25 Gifts of the Spirit

A non-exhaustive list at Jeff Garrett's Blog. I have printed out a copy to meditate on. See link below.

And the rest is details....

Ephesians 1:3-6. NASB95.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Head Dump: Prayer 10

Praying scripture.

Acts 4:23-31. NASB95.
23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise futile things?
26 ‘The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
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 purpose predestined to occur.
29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

The passage that the disciples were quoting in vs 25-26 is Psalm 2:1-2.

Question: Why pray the word of God? Or why use the word while praying?

1. Praying scripture is a simple way of praying that God's will be done.
2. Praying scripture promises and prayers are an easy way to bless someone.
3. Praying scripture is a good way of praying for situations where it is not clear what to pray for.

Some personal examples:
For a person in church, one of the pastors has encouraged us to pray I Corinthians 3:16 (“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”).

I have frequently prayed Galatians 5:1 (“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”) for myself and for others.

Our pastors have been on extended series rooted in Ephesians 5:15-23 (5:18 - “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened....”). We have been encouraged to pray this for ourselves and for each other.

In general, I frequently find myself praying scripture, both in private and in group prayer.

Over the years, there are a number of people that I have walked with as Christians that have left fellowship unrepentant over some sin. For these, I pray any number of blessings (the three passages above for example). Many Bible verses, even some very “hard” ones, can be prayed as promises or blessings.

For example, I have prayed John 16:8 (“And He [the Holy Spirit], when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment...”) for myself and for others as a blessing. This is possible because I know (experientially) that the conviction of the Holy Spirit is gentle, clear, and to the point. It is not condemnation (which is general, oppressive, often vague, and usually insulting).

Praying scripture is a lot easier to do if one has read/studied/memorized a lot of verses. (Hint: this is an encouragement to memorize the word.)

I would also like to note the relationship between doing what I have described above and the "prayerful reading" of "lectio divina" described below. As I am prayerfully reading a passage, I have had things bubble to the surface related to the passage. Things that God would like me to deal with: sins to confess, people to pray for, etc.)

Thinking highly of oneself

Romans 12:3. NASB95. "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."

There are things that I know about myself to be true. Some of these things are “good” things (strengths, abilities, giftings). Some of them are “bad” things (faults, failings, sins). Which hinder me more in my walk with the Lord?

Knowing about the bad things tend to produce despair. It is the “mind set on flesh is death” problem.

Knowing about the good things, is also the mind set on flesh. Believing in them is idolatry.

Lord, guard me from my failings and from my strengths. Keep me from thinking highly of myself. Remind me that my strengths are still weaknesses in Your eyes.

Head Dump: Prayer 9

Well, this is not exactly a head dump. But I ran across this on The Anchoress's blog as part of a review of a book by Amy Wellborn:

"For those who practice lectio divina, or prayerful reading, the book is rich with those short lines of scripture or insight which connect in an immediate and visceral way, and one feels prompted by the Holy Spirit to “linger on this thought, today…pray over this." [see link below]

Since I am not, by background, a Roman Catholic, I have never run into this as a separate spiritual discipline or exercise. I have had this happen. And I have practiced this as part of what my pastor calls "waiting on the Lord."

Exercising Gratitude

Hebrews 12:28. NASB.
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.

Head Dump: Prayer 8

1 Corinthians 14:1-19. NASB95.
1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?
7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;
19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40. NASB95.
39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

Paul is addressing a problem concerning the use of spiritual gifts during church, that is, when the believers in Corinth were gathering to worship. Therefore, his purpose is to bring back under order the various manifestations of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:7). Apparently, the Corinthians were exalting the gift of tongues above other gifts during the public gatherings.

It is not my purpose here to talk about the public use of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit known as the gift of tongues. I want to draw attention to what Paul says, by inference, about the private use of tongues.

