• Assurance of
  • Answered Prayer

Memory Verse

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will received, and your joy will be complete"

  • John 16:24

What is Prayer?

+++We discussed that prayer is entering God's powerful presence, a place of refuge, and that prayer is one of the main ways we build our personal relationship with God (but remember, God is God, a.k.a. He's not just our friend; He is sovereign and all-mighty!

+++We also discussed that prayer is a form of worship that we can do daily, and multiple times a day. Unlike a Liturgical service, which if offered 1 or 2 times a week, we can pray any day at any time!

  • —After reading

John 16:23 & Matthew 28:19

, we decided that we start and end our prayers in the name of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), pray In Jesus Christ's name, and that we direct our prayers to the Holy Trinity. Most times we pray to God the Father, sometimes to Jesus Himself, and sometimes to the Holy Spirit. Either way, we are praying to God all the same!

+++We then discussed intercessory prayers in a few steps

  • We read

James 5:16

, and used it recognize that we should be praying for each other, and that the prayer of the righteous is powerful.

  • We then read
  • Revelation 6:9-10
  • and

Rev 8:4

to see that prayers and petitions of the Saints, or holy people, exist, and that they are

pleasing to God.

We then confirmed that the Saint are alive by reading

  • Matthew 22:31-32

, and we saw that God is the God of the living, not the dead.

***We made an important distinction as well;

we do not worship saints; we honor them. Worship and praise are for God/Christ only.

  • Intercessory Prayer Graphic

"Until now you have not asked anything in my name"

  • +++We discussed that Christ promises in
  • Matthew 7:7-8

that He will answer our prayers...BUT, what type of prayers?

  • —Looking at

Matthew 6:10,

part of the Lord's prayer, "Let Your will be done", we decided that our prayers should be in accordance with God's good (perfect!) will.

  • Conditions of Answered Prayer
  • John 15:7
  • >>> Abiding in Christ
  • Matthew 7:9-11
  • >>> According to God's good will

James 4:3

>>> Not asking with bad motives: Self-doubt/lack of faith, lust, greed, gluttony, pride, rushed prayer (honor your time with God!)

  • "Ask and you will receive"

+++We then discussed that God answers prayers in ways we never even thought of!

  • Jeremiah 33:3 &
  • Ephesians 3:20
  • >>> Reminder of God's
  • omniscience
  • from
Week 1 (Isaiah 55:8-9)

"Your Joy will be complete"

+++Finally, we discussed what our prayer should look like, and what it should do for our spirit.

Philippians 4:6-7

>>> Give thanks and praise in your prayer, no matter what your situation is! Don't be anxious!

-"Peace of God" will be in your life from doing this!

  • Philippians 4:7
  • Psalm 66:18
  • >>> Remember to humble yourself and
  • admit your need for God's grace
  • ACTS
  • doration
  • - Praise God for His love, power, and majesty
  • onfession
  • - Admit your sins and shortcomings to God
  • hanksgiving
  • - Tell God you are grateful for everything

upplication

- Make specific requests, both for others, and yourself, intercessory prayers, ask for God to give you strength

  • This Week's Study
  • Read

1 Kings 2:13-21

. How does this short passage relate to what we learned about intercessory prayers?

  • —Read the parable of the
  • Persistent Widow
  • to see Christ

instruct us to always remain in prayer.

  • Luke

18:1-

—Listen to the following podcasts from Rabi on the ACTS of Prayer, and regarding the Saints

-Episodes 31 & 32