{"id":3705,"date":"2015-10-17T00:16:59","date_gmt":"2015-10-17T07:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3705"},"modified":"2015-10-17T00:16:59","modified_gmt":"2015-10-17T07:16:59","slug":"1017-how-to-pray-%e8%af%9711949-56-%e6%8f%90%e5%89%8d21-15-%e8%80%b6351-3721","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/17\/1017-how-to-pray-%e8%af%9711949-56-%e6%8f%90%e5%89%8d21-15-%e8%80%b6351-3721\/","title":{"rendered":"10\/17: How to Pray (\u8bd7119:49-56 \u63d0\u524d2:1-15 \u803635:1-37:21)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u8bd7119:49-56 \u63d0\u524d2:1-15 \u803635:1-37:21<\/h2>\n

How to Pray<\/h2>\n
\n

Prayer is the most important activity of your life. It is the main way in which you develop a relationship with our Father in heaven. If you love someone, naturally you will want to spend time in their presence communicating with them. Like any relationship, communication can take many different forms. Lancelot Andrewes (1555\u20131626), one of the great theologians and preachers of his day, wrote two lists in his Private Devotions<\/em>:<\/p>\n

First, he wrote a list of times <\/em>of prayer in the Bible:
\n\u2018Always…
\nWithout ceasing…
\nAt all times…
\nThree times a day…
\nEvening, and morning, and at noon…
\nSeven times a day…
\nIn the morning, a great while before day…
\nAt daybreak…
\nThe third hour of the day…
\nAbout the sixth hour…
\nThe hour of prayer, the ninth…
\nThe evening…
\nBy night…
\nAt midnight… \u2019<\/p>\n

Next, he wrote a list of places <\/em>of prayer in the Bible:
\n\u2018In the assembly… and in the congregation…
\nYour closet…
\nAn upper room…
\nA housetop…
\nThe temple…
\nOn the shore…
\nA garden…
\nOn their beds…
\nA desert place…
\nIn every place… \u2019<\/p>\n

There is no limit to the times, places and different ways in which you can pray.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

1. The word of God, song and prayer in the night<\/h2>\n

Psalm 119:49-56<\/a>Prayer is two-way<\/em> communication. Prayer involves listening to God as well as speaking to him. The main way in which we hear God today is through his word. Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1) and the Bible is all about him. As you study the Bible, pray that God will speak to you through it.<\/p>\n

This will give you \u2018hope\u2019 (Psalm 119:49) in the midst of all the difficulties of life: \u2018These words held me up in bad times; yes your promises rejuvenate me\u2019 (v.50, MSG). You will find comfort in God\u2019s words to you (v.52).<\/p>\n

These words also inspire our worship of God: \u2018your decrees are the theme of my song\u2019 (v.54). So many of the greatest hymns and worship songs are based on the words of the Bible.<\/p>\n

You do not need to confine your prayers to daytime. \u2018In the night I remember your name, O Lord\u2019 (v.55a): this is one of the best ways to use times of wakefulness in the night. It may even be a way to cure insomnia!<\/p>\n

Lord, please speak to me today through your word and bring me hope and comfort. Help me to worship you in songs inspired by your word. Help me to use moments of wakefulness to remember your name and to pray.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2. Requests, prayers, intercession, thanksgiving and raising hands<\/h2>\n

1 Timothy 2:1-15<\/a>What is your first priority? Paul writes, \u2018The first thing I want you to do is pray<\/em>. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know\u2019 (v.1, MSG).<\/p>\n

Do you ever complain about the government or our politicians? If you want good government you must pray for it<\/em>. Paul prioritises prayer \u2018for kings and for those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness\u2019 (v.2).<\/p>\n

If you live in a country with relatively stable government, thank God and pray for continued stability. In much of the world people suffer due to unstable governments and tyranny. The rule of law was a high priority in the prayers of the apostle Paul.<\/p>\n

When there is good and peaceful government it can make it easier to spread the gospel and for as many people as possible to hear the message. \u2018This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people<\/em> to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth\u2019 (vv.3\u20134). God loves every human being. No one is destined by God to be lost. He wants everyone to be saved.<\/p>\n

Jesus died for us all. He \u2018gave himself as a ransom for all<\/em>\u2019 (v.6). This is a beautiful summary of the work of Jesus. Through his mediation and the ransom he paid, it is possible for everyone to experience an intimate relationship with the Father.<\/p>\n

Pray \u2018for everyone you know\u2019 (v.1, MSG). This will include your family, friends, neighbours and anyone for whom the Holy Spirit is prompting you to pray.<\/p>\n

It is interesting to note in passing that there was an expectation that people would lift up their hands in prayer. \u2018Not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God<\/em>\u2019 (v.8, MSG). To pray with raised hands was the common practice in the ancient world. It was taken for granted that Christians, like Jews, would lift up their hands in prayer (v.8).<\/p>\n

