Prayer

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Who: Any believer in Jesus Christ can pray. (“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands...” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:8‬)

 

What: We should pray about anything and everything; the more people we pray for and the more things we pray about the better. (“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:14‬)

 

When: It is wise to make a habit of setting aside time to pray before we start our day; put God first and he has a way of working everything else out for our good. (“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark‬ ‭1:35) 

 

However, prayer shouldn’t be limited to certain times or timeframes. We should continue to talk to God throughout each day. Keep in mind, though, that prayer is not a substitute for common sense; God wants us to stay focused when the task at hand calls for our attention; having prayed beforehand, we can be sure that he is with us in those moments when we don’t have time to pray lengthy prayers. (“…pray without ceasing…” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:17)‬ (“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:23‬a)

 

Where: We can pray anywhere. (Believers prayed in many different places all throughout scripture.)

 

Why: Relationships require communication. God loves us and wants to hear from us. Oftentimes he speaks to our hearts as we speak to him. 

 

God gives us strength when we pray; He helps us to resist temptation. (“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:41)

 

God wants us to pray. (“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:1‬)

 

We pray to receive that which we ask; that’s part of God’s design; he loves us and wants to bless us when we ask. (“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬)

 

How: We must pray in the name of Jesus Christ, having surrendered our lives to him. (“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:13‬)

 

We must keep with repentance; intentionally continuing in known sin, such as mistreating others, can hinder our prayers. (“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:7‬)

 

We must have forgiveness towards others of their sin if we’re to expect God to hear our prayers. (“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:4‬a)

 

We must pray in accordance with the will of God if we’re to have confidence that he will hear our prayers. (“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John‬ ‭5:14-15‬)

 

We can pray out loud or in our minds. “…you perceive my thoughts from afar. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:2b, 4)‬ ‭

 

We can pray prayers found in the Bible or use our own words. (There are many examples of both throughout scripture.)

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Bible Study

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Who: Everyone should study the Bible. (…the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15b)

 

What: Reading the Bible is good, studying the Bible is better. (Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15)

 

When: You may find it beneficial to start your day with the word of God. However, much like prayer, you can study the Bible throughout the day every day. (Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8)

 

Where: Anywhere. (Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:18,19)

 

Why: To learn more about God, God’s will for believers, prophecy, true world history, God’s plan of redemption, a believer's hope and many other things as well as to prepare believers for evangelism. (All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16,17)

 

How: There are several good methods used to study the Bible. The following are a few suggestions:

 

- Remain humble and teachable

- Pray for understanding 

- Meditate on what you’ve read

- Practice exegesis, not eisegesis

- Consider the context

- Consider the whole of scripture

- Interpret difficult to understand passages in light of easy to understand passages

- Consider the genre

- Discover the writer's intended meaning

- Use tools

- Discover the practical application for today’s readers

 

(There are many Bible study tools available in bookstores and online, e.g. an exhaustive concordance, bible dictionary, parallel Bible, internet search engine, social media app and video sharing platform, but always be careful how you listen; it’s been said that, “you can torture any verse enough to make it say what you want” and many people do just that.)

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Christian Fellowship

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Who: Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ should fellowship with other Christ followers. (There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:4-6‬)

 

What: Believers are to gather together. (And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25)

 

When: Any day, any time. (One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:5‬)

 

Where: Anywhere. (For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:20‬)

 

Why: To encourage, build up, strengthen, teach, pastor, admonish, and pray for one another. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-16‬)

 

How: In an orderly fashion, each using our talents and the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us, in turn. (For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:33‬) (Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:10-11‬)

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This is by no means an exhaustive study. Continue to read your Bible daily to learn more on these topics.

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