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Theology of prayer

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Jan 21, 2014.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    One thing I notice at church, on FB, and in society is the way many Christians pray. I also do this at times so I am not innocent and am guilty like the rest, but it seems as if prayer these days is always focused on the self and healing our wounds, getting what we want, and such. Very few pray as if they are Slaves of God. The Bible makes it clear that we are Slaves of God, and its not our will but His will. Jesus himself prayed the following in Matt 6:9-13



    Do you pray this way? Charles Stanley wrote a book on prayer which I read in 2011 but can't remember all the details which I may need to check out again. From what I remember the book condemned the self-help and self-gratification focused prayers of today. While there is no harm to praying for ones business to succeed, praying for healing, praying to get a new car and such, biblically speaking our prayers should be God centered, which may be something like.

    So what say you on this topic? Lots and lots of books out there, but I only have the one by Stanley.
     
  2. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    pray without ceasing
     
  3. Archie the Preacher

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    Prayer?

    John 15:15. If it makes you feel better, I guess you can call yourself a slave. That's not what he told me.

    The passage you cite in Matthew 6 is a 'model' prayer. I've never had the idea Jesus expected us to merely repeat those words and call it good. It is a model.

    We are to praise God, surrender our will, ask for our needs and dedicate our selves to live as He wants. Jesus also has other comments on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount.

    Paul suggests constantly praying and being in the attitude of prayer constantly; he also suggests the Holy Spirit 'corrects' our prayers, because we likely don't do it right. Paul asks for intercessory (another word not in scripture but identified by concept) prayer for him and his companions in their ministry.

    By tradition, I was taught to pray "...in Jesus' name" but I cannot find a direct connection to a specific statement in Scripture. (Be happy to hear from anyone who knows.)
     
  4. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    I always ask for God to heal the sick, save the lost, feed those who are w/o food, bless our soldiers, take care of the hospitals, shut-ins, etc. But I ask these to be accord with His will.
     
  5. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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    I've always attributed that statement to Jesus when He said, "If you ask anything in my name..."
     
  6. Archie the Preacher

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    Sapper, I couldn't think of that, but it is most logical. (It is far more defensible than "My Daddy said so!")

    Thanks.
     
  7. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    An excellent example. Thank you brother for giving me some ideas on praying..
     
  8. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    You're welcome, Brother.
     
  9. salzer mtn

    salzer mtn Well-Known Member

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    Is there a specific scripture in the bible that say's to pray for the lost ?
     
  10. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    I think it's the model prayer because the elements of it are in sequential order of how we should construct the majority of our prayers (There are some "emergency" prayers or quick prayers or prayers before we sleep or eat that we pray that can't be so inclusive.)

    [1] I think, if possible, we need to open with praise and specifically name God's attributes that we are grateful for. I can barely pray without thanking Him for His holiness, mercy, and grace. I acknowledge His sovereignty in all things.

    [2] I try to ask Him to go with me through the day, night, event, or whatever that I'm in or is coming up. "Daily bread" so to speak.

    [3] I confess the sins I know of and ask Him to show me the ones I'm ignorant of and the things that maybe I'm not aware of that are hindering me as a Christian. Many times, I've asked God to stop my mouth before it opens and I've asked for an extra measure of His conviction when I'm going to be around people that make me want to OPEN my mouth in criticism or bitterness.

    [4] I petition blanketly for missionaries: [a] for their protection and for God to make them fruitful beyond their comprehension. Yes, I believe blanket prayers are fine.

    [5] I try to listen to God throughout the day because He always brings specific people to my mind to pray for. Sometimes I don't know the need is, but their name comes so heavily or out-of-the-blue that I know they need prayer. Yes, I believe praying for people by NAME is very important.

    [6] I do not take that "deliver us from evil" lightly at all!! I say that in just about every pray I pray - either for others, my family, my co-workers, or myself. I don't know what evil others are facing, but I know this - evil is everywhere and everyone I know is facing SOME form of it on a daily basis.

    [7] I also pray that strongholds in the hearts, minds, and bodies of specific others that I pray for be bound and that the Holy Spirit will work a cleansing in them. I have prayed that for specific people, families, and yes - nations.

    That's the gist of my larger prayers. There's more sometimes or less if time constrains, but I think the model prayer has much for us to learn from.
     
  11. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    I've never found an explicit command to do so.

    However, in the model prayer, "Thy Kingdom come" is a plea for God's kingdom to continue to expand which would be people repenting of their own kingdoms and the kingdoms of this world and entering into the life and authority of the Kingdom of God.
     
  12. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Paul prayed for lost people.

    ”Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10:1).
     
  13. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    Aren't we to pray for everyone? If so, that would be the lost, too.
     
  14. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
     
  15. JamesL

    JamesL Well-Known Member
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    One thing I rarely hear when people talk about how to pray, is the most important aspect of a proper prayer - All To The Glory Of God

    Some of the following scriptures are not in the context of prayer, but I believe they still apply, as far as to what we should seek in our prayers

    Isaiah 48:11
    For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.

    Numbers 14:11-17
    The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me?....I will smite them....But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land....then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say, ‘Because the Lord could not bring this people into the land....But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared

    Jeremiah 33:8-9
    I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me. It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.

    Luke 17:12-19
    ....ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

    John 12:27-28
    “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

    Luke 5:24-26
    ...."I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

    Romans 15:5-6
    Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


    When we pray, the end result that we should look for is not that the thing comes to pass, or not only that it was something which God wanted to do.

    The result we should hope for is that God is glorified.

    I find myself praying "That through this, someone might come to know what a great and mighty God we serve. That someone will shout from the rooftops to the glory of God."

    Do all things to the glory of God
     
  16. salzer mtn

    salzer mtn Well-Known Member

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    It is also worth mentioning the style that some church people pray. I have seen and heard groups in church pray at an altar crying out to God in a most demanding way as if they are going to make God do something. I've heard preachers hack in their prayers as if they were preaching.
     
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