INTRODUCTION
I am teaching a class at New Life Church, Louisville on this topic on Wednesday nights during January and February. I will be posting an edited version of those teaching sessions here over the next several days.
All religions have an exercise that they call praying. To some it is chanting, reciting sayings, quotes, or thoughts from those they regard as holy people. Others may quote the Koran, Buddhists ideas, Old Testament statements, or New Testament passages. Still, others may talk to God as one might talk to a friend.
Prayer is very important. But to see results from our praying, one must pray Biblically. One day some of Jesus’ disciples came to you requesting “teach us to pray as John taught his disciples” Luke 11:1. In response to that He gave them the Model prayer. One does not have to quote word for word what He gave them, because this is an outline of things they and we can pray. Matthew 6:9 says, “In this manner, therefore, pray…” I would suggest that one read and re-read what He said until we absorb the concept of what is being said in the Model prayer.
To pray as we should it is necessary to know some things about the One we are praying to. What is He like?
God’s Personality
God’s personality is revealed by certain characteristics that show what He is like. Things are said in Scripture about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that shows facets of His personality. We will confine ourselves primarily to the personality of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 11:2 says “the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” This is a prophecy about the coming Messiah.
Notice that there are seven things mentioned about the Spirit that would rest upon Him:
He is the Spirit of the Lord;
The Spirit of Wisdom;
The Spirit of understanding;
The Spirit of Counsel;
The Spirit of Might;
The Spirit of Knowledge; and
The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.
The seven spirits of God are mentioned in the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:4). Perhaps these seven characteristics mentioned in Isaiah are the seven-fold Spirit of God mentioned there.
Many other characteristics of His personality are revealed in the New Testament. For example:
- He can be lied against – Acts 5:3
- Tested – Acts 5:9
- Resisted – Acts 7:51
- Insulted – Hebrews 10:29
- Grieved – Ephesians 4:30
- Blasphemed – Matthew 12:31
- Reveal – 1 Corinthians 2:10
- Speak – Acts 8:29
- Pray – Romans 8:26-27
- Testify – John 15:26-27
- Lead – Romans 8:14
- Inspire – 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21
His personality can be seen through symbols as well. They include:
- Wind – Acts 2:2
- Water – John 7:37-39
- Fire – Acts 2:3, Matthew 3:11-12
- Oil – Hebrews 1:9
- Wine – Acts 2:13-15
- Seal – Ephesians 1:13
- Guarantee – 2 Corinthians 1:22
- Dove – Luke 3:22
- Finger (KJV) – Luke 11:20
We can know God through the things that He reveals about Himself, but the best way to know Him is by our relationship with Him. We know our Father as such because we have been born again (John 3:3, 5). We know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior as a result of that experience. We know the Holy Spirit because He lives within us and by our daily experiences of listening to His voice. Just as we might know a spouse or friend by contact with them, in the same way we know the Spirit of God. If we constantly tune our spirit to listen to His voice we will get to the place where we readily respond without question when He speaks or urges us to obey Him. And through all of our contact with Him, we begin to know what He is like; we discover His personality.
As we get to know what He is like, we can learn to pray effectively and see our prayers answered.
- Before we can pray effectively, we must first determine what we believe about God. Is He good? Is He concerned about me? Does He really love me and want the best for my life.
- Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV We must know that He exists. We need to know that He will reward or answer us when we pray.
2 Corinthians 6:1 “We then, as workers together with Him, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” NKJV When we pray the will of God we are working with Him to establish His will on earth.
Matthew 6:9-10 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” NKJV
We need to know that there are different types of prayer – prayers of dedication, petition, praise, thanksgiving, supplication etc. There is a place and time for each of these prayers to be prayed. They do not automatically work in every situation.
We need to know what we believe about the will of God. Can our prayers change God’s will? Do our prayers help to establish the will of God?
- 1 John 5:14-15 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.” NKJV
- John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” NKJV
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” NKJV