PrayerStudy 1

Hook:Whatwordsdoyouthinkofwhenyouthinkof‘Prayer’?Howmanyofyouhavequestionsaboutprayer?Whatarethey?IfyouweretostandwithJesus,whatquestionswouldyouaskhimaboutprayer?Whenhasprayerbeenstrongestinyourlife?Whatwerethecircumstances?Ifyourprayerlifewerethewayyouwoulddesire,whatwoulditlooklike?Whatmotivatesyoutopraymost?IfprayerisaresponsetoGod,whatsortofencounterwithHimwouldcompelyoutopraywell?Whatdoyouthinkaboutthefollowingquotes?IfwewerereallyconvincedthatprayerchangesthewaythatGodacts,andthatGoddoesbringaboutremarkablechangesintheworldinresponsetoprayer,asscripturerepeatedlyteachesthathedoes,thenwewouldpraymuchmorethanwedo.Ifwepraylittle,itisprobablybecausewedonotreallybelievethatprayeraccomplishesmuchatall.WayneGrudem‘SystematicTheology’Genuineprayerisconversationwithapersonwhomweknowwell,andwhoknowsus.Suchgenuineconversationbetweenpersonswhoknoweachotherneverdependsontheuseofcertainformulasorrequiredwords,butisamatterofsincerityinourspeechandinourheart,amatterofrightattitudesandamatteroftheconditionofourspirit.WayneGrudem‘SystematicTheology’ThesovereignGodonhisthrone,whohasplannedallthingsfromthebeginningtoendhasarrangedHisplaninsuchawaythattheprayersofthesaintsareoneofthemajormeansHeusestoaccomplishHisfinalgoal.InsteadofthesovereigntyofGodclashingwiththeprayersofthebeliever,thetwoactuallypresupposeoneanotherandfulfillandundergirdoneanother.DouglasKellyIfGodAlreadyKnows,WhyPray?Ifyouabideinmeand,andmywordsabideinyou,youshallaskwhatyouwillanditshallbedoneuntoyou.John15:7Truly,truly,Isayuntoyou,whatsoeveryoushallaskthefatherinmyname,hewillgiveittoyou.Untilnowyouhaveaskednothinginmyname,askandyoushallreceive,thatyourjoymaybefull.John16:23‐24Look:John17

Thispassagehashistoricallybeencalled‘Jesus’HighPriestlyPrayer’.ObviouslyJesus’prayersaremodelsofhowwemightpraysoitservesuswelltotakeadeeperlookatthispassagebeforeus.ThisisalsoaprayerthattakesplacesoonbeforeJesuswouldreturntoHisFather’sside.ThereforeitwouldseemtoholdincreasedsignificanceasitisoneofthelasttimeswehearfromJesusandindeedthelongestprayerthatwehaverecordedofHis.SearchdeeperintothisprayerandaskJesustoteachyouaboutprayer!

‐Background:ThisprayertakesplacerightafterthelastsupperandjustbeforeJesuswouldbetakenintocaptivity.ThesearesomeofHislastwordstothedisciplesthroughthemlisteningintoHisprayer.‐Purpose:“FatherglorifyyoursonthattheSonmayglorifyyou.”17:1bTakecareofthebelieversafterJesusleaves.

PrayerStudy

Cornerstone

Leaders’sGuide

PrayerStudy 2

‐Attitude:(Heusesthepronoun‘you’overandover)HeconstantlypraisesHisFather.Heacknowledgeswhohasdonetherealwork.Hisrolewastodothevisiblework,God’swastofulfilltheworkandsotheglorygoestoHim.Antithesis‐Me,Me,Me,‘My’life,‘My’ministry,‘My’glorification,lookwhat‘I’havedone.

Whatisthesurroundingcontextofthispassage? WhatdoesJesusprayforinthispassage?Take5minutestowritedownallthatyouseehim

actuallyprayfor. WhatwasJesus’demeanorbeforetheFatherinthispassage? Accordingtothispassage,whypray?WhatmotivatesJesustopray? Asacorollary,whatarepotentialwrongmotivationstopray?

