Message Notes

OVERVIEW OF THE DOCTRINE OF PRAYER

1. The Practice of Prayer

a) Patriarchs

b) Prophets

c) Priests

d) Kings

e) Individuals

2. The Psalms as Prayers

a) Praise

b) Penitential

c) Petitions

3. The Principles of Prayer discovered (OT)

a) Knowledge of God

i)   The power of God

ii)  The mercy of God

iii) The name of God

iv) The justice of God

b) Knowledge of the Word of God

i)  According to the revealed will of God

ii) According to the word of God

c) Faith in God

i)  Faith is honoured

ii) The petitions are answered

d) Relationship with God

i)   Strong

ii)  Established

iii) Remembered and honoured (“For Abraham’s sake”)

e) Special circumstances/ Prayers

i)   Special petitions

ii)  Moses (Exodus 32-34; Numbers 14)

iii) Hezekiah (Isaiah 38)

f) Prayer Promises

i)   To be studied carefully

ii)  To be interpreted correctly

iii) To be used as an inspiration to prayer

iv) To be used as an anchor of our faith

v)  Not to be used as a means to force God’s hand

g) Special extra efforts

i) Fasting

ii) Making of vows

4. Corrections (NT)

a) Teachings of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 6-7)

b) Addressing wrong ideas/ practices

5. Example of the Lord Jesus

a) Personal

b) Alone

c) Consistent

i) Early in the morning               Mark 1:35

ii) All night in prayer                  Luke 6:12

d) Spontaneous prayers

i) Luke 10:21-22

ii) John 12:27-30

e) Praying to God as Father

f) Special Times of Prayer

i) Transfiguration Luke 9:28-36

ii) In the Garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-46

iii) High Priestly prayer of Jesus   John 17

6. Approaching God in prayer

a) Hebrews

b) The Pauline Epistles (The prayers of Paul)