PRAYER BIBLE STUDY

by Elliott Nesch

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall 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. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

--Matthew 7: 7 - 9

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

--James 1: 5

[19] Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

[20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

[21] Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

--Matthew 17:19-21

[38] Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

--Mark 13:48

[3] And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

[4] And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

--Revelation 8:3,4s

PRAYERFULNESS:

[10] Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

--Daniel 6:10

[17] Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

--Psalm 55:17

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

--Luke 2: 36 - 38

Now it came to pass in those days that He went to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

--Luke 6: 12

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith.

--1 Thessalonians 3: 9, 10

PRAYERLESSNESS:

"I will stretch out My hand against Judah, 

And against the inhabitants of Jersalem. . . 

Those who have turned back from following the Lord,

And have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him."

--Zephaniah 1: 4, 6

PRAY ALWAYS:

[32] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

[33] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

[34] And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

[35] For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

[36] Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

--Luke 21:32-36

[12] And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

--Luke 6:12

. . . 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

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

--1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18

POWER OF PRAYER:

[5] Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

[6] And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

[7] And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

--Acts 12:5-7

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast  into the sea,' it will be done. And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

--Matthew 21: 21, 22

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

--John 15: 7

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY:

[4] Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

[5] But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

[6] For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

--1 Corinthians 11:4-6

[46] Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

[47] Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

--Luke 20:47

WHAT AND WHO SHOULD WE PRAY FOR:

[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

[10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

[11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

--Philipians 1:9-11

[9] For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

--Colossians 1:9

[12] Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

--Colossians 4:12

[25] Brethren, pray for us.

--1 Thessalonians 5:12

[1] Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

--2 Thessalonians 3:1

[13] Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

[14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

[16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

--James 5:13-16

[1] I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

[2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

--1 Timothy 2:1,2

[28] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

--Luke 6:28

[2] Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

--Luke 10:2

WHAT NOT TO PRAY FOR:

[16] If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

--1 John 5:16

[4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

[5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

[6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

--Hebrews 6:4,6

[29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

--Hebrews 10:29

[16] Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

--Jeremiah 7:16

THE MODEL PRAYER:

[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

[11] Give us this day our daily bread.

[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

--Matthew 6:9-13

THE ONLY GROUND FOR CLAIMING BLESSING IS DEPENDENT UPON THE MERIT OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE GLORY OF HIS NAME:

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

--John 14: 13, 14

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

--John 15: 16

IF WE REGARD SIN IN OUR HEARTS, THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR OUR PRAYERS, FOR IT WOULD BE CONDONING INIQUITY:

One who turns his ear from hearing the law,

Even his prayer shall be an abomination 

--Proverbs 28: 9

[9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

--1 John 3:9

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

--1 John 3: 22

[8] The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

[29] The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

--Proverbs 15:8,29

[17] I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

[18] If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

[19] But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

[20] Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

-- Psalm 66:17-20

[15] And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

--Isaiah 1:15

HAVE FAITH IN GOD'S WORD AND PROMISES:

[6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

[7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

[8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

--James 1:6-8

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

--Mark 11: 24

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

--Hebrews 11: 6

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled to refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest, forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

--Hebrews 6: 13 - 20

So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

--Matthew 17: 20, 21

And if w know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

--1 John 5: 15

[8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

--1 Timothy 2:8

[17] And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

[18] And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

[19] He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

[20] And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

[21] And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

[22] And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

[23] Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

[24] And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

--Mark 9:17-24

OUR PRAYERS MUST BE ASKED IN ACCORDANCE TO GOD'S WILL AND NOT OUR OWN LUSTS:

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

--1 John 5: 14

You ask and do not receive, because you you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

--James 4: 3

"Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven."

--Matthew 6: 10

[4] For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

[5] And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

[6] Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.

[7] When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

--Psalm 109:4-7

WE MUST HAVE HAVE PATIENCE TO WAIT ON GOD AND WAIT FOR GOD:

Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

--James 5: 7

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.' And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

--Luke 18: 1 - 8

[21] Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

[22] And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

[23] But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

[24] But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

[25] Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

[26] But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

[27] And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

[28] Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

--Matthew 15:21-28

[17] And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

[18] And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

[19] And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

[20] And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

[21] And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

[22] And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

[23] And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

[24] And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

--1 Kings17:17-24

COMING IN AGREEMENT

[14] These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

--Acts 1:14

[32] And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

--Acts 4:32

[5] Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

[6] That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

--Romans 15:5-6

[11] Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

--2 Corinthians 13:11

[27] Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

--Philippians 1:27

[2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

--Philippians 2:2

[18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

[19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

--Matthew 18:18-20