• When praying in a tongue, one speaks to God
• When one speaks in a tongue, one is edifying (building up) one’s self.
• It is Paul’s desire for the Corinthians that they all spoke in tongues.
• Tongues have a meaning (vs. 10).
• When one is praying in a tongue, it is our spirit that is praying. That is, the part that is doing the praying is the part that was brought to life when we were saved.
• Paul says that as a result of the above, he prays with his spirit (in speech that is not fruitful to his mind, but is to his spirit) and with his mind (in speech that is fruitful for him and for anyone hearing him).
• Blessing (praying) in the spirit is a giving of thanks to God.
• Paul boasts that he prays in tongues more than they do.
• Paul, mindful of our fallen and human ability to misinterpret teachings, bluntly tells the Corinthians not to forbid speaking in a tongue.
  
• “Praying in the spirit” and “speaking in tongues” seem to be used interchangeably.
  

Note: I lowercased praying in the “spirit” above, because it is not praying in the “Holy Spirit.” It is praying with/in/by our spirit.

To summarize so far: speaking in tongues (public or private) is prayer to God that edifies the spirit of the one doing the praying. It is a way of giving thanks to God. Paul clearly encourages its private use, boasting in his own use of it.

Question: Is it wrong to pray in the spirit for private purposes, that is, for personal edification?

Answers:

• Paul says he prays in the spirit.
• We have freedom. There is nothing in the word to forbid or restrict the use of tongues for that purpose.
• We are called to build ourselves up. (Jude 20. NASB95. “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit...”)
• We are thanking God “well enough” doing it.

Motivation: building myself up, so that I can edify others later, is certainly allowed. I believe that there must be a connection between the spirit and the mind, though I do not know how it works. When my spirit is edified that must benefit my mind, at least in the long run. Perhaps this is one mechanism by which Romans 12:2 operates: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17. NASB95. “Pray without ceasing.”

The Lord has given us a vast array of things to do under the general heading of praying. And we have freedom. This vast array is not a set of laws to weigh us down. It is not a series of obligations that have to be met in order to be a man or woman of prayer in God’s eyes. These are all ways our loving Father and His Son, by the Holy Spirit, have given to us so that we can have fellowship with Them. They are gifts to be treasured, used, and shared with others.

With tongues, I can take another step towards “praying without ceasing.”

I ask God to remind me to pray. I ask Him to allow prayer in the spirit to bubble up when my mind is not occupied. (And He does it.)

The point of “pray without ceasing” is to be mindfully and continually in the presence of our God. It does not matter whether we are being conscious of God the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. As long as we are there.

Head Dump: Prayer 7

Intercession.

Romans 8:34. NASB95.
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

James 5:16. NASB95.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

1 Timothy 2:1-2. NASB95.
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Jesus intercedes for us; we are to pray (intercede) for each other; we are to make “entreaties and prayers” (intercession) for all men.

Jesus is our high priest, making intercession for us before the throne. We are called to participate with Him in that priestly ministry.

Frequently, we set up lists to remind us who to pray for. This creates and exercises a good habit. We become practiced in asking God to move in the life of others. We become attentive, trained to sense the nudge and leading of the Holy Spirit about how to pray for someone.

We talk about “the Lord laying someone on our heart” to pray for. For those who have “their senses trained to discern” this can be a common experience. It is thrilling, and humbling, to know that Jesus wants me to intercede, with Him, for someone specific.

And to take it one step further, I can ask Jesus who He is interceding for, who is on His heart to pray for, today.

With each step, I become a more active participant in the administration of the kingdom of God than I was before.

Exercising Gratitude

Hebrews 13:15. NASB95. "Through Him [Jesus] then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name."

Seeing Jesus as High Priest....

And as a pastor.

Hebrews 4:14-5:2 NASB95.
14 Therefore, since 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 cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;
2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness...

In the gospel of John, Jesus describes Himself as the good shepherd. However, even if we did not have that, the description of Jesus, the high priest, is the description of a pastor.

1. He is sympathetic to our weaknesses
2. He was tempted in all things
3. He gives mercy and grace
4. He offers gifts and sacrifices
5. He deals gently with the ignorant and misguided.

