Prayer, it's types of Prayer and Bowing and Kneeling in Prayer.

What is Prayer?

The most basic definition of prayer is “talking to God”. Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; it is direct address to God. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul. Prayer is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate his emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with God.

Prayer can be audible or silent, private or public, formal or informal. All prayer must be offered in faith (Jam. 1:6), in the name of the Lord Jesus (John 16:23), and in the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:26).

What are the different types of Prayer?

The Bible reveals many types of prayers and employs a variety of words to describe the practice. For example, 1st Tim. 2:1 says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” Here, all four of the main Greek words used for prayer are mentioned in one verse.

The main types of prayers in the Bible:

1) The prayer of Faith:

Jam. 5:15 says, “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” In this context, prayer is offered in faith for someone who is sick, asking God to heal. When we pray, we are to believe in the power and goodness of God (Mark 9:23).

2) The prayer of Agreement (also known as Corporate prayer):

After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples “all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). Later, after Pentecost, the early church “devoted themselves” to prayer (Acts 2:42). Their example encourages us to pray with others.

3) The prayer of Request (or Supplication): 

We are to take our requests to God. Philip. 4:6 teaches, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Part of winning the spiritual battle is to be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Eph. 6:18).

4) The prayer of Thanksgiving: 

We see another type of prayer in Philip. 4:6: thanksgiving or thanks to God. “With thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Many examples of thanksgiving prayers can be found in the Psalms.

5) The prayer of Worship:

The prayer of worship is similar to the prayer of thanksgiving. The difference is that worship focuses on who God is; thanksgiving focuses on what God has done. 

6) The prayer of Consecration (or Dedication):

Sometimes, prayer is a time of setting ourselves apart to follow God’s will. Jesus made such a prayer the night before His crucifixion: “And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will’” (Matt. 26:39).

7) The prayer of Intercession (or Appeal/Petition): 

Many times, our prayers include requests for others as we intercede for them. We are told to make intercession “for everyone” in 1st Tim. 2:1. Jesus serves as our example in this area. The whole of John 17 is a prayer of Jesus on behalf of His disciples and all believers.

8) The prayer of Imprecation (or Curse): 

Imprecatory prayers are found in the Psalms (e.g., 7, 55, 69). They are used to invoke God’s judgment on the wicked and thereby avenge the righteous. The psalmists use this type of appeal to emphasize the holiness of God and the surety of His judgment. Jesus teaches us to pray for blessing on our enemies, not cursing (Matt. 5:44-48).

The Bible also speaks of praying in the Spirit (1st Cor. 14:14-15) and prayers when we are unable to think of adequate words (Rom. 8:26-27). In those times, the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us.

Prayer is conversation with God and should be made without ceasing (1st Thess. 5:16-18). As we grow in our love for Jesus Christ, we will naturally desire to talk to Him.

What does the Bible say about bowing or kneeling in Prayer?

Psalm 95:6 says, “Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” Bowing and kneeling have long been associated with worship and reverence (2nd Chron. 6:13; Psa. 138:2; Dan. 6:10). 

In fact, the Hebrew word for “worship” actually means “bow down.” But is bowing or kneeling the only posture we are to take in worshiping or praying?

The first instance took place in the Bible of bowing in reverence is in Gen. 18:2 when the three heavenly visitors came to Abraham. He knew they represented God, and he bowed to the ground in welcome. A few generations later, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ordered all Egyptians to bow to Joseph as a sign of respect for the former slave promoted to second-in-command (Gen. 41:42-43). 

So, very early in human history, bowing or kneeling came to represent taking a humble position before someone of greater importance.

Bowing and kneeling were not the only postures:

Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the Lord, and His glory overshadowed them (Num. 20:6). Ezekiel fell facedown in grief, crying out to the Lord, and the Lord answered him (Eze. 11:13-14). The Levites were to “stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening” (1st Chron. 23:30). King David “went in and sat before the Lord” to pray (2nd Sam. 7:18). Jesus “lifted His eyes toward heaven” when He offered His longest recorded prayer (John 17), and Paul exhorted “men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing” (1st Tim. 2:8). According to the Bible, there is more than one right posture for worship or prayer.

While physical representations of worship are important, and our entire being should be engaged in worship of God, the posture of our hearts is of more importance than the position of our bodies.

True worship is a lifestyle, not an activity. While dedicated times of intense communion with God are vital to our spiritual health, we are also told to “pray without ceasing” (1st Thess. 5:17). Our bodies are to be living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2) and our hearts filled with “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Eph. 5:19-20).

Difference Between Man and Animal, Biblically.

Distinguish between Man and Animal/Beast:

1) On the sixth day, Adam was created “in the image of God” and quite apart from the land animals through a clearly distinguished separate act of creation. The Hebrew word bara (create) is used three times in Genesis 1:27 to emphasize this act of creation.

2) Only man received the breath of God. In this way, he was given a spirit (Eccles. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:23) so that he transcends the world of the animals.

