Sermon Notes: Exodus 17:8-16 – Action and Prayer

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The wilderness is the Lord’s means of testing his people in preparation for the conquest and settling of Canaan. 

The wilderness is also a type the Lord providentially ordered to teach us about the work of sanctification to grow us up in Christ after he makes us new creations through faith in Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:1-11). 

Among all the glorious works in our sanctification, part of the work is us joining with the Lord in the establishment of his reign. 

Don’t be mistaken. We don’t bring the kingdom. Jesus brings his kingdom, and we get the honor of being his co-regents who join him in doing our designed part (vocational domains) as he establishes his rule over all of creation. 

NOTE: Stand in awe of God who strung together gospel pearls of providence, such as the wilderness, in history before the cross, to prepare the nations to receive the good and to teach us how to live as citizens of the kingdom of God. 

Astounding!

Today, we are going to see that in the work of the kingdom and our sanctification, we will be opposed by the Serpent and his followers as we live in and seek the restoration of creation. 

That opposition will bring us to the place where we have to act, and the Lord has some instructions for us about the dynamic of taking appropriate actions and the power necessary to drive appropriate action to God’s ends, which is prayer. 

Let’s read it! Exodus 17:8-16

Let’s get to work. 

In the work of the kingdom (and our sanctification), we are going to be opposed. 17:8
1. There is no mention of the reason for the attack from the Amalekites. We believe that whatever the Amalekites were thinking they were acting as agents of the Serpent to stop or hinder the plan of the Lord through his people to see that the seed of the woman would come to crush the head of the Serpent.
  1. Genesis 3 reminds us that this conflict between the Serpent and his people versus those who follow Jesus is THE conflict, and thus our struggle is ultimately not against flesh and blood, although we do have to struggle against flesh and blood.
  2. However, the primary and source struggle is against the Serpent who empowers his followers. The Serpent is driving the Amalekites, and thus Israel has to oppose them.
    1. Jesus said in John 8 that those opposing him were children of their father, the Devil. 
    2. When the people of God are opposed, you can be sure it is the Serpent who has deployed his agents to stop the advance of the Lord’s purposes. 
2. We need to know this about Amalek because these guys will show up on more occasions to oppose the Lord’s people.
  1. Moses’ readers would understand the immediate tension because there is a family struggle that has turned into ethnic tension.
    1. Amalek was the grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:12).
      1. Amalek has organized themselves into a nation of nomadic groups that Balaam called “the first among the nations” (Numbers 24:20). 
      2. The Amalekites seemed to thrive by attacking and plundering groups of people (Judges 3:13). 
  2. Again, this would not be the last time Israel would engage with Amalek.
    1. After Israel’s fearful refusal to enter the Promised Land and the Lord’s rebuke, they would presume to attempt to go into the land on their own in regret, but they would be beaten back by the Amalekites because the Lord was not with them to empower them (Numbers 14:39-45). 
  3. Saul would be sent to destroy the Amalekites as one of his first assignments as king, and he would let Agag, their king, live against clear instructions.
    1. Samuel would come and kill Agag, and it would be this that caused Saul to lose his kingship in time to David.
      1. Apparently, relatives of Agag must have been allowed to live and escape because Israel would discover later, in the time of Esther, that Haman was an Agagite, and would continue to be a thorn in their side. 
3. Jacob was chosen, and Esau sold his birthright for some stew, and we have the beginning of a conflict that will be used by the Serpent to stand against the Lord’s people.
  1. We are, by faith in Jesus, descendants of Abraham, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession in the local church.
    1. By faith and thus spiritual birthright, we find ourselves on Team Jesus who is opposed by the Serpent. Therefore:
      1. Expect to be opposed. 
      2. Expect the work of sanctification and the work of the kingdom to be hard due to the opposition.
        Don’t allow a false gospel of ease and comfort to thrive. Put that Satanic lie to death.
        The lie of discipleship with zero cost to the disciple is cheap grace, and it makes false disciples who will fall away or become consumer Christians who are like animals in heat looking for the next thing that strikes their fancy. 
      3. But, we know that the Lord will help his people overcome the opposition of the Serpent.
        How might the Lord help us overcome opposition?

