- According to 1 John 2:5-6,what is the real proof that you are abiding in Jesus?
- Was Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane unanswered? What does this teach you about prayer? (Matthew 26:39; Hebrews 5:7)
- According to Luke 11:9-10, how many receive what they ask for?
- Given that context or setting of Luke 11:9-10, to what subject does the “asking” apply most directly? What does this suggest about your first step towards improved praying?
- According to Matthew 26:41, what is the key to avoiding temptation?
- If Satan weakens you, or causes you to fall, what should you, as a committed child of God, do about it? (Luke 11:4; Acts 8:22)
- What is your response to “heaven’s invitation”? What decisive action will you take now, as a result of this lesson?
EXTRA REFERENCES AND STUDY NOTES
Suppose that, for your own purposes, you want to look up other Scriptures related to this lesson. In that case, you may wish to start with Continual, Persistent, Amen, Blessing, “Greetings and Benedictions* along with the topics mentioned in the lessons, Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Sustained 1.
Continual Prayer OT Regular prayers in the morning: Psalm 88:13; 119:147; priests every morning 1 Chronicles 23:30 cf. 2 Chronicles 13:10. At night 1 Samuel 15:11; Psalm 6:6,9; 42:8; 77:2,6; 119:55, 148; 130:6; 134:1-3; Isaiah 26:8-9 cf. Genesis 32:24-26. “My mouth will praise You with joyful lips, when I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night” Psalm 63:5-8. Day and night 1 Kings 8:29,59; Nehemiah 1:6; Psalm 77:2; 88:1-2; 92:1-2. “Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and He hears my voice” Psalm 55:17. “O LORD, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!” Psalm 88:1-2. Continual: 1 Chronicles 16:11; Nehemiah 1:4; Job 1:5; Psalm 16:7-8; 22:2; 34:1; 35:27-28; 40:16; 44:8; 57:1,7; 71:3,6,8,15,24; 73:23,26; 90:1; 91:1,9; 104:33; 105:4; 119:164; 141:5; Isaiah 55:6 cf. Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8. “My eyes are ever toward the LORD” Psalm 25:14-15. “Seek His presence continually!” Psalm 105:4. “Take no rest, and give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem” Isaiah 62:6-7. NT Devoted to prayer Luke 1:10; Acts 1:13-14; 2:42; 3:1; 6:4; 10:9; 11:5; 12:5; 16:13,25,16,25. Anna “Did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day” Luke 2:37 cf. Luke 1:13. Apostles “were continually in the temple blessing” God Luke 24:52-53. Needy widow “continues in supplications and prayers night and day” 1 Timothy 5:5. Cornelius “prayed continually to God” Acts 10:2. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” Colossians 4:2. “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God” Hebrews 13:15. Paul on praying “always” Romans 1:9-10; Ephesians 1:16; 5:19-20; 6:18-19; Colossians 1:3,9; 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2:13; 5:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:3,11; 2:13. “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy” Philippians 1:4. Epaphras is “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers” Colossians 4:12 cf. Romans 15:30. “Night and day” 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Timothy 1:3. “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Persistent OT Prayer is woven into the fabric of Nehemiah’s story. Seeing an opening, Nehemiah launched a thought-prayer, “Then the king said to me, ‘What are you requesting?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven” Nehemiah 2:4. “And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night” Nehemiah 4:9 cf. 4:4-5; 5:19; 6:9,14; 9:5-38; 13:4, 22, 29, 31. Despite a law against prayer, Daniel “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” Daniel 6:10-11. Persistent prayers, often in crisis: Hannah 1 Samuel 1:10,12; Joshua and elders Joshua 6:6-10; David 2 Samuel 12:16; Psalm 22:2; 77:2; Ezra Ezra 10:6; Nehemiah Nehemiah 1:4,6; Esther Esther 4:16. NT Persistent prayers: Matthew 26:36-44; Mark 14:32-41; Luke 22:39-46; 2 Corinthians 12:8 cf. Matthew 15:23; Mark 5:18; 7:26,32; 8:22; 10:46-48; Luke 5:2; 9:38.
Amen OT “Amen” as affirmation of the prayer 1 Chronicles 16:36; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6; Psalm 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48. NT “Amen” as affirmation Romans 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; 16:27; 1 Corinthians 14:16; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 1:5; 6:18; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 4:11; 5:11; 2 Peter 3:18; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:6; 5:14; 7:12; 19:4; 22:20-21 cf. Revelation 3:14.
Blessing OT Power of the blessing Genesis 14:19; 27:4-30; 28:1-4; 32:26-29; 47:7,10; 48:9-22; 49:28; Exodus 39:43; Leviticus 9:23; Numbers 6:23-27; Deuteronomy 10:8; Ruth 2:4; Psalm 118:26; 129:8; 134:3. NT Power of the blessing Matthew 14:19; 26:26; Mark 8:7; 10:16; 14:22; Luke 1:13; 2:34; 6:28; 9:16; 24:30; 24:50-51; Romans 12:14; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 10:16; Hebrews 7:1-7; 11:20-21; 2 Peter 3:9. When I bless you with “Grace and peace,” I am not the source of those gifts. God is able, so in effect I am asking God to give you these blessings. Thus blessings in greetings and closings—farewells, benedictions—reflect prayers. Just as Jesus’ earthly life is bracketed with prayer at the beginning and the end, so are many NT letters to churches and individuals.
Greetings Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2-3; Galatians 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:2-3; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2-3; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3; 1 Peter 1:2-3; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 John 1:3; Jude 1:3; Revelation 1:4.
Benedictions Romans 15:33; 16:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians 4:23; Colossians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; 1 Timothy 6:16,21; 2 Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philemon 1:25; Hebrews 13:25; 1 Peter 5:14; 3 John 1:15; Jude 1:24-25; Revelation 22:21.
The final prayer of Stephen’s life: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Acts 7:59.
The final prayer of the Bible: “Our Lord come!” Revelation 22:20 cf. 1 Corinthians 16:22.