1.Protectionvs.6‐12Mainidea:Hereallysensedthebattletomakethisthefirstthingheprayed.Doyouliveorpraylikethereisdanger?Whatifyoudidsensethedangerragingforthesoulsofmankind?Whatwoulditdotoyourprayerlife?

WhymightJesus’firstprayerbeforprotection? Nomatter‘why’,whatdoesitshowabouthisconcernforbelievers? Ifyouwereaparent,howwouldyouprotectyourchildren?Whatarethingsinthisworldthat

youwouldwantthemtobeprotectedfrom? Aretherethingsyoudon’tunderstandabouthowHeisprotectingyouorotherspotentially?

2.FullmeasureofJoyvs.13‐16MainIdea:Jesusisconcernednotjustwithobedienceofhisfollowers,butwithjoythatwouldleadtoobedience!Thisis‘EncounterandRespond’language.IfwewouldhaveajoyencounterwithGod,wewouldrespondinobedience.

IfyouaskedtheaverageAmericanwhattheywouldthinkJesuswouldbemostconcernedabout,whatdoyouthinktheywouldsay?

Obeying,followingtherules,beingagoodpersonetc.Interestingthathepraysforprotection,thenjoy! ‐Whatareyouprayingforothers….JoyinChrist?Whatareyouexperiencing?Don’tweusually

prayforotherswhatwewantorareexperiencingourselves?WheredoesthepowerforyourChristianlifestemfrom?

3.Sanctifythembytruthvs.17‐19MainIdea:Onceagain,isn’titinterestingtolookatthatforwhichHepraystotheFather?Sanctify‐‘tosetapartforHoliness’.‐Heknows2000yearsbeforeourtimethattheconceptof‘Truth’wouldbecrucialtoourgrowthinfaith.Todaythereisabattle,(rememberpoint#1)fortruthandtheoutcomeofthebattlewilldeterminetheoutflowofjoyintoourlives(#2).Thebattlefortruthisamajorcomponenttooursanctification.

1Thess2:13ButweoughtalwaystogivethankstoGodforyou,brothersbelovedbytheLord,becauseGodchoseyouasthefirstfruitstobesaved,throughsanctificationbytheSpiritandbeliefinthetruth.1Thess5:23‐NowmaytheGodofpeacehimselfsanctifyyoucompletely,andmayyourwholespiritandsoulandbodybekeptblamelessatthecomingofourLordJesusChrist.Ephesians6:25‐27Husbands,loveyourwives,asChristlovedthechurchandgavehimselfupforher,26thathemightsanctifyher,havingcleansedherbythewashingofwaterwiththeword,27sothathemightpresentthechurchtohimselfinsplendor,withoutspotorwrinkleoranysuchthing,thatshemightbeholyandwithoutblemish.Romans6:19Iamspeakinginhumanterms,becauseofyournaturallimitations.Forjustasyouoncepresentedyourmembersasslavestoimpurityandtolawlessnessleadingtomorelawlessness,sonowpresentyourmembersasslavestorighteousnessleadingtosanctification.

PrayerStudy 3

‐Sanctificationreallyhas3parts.Wewere‘sanctified’inonesensethemomentweweresaved.1Thess2:13.WeweresetapartforJesusandbyJesuscompletely.Secondly,inthemorecommonusage,weareconstantlysanctifiedbytheSpiritworkinginourlives.Itishisworkandheisalwaysworkinginus.LifeasaChristianisaconstantsanctificationprocessofbecomingmoreandmorelikeChrist.Thirdly,wehaveapartoftheprocessaswepursuetheSpirit’scontrolofourlife.ItisHisworkwhichweworkoutinourlives.

Whatdoes‘Sanctify’mean?Whendoestheprocessofsanctificationbegininone’slife?Whocontrolsthesanctificationprocessinourlives?

WhatdifferencedoesitmaketoknowthatJesusprayedforoursanctification2000yearsago? Whatdoesheimplymightbeabarriertooursanctification?

Truth…. Howmightthisbeabarriertooursanctificationprocess?

