Teaching using The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick. Chapters 5 & 6.
There are many activities that may appear to be prayer. But true prayer engages God. With out God involved the activity is not prayer. Closing your eyes and meditating on a subject or person is not prayer. Emptying your mind of all thoughts is not prayer. A moment of silence is not prayer. Chanting a mantra is not prayer. Getting down on your knees, closing your eyes, bowing your head, and repeating words may appear to be prayer, but if this is only a performance for others, it is not prayer.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise 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, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14
Prayer is communicating with God. Sincerely and reverently interacting with the God of the universe. We may deceive ourselves with performances we learned as children or from other church members. We need to be reminded that prayer is not a performance of any type. It is an intimate communication with the Almighty God. We bow our heads before the same God John saw on the Isle of Patmos.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,
and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass,
as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,
and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation 1: 14-16
and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass,
as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,
and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation 1: 14-16
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.
But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,
“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
I am He who lives, and was dead,
and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Revelation 1:17-18
But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,
“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
I am He who lives, and was dead,
and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Revelation 1:17-18
When the ancient Israelites built the temple, they were instructed to hang a heavy curtain between the Holy of Holies and the inner temple. Only the high priest was allowed to enter through the curtain, and only once a year to make atonement for the people’s sin. But we have Jesus, our High Priest who suffered and died as the spotless lamb of God. He made atonement for our sin once and forever. When he died the temple curtain was torn in two.
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;
and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, Matthew 27:51
Now we have forgiveness of sin by grace and are able to approach God through a new and living way.
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:19-23
We no longer fear death when we approach God. Jesus is our mediator. He protects us from the consuming fire of the holiness of God. Only through Christ are we safe. Now we may approach the great and almighty God with confidence.
But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Exodus 33:20
For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Then, what is this prayer that allows us to engage with the almighty God?
Prayer is a way to intimately know, love, and worship God. Prayer is an intimate conversation between to loving parties. It allows us to grow in our knowledge of God, to learn who he is and what he does. The more we know him the deeper our respect and love for him becomes.
Paul prayed for the Ephesus church to grow in the knowledge of God and his love.
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
As we grow in knowledge of God we will grow in dedication, adoration, delight, and submission to God.
Another purpose of prayer is to understand and conform our lives to his will. Through prayer God will change us from the inside. He will show us his ways and then align us to his ways. Christ has first place in all things including our hearts.
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18
We do not ask God to bless what we want to do and the way we want to live. Rather we seek to understand what God wants and do that. God is in charge. We follow him, he does not follow us. The more time we spend in prayer the more we become humble, and obedient just like Jesus.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Corinthians 3:18
Prayer is also to have access to and advance his kingdom, power, and glory. When we pray we are asking God to use his mighty power in our lives and to show us his glory in each situation. God can accomplish anything.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
As we seek his kingdom things around us will fall into place. Prayer allows us the privilege of joining with God in what he is doing in our lives and in the world. God has given us all we need to strengthen us, to work his will in our lives, and to advance his kingdom on earth.
Prayer is not a ritual or a performance. It is a way of knowing God, worshiping God, pleasing God, and humbly doing his will. It is a conversation with the almighty ruler of the universe.
What: Types of Prayer
Though there may be many definitions of types of prayer, the book uses the acronym A.C.T.S to explain four types of prayer. A.C.T.S. means Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Most prayers are one of these types. For your prayer life to grow, each type should be included. Although not every prayer needs to include all four types. God gives us freedom to choose how and when we pray. God does not give strict rules on prayer but he allows us to move between types of prayer.
Adoration is a prayer that praises and worships God. When we worship God, we are not requesting anything. We are telling of his greatness and our adoration for what he has done and will do. We are created to praise God
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace,
by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! Psalms 150:6
Jesus praised God in prayer and taught the disciples to begin prayers with praise.
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name
Matthew 6:9
The word Hallelujah is a command to praise God. Hallel means praise and Yah means God. We are created to praise God. Anytime we offer our hearts, time, money, attention, and service to something we show it to be valuable and important to us. By worshiping God in our prayers and lives we offer the greatest thing to the greatest One. In adoring God, singing in worship, or proclaiming his goodness we are worshiping him. And it is pleasant to God.
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
Psalms 147:1
Through worshiping God, we stop focusing on our problems and turn the focus on God and his goodness. A study of praise in the Bible reveals expressing one of the following things to God.
· A reminder of who God is: You are Creator; You are awesome; Lord of all.
· A recounting of what he has done: You rescued us; You saved us: You provided for me.
· A recognition of His holiness: There is none like you; You are greater than, better than, higher than, more powerful than anything else.
· A rejoicing in His name: We lift up Your name, I praise Your name, we honor Your name.
· A relinquishing of control: I love You and give You my life. I surrender to You, all that I have and am is Yours.
We view life more correctly when praise and worship are part of our life.
Confession is prayer that confronts sin. Being right with God and staying clean before Him is part of having an effective prayer life. Everyone sins and stumbles through life. To truly serve God we must confess and turn away from sin and He is faithful to forgive us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 1 John 1:9
God’s word and Spirit will convict us of our sin, but God has provided a way for us to be forgiven, that is the Cross of Christ. God does not show us our sin to condemn us but rather to help us turn from sin and towards Him for forgiveness.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:19
If we deny our sin or cling to our sin we will miss the true joy and freedom which comes from Christ. Instead we will live lives full of unwanted consequences.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1John 1:8-9
Prayer is an opportunity to be honest with ourselves about things God already knows. If we agree with God in our hearts and deeds then we will have a closer relationship to God and experience greater joy and freedom in Christ.
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
Psalms 62:8
Thanksgiving is God directed, humbly expressed gratitude. Praise focuses on who God is, and thanksgiving focuses on what God does for us.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Ungratefulness is a poisonous sin which leads to jealousy, greed, complaining, theft, envy, and covetousness.
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21
God’s word commands thanksgiving.
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1Thessalonians 5:18
God’s work demands thanksgiving
Save us, O Lord our God,
And gather us from among the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise Psalms 106:47
God enables us to be thankful.
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
We are to be thankful in all situations.
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
But how do we stay thankful when so many things around us can be dark and dreary? We must continue to keep our eyes focused on God and His unchangeable character. The things which cause us to praise God will also cause us to be thankful to God. God is always working for the good of those who love him. Even in bad situations we can know God is working for our good.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:28-29
We remember what He did before. The time He helped us in unforeseen ways. The times He comforted us and lead us to a better place. We remember Jesus’ death on the Christ. How God sacrificed even His own son to save us and brings us into a closer relationship with Him. Even in dark and painful times God is still working for our good.
Supplication is to request something from God. We petition or appeal to God to provide something for us or someone else that only He can provide.
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6:18
Jesus encouraged us to come before God and to seek and find.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
An important supplication is intercession, which involves praying for others. Interceding for someone is to express Christian love for another. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father always interceding for us.
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:34
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because
He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27
A.C.T.S. is a wonderful way to pray. We do not need to include every aspect of A.C.T.S. every time we pray. We should learn to weave all these into our prayer life. It will bring greater blessing and joy into our life.
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