Prayer is a Duty
Christians are charged to be able to clearly explain their faith, and to be prepared at any time to do so…
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
— 1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV
In the spirit of this command, we will present a series of questions and answers with regard to the basis in Scripture for prayer, why we pray, how we pray, and various aspects of prayer. To be sure, there are many Scripture passages that we might choose, so we will offer some for your consideration. We will begin today with why we pray...
Question: How do we prove from Scripture that prayer is our duty?
Answer: Jesus Christ tells us that we should always pray and not faint…
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
— Luke 18:1-8 NIV
…and the Apostle Paul tells us to pray with out ceasing…
pray continually
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
— 1 Timothy 2:8 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
— Philippians 4:6 NIV
…and there are other passages…
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
— James 5:13-16 NIV
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
— Psalm 27:8 NIV
“Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob,
you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.”
— Isaiah 43:22 NIV
Question: What has God promised to those who are faithful in prayer?
Answer: If we come near to God, He will come near to us. If we call on God, He will hear us…
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
— James 4:8 NIV
“…and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
— Psalm 50:15 NIV
…and there are other passages…
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
— Psalm 145:18-19 NIV
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
— Matthew 7:7, 8 NIV
This third I will bring into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’
— Zechariah 13:9 NIV
Question: What is our conclusion from these?
Answer: It is our duty to come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need…
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
— Hebrews 4:16 NIV
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If you enjoy these postings, we invite you to consider the purchase of our latest offering, “Ruminating on the Psalms, Volume 1,” now available through http://lulu.com/ and through http://amazon.com/.
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But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
— 1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV
In the spirit of this command, we will present a series of questions and answers with regard to the basis in Scripture for prayer, why we pray, how we pray, and various aspects of prayer. To be sure, there are many Scripture passages that we might choose, so we will offer some for your consideration. We will begin today with why we pray...
Question: How do we prove from Scripture that prayer is our duty?
Answer: Jesus Christ tells us that we should always pray and not faint…
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
— Luke 18:1-8 NIV
…and the Apostle Paul tells us to pray with out ceasing…
pray continually
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
— 1 Timothy 2:8 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
— Philippians 4:6 NIV
…and there are other passages…
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
— James 5:13-16 NIV
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
— Psalm 27:8 NIV
“Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob,
you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.”
— Isaiah 43:22 NIV
Question: What has God promised to those who are faithful in prayer?
Answer: If we come near to God, He will come near to us. If we call on God, He will hear us…
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
— James 4:8 NIV
“…and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
— Psalm 50:15 NIV
…and there are other passages…
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
— Psalm 145:18-19 NIV
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
— Matthew 7:7, 8 NIV
This third I will bring into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’
— Zechariah 13:9 NIV
Question: What is our conclusion from these?
Answer: It is our duty to come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need…
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
— Hebrews 4:16 NIV
--------------------
If you enjoy these postings, we invite you to consider the purchase of our latest offering, “Ruminating on the Psalms, Volume 1,” now available through http://lulu.com/ and through http://amazon.com/.
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