JesuspraysthattheWordwillgiveustruth.Thewordplaysapartinoursanctification. Ifthewordisnotaregularpartofourlives,sanctificationwillbestunted.

Howmightweworkwiththespirittobesanctified? WhatisGod’spartandwhatisourpartintheprocess?

4.Unityvs.20‐23MainIdea:ThereisaplanofmultiplicationinJesus’prayer.Itishisdesigntouseasmallnumberofdisciplestogrowamovementthatwouldimpacttheworld.ItmightbesaidthatthegreatestimpactJesushashadwastoprayforthebelieverstomultiplytheirlivesandgrowintoaunifiedChurch.YouandIcanjoininthemissionalplanofJesusbyprayingforthedevelopmentandunityoftheChurcharoundtheworld!ThatisHisdesiresoweknowthereispowerbehindourprayforit.

Paraphrasethissectioninyourownwords….Take2minutesalone… Whyisunityinthechurchsoimportant? Doyousenseunityinthechurch?Why/Whynot? Whatarethedangersofyourpersonallynotbeingconnectedtoalocalchurch? Whatisanextstepforyoutobeapartofthefulfillmentofthisprayer?

5.GloriousSalvationvs.24‐26MainIdea:JesuswantsustobewithHim.Hewantsthosethatdon’tknowHimtocometofaithinHim.IfHepraysthiswayweknowthatitisHiswillandwecanprayalongsideHiminthisway.ThisisagreatconfidencetohearHisprayerforusandthosethatstilldon’tknowHim.

Whatimpactdoesthissectionmakeonyou? Howdoyouapplythissection? WhatdoyouthinkitwillbeliketoexperienceHisglory?

Took:Reflect:Whatdifferencedoesthisprayermaketoyou?Howdoesitmotivateyoutowardsprayer?Whatdoyouwanttotakeawayandremember?Taketimetowritedownacoupleprayersineachcategoryandplaceinyourjournal……

PrayerStudy 4

Forfurtherreflectionandpersonalstudy:Ephesians1:15‐23Forthisreason,becauseIhaveheardofyourfaithintheLordJesusandyourlovetowardallthesaints,16Idonotceasetogivethanksforyou,rememberingyouinmyprayers,17thattheGodofourLordJesusChrist,theFatherofglory,maygiveyouaspiritofwisdomandofrevelationintheknowledgeofhim,18havingtheeyesofyourheartsenlightened,thatyoumayknowwhatisthehopetowhichhehascalledyou,whataretherichesofhisgloriousinheritanceinthesaints,19andwhatistheimmeasurablegreatnessofhispowertowarduswhobelieve,accordingtotheworkingofhisgreatmight20thatheworkedinChristwhenheraisedhimfromthedeadandseatedhimathisrighthandintheheavenlyplaces,21faraboveallruleandauthorityandpoweranddominion,andaboveeverynamethatisnamed,notonlyinthisagebutalsointheonetocome.22Andheputallthingsunderhisfeetandgavehimasheadoverallthingstothechurch,23whichishisbody,thefullnessofhimwhofillsallinall.Colossians1:3‐14WealwaysthankGod,theFatherofourLordJesusChrist,whenweprayforyou,4sinceweheardofyourfaithinChristJesusandofthelovethatyouhaveforallthesaints,5becauseofthehopelaidupforyouinheaven.Ofthisyouhaveheardbeforeinthewordofthetruth,thegospel,6whichhascometoyou,asindeedinthewholeworlditisbearingfruitandgrowing—asitalsodoesamongyou,sincethedayyouhearditandunderstoodthegraceofGodintruth,7justasyoulearneditfromEpaphrasourbelovedfellowservant.HeisafaithfulministerofChristonyourbehalf8andhasmadeknowntousyourloveintheSpirit.9Andso,fromthedayweheard,wehavenotceasedtoprayforyou,askingthatyoumaybefilledwiththeknowledgeofhiswillinallspiritualwisdomandunderstanding,10soastowalkinamannerworthyoftheLord,fullypleasingtohim,bearingfruitineverygoodworkandincreasingintheknowledgeofGod.11Mayyoubestrengthenedwithallpower,accordingtohisgloriousmight,forallenduranceandpatiencewithjoy,12givingthankstotheFather,whohasqualifiedyoutoshareintheinheritanceofthesaintsinlight.13HehasdeliveredusfromthedomainofdarknessandtransferredustothekingdomofhisbelovedSon,14inwhomwehaveredemption,theforgivenessofsins.Matthew6:5‐15 “Andwhenyoupray,youmustnotbelikethehypocrites.Fortheylovetostandandprayinthesynagoguesandatthestreetcorners,thattheymaybeseenbyothers.Truly,Isaytoyou,theyhavereceivedtheirreward.6Butwhenyoupray,gointoyourroomandshutthedoorandpraytoyourFatherwhoisinsecret.AndyourFatherwhoseesinsecretwillrewardyou.7“Andwhenyoupray,donotheapupemptyphrasesastheGentilesdo,fortheythinkthattheywillbeheardfortheirmanywords.8Donotbelikethem,foryourFatherknowswhatyouneedbeforeyouaskhim.9Praythenlikethis:“OurFatherinheaven,hallowedbeyourname.10Yourkingdomcome,yourwillbedone,onearthasitisinheaven.11Giveusthisdayourdailybread,12andforgiveusourdebts,aswealsohaveforgivenourdebtors.13Andleadusnotintotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil.14Forifyouforgiveotherstheirtrespasses,yourheavenlyFatherwillalsoforgiveyou,15butifyoudonotforgiveotherstheirtrespasses,neitherwillyourFatherforgiveyourtrespasses.