The last two parts are actually part of the description of the high priest “from among men.” However, from the context, it can be included in the “job description” of any high priest.

I was greatly taken by the last part because we are all “ignorant and misguided.” OK, often I do know a lot and I am not ignorant and misguided about everything, all the time, but...

I did, at one point, spend all of my time that way. Even today, after many years as a Christian, I think I spend a lot of time that way, especially in hindsight.

Thank God that Jesus is willing to deal gently with us.

I teach...

As a teacher, one of the challenges with going back to school is that I spend September dealing with the change from the summer schedule, the paperwork, getting to know the new students, all the administrative changes for the new year, not to mention the actual teaching. And then there is the leftover summer stuff that has be finished on the weekends: gardening, a day trip or two, miscellaneous shopping and so forth.

Therefore, I will be posting less frequently for a time.

May the Lord richly bless your school year.

And the rest is details....

I John 1:9. NASB95. "If we confess our sins, He is fathful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to clease us from all unrighteousness."

And "all" means "all."

Head Dump: Prayer 6

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. NASB 95.
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Tonight, I spent some time talking about 5:17 with my wife and some friends. We got talking about how can we pray without ceasing when we are busy working (accountant, teacher, secretary, etc.)

My wife observed that what is important here is a heart bend towards obedience. Have I made it my purpose, before God, to pray without ceasing? If so, I can ask God for reminders, nudges, etc. to pray, or to return to prayer when I have gotten distracted.

One observation was that when this passage was written, most people had “hand” jobs as opposed to “mind” jobs. That is, most people were fisherman, farmers, servants, basket weavers, tent makers, and so forth. These are jobs that can be, for the most part, done while carrying on a conversation, with God, or with someone else.

Of course, not even in Paul’s time could anyone pray continuously.

Today, most jobs are “mind” jobs. That is, jobs that require prolonged thinking, for example: computer programming, nursing, legal work, social work, the pastorate, and so forth. Here, conversation is a distraction.

Praying without ceasing is not a law or obligation, but a heart bend to be with God. He will honor that heart bend, causing our minds to return to Him in moments of quiet. In other words, be free to pray, be free to work, be free to talk to friends, family, co-workers, and to God.

On Katrina

From the BlogCornerPreacher:

Psalm 46:1-3
1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46: 10a. "Be still, and know that I am God..."

"Christ is the end of the law"

Jeff Garrett nails down some thoughts about law and salvation from Romans. His comments on Romans 10:9,10 are a "The rest is details...." moment.

Head Dump: Prayer 5

To whom do I pray?

If we have a “triune’ God, with three persons in one, which is the one to whom we are praying? One person in particular, or all of them together?

This is not meant to be exhaustive study. As I said in previous parts, this is a “head dump.” Just thoughts about prayer.

There are not a lot of recorded prayers in the New Testament. There are a number of them in Old Testament, but they did know clearly about the three different persons of God, even though there were some indications.

In the Old Testament, God is addressed as “Lord,” “Lord God,” “God,” “O Lord, our God.” and other variations. The words translated as “Lord” could be ”Elohim” or “YHWH.” “Adonai” is usually translated at “God.” In other words, God had three “common” names, representing one person.

In the New Testament there seems to be more variation.

Jesus, Himself, seems to have exclusively prayed to God the Father: John 17, 1,5,11,24,25; Luke 23:46; and, most famously, Matthew 6:9 (the Lord’s Prayer).

Oddly enough, no one else addresses God as “Father” in the rest of the NT, at least not in prayer.

The word “Lord” is used consistently in the recorded prayers in Acts (1:24, 4:24, 8:24). The Greek word “kurios” means “lord,” or “master” and is translated as “Lord” when referring to Jesus. It is derived from a word meaning authority.

In the story of Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-17), Paul talks to Jesus and calls Him Lord. Later, Jesus and Ananias talk. Ananias recognizes Him as Jesus, and then addresses Him as Lord.

