Prayer - Biblical Themes and Passages

Prayer: Biblical Themes and Passages

(Adapted from the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible)

General passages

v  Genesis 18:23-32

v  Genesis 32:23-40

v  2 Samuel 7:18-29

v  1 Kings 8:22-61

v  Luke 11:1-13

v  Luke 18:1-8

v  John 17

First biblical reference to prayer                 Genesis 4:26

Universal need of prayer                              Psalm 65:2 and Isaiah 56:7

The Holy Spirit Aids in prayer                    Romans 8:26-27

Prayers of the Saints as precious                 Revelation 5:8

Prayers ascend as incense before God        Revelation 8:3

God commands prayer

v  1 Chronicles 16:11

v  Matthew 7:7

v  Matthew 26:41

v  Luke 18:1

v  John 16:24

v  Ephesians 6:18

v  1 Thessalonians 5:17

v  James 5:13

Examples of answered prayer

Moses                          Exodus 15:24

Gideon                        Judges 6:39-40

Hannah                      1 Samuel 1:27

Samuel                        1 Samuel 7:9-10

Solomon                     1 Kings 9:3

Elijah                          1 Kings 18:37-38

Hezekiah                    2 Kings 19:19-20

Jehoshaphat               2 Chronicles 18:31

Ezra                            Ezra 8:23

Zechariah                   Luke 1:13

The Early Church     Acts 4:31

God promises to answer prayer

v  Psalm 91:15

v  Isaiah 58:9

v  Isaiah 65:24

v  Zechariah 13:9

v  Luke 11:9

v  John 15:7

Causes of failure in prayer

v  Secret sin                          Psalm 66:18

v  Indifference                     Proverbs 1:28

v  Neglect of mercy              Proverbs 21:13

v  Despising the law             Proverbs 28:9

v  Bloodguiltiness                 Isaiah 1:15

v  Iniquity                             Isaiah 59:2 and Micah 3:4

v  Stubbornness                   Zechariah 7:3

v  Instability                         James 1:6-7

v  Self-indulgence                James 4:3

Prayers are sometimes refused because they do not accord with the divine will.

v  Exodus 33:20

v  Deuteronomy 3:26

v  2 Samuel 12:16

v  Ezekiel 20:3

v  2 Corinthians 12:8

Social and Family Prayers

v  Matthew 18:19

v  Luke 1:10

v  Acts 1:14

v  Acts 4:24

v  Acts 12:12

v  Acts 21:5

Conditions necessary for successful prayers

v  Contrition                        1 Chronicles 7:14

v  Wholeheartedness           Jeremiah 29:13

v  Faith                                 Mark 11:24

v  Righteousness                  James 5:16

v  Obedience                        1 John 3:22

Notable Biblical Prayers

v  Abraham for Sodom and Gomorrah                                        Genesis 18:23

v  Jacob at Peniel                                                                             Genesis 32:24

v  David when denied the privilege of building the temple          2 Samuel 7:18

v  Solomon at Gibeon                                                                      1 Kings 3:6

v  Solomon at the dedication of the temple                                   1 Kings 8:22

v  Hezekiah in response to an invasion                                          2 Kings 19:15

v                                                                                                        1 Chronicles 17:16

v  Ezra for the sins of the people                                                   Ezra 9:6

v  Daniel for the captive Jews                                                        Daniel 9:4

v  Habakkuk’s Prayer                                                                    Habakkuk 3:1

v  The Lord’s Prayer                                                                      Matthew 6:9

v  Christ’s intercessory prayer                                                       John 17

v  Paul for the Ephesians                                                                Ephesians 3:14

Brevity in Prayer

v  Elijah at Mt. Carmel                               1 Kings 18:36-37

v  Jabez                                                        1 Chronicles 4:10

v  Hezekiah in sickness                                Isaiah 38:2-3

v  The tax collector                                      Luke 18:13

v  Jesus on the cross                                    Luke 23:34

v  The dying thief                                        Luke 23:42

v  Stephen                                                    Acts 7:60

Examples of secret prayers

Moses                                      Deuteronomy 9:25

Samuel                                    1Samuel 15:11

Elijah                                      1 Kings 17:19-20

Daniel                                     Daniel 6:10

Christ’s command                 Matthew 6:6

Peter                                       Acts 10:9

Cornelius                                Acts 10:30

Private devotions of Christ

v  Morning devotions                      Mark 1:35

v  Evening prayer                            Mark 6:46

v  Solitary Communion                   Luke 5:15

v  All night prayer                           Luke 6:12

v  Only the disciples near                Luke 9:18

v  Gethsemane                                 Luke 22:41-42

Boldness in prayer

v  Abraham                                      Genesis 18:32

v  Jacob                                            Genesis 32:26

v  Moses                                            Deuteronomy 9:18

v  The Canaanite woman               Matthew 15:27 & Luke 18:5

v  Jesus                                             Luke 22:44

v  Royal official                               John 4:49

v  The Early Church                       Acts 12:5

v  Elijah                                            James 5:17