However, a few are still asking "How do we pray now?"

• One of the still most often heard concerns after folks start rightly dividing through Paul's Epistles is "How do I pray now?
• "Are you saying I am not saved?" is another one of the big questions!
• "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" is another question people ask right away!
• "Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?" is another question people always ask right away!
• When they learn that the Spirit maketh intercession for us, then they wonder why should they even pray in the first place.
• Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

• ... that much of our prayer belief and expectations did not fit the teachings of the Risen Saviour...
• only the earthly Jesus as he taught to the Jews during the Gospels, or to the Jews through Peter in the Great Commission.
• ... that our prayers could possibly have been considered profane and vain
• because we were praying in a manner that was not consistently rightly divided,...
• thus we had our expectations for answered prayer that never came true.
• It all became to seem so unreal - fake - dead!
• Then we had to pretend 'with faith' even though we thought God wasn't hearing us - or that we were doing something 'so' wrong that He refused to answer our prayer!

• ... that it was all part of the folly of the religion that we had been taught...
• and were so willing to learn.
• ... that some of our so-called answer to prayer was that we simply either had the money to buy what we needed
• - or we used the credit card, etc. to make the purchase - to 'fulfill' our 'need,' anyway.
• ... the phony prayer preachings that are heard from pulpits and preachers / authors, etc. all across the nation / world.
• Now, let's remind ourselves how to spot the phony prayer preachings by understanding rightly dividing the word of truth! These are NOT to us today - these are to the Jews in the gospels!
•     Matthew 21:13 - house of prayer!
•     Matthew 21:22 - believe and ye shall receive
•     Matthew 6:9 - Lords' Prayer repeated over and over
•     Matthew 23:14 - greater damnation - pretence make long prayer - (lawyers... Luke 11:46, 52)
•     Mark 9:29 - by nothing, but by prayer and fasting
•     Luke 6:12 - all night prayer power meetings
•     Acts 1:14; 2:42 - unity brought about by prayer
•     John 16:26 - asking in his name by saying 'in your name,' etc.
•     James 5:14 - healed, anointing
•     James 5:15 - prayer of faith save the sick
•     James 5:16 - confessing faults - healing
•     I Peter 3:7 - prayers hindered by being out of sorts with your wife
•     I Peter 3:12 - do you see this one in action today?  Seems to be just the opposite!
•     I Peter 4:7 - the end of all things...
• ... that some of our answered prayer could have even been answered by the devil!
• ...as he is the god of this world;
• God allows things to take place without his chastisement or guidance unless it was to found in rightly divided Scriptures.
• Could the physical blessings and physical answers to prayer ever be the devil to steer folks away from the truth and towards his miracles, signs and wonders that are becoming more and more prevelant nearing the Tribulation, etc.?
• ... that our prayer life should 'grow up' as we grow up!
• I Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
• Ephesians 4:14 - That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
• ... why we should still pray even though Romans 8:26 says what it says.
• Paul tells us to!
• Romans 12:12 - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
• Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
• Colossians 4:2 - Continue in prayer,
• II Thessalonians 3:1 - Finally, brethren, pray for us, ...
• I Timothy 2:8 - I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
• ... how often Paul prayed for people!
• for those who would listen and be willing to change their lives to serve the living God now - to be turned from darkness to light, to turn from the power of Satan unto God and to support Paul and his helpers; kinsman, fellowprisoners - see Romans 16.
• I make mention of you always in my prayers!
• I thank my God always on your behalf!
• Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers!
• I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of min for you all making request with joy,
• We do not cease to pray for you!
• I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
• I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers.
• ... how you can pray for your pastor - ME - and for anyone else involved in such a ministry!
• It is to your benefit, too!
• II Corinthians 9:10 - Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
• I Thessalonians 5:25 ...  Brethren, pray for us.
• Romans 15:30-32 ... Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;  That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;  That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
• Colossians 4:3 ... Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
• II Thessalonians 3:1,2... Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
• Philemon 1:22 ... But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

(summary of above verses) For your pastor, pray that ... ... he be delivered from them that do not believe! ... the service which he has for the body of Christ may be accepted of the saints! ... he may come unto you with joy - by the will of God! ... he may be refreshed with you! ... God would open unto him a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ - Paul's message! ... the word of the Lord may have free course! ... the word of the Lord may be glorified. even as it is with you! ... he be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men! you would take care of his lodging, etc.!

• Ephesians 3:20,21 - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.