The document discusses developing prayer habits based on Hebrews 4:14-16 and emphasizes the importance of prayer in seeking God's favor and forgiveness. It highlights the concept of 'Shema' from Deuteronomy and includes various scripture references to illustrate prayer practices and the necessity of listening and obeying God's voice. Additionally, it outlines prayer times from biblical examples, stressing the commitment of early Christians to prayer as part of their daily lives.

1. Developing prayer habits
By: Brian Birdow
Sermon text: Hebrews 4:14-16

2. Objective of Lesson
1. To encourage us to pray more.
2. To understand the Shema.
3. To show prayer habits from the
scriptures.

3. Shema
• Deuteronomy 6:4-5 & Matthew 22:34f
• Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our
God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy might.
• Hear (Heb. Shema) - means hear to listen, pay
attention to. Respond, listen and obey.
• Proverbs 20:12 The hearing (Hebrew. Shema) ear,
and the seeing eye,The Lord hath made even both
of them.

4. Shema
• Psalms 27:7 (Shema) Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be
gracious to me and answer me!
• Here the psalmist is asking God to respond or act.
• Genesis 29:33 She (Leah B.B.) conceived again and bore
a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard (Heb.
shema) that I am hated (by her husband Jacob B.B.), He
has given me this son also.” And she called his name
Simeon (shim’on sounds like shema..heard B.B.).
• God heard her and responded to her or answered her.

5. Shema
• Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will
obey (Heb. shema) my voice indeed, and
keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine
own possession from among all peoples:
for all the earth is mine:
• There is no separate word for obey in
Hebrew, listen and obey are two sides of
the same coin!

6. Application
• If we want the favor of God and for Him to hear our prayers
we must be faithful. When we sin we must repent and pray for
forgiveness.
• John 9:31 We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any
man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him He
heareth.
• Acts 8:22-24 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and
pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be
forgiven thee. 23For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness
and in the bond of iniquity. 24And Simon answered and said,
Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye
have spoken come upon me.

7. Prayer Habits
Objective 2

8. Prayer times
• Daniel 6:10 “He continued to go to his house,
which had windows in its upper room open
towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his
knees three times a day to pray to his God
and praise him, just as he had done
previously.”
• Psalms 55:17 Evening and morning and at
noon, I utter my complaint and moan, and he
hears my voice.

10. Prayer times
• Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and the prayers. (ESV)
• Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’
teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and
the prayers. (ASV 1901)
• The NASB 95 puts in the footnotes lit. “the prayers”
• Please note that the text DOES NOT SAY that the
disciples devoted themselves TO PRAYER.

11. Prayer times
✓Acts 2:42- 3:1
✓Acts 10:3
✓Acts 10:3
✓1 Timothy 2