The Lord helps us overcome opposition with appropriate action and prayer. 17:9-11
1. Appropriate action.
  1. I’m choosing to say “appropriate action” here because not every instance is going to require us to take up weapons and eliminate bad guys like Joshua is called upon to do.
    1. Also, my purpose here is not to build a case for “just war”. I believe in “just war” as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas outlined, and I believe that is an appropriate argument. 
    2. What we are saying from the text is that we are called to take action, and this action should match the circumstances with the truth of God’s word guiding our actions and those actions applications.
      1. The kingdom of God and our sanctification are not merely “spiritual” with no tangible action required. 
      2. Creation and humans are a mash-up of seen and unseen realities, and therefore, we can’t ignore one in favor of the other.
        Thus the Lord shows us in our text that actions and prayer that appeal to non-tangible realities are both vital in our successful work for the kingdom of God. 
        
        We have to act. 
  2. What does appropriate action look like? This question is often the source of our struggle to know what to do.
    1. In the instance of Israel being attacked by Amalek, their appropriate response was for Joshua to choose some dudes and go lay some violence on their attackers. 
    2. George Muller is known for prayer being how he and his team supplied for the thousands of orphans in their care.
      1. Yet Muller had to build orphan houses, hire staff, wash clothes, teach children, feed kids, and continue serving the church. 
      2. Muller was bothered that members of his church were anxious because they struggled to trust the Lord.
        Great Britain had an orphan problem, and God’s word was clear that he cared about it and that his people should address it. 
        
        Since God’s word was clear, it seemed reasonable the church should take on the ministry.
        
        But if they used only their actions to supply, anxiety might only increase, and Muller was chiefly bothered by Christian’s anxiety and lack of peaceful trust in the Lord.
        
        They would act, and in their actions, they would limit what they did in order to depend on prayer as the primary means of supplying needs. 
        
        So, they took on the work, built orphan houses, and began the labor.
        How did they gather all their supplies?
        Prayer!
        
        They are an example of appropriate action!
      3. I’m going to go ahead and say this: There is always going to be a mysterious nature and tension to discerning our labor and how we execute it.
        It is going to require faith, and that will look like acting in faith and depending on the Lord to make it effective, and you and I will never be fully satisfied with the dynamic in the middle of it all.
        It will only be in hindsight that we look back and see the providential hand of God. 
        
        I need to give you an illustration to help us, and pardon my repetition of this story. 
        
        Illustration: The cab in Quetta! 
        
        NOTE: If you are reading these notes, watch the sermon to hear the illustration. 
    3. Appropriate action will only be as good as what fuels the action to supernatural effect, and that fuel is prayer. 
2. Prayer.
  1. Moses, Aaron, and Hur’s actions are an absolute sign of dependence on the Lord to win the battle that Joshua is engaged in. 
  2. Moses is holding his staff the Lord had him use as an instrument and token of his promise to save his people. 
  3. By holding it up, Moses is appealing to the Lord to do all that he promised to do.
    1. Moses is assuming one of the biblical postures of prayer.
      1. Standing with arms outstretched is one of the biblical postures of prayer.
        See the appendix at the end of these notes and look for the section on “postures”.
  4. It is beyond doubt that Moses and his guys are engaged in prayer. 
  5. Now, the danger of calling Joshua’s warfare “action” is that we make the mistake of thinking of prayer as a non-action.
    1. Make no mistake, prayer is work and it is an action. 
    2. Yet, prayer is not an action that produces tangible results the same way our actions produce results. 
    3. Prayer is not action in the same way making war is action, but it is action.
      1. Prayer is not gospel sharing or domain engaging. 
      2. However, the labor of prayer touches the unseen throne of the Lord, and prayer is thus the Lord’s established means of securing the success of appropriate action. 
        Exodus 17:15-16 makes this explicit.
        Marking the victory of the Lord by building an altar was a tradition already set in their history. 
        
        Moses called the alter “Yhwh is my Banner”.
        A “banner” was a memorial pole placed in the ground to mark a significant event.
        
        Moses’ naming the altar as he did, and setting up a banner, signified this place was a memorial to the work of the Lord. 
        
