Lesson 4. How to Pray Correctly from “A Christian’s First Steps” is intended for new converts. Prepared by Pastor Dmitriy Leo for Father’s Blessing Church, 2022.
Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1)
Why We Need to Pray
To avoid falling into temptation or testing (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40, 46)
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak
To avoid the troubles and dangers of the end times (Luke 21:36; Mark 13:33; Matthew 24:20; Mark 13:18)
Luke 21:36 Therefore keep watch at all times and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these coming troubles and to stand before the Son of Man
To receive healing for yourself or for someone else to be healed (James 5:16)
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.
God dwells where people pray (Matt. 21:13, Mark 11:17, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46)
Matthew 21:13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of thieves.”
To succeed in casting out a certain kind of spirit (Mark 9:29, Matthew 17:21)
Mark 9:29 And He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
So that God would send workers into the harvest (Luke 10:2, Matthew 9:38)
Luke 10:2 And He said to them, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
So that we may live peaceful and quiet lives (1 Timothy 2:1–3)
1 Timothy 2:1–3 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all people, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
So that we may have what we need for life (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:3, Matthew 7:11, Luke 11:3, Luke 11:9, John 14:13, John 16:24)
Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
When to Pray
Always, continually (Luke 2:37; Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; 1 Timothy 5:5)
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
During times of difficulties and problems
James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
During times of illness
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
When enemies who hate and mistreat us surround us (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28)
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat and persecute you,
When people are appointed to ministry
Acts 13:3 Then, after fasting and praying and laying their hands on them, they sent them off.
When we see brothers or sisters sinning (1 John 5:16)
1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray, and God will give him life—that is, to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that he should pray about that.
When we begin a meal, to sanctify it
1 Tim. 4:3–5 forbidding people to marry and commanding them to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creation of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.
Whom to pray to
We should always pray to God the Father (Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2; Rom. 10:1; Rom. 15:30; 1 Cor. 11:13; 2 Cor. 13:7; Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess. 1:2).
Matt. 6:9 Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name;
We may also pray to the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:24; Acts 7:59).
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Where to pray
Alone in a private place (Matt. 6:6; Matt. 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; Acts 10:9).
Matt. 14:23 And after He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when evening came, He was there alone.
With a specific group of people (Luke 9:18; Luke 9:28; Luke 11:1; Acts 1:14; Acts 4:31; Acts 6:4).
Luke 9:28 About eight days after these sayings, He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
In the assembly (church) (Acts 1:14, Acts 12:5, and others)
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the Church was earnestly praying to God for him.
In every place (1 Tim. 2:8)
1 Tim. 2:8 Therefore I desire that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or doubting;
How to Pray
At the beginning of prayer, we should address the Father or Jesus
Matt. 6:9 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name;
When we pray, we need to believe (Matt. 21:22, Mark 11:24)
Matt. 21:22 And whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.
God answers the prayers of righteous people (1 Pet. 3:12)
1 Pet. 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut them off from the earth.
In prayer, we should forgive those against whom we have something
Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Heavenly Father may also forgive you your sins.
So that there may be no hindrances to your prayers, husbands should treat their wives with understanding, and wives should honor their husbands.
1 Peter 3:5 For in this way the holy women who put their hope in God once adorned themselves, submitting to their husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear of any kind.
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, showing them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, showing them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
We need to pray both with the mind and with the spirit (in spiritual tongues) (1 Cor. 14:15; Jude 1:20).
1 Corinthians 14:15 What then shall I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the mind also.
We need to pray sincerely, not hypocritically to be seen by people (Matt. 6:5; Matt. 23:14).
Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, so that they may be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward.
We need to ask for what is good.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