3) Only when Adam was created, did God “use his hands”: “The Lord God formed [Hebrew yatsar] the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen. 2:7). In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word yatsar is used to describe the actions of a potter who skillfully and imaginatively forms his vessels. In the same way, God used earthly matter for Adam.

4) Only man can actually communicate with God. Only he possesses the gift of speech and of prayer by means of which he can express all his thoughts before his Creator. Man was created to be near and close to God. He is dependent on communion with God.

5) Only man has a free will and possesses the faculty of creative thought. According to Psalm 8:5, man was made “a little lower than the heavenly beings.” Human beings possess gifts such as freely developing personalities, inventiveness, and the capacity for cultural development (writing, music, historical awareness).

6) Even the difference in flesh is mentioned in the Bible: “All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another” (1 Cor. 15:39).

7) It is said only about man that he was not only created “by God,” but also “for Him” (Col. 1:16). This high purpose is only ascribed to man. Animals are also creatures of God, but they did not receive the calling to become children of God (John 1:12).

8) In contrast to the animals, man is an eternal being; this means that his existence never ends, even after the death of the body (Luke16:19–31). An imperishable body will be raised from the perishable one (1 Cor. 15:42).

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

Worship in Spirit and Truth: John 4:23-24

Q: What is Worship?

A: Worship is an attitude of the heart. A person can go through the outward motions and not be worshiping (Psalm 51:16-17; Matthew 6:5-6). God sees the heart, and He desires and deserves sincere, heartfelt praise and worship.

Not everything that is called “worship” is actually worship, a lesson learned in the very beginning: both Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to the Lord, but “the Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor” (Genesis 4:4–5). 

What was Cain’s problem besides jealousy, stubbornness, and murderous rage? He lacked a proper theology of worship. Cain brought an unacceptable sacrifice to the Lord and demanded that the Lord be pleased.

Worship, however, comes from a different place within our spirits. Worship should be reserved for God alone (Luke 4:8). Worship is the art of losing self in the adoration of another.

Q: Where God can be worshipped?

A: God may be worshiped anywhere, the place now has no significance (though once it did to some extent). God will be worshiped as the Father. The Samaritans (and by implication other peoples and nations) did not really know what they worshiped. They were not worshiping in accordance with the revelation God had given of Himself, as believing Jews were.

Evolution of Worship:

In Deuteronomy 6:4, Moses sets down for the Israelites how they are to love their God: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Our worship of God is directed by our love for Him; as we love, so we worship. Because the idea of “might” in Hebrew indicates totality, Jesus expanded this expression to “mind” and “strength” (Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). To worship God in spirit and truth necessarily involves loving Him with heart, soul, mind and strength.

IN SPIRIT: 

True worship is in spirit. It must come from within the heart of those born again by Gods spirit. God is Spirit and material things can never truly represent Him. Only in spirit can the One Eternal Spirit be really worshiped (this is one good reason He gave the command in Ex 20:4 and other places). 

1) Spiritual life (filled with Holy Spirit);

2) You can worship whenever/wherever;

3) Everything within you must engaged.

Spirit without truth leads to a shallow, overly emotional experience that could be compared to a high. As soon as the emotion is over, when the adoration cools, the worship ends.

IN TRUTH:

This worship must be in truth. It must be in accordance with the truth God has revealed about Himself and it must be sincere, and real, without hypocrisy. 

God seeks such worshipers. This is because God is love (1 John 4:8). He loves people and seeks their love. He desires their highest good and this can only come when they become true worshipers of the true God. God sees enough empty formal worship in the world and He desires something much better.

1) True Hearts (knowing the truth);

2) Word of Truth/Gospel of salvation;

3) In Christ.

Truth without spirit can result in a dry, passionless encounter that can easily lead to a form of joyless legalistic activity.

• The best combination of both aspects of worship results in a joyous appreciation of God informed by Scripture. 

• The more we know about God, the more we appreciate Him. The more we appreciate, the deeper our worship. The deeper our worship, the more God is glorified.

HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL/PLAN?

Q: How do we can know what is God's will/plan towards our life?

A: Let's assume that God's will is about 100 marks, God has already revealed and prepared his will about 70%. 

But how do we receive it?

God's plan which can be categorised into two stages.

1st one which is about 70% that God already revealed.

2nd one which is remaining 30%.

If you complete 1st stage then only you can enter into 2nd stage.

1st stage: UNIVERSAL

2nd stage: PERSONAL

1st stage: UNIVERSAL: In this, God already revealed his plan of action which we ought to do. This 1st stage is for all believers, that's why it is named as "Universal".

i.e., Following His Commandments;

Prayer;

Bible Reading; etc.,

As already mentioned above, if you complete 1st stage properly then only you can enter into 2nd stage.

You'll get a question that, how can we know that we have completed 1st stage?

