4. Prayer
Cast all your anxiety onto Jesus because he cares for you.

In Your Bible Read This
nz03/zLuka10.htm#38">Luke 10.38 to nz03/zLuka11.htm#1">Luke 11.28

Here Is Your Memory Verse
Jesus said, "Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones,
who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly" ~ nz03/zLuka18.htm#7">Luke 18.7-8.

Meditate On This Passage
nz19/zKolos04.htm#2">Colossians 4.2-4

Spend a Minute to Change the World
Pray for Guatemala - Praise God for huge Christian growth
Up to 45% believers in the cities, many rural unreached peoples

Jesus never prayed tired, old prayers which were repeated time and again. The disciples noticed just how effective, alive and relevant the prayers of Jesus were. What is more, they saw answers, often before their eyes, which would have been unusual in old Judaism. But strangely only one disciple dared to ask in nz03/zLuka11.htm#1">Luke 11.1 ~

"Teach Us How To Pray."
Have you ever noticed that when you decide to pray, a conspiracy of the world, the flesh and the devil does all it can to distract you? You feel restless, or hungry, sleepy or you suddenly think of lots of things you must do.

A. What Is Prayer?

Prayer is many things to many people. It is everything from conversation to hard physical and spiritual work. In nz03/zLuka11.htm#9">Luke 11.9-10 there are three levels of prayer ~

Level 1 Is Very Simple - Ask.
Ask - for what you want, although your Father knows exactly what you need before you speak to him. Be like children who are experts in this! Read vz10/z2Tsar05.htm#17">2 Samuel 5.17-25 to see how David found out what to do by enquiring of God. Knowing God's mind leads step by step to the great security of nz09/z1Ioan03.htm#21">1 John 3.21-22. On the other hand, read vz06/zIisNa09.htm">Joshua ch. 9, especially verse 14 to see the folly of not asking the Lord.

Level 2 Is Really Beautiful - Seek.
Seek - is simply seeking Jesus, just for who he is. Enjoy spending lots of time alone with him, telling him everything, listening to him, without bringing him all those requests and shopping lists.

Level 3 Changes The World - Knock.
Knock - on the door of the head of the Church. You will hear Jesus say, "Come in." He invites you and all believers to join him in prayer because "he ever lives to intercede," praying for a world of lost people. Joining in his prayers is the real intercession, often the work of hours or even days. nz26/zEvrea07.htm#24">Heb. 7.24-25

1. What are the three levels of prayer?
Asking, Begging, Pleading.
Asking, Communion, Intercession.
Asking, Bargaining, Commanding.

B. Why Pray?

There are many reasons, not least a two-way conversation between your Father and you his child as you grow up. However, with the insight given by Jesus nz03/zLuka11.htm#21">Luke 11.21-22 we all will find some very compelling reasons for prayer.

• The strong man represents Satan.
• His house is the earth and his well-guarded possessions are people.
• The one who is stronger is Jesus.
• We are in him and seated with him: nz17/zEfesi01.htm#23">Eph. 1.23; nz17/zEfesi02.htm#6">2.6
• The spoils are all the people who are rescued through prayer. Your family, and neighbours and even people you pray for far away.

2. One kind of prayer is two-way conversation, planning strategy with Jesus to rescue people from Satan.
True / False.

C. Who Should Pray?

In nz03/zLuka18.htm#1">Luke 18.1, Jesus tells his followers, men and women, boys and girls, that they should always pray and not give up. Prayer is a powerful ministry open to every believer, young and old alike.

3. What kind of people should pray?
Old men who have beards, or women in black robes.
Everyone: boys and girls, men and women.
Only people who have no sin in their heart.

D. Where Should We Pray?

In Bible days people still travelled to pray in the Temple or in the small Jewish meeting places. The Bible says that today your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so you can pray anywhere, anytime at all, and in any way ~ kneeling, walking, working, cycling, sitting, even lying down.

4. We must be in church, kneel, bow our heads and close our eyes to pray.
True / False.

E. When Should We Pray?

Jesus says we can pray 'always,' and Paul said, 'on all occasions.' Day or night, at any moment as discipline demands or as our heart prompts, we can easily pray. Jesus tells us to persevere in prayer, and Paul says to pray in the Spirit with all kinds of prayer and requests, from the most silent to the most passionate.

5. When is the right time to pray?
Three times a day: before each meal.
When I am in trouble and don't know the way out.
Anytime, always and on all occasions.

F. How Should We Pray?

Jesus said in nz03/zLuka11.htm#2">Luke 11.2-4 that THIS is how you should pray. These words were never meant to be repeated again and again without thinking or passion as they are in so many churches, but they should be prayed from both the heart and the mind.

6. What is the way we should pray?
Repeat the Lord's prayer 20 times.
From our heart and mind, following the topics he gave us in the Lord's Prayer.
'Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.'

Begin By Speaking To Our Father

Remember that our Father is a perfect, loving and caring Father, not like so many of our earthly fathers.

 

Hallow And Bless His Name

Take time to worship and appreciate him, before saying anything else. Tell God how much you love him and thank him for his love for you and for your family and nation: nz04/zIoann04.htm#23">John 4.23.

 

Ask For His Kingdom To Come

A kingdom is where a king rules, so ask for God's rule to come where it is needed in your own life and mind, in the family and in the nation.

 

Ask For His Will To Be Done

Against unrighteous events in society.

 

Ask For Your Daily Bread

The Father is very willing to provide for us.

 

Ask God To Forgive Your Sins

Let Jesus' blood cleanse from every sin.

 

And now that you are forgiven
Forgiving others is the condition for receiving our own forgiveness.

 

Lead Us Not - But Lead You Where?

Ask for God's guidance for your life.

 

Ask God To Deliver You From Evil

That lurks deep in you, in the family, and in such things as drugs and wars.

 

Praise Him For His Kingdom And Glory.

A lovely opportunity for more worship, praise and words of faith. See how when you pray like this time flies by.

Match these words with the definitions shown below:
A. Adoration,   B. Watchfulness,   C. Confession,   D. Divine guidance.

7. Asking God to fill and lead us by the Holy Spirit each day.
A, B, C, D.

8. Worshipping God and telling him how much we love him.
A, B, C, D.

9. Being alert so that we don't fall into temptation.
A, B, C, D.

10. Searching our heart for any sin, and asking God to forgive us.
A, B, C, D.

Finally, here is a powerful prayer secret.
Jesus finishes his teaching on prayer in nz03/zLuka11.htm#13">Luke 11.13 by telling us how willing the Father is to give us the Holy Spirit. So always invite the Holy Spirit to lead every time of prayer, alone or together and see how he draws prayer from your heart and lips. Hours will fly by like minutes. nz03/zLuka11.htm#5">Luke 11.5-8; nz17/zEfesi06.htm#18">Eph. 6.18.

Something To Do Before Next Time
Ladies often have a powerful, anointed ministry in prayer.
Perhaps they are more sensitive than men? Do you think you could
persuade say two or three sisters to meet together each week to intercede
for all the students as you learn together?

Written Diploma Work
Discover how Jesus prayed by searching the gospels and nz26/zEvrea05.htm#7">Hebrews 5.7.
Write down your findings on one side of paper (three of these windows).