This was the traditional form of prayer<\/em>. I often jest that \u2018if you go into a church and see everyone with their hands in the air say, \u201cThis is a traditional church practising ancient <\/em>forms of worship.\u201d If they all have their hands down by their sides that is fine also. Just say, \u201cThis is a modern, trendy church experimenting with new forms of worship<\/em>!\u201d \u2019<\/p>\n

There is a difficult section to expound at the end of today\u2019s passage (vv.9\u201315). Many of the interpretations of this passage do not really fit with the rest of the New Testament where it is clear that women had roles of leadership within the church. Paul speaks of women as apostles and deacons (Romans 16). He expects them to be praying and prophesying in the assembly (1 Corinthians 11).<\/p>\n

Paul also writes that Christ has brought an end to disunity and prejudice on the basis of gender \u2013 in Christ \u2018there is neither… male nor female\u2019 (Galatians 3:28). In Jesus\u2019 ministry we read of Mary of Bethany sitting at Jesus\u2019 feet. In other words, she joined the men in becoming a disciple and a learner (Luke 10:38\u201342).<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s basic point is to insist that women too must be allowed to learn (1 Timothy 2:11) and study as Christians. In order to do that they needed to exercise humility, and not dominate proceedings. The word Paul uses here for \u2018authority\u2019 (authentein<\/em>) is used elsewhere for brutal or domineering forms of leadership \u2013 so this probably refers to particular issues in this congregation, rather than being a more general comment on the leadership of women.<\/p>\n

As The Message<\/em> translation puts it, \u2018I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God… doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it\u2019 (vv.9\u201310, MSG).<\/p>\n

Thank you, Lord, for the amazing privilege of being able to speak to you. I lift up my hands to you and pray especially for those in authority in this country and around the world, that the rule of law may be established and that people will be able to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3. Listening to God and praying for others<\/h2>\n

Jeremiah 35:1-37:21<\/a>Do you ever get discouraged by the fact that many people do not seem to be interested in listening to God\u2019s words and obeying them?<\/p>\n

God spoke <\/em>to Jeremiah. Jeremiah said that God, \u2018Began speaking to [him] in the reign of Josiah\u2019 (36:2). Jeremiah dictated to Baruch, \u2018All the words the Lord had spoken <\/em>to him\u2019 (v.4).<\/p>\n

Over and over again \u2018the word <\/em>came to Jeremiah from the Lord<\/em>\u2019 (for example in today\u2019s passage 35:1,12; 36:1,27; 37:6). Presumably, Jeremiah heard the word of the Lord as he was praying.<\/p>\n

Jeremiah urged the people to listen<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>to God. God had spoken \u2018again and again\u2019 (35:14). He said, \u2018Listen!… I spoke to them and they did not listen\u2019 (v.17).<\/p>\n

In spite of the fact that the Lord was speaking through his prophet Jeremiah, King Jehoiakim refused to listen to his advisers\u2019 warnings (36:25). Jeremiah had had the words of God painstakingly written on a scroll with quill and ink. But Jehoiakim, who was sitting in front of a charcoal fire warming himself, cut up the entire scroll and burned it piece by piece (v.23).<\/p>\n

Jeremiah must have been devastated to hear what the king had done with all his hard work. God tells Jeremiah to \u2018do it all over again\u2019 (v.28, MSG). He was not put off by personal rejection. Like Jeremiah, we must be willing to keep going even if our message is rejected: \u2018do it all over again.\u2019<\/p>\n

Disaster came, \u2018Because they have not listened<\/em>\u2019 (v.31). When Zedekiah was made king, \u2018Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord hadspoken <\/em>through Jeremiah the prophet\u2019 (37:2). They ill-treated Jeremiah and rejected his word. Yet, despite this refusal to listen, the authorities recognised the power of Jeremiah\u2019s prayers. King Zedekiah sent a message to Jeremiah the prophet: \u2018Please pray to the Lord our God for us\u2019 (v.3).<\/p>\n

Later he was arrested, beaten and imprisoned (vv.14\u201315). He \u2018was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time\u2019 (v.16). Yet when he was taken from his high security cell in a dungeon to see the king and asked, \u2018Is there any word from the Lord?\u2019 (v.17), he had the courage to speak out again. He was at the king\u2019s mercy and yet he was completely fearless.<\/p>\n

Lord, help me in my prayers to listen attentively to your words and to have the courage to speak them regardless of the consequences.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Pippa Adds<\/h2>\n
\n

Jeremiah 37:15<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.\u2019<\/p>\n

Jeremiah didn\u2019t have an easy job \u2013 he was called to warn the Jewish nation of the coming destruction. It was not popular. It is not easy to go against the tide. Jeremiah is an encouragement to keep going even when things are tough.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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