        Verse 16 clarifies Moses’ meaning  for the memorial when he says, “A hand upon the throne of the LORD.”
        Moses is saying through this altar and its name that they prevailed in the war by calling on the Lord in prayer and in prayer they touched the throne of God, and it is in touching the throne of God in prayer that they won the war. 
        
        It was not by their might, but it was by the might of the Lord.  
      3. Jesus could not be more explicit in the power of prayer to make action effective when he taught us how to get more workers to reach the nations.
        Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV) 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
        Jesus is not demeaning his own work in calling disciples to join the work in favor of only praying.
        Jesus has set the example of disciple-making that he intends for us to engage in.
        It requires us to act in obedience by going, calling people to faith, baptizing them, teaching them, and sending them. 
        
        What Jesus is telling us is that our labor at making disciples is made effective through the labor of prayer. 
      4. Prayer was what made Joshua and his army prevail over Amalek. 17:11, 13
        When Moses didn’t hold up the staff in this posture of prayer, Amalek prevailed. 
        
        By persevering in prayer, Israel prevailed.
        See Luke 18:1-8 in the addendum. 
      5. And, prayer was a corporate work not just an individual effort. 17:12
        Moses would get weary on his own, so Aaron and Hur helped in the work of prayer.
        We will say more about this in our application.

The Lord will give justice to the agents of the Serpent who oppose us. 17:14
1. The Lord wants to make sure Joshua has a reminder that the Lord will see to Amalek’s demise since Joshua will be Moses’ successor.
  1. The Lord wanted Joshua to have his word that he would finish off Amalek in due time.
    1. The Lord would do justice for his people. 
  2. It’s important to know that the Lord does justice, and it’s not our job to execute the full measure of justice on those who oppose us, and this will be a real temptation.
    1. Romans 12:19-21 (ESV) 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
      1. Paul makes this application by quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35 when those who oppose and do evil to God’s people seem to have success. 
      2. We don’t have to dole out complete justice.
        Our job is to hear and obey and leave ultimate justice to the Lord who will set all things straight.
        This will require discernment gained through prayer.

Application: What should we do?

Be hard-wired to the Bible, the local church, fellowship in the local church, and being about the mission of healing (disrupting dark systems and replacing them with kingdom systems) and preaching the good news from your local church to help you know how to take appropriate action as you grow in faith.
1. You cannot balance actions and prayer without these elements.
  1. God has appointed his word, church, and actually doing the work as means for us to learn to balance the seen and unseen labors. 
Remember that a great deal of our work is the destruction of unseen ideas that are contrary to the kingdom of God, and this will require us to look beyond brute force.
1. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (ESV) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
  1. We must be discerning to see beyond the flesh and blood to what is driving the flesh and blood, and we must attack there first.
    1. This will be intellectual, spiritual, and feel like it’s not possible. 
Learn to discern the voice of the Spirit when action is required, do what you believe he is leading you to do that is the most right, and trust him for the outcomes.
1. Dallas Willard gives some helpful ways to know the voice of the Spirit in “Hearing God” that will help us with this application
2. How can we discern the Spirit’s voice so we know what he’s leading us to do that is most right?
3. Dallas Willard suggests asking three questions he calls the “three lights”:
  1. What are circumstances dictating that we do?
    1. I’m stuck in the cab, and the man won’t stop asking me the question. 
  2. What Scriptures are coming to mind?
    1. “Before the rooster crows you will deny me 3 times.” (Matthew 26:34)
  3. What impressions are you getting that are clear?
    1. Go for it, and if you die you die, but don’t deny who you are and who you serve. 
Don’t dismiss or take for granted our corporate prayer time and prayer times in RL groups.
1. Men who lead this, keep putting solid effort into digging into UP/IN/OUT and leading us to touch the throne of God for our unity and effectiveness on mission together, our passion for the kingdom of God, and our success in seeing the dark kingdom lose ground in Rome/Floyd County and the nations.
  1. Keep it in line with Jesus’ instructions. 
  2. And when you get a chance to pray in public, don’t be a prayer hogger who takes up the allotted time praying a 10-page paper full of the prophets of Baal babbling.
    1. Be disciplined and to the point. 
    2. We don’t have to teach a theology class in our praying so that people are instructed or corrected. 
    3. Jesus said we are not heard by our many words. 
    4. Obey Jesus’ instructions about prayer. 
Fight the distractions that oppose prayer.
1. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to avoid praying?
  1. Have you ever considered that this avoidance might be the masqueraded opposition of the unseen forces of evil in the heavenly places?
    1. Break through that, and just begin. 
  2. Distractions are nefarious means to keep us from touching the throne of God. 
If you are inconsistent in prayer, begin by putting a reminder on your device for 4 times a day (morning, mid-day, evening, bed-time), and just pray the Lord’s prayer.
1. From this unceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) prayer habit, begin to riff off of Jesus’ model using the “five-finger” model we have on a sign to remind you every week you enter the building.
  1. Praise.
  2. Thanksgiving.
  3. Confession.
  4. Others.
  5. Self.
    1. If you simply begin praying how Jesus taught us to pray, you’ll find yourself learning effective prayer. 
    2. It’s not “Catholic” to pray exactly how Jesus taught us to pray. It’s being a Christian.
    3. We often go out of our way to avoid something we think is “Catholic” or something that looks like “rote” when it’s exactly what the Bible says to do.
      1. Who determined that “rote” was bad when it comes to obeying Jesus’ instructions?
      2. Shake that lie off and get after it. 
Strive for holiness so your actions and praying are not hindered.
1. If we are in sin, the likelihood of us acting in line with the Spirit is diminished because we are not looking for the right things.
  1. So, make it a habit of confessing to someone trustworthy.
    1. Be transparent. 
2. Prayer that touches God’s throne and advances holy actions will be hindered if we tolerate sin in our lives.
  1. James 5:16 (ESV) 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
  2. 1 Peter 3:7 (ESV) 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Appendix: An Introduction to some of what the Bible says about prayer. 

