The supplication in prayer.

Pray without ceasing… (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

In what sense is a prayer to you? How is prayer defined to you?

…….

There are several scriptures that speaks about prayer…

Here are some of them:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2 | NIV |

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 | NIV

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 | NIV |

And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what
we asked of him.
1 John 5:15 | NIV |

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 | NIV |

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything

according to his will, he hears us.
1 John 5:14 | NIV |

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Jesus illustrates to us how a prayer be structured…

The Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

9 Pray like this. 'Our Father, who is in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10 May your kingdom come. May your WILL be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the
glory forever. Amen.'
Luke 11 : 1-13

Again to Matthew, it talks about praying according to the WILL of God.

So what is basically the Will of God??

We can pray about for a thousand of things….

BUT we may not be certain if it is the will of God.

When we read the Book of Luke, the will of God is stated in there…

Anyone????

“Asking for the HOLY SPIRIT”

In the book of Luke, asking for the Holy Spirit is in relation to asking in prayer.

Have you connected it??

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Again with PRAYER

The most common Greek word translated “prayer” in the New Testament is the
word proseuche. This particular word and its various forms is used approximately 127 times
in the New Testament. It is the word that Paul uses in Ephesians 6:18, when he says,
“Praying always with all prayer.…” The word “prayer” in this verse is a translation of the
word proseuche.

From its Greek Origin…

4336 proseúxomai (from 4314 /prós, "towards, EXCHANGE" and 2172/euxomai, "to wish, pray") –
properly, to exchange wishes; pray – literally, to interact with the Lord by switching
human wishes(ideas) for His wishes as He imparts faith ("divine persuasion"). Accordingly, praying
(4336/proseuxomai) is closely inter-connected with 4102 /pístis ("faith") in the NT. See: Ac
6:5,6,14:22,23; Eph 6:16-18; Col 1:3,4; 2 Thes 3:1,2; Js 5:13-15; Jude 20.

It is an EXCHANGE of wishes... It has a RECIPROCITY.

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When we pray, it is actually an exchange of favor.

We ask God for something, but make it sure that you also have something to offer to God.

God does not demand something for us because He is sufficient in His own because He is God!

BUT, we are offering our lives to God and giving our best because HE DESERVES IT.

We must always remember our place--- He is God, we are not.

We have already been given much—HIS GRACE is actually enough for us.

His Grace is the UNDESERVED GIFT that He gave to us.

He laid down His life while we are sinners.

It would be rare for a person to give his life for a good man, how much more for a sinner??
Would you lay your life for a criminal?? Are you brave enough to do that??

I say again, we had enough. Christ is enough for us.

Make it a practice to pray to God not only for our benefit, but we pray to give God the glory and that His
Will be done into our lives.

“Lord USE me” “Make me Your VESSEL”

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and
bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father
will give you.
John 15:16 | NIV |

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints.
— Ephesians 6:18