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Articles
Prayer
We continue our look at the five acts of worship that are described in the New Testament for us. We are using Acts 2:42&47 as our outline of studies. Thus far we have looked at "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread." Today, we look at how they continued in "prayers" as an act of worship.
Prayer is talking to God. In Acts 4 we have a great passage that helps define what prayer is. In vss.23-24 we read, "And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:" Notice "they lifted up their voice to God." Then after their words are recorded, we read in vs.31, "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." So here is a simple definition of prayer. Notice also, that they prayed "with one accord..." which necessarily implies that someone led them in prayer, and that everyone else followed his lead. Prayers are to be offered in faith, James 1:5-8. We are to pray according to his will, 1 John 5:14, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" Jesus gives us the model prayer in Matt. 6:9-13. Prayers of the righteous will be avail, help, benefit, and aid much. James 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." Absolutely nothing is said in the Bible about praying to Mary, such is foolishly sinful. Let us close with the words of Luke 11:1, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." and I Thes. 5:17, "Pray without ceasing."
