1. The Savior is our example in all things.  What did Luke record about Jesus’ prayer life?  Luke 6:12. Fill In: "He continued in to God."

Jesus sought a quiet and private place to pray to His Father, and He spent the WHOLE NIGHT praying!  Is It any wonder that His life was filled with the power and blessings of God? Is it any wonder that His words changed the course of history? We know that he was God the Son, but He prayed as a MAN to His Father, just as you and I are to do!

2. How do we know that Jesus prayed earnestly and with all His heart?  Hebrews 5:7.

Answer:  Because He prayed with "strong and ."


There were no half-hearted prayers made by the Savior of the world!  He prayed with strong cries and shed tears in prayer to His Father. The Bible says He was heard because He ‘feared’ (honored) His Father!  What an example for us to follow!

3.  What does the Holy Spirit do for us when we pray?  Romans 8:26.

Answer:  He makes " for us with which be ."


There are times when we cannot put into words exactly what we are feeling or want to say to our heavenly Father. But the Holy Spirit understands and knows what we mean, and He interprets our prayers for us and presents them to the Father clearly!

4. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, what model prayer did Jesus give them?  Luke 11:2-4.

Answer: The .


This prayer (also called the "Our Father") was not intended to be the exact wording to use every time we pray.  God does not want us to pray with ‘vain repetition.’  See Matthew 6:7.   The Lord’s Prayer is a model prayer that contains the elements that are essential in effective prayer.  Let’s examine these essentials point by point.

OUR FATHER - Jesus taught us that we are to call God our ‘Father.’  This paternal title reflects the close relationship God wants to have with us. We are His children, and He is our "Daddy" (that's what the word abba means).   See Romans 8:15.   Let us not treat our heavenly Father like a stranger!

WHICH ART IN HEAVEN - We are told to recognize that our Father is enthroned in a real place in the heavens!  We are to direct our prayers to His sanctuary, the throne room of the universe!  He is a literal being and resides in a literal place, although his Spirit fills the universe, as we learned in lessons 3 and 4.  "The Lord’s throne is in heaven."  Psalm 11:4.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME - Yahshua taught us that when we pray, we are to remember that we are praying to Yahweh, our heavenly Father, the King of the Universe!  His sacred name is ‘hallowed,’ and we are never to use it in a flippant manner!

THY KINGDOM COME - We must recognize that God has a kingdom that will literally begin to reign when Jesus returns!  When we pray we are to yearn for His righteous kingdom to come quickly!

THY WILL BE DONE - The Savior taught us to pray that His will be done in our lives.  His love compels us to live for Him and no longer live for ourselves.   2 Cor. 5:14-l5.   We now delight in doing His will, not ours, even if the situation appears hopeless!

AS IN HEAVEN, SO IN EARTH - The angels of heaven are ministering spirits who delight to do God's will, even in ministering  to sinful, ungrateful rebels.  They serve and obey God out of love!  Let us pray for this kind of love obedience! 

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD - This teaches us to be content with what we have!  What a cure this is for the selfish carnal nature!  We are also to remember that our "daily bread" is supplied by our heavenly Father.  It is He that gives us all that we have!  Let us not worry about tomorrow.  Take ONE DAY AT A TIME!

AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS - We are to ask for His forgiveness and cleansing every day!  We are to confess our wrongs.  Confession is an essential part of effective prayer. See Daniel 9:4-8.

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST US - We must be willing to forgive others if we expect God to forgive us.  The verse says "Forgive us ... as we forgive ..."!  Prayer coming from a heart that holds hate and bears a grudge against another child of God will never have spiritual power! 

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION - This is better rendered "and do not permit us to wander into temptation."  Our heavenly Father does not tempt anyone.  See James 1:13.   We are tempted when we are enticed by our own sinful desires! See James 1:14.  We are to pray for strength and power to live a victorious and joyful Christian life! 

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL - We are to pray for deliverance from evil.  But this deliverance will only come if we are willing to cooperate with God and avoid the things that cause us to sin!  We are not to put ourselves on enchanted ground.  An ex-drunkard should not hang around in bars praying to God to be delivered from the evils of alcohol!  Divine power combined with human effort alone will give the victory!