Simple, 

(i) Through living in Christ;

(ii) Obedient towards what you have learnt so far;

(iii) Zeal to get know about (God's will);

(iv) Be genuine in sight of the Lord;

(v) Be faithful.

Then only God will reveal His plan towards us.

2nd stage: PERSONAL: In this stage it is related personal and that too is only for you. God will reveal what plan He has towards you. 

2nd stage mainly targets on 

A: (i) Talents (this is which you have by birth);

    (ii) Gifts (this is which you'll get after baptism through Holy Spirit: gift of preaching, gift of healing, etc.,);

B: (iii) Vocation/Work;

     (iv) Location/Which place to work or do ministry or live  in;

     (v) Combination/Life partner.

God will reveal His plan in Personal stage, because it is completely related to you personally.

Through Seven ways God will reveal His plan to us.

They are:

1) Word of God: While reading the word of God, God will reveal His plan by striking a word which is revealing to our thoughts.

2) Self-Consciousness: When you want to do anything,  thinking that this maybe of God's plan, if it silence in your inner then it maybe God's plan or else there will be confusion and storm like feeling in your inner.

3) Situations: If it is God's plan, then God opens all the doors or else if not, then you will face critical troubles which makes you fail again and again.

4) Persons: By means of other people, a believer must who might be in elderly aged, through their words, God might reveal His plan.

5) Dreams &

6) Visions: Dream is the one phenomenon which comes when you are asleep. Vision which appears when you are awake.

7) Sign

Note: Even Satan can play his technique using this same seven ways. Kindly be aware.

When God reveals His plan to you, He will definitely confirm it by seeing your zeal for fulfilling God's plan.

There are 3 stages where you can see yourself traveling for....

                     God's plan

                            ⬇️

                 Communication 

(here, God communicate with you about His plan)

                           ⬇️

             Confused/Comfort

(here, you find yourself in confusion, ask everytime to God, whether this is His plan or not)

                           ⬇️

                  Confirmation

(here, by seeing your effort and zeal towards His plan, God confirms it with you)

Quote: "IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FULFILL WHAT IS ALREADY REVEALED, THEN GOD WILL REVEAL WHAT YOU HAVE TO FULFILL."

HEAVENLY FIVE CROWNS 👑

HEAVENLY FIVE CROWNS 👑

Crown: The Greek word "STEPHANOS" used here does not mean the sort of crown kings wear. It means a wreath made of leaves which was given to the winners in athletic contests/race in those days.

Do we wish to win the rewards/crown God gives for faithful service?

There is only one way, the way Paul took. It is the way of self-denial and discipline for the sake of the gospel.

What kind of race is this? Is service for Christ then, like  a race?

In some respects, YES. And not everyone who runs gets a prize. The Paul speaks here the prize is not salvation, but the prize is some reward for Service to Christ.

Service to Christ:

The cross is a symbol of death. It was the Roman means of execution. Figuratively, to take up one’s cross means to willingly go forward to the place of death to self and its desires, aims, and plans. 

It means a mind to undergo whatever is painful or humiliating or mortifying to follow Christ. It is an attitude toward Christ and one’s self which is the basis of the true Christian life.

The believer is told to maintain this attitude daily. To try to carry one’s cross without following Jesus is a hard and bitter thing. And renunciation of desire and the world, austerities, penance, etc, come to nothing good if we do not follow Him. 

But to carry our cross and follow Jesus because we trust and love Him is freedom and joy, for those who do so will find that Jesus is with them all the way.

1. 👑 Imperishable/Incorruptible Crown: (1 Cor. 9:25):

This crown would be the first level a believer would attain to. This crown indicates mastery over the sin nature. The Christians are being urged to run the life in such a way as to receive the reward in the end.

Quote: "Only those who run the race and run it according to the rules will get a prize."

2. 👑 Crown of Joy/Rejoicing: (1 Thess.2:19):

This crown is for those who lead others to Christ or demonstrate fruitfulness by influencing others towards righteousness.

Quote: "Rewards are not just for how we live and what we do, they are also for the influence we have on how others live and what they do".

3. 👑 Crown of Righteousness: (2 Tim. 4:8):

This crown goes to those who live righteously in this world while they look forward to Christ’s return. They are those who are not captivated by this world, but hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Quote: "This is a crown for righteous behavior and an upright life".

4. 👑 Crown of Glory: (1 Pet. 5:4):

The greatest achievement is to fulfill your calling and finish the work God gave you to do. The scripture reference is speaking to pastors who finish their work faithfully, but this crown is not only for pastors. It is for anyone who finds and fulfills their assignment God has given them.

Quote: "Earthly crowns or stephanos wee made of vines, etc. This crown is made out of Glory!"

5. 👑 Crown of Life: (Rev. 2:10):

This crown is for those who proceed in God’s plan in their life while enduring trials. The believer who moves forward in God’s call and assignment in the face of difficulty, even martyrdom, will receive this crown.

Quote: "We are faithful to the Lord in the trial. The Lord is faithful to reward us for enduring the trial".