Part One - Pray Like Jesus Taught
Part One - Pray Like Jesus Taught
In its’ broadest definition prayer is communicating with God. This can be done audibly as God hears our
words, or silently as God knows our thoughts. And, because communication is two way, prayer can include
both speaking to God and listening to God speak. Sometimes prayer moves the hand of God, but it often
changes the hearts of men and women as in prayer we capture something of God’s heart and are brought
into agreement with and trust in him.
While, there are times when we pray to God the Son (as Stephen did in Acts) or to the Holy Spirit,
generally speaking prayer is Trinitarian. This means that Christian prayer is to Father, through the Son, by
the presence and power of the indwelling Spirit. Furthermore, Jesus prayers are a glimpse into the loving
communion found in the Trinity. And, our prayers as Christians are our participation in the life of the
Trinity. Regarding Trinitarian prayer the following are examples of this biblical truth that prayer is:
To Father
• Mark 14:36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me.
Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
• Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have
received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Through Son
• 1 Timothy 2:5… there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus.”
By Spirit
• Luke 10:21-22 “ he [Jesus] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed
them to little children; yes, Father, for as such was your gracious will. All things have been
handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the
Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
• Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying,
“Abba! Father!”
• And in answer to Luke 11:1 where the disciples ask Jesus “Lord teach us to pray” Jesus says in
Luke 11:13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Pray in faith
• Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
• Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and
it will be yours.
Pray succinctly
• Matthew 6:6-7 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father
who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not
heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many
words.
• Mark 12:40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive
the greater condemnation.”
Pray in God’s will
• John 16:23-24 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask
of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Pray humbly
• Luke 18:8-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,
and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and
the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I
am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a
week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up
his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will
be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Pray fervently
• Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose
heart.