Prayer Commands in
the Epistles
Rom.
[“devoted” – to be committed to; persist or continue in; apply one’s self to in time, energy, thought,
etc.].
What do you think it means to be devoted to this?
Are you committed to, persistent in, zealously
continuing in prayer? Why?
Rom.
[“disobedient” – unbelieving Jews]. [“saints” – Jews converted to Christ]. [“their company” –
the Christians in
Have you ever striven (devoted serious effort and energy) together with anyone in your prayers to God for that person? Why?
When, and for what?
Eph. 6:18-20; Jude
[“in
the Spirit” – under the control of and in the power of the Holy Spirit].
With this in view, what are they to do?
Are you doing this for all the saints, as well as praying specifically for at least one Christian worker who is in full-time evangelism, and why?
If you’re not, what will it take to motivate you to start doing so?
Phil. 4:6, 7 Instead of worrying (being anxious), what are we told to do?
What will be the result if we do this?
Do you pray about trying situations, difficult
times, or various pressures?
How often do you apply this admonition to those situations? Why?
Have you experienced the promised result?
Col. 4:2-4 What are we told to do?
How much does an attitude of thanksgiving permeate
your prayer life, and why?
What were they to pray at the same time for, and why?
[“mystery”
in Greek is “musterion” – meaning, “a previously unrevealed truth”].
Are you asking God to open doors for other Christians to be able to share the gospel clearly with those who have yet to hear? Why, and when?
1 Thes.
[“without
ceasing” – This adverb does not have the connotation of an uninterrupted action
but rather of a constantly recurring prayer; a life pervaded with prayer. It’s
the Greek word “adialeiptos”, meaning “continually”. It’s that
of maintaining continuous, conscious fellowship with God as much as possible,
in which concentration is frequently broken.].
Why are we to give thanks in everything (every circumstance of life), also see Rom.
In how much do you give thanks, and why?
1 Thes.
Do you ever ask others to pray for you? When, and why?
Do you really follow through and pray for those whom
you say you will, when they ask you to pray for them?
2 Thes. 3:1, 2 For what does Paul ask their
prayers?
Are you praying for anyone or group of Christian
workers for this to happen? How
often?
1 Tim. 2:1-4 What does Paul urge, to be made on
behalf of all (types of) people?
[“All”, here,
means all kinds, types, or classes of, as the Greek word “pas” when used
without the article in Greek has this meaning (e.g., 1 Tim. 6:10), or it can
mean all of a certain kind (e.g., Jn. 12:32, “all believers”).].
[“Entreaties”
are petitions for the fulfillment of certain, definite
needs which are keenly felt. Requests made in light of this or that concrete situation
in which God alone can furnish the help that is needed.].
[“Prayers” is
a more general term, meaning every form of reverent address directed to God].
[“Petitions” is intercession; pleading in the interest of others].
What are some of these types of people?
Why pray for them?
Are you praying for world leaders, your president, Congress, governor, mayor, etc.? Why, and how often?
What does God think about this?
And what does God desire of all “types of” people (e.g., Rev. 5:9; 7:9)?
Are your prayers toward this end, and why?
1 Tim. 2:5-8 What did Paul want?
[“Men” is the
Greek word “andras”, meaning “males”. – In order and
manner of worship, the custom prevailing in the synagogue was followed as far
as possible, including the idea that men should lead in prayer. And the women should
pray as Hannah did in 1 Sam.
[“every place” – place of public worship wherever congregations
assembled].
[“pray” – in the broadest sense, including every form of
invocation mentioned in 2:1].
How were these
men to pray?
[Different positions of arms, hands, and the body as a whole are
indicated in Scripture. All of these are permissible as long as they symbolize
different aspects of the worshipper’s reverent attitude, and as long as they
truly interpret the sentiments of the heart.].
[“lifting up hands” – a symbol of utter
dependence on God and of humble expectancy. It can also be a metonymy, a figure of speech,
for/meaning “pray” – Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, “1
Timothy”, p. 45].