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN. - We are to remember that Yahweh is the all powerful One.  He, along with His Son, and the Holy Spirit deserve all the praise, honor, and glory that created beings can give! 

A prayer containing these essential elements will be an effective prayer!  The heart of one who utters such prayers will be ready to receive answers from on high!

5. When prayers are not immediately answered, what should we NOT do?  Luke 18:1.

Answer:  Not or give up.


Jesus told us to persist in prayer, and if our prayers are not immediately answered, we are to trust God that what is best for us will happen. See Romans 8:28.

6. Jesus said that we could move a mountain if had what?  Matthew 17:19-20.

Answer: .

7. What kind of prayer will avail much with God?  James 5:16.

Answer:  prayer.

8. From what kind of a person will prayers be effective with God?  Same verse.

Answer:  A person.


If we pray fervently, hungering and thirsting to do God’s will, we will find that our prayers will be answered!

9. Sometimes we do not receive what we pray for, or have what we need, and things seem so difficult for us.  What possible reasons does the Bible give for this?  James 4:2-3.

Fill In:  "Ye lust and have not; Ye kill and desire to have, and obtain. Ye and , yet ye have not, because ye . Ye ask and receive because you ask , that ye may it on your own."


Motive for prayer makes a great deal of difference as far as whether our prayers will be answered or not.  We also are instructed to ASK for the things we need.  We are not to ask "amiss," that is, ask God for things that are frivolous and merely to fulfill our own selfish desires.  What we are promised by God is to be given everything that pertains to life and GODLINESS!  See 2 Peter 1:3-4.

The Bible science of prayer is as simple as ABC. We are to ASK, then BELIEVE that God will answer our prayer, then CLAIM the answer even before it is realized!  This is an act of faith and it is according to Jesus' own instructions!   See Mark 11:24.   Jesus used the ABCs of prayer Himself!  Open your Bible to John chapter 11.

Jesus was at the tomb of Lazarus, His friend, who had died four days earlier.  A huge crowd of people were standing around Him, and Jesus began to pray.  Read verses 30-42 of John 11.  Jesus thanked His Father for hearing His request to raise Lazarus from the dead even before He called Lazarus forth!  He had faith that His heavenly Father would give Him what He desired, and He thanked His Father BEFORE He received what He asked for!

In the book Education, on page 253, Ellen G. White writes the following:

"To every promise of God there are conditions.  If we are willing to do His will, all His strength is ours.  Whatever gift He promises, is in the promise itself. 'The seed is the Word of God.'  Luke 8:11.  As surely as the oak is in the acorn, so surely is the gift of God in His promise.  If we receive the promise, we HAVE the gift!"

10. What did Jesus say we are to do when we "STAND PRAYING" if we expect our prayers to be answered?  Mark 11:25-26.

Answer:  We are to others.


We must pray from a heart that hold no grudges against a brother or sister.  Also, notice that at times we can pray "standing"! Although we are to kneel whenever possible in reverence to our God, throughout the day we can send up prayers to our heavenly Father wherever we are, and whatever we are doing!

11. If we willingly turn a deaf ear to God's commandments, what will our prayers become in God's sight?  Proverbs 28:9.

Answer:  An .


The Lord expects us to listen to Him in love if we expect Him to listen to and answer our prayers!

12. Is a lifestyle of concern for others necessary for our prayer requests to be heard and answered?  Proverbs 21:13.

Answer: .

13. What will happen to our prayers if we do not treat our marriage partners the way Christ asks us to?  1 Peter 3:7.

Answer: Our prayers will be .

14. When will our heavenly Father listen to and answer our prayers?  Jeremiah 29:11-13.

Answer: When we Him and for Him with all our .


When we get serious with God, He will get serious with us and answer our prayers in a most wonderful way!

15. Are you willing to make daily prayer an important part of your life? 

Answer: .

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Assignment

Underline the texts used in this lesson in the color Yellow.