How Do I Pray?

This lesson is taken from Micah 3:1-2b,4;    Luke 18:9-14;   John 16:23b and 24b

                                         I John 5:13b-15;    Ephesians 6:18;    Matthew 6:5-15

Prayer is a way that we communicate with God, also reading the Bible is another way.

We will be going through a lot of different subject on praying.  So let’s get started.

I.                    God doesn’t hear a person prayers if they are purposely sinning?

Listen, you leaders of Israel!  You are believed to know right from wrong, but you are the very ones who hate good and you love evil.  Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble!  Do you really think God is going to listen, after all the evil you have done?  God will not hear you, and He will even hide His face from you, for all the evil that you have done on purpose.

Discussion:

The leaders, who should have known the law and taught the law to the people, had put the law down and had become the worst of sinners.  They were taking advantage of the very people they were to serve.  All sin is bad, but the sinner that leads others into sin is the worst of all.

Then when they prayed to ask God to help, was when they found out that they were in trouble, for God hid His face from them because of all the evil that they had done on purpose.  We should remember that we should always do our best to follow God and we shouldn’t turn away from God on purpose and do what is evil.

 

II.                    Things we need when we pray:

1.      Pray with humility

Jesus told this story:

Two men went to the temple to pray.  One man was a Pharisee, and the other man was a dishonest tax collector.

The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer:

I thank you God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there!  For I never cheat, sin, or commit adultery.  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.

Now the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even to lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed.  Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow and prayed:

O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home being righteous before God.  For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.

Discussion:

The people who lived near Jerusalem often went to the temple to pray.  A temple is like a church, it is a place to go to worship God.

The Pharisee didn’t go to the temple to pray to God, but he prayed loud enough so all the people close to him would know how good he was.  He was being self-righteous. 

Self-righteousness is dangerous, it leads to pride, causes a person to find fault with other people, and keeps the person from learning anything from God.  Don’t let pride cut you off from God.

Now the tax collector went to the temple to pray to God.  He prayed for mercy for he knew he was a sinner.  The tax collector’s prayer should be our prayer because we all need God’s mercy everyday.  

 2.      Pray without doubting

When you pray and you need wisdom, and want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him.  God doesn’t mind you asking Him, and He will gladly tell you.  But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer you, for a doubtful mind is as changeable as the waves of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.  People like that shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.  For they can’t make up their minds, they go back and forth in everything they do.

Discussion:

Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God, and He will give you what you need to have the ability to make wise decisions.  Christians don’t have to stumble around in the dark, trying to come upon the right answer.  You can ask God for wisdom to guide you.  Wisdom begins with respect for God, being able to tell right from wrong.  To learn God’s will we need to read God’s Word and ask Him to show you how to obey His Word.  Then we must do what God tells us.

To believe and not doubt means not only believing in God, but also believing that He loves us.  It’s relying on God and knowing that He will hear and answer your prayers.  We must put away any bad thoughts when we pray to the Lord.  God doesn’t grant your every thoughtless or selfish prayer.  Remember that you can trust God, so commit yourself to God and don’t doubt Him.

 

3.      Pray according to God’s will

To you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life, you can be sure that God will listen to you whenever you ask Him anything in line with His will.  And if you know He is listening when you ask Him something, you can be sure that God will give you what you ask for.

Discussion:

This verse here is about God’s will, not about our will,  When we communicate with God, we don’t demand what we want, rather we ask God what He wants.  When we pray God’s will, He will listen, and we can be sure that He listens.  So when you pray let’s God’s will be done, not your will.

 

4.      Pray in Jesus’ Name

The truth is, you can go directly to God and ask Him what you need and He will give you what you ask, because you use My name.  Ask using My name, and you will receive, and you will have joy.

5.      Pray all the time

Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Stay alert and always keep in your prayers Christian everywhere.

Discussion:

How can anyone pray on all occasions?  Well one way is to live your life God’s way.  Then the way you act and live becomes a prayer to God.

 

III.                    Did you know that Jesus taught His disciples how to pray?

Jesus said,” When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly.  Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

When you pray don’t go on and on as people of other religions do.  They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again.  Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!

Pray like this:

            Our Father in Heaven

            Hallowed be your name.

            Your Kingdom come

            Your will be done

            On earth as it is in Heaven

            Give us this day our daily bread

            And forgive us our sins,

            As we forgive those

            Who have sinned against us.

            And do not lead us into temptation

            But deliver us from the evil one.

            For yours is the kingdom

And the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Okay, let’s take a closer look at the prayer.

