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Lesson 4

What The Bible Teaches About
Communication With God

Prayer

1. How do we communicate with God?

Daniel 9:3

Daniel 9:3 (KJV)
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

2. What is prayer?

1 Samuel 1:9-15

1 Samuel 1:9-15 (KJV)
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

3. How much power does sincere prayer have?

James 5:16

James 5:16 (KJV)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

4. In whose name should we pray?

John 14:3

John 14:3 (KJV)
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

5. Does God answer prayers?

Matthew 7:7-11

Matthew 7:7-11 (KJV)
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Faith

1. How is faith described?

Hebrews 11:1, 6

Hebrews 11:1, 6 (KJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. How is faith developed?

Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 (KJV)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

WHAT MUST I DO?

1. Pray three times a day.

Psalm 55:17

Psalm 55:17 (KJV)
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

2. Practice private prayer.

Matthew 6:6

Matthew 6:6 (KJV)
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

3. Ask for convenient things.

Matthew 21:22

Matthew 21:22 (KJV)
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

4. Ask with faith.

James 4:3

James 4:3 (KJV)
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

MY RESOLUTION

I believe that God hears and answers prayers. I will pray with faith every day.

Additional Study 4

WE SHOULD PRAY REGULARLY. (Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12). The best plan is to pray three times a day (Daniel 6:10). One must have a spirit of constant prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

WHAT TO PRAY ABOUT: Gratitude (Philippians 4:6). Various petitions (James 1:5; John 5:17). Confession of sin (Daniel 6:10; Psalm 32:5). Pray for the needs of others (Job 42:10).

CONDITIONS FOR GOD TO ANSWER PRAYERS: Ask with faith (Matthew 21:22). Ask well (James 4:3). Ask according to God's will (Luke 22:41, 42). Manifest a forgiving spirit (Mark 11:25). Be perseverant (Luke 18:1). Keep the commandments (1 John 3:22).

OBSTACLES THAT KEEP GOD FROM ANSWERING: Asking selfishly (James 4:3). Doubts (James 1:6). Lack of a forgiving spirit (Matthew 6:14, 15). Cherished sin in the heart (Psalm 66:18). Disobedience to God's holy law (Proverbs 28:9).

GOD PROMISES TO ANSWER PRAYERS. (Psalm 3:4; 40:1, 2; Matthew 7:7-12).

What is Prayer?

"Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend... prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence".—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, pp. 93, 94).

Types of Prayer

Some prayers consist in reciting a prayer that is already written. The most famous of these is The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus. Prayer is speaking to God with our own words, to tell Him the needs that afflict us.

There are several types of prayer. Public prayer is for collective matters. In family prayer, the problems of the home are mentioned. Prayer for a meal is for thanking God for the meal and asking for his blessing (Luke 24:30; 22:19). The most beneficial prayer for the soul is private prayer. There is also mental prayer, which is prayed without using audible words.

Parts of the Prayer

You begin by saying: "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9), and then continue with what you desire to say or ask from God. You end in Jesus' name (John 16:23) and with the word amen, which means so be it.

The Wonderful Effects of Prayer

The famous physician, Alexis Carrel, stated: "Prayer is the most powerful form of energy that can be generated. It is as real a force as gravity. As a physician, I have seen men who after the failure of all medical procedures have overcome disease and melancholy through the serene effort of prayer."

"Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God [in prayer]. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him... His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear... Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice... No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest."— Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 100