Christians are to Pray
Introduction
The very ground for our study is prayer because from the days of Abraham, who as Abram till the day our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven prayer is being emphasized in different forms. Almost everywhere in the world, Christians pray and approach prayer solemnly to God the Creator through Christ and recognize not only the value of prayer but acknowledged man`s dependence upon God especially in their distress and crisis, weaknesses and anguish (See: Psa. 107: 23 – 28). Nothing much is surely known about other religions. But almost all religion recognizes the value of prayer to some higher order of reality when in distress and this instinctive nature of prayer is disclosed in the Bible as the Book of Jonah tried to make out in Jonah 1: 1 – 6.
Let it be borne in our mind that God the Creator of ALL things does not leave the task of caring for His creatures entirely in their hands. Even the word government comes from the idea to govern a land for a supreme ruler and the word governor in a variety of Hebrew and Greek was first use to represent men holding official governmental positions like Joseph (Gen. 42: 6; 45: 26), implying that man`s need to pray is universal and prayer is ineradicable.
With regards to Biblical prayer, the question is whether prayer is compatible or the same with other system of religion and or whether the bible is in cooperation with comparative religious documents concerning the universality of prayer because some religion believe people can seek supernatural help and mercy when in trouble from some forms of gods. This is the claim referenced in the Book of Jonah and the Bible has abundant evidence to save us from this one error. Perhaps, this universal phenomenon about gods attests to why Paul found altars at different turn when he was in Athens (Acts 17: 16 - 34) and why Elijah requested the priests of Baal to cry unto their gods in order to prove Yahweh as the true God in 1Kings 18: 25 – 39.
Simply put, prayer is a universal phenomenon and Christians are commanded to pray. That`s why, to be a Christian is to pray to the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe through Christ. Because the focus and interest of our study is on the role of Biblical prayer, it is good to say the Bible does not debate with other religious way and mode of prayer but encourages praying to God Almighty, the Creator of ALL things. Therefore, it is not wrong for Christians everywhere to understand why people pray to a higher supernatural order. However, there were some situations they must not go beyond. This is the underlying reason why Christianity does not assume on the reality of the existence of a higher supernatural being, but acknowledged Him as the Creator who gives and answer prayers for the sake of Christ and His redeeming work as Savior (Jn. 14: 9 -14; 15: 16; 16: 23 - 24).
QUESTIONS
1. Paul teaches that no matter what man`s understanding of a higher supernatural order may be, men everywhere are expected to seek and depend on the Creator God for worship and to meet their needs (Acts 17: 16 - 31).
A. In Acts 17: 22-23, Paul saw different religious altars including one with the inscription to “The Unknown God.” In your opinion, is the way to worship and prayer the creativity of man considering the mentioned truths related to believers’ spiritual blessings in Ephesians 1: 3 - 14. Discuss
B. Explain what it means that for the first time in Genesis 4: 26 prayer was explicitly mentioned and Noah had erected the first Hebrew altar as a place of prayer after leaving the ark in Genesis 8: 20
C. Did the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray? If yes, why did Jesus teach His disciples and what does Luke 11: 1 - 4 and John 15: 7 teaches us about prayer?
2. It has been observed that prayer is the source of vision, power, creativity and blessings, an unquestioned priority because of its profit.
A. Using the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 1: 17- 23, what would you want the Lord to begin revealing in ECWA Canada.
B. The Bible begins by revealing that dialogues were initiated by God in Gen. 3:8 - 13; 4: 9, how can you explain the language of Job`s conduct about prayer in Job 21: 15. In thinking about it, discuss what you have learned that you frequently express yourself.
3. We know, prayer avails only as it is made with concentration and intensity according to James 5: 15 - 16. Discuss the broader context of the statement
A. What have you observed that James refers to as the ground for answer to prayer in the days of the early church according to Acts 12: 1-17.
B. Explain what is at play when the Lord teaches on the need for detachment and advised on fasting in Matt. 6: 5 – 6, Matt. 14: 22 – 23, Lk. 6: 12 - 19, Mk.1: 35-38; Mk. 9: 14 – 29, Acts 13: 1 - 3.
4. According to Matthew 26: 36 – 46, Jesus took His disciples to the east of the Temple Mount area in Jerusalem and several terms indicate that Jesus was disturbed.
A. Jesus was with His disciples at Gethsemane. Explain how Matthew highlights the weakness and failure of Jesus` disciples. What does that teach you about God`s sovereign plan from the biblical quote in Zech. 13: 7
B. What influence your view of Jesus` relationship with the Father from the key theological declaration in John 10: 30 – 38. Also, note what Colossians 1:16-17 explicitly states as a key part of Christian doctrine.
5. Some people feel the word of Jesus in Gethsemane are most inappropriate about the prospect of the cup that He must drink.
A. How does the following passages shed light on what the cup represents Psa.
75: 7- 8, Isa. 51: 17-23, Jer. 25: 15-16 Ezek. 23: 31-34
B. Overall, discuss why this cup even exist and discuss what does Jesus’
willingness to drink the cup mean for us and how it has influence you to love,
obey and serve Him.
