Overview
We ought to pray because God himself invites it: 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast the whole of our care on him, for he cares for us affectionately and cares about us watchfully. In this teaching Rev. Jon Ryan works through 1 Peter 5, Hebrews 11, Acts 5, Ephesians 6, Colossians 4, 1 Timothy 2, 1 Thessalonians 5, Romans 12, John 14, Philippians 4, Ephesians 1 and Proverbs 3, showing that prayer is a privilege and an access God has given every believer. He explains the four categories of prayer in 1 Timothy 2:1, points to the many records of Jesus praying, and closes with Proverbs 3:5-6.
Transcript
Casting All Your Care on God: 1 Peter 5:7
So take your Bibles, please, and turn to 1 Peter chapter 5. Why we ought to pray. I’m gonna look at verse 7 in the Amplified Bible. 1 Peter 5:7 says, casting the whole of your care, all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all on him, for he cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. That would be enough reason right there. God just says, you know, come to me and put your cares in my lap.
Go back maybe a couple books to Hebrews chapter 11. It won’t be that many pages. Hebrews 11 and verse 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. So to cast our care upon him, to come to him, is prayer. How do we come to God? He’s everywhere. We just begin to lift our voices up and pray to him.
Well, here we see from the scriptures that God’s really recommending that we pray. We’re to believe that he is. That means we don’t just think that we’re talking to the ceiling, we’re actually speaking to God. We sometimes use the phrase, we practice his presence, which simply means you’re aware that when God says he’ll never leave us nor forsake us, we have all these records in the word that show us that God is listening.
It’s not that we’re telling people they should pray or that they should do anything else in the word. It’s just saying there’s a great benefit in praying. It’s placing a high enough value on doing the word in any category, you know, whether we pray, whether we fellowship with one another, whether we go and take time to study the word. Those are all beneficial.
Without question we can see in the Gospels that Jesus prayed. We see in the book of Acts and the epistles that those that are part of the body of Christ prayed. They prayed continually in so many areas of their life. Jesus Christ even taught his followers how to pray.
We Ought to Obey God Rather Than Men: Acts 5:29
Let’s go to Acts chapter 5, please. Acts 5. We’re gonna see that here. We’re told that we ought to pray. At the end of the chapter, at the end of Acts chapter 5, in verse 29, then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men. So God’s gonna recommend that we pray, and this is up to us, to take that as something we should do.
It takes a team in order to win. Sometimes you might have a scorer, or somebody that can put up a lot of points, but if they can’t play any defense, that’s not gonna win the game. Everybody has to do their job. Well, here we get to see that we have that privilege, to do our job. We ought to pray.
Praying Always With All Prayer and Supplication: Ephesians 6:18
Look at Ephesians chapter 6. Here in Ephesians, the last chapter, after so many great things have been written, we read about putting on the whole armor of God, that we stand in a spiritual competition, and we want to win, and part of that is praying. In verse 18, Ephesians 6:18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
So here it says to go into the spiritual competition with a winning mindset. We go in with prayer, and we pray with supplication, which is specific requests, and we are praying and watching over with perseverance all saints, not just for ourselves, but all saints. And then Paul goes on in this chapter, verse 19, he says, and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. So part of this boldly speaking is prayer. He would go to God on behalf of people and pray for them.
Paul Asking the Churches to Pray for Him: Colossians 4:2-3
We read it, that because of all the epistles, it’s as he’s saluting these men and women that he knows and gotten to know in all these different areas. So we have a great advantage when we pray. Go a couple more books to Colossians. Colossians chapter 4. Colossians 4 verse 2, continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Verse 3, withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.
See again, he’s asking these men and women that he fellowships with. He’s certainly, if he had had the advantage of technology that we have, he’d be doing these Zoom teachings all the time. But he would travel to these areas and then write letters to them and ask them to pray for him and to pray for each other.
Four Kinds of Prayer in 1 Timothy 2:1
There’s so many scriptures that are written to us regarding prayer. Look at 1 Timothy chapter 2, again a few more books, in verse 1. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications, which are again specific requests, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made for all men.
We have these four categories. Supplications are, again, the individual needs you petition for. We pray for the weather, we pray for somebody’s health, pray for their job, these kinds of things. Prayers is the word that indicates devotion, where we recognize that we’re going to God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, and that he is very capable, willing and able to take care of us. Intercessions are where we pray on behalf of other people, so we do that where times like we’ll have after the teaching here.
