Grace Grace Fellowship ChurchFellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Tuesday, June 23, 2009Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Memory VerseMemory Verse

Heb 4:16, Heb 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near “Therefore let us draw near

with confidence to the throne with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may of grace, so that we may

receive mercy and find grace receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”to help in time of need.”

John 14:13-14John 14:13-14

The Doctrine of PrayerThe Doctrine of PrayerPart 7Part 7

F. One of the Greatest F. One of the Greatest Problems related to Problems related to

Prayer is Concentration.Prayer is Concentration.

All forms of worship are a All forms of worship are a test of concentration. test of concentration.

There are three specific There are three specific categories of this:categories of this:

1. Concentration on the 1. Concentration on the teaching of Bible doctrine. teaching of Bible doctrine. This reflects your values, This reflects your values,

motivation, spiritual motivation, spiritual condition, and status quo. condition, and status quo. #1 Priority should be BD.#1 Priority should be BD.

2. Concentration in the 2. Concentration in the communion service. communion service.

3. Concentration in your 3. Concentration in your personal and private personal and private

prayers, during public prayers, during public prayers when others are prayers when others are

praying, and in your praying, and in your petitions and intercessions.petitions and intercessions.

The pattern of The pattern of concentration is established concentration is established in the function of PMA of in the function of PMA of

Bible doctrine. Bible doctrine.

If you can concentrate on If you can concentrate on Bible doctrine in time of Bible doctrine in time of

stress, adversity, or even in stress, adversity, or even in prosperity, then you can prosperity, then you can concentrate in prayer. concentrate in prayer.

(Isaac's example - Gen 24:63)(Isaac's example - Gen 24:63)

There is a direct relationship There is a direct relationship between concentration in between concentration in

Bible study under the Bible study under the ministry of the Holy Spirit ministry of the Holy Spirit and concentration in prayer and concentration in prayer

under the ministry of the under the ministry of the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit.

Psa 4:4,Psa 4:4,“Tremble, and do not sin; “Tremble, and do not sin; concentrate in your heart concentrate in your heart

upon your bed, and be upon your bed, and be still.”still.”

Psa 63:6,Psa 63:6,“When I remember You on “When I remember You on

my bed, I concentrate on my bed, I concentrate on You in the night watches.”You in the night watches.”

G. The Mechanics of G. The Mechanics of Prayer.Prayer.

1. Public prayer should be 1. Public prayer should be short and should avoid short and should avoid

repetition. repetition.

Mat 6:5, 7Mat 6:5, 7

In public prayer, you In public prayer, you always add the principles always add the principles

of impersonal love, of impersonal love, flexibility and flexibility and

thoughtfulness of others. thoughtfulness of others.

2. Long prayers should be 2. Long prayers should be reserved for private reserved for private

intercession and petition.intercession and petition.

Mat 6:6Mat 6:6

3. The majority of your 3. The majority of your prayers should be prayers should be

conducted in private. conducted in private.

Mat 6:6Mat 6:6

4. Organization is 4. Organization is absolutely necessary in an absolutely necessary in an

effective prayer life.effective prayer life.

Have an agenda when Have an agenda when praying:praying:

a) a) ConfessionConfession of sin is the of sin is the first function of private first function of private

prayer.prayer.

1 John 1:9; 1 Cor 11:311 John 1:9; 1 Cor 11:31

b) b) ThanksgivingThanksgiving, , Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18. Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18.

b) b) ThanksgivingThanksgiving, , Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18. Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18. c) c) IntercessionIntercession (praying (praying for others), Eph 6:18. for others), Eph 6:18.

b) b) ThanksgivingThanksgiving, , Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18. Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18. c) c) IntercessionIntercession (praying (praying for others), Eph 6:18. for others), Eph 6:18.

d) d) PetitionPetition (praying for (praying for yourself), John 14:13-14.yourself), John 14:13-14.

a) a) Confession of sinConfession of sin ensures the filling of the ensures the filling of the

Spirit. Only prayer offered Spirit. Only prayer offered in the status quo of the in the status quo of the

filling of the Spirit will be filling of the Spirit will be heard.heard.

b) b) ThanksgivingThanksgiving expresses expresses the concept of worship in the concept of worship in

private prayer. private prayer.

b) b) ThanksgivingThanksgiving expresses expresses the concept of worship in the concept of worship in

private prayer. private prayer. Thanksgiving is grace Thanksgiving is grace

orientation; it recognizes orientation; it recognizes the source of all blessing.the source of all blessing.

Eph 5:20,Eph 5:20,“Always giving thanks to “Always giving thanks to

God the Father for all God the Father for all things in the name of our things in the name of our

Lord Jesus Christ.”Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thes 5:18,1 Thes 5:18,“In everything give thanks, “In everything give thanks,

for this is God's will for for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”you in Christ Jesus.”

1) Capacity for 1) Capacity for thanksgiving comes from thanksgiving comes from

your personal love for God your personal love for God and your impersonal love and your impersonal love

for others. for others.

Capacity for thanksgiving Capacity for thanksgiving increases as you grow in increases as you grow in

grace and in the knowledge grace and in the knowledge of the L&S JC.of the L&S JC.

2) The more you love God 2) The more you love God the more you appreciate the more you appreciate

Him, the greater your Him, the greater your thanksgiving, and the thanksgiving, and the

greater your alertness in greater your alertness in prayer.prayer.

3) It is hard to stay alert 3) It is hard to stay alert when you are in a routine when you are in a routine

situation, therefore, situation, therefore, repetition of prayer is not a repetition of prayer is not a good way to express your good way to express your

appreciation for God.appreciation for God.

c) c) Intercession,Intercession, Eph 6:18; Eph 6:18; 1 Kings 18; James 5:16-18, 1 Kings 18; James 5:16-18,

is a spiritual ministry. It is a spiritual ministry. It requires that you have your requires that you have your

own private prayer list.own private prayer list.

d) d) PetitionPetition is praying for is praying for your own needs and your own needs and

situations and includes situations and includes being confused about a being confused about a

situation where you have situation where you have not yet learned to apply not yet learned to apply

one or more PSDs. one or more PSDs.

Heb 4:16, Heb 4:16, “Approach boldly the “Approach boldly the

throne of grace, that we throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and might obtain mercy and

find grace to help in time find grace to help in time of need.”of need.”

5. Part of the mechanics of 5. Part of the mechanics of prayer is concentration. prayer is concentration.

Concentration is a function Concentration is a function of the filling of the Spirit, of the filling of the Spirit,

positive volition, and positive volition, and motivation. motivation.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Tuesday, June 23, 2009Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Tape # 09-042

Doctrine of Prayer, Part 7Doctrine of Prayer, Part 7The Mechanics of PrayerThe Mechanics of Prayer

Upper Room Discourse, Part 274Upper Room Discourse, Part 274

John 14:13-14; Mat 6:5-7; Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18  

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009