Prayer is communication with the God of the Bible. 
1. Prayer, in its simplest form, is communicating with God. I’ll give you two examples: One from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.
  1. 1 Samuel 1:10-15 (ESV) 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” 12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.
  2. Philippians 4:5-6 (ESV) 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Prayer is vital to the Christian life and evidence we have been transformed by the good news. 
1. Prayer is vital, so we should pray regularly and not abandon it.
  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) 17 pray without ceasing,
    1. Prayer that does not cease is not that we pray every breath we take. Rather, unceasing prayer is Luke 18:1-8 prayer that is regular throughout each day and never abandoned. See the next point. 
2. Prayer is evidence of faith.
  1. Luke 18:1-8 (ESV) 1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
    1. When Jesus ends this parable with the question about finding faith on the earth when he returns he is telling us that faith prays like the widow in the parable because they trust God to rule over even the unrighteous. Faith prays. 
Prayer is part of our worship.
1. Psalm 95:6 (ESV) 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
We are to give thanks in prayer.
1. Philippians 4:5-7 (ESV) 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
We are to confess sin in prayer.
1. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We are to make supplication in prayer.
1. Supplication is asking earnestly for needs.
  1. Ephesians 6:18-20 (ESV) 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
  2. Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
We are to pray privately.
1. Matthew 6:6 (ESV) 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
  1. Prayer is not so that others can see us or hear us and believe things about us that are untrue.
    1. Prayer that connects our heart to the Father is prayer that is focused on the Father and communing with him. That often happens most effectively when we are not distracted by external things and internal temptations. Alone. 
We are to pray continually.
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) 17 pray without ceasing,
We are to pray together.
1. Acts 1:14 (ESV) 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
  1. Prayer is most focused in private, and at the same time the Bible teaches that we should also pray together with the church with Jesus’ instructions keeping us on point and disciplined in our praying. 
We are to pray as part of worship.
1. As noted already, prayer is considered worship. (See point 3, Psalm 95:6)
  1. Psalm 95:6 (ESV) 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
We are to pray for others.
1. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV) 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
  1. Supplication – Asking for needs.
  2. Prayers – Direct conversation with God.
  3. Intercessions – Addressing God for oneself and others.
  4. Thanksgivings – Expressing gratitude to God.
Prayer requires faith.
1. Mark 11:24 (ESV) 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
2. Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
  1. Prayer in faith is required to see the effect of prayer, and yet “faith” is not a blank check we can use to get anything we desire because we are required to pray according to the will of God. We are not promised answers in our favor if our requests stand against the eternal purposes of God.
    1. For example: If I pray in complete faith for the Lord to spare me from any suffering, I am not likely going to get an answer to that prayer because suffering is natural and normal for the Christian as one of the Lord’s means of disciplining, training, his children. See Hebrews 12. 
Prayer requires humility.
1. We are to recognize our failures, humble ourselves in repentance, and express that in prayer.
  1. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2. In prayer, we submit to God’s will.
  1. Matthew 26:39 (ESV) 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Prayer perseveres because of faith.
1. Luke 18:1-8 (ESV) 1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Prayer must be accompanied by righteousness.
1. We must pray with a pure heart that confesses sin.
  1. James 5:16 (ESV) 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
