Acts 2:43, “They were continually devoting themselves to…prayer.”
Devoting themselves to prayer. The Christians were devoting themselves to prayer. There are over 650 prayers mentioned in the Bible. The Bible records Jesus praying twenty-five separate times. Paul mentions prayer forty-one times. The Bible records five different postures for prayer:
- Sitting (2 Sam 7:18)
- Standing (Mark 11:25)
- Kneeling (Ephesians 3:14),
- Face to the ground (Matthew 26:39)
- Hands lifted up (1 Timothy 2:8)
The Bible records eight distinct types of prayer:
- Prayer of faith (James 5:15)
- Prayer of agreement (also known as corporate prayer) (Acts 2:42)
- Prayer of request (also known as petition or supplication) (Philippians 4:6)
- Prayer of thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2-3)
- Prayer of worship (Acts 13:2-3)
- Prayer of consecration (also known as dedication) (Matthew 26:39)
- Prayer of intercession (1 Timothy 2:1)
- Prayer of imprecation (Psalms 69)
In Jesus model prayer found in Luke 11 or Matthew 6, He provides five areas of focus for our prayer:
- The focus on God’s everlasting glory (“Father, hallowed be your name”)
- The focus on God’s eternal will (“your kingdom come”)
- The focus on our present circumstances (“Give us each day our daily bread.”)
- The focus on our past (“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”)
- The focus on our future (“lead us not into temptation.”)
With so much information about prayer, should we not also be devoted to prayer as the early believers were? A prayerless life is not about a lack of information, but a lack of recognition.
- We need a greater recognition of the majesty, power, glory, and presence of God.
- We need a greater recognition of our need and dependence upon God.
- We need a greater recognition of the lostness in our world.
- We need a greater recognition of our own human depravity.
- We need a greater recognition of God’s love.
- We need a greater recognition of God’s mercy-giving nature.
We do not need more information on prayer, but more recognition of the power of prayer. So, devote yourself to prayer.
- Choose a place
- Choose a time
- Choose a method.
- And Pray.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
