Central thought: The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth.
Hymn: What a friend we have in Jesus
Text: 2 Kings 19:10-20, 35-36, 20:1-6, 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
There are many situations we face in life as believers which may seem very difficult and unpleasant, and the believer may become discouraged and feel like giving up. But prayer offers the believer the strength to perservere until the expected change comes. Job knew this so well that he rightly said “all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes”Job 14:14b. The Scriptures are replete with cases of people who when faced with very difficult situations prayed fervently to God and their stories changed for good. God brought about a turnaround.
Therefore, it is imperative for every believer who desires a positive change in life, a successful and fruitful life in Christ, to be fervent in prayer. It is only through prayer that this change can come and be sustained.
Lesson Objectives:
- To explain the meaning of prayer.
- To Discuss how believers should pray.
- To highlight some ingredients to effective prayer.
- To discuss some practical situations from scripture of exploits done through prayers.
Question 1.) What does prayer mean?
1 Samuel 1:15-16, Luke 11:1-4
Prayer can rightly be said to be the means through which the believer communicates to God our Heavenly father. For this communication to be effective there must be a standing or existing relationship between the two parties. It therefore follows that it is only those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and personal Saviour that are qualified to partake in this relationship.
Prayer is essentially a two-way communication. As we commune with our Heavenly Father in the place of prayer, pouring out our hearts to Him., He in turn responds by ministering to us through the Holy Spirit. Thus prayer provides the avenue through which we can come into God’s presence and enjoy fellowship with Him. Jesus said “Verily, Verily, I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you” John 16:23. The death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ has given us access to the throne of grace.
Question 2.) How should believers pray?
Matthew 6:5-15, John 14:13, Hebrews 11:6
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus taught on how the believers should pray. First of all, the one praying must acknowledge God as Father. The implication of this is that such a person must have accepted Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour. In acknowledging God as our Father, we must come to Him in worship and adoration before we begin to make our petitions known to Him. In addition, we must not harbor any unforgiveness while praying.
We are to present our requests to God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, we must ask in faith believing that God is able to accomplish that which we ask of Him.
Question 3.) What are some of the ingredients to effective prayer?
Psalms 1:1-2, Joshua 1:8, Romans 8:26, 27, John 14:26, Hebrews 11:6
For our prayers to be effective there are certain ingredients that must be present. First of all, we must not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful. The word of God is a very vital ingredient to effective prayer. We must study the word, meditate on the word and observe to do according to all that is written therein. The word of God reveals the mind of God to us. We need to arm ourselves with the word of God in the place of prayer, as prophet Hosea said “Take with you words and turn to the LORD” Hosea 14:2. We need the help of the Holy Spirit in our prayer because most times we do not know what to pray for, as we ought, but the Spirit helps our infirmities and makes intercession for us with groaning’s that cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26, 27. The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God concerning every situation of our lives and so He (the Holy Spirit) reveals the mind of God to us so we can pray aright. Faith is also a vital ingredient for effective prayer. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Question 4.) Mention some hindrances to effective prayer.
Isaiah 59:1-2, Hebrews 12:14, Mark 11:25, 26, James 1:6, 7, 1 Peter 3:7
There are many hindrances to effective prayer. One of such could be unconfessed sin. The Psalmist said “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” Psalm 66:18. Refusal to forgive those who offend us is another hindrance.
Unbelief and doubt can also constitute hindrances to effective prayer. A double minded person will not receive anything from the Lord. When we pray outside the will of God our prayers will not be answered. James 4:3. We must keep trusting and holding unto God till we receive the answer to our prayers. Marital discord can be a hindrance. Peter admonished in 1 Peter 3:7 that “…. Husband dwell with them according to knowledge giving honor unto the wife., that your prayers be not hindered”.
Question 5.) Discuss some practical situations from scripture of exploits done through prayers.
We can see from scripture many situations that affirmed that prayer changes things. Some of such situations are discussed below:
- Fruit in Marriage- Genesis 25:20-24, 1 Samuel 1:5-11, 15,20
“And Isaac in treated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was in treated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived” Genesis 25:21. We also see in the scriptures the story of Hannah, who prayed fervently to God asking for a child and her request was granted unto her. She also conceived and gave birth to Samuel.