    1. As noted later in Isaiah 59:1-2, sin can hinder prayer. 
  2. Psalm 66:18 (ESV) 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Examples of prayer.
1. The Lord’s Prayer gives structure and content.
  1. Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
    1. Jesus teaches us to pray with prayer that gives us rich content in line with the will of God, and that content guides us making application to other issues that need our intercession. 
2. Jesus’ intercession/high priestly prayer.
  1. John 17:1-26
3. The prayers of the Apostles.
  1. Acts 4:24-31 (ESV) 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
4. Prayers in the Psalms.
  1. The prayers in the Psalms give us form and content for all manner of conversations we should have with the Lord. (Psalms 51, 23, 139)
    1. Psalm 51:1-2 (ESV) 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Attitudes that must accompany prayer.
1. Reverence.
  1. Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV) 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
2. Sincerity.
  1. Matthew 6:5-6 (ESV) 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
3. Thanksgiving.
  1. Colossians 4:2 (ESV) 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Postures for prayer. 
1. Kneeling.
  1. Daniel 6:10 (ESV) 10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
2. Standing and hands lifted.
  1. Mark 11:25 (ESV) 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
  2. Exodus 9:29 (ESV) 29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’S.
  3. 1 Samuel 1:9-12 (ESV) 9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” 12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.
  4. 2 Chronicles 20:5-6 (ESV) 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.
  5. Psalm 63:4 (ESV) 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
  6. 1 Timothy 2:8 (ESV) 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
3. Prostrate, that is stretched out on the ground.
  1. Matthew 26:39 (ESV) 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
What hinders prayer?
1. Sin.
  1. Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV) 1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
    1. You will need to work this out with the work of the gospel in view and the reality of being righteous before God through Christ while being called to pursue practical holiness. 
2. Doubt/Lack of Faith.
  1. James 1:5-8 (ESV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
3. Selfish Motives.
  1. James 4:3 (ESV) 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
4. Lack of forgiveness.
  1. Mark 11:24-25 (ESV) 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
What assurance do we have the Lord hears and answers?
1. The Lord hears when we seek after him with full attention.
  1. Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV) 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
2. Prayer should strive to be lined up with the will of the Lord where it is explicitly expressed in Scripture and as best as we can discern from fellowship and circumstances.
  1. 1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Prayer in faith produces peace.
1. Philippians 4:5-7 (ESV) 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer is a means by which the Lord provides empowerment.
1. Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV) 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
What is the Holy Spirit’s role in prayer?
1. The Holy Spirit helps us when we don’t know what to pray.
  1. Romans 8:26-27 (ESV) 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Jesus is our mediator in prayer giving us access to the Father. 
1. Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV) 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Prayer is how we put on the armor of God for spiritual warfare.
1. Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Prayer is how we keep watch. 
1. Keeping watch is the idea of having eyes to see what the Lord is doing, being able to see and understand the Lord’s providences, AND being prepared to meet the circumstances the Lord brings about.
  1. Matthew 26:40-41 (ESV) 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
  2. Matthew 25:13 (ESV) 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
2. Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV) 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.