3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Postures of prayer Kneeling/Submission/Humbling/Bow/ Show what is in the heart on the outside l Ps. 95: 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. l Php. 2: 10 -11 … at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Postures of prayer Prostration/On your face/Flat l l l Gen. 17: 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him. Num. 16: 4 -5 Moses fell on his face before God at the rebellion of Korah. Num. 22: 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. Jos. 5: 14 Joshua when the Angel of the hosts of the Lord appeared to him. Rev. 1: 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

Types of Intercessors l l l l l List Personal Family Salvation City Israel Government Nations/missions Moral issues l l l l Crisis Finance Warring Prophetic Worship Mercy Travailing Fasting l See notes in printout

Main focuses in prayer l l l l World evangelisation Unity in the body of Christ Workers for the harvest Spiritual leaders Poor and needy The restoration of Israel Revival

Core values to corporate prayer l Enjoyable prayer l Day & Night prayer and worship l Intimacy with God l Inclusivity (all ages & denominations) l Biblical focus