We’ll have a time for people to pray, and those of us that are listening can be praying along with them, speaking in tongues and making intercession for them. And then the fourth part of this is giving of thanks. We come to God with thankfulness and we just are aware that he’s hearing, and as we’ve learned, that he’s taking care of us, just like he takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. You know, we are much greater than them. He takes care of us.
Praying for Kings and All in Authority: 1 Timothy 2:2-3
It goes on in verse 2, what we’re to pray for. For kings and all that are in authority. So it tells us we pray for those that have the responsibility to make decisions that affect our lives, with the purpose being that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, or dignity. That’s a great reason to pray, that our lives can be godly, that we have the freedom to gather together and teach the word and be a part of a fellowship like this.
That’s not allowed everywhere you go, that we can have that ability to live a life that’s defined and demonstrated in the Word of God, to live that way, and that we can thereby have a peaceful life, not one filled with fear and anxiety, but with peace and dignity.
For this is good and acceptable, verse 3, in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. That’s God’s heart, that people can be saved, that they can have that connection with him, that’s been made available because of what Jesus Christ accomplished. Prayer’s a general term and would include all different kinds of prayer, like we saw, and we can move forward with this prayer in any situation.
How Jesus Prayed in the Middle of Grief and Pressure
My gosh, Jesus Christ, he prayed early in the morning at times. He prayed in the middle of a situation where his cousin John the Baptist had just been beheaded, and he’s trying to go to a solitary place, and thousands are coming to him.
And so he prays, so that God would provide for them, show them that God is still in the picture. He fed the 5,000 with just a few loaves, a couple or a few fish, a couple loaves of bread. So he prayed there, and then he proceeded to send everybody away and he prayed all night. He certainly had a lifestyle of praying.
Pray Without Ceasing: Prayer as a Way of Life
Look at 1 Thessalonians, just back a book or two. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. And chapter 5, see, we’ll start in verse 16. Verse 16 is rejoice evermore. Verse 17, pray without ceasing. Doesn’t mean you can’t ever take a breath or take a bite of food. It’s just that it’s a continual thing, it’s the way you live your life.
You know, my wife and I, when we are gonna go anywhere in the car, we pray. When we get up in the morning, before we move into our day, we pray. When we sit anywhere at our own kitchen table or at a restaurant to break bread together, to have food, we pray. When situations come up, as they frequently do, over the phone or with other individuals, we pray. We just know that that avenue, that access to God, is given to us, and prayer has impact.
Verse 18 says, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. So God’s highly recommending that we have that lifestyle, to pray.
Continuing Instant in Prayer: Romans 12
Look at Romans, go back to Romans chapter 12. Romans 12. You know, when you start in Romans chapter 12, this begins the practical side of Romans. The first eight chapters are the doctrinal side of Romans, and then there’s some transitional, nine, ten and eleven, but then you really get into practical side of Romans here. And if you look down here, verse 12, Romans 12:12, it says, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.
So in the midst of some things, we’ll pick it up here in verse 9. Here’s some listing of a situation that says, let love be without dissimulation, which is hypocrisy, and we’re to love without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.
We always have that choice. Sometimes it’s a point. That was evil. It’s turning off the cell phone or turning off the TV and just refusing, I’m not gonna listen to this anymore, and you want to cleave to that which is good.
Kindness, Honor and Praying for Difficult People
Verse 10, be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. We treat each other with kindness. When you read 1 Corinthians 13, it begins in verse 4 to tell us what love is. It’s cause of charity, but it’s the first characteristics, our charity suffereth long and is kind. So that’s a great way to treat one another. It’s the kindness, is to be benevolent in spite of ingratitude.
Doesn’t matter if you’ve not been treated fairly or as you think you should have been treated. It’s recognizing that, you know, maybe I need to pray for that person. If somebody is doing something that’s not the best, instead of being angry at them, why don’t they treat me better? Maybe we say, you know what, I think they really want to treat me better. So I’m gonna pray for them, and whatever it is, it’s nagging them, because maybe I don’t always treat everybody the way I know I should.
