Alpha Notes

> Chapter 6: Why and How Do I

Pray?

Why Pray? / How Do We Pray?

Following the model of Jesus ...

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt
not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen of
men. Verily I say unto you, They have their
reward.
6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray
to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions,
as the heathen do: for they think that they shall
be heard for their much speaking.
6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your
Father knoweth what things ye have need of,
before ye ask him.

On Intercession (Mediation)

To intercede is to go or come
between two parties, to plead
before one of them on behalf of
the other. In the New Testament it
is used as the equivalent of
entygchanein (Vulg. interpellare,
in Hebrews 7:25). "Mediation"
means a standing in the midst
between two (contending) parties,
for the purpose of bringing them
together (cf. mediator, mesites,
1Timothy 2:5).
source:http://www.newadvent.org/
cathen/08070a.htm
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia

Jesus is the ordained intercessor/

mediator between us and the
Father. Our condition does NOT
have to be petitioned through
priests, angels nor saints (dead
or alive) on our behalf.
1Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of also refer:
all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men;
An Invitation to Prayer
2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority;
http://
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in www.invitationtoprayer.org.uk
all godliness and honesty.
2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Saviour; The Good Way: How Do We Pray?
http://www.the-good-way.com/eng/
James 5:13 Is any among you article/a19.htm
afflicted? let him pray. Is any
merry? let him sing psalms.
5:14 Is any sick among you? let The Power of Prayer
him call for the elders of the http://www.capitalmemorial.org/
church; and let them pray over prayermn.htm
him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord:
5:15 And the prayer of faith shall Apologetics:
save the sick, and the Lord shall The Invocation of Saints
raise him up; and if he hath http://www.lumenverum.com/
committed sins, they shall be apologetics/saints.htm
forgiven him.
5:16 Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.

So why are we praying for others

if we're not THE intercessor??
What good is a Prayer Warrior or
Intercessory Prayer or even
Petitioning for others??

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto

you, That ye love one another; as I have loved
you, that ye also love one another.

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to

love one another: for he that loveth another
hath fulfilled the law.

We are encouraged to share with

God our deep-seated, heartfelt
concern for others; as part of our
continuing communion with Him. In
Jesus' name we pray for one-
another as an act of selfless love
to their plight.

Why would we not give our hearts

and concerns to God?