BIBLE’S MESSAGE UNCOVERED

Prayer

Definition

True prayer is an earnest petition, offered to the right one, in the right manner, and on right matters. Prayers of the Christian are offered only to Jehovah God as the Right One, the Supreme One of the universe. Prayer is therefore offered reverently, with proper recognition of the supremacy of the one being addressed and the inferiority of the one praying. The right manner of approach is only through and in the name of Jesus Christ. Prayers are recognized only in request for those things that are right matters as authorized by Jehovah Himself. Failure in any one of the three essentials will render the prayer unacceptable. Only prayers of the righteous are answered.

Prayer Properly Directed Only to Jehovah God

Psalm 5:1, 2 “Give ear to my words, O Jehovah, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; for unto You I pray.”

Psalm 65:1, 2 “Praise waits for You, O God, in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed. O You that hear prayer, unto You shall all flesh come.”

Psalm 143:1 “Hear my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my sup­plications: in Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteous­ness.”

Matthew 6:9 “You must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens.’ “

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your peti­tions be made known to God.”

Not to Idols, “Saints” or Creatures

Psalm 115:4-6 “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands… . They have ears, but they hear not.”

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 “Now concerning … foods offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God but one. For even though there are those who are called ‘gods’, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’, there is actually to us one God the Father.”

Isaiah 45:20 “They have no knowl­edge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.”

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man Christ Jesus.”

Prayer to God Directed Only Through and in Name of Jesus Christ

John 14:6, 14 “Jesus said to him: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.’ “

John 16:23-27 “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall make request of the Father con­cerning you. For the Father Him­self has affection for you, because you have had affection for Me and have believed that I came out as the Father’s representa­tive.”

Romans 16:27 “To God wise alone be the glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

Properly Closed with “Amen”

1 Corinthians 14:16 “Otherwise, if you offer praise with a gift of the spirit, how will the man occupy­ing the seat of the ordinary per­son say ‘Amen’ to your giving of thanks?”

Revelation 5:14 “And the four living creatures went to saying, ‘Amen!’ and the persons of advanced age fell down and worshiped.”

1 Chronicles 16:36 “Blessed be Je­hovah, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said, Amen, and praised Jehovah.”

Psalm 72:19, 20 “And blessed be His glorious Name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.”

Also: Deuteronomy 27:14-26; Psalm 41:13; 89:52; Galatians 6:18; Jude 25.

Jehovah’s Power to Hear and Answer Prayer is Unlimited

Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

Ephesians 3:20, 21 “Now to the one who can, according to His power which is operating in us, do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive, to Him be the glory.”

Great Prayer Test Shows Jehovah’s Superiority in Hearing and Answering Prayer

1 Kings 18:20-40 “And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morn­ing even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about the altar which was made…. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, till the blood gushed out upon them…. but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded…. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening oblation, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said…. Hear me, O Je­hovah, hear me, that this people may know that You, Jehovah, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again. Then the fire of Jehovah fell, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Jehovah, He is God.”

Prayer Should Be Reverent, in Spirit and Truth

John 4:23 “On the contrary, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the genuine wor­shipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth.”

Psalm 145:18 “Jehovah is nigh un­to all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.’

Practice of Using Rosaries and Similar “Aids” in Repetition Forbidden

Matthew 6:7, 8 “But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the peo­ple of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. So, do not make yourselves like them, for God your Father knows what things you are needing before ever you ask Him.”

Acts 19:34 “When they recog­nized that he was a Jew, one cry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ “

Manner of Posture in Prayer Not Prescribed or Limited

2 Chronicles 6:12, 14 “And he [Sol­omon] stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands and he said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like You, in heaven, or on earth.”

1 Samuel 1:12, 13 “And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. “

Nehemiah 8:6 “And Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.”

Daniel 6:10 “Daniel . . . kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks be­fore his God.”

Matthew 26:39 “And going a little way forward, he fell upon his face, praying.”

Mark 11:25 “When you stand praying, forgive.”

Luke 22:41 “And he himself drew away from them about a stone’s throw, and bent his knees and began to pray.”

John 11:41 “Now Jesus raised His eyes heavenward and said: ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.’ “

Ephesians 6:18 “While with every form of prayer and supplication you carry on prayer on every occasion in spirit.”

1 Timothy 2:8 “Therefore I desire that in every place the men carry on prayer, lifting up hands of loving-kindness.”

When Leading in Prayer Women Should Have Head Covered; Men, Head Uncovered

1 Corinthians 11:4, 5, 7, 10, 16 “Every man that prays or prophesies having something on his head shames the one who is his head; but every woman that prays or prophesies with her head unveiled shames the one who is her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head. For a man ought not to have his head veiled, as he is God’s image and glory; but the woman is man’s glory. That is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority upon her head because of the angels. How­ever, if any man seems to dis­pute for some other custom, we have no other, neither do the congregations of God.”

Perseverance in Prayer Encouraged

Colossians 4:2 “Be persevering in prayer, remaining awake in it with thanksgiving.”