- National threat of war- 2 Kings 19:10-20, 35-36, 2 Chronicles 20
Hezekiah the king of Judah was threatened by Sennacherib king of Assyria. He sent a letter through his messengers to Hezekiah threatening him with war. When Hezekiah read the letter, he went up into the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. He prayed to the Lord. Immediately after Hezekiah’s prayer God sent the prophet Isaiah to him saying “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, that which thou has prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard” 2 Kings 19:20. That same night the angel of the Lord went into the camp of the Assyrians and killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand people. Sennacherib went back from the battle but was killed by his two sons as he was worshipping in the house of his god Nishroch.
King Jehoshaphat another king of Judah had a similar experience when the land was besieged by the children of Moab, Ammon and Mount Sier. “And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord” 2 Chronicles 20:3-4. God answered and set an ambushment against the children of Ammon, Moab and mount Seir. They stood against each other and destroyed themselves.
We saw from the two situations, that God was the one who fought the battles for His people. The weapon they used was prayer and God gave them victory over their enemies.
- Sickness unto death- 2 Kings 20:1-6, 1 Kings 17:17-23, Acts 9:36-41
God is our healer. Through prayers we can receive healing. God can even raise the dead if only we can pray and believe in God’s ability to bring it to pass. The two instances mentioned here affirm this. When King Hezekiah was sick nigh unto death, God sent a message through the prophet Isaiah to him to set his house in order because he was going to die. When he heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to God; his prayer changed the situation. God healed him of the sickness and added to him fifteen more years. Similarly, when the son of the widow in Zarephath died, Elijah the prophet prayed and God restored the life of the child. In Acts 9:36-41, the record of how the Apostle Peter prayed for Dorcas and she was brought back to life. It is no controversy prayer changes things.
- Drought in the land- 1 Kings 17:1, 18:42-45, James 5:17, 18
Elijah, the prophet prayed that rain would not fall in the land of Israel for a space of three and a half years. God answered and for the period there was neither dew nor rain. After three and a half years, Elijah prayed again that there should be rain. God answered his prayer and there was a great rain. God is the one “That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of His messengers” Isaiah 44:26a.
- Death sentence and the revelation of secret- Daniel 2:17-19
The scripture tells us that God is the revealer of secrets. Daniel and his other Hebrew friends were faced with a death sentence along with the sorcerers and magicians of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and the dream troubled him. He called on all the sorcerers and magicians of Babylon to show him the dream. They were not able to do so. The king had given a warning that if they could not tell the dream. The would be killed. Daniel brought the matter to his friends and they prayed concerning the matter. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision by God.
- Imprisonment- Acts 12:3-16, 16:19-27
Peter was cast into prison by Herod the king and the church gathered together to pray for his release. As they were still praying, an angel of the Lord went into the prison where Peter was sleeping between two soldiers and woke him up, the chains with which his hands were tied fell off and the angel led Peter out through the gates. When they got to an iron gate that led to the city, it opened by itself and Peter was released. He immediately went to the place where the brethren were praying. Even when the young girl informed the people that it was Peter they were astonished.
When Paul and Silas were cast into prison, they prayed and sang and the other prisoners heard them. There was a great earthquake which caused the foundations of the prison to be shaken. Immediately, all the doors were opened and all their hands were loosed. This also led to the release of Paul and Silas.
These instances show us that prayer changes things.
Daily Living Application
There are various challenges we face on a daily basis as we journey through life’s pilgrimage. As we commit these challenges into the hands of Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think, we being to receive answers to our prayers, this puts our minds at peace. We must therefore learn to travail in prayer until our change comes.
Memory Verse:
Hebrews 4:1
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need”.
Daily Devotional Guide:
Monday: Prayer is communication with our Heavenly Father
1 Samuel 1:15-16, Luke 11:1-4
Tuesday: How are we to pray?
Matthew 6:5-15, John 14:13, 14, Hebrews 11:6
Wednesday: Ingredients for effective prayer.
Psalms 1:1-2, Romans 8:26,27
Thursday: Prayer changing things for our marriage.
Genesis 25:20-24, 1 Samuel 1:5-11, 15-20
Friday: Prayer changing drought in the land
1 Kings 17:1, 18:42-45, James 5:17-18
Saturday: Prayer on National threat of war
2 Kings 19:10-20, 35, 36, 2 Chronicles 20