REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

"Intercessors who Intercede!"

ICEBREAKER: Name a country you like to beat in the Olympics.

OUTLINE: Kinds of Prayer

1. Prayer of Agreement

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19-20, NKJV)

2. Prayer of Petition

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)

Ask, Seek, Knock

"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. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

3. Prayer of Authority

Use the Word and the name of Jesus

4. Prayer of Intercession

Praying for others

5. Prayer of Repentance

Praying in alignment with Gods will, his way, and his word

6. Prayer of Supplication

Supplication is one of several words in the Bible referring to prayer.

The word is found 60 times in the Bible: 39 times in the singular and 21times in the plural; or, 53 times in the Old Testament and seven (7) times in the New Testament. It is a synonym of "prayer" and of the 58 verses where supplication is used, 31 of these verses also have some form of the word pray or prayer.

However, although supplication is prayer, it must have a specific meaning to itself. According to the word history of supplication, it refers to a bending down and indicates a bowing or kneeling in submission. 1 Kings 8:34 states, "And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven." By extension of this picture, to supplicate is to ask for humbly and earnestly. It refers most to the attitude of our prayer.

As a study aid to help understand the meaning of a Bible word, I often look at other words often found with the word I am studying. The word, supplication, is found seven (7) times in connection with crying out to God (1 Kings 8:28; 2 Chronicles 6:19; Psalm 28:2; 30:8; 31:22; 142:1; Hebrews 5:7). Consider especially Psalm 142:1, which states, "I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication." The word is also used with the idea of weeping in three (3) passages (Jeremiah 3:21; 31:9; Hosea 12:4)

Supplication, therefore, is the attitude or spirit of prayer. We bend down to God and cry out to Him for an answer. We submit to His will and to His authority. We earnestly seek His help. In this way, we make supplication to God in our prayers. May follow our example, the Lord Jesus, who "offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears" (Hebrews 5:7)

7. Prayer of Faith

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:15)

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22)

8. Praying in the Spirit

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20 NIV)

9. Praying Prophetic Proclamation

TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-20

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. When and where do you like to pray?

2. Identify a person who prayed in the Bible and what they prayed for.

3. What's the most difficult thing about prayer for you?

4. What kind of prayers do you most often pray?

5. Who do you think prayed for you most in your life?

6. The Bible says Jesus is our great intercessor. What do you think he most prays over you?