I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      Prayer is a blessing and a privilege by which we communicate with the Father through our Lord Christ.

                                                             1.      It is a great honor to speak to the Almighty God, and Christ enables us to enjoy this honor on a level that was not possible before.

                                                             2.      Prayer is not only a great benefit to us, but it is also a form of worship that ascends before God (Rev. 8:4).

B.      Therefore, let us make the best use of our prayers by learning how to pray.

                                                             1.      In Luke 11:1, one of the Lord’s disciples requested of Him, "Lord, teach us to pray.”  Likewise today, let us look to Christ and His word for instruction about prayer.

                                                             2.      Prayer truly is a skill that must be taught and learned from the Lord.  To acquire this skill, we must make an effort to imitate Christ’s examples of prayers and to follow His instructions.

C.      Presently, we will consider the various elements that make up our prayers.

II.      PARTS OF PRAYER

A.      Praise is an expression of approval and value.

                                                             1.      When we praise God in prayer, we are telling Him what He is worth to us.

a.       When we say to God, "How great Thou art,” or, "Worthy art Thou,” we are praising Him.

b.       Notice a few examples of praise to God in the Scriptures.

i.         "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21)

ii.         "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)

                                                             2.      Praise for God is recognition of His superior qualities.

a.       In praising God, we recognize that He is higher and greater than we are (Isa. 55:8-9).

b.       We also thankfully recognize that He is the Almighty Provider of all blessings.  Notice Hebrews 13:15 – "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”

B.      Thanksgiving is the expression of a heart that is grateful for God’s blessings.

                                                             1.      God’s kind providence and mercy demand that our prayers should be filled with thanksgiving.

a.       Gratitude is a disposition that should fill our lives in everything that we do.

i.         Thankfulness is mentioned three times in Colossians 3:15-17, and is connected with all that we do in verse 17 – "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

ii.        Notice 1Thessalonians 5:18 – "…in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

b.       If our lives are to be conducted with a constant attitude of gratitude, then surely our prayers should be filled with words of thanksgiving.

i.         "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2)

ii.        "Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.” (Ps. 140:13)

                                                             2.      Few things are more detestable than a failure to be thankful.

a.       Those who do not give thanks to God for their blessings are like the nine lepers who did not give thanks to Jesus for their healing (Luke 17:11-19).

b.       Those who fail to give thanks are counted among the most blatant sinners (Rom. 1:21; 2Tim. 3:2).

C.      Petitions are requests for specific things.

                                                             1.      We petition God for such things as our daily bread, our shelter, and our clothing.

a.       Jesus directed us to pray for such things in Matthew 6:11 – "Give us this day our daily bread.”

b.       Even though God already knows that we need these things (Matt. 6:31-32), asking for them through prayer is a way of acknowledging dependence upon God and of not taking anything for granted.

                                                             2.      A petition is made from one who is lower in position to one who is higher in position.

a.       We may petition government authorities for something that only they are empowered to give.  Likewise, we petition God for those things that only He can give.

b.       Notice Matthew 7:7 – "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

c.        Note: The Greek words for "petition” are aitema (noun) or aiteo (verb).  These words were never used in Scripture when Jesus spoke to the Father because Jesus is equal with the Father.

D.      Supplications are requests for God to supply our needs.

                                                             1.      Supplications differ from petitions in that they emphasize a need rather than a specific object to satisfy a need.

a.       There are times when we are aware of a need, but we do not know how that need may be supplied.  This is when a supplication should be made, which is to make a request for God to supply a need.

b.       Even when we cannot understand how God will satisfy our needs, supplications in prayer will give us the comfort of knowing that He will find a way.  Notice Philippians 4:6-7 – "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

                                                             2.      Examples of supplications to God would be requests for such things as spiritual strength or physical health.

E.       Intercessions are requests made on behalf of others.

                                                             1.      We intercede for others through prayer when we make petitions and supplications for them.

a.       We are commanded to intercede through prayer for all people – "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men…” (1Tim. 2:1).

b.       In an even greater way, we are to pray for our fellow Christians – "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (Jas. 5:16; see 1John 5:16)

c.        We are also to intercede through prayer on behalf of our enemies (Matt. 5:44-45).  Consider Christ’s prayer for His executors (Luke 23:34).

                                                             2.      By interceding, we become like the Lord, for the Scriptures tell us that both Christ and the Holy Spirit intercede for us.

a.       The Lord Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us right now (Rom. 8:34).  Remember that it is Christ through whom we may pray to the Father (John 14:6, 13-14; 15:16; 16:23-27).

b.       When we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes to help us – "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26-27).

III.   CONCLUSION

A.      These are various parts of prayer which make up our communication to the Father through Jesus Christ.  It is not necessary that we incorporate every part into every prayer, but we must be careful not to neglect any of them.

B.      In the next lesson, we will some good practices by which we may use these parts of prayer.