[“holy hands” – hands unpolluted by previous crimes, unless repentance
was made – Psa. 24:3, 4 (holiness of experience in daily life).].
[“without wrath and dissension” – contentious
quarreling against another person; men not characterized by outbursts of temper
and disputing, especially with those he is leading in prayer].
Is this ever
your attitude when you pray? How
do you deal with it?
Heb.
4:15, 16 What are we told to do (vs.
16)?
For what reason should we do
so (vs. 16)?
[“mercy” – God’s relieving of our miseries when our
weaknesses, temptations, or sins seem overwhelming].
[“grace” – undeserved favor].
Is this your attitude toward
coming to God in prayer? Why?
Heb.
Are you doing this? How often? Why?
James
5:14-18 What should a sick person, who calls for the elders of a
church, let them do (vs. 14)?
[“anointing” – pouring, rubbing, or spreading on].
[“oil” – a religious
symbolic practice to represent the healing power of God].
[“in the name of” – in trustful dependence on Christ and His
authority – Dr. D. E. Hiebert].
What will restore the one who
is sick (when done by these righteous
elders), vs. 15?
[“has committed sins” – is a periphrastic
perfect verb, meaning, repeated/persistent occasions in the past of sinning;
being in a state of unconfessed sin].
What should the person who
wants to be healed do (vs. 16)?
[If sin is the cause of the sickness, then God
will raise him up. The healing is not
necessarily instant, but it will be complete.].
What can accomplish much?
How much are your prayers
accomplishing?
If not much, maybe it’s
because you’re not righteous as a daily practice of your life.
2 Cor.
1:8-11 What had the prayers of these Christians at
What does Paul say may happen
by many people as a result of their being delivered, and why?
When God answers
your prayers for others, do you (along
with any others who have been praying for the same thing or person) give
thanks to God?
How often do you
thank God for an answer to prayer in contrast to how often you asked Him for
that prayer, and why?
2 Cor. 13:7-9 What did Paul and Timothy pray
to God (vs. 7)? And why?
What else did they pray for (vs. 9)?
[complete
– restored to a harmonious and efficient functioning together; as church
members of Christ’s body].
Have you ever prayed for a splintered Christian
group to be reunified and functioning together harmoniously again?
Why did you pray for that?
2 Thes. 1:3 Why should Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus always give thanks to God for these Christians at Thessalonica?
Do you always give thanks to God for anybody? For what reason?
If not, how come?
2 Thes.
Are you always thanking God for Christians you know and have worked with just because God chose them for salvation? If not, how come?
1 Tim. 4:4, 5 Why is everything created by God good, and not to be rejected if it’s received with gratitude?
[“sanctified” –
set apart for holy use; because it is being acknowledge as God’s gift and
partaken of as nourishing one’s life for God’s service].
[“word of God”
– God declared it so – Gen. 1:31; Rom.
[“prayer” – thanks to God for the food and the energy derived
from it to serve the Lord set it apart for holy use].
Do you thank God in prayer for the food you eat and the energy gained from it to serve the Lord, and why?
1 Tim. 5:5 What kind of widow should the church support if the widow
doesn’t haven any children or grandchildren?
Do you know of any widows like this? If so, who?
Philemon
Have you ever prayed for the release and return of a
Christian who was in prison or kidnapped for his/her faith?
Who, when, and where?
Heb.
What do you think Jesus intercedes for us about (e.g., 1 Jn. 2:1)?
How do you feel about Jesus interceding for you regarding
your sins and His paying for them with His blood so that you’re forgiven for
them all if you’ve trusted in Him as your Savior, and why do you feel that way?
James 1:2-8 If you lack wisdom in dealing with a particular trial or test,
what should you do?
And what will God do?
How should we ask for wisdom?
What will happen if we don’t ask for wisdom in this
way, but are double-minded?
James 4:2, 3 Why don’t we have certain things?
Even when we ask, why do we still not receive
certain things?
Are you getting the things in life that you desire? Why?