Lesson 03 – The Prayer Warrior’s Prayer Life

Foundational Scripture:
Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. — Proverbs 9:1 (NLT)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned…— 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (MSG)

The Example of _____________

Scripture:
When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed and posted, he continued to pray just as he had always done. His house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God. — Daniel 6:10 (MSG)

The Example of _____________

Scripture:
In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. — 2 Chronicles 31:21 (NIV)

The Example of __________

Scripture:
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles… — Luke 6:12-13 (NIV)

The Example of __________

Scripture:
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. — Ephesians 1:15-17 (NLT)

The Effective Prayer Life
Seven Essentials, Imperatives, and Pillars

1. Essential One:
The effective prayer life needs a strong prayer _____________.

Imperative One:
For a  powerful prayer life, we must have an ______________ of both ______ and __________. 

Pillar One: _________________

Scripture:
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. — Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV)

Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! — Proverbs 4:7 (MSG)

Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. — Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)

Cultivating a Right Concept of God

1. God is _____________.

Scripture:
Job answered God: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.” — Job 42:1-2 (MSG)

2. God is _____________.

Scripture:
“Can anyone hide from me? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” asks the LORD. — Jeremiah 23:24 (NLT)

3. God is _____________.

Scripture:
He [God] counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! — Psalm 147:4-5 (NLT)

To list all the names of the stars would require 80 quadrillion books the size of Webster’s Dictionary (of 500,000 words). 80,000,000,000,000,000 BOOKS

Summary: Prayer is God’s __________ released through man’s __________  with the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points:
Ponder what attributes or characteristics of God most impact our capacity to pray with power. How does our concept of God affect our concept of prayer? Journal your thoughts in the space that follows.

Prayer Points:
Spend time in prayer with a special focus on declaring God’s attributes and aspects of His nature and character. Weave these qualities into specific requests, whether for personal needs, for the nations, or for others.

2. Essential Two:
The effective prayer life needs a strong prayer _____________.

Imperative Two:
For a powerful prayer life, we must _____________  that prayer __________.

Pillar Two: __________

Scripture:
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. — Psalm 91:15 (NLT)

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. — Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) 

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. — Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)

3. Essential Three:
The effective prayer life needs a strong prayer _____________.

Imperative Three:
For a powerful prayer life, we must understand prayer’s most essential _____________.

“Catalyst” defined:
“A substance that modifies or increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process; something that precipitates a process or event without being changed by the consequences”

Pillar Three: __________  __________ (our catalyst for effective prayer)

Scripture:
The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it! — John 14:12-14 (NLT)

What Does it Mean to Pray in Jesus’ Name?

1. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray within the limits of His __________.
2. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray within the limits of His __________.
3. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray within the limits of His _____________. 

Scripture:
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. — Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)

4. Essential Four:
The effective prayer life needs a strong prayer _____________.

Imperative Four:
For a powerful prayer life, we must __________ completely in the ____________ of God’s _________.

Pillar Four: _____________ (God’s Word)

Scripture:
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)

How Do We Build our Confidence in Prayer?

Scripture:
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. — Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. — Ephesians 6:17-18 (NLT)

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. — 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)

The English words “effectively works” are derived from the Greek word _____________ (meaning “_____________ within”).

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points:
Ponder what specific evidence you have seen in your life (e.g., answers to prayer) that convinces you that prayer works. Why do you believe God’s Word is such an indispensable weapon in prayer? Journal your thoughts in the space that follows.

Prayer Points:
Take time to practice praying God’s Word. Turn to a favorite passage of Scripture and pray verse by verse through that passage. If you’re in a small group, turn to a passage like Psalm 18, 20 or 91, and each read two verses. Then turn those verses into a prayer and continue on through the passage.

5. Essential Five:
The effective prayer life needs a strong prayer _____________.

Imperative Five:
For a powerful prayer life, we must _____________  and _____________  a regular prayer __________.

Pillar Five: ________________

Scripture:
God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. — 2 Chronicles 16:9 (MSG)

Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. — Psalm 5:3 (MSG)

I’ll bless you every day, and keep it up from now to eternity. — Psalm 145:2 (MSG)

6. Essential Six:
The effective prayer life needs a strong prayer __________.

Imperative Six:
For a powerful prayer life, we must have _____________ and _____________ to our prayers.

Pillar Six: __________

Scripture:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. — Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. — Mark 11:24 (KJV)

7. Essential Seven:
The effective prayer life needs a strong prayer _____________.

Imperative Seven:
For a powerful prayer life, we must develop a _____________ for _____________.

Pillar Seven: ________________

Scripture:
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. — Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV)

If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. — 2 Corinthians 5:14 (MSG)

Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out…. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am…’ — Isaiah 58:6-7, 9 (NKJV) 

The Twofold Focus of a Compassionate Prayer Ministry

1. Spiritual _____________
…To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens… that you break every yoke… — Isaiah 58:6 (NKJV)

2. Physical _____________
…To share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor… — Isaiah 58:7 (NKJV)

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points:
Ponder what you believe are the key things that hinder the establishing of a prayer commitment. What are some of the “bonds of wickedness” in our community or culture that will only be broken through spiritual warfare?  Journal your thoughts in the space that follows.

Prayer Points:
Acknowledge in prayer those hindrances that keep you from being more faithful in daily prayer. Then, take time to focus prayer on the removal of obstacles (“bonds of wickedness”) in your home, community, our nation or the world.