Disciples Pray

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

A disciple’s prayer life is an important element. We should not only pray often but we should surround all mission events and ministry activities in prayer.

It has been said that prayer is the daughter, the voice, of faith.

John the Baptist’s disciples learned to pray. A disciple of Jesus asked for a similar lesson. Then Jesus opened his mouth and gave him and us the “Our Father” – The Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer is the model prayer for the kingdom.  It shows us not only how to pray but also how to worship. Yes, prayer is an act of worship. When we pray we bring our petitions before God with our hearts and lips and offer up praise and thanksgiving to Him. Where there is praise and thanksgiving there is worship.

Prayer is needed for guidance, for the healing of the sick, and for intercession. Prayer is also associated with the act of commissioning for ministry and the laying on of hands. Prayers can be short or long. The one reality for all is that God hears our prayers.

A disciple should not forget to pray daily. If you have difficulty finding words to say, use prayer books or other devotional references. Remember, when you pray, you are speaking to an awesome God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Questions:

1. When you pray, what are some favorite expressions that you like to use?

2. Where do you go for help in times of trouble?

3. How can your faith in God be expressed through the prayers you pray?

4. What changes can you make in your personal prayer life today?

Applications:

1. We should pray with an attitude of deep respect for God.

Psalm 115:3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

2. We should pray with confidence in God’s grace.

John 16:23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Romans 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

3. We should pray with humility and sincerity.

Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old,
 yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
 or their children begging bread.

Galatians 4:4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

4. We should pray for others.

3 John 1

1 The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

5. Prayer must be more than an emergency measure in a time of trouble.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually,

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