First Baptist Church of Niles
Bible Study
A Study of Prayer
Prayer Strategies
Praying Offensively
Part of a prayer strategy involves praying against evil. Instead of praying against evil we should be praying for the positive advancement of the kingdom.
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matt 6:10
We need to pray that God opens the doors to the Gospel, sending forth laborers into the harvest field, pour out the Holy Spirit for revival. Spiritual warfare is standing our ground against the enemy, and taking new ground.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16
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! Matt 7:11
If God is actively working to provide good things for us, we must pray, asking for these things.
We should be praying to be filled with knowledge and wisdom, and an understanding of God's will all for His glory.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom 12:21
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Col 1:9-12
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Phil 1:9-11
Praying Preemptively
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matt 26:41
The Bible tells us we have a real spiritual enemy, who is out to steal, kill and destroy us.
Jesus recognized Satan, and resisted and rebuked him throughout His ministry.
The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 1 John 3:8
The apostles and the first leaders of the church were forced to stand against Satan. We must stand firm until the return of Christ.
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Rev 12:11
Jesus taught us to pray.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' Matt 6:13
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
How Does Satan Attack Us?
Distraction
2 hear me and answer me My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught 3 because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger. Ps 55:2-3
Satan wants us to concentrate on our to-do list, and our worries, instead of focusing on the Lord.
Deception
When Satan speaks, he speaks a lie.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Stronghold, addictions and sins are founded upon lies.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 1 Peter 4:7
Derision
You have been forgiven, but Satan will attempt to bring doubt, by bringing up old sins.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. Rev 12:10
One must study the Word to find your identity in Christ.
Division
The Gospel brings together all believers of all nations, all backgrounds, all ages and demographics.
If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark 3:25
Anger and arguments may not destroy the Gospel, but can prevent you from being and effective witness.
in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Cor 2:11
We must put on the armor of Christ.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Eph 6:14-18
Praying Defensively
We have the equipment to stand attacks, but sometimes we are not ready for the attacks.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Pet 1:3
R.E.S.P.O.N.D
Resist
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
The name of Jesus is powerful
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Phil 2:9-10
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Escape
God provides means to escape temptation.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Cor 10:13
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph 6:17
Search
Search for unconfessed sin.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
There is a difference between being tempted and being tormented by it.
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:3-5
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Heb 12:1
Plead
Plead the blood of Jesus. We confess our sin, and ask God to cleanse us by His son's blood.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 7-9
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— Rom 3:23-25
Overtake
Overtake ground given to Satan. We are in spiritual warfare.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross Col 2:15
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross Col 2:13-15
When you sin, you are yielding to the control of the devil. In repentance, we regain control.
24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Tim 2:24-26
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:5
Name
Name someone in targeted prayer.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, Eph 6:17-19
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7
Delight
Delight in the Lord.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Ps 27:6
Praying Extraordinarily
Praying strategies go the next level, when we reach a point of desperation.
Unexpected moments call for radical, drop-everything prayer.
Esther was in a desperate situation. The Jewish people were about to be exterminated. She was not in a position to approach the king. Customs of the day means that she would be killed to enter his presence.
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esth 4:16
The above-and-beyond praying led to a miracle.
Effective prayer is a team effort.
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 1:14
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5
Praying with fasting is effective.
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matt 4:2
Pray fervently and passionately
Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” Jonah 1:14
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. James 4:9
Fervent prayer touches God's heart
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16