- Why are many prayers so general or summarized?
- What is the first level of prayer in John 17? (John 17:1-5) Why is this level not selfish?
- What is the second level of prayer in John 17? (John 17:6-19) What does the word “not” in John 17:9 teach about the structure of Jesus’ prayer?
- What is the third level of prayer in John 17? (John 17:20-26) How is this level relevant for us?
- What was Jesus’ prayer for Simon? (Luke 22:31-32)
- What are the benefits of specific prayer?
- What decisive action will you take now, as a result of this lesson?
EXTRA REFERENCES AND 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 the topics Specifics, Praises and Intercession.
Specifics The Bible has many specific prayers. Apart from the Psalms, recorded requests in the OT seem more physical than in the NT. This may reflect the nature of the Old Covenant as its earthly pictures prepared for the spiritual realities of Christ Galatians 4:21-31; Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:1. Sample prayer items from the OT include Abraham for Ishmael Genesis 17:18, for Lot Genesis 18:23-33 and for Abimelech Genesis 20:17-18; Abraham’s servant for a wife for Isaac Genesis 24:12-14; Isaac for Rebekah Genesis 25:21; Jacob for blessing Genesis 28:20-22; 32:24-30; Job in complaint Job 6:8-9; 7:17-21; 14:13-22; 10:1-2; for friends Job 42:8-9; Joshua for the sun to stand still Joshua 10:12; Hannah for a child 1 Samuel 1:10-17; Samuel for Israel 1 Samuel 7:5-10; 12:19,23; Gideon for signs Judges 6:36; David for war strategies 1 Samuel 23:2-12; 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1; 5:19-25; his dynasty 2 Samuel 7:27-29; his sick child 2 Samuel 12:16; a famine 2 Samuel 21:1; Solomon for wisdom 1 Kings 3:5-14; a prophet for healing 1 Kings 13:6; Elijah for a resurrection 1 Kings 17:20-24; fire and rain 1 Kings 18:36-46 cf. James 5:17-18; Elisha for a curse 2 Kings 2:24; a resurrection 2 Kings 4:32-37; supernatural sight 2 Kings 6:17-20; Hezekiah against Sennacherib 2 Kings 19:1-20; for health 2 Kings 20:1-11; Jabez for success 1 Chronicles 4:10; prayers for Darius and his sons Ezra 6:10. Great OT prayers include by Solomon at the temple dedication 1 Kings 8:22-59; laments Lamentations 1:20-22; 2:19-22; 5:1-3 cf. Jeremiah 12:1-4; 20:7-18; prayers for justice and vengeance Jeremiah 8:18-23; 10:23-25; 20:12; Psalm 94:1-2; 119:84 cf. Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27,35; 23:34; Nehemiah’s prayers Nehemiah 1:4-11; 2:4; 4:4-5; 5:19; 6:9,14; 13:4,22,29,31. See Confession of sins (in the lesson – Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Surrendered 2, segment Thought Questions, Extra References and Notes). NT In Acts, disciples prayed for a successor to Judas Acts 1:24-26; for courage 4:24-30; for Samaritans 8:9-25; for Tabitha 9:40-41; for Peter in prison 12:5-17; for missionaries 13:2-3; for Publius’ sick father 28:8; Paul thanked God for converts Romans 1:8; 6:17; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 8:16; 9:11-12; Ephesians 1:16; Colossians 1:3; Philippians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; 2:13; 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:13,16-17; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4. Leaders prayed for converts’ needs such as power and vision Ephesians 1:16-20; Colossians 1:9-12; maturity Romans 1:9-16; 2 Corinthians 13:7,9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; for a helper’s family 2 Timothy 1:16; for justice 2 Timothy 4:14; for grace 2 Corinthians 9:14; 2 Timothy 4:16; for wisdom James 1:5; for the sick and weak James 5:13-16; for lost Israel Romans 10:1; and for Christ’s return 1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelation 22:20. They sought prayers for their missions Romans 15:30-32; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 3:1-2; Philemon 1:22; Hebrews 13:18. See Thanks (in the lesson – Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Sincere 2, segment Thought Questions, Extra References and Notes), Praises (below), Intercession (below).
Praises OT “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised” 1 Chronicles 16:25 cf. Genesis 29:35; Exodus 15:2; Deuteronomy 10:21; 26:5-15; Joshua 5:13-15; 2 Samuel 22:4,50; Ezra 7:27-28; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6; Isaiah 12:1-6; 25:1-9; 38:19; Jeremiah 32:16-25; Habakkuk 3:2-19. Levites 1 Chronicles 16:4; 23:30; 2 Chronicles 8:14; 20:19-21; 31:2; Nehemiah 11:17. Examples of praise in Psalms Psalm 8; 9; 18; 19; 21; 33; 34; 45; 46; 47; 48; 63; 66; 75; 81; 86; 87; 89; 90; 92; 95; 96; 97; 98; 99, 100; 103; 106; 107; 111; 115; 136; 138; 139; 145; 147; 148; 149; 150. Great examples of praise Exodus 15:1-19; Deuteronomy 32-33; Judges 5:1-31; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 22:1-51; 1 Kings 8:12-61; 1 Chronicles 16:8-36; 17:16-27; 29:10-19; Nehemiah 9:5-38; Job 1:20-22. NT We are made to praise Ephesians 1:5-6,12,14; Philippians 1:11; 3:3; Hebrews 13:15; James 5:13. Praise examples Luke 1:46-55; 2:13-20,28; Romans 11:36; 15:5; 16:27; Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 1:10-12; 13:21; 1 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Peter 3:18; 4:11; 5:11; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:5-6; 4:9-11; 5:12-14; 7:10-12; 14:7; 19:1-7 cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 4:15; Philippians 1:26. Life of worship, which includes prayer John 4:23-24; 9:31; Acts 13:2; 27:23; Romans 12:1,12; Philippians 3:3; Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 4:10-11; 5:14; 7:11; 11:1,16; 14:7; 19:4,10; 22:9. Praise in Revelation Revelation 1:7; 4:8-11; 5:9-12; 7:9-12; 15:3-4; 16:7; 19:1-10. See Thanks (in the lesson – Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Sincere 2, segment Thought Questions, Extra References and Notes), Specifics (above).
Intercession OT Moses to save Israel Exodus 32:9-14; 30-34; Numbers 11:1-2; 12:13; 14:13-19; 21:7-9; 27:15-17; Deuteronomy 9:20,19-29. Others Genesis 18:23-33; 1 Samuel 7:9; Job 42:7-10; Jeremiah 42:2-4; 22:30; Ezekiel 9:8; 11:13; Joel 2:17; Amos 7:2,5. NT Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2; 22:31-32; Romans 10:1. All prayers for others, fellow-Christians and non-Christians, are intercessions Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1. Divine intercession Luke 23:34; John 14:13; 16:23,26; 17:1-26; Romans 8:26-34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; 6:20; 7:25; 8:1; 9:24; 1 John 2:1.