Question 178: What is prayer?
Question 179: Are we to pray unto God only?
Question 180: What is it to pray in the name of Christ?
Question 181: Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?
Question 182: How does the Spirit help us to pray?
Question 183: For whom are we to pray?
Question 184: For what things are we to pray?
Question 185: How are we to pray?
Question 186: What rule has God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?
Question 178: What is prayer?
Answer: Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, in the name of Christ,
by the help of his Spirit; with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his
mercies.
| 178x. I offer up my desires unto God | Psalm 62:8 I trust in Him at all times. I pour out my heart before Him. God is my refuge. |
| y. I pray in the Name of Jesus | John 16:23 I ask Jesus nothing. I ask the Father in Jesus' Name. He gives whatever I ask. |
| z. I pray by the help of the Spirit. | Romans 8:26 The Spirit helps my infirmities. I know not what I should pray for as I ought, but the Spirit makes intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered. |
| a. I pray with confession of my sins | Psalm 32:5 I acknowledge my sins unto God
and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgres- sions unto the Lord,
and He forgave the iniquity of my sins. v.6 For this shall everyone that is Godly pray
unto God in a time when He may be found. Dan 9:4 I pray unto the Lord my God, and make my confession, and say, etc. |
| b. I pray with thankful acknowledgment of His mercies | Phil 4:6 I am anxious for nothing, but . in everything by prayer and suppli- cation with thanksgiving I let my requests be made known unto God. |
Question 179: Are we to pray unto God only?
Answer: God only being able to search the hearts, hear the requests, pardon the sins, and
fulfil the desires of all; and only to be believed in, and worshiped with religious
worship; prayer, which is a special part thereof, is to be made by all to him alone, and
to none other.
| 179c Only God is able to search my heart | I Kings 8:39 God hears in His dwelling
place and forgives, and acts, and gives to every man according to His ways. God knows my
heart. God -- only God -- knows the hearts of the children of men. Acts 1:24 The Lord knows the hearts of all men. Romans 8:27 God searches the hearts, and knows what is the mind of the Spirit because He makes interces- sion for the saints according to the will of God. |
| d. Only God is able to hear my requests | Psalm 62:5 God hears prayer. Unto Him shall all flesh come |
| e. Only God is able to pardon my sins | Micah 7:18 Who is a God like our God? He pardons iniquity and passes by the transgression of His elect. He doesn't stay angry forever, because He delights in mercy. |
| f. Only God fulfills my desires | Psalm 45:18 The Lord is near me because I call upon Him in truth. He fulfills my desires because I fear Him. He hears my cry. He saves me. |
| g. Only God is to be believed in | Romans 10:14 I can call upon Him because I believe in Him. |
| h. Only God is to be worshipped | Matthew 4:10 I worship the Lord my God. He is the only One I serve. |
| i. Only God can be found everywhere | I Corinthians 1:2 I am a child of God,
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be a saint. I join with all that in every place call
upon the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Psalm 50:15 I call upon the Lord in the day of trouble. He delivers me and I glorify Him. |
Question 180: What is it to pray in the name of Christ?
Answer: To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence
on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake; not by bare mentioning of his name, but by
drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in
prayer, from Christ and his mediation.
| 180m I pray in the Name of Christ, in obedience to His command | John 16:24 Hitherto we have asked nothing in His Name. Now we must ask, and we shall receive, that our joy may be full. |
| I pray in the Name of Christ, in confidence in His promises | John 14:13Whatsoever we ask in His Name, that He does, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. |
| I ask mercy for His sake | Dan 9:17 God hears the prayers of His servant, and his supplications, and causes His face to shine upon His sanctuary for the Lord's sake. |
| n. I pray in the Name of Christ not by bare mentioning of His Name | Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Him, "Lord, Lord" shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I pray in His Name by doing the will of His Father. |
| o. I draw my encouragement to pray from Christ and His mediation | Hebrews 4:14 Seeing that I have a great
High Priest that is passed into the heavens (Jesus the Son of God) I hold fast my
profession v.15 For I don't have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of my infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as I am yet without sins. |
| I draw my boldness and strength in prayer from Christ and His mediation | v.16 I can come boldly unto the throne of grace that I may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. |
| I draw my hope of acceptance in prayer from Christ and His mediation | 1 John 5:13 John wrote these things unto me
(and others who believe on the Name of the Son of God) so that I may know that I have
eternal life, and so that I may [further!] believe on the Name of the Son of God v.14 And this is the confidence that I have in Him, that if I ask anything accord- ing to His will, He hears me. v.15 And since I know that He hears me, whatever I ask I know that I have the petitions that I desired of Him. |
Question 181: Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?
