This document provides an overview of prayer basics. It discusses why we should pray, what prayer is, what prayer includes like praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication and intercession. It also covers God's will concerning prayer, whose prayers God will and won't hear, how we should pray, why some prayers feel unanswered, and seeks to explain the importance and purpose of prayer.

2. Prayer
Basics
• Why Pray?
Eph. 6:13,18; 1 Tim.6:12; Lk.11:1; Mt. 6:9-13
• What is prayer?
– “Prayer is the conversational part of the most
important love relationship in our lives... with
God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.”
– It’s a spiritual communion with God --Acts 2:42
– Prayer is as universal as man --Gen. 4:26;
Ps. 65:2

3. Prayer
Basics
• What does prayer include?
– Giving of Praise – Mt. 6:9
– Giving of Thanks – Eph. 5:20; 1 Thes. 5:17-18
– Confession of Our Sins – 1 Jn. 1:9; Acts 8:22
– Supplication “a petition, to ask, a request to call
to one’s aid” – Phil. 4:6-7; Lk. 22:40-44
– Intercession “begging on behalf of others”
-- Rom. 15:30-31; Lk. 23:34; Eph. 6:18-19

4. Prayer
Basics
• What is God’s will concerning prayer?
– God wants our life to be filled with prayer!
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
– “Always… and never give up” your life of
prayer -- Luke 18:1-7
– “For all men… everywhere” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 8

5. Prayer
Basics
• Whose prayer will God not hear?
– He will not hear those who turn away from His
law… Proverbs 28:9
– He will not hear those who have wickedness in
their hearts… Psalm 66:18
– He will not hear the prayer of the proud…
Job 35:12; 1 Peter 5:5
– He will not hear sinners… John 9:31

6. Prayer
Basics
• Whose prayer will God hear?
– He will hear the prayers of those who worship
Him. John 9:31; Mt. 7:21
– He will hear the prayer of the humble. Ps. 9:12
– He will hear the prayer of the righteous.1 Pet. 3:12
– He will hear the prayers of those who keep His
commandments. 1 John 3:22

7. Prayer
Basics
• How then should we pray?
– We should pray in the spirit of forgiveness.
Mark 11:25
– We should pray in faith. James 1:6
– We must pray in harmony with God’s will. 1 Jn.5:14
– We must pray in the “name of” Christ. Col. 3:17
– We must pray in the spirit of sincerity. Mt. 6:5

8. Prayer
Basics
• Why then do we feel some prayers go
“unanswered”? Many prayers go “Unfinished”!
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Pray for health - obey laws of health. 1 Cor. 3:17
Pray for sick – must help them get well. Jas. 5:14
Pray for the bereaved – must comfort them.1Thes.5:14
Pray for wisdom – then must study. Jas. 1:5
Pray for Spir. Growth – must take Spir. Food. 1 Pet.2:2
Pray for salvation of sinners – seek & study. Ac. 20:20
Pray for unity of the church – work for it. Eph. 4:3
Pray for church growth – be a faithful member.
Heb. 10:25-26

9. Answer Jesus’
call to save you!
• Only those abiding in God’s will are heard
by God. John 9:31
• Sinners God does not hear.
• We must obey someone to stop sinning!
Who? Hebrews 5:9
• The Gospel plan of salvation says to…
•
•
•
•
Believe the gospel – Romans 10:9;1 Cor. 15:3-4
Repent - Acts 2:38
Confess – Acts 8:37
Be Baptized – Acts 22:16

10. Seeking the Why of Prayer

11. Prayer is Understandable
• Elijah was a man of prayer – Jas. 5:16-17
– We can relate to him, had was like we are…
• Many have misconceptions about prayer.
– Superstitious, magic, to be selfish, to hurt others, to
tell God what to do, etc.
• Prayer is not just a religious duty. Mt. 6:7
• Prayer is Vital! Luke 18:1
• Prayer was key to Jesus’ life! Mark 6:46

12. Prayer is Learnable
• Jesus disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to
pray, as John also taught his disciples,” then He
taught them… Luke 11:1-4
• In John chapters 14 -17 Jesus says some
things over and over to teach us what is really
important concerning our prayer life.
• Jesus teaches us four things that reveal to us
why we pray.

13. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Dedication! John 15:4-8
• Are you dedicated to God in prayer? Acts 2:42
• Prayer is a type of Spiritual life support
system.
• We are abiding in Him because His words are
truly abiding in us when we pray as He
instructs us to.
• When we are faithful in this we have life in “the
vine” - Jesus.
– “Continue steadfastly in prayer” Col. 4:2

14. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Communication! John 15:15-16
– Communication is a wonderful things if that is what
you are really doing. Luke 18:9-ff
– We cannot truly communicate with someone unless
we know what our relationship is with them.
1 Peter 3:12; John 9:31; Psalm 32:6
• Sometimes we don’t pray because we don’t
understand what a great privilege it is to pray to
God. Psalm 144:3

15. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Supplication! Philippians 4:6
•
We should pray seeking God’s help and grace!
1 Peter 5:6-7; Hebrews 4:16
•
God knows our needs etc. but requires we A.S.K.
anyway! Matt.7:7-12; Jn.16:22-24
•
Why don’t we have? Why do we lack? James
4:2; Psalm 145:19; 37:4; 84:11

16. Why We Pray
• Because Prayer Is An Act of
Cooperation!
• Team up with God… John 14:11-15
– God’s plan has always been that we
cooperate with His plan to bring about His
will in this world. 1 John 5:14
– Matthew 6:10 “…Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven”
– Do you do God’s will on earth?

17. We Should Pray
• Because we know that God delights to answer
• Because it’s of the most important things we
can do as a Christian… Ephesians 6:18
• This church should pray because a praying
church is a holy, devoted, committed, sensitive,
enthusiastic, happy church!
• Are we a church of prayer? Commit to it!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18