So be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another. We put their needs above our own many times. And then it says, not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, that’s white hot spiritually, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation. When there’s mental pressure we can be patient with ourselves and with others. And then it says, continually instant in prayer, distributing to the necessity of the saints, given to hospitality. So great practical things to do, and how to act and behave here in these verses in Romans 12.
Asking in Jesus’ Name: John 14:13-14
Look at the Gospel of John chapter 14. My gosh, to learn about prayer, you could just focus on Jesus Christ. See the many things that he does as he lived his life, or he did as he lived his life, in the Gospel of John chapter 14. He’s in this very critical time, this evening with Jesus Christ and his closest followers, as more of the Bible is written about this one evening than any other evening or day in the whole history of man. Jesus Christ, starting in John chapter 13.
He’s realized, even though he’s arranged a room for them to be together to celebrate Passover, he is just now come to the realization that he is going to be the Passover. So he won’t be there to celebrate it with them. He will actually be on the cross at that point. And so he begins to teach them. He shows them how to love each other.
He washes their feet, showing them that they can do whatever it takes, the lowliest act is how we love. He tells them that greater love has no man than that, as he would lay down his life for his friends. And here in chapter 14, he’s having kind of a question and answer time. If you read the chapter, he starts off and then he begins to take their questions. In verse 5 Thomas is asking him a question, in verse 8 Philip has asked him a question. You know, it just goes back and forth here.
And look, it says in verse 13, verse 13, and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. So he’s telling them that they have, it’s like you’re giving the credit card, if you want to use it like that, or the bank card, and all you have to do is bring that card with you and you can get your request fulfilled. And that’s what he’s telling them. They’re not gonna pray to him, but it’s me praying in his name. That’s the name that’s gonna go on the bottom of the check.
So he wants them to understand what the name represents. It’s not merely saying the name is tacked on at the end of a list, a grocery list. It’s realizing what that name represents, that we can function and live above all the challenges of the world, seated at the right hand of God, because of what Jesus Christ accomplished.
Be Careful for Nothing: Philippians 4:6
Go to Philippians, please. Acts, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians chapter 4. Philippians 4 verse 6. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. Well, there again we see three of those elements of prayer, supplication and that devotion and thankfulness. You know, the only thing that’s not listed right there is the intercession.
It says in the Amplified, do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, definite requests, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. See, that’s God’s heart. He had Paul write this, he had Jesus ask his disciples, or teach his disciples, how to pray. It’s how we’re to live our lives. It’s how we’re to conduct ourselves.
Sealed With the Holy Spirit of Promise: Ephesians 1
Go back to Ephesians chapter 1. Ephesians 1. This chapter begins with so many great things, that we are acceptable, that we’ve been chosen before the foundations of the world to walk with God, that we’re to live to his praise, and to show people by our lives how great God is, and that he’s made known the mystery. And here you get to Ephesians chapter 1, and in verse 12 it says, that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. That we’re to live a lifestyle of praise and prayer to God.
It goes on, verse 13, in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest, or token, of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. We have this token that we’ve been given, which is not just a token like a minute thing. It’s our pass. It’s, if you need a token to get onto the bus, well, you put the token in the little machine as you enter on and then you’re allowed on the bus. But we have this gift of holy spirit, which is a token of what we’re going to receive throughout all eternity as we’re there in the presence of God.
And then it goes on in verse 15, wherefore I also, the apostle Paul writes, after I had heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. See, once Paul realized, these are my brothers and sisters, and so my duty, what I ought to do, is to pray for them.
Where the Gospels Record Jesus Praying
Again, I’m not going to go through all the records in the Gospels, but I’m going to mention a few. It can be found in Mark chapter 1 verse 35, that Jesus rose up a great while before day and went to a solitary place, and there prayed. For him to start his day, he got up early and prayed. In Luke chapter 5 verse 16 he’s praying in the middle of the day. In Mark chapter 6 verse 46 to 48, that’s when he’s praying all night in prayer, from he feeds the multitude of people, 5,000 people, with a few fish and a couple loaves of bread.
And then he goes up into a mountain. It’s a stormy night. He sends his apostles across to Galilee. He says, I’ll meet you on the other side. They go off in a boat, and he’s there from supper time until the fourth watch, which is three o’clock in the morning. And then he’s been praying, he says he’s praying all that time, and then he realizes he needs to go rescue his men in the middle of the night, and he walks out there to save them, and he calms the storm.