Answer: The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so
great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator; and there being
none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone, we
are to pray in no other name but his only.
| 181p. Our sinfulness is Great | Isaiah 59:2 Our iniquities have separated us and our God, and our sins have hid His face from us, so that He will not hear. |
| Our distance from God is great, caused by our great sinfulness. | |
| We can have no access into His presence without a Mediator | John 14:6 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and
the Life; no man comes to the Father but by Him. Ephesians 3:12 In Whom we have bold- ness and access with confidence by the Faith of Him. |
| q. No one in heaven or earth is fit for or appointed to the glorious work of mediation but Christ alone. | John 6:27 I do not work for the meat which
perishes, but for the meat which endures unto eternal life, which the Son of Man gives me,
for God the Father has sealed Him. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore He is able to save me to the
uttermost -- I come unto God by Him. He lives forever to make intercession for me. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Jesus Christ. |
| r. I pray in no other Name but Jesus | Col. 3:17 Whatever I do in work or deed, I
do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. Hebrews 13:15 By Him I offer the sacrifice of praise to God continual- ly, that is, the fruit of my lips, giving thanks to His Name. |
Question 182: How does the Spirit help us to pray?
Answer: We not knowing: What to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helps our infirmities, by
enabling us to understand both for whom, and: What, and: How prayer is to be made; and by
working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times, in
the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are requisite for the
right performance of that duty.
| 182s I don't know what to pray for as I ought. | Romans 8:26 The Spirit helps my infirmities. I know not what I should pray for as I ought. The Spirit itself makes intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered. |
| The Spirit helps my weaknesses | v.27 And He searches the hearts and knows the mind of the spirit because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. |
| The Spirit helps me by enabling me to understand for whom prayer is to be made | |
| The Spirit enables me to understand what to pray for. | |
| The Spirit enables me to understand how prayer is to be made. | |
| The Spirit works and quickens my heart | Psalm 10:17 The Lord has heard the desire
of the humble; He will prepare their heart. He will cause His ear to hear. |
| apprehensions needed for prayer | |
| affections needed for prayer | |
| graces needed for prayer | Zechariah 12:10 He will pour upon us (the House of David, the inhabitants of Jerusalem) the Spirit of grace and supplications. We will look upon Him Whom we have pierced and shall mourn. |
Question 183: For whom are we to pray?
Answer: We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth; for magistrates, and
ministers; for ourselves, our brethren, yea, our enemies; and for all sorts of men living,
or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those that are known to have
sinned the sin unto death.
| 183t I pray for the whole Church of Christ on earth | Ephesians 6:18 I pray always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints. Psalm 28:9 The Lord will save His people and bless His inheritance:, He will feed them also, and lift them up forever. |
| v. I pray for magistrates | 1 Timothy 2:1 I obey the Lord's exhortation
and make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men. v.2 For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. |
| w. I pray for prophets and apostles | Colossians 4:3 I pray for them that God would open unto them a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which they are also in jail. |
| x. I pray for myself | Genesis 32:11 I pray for deliverance from the hand of my adversary, when I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother and with the children. |
| y. I pray for my brothers and sisters | James 5:16 I confess my faults to another, and pray for others, that there may be healing. I know that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. |
| z. I pray for my enemies | Matthew 5:44 I love my enemies, I bless them that curse me, I do good to them that hate me, and pray for them that despitefully use me and persecute me. |
| b. I pray for those yet to be born | John 17:20 I pray not for the living alone,
but for them also which shall believe on Christ through their word. I Samuel 7:29 I pray that it would please God to bless the house of His servant, that it may continue forever before Him; for God the Lord has spoken it: and with His blessing the house of His servant will be blessed for ever and ever. |
| c. I do not pray for the dead | 2 Samuel 7:21 The fearful say, "What
thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was
alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread." v.22 I say, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? v. 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. |
| d. nor those who sin unto death | 1 John 5:16 If I see my brother sin a sin which is not unto death, I ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death. I do not pray for it. |
Question 184: For what things are we to pray?