PrayerStudy 5

Matthew7:7“Ask,anditwillbegiventoyou;seek,andyouwillfind;knock,anditwillbeopenedtoyou.8Foreveryonewhoasksreceives,andtheonewhoseeksfinds,andtotheonewhoknocksitwillbeopened.9Orwhichoneofyou,ifhissonaskshimforbread,willgivehimastone?Matthew18:19AgainIsaytoyou,iftwoofyouagreeonearthaboutanythingtheyask,itwillbedoneforthembymyFatherinheaven.John14:13Andwhatsoeveryoushallaskinmyname,thatwillIdo,thattheFathermaybeglorifiedintheSon.14Ifyoushallaskanythinginmyname,Iwilldoit.John15:16Youhavenotchosenme,butIhavechosenyou,andordainedyou,thatyoushouldgoandbringforthfruit,andthatyourfruitshouldremain:thatwhatsoeveryoushallaskoftheFatherinmyname,hemaygiveityou.John16:23Andinthatdayyoushallaskmenothing.Truly,truly,Isayuntoyou,WhatsoeveryoushallasktheFatherinmyname,hewillgiveityou.24Untilnow,youhaveaskednothinginmyname:ask,andyoushallreceive,thatyourjoymaybefull.Philippians4:6Beanxiousfornothing;butineverythingbyprayerandsupplicationwiththanksgivingletyourrequestsbemadeknownuntoGod.Philippians4:19ButmyGodshallsupplyallyourneedsaccordingtohisrichesinglorybyChristJesus.James1:5Ifanyofyoulackswisdom,lethimaskGod,whogivesgenerouslytoallwithoutreproach,anditwillbegivenhim.James4:2Youlust,andhavenot:youkill,anddesiretohave,andcannotobtain:youfightandwar,yetyouhavenot,becauseyouasknot.1John3:22Andwhatsoeverweask,wereceiveofhim,becausewekeephiscommandments,anddothosethingsthatarepleasinginhissight.1John5:14Andthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinhim,that,ifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswill,hehearsus:15Andifweknowthathehearsus,whatsoeverweask,weknowthatwehavethepetitionsthatweaskofhim.BooksonprayerIfGodAlreadyKnows,WhyPray?,DouglasKellyPrayingwithYourEyesOpen,RichardPrattPrayer,E.MBoundsIntercessoryPrayer,DutchSheetsDestinedfortheThrone,PaulBillheimerLettheNationsbeGlad,JohnPiper