FOR WHAT ARE WE TO PRAY?
A. Wisdom (James 1:5) “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
1. Solomon requested wisdom (1 Kings 3:9) “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
2. Jesus prayed when faced with important decisions (Luke 6:12-13) “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples; and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.”
3. We study to acquire knowledge and pray for wisdom to use it (Colossians 1:9) “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
B. Forgiveness
1. We have all transgressed God’s laws (1 John 1:8-10) “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all righteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
2. We have all fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
3. Therefore, we all need forgiveness
a. Jesus stressed the need to pray for forgiveness (Matthew 6:12) “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
b. But, we have to be willing to forgive to be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15) “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses.”
c. All must be willing to confess their sins to the father in heaven (1 John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
C. Physical and Spiritual Health
1. James encouraged those “suffering” to pray (James 5:13) “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray…”
2. John prayed for Gaius to “be in health” (3 John 2) “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
3. We know that the “spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40-41)
a. Therefore, we should pray for spiritual strength to remain faithful in times of persecution, trial, and, temptation (Matthew 6:13) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” (John 17:15) “I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil.”
D. Unity and Love in the Church
1. Jesus prayed for all Christians to be one (John 17:21) “They they all may be one; as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
2. Division among God’s people was condemned (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)
3. We have not crucified the “old man” of the flesh if we do not love the brethren (1 John 3:14-18)
E. Boldness
1. Too many time we “clam up” when topic is religion, or opportunity to “teach them Jesus” arises
2. We should be as Peter and John (Acts 4:29) “And now Lord, behold their threatening and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness we may speak thy word.”
a. This enabled them to say, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)
A. This is NOT an exhaustive listing
B. Remember Paul’s admonition to the Philippian brethren (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”