PrayerPrayerT.W. Hunt

Based on Discipleship Work

““In God’s Presence”In God’s Presence”

2 Purposes of Prayer2 Purposes of Prayer1.1. God’s first purpose in all prayer God’s first purpose in all prayer

is to make us like Himself is to make us like Himself (conformed to Christ’s image)(conformed to Christ’s image)

2.2. God’s second purpose in all God’s second purpose in all prayer is to help us participate in prayer is to help us participate in His workHis work

6 Kinds of Prayers6 Kinds of Prayers1. Confession Confession – to speak the same, to agree– to speak the same, to agree

2.2. Worship Worship – fixes our attention on the worth of – fixes our attention on the worth of God God

3.3. Praise Praise – responding to God’s attributes– responding to God’s attributes

4.4. Thanksgiving Thanksgiving – recognizing the work of God – recognizing the work of God and acknowledging that it is from Godand acknowledging that it is from God

5.5. Petition – Petition – asking for yourself, your family, your asking for yourself, your family, your churchchurch

6.6. Intercession Intercession – asking for others and praying – asking for others and praying for God’s purposes to be completed in their livesfor God’s purposes to be completed in their lives

Prayer Accomplishes Prayer Accomplishes God’s PurposesGod’s Purposes

• Response Prayers:Response Prayers:Confession, worship, praise and thanksgiving – concerned with being being (make us become like God)

• Asking Prayers:Asking Prayers:Petition and intercession – concerned with doing doing (help us participate in the work of God)

The Proper Source of The Proper Source of ConfessionConfession

• Satan accusesSatan accuses (Rev. 12:10)His voice gives us guilt.

• God grievesGod grieves (Eph. 4:30)His voice, seldom understood, gives us sorrow.

The Proper Source of The Proper Source of ConfessionConfession

• Since we have learned grief, we ask God for forgiveness, the removing of all guilt. The obliteration of guilt happens because we are swallowed into light, where no darkness is possible. (John 1:5)

• The removal of guilt secures also our pardon, which removes the consequences of the guilt.

• The removal of guilt is based on God’s work. The granting of pardon is based on God’s character.

God Uses Extreme Terms to Indicate God Uses Extreme Terms to Indicate His Action When He ForgivesHis Action When He Forgives

• Is. 43:25 God Is. 43:25 God wipes outwipes out our transgressions our transgressions• Ps. 51:9 Ps. 51:9 Blot outBlot out all my iniquities all my iniquities• I Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you; but you I Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you; but you

were were washedwashed, but you were sanctified, but you , but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.and in the Spirit of our God.

• Heb. 10:22 Let us draw near with a sincere heart in Heb. 10:22 Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled sprinkled cleanclean from an evil conscience, and our bodies from an evil conscience, and our bodies washedwashed with pure water. with pure water.

Key Questions:• If God does something, how done is it?• Where is anything God has wiped out?• How gone is something God blots out?• How clean is anything God washes?

Forgiveness = ForgettingForgiveness = Forgetting

• Is. 43:25 I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not rememberwill not remember your sins.

• Jer. 31:34 For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no moreremember no more.

• Heb. 10:17 And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no will remember no moremore.

Ways to WorshipWays to Worship

• Moses installed appeasement and reverence

• David installed celebration1. Ascribe

2. Magnify, exalt

3. Glorify

4. Extol

5. Rejoice

Why Praise?Why Praise?1. Praise does not assure God. God does not

need our praise. It reassures us.2. Praise doe not flatter, cajole, or soothe God. It

places us on the appropriate level.3. Praise blesses the praiser. (Ps. 84:4)4. Praise benefits the praiser. (Ps. 147:1)5. It is hard to make a serious mistake in praise.6. Praise is prayer that places us in God’s native

ground. (Is. 57:14) It is the only prayer that can make us comfortable in such awesome presence.

7. You become like what you praise. When we value the right thing, it becomes a part of us.

What Praise IsWhat Praise Is

1. Naming your relationship2. Searching the unsearchable3. Exploring the riches of God4. Dwelling where God dwells5. Victory6. Holiness and safety7. Getting the perspective right8. Insisting on the truth

ThanksgivingThanksgiving1. Thanksgiving is not an event; it is

an attitude that relates the receiver to the giver.

2. Thanksgiving is the spiritual insight that can recognize a work of God and acknowledge it as being from God. We do not seek immediate “goodness” but long-term process.

3. Thanksgiving is recognizing our total dependence on God.

Asking: Always AskAsking: Always Ask1. In the Spirit – full of the Spirit2. With the mind – prioritize your prayer3. In Jesus Name – seeking Jesus’

character4. While abiding – not an on and off switch5. Quoting God’s Word6. In humility7. In faith8. In sincerity9. Be judicious with words10. With perseverance

Conditions of FaithConditions of Faith

1. Prayer becomes your breath. You cannot help praying.

2. You see life from a spiritual perspective.

3. Christ is the source of your joy.4. Real faith keeps its eye on God, not

the object prayed for.5. Jesus is real in the present.

Faith, Trust and HopeFaith, Trust and Hope• Faith is seeing things as they really are.• Faith is the insight that perceives God’s

goodness.• Faith is accepting God’s goodness.• Faith is living a physical life with

spiritual resources.• Faith is attending to God alone – not

circumstances.• Trust is placing your confidence in the

fact that God does not change.• Hope is the present enjoyment of a

future blessing.

Faith Expressed in All 5 Kinds Faith Expressed in All 5 Kinds of Prayerof Prayer

• WorshipWorship – God really accepts my love

• ConfessionConfession – God really keeps His word

• PraisePraise – God really expresses His attributes in life

• ThanksgivingThanksgiving – God really gives His best

• AskingAsking – God really involves Himself in His creation

Declaring What God IsDeclaring What God Is

• ConfessionConfession declares God is rightright• WorshipWorship declares God is worthyworthy• PraisePraise declares God is greatgreat• ThanksgivingThanksgiving declares God is goodgood• Asking Asking declares God is realreal

Prayer Establishes Our IdentityPrayer Establishes Our Identity

• When we confess our sin, we are the Father’s returning prodigalreturning prodigal

• When we worship Him, we are part of His bridebride

• When we praise Him, we are His attendant attendant and His manifestation

• When we thank Him, we are His heir

Prayer Establishes Our IdentityPrayer Establishes Our Identity

• When we pray for ourselves, we are His childHis child

• When we pray for others, we are His priestHis priest

• When we pray for His kingdom or His church, we are His servantHis servant

• When we pray for His glory, we are His vice-regentHis vice-regent

Before The HighestBefore The Highest

• In Confession, we come to GodIn Confession, we come to God in in griefgrief

• In Worship, we come to God In Worship, we come to God in lovein love• In Praise, we come to God In Praise, we come to God in joyin joy• In Thanksgiving, we come to God In Thanksgiving, we come to God in in

dependencedependence• In Asking, we come to God In Asking, we come to God in needin need