By Steve Murrell
[Paper copies of this booklet are available at church too]
The Bible and Prayer
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" Acts 2:42
Christianity is more than just a religion. It is first and foremost a relationship with God. The foundation of any healthy relationship is communication. The better the communication, the better the relationship will be. God talks to us in many ways but primarily through His Word, the Bible. We talk to Him through prayer. We learn to listen to the sound of God's voice in our lives when we read His Word. He listens to us when we pray. We respond to His Word with action. He responds to our prayers with action.
The Bible
More than just a random collection of stories, poems, and letters, the Bible is the inspired written Word of God. We must follow the example of Job who valued God's Word more than food.
"I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." Job 23:12
Before turning to Christ, we lived by the world's standards. Now we accept the Bible as the final authority for what we believe and how we live. God's Word is the ultimate and absolute standard for every area of life.
What is the Key to Spiritual Growth?
As newborn babies crave milk and need it to grow, so genuine new Christians crave God's Word and need it to grow strong in faith.
"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."1 Peter 2:2-3
The more we hear or read the Bible, the more our faith will grow.
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17
How can I Resist Temptation?
Jesus resisted temptation, not by will power, but by knowing and quoting God's Word. We can win the temptation war the same way, by knowing and speaking God's Word.
"The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."' Matthew 4:3-4
Head knowledge and religious facts don't produce purity and holiness. The Word planted deep in our hearts will keep us from sin.
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word .... 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9, 11
How can I be Successful?
Meditate on God's Word and carefully obey it then success is inevitable. Obedience brings success.
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8
How can I Know God's Will for my Life?
As we renew our minds by studying God's Word, we will be transformed, and we will understand God's will.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
What Happens if I Know God's Word but Don't do What it Says?
The measure of our spiritual progress is not how much of the Bible we know, but how much we obey. Those who constantly learn but fail to obey end up deceiving themselves.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22
Prayer
Jesus is our best example for prayer. By observing His personal prayer life, we can learn important principles on how to have an intimate time of connection with the Father.
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." Luke 11:1
How are we Not to Pray?
Do not pray like the hypocrites.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." Matthew 6:5
Do not pray like the pagans
"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:7-8
How are we to Pray?
Pray to the Father, not to the mother, saints, or angels.
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6
Pray through Jesus. He is the only way to the Father
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus " 1 Timothy 2:5
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
What can we Pray for?
"God's will to be done ... in your life, in your family, in your church, in your city, in your nation, in the whole earth. " ... your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6: 10
Provision ... personal and family needs to be met.
"Give us today our daily bread." Matthew 6:11
Forgiveness ... receive forgiveness from God and forgive those who have offended you. "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12
Victory over temptation ... and protection from the devil's schemes.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13
Does God Really Answer Prayer?
Absolutely! The more specific the prayers, the more specific the answers will be. The secret is to pray according to His will. We know His will by knowing His Word. Therefore, as we pray according to His Word, we know He will answer.
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15
PERSONAL APPLICATION
• Do you have a set time and place for daily Bible reading and prayer?
• Are you involved in a Bible study or discipleship group?
• Have you forgiven all who have sinned against you?
• Begin praying for your "daily bread."
Comments