February 2 – 8, 2008

OBTAINING GRACE IN PRAYER

In this lesson you will learn how to obtain grace in prayer and how to intensify your prayer life. You will also learn what praying in the Spirit and praying in your understanding means.

I. Obtaining grace in prayer – Hebrews 4:14-16.

A. Verse 14 – “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” We have someone in heaven with the Father who was here on the earth just like we are. Jesus is our advocate in heaven. When we hold fast to our confession of faith and prayer, God will perform what He has promised in His Word.

B. Verse 15 – “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

C. Verse 16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Grace is divine favor.

II. Intensity in prayer.

A. Matthew 11:12 – “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent (forceful, intense) take it by force.”

B. In the spiritual world, kingdoms are colliding: the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of light. Everything on the planet and on the global scale is intensifying. This is seen in the news, economy, and national scene. As the end times get closer, we must intensify our prayer life.

III. Pray in the Spirit.

A. Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

B. 1 Corinthians 14:13-15 – There are two ways to pray: one is to pray in the Spirit and the other is to pray in your understanding.

C. Romans 8:26-27 – When you don’t know how to pray, then pray in the Spirit and you will pray the will of God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Share how you have come boldly to the throne of grace and obtained mercy and found grace to help in time of need.
• How have you intensified your prayer life?
• Share a recent example of praying in the Spirit and praying in your understanding and the results of this kind of praying.

BE A DOER OF THE WORD

Every day this week get up early and begin to pray in the Spirit and pray in your understanding. Write down what the Lord speaks to you in this prayer time.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”