And he just reminds them that they had the evidence that God was with them right in the boat, because they had all participated in feeding this thousands of people, and they had picked up the remains, and they had 12 baskets full of remains in the boat, which would have been plenty of, you know, recognition that God’s there. So they didn’t have so much fear and worry about this storm that they were contending with. And he just came into the boat after he asked Peter, you know, to walk out on the water with him, and Peter did, amazingly. Then they come back to the boat and there was a great calm. And he probably said, I need to get some rest, it’s three o’clock in the morning. But that’s how he lived.
You know, there’s another time where he taught them how to pray in Mark chapter 11 verse 24 and following. He gave diligent examples of how to pray. And then he told them the right and wrong way to pray in Luke chapter 11. And these are just a few spots.
Trust in the Lord With All Thine Heart: Proverbs 3:5-6
You know, we can cast our care to God because he cares for us. Let’s close in Proverbs chapter 3. God is highly in favor of us taking advantage of this access he has given to us. You know, in the Old Testament few individuals had access to God, but now we all have access. In Proverbs 3 verse 5, trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. God is our source.
You know, in the Amplified these two verses say, lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge him. How do we acknowledge God? How do we recognize him as a supplier of our need? By going to him in prayer. And all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
So many times that’s the request. God, show me which way to go in this situation. I’m faced with a dilemma perhaps, I’m faced with choices that I need to make the right choice. Well, God, show me the right choice. And God will do that.
Closing Prayer
So, gracious heavenly Father, we are abundantly thankful for your love, for your grace, for your direction. We’re thankful that you’ve given us this opportunity to come to you at any point, at any time, day or night. We know that you created the heaven and the earth. You made all of this for us. You chose us before all of that, knowing that we would believe you, and that we are tied together as a family, one with another.
And we come to you, God, and we pray, not just for ourselves, but we pray for each other, that you will continue to make plain and straight the path that we’re to walk on, that you will supply all of our need as you promised to, that you will continue to show us how we can lead others to you. As Paul prayed, that we can open our mouths boldly as we ought to. So God, we thank you for these things. We just come to you with great humble hearts, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Key Takeaways
- 1 Peter 5:7 is reason enough to pray: God invites us to cast the whole of our care on him, because he cares for us affectionately and watchfully.
- Prayer assumes faith. Hebrews 11:6 says we must believe that he is, so we are not talking to the ceiling, we are actually speaking to God.
- 1 Timothy 2:1 gives four categories of prayer: supplications (specific requests), prayers (devotion), intercessions (praying for others) and giving of thanks.
- Scripture tells us to pray for kings and all in authority, so we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
- Praying without ceasing is a lifestyle, not a rule: in the car, in the morning, at meals, and whenever situations come up.
- Jesus modelled prayer at every hour of the day, from Mark 1:35 early in the morning to praying all night in Mark 6:46-48.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should Christians pray?
Because God recommends it and has given us that access. 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast the whole of your care, all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all on him, for he cares for you affectionately. Hebrews 11:6 says he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. To cast our care upon him, to come to him, is prayer.
What are the four kinds of prayer in 1 Timothy 2:1?
Supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks. Supplications are the individual needs you petition for: the weather, somebody’s health, their job. Prayers is the word that indicates devotion, where we recognize that we’re going to God, the creator of the heavens and the earth. Intercessions are where we pray on behalf of other people. And the fourth part is giving of thanks, where we come to God with thankfulness.
What does it mean to pray without ceasing?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says pray without ceasing. It doesn’t mean you can’t ever take a breath or take a bite of food. It’s a continual thing, it’s the way you live your life. My wife and I pray when we go anywhere in the car, when we get up in the morning before we move into our day, when we sit at our kitchen table or at a restaurant, and when situations come up over the phone.
Scripture References
1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 11:6; Acts 5:29; Ephesians 6:18; Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:2; Colossians 4:3; 1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 12:12; Romans 12:9-13; 1 Corinthians 13:4; John 13; John 14:13; John 14:14; Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 1:12; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 1:15; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Mark 6:46-48; Mark 11:24; Luke 11; Proverbs 3:5; Proverbs 3:6
