Different types of Prayer

1. Differentkindsof Prayer – 204th
March 2017
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in
mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”(Ephesians 6:18).
The Bible revealsmanytypesof prayersandemploysavarietyof wordstodescribe the practice. We can
see in1 Timothy2:1, “I urge,then, first of all,that petitions,prayers,intercessionand thanksgivingbe
made for all people…” We can observe that all fourof the mainGreekwordsusedforprayer are
mentionedinone verse. We canalsoread of what he says inJames 5:13, “Is anyoneamongyou in
trouble?Let them pray. Is anyone happy?Let them singsongsofpraise. “We wishto discuss the main
typesof prayersas statedin the Bible:
The prayer of Faith: In thiscontext,prayerisofferedinfaithforsomeonewhoissick,we prayand
requestGodto heal.We can learnfrom James5:15, “And the prayer offered infaith will make the sick
person well;the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned,they will be forgiven.”Our prayersof
Faith,requiresthatwe steadfastly believe inthe powerandgoodnessof God.We needtobelieveand
have faiththat our lovingfatherwouldgrantourprayer.We can getan understandingin Mark9:20-23,
“Sothey broughthim.Whenthe spiritsaw Jesus,it immediatelythrew the boyinto a convulsion.He
fell to the groundand rolledaround,foamingatthe mouth.21
Jesusaskedthe boy’s father, “How long
has he been like this?”“Fromchildhood,” heanswered. 22
“Ithasoften thrown himinto fire or water to
kill him. But ifyou can do anything,take pityon us andhelp us.”23
“‘Ifyoucan’?” saidJesus.
“Everythingis possibleforone who believes.” Ourprayer of faithdoesnot involve “If youcan…”We
needtobelieve “YesHe will…”
The prayer of Agreement(alsoknown as corporate prayer): This isa fellowshipof believers. The Prayer
of agreementiswhentwoormore Christiansagree topray aboutthe same thing -accordingto God's
word- together.Theystand or holdto whattheyagreedon,until theysee ananswermanifesttotheir
agreementaccordingtoGod's wordand will. Aside fromthe prayerof salvation,the prayerof
agreementisthe mostpowerful prayerthatcanbe prayed.Butit isalsoone of the most misused
teachingsinthe Kingdomof God.We can learnfrom Matthew 18:18-20, “Truly I tell you,whatever you
bindon earth will be boundinheaven, andwhatever youloose on earth will be loosedin
heaven.19
“Again,trulyItell you that iftwo of you on earth agree about anythingtheyask for, it will
be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20
For where two or three gather inmy name, there amI
with them.”
Therefore we canlearnthat whenwe jointogetherandprayinagreement,itisa keyelementin
Christianfaith.We can learnthatafterJesus’ascension,the disciples“all joinedtogetherconstantlyin
prayer”as we readin Acts 1:14, “They all joinedtogether constantlyin prayer, alongwith the women
and Marythe mother of Jesus,and withhis brothers.” Later,after Pentecost,the earlychurch“devoted
themselves”topray togetheraswe learnfrom Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’
teachingand to fellowship,tothe breakingof bread and to prayer.” Theirexample encouragesusto
pray withothers.
The prayer of Request(or supplication):A prayerof supplication istorequesthumblyandearnestly
fromGod. We are askingGodin our ownwordsfor whatwe needor desire.The prayerof supplicationis
generallyarequestfromthe personpraying…hisorherfamily,friendsandself. ItisintercedingwithGod
for our family,ourfriends,and eventhe world. Itrefersmosttothe attitude of our prayer because we

2. are to take our requeststo God.We can learnfrom Philippians4:6, “Donot be anxiousaboutanything,
but in every situation,byprayer andpetition,with thanksgiving,presentyourrequests to God.”
The prayer of Thanksgiving:Prayersof thanksgivingare proclaimedthroughoutthe Bible.In 1
Chronicles16:7-36, we are shownthroughDavid’ssongan excellentexampleof fourelementsincluded
intrue thanksgiving:First - RememberingwhatGodhasdone for us.Second - Tellingotheraboutit.
Third- ShowingGod’sgloryto others.Fourth - Offeringgiftsof ourselves,ourtime,andourresources.
As Christianswe needtorememberwhatGodhas done forus. Most importantlywe mustremember
that He diestosavesus fromsinand resultingeternaldamnation.We needtotell othersaboutitsothat
we can showthemGods glory.Withthisin mindalways,we needtobe a serve Himto the verybestof
our ability.We getanunderstandingfrom Philippians4:5“Let your gentleness be evident to all.The
Lord is near.” Many examplesof thanksgivingprayerscanbe foundinthe Psalms.
The prayer of Worship:The prayer of worshipissimilartothe prayerof thanksgiving.The difference is
that worshipfocusesonwhoGodis; thanksgivingfocusesonwhatGodhas done. Prayerallowsusdirect
communicationwithGod.Whenwe pray,we are basicallyhavingaconversationwithHim.There isno
rightor wrongwayto pray, nor are there universal phrasesorrequirements.Prayerisaprivilegegiven
by God that allowsustobuilda relationshipwithHim.Worship,onthe same token,isreveringGod.
While prayerisa way of speakingwithGodandgivingrequestsandsupplication,worshipisahumbling
of ourspiritto give Godglory forwhat He has done and will do…God deservespraiseanddesiresour
praise;justas He lovesus,He wantsto know that we love Him, andwe can dothisby worshipingHim.
Both of Praise andworship are necessitiesforbuildingourrelationshipwiththe Lord,soit isimportant
to understandthe conceptsandhowto pray and worship “Isanyoneamongyouin trouble?Let them
pray. Is anyonehappy? Let them singsongsof praise.”(James5:13).
The Prayer of Consecration:The wordConsecrationmeansdedicatedtoasacred purpose.Prayerof
Consecrationis the voluntarysetdedicationof one'sself toGod,an offeringdefinitelymade,andmade
withoutanyreservationwhatever.Itisthe settingapartof all we are, all we have,andall we expectto
have or be,to God firstof all.Itis a separationof one's self toGod,a devotementof all thathe is and
has to a sacred use.Consecrationhasasacred nature.Itis devotedtoholyends.Itisthe voluntary
puttingof one'sself inGod's handsto be usedsacredly,holily,withsanctifyingendsinview. Powerof
the prayerof consecrationanddedication,istofullysurrenderour livesoverto God. 1 Corinthians
6:19-20 “Do younot know that your bodiesare temples of the Holy Spirit,who is inyou, whomyou
have received from God?Youare not yourown; 20
you were boughtat a price. Therefore honor God
with your bodies.”
The prayer of Intercession:Quite simply,intercessoryprayeristhe act of prayingon behalf of others.
JesusChristispicturedinthe NewTestamentasthe ultimate intercessor,andbecause of this,all
Christianprayerbecomesintercessionsince itisofferedtoGodthroughand by Christ.Jesus’sacrificeto
save us closedthe gapbetweenusandGod whenHe diedonthe cross.Because of Jesus’mediation,we
can now intercede inprayeronbehalf of otherChristiansorforthe lost,askingGodto grant their
requestsaccordingtoHis will. Manytimes,ourprayersinclude requestsforothersaswe intercede for
them.We are toldto make intercession“foreveryone” aswe can learnfrom 1 Timothy 2:1,“I urge,
then, firstof all,that petitions,prayers, intercessionandthanksgivingbemade for all people.”