Prayer

What we believe about prayer

  • What is prayer? Matthew 7:7-8
  • Who should pray? Hebrews 4:16
  • Why pray? John 12:28
  • Why pray with others? Romans 15:10
  • How can prayer be hindered? Psalm 66:18
  • Does God answer all prayers? 1 John 5:14-15

PRAYER is the communication of the believer with God that includes the following:

  • PRAISE - Psalm 118:28
  • THANKSGIVING - Philippians 4:6; I Thessalonians 5:18
  • CONFESSION - Ezra 9:5-8; Nehemiah 1:6-8
  • PETITION - Philippians 4:6-7; I John 5:14-15

With PRAYER we:

  • Affirm our dependency on God and that we have direct access to God through the work of Jesus Christ - Ephesians 2:18
  • Realize it is essential for our spiritual development and are commanded to pray at all times - Luke 18:1
  • Acknowledge that our ministry must flow out of our PRAYER life

God answers PRAYER when we:

  • Pray in Jesus' name - John 14:13-14; 16:24
  • Pray according to His will - I John 5:14-15
  • Pray with faith - Mark 11:20-24; Hebrews 11:16
  • Abide in Him and His word abides in us - John 15:7-8
  • Pray with humility - II Chronicles 7:14

PRAYER is hindered by:

  • Sin that we do not confess and forsake - Psalm 66:18
  • An unforgiving spirit - Matthew 6:14-15
  • A wrong relationship between husband and wife - I Peter 3:7
  • Lack of faith - Matthew 17:14-21

PRAYER brings the following results:

  • Joy - John 16:24
  • Peaceable life - I Timothy 2:1-2
  • Healing - James 5:14-20
  • Resisting temptation - Matthew 26:41
  • Protection - II Thessalonians 3:1-3
  • Evangelism - Matthew 9:36-38
  • Wisdom - James 1:6-8
  • Salvation - Romans 10:1
  • Love - Philippians 1:9-11
  • Peace of mind and heart - Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7

Private and group PRAYER must be first priority in all ministries.

  • It is the responsibility of a local church (regardless of its size) to practice corporate prayer - Acts 2:41-42
  • The church began with 120 people in a prayer meeting - Acts 1:12-15
  • There were several occasions in early church history when group prayer took place (both small and large groups) for:

    (a) Wisdom - Acts 1:23-26
    (b) Boldness in persecution - Acts 4:23-31
    (c) Freedom to worship - I Timothy 2:1-2
    (d) Protection - Acts 12:5,12
    (e) Food - Acts 27:35-36
    (f) Encouragement - Acts 20:36-38