Rhythms: Prayer of Supplication
Philippians 2:12-13
January 28, 2024
Jay Haugh
God uses our prayers to accomplish His purposes and desires.
1) Prayer keeps us from a life of passivity.
…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. —Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. —1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV
2) We pray because God wants us to come to Him.
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray…then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
Casting all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7 ESV
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” —Matthew 7:7-11 ESV
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
3) We pray because it changes us.
All prayer is formative.
Prayer is formative because it is relational.
When we pray, we are intentionally placing ourselves in God’s presence.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. —2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
God will either give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything He knew.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” —2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Big Idea:
Prayer is about aligning our requests with God’s will, not about obtaining our will.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.
Now that we have learned all the components of an ACTS prayer, put it into practice by having a corporate time of prayer where the group has an opportunity to pray something from each letter. As the Leader, you can start with A, then once the prayers have slowed, repeat the process with C, T & S.
Read Psalm 139:1-4
Because God is omniscient, have you ever struggled with cultivating a regular discipline of prayer in your life? Have you ever thought, “Why do I need to pray when God already knows everything?” What sinful root in us enables these thoughts and behaviors?
Read Philippians 2:12-13 & 1 Corinthians 15:10
Christianity is opposed to earning, not effort. Discuss the tension between what God does and the effort we need to put forth. What are some ways we can strive to “work out our faith” or “work harder than anyone else” in the faith?
Do you take a more active or passive approach to your faith development? How can prayer keep us from a life of passivity?
Read Matthew 7:7-12
What stands out to you about the character of God from this passage? Why does God want us to come to Him? Are there any areas of your life where you struggle to bring your needs and desires before the Lord?
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18
When we regularly enter God’s presence through prayer, we will be changed. How does prayer help you “behold the glory of the Lord?” How have you found (or hope to find) that a regular rhythm of prayer will transform your mind and heart?
As you reflect on your prayers for supplication, are you asking for your will to be done? What does it look like to pray a prayer of supplication that is aligned with God’s heart? How can we ensure our prayers are not solely self-centered but instead align with God’s will?
Walk through this exercise as a group: Provide each individual an opportunity to share where they want to see movement in their prayer life. Then, discuss strategies on how they can move from where they are to where they want to be. Encourage building in methods of accountability.