 

Our Father in Heaven Hallowed be your name.	Hallowed means Holy.  We are to give God honor, praise, for He is Holy.  This is to let us know that we should “Let God’s name be treated differently from all other names.
Your Kingdom come	Jesus described His Kingdom as He preached the Sermon on the Mount.  This asks God to achieve His purpose in the world.
Your will be done On earth as it is in Heaven	This is surrendering your will to God’s will
Give us this day our daily bread	This is asking God our provider to supply our needs for the coming day.  This is also to remind us to live in the resent and not to worry about tomorrow.
And forgive us our sins, As we forgive those Who have sinned against us.	If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Heavenly Father will not forgive your sins.  When you say this part of the prayer, you are asking God to give you a forgiving heart.
And do not lead us into temptation But deliver us from the evil one.	God doesn’t lead His children into temptation.  Jesus here reminded His followers that we need to pray to God to be delivered from evil.  We cannot defeat Satan on our own, we need God’s help.
For yours is the kingdom And the power, and the glory forever. Amen	God’s kingdom is forever, and we that believe will live forever with God.

About Us

 We Believe in the Truth of the Bible:
 

• There is only One God, who exists as the trinity – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit
• That the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and it is completely true from the beginning to the end, Genesis to Revelation
• That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He was born of a virgin, Mary.  He was without sin, and He took all of our sins upon Himself.  That He died on a cross for our sins, and He rose again on the third day.  Today He is seated on the right hand of God in Heaven, as our High Priest and Mediator.
• There is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ
• That Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  
•  That our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back to earth again in the last days.

Directions

Candy Kitchen Mission Church

1 Blue Bird Lane
Candy Kitchen, New Mexico

 

Directions From Grants: (about 60 miles) Go south on Hwy 53 to BIA 125. Turn left, going south on BIA 125, go about 8 miles and then turn right, going west on BIA 120. In front of the Wolf Ranch and just past Candy Kitchen Trading Post turn right onto 5 Gate Road. Go about 1/8 of a mile, turn left on Blue Bird Lane and go about 200 yards the Church is on the right. From Gallup: (about 60 miles) Go south on 602 and go to the end of 602, then turn left, going east, on 53. Stay on 53 until you come to BIA125. Turn right, going south, on BIA 125, go about 8 miles and then turn right, going west, on BIA 120. In front of the Wolf Ranch and just past Candy Kitchen Trading Post turn right onto 5 Gate Road. Go about 1/8 of a mile, turn left on Blue Bird Lane and go about 200 yards the Church is on the right.

John the Baptist...Chapter 2... The Birth of John the Baptist

This lesson is taken from Luke 1:57-66

Now it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, and it was a boy.  The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives that the Lord had been very kind to her, and everyone rejoiced with her.

When the baby was 8 days old, all the relatives and friends came for the customary ceremony.  They wanted to name the baby Zachariah, after his father.  But Elizabeth said, “No!  His name is John!”  “What?” the people said.  “There is no one in your family with that name.”

So they asked the baby’s father, by making gestures, what the baby name would be.   He motioned for some paper, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote down, “His name is John!”  Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

Wonder fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.  Everyone that heard about what happened, thought about it, and they wondered what the child would be like when he grew up.  For the hand of the Lord was surely on him in a very special way. 
 

Questions:

1. How old was the baby when the relatives and friends came to see what he would be named?

• ___________________________________________

2. What did the people want to name the baby?

• __________________________________________

3. What did Elizabeth say the baby name would be?

• __________________________________________

4. Why was the people surprise about that name?

• ___________________________________________

5. What name did the baby’s father write down?

• ________________________________________________

6. What happen the minute that Zechariah wrote down the name of the baby?

• ____________________________________________

7. What did Zechariah begin to do?

• ____________________________________________

8. Why did the whole neighborhood wonder what the child would grow up to be?

• ___________________________________________________

Find a word:

JUDEAN HILLS                     ELIZABETH

ZECHARIAH                          GESTURES

JOHN                                      SPECIAL

PRAISING                              LORD

GOD                                        TALK 

WONDER                               BOY

PAPER                                    KIND

B	Y	J	O	H	N	T	O	J	E	K
M	I	H	T	A	L	K	S	U	N	I
S	P	E	C	I	A	L	O	D	E	N
O	R	S	E	R	U	T	S	E	G	D
G	A	T	E	A	T	E	O	A	O	G
H	I	L	L	H	B	O	Y	N	D	E
O	S	E	A	C	R	A	E	H	I	T
M	I	H	T	E	B	A	Z	I	L	E
E	N	W	I	Z	D	R	O	L	A	J
C	G	W	O	N	D	E	R	L	T	O
P	A	P	E	R	C	A	R	S	E	E

See how many other words you can find.

Answer Sheet:

1. How old was the baby when the relatives and friends came to see what he would be named?  8 days old
2. What did the people want to name the baby?  Zechariah
3. What did Elizabeth say the baby’s name would be?  John
4. Why was the people surprise about that name?  There was no one in her family with that name
5. What name did the baby’s father write down?  John
6. What happen the minute that Zechariah wrote down the name of the baby?  He could talk again
7. What did Zechariah begin to do? He began praising God
8. Why did the whole neighborhood wonder what the child would grow up to be?  For the hand of the Lord was surely on him in a very special way.