Answer: We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God, the welfare of the
church, our own or others good; but not for anything that is unlawful.
| 184e. I pray for all things tending to the glory of God | Matthew 6:9 I pray that the Lord's Name may be hallowed |
| f. I pray for all things tending to the welfare of the Church | Psalm 51:18 The Lord does good in His good
pleasure unto Zion. He builds the walls of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6 I pray for the peace of the New Jerusalem, and that those who love her will prosper. |
| g. I pray for all things tending to my own good | Matthew 7:11 If I, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto my children, how much more shall my Father Who is in heaven give good things to me when I ask Him? |
| h. I pray for all things tending to the good of others | Psalm 125:4 I pray that the Lord will do good unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. |
| i. I do not pray for anything which is unlawful | 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence that I have in Him, that if I ask anything according to His will, He hears me. |
Question 185: How are we to pray?
Answer: We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God, and deep sense of
our own unworthiness, necessities, and sins; with penitent, thankful, and enlarged hearts;
with understanding, faith, sincerity, fervency, love, and perseverance, waiting upon him,
with humble submission to his will.
| 185k. I pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God | Ecclesiastes-5:1 I keep my foot when I go to the house of God, and am more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they consider not that they do evil. |
| l. I pray with a deep sense of my own unworthiness | Genesis 28:27 Abraham, when he took upon him to speak unto the Lord, said, Behold, I am but dust and ashes. [I am a son of Abraham] |
| m. I pray with a deep sense of my own necessities | Luke 15:17 In a moment of sobriety, I
realize that many of my Father's hired servants have bread enough, and to spare, and yet I
perish with hunger. v.18 I will arise, go to my Father, and say unto Him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, v.19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. |
| n. I pray with a deep sense of my own sins | Luke 18:13 Like the publican, I stand afar
off, do not lift so much as my eyes unto heaven, but smite my breast, saying, God be
merciful to me a sinner v. 14 If I exalt myself I shall be abased; if I humble myself I shall be exalt- ed. |
| o. I pray with a penitent heart | Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. |
| p. I pray with a thankful heart | Philippians. 4:6 I am anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and suppli- cation, with thanksgiving, I let my requests be made known unto God. |
| q. I pray with an enlarged heart | 1 Samuel 1:15 I am a man of sorrowful
spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the
Lord. 1 Samuel 2:1 My heart rejoices in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. |
| r. I pray with understanding | 1 Corinthians 14:15 I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. |
| s. I pray with faith | Mark 11:24 Jesus tells me that what things
soever I desire, when I pray, believe that I receive them, and I shall have them. James 1:6 I pray in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. |
| t. I pray with sincerity | Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near all those
that call unto Him in truth. Psalm 17:1 The Lord hears the right and attends unto my cry; He gives ear unto my prayer; it doesn't come from feigned lips. |
| v. I pray with fervency | James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. |
| w. I pray with love | I Timothy 2:8 I pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and without doubting. |
| x. I pray with perseverance | Ephesians 6:18 I pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for the saints. |
| y. I pray waiting on the Lord | Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. |
| z. I pray in humble submission to His will | Matthew 26:39 Following Jesus, I pray, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. |
Question 186: What rule has God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?
Answer: The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer; but
the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Savior Christ taught his
disciples, commonly called the Lord's Prayer.