Church Defined // Week 5 // PRAYERS

Church Defined: (Week 5)  PRAYERS

Acts 2:42 NIV 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

Praying with Thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Colossians 4:2 NIV

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 

James 5:13-16 NIV 

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other  and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 

Praying for the Sick.

Acts 3:10 

 “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly healed!!!

Matthew 10:1 NIV Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Luke 9:1-2 NIV When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 

Luke 9:6 NASB - Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Mark 6:13 NASB - And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

Acts 5:16 NASB - Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Ephesians 1:18-21 NIV

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

3. Praying God’s Word. 

Ephesians 3:10-11 NIV 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold  wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Ephesians 3:12 NIV

12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 

4. Praying in the Spirit

Ephesians 6:18 NIV

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Romans 8:26-28 NIV

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

1 Corinthians 14:15 NIV

15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 

Questions:

What are 3 things that you can spend time thanking God for that might change the way you see your current season? How can practice being more thankful every day?What are 2 ways you might be able to strengthen your faith concerning praying for the sick?Did Do you pray God’s Word daily? Why or why not? If not, How might you be able to include this in your daily habits?Do you pray in the Spirit regularly? If not, what is keeping you from asking God for this way to pray or what is keeping you from stepping out in faith and practicing it?