1. The Purpose of Prayer (Focus on prayer)
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

2. The Power of Prayer (Push us to pray)
Forgiveness
Peace
Strength
Opportunity
Boldness
Laborers
Wisdom
Healing

3. The Principles of Prayer (Pray correctly)
We must have a humble spirit
We must pray with thanksgiving
Our prayer must be in faith
Our prayer must be according to God’s will
We must pray in Christ’s name

4. The Persistence of Prayer (Continually Pray)
The parable of the persistent widow
The parable of the insistent friend
Paul’s teachings (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Examples of persistence:
Christ in the garden
Paul

5. Practice of Prayer I How should we pray? When are we praying?
Addressing God the Father in reverence
With supplication and praises
In simplicity, forgiveness, and persistence
When are we praying?
Do we have set times to pray?
Do we pray as needs arise?

6. Practice of Prayer II With whom should we pray?
Private prayer
With other Christians
What should we pray for?
Self
Family
Community
Church
Nation
Nonbelievers
Sick
Poor and afflicted

7. The Privilege of Prayer

8. Who does not have the privilege?
Those who openly disregard God’s word
2 Timothy 4:3-4
We must be obedient to God’s word (Proverbs 28:9)
Those who are separated by sin
Sin separates us so that God will not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Those who do not seek forgiveness are dead in their sins (Romans 6:23)

9. Who does not have the privilege?
Those who fail to treat others justly
Those who do not treat their wives correctly (1 Peter 3:7)
Those who fail to make things right with a brother (Matthew 5:23-24)
Those who fail to forgive (Matthew 18:21-35)
Those who pray without faith
Faith is required to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
Asking with doubt ensures failure (James 1:5-8)

10. Who has the privilege?
The sinner earnestly seeking truth and righteousness
Cornelius (Acts 10:1-2)
A good man, but still in need of salvation (Acts 11:14)
God noticed his prayers and alms (Acts 10:4)
God sent the gospel to Cornelius by which he would be saved
Cornelius was not saved by prayer
He needed to hear “a message by which he would be saved” (Acts 11:14; Romans 1:16)
Just as Saul was not (Acts 9:11; 22:16)

11. Who has the privilege?
God heard the prayer of a sinner like Cornelius:
He was hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6)
He was asking, seeking, and knocking (Matthew 7:7-8)
If a sinner is truly seeking righteousness their prayers will be heard!

12. Who has the privilege? Those in the body (Ephesians 2:11-18)
Those with Christ as their High Priest
Christ who is able to understand us is a fit High Priest (Hebrews 2:17-18)
Allows us to confidently approach God’s throne (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Because he intercedes for us, he is able to save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25)
Those with Christ as their advocate and mediator
Christ has taken these roles (1 John 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:5)
He makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34)

13. The Privilege of Prayer?
The ears of the Lord are open to the prayers of the righteous (1 Peter 3:12)
To be righteous, we must submit to God (Romans 10:1-4)
According to his word (Romans 1:16-17)
God listens to those earnestly seeking his word
Those like Cornelius
With a good and noble hearts
Seeking the things of God