|
Prayer - The Sunday lesson on 09-10-2000 teaches on one of the Christian’s greatest
responsibilities - Prayer! Do you pray always? When should you pray? Ephesians 6:18-20 says something about this and more. Click here to listen to a lesson about prayer and how
important it is in your fellowship with Christ.
Prayer in an Age of Grace. The lesson on 05-06-2001 discusses the National Day of Prayer in America. One of
the fundamental privileges that a Christian has is their ability to talk to God through prayer on any subject whether it's a National Day of Prayer or just any other day. In the Bible
there have been many examples of prayer offered to God in all different situations. What kind of prayers should a Christian offer up to God that are approved in His sight?
What is God obligated to do with our prayers? Is prayer a "secret power" to tap into to provide the "prayee" the ability
to claim a wish list? "Prayer" is a topic that needs to be handled with the same care for right division as any other doctrine in scripture. Click here to listen to the lesson on 05-06 that looks at some of the popular trends about prayer and then discusses the
role of prayer in today's Age of Grace. Be sure and download the handout as well.
Christian Prayer. May 1, 2003 is recognized as the National Day of Prayer in America. What is
prayer? Prayer simply stated is “talking to God”. What a privilege we have to be able to talk directly to God. We don’t have to go through an intermediary like a
minister or priest because Christ paved the way through His shed blood. He became the one mediator between God and man, so the way to God is open for
anyone to approach Him. Even if we don’t know how or what we should pray for, God takes care of it as we learn in Romans 8:26-27 (KJV) ”Likewise the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we sh
ould pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that
searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Yet, as we study scripture, God teaches us about prayer so we learn the
answers to the why and how, who to pray for and when. Paul exhorts us in 2 Tim 2:1-2, to first of all,
(notice this is the first thing, not the last thing) to pray and he gives us four categories of prayer. 1) Supplications - This is
about a need that you have (not wants but needs). 2) Prayer - When we pray, we should think of God first just like Jesus told the disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9 (KJV) “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.” Further, you should pray for things that God can give like love, wisdom, and understanding as
Paul demonstrates in Phil 1:9 and Col. 1:9. 3) Intercessions - This is the prayer you have for others and when you religate
yourself to the background. And finally, 4) The Giving of Thanks. The lesson on Apr 27, 2003 teaches on prayer. Click here to listen now.
Christian Prayer - Part 2.
There were many instances of prayer given this past week in America to thank God for the prosperity and blessings bestowed upon America. This was done in the celebration of the National Day of Prayer set aside on the first Thursday in May
each year. This was an example of one aspect of prayer but another aspect of prayer is shown in the prayer that Paul makes in Colossians 1:9-14 for the Colossians. The Colossians
(those from Colossee) received their letter from Paul through Tychius (just like Philemon). They were dealing with a particular problem of gnosticism. The Gnostics were pagans who
followed a pre-Christian religion which pursued knowledge above all else. Their fundamental beliefs centered around several ideas: 1) There are two different Gods, the Creative God, and
the Redemptive God (Jesus who is more powerful). 2) There were two divisions of Christians;
A) Those that are spiritual, and B) those that are carnal. 3) They put emphasis on secret type teachings of knowledge, and
4) They put knowledge over faith. It’s better to know things than to show faith through your works. In Paul’s prayer, he
acknowledged the Christian faith in Christ that was demonstrated in Colossee by their love of the saints. Paul gives us
another aspect of prayer in this passage. 1) We are to be filled with all the fulness of God and the knowledge of His will
through the love of Christ. This is in place of philosophy and vain deceit, and the tradition of this world which is what the Gnostics taught. 2) We are to walk worthy of our calling. 3) We are to be strengthened with His might that he gives to us.
4) We should be giving thanks (with patience and longsuffering). 5) We have been delivered from the power of darkness,
and 6) We have redemption through His blood. The lesson on May 4, 2003 continues the lesson on prayer. You may listen here now or you may also want to view all the lessons on prayer here.
Prayer - by Stuart Allen and published by THE BEREAN PUBLISHING TRUST. Here is the preface to this booklet: About 37 years ago, it was decided to issue and circulate with The Berean Expositor a prayer and
news letter, called Joints and Bands. We quote from the first issue: " ... the Head, from which all the body by
joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God" (Col.
2:19). The verse we have chosen deals with the Unity of the Spirit which derives all its nourishment from the
Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. But from a natural and geographical standpoint, we are anything but united, being scattered
in groups all over Britain and the rest of the world, often with little knowledge of the needs and problems of each other. We
are trusting that this small leaflet may be a practical way of binding us all together in the realm of intercession for the
precious truth for which we stand and its outworking day by day.’ To encourage our readers to join with us in prayer, Mr.
Stuart Allen wrote a series of articles on Prayer. In March 1985, we decided to reprint the series gradually as opportunity
permitted and the final article appeared in the January 1990 issue. Several people have expressed their appreciation of this
series, so we have now issued it as a booklet. We pray that readers will be blessed and encouraged in their prayer-life.
There is also an audio lesson on Prayer by Stuart Allen made available by the Berean Publishing Trust. Click here to listen now. For more lessons from Stuart Allen, vist this location.
|