Luke 18:1-8 “Then He went on to tell them an illustration with regard to the need for them al­ways to pray and not to give up, … ‘Certainly, then, shall not God cause justice to be done to His chosen ones who cry aloud to Him day and night, even though He is longsuffering toward them?’ “

Rom. 12:12 “Rejoice in the hope ahead. Endure under tribu­lation. Persevere in prayer.”

Hypocritical Public Prayers Condemned

Matthew 6:5, 6 “Also when you pray, you must not be as the hypocrites; because they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full. You, how­ever, when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; then your Fa­ther who looks on in secret will repay you.”

Luke 18:9-14 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a pharisee and the other a tax collector. The pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself: ‘O God, I thank You I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adul­terers, or even as this tax collec­tor. I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ “

Mark 12:40 “They are the ones devouring the houses of the wid­ows and for a pretext making long prayers; these will receive a heavier judgment.”

Congregational Prayers Acceptable

Acts 1:14 “With one accord all these were persisting in prayer, together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with His brothers.”

Acts 4:23-31 “Upon hearing this they with one accord raised their voices to God and said: ‘Sov­ereign Lord, you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them’… And when they had made supplication, the place in which they were assembled was shaken, and they were one and all filled with the holy spirit and were speaking the Word of God with boldness.”

Acts 20:36 “And when he had said these things, he kneeled down with all of them and prayed.”

1 Kings 8:22, 23 “And Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assem­bly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; and he said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like You, in heaven above, or on earth beneath.”

Jesus Showed Order of Impor­tance of Right Matters

Matthew 6:9-13 “Our Father in the heavens, let Your Name be sanc­tified. Let Your kingdom come. Let Your will come to pass, as in heaven, also upon earth. Give us today our bread for this day; and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temp­tation, but deliver us from the wicked one.”

Other Right Matters and Occa­sions for Prayer

For food

Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things have I asked of You; … give me nei­ther poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me: lest I be full, and deny You, and say, Who is Jehovah? or lest I be poor, and steal.”

For forgiveness

Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, forgive whatever you have against anyone, in or­der that your Father who is in the heavens may also forgive you your trespasses.”

Against temptation

Matthew 26:41 “Keep on the watch and praying, that you may not enter into temptation.”

To know God’s will

Psalm 25:4, 5 “Show me Your ways, O Jehovah; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth, and teach me.”

For knowledge

Psalm 119:66 “Teach me good judgment and knowledge; for I have believed in Your command­ments.”

For understanding

1 Kings 3:7, 9 “O Jehovah my God,… Give Your servant there­fore an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may dis­cern between good and evil.”

In praise

Daniel 2:23 “I thank You, and praise You, O You God of my fathers, who have given me wis­dom and might.”

In thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18 “Pray inces­santly. In connection with every­thing give thanks.”

At meals

Luke 24:30 “As He was reclin­ing with them at the meal He took the loaf, blessed it, broke it and began to hand it to them.”

At Memorial

1 Corinthians 11:23, 24 “The Lord Je­sus in the night in which He was going to be handed over took a loaf and, after giving thanks, He broke it and said: ‘This means My body.’ “

For congregation

Numbers 21:7 “And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against you; pray unto Jehovah, that He take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”

For family

Job 1:5 “Job … rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.”

For friends

Job 42:10 “And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”

For theocratic ministers

Romans 15:30-32 “Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the spirit, that you exert yourselves with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea and that my ministry which is for Jerusalem may prove to be acceptable to the holy ones.”

For persecuted

Acts 12:5 “Consequently Peter was being kept in the prison; but prayer to God for him was being carried on intensely by the con­gregation.”

For peace of organization

Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love You.”

For spiritually sick

James 5:13-15 “Is there anyone suffering evil among you? Let him carry on prayer. … Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call the older men of the congre­gation to him, and let them pray over him.”

For persecutors

Matthew 5:44 “However, I say to you: Continue to love your ene­mies and to pray for those per­secuting you.”

For deliverance

Psalm 143:9 “Deliver me, O Je­hovah, from my enemies: I flee unto You to hide me.”

For destruction of wicked

Psalm 59:5, 13 “O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise to visit all the nations: be not merciful to any wicked trans­gressors. Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more.”

Prayers for World Affairs Un­answered Since Asked Amiss

John 17:9 “I make request con­cerning them; I make request, not concerning the world, but concerning those You have given Me.”

James 4:3, 4 “You do ask, and yet you do not receive, because you are asking for a wrong pur­pose, that you may expend it upon your cravings for sensual pleasure. Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God?”

Isaiah 1:15 “And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.”

Prayers for Rulers’ Favorable Action Toward Ministry Authorized

1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I therefore ex­hort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, offerings of thanks, be made concerning all kinds of men, concerning kings and all those who are in high station, in order that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness. This is right and ac­ceptable in the sight of our Savior.”

Jeremiah 29:7 “And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto Jehovah for it; for in the peace thereof shall you have peace.”

Ezra 6:1-10 “That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor un­to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.”