How to Develop a Strong Prayer Life - Bible Verse Handbook

Session #1 - How to Develop a Strong Prayer Life

I. INTRODUCTION

E. Prayer is a place of abiding in Christ or connecting with the Spirit that energizes us to love God (first commandment) which causes us to overflow in love for others (second commandment).

5 He who abides in Me.bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (Jn. 15:5)

I. Why does God want us to pray?

6 In everything by prayer.let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6)

J. There are blessings that God has chosen to give, but withholds them until we ask Him. In this way, He protects His relationship with us by not answering until we connect with Him by asking.

18 The Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you...19 He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. (Isa. 30:18-19)

II. PRACTICAL ISSUES IN DEVELOPING A CONSISTENT PRAYER LIFE

IV. RIGHT VIEW OF GOD: TENDER FATHER AND PASSIONATE BRIDEGROOM

B. Encountering the father heart of God is foundational to growing in prayer. Jesus prayed for us that we might know that the Father loves us as He loves Jesus, thus giving us great worth.

23 That the world may know that You.have loved them as You have loved Me. (Jn. 17:23)

C. We can have the assurance that we are enjoyed by God the Father, even in our weakness

19  He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

35  You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great. (Ps. 18:19, 35)

3  If You,  Lord , should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4  But  there is  forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared. (Ps. 130:3-4)

We pray differently when our spirit is confident before God with assurance that He enjoys us.

15 You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." (Rom. 8:15)

D. Understanding Jesus as our Bridegroom and ourselves as His cherished Bride equips us to have a vibrant prayer life

 29  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord  does  the church.  30  For we are members of His body,  of His flesh and of His bones.  31  "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the   two shall become one flesh."   32  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Eph. 5:29-32)

Many view Jesus as mostly mad or mostly sad, but He has a heart filled with gladness and fiery affections in His jealous love for us.

9  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God,   has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." (Heb. 1:9)

E. As sons of God, we are in the position to experience God's throne as heirs of His power

21  To him who overcomes   I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
(Rev. 3:21)

17  and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with  Him,  that we may also be glorified together. (Rom. 8:17)

V. HOW TO MEDITATE ON THE WORD: PRAY-READING THE WORD

A. The most substantial way in which we can bolster our prayer lives is by feeding on the Word of God.

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night.then you will make your way prosperous, and.will have good success. (Josh. 1:8)

B. Bible study must lead to dialogue with God.

39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have.life; these are they which testify of Me. 40 You are not willing to come to Me (dialogue) that you may have life. (Jn. 5:39-40)

F. We must articulate our love, gratitude, and requests to Jesus in simple phrases.

2 Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips . (Hos. 14:2)

G. Ask the Spirit to let you "see what He sees and feel what He feels"

14 .The love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14)

VI. THE FOUNDATION OF JUSTICE: NIGHT AND DAY PRAYER

A. Mystery of intercession:

27 God has chosen the [so called] weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.29 that no flesh should glory.
(1 Cor. 1:27-29)

B. The majesty of intercession: Its majesty is seen in that Jesus rules through intercession (Ps. 2:9)

25 He always (forever) lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25)

C. In Genesis 1, Jesus spoke forth the plans of the Father's heart to release the power of the Spirit.

The History of Creation

1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  2  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness  was  on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3  Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  4  And God saw the light, that  it was  good; and God divided the light from the darkness.  5  God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.  So the evening and the morning were the first day.

6  Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."  7  Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which  were  under the firmament from the waters which  were  above the firmament; and it was so.  8  And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

9  Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry  land  appear"; and it was so.  10  And God called the dry  land  Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that  it was  good.

11  Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb  that  yields seed,  and  the fruit tree  that  yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed  is  in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.  (Gen. 1:1-11)

6  By the word of the  Lord  the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

9  For He spoke, and it was  done;
He commanded, and it stood fast. (Ps. 33:6, 9)

 3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (Jn. 1:3)

9  and to make all see what  is  the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;  (Eph. 3:9)

16  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  (Col. 1:16)

Jesus upholds or sustains the created order by speaking the Word (a type of intercession).

3 Who (Jesus)... upholding all things by the word of His power.
(Heb. 1:3)

D. Each time we say what God says, it marks us and changes us.

63 The words that I [Jesus] speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (Jn. 6:63)

VII. TEN PRAYERS TO RECEIVE STRENGTH IN THE INNER MAN:

F-E-L-L-O-W-S-H-I-P

16 To be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. (Eph. 3:16)

5  And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire  were  burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Rev. 4:5)

11 Unite my heart (to Your heart and Word) to fear Your name.
(Ps. 86:11)

B. E- Endurance (perseverance, patience):

11 Being strengthened with all power.may have great endurance and patience. (Col. 1:11)

C. L- Love:

9 I pray, that your love may abound still more.in knowledge and all discernment. (Phil. 1:9)

D. L- Light of glory: (Ex. 33-34:29-30; Isa. 6; Ezek. 1; Rev. 1)

6 A great light from heaven shone around me.8 He said to me, "I am Jesus of Nazareth." 11 I could not see for the glory of that light.I came to Damascus. (Acts 22:6-11)

18 And he (Moses) said, "Please, show me Your glory." (Ex. 33:18)

6 Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. (Ps. 4:6)

E. O- One thing life focus:

4 One thing I have desired.all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord. (Ps. 27:4)

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part.
(Lk. 10:42)

8 I have set the Lord always before me. (Ps. 16:8)

F. W- Count me worthy (faithfulness unto fullness):

11 We pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power. (2 Thes. 1:11)

23 May the God of peace sanctify you completely; may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless (without compromise) at the coming of our Lord. (1 Thes. 5:23)

13 That He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God. (1 Thes. 3:13)

1 I have made a covenant with my eyes; why should I look on a woman? (Job 31:1)

G. S- Speech:

Sustained communion with God requires restrained conversation with man.

29  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  31  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;  4  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (Eph. 4:29-5:4)

3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Ps. 141:3)

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable. (Ps. 19:14)

H. H- Humility:

29 Take My yoke.and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. (Mt. 11:29)

I. I- Insight unto intimacy (wisdom):

17 May give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. (Eph. 1:17)

9 Ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord. (Col. 1:9-10)

26 The Holy Spirit.will teach you all things... (Jn. 14:26)

J. P- Peace and Joy:

7 The peace of God.will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope (confidence) by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)

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Much of this teaching will be used by the English speaking Pastors in the Africa Training Bible School.(ATBS)

Each of these ATBS Series includes an audio and handout or study notes to be downloaded as well as a PowerPoint to make the viewing more visual for the Pastors and youth in their churches.