10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484

Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.

To order a copy of Basic Discipleship,
please visit our Publications section.

PHASE 2                INITIAL GROWTH

SESSION 5
PRAYER: TALKING TO THE GOD YOU LOVE

          It is so important that your disciple learn to pray.  A strong prayer life is one of the greatest sources of strength in the life of any believer.  In fact, it is folly to think that any believer will be strong in the Lord without a consistent prayer life.  Prayer reminds us, by its very posture and nature, of our utter dependence upon God.  It keeps us humble.  Through confession, prayer clears sins in our life and restores fellowship.  Real prayer keeps us praising God, forgiving others and asking for help.

          In a previous exercise, the concept of prayer was introduced as a part of one’s daily devotional or quiet time with God.  This exercise is more extensive.  It shows your disciple the means by which he is able to reach God and explains why lost sinners cannot pray.  It also brings to his attention the fact that even as a believer, conditions can hinder his prayer life.  Also, some of the mechanical aspects of prayer are introduced here, with specific how to instructions on praying.

          Your example in praying regularly with your disciple will no doubt have more of an impact on whether or not he develops a strong prayer life than this written material.  It will help, but he must see it in you.  These discipleship materials must not be dry exercises off a written page; they must be living realities, which the disciple can see in you.  So, brother, sister, pray yourself; and let some of it be in the presence of your disciple.  Let him feed and grow off your-abundance and overflow.  As he hears you, it will both inspire and instruct him.

          Be sure that your disciple gets BD#6 in his hand in order that he might be prepared for your next session.

           In your daily quiet or devotional time with God, you will pray; but that should not be the total extent of your prayer life.  I Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing."  That means to be in a condition and attitude of prayer all of the time, even as you would maintain an open line of communication with a friend or co-worker with whom you'd spend a day.  There might be long periods when no word be spoken; but they could be, and might spontaneously occur at any moment.  It is comforting to know that with God, we do not have to make an appointment or take a number; He's always available to hear our prayers.  I Peter 3:12 says, "The eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers."

          This exercise is designed to help you learn more about prayer and its great benefits for you.  Make it your lifestyle to stay in constant communication with God through prayer.

I.        REMEMBER THAT PRAYER IS YOUR TALKING TO GOD.

          A.    When you pray you are addressing God.

                  1.        "When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven." (Luke 11:2)

                  2.        Prayer is asking God and communicating your heart to Him. Read Matthew 7:7-11.  Notice the point that if a natural father delights to give to the child who asks Him, the heavenly Father delights even more so in providing good things for His spiritual children who ask Him.

                  3.        Meditate upon the awesome concept that when you pray, you are actually talking to the Almighty, Creator God of the universe.  What do you suppose you could ever ask that would be beyond His power to provide?

          B.    Our great God actually invites us to talk with (pray to) Him regularly.

                  1.        Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and  find grace to help in time of need."

                  2.        Jesus said in Luke 18:1 "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

                  3.       I Timothy 2:8, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

II. PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO BELIEVERS.

          A.    You can reach God only because you have Jesus Christ as your intercessor.

                  1.        Read Hebrews 3:1, 6:20, 7:26, 8:1, and 4:14. In each reference, Jesus is called our High Priest.

                  2.        Jesus said in John 14:6, "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Unbelievers are in rebellion against God (Ephesians 2:12) having rejected His sacrificial work on the Cross on their behalf (Hebrews 10:29), and as such, are faced with a barrier between them and God.  Ephesians 2:14 calls it the middle wall of partition.

                  3.        Jesus has broken down the barrier that keeps a person from reaching God.  Read Ephesians 2:14-16.  Those who reach God do so exclusively upon the strength of the work of reconciliation accomplished by Christ Jesus. Read Colossians 1:21.

          B.    Since lost sinners have refused Jesus Christ, they have no intercessor (High Priest), and thus they cannot pray a prayer that God will hear in the sense of honor.

                  1.        The one thing lost sinners should do is "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 16:31) Until they do that no amount of praying, good working, or other efforts will enable them to reach God.

                  2.        John 9:31, "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."

                  3.        Read Proverbs 15:29 and 28:9.  God is far from the prayers of rebellious men, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.

                  4.        Explain why it is wrong to ask a lost sinner to pray to be saved.

          C.    Even believers can put themselves in a position in which God will not honor their prayers.

                  1.        Unconfessed sins keep God from hearing, in the sense of ‘to honor’ the prayers of His children.  Read Psalm 66:18. Iniquity will prevent God from hearing your prayers.

                  2.        Read I Peter 3:7.  What condition with your mate will hinder God from hearing your prayers? Strife.

III.       TO EFFECTIVELY PRAY, YOU MUST PRAY AS INSTRUCTED IN THE BIBLE.

            A.     Ask according to God's will.

                      1.          His primary interest is in His enterprise; not yours.  He wants His desires to become your desires.  I John 5:14 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us."

               2.        In light of I John 5:14, read Psalm 37:4-5.  Name a desire of your heart which is truly a desire for the welfare of His enterprise; not yours.______________________________________________________.                      

               3.        Jesus promised in John 16:15, "whatsoever ye shall ask of  the Father in my name, he may give it you." Explain  "whatsoever" in light of "according to his will."

            B.      Ask in Jesus' name.

                      1.          On our own, not one of us is worth anything.  Read Psalm 39:5, Isaiah 64:6 and II Corinthians 3:5.

                      2.          Read Ephesians 1:6-7.  We are accepted in the beloved (Jesus Christ).

                      3.          In view of this fact, when we come in prayer, we are always to come in Jesus' name.  Read John 14:13-14.

                      4.          Jesus' name on a prayer is like a signature on a check. Without His power, prayer is powerless.

            C.      Pray believing that God will work it out according to His will.

                      1.          Read Luke 11:2-13.  Believe that your heavenly Father cares for you and desires to grant your requests.

                      2.          Read I John 5:14-15.  Explain "confidence."

            D.      Pray with understanding.

                      1.          Read Matthew 6:7.  Vain repetitions are a mockery in prayer.

                      2.          Read I Corinthians 14:14-25, 19.  The Bible says that during the time to which the unknown tongues were limited, prayer was to always be offered in words of understanding.

            E.      “Pray to God, not to be seen of men, Matthew 6:5-6.

IV.       USE JESUS' MODEL TO TEACH YOU HOW TO PRAY.

            See Matthew 6:9-13.

            A.     Begin your prayer with praise, adoration, and thanksgiving to God, Matthew 6:9.

            B.      Next, acknowledge your submission to Him, Matthew 6:10.

            C.      Ask God to provide your needs, Matthew 6:11.

            D.      Confess your sins and ask God to forgive them, Matthew 6:12. This brings forgiveness (I John 1:9) and "mercy." (Hebrews  4:16)

            E.      Ask God for daily deliverance from life's perils, Matthew 6:13. This is "grace." (Hebrews 4:16)

            F.          Acknowledge your utter dependence upon God, Matthew 6:13.  It's all "in Jesus' name."

            G.      It is not necessary to go through a formal prayer each time you talk to God.  Often you should, but much of your praying should be short statements, like conversation to God throughout your waking  hours.  As you go through your day, many things will arise which need to be taken to God on the spot.  Do not neglect to pray.  A strong prayer life will be a great source of strength to your life and a means of keeping you humble before God and aware of His presence and greatness in your life.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"