May 1, 2022

Kingdom Dynamics Weekly (KDW) May 2, 2022, by Tunde Olugboji Vol 22:17

All About Prayer (2)

Prayer is conversation with God, and we should do it without ceasing (1 Thes 5:16-18). As we grow in our love for Christ, we should have a desire to reach out to him more. We can pray in the Spirit (1 Cor 14:14-15) and pray even when words fail us (Rom 8:26-27). At such times, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. This week, we’ll examine various forms of prayers, and zoom in on the subject of imprecatory prayers in the coming weeks.

Prayer of faith: This is prayer offered in faith, including for a sick person (James 5:15) as we believe in the power and goodness of God. (Mark 9:23)

Prayer of agreement or corporate prayer: After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples “all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). Later, after Pentecost, the early church “devoted themselves” to prayer. (Acts 2:42) Their example encourages us to pray with others.

Prayer of request or supplication: We are to present our requests to God in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving and zero anxiety. (Phil 4:6) Part of winning the spiritual battle is to be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Eph 6:18).

Prayer of thanksgiving: The Bible admonishes us to thank God in prayers. “With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” ( Phil 4:6) There are many examples of prayers of thanksgiving in the Psalms.

Prayer of worship: This is similar to the prayer of thanksgiving. The difference is that worship focuses on who God is; thanksgiving focuses on what God has done. Church leaders in Antioch prayed in this manner with fasting: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3).

Prayer of consecration: Sometimes, prayer is a time of setting ourselves apart to follow God’s will. Jesus .prayers such a prayer the night before his crucifixion: “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will’” (Mat 26:39).

Prayer of intercession: Many times, our prayers include requests for others as we intercede for them. The Bible asks us to make intercession “for everyone.” (1 Tim 2:1) Jesus serves as our example in this area. The whole of John 17 is a prayer of Jesus on behalf of his disciples and all believers.

Prayer of imprecation: To imprecate means “to invoke evil upon or curse” one’s enemies. David, the psalmist most associated with imprecatory verses (Ps 55:15, 69:28, 109:8), often used expressions like, “may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them” (Ps 35:6) and “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, o Lord!” (Ps 58:6). The psalmists use this type of appeal to emphasize the holiness of God and the surety of his judgment, which seemed contradictory to New Testament teaching of praying for our enemies. (Matt 5:44-48).

Have a great week.

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