Acts 7:54-60 is the martyrdom of Stephan. Stephan sees Jesus, first calls Him “Jesus” then calls Him the “Son of Man,” then calls Him”Lord Jesus” again, and finally calls Him “Lord.”

Therefore, it is not clear from the recorded prayers in Acts who the disciples were addressing. Was it Jesus being addressed as “Lord?” Or was it a hold-over from the Old Testament practice of referring to God as “Lord?”

In Acts 13:1-4; 21:23; 21:11, the Holy Spirit is identified as talking to the disciples.

In Paul’s letters, he frequently talks about praying to God, or to God the Father of our Lord Jesus.

• Romans 1:8. “I thank my God...” (also 1:10, 10:1, 15:30)
• 1 Corinthians 1:4. “I thank my God...”
• Ephesians 1:16,17a. [I] do not cease giving thinks for you , while making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory....”
• And so on.

In Romans 8:26-7, the Holy Spirit is described as one who intercedes for us. In Romans 8:34 (a few verses later) it is Jesus who intercedes for us. An intercessor is one who makes petition for, who entreats, who confers with. It would make sense to talk to (pray to) the one who is interceding for us. Even today, our Roman Catholic brethren ask the various saints to intercede on their behalf. (Have I got that right?)

Nowhere in the NT does there seem to be any definitive commandment to address God by a particular name, or to pray to a particular person of the trinity. The only thing that approaches a commandment is in the Lord's Prayer when Jesus says to pray like this, "Our Father..." But nowhere are the disciples quoted as doing that.

I think that there is too little information to say that I need to address God exclusively, as a matter of doctrine, as “God,” or “Lord” or “Father” or “Jesus” or “Holy Spirit.”

They are “one God in three persons.” When I talk to one, I talk to all of them.

We also need to remember that prayer grows out of freedom and results in more freedom. I think that we need to be free to address God, in our prayers, in whatever person we are led to. This is an individual practice rooted in traditions, teachings, personal experience, and, even, need.

I usually pray to Jesus. But sometimes I like to “crawl into my Daddy’s lap,” too. There are also things that are specific jobs of the Holy Spirit. For example, bringing conviction, and I like to pray to the Holy Spirit when I am seeking after those things.

Your thoughts?

Head Dump: Prayer 4

[I am continuing to "dump" thoughts about prayer.]

Prayer needs to fit into other aspects of Christian life.

Luke 7:47. NASB95. “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Unconfessed and unforgiven sin will scare me away from God. Confessed and forgiven sin draws me closer to Him.

I am forgiven much. There is not one of us who has not sinned as greatly as the prostitute that anointed Jesus. (That is, Jesus said that hating a brother or lusting for a neighbor is the same as murder or adultery). As I get to know Jesus better, I come to know more how fallen I am and how much I need Him. As I learn how much I am forgiven, I know and feel the love I have for Him more and more. As I come to love Him more, I want to spend more time with Him, getting to know Him more, talking to Him more.

Prayer does not grow out of obligation. Praying is not a way of racking up points with God. Prayer is fellowship, a conversation with a Brother (or Father) that I deeply love and deeply love to be with.

Galatians 5:1. NASB95. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

If prayer is part of love, it also results from, and in, freedom. I talk to the One I love because He has set me free. But I also talk to Him because these conversations also set me free from burdens I carry. I confess sin and repent from it and He sets me free from that sin and its penalty. I carry weighty burdens to Him in prayer: concerns about family, job, friends, politics, health. And He sets me free from the weight of those burdens, even if He does not heal the illness or take care of the problems with work. I talk to Him about the past, growing up, things that have bound my family and me for years, and He sets me free from them.

Romans 14:17. NASB95. “...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Philippians 4:6,7. NASB95. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Yes, God asks me to pray (without ceasing, as a matter of fact). And the kingdom of God is where God is king. That is, where He rules and is obeyed. If I pray in obedience to His word in the Bible, then I should see “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” in my life. Joy should accompany prayer. Peace should follow prayer.