 

John the Baptist...Chapter 1... An Angel tells of the Coming Birth of John the Baptist

This lesson is taken from Luke 1:5-25

During the rule of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who served in the priestly group of Abijah.  His wife Elizabeth was from the family line of Aaron, Moses’ brother.  They both were righteous in God's eyes.  They were careful to obey the Lord's commandments and rules without failure and to do what was required of them.  They didn't have any children and now they both were well along in years.

 

Once when Zechariah and the rest of the priest in his group was serving in God’s temple, they drew lots to see who would be the one to go into the Sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord’s presence.  Now drawing lots for this job was the custom of the priesthood. (Drawing lots is something like drawing names to see who would go first.)  Zechariah was the one who was chosen to go into the Sanctuary of the temple to burn incenses to the Lord.  While he was burning the incense all the other worshipers was gathered outside and was praying.

While he was in the Sanctuary an angel of the Lord appeared to him.  The angel stood at the right side of the incense altar.  When Zechariah saw the angel he was surprised and terribly afraid.

But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah!  For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will have a son!  And you are to name him John.  Your son will bring you great joy and gladness, and many people will rejoice with you at your son’s birth.  For your son will be great in the sight of the Lord.  He is never to drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.  He will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God.  He will teach the people before the Lord comes, preparing the people for the Lord coming.  He will be a man with the Spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old.  He will turn the heart of the fathers to their children and he will change disobedient people minds to accept the wisdom of the righteous people.  This will make the people ready for the Lord."

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel!  I stand in the very presence of God.  It was God who sent me to bring you this good news!  And now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you won’t be able to speak again until the child is born.  For what I have told you will certainly come true at the proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out, and they were wondering why he was staying so long in the temple.  When he finally did come out of the temple, he couldn’t speak to the people.  Then they realized that he must have seen a vision in the temple sanctuary, for he kept making signs to them, but he remained silent for he was unable to speak.

When Zechariah time of service at the temple was finished, he returned home.   Soon after this his wife, Elizabeth, became with child and for five months she didn’t go out around people.  Elizabeth said, "How kind the Lord is!  For the Lord has taken away my disgrace of having no children!”

Questions:

 1.  What was the name of the priest that the lesson was about?

• ___________________________________

2.  What was the name of his wife?

• _____________________________________

3.  The priest’s wife was from the family line of Moses’ brother.  What was Moses’ brother name?

•       _______________________

 4.   What did all the priests do to find out who would go into the Sanctuary to burn incense?

•      __________________________

 5.  While Zechariah was burning the incense what were the other worshipers doing outside? 

•       _____________________________

 6.  Who appeared to the priest while he was in the Sanctuary?

• _______________________________

7.  What did the angel tell Zechariah about Elizabeth?

• _____________________________________

8.  What was Zechariah to name the baby?

• ______________________________

9.  Let’s see what the angel said about the baby:

1. Your son will be great in the sight of the ___________
2. He is never to drink ___________ or __________ drink
3. He will be filled with the _____________   ___________ from birth
4. He will bring many of the people of Israel back to the __________ their ________
5. He will teach the people before the ___________ comes, preparing the people for the _____________ coming.
6. He will be a man with the _______________ and ___________ of Elijah, the prophet of old.
7. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their _________________
8. He will change _________________ people minds to accept the wisdom of the righteous people.
9. This will make the people ready for the _______________

10.  What did the angel Gabriel tell Zechariah would happen to him, since he didn’t believe what the angel   told him? 

• ______________________

11.  Why didn’t he believe the angel?

•  ___________________

12.  When Elizabeth found out she was with child.  What did she say the Lord had done?

• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________
• ____________________________________________ 
• ____________________________________________

Answer Sheet:

1.What was the name of the priest that the lesson was about? Zechariah

2.What was the name of his wife?  Elizabeth

3.The priest’s wife was from the family line of Moses’ brother.  What was Moses’ brother name? Aaron

  4.   What did all the priests do to find out who would go into the Sanctuary to burn incense?  They drew lots

5. While Zechariah was burning the incense what were the other worshipers doing outside?  praying
6. Who appeared to the priest while he was in the Sanctuary?  And angel of the Lord / the angel Gabriel
7. What did the angel tell Zechariah about Elizabeth?  That Elizabeth would have a son
8. What was Zechariah to name the baby? John
9. Let’s see what the angel said about the baby:
1. Your son will be great in the sight of the Lord
2. He is never to drink wine  or strong drink
3. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth

                  d.  He will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God

e.      He will teach the people before the Lord comes, preparing the people for the Lord’s coming.

f.        He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old.

g.      He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children.

h.      He will change disobedient people minds to accept the wisdom of the righteous people.

i.        This will make the people ready for the Lord.

10. What did the angel Gabriel tell Zechariah would happen to him, since he didn’t believe what the angel told him?  He wouldn’t be able to speak
11. Why didn’t he believe the angel?

He was an old man and Elizabeth was well along in years

12. When Elizabeth found out she was with child.  What did she say the Lord had done?  The Lord had taken away her disgrace of having no children.