And, yes, sometimes prayer is just hard work, a habit to be mastered, and a laziness to be overcome. But prayer is also so much more, because it touches Him who is eternal.

Summary:
Prayer grows out of love.
Prayer grows out of freedom.
Prayer results in more freedom.
Prayer results in joy and peace.

Head Dump: Prayer 3

I can model aspects of prayer to others. I cannot set up all the things that I do as prayer as a standard for others to follow.

Each of us is unique. Yes, we are all made in God’s image. But God’s image is so large, we need to see Him reflected in many people to get more than a glimpse of Him. How I pray is unique to me. It has grown out of my study of the Bible, who has taught me about prayer, what they have taught me, my own praying, how others have modeled praying to me in groups, what my habits are, and, yes, my own faults and failings.

There are so many aspects to prayer: worship, praise, thanksgiving, asking for personal needs, asking for the needs of other, confession of sin, meditation on verses in the Bible, and just plain talking to God about the day. It can be aloud or silent; private or with others; standing, sitting, kneeling, or on one’s face; in a known or unknown language; in anguish, rapture, or peace. I can keep lists of people I am praying for, or trust God to remind me who to pray for, or both.

And all of these are supposed to going on “without ceasing.”

Prayer is more than a single activity, done in a chair at 6:15-6:30 AM. It seems to bear more similarity to a stew than a steak: a whole lot of elements, cooking all day long, rich and nourishing.

Practicing Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. NASB 95.
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

"Always," "without ceasing," "in everything." God certainly sets us up to fail, doesn't He? (I'm joking). But without my failing, falling short, and sin why would I need Him in the first place?

It is God's will that I am grateful in all things. And the place He has made for me to do that is in Jesus.

Head Dump: Prayer 2

Luke 11:1. NASB 95
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

Matthew 6:5-15. NASB 95
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name. (Or “Let Your name be holy or venerated”)
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 do not lead us into temptation (or “trial”), but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’
14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Parts of the Lord’s Prayer:

• Worship. Placing ourselves in a right position towards God: He is exalted, He is in heaven, He is Holy. (We are not).
• Supplication for:
• God’s will to be done (placed before my desires). God’s kingdom is where He is King. The first place that I need to be concerned about Him establishing His kingdom is in my life. Am I obeying the King?
• My needs (you cannot get any more basic than asking for today’s food)
• My forgiveness (confession of sin)
• Guard me from trial, temptation, and evil.
• Reminder to forgive others (see also verses 14,15)
• Worship (again). This last part is not in the earliest manuscripts of this passage. However, it would still indicate very old church tradition and/or practice.

The A.C.T.S. prayer is based on the Lord’s Prayer: Adoration (worship), Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (my needs as well as intercessory prayer).

Admonishments regarding prayer:

1. Do not prayer in order to be seen praying. Yes, we pray in public, for two reasons. First, we are to pray without ceasing, and second as part of normal interactions with other Christians: prayer meetings, church, worship (or mass), etc.
2. Private: Even still, most of our prayer is meant to be private or quietly, if has to be done in public.
3. Reward. God rewards our prayer. This is not the same thing as answering prayer The Pharisees prayed in public in order to be seen praying and the good opinions of others was their reward. God rewards those who pray and seek Him in private. The reward for praying is getting to know God better.
4. Avoid meaningless repetition. In other words, praying thoughtfully, pray with the mind engaged.
5. A necessary condition for being forgiven is to forgive.

Head Dump: Prayer 1

I am going to "dump" some thoughts about prayer over the next few days.

1 Thessalonians 5:17. NASB95. “...pray without ceasing.”

Prayer is something that can be done constantly. It, therefore, must be something simple, easy to grasp, and easy to do. And needs to be taught that way, too.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. NASB.
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Context: rejoice, pray, and give thanks constantly.

Ephesians 6:18. NASB95. “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints...”