We now come to the last item mentioned in our worship to God as recorded in Acts 2:42.  This item is PRAYER.  Take time to read 1 Thes. 5:17,25; Lk. 18:l; Eph. 6:18; and 1 Tim. 2:;8.

WHAT IS PRAYER?  A heart's desire, Rom. 10:1.  It is a heart's desire made known to God, including: desires or petitions, praise, adoration, thanksgiving, intercession, supplications, etc.

TO WHOM SHOULD WE PRAY?  Col. 1:3; Rom. 1:8.

THROUGH WHOM SHOULD WE PRAY?  Rom. 1:8; Col. 3:;17.

WHO HELPS IN OUR PRAYING?  Rom. 8:;26.

We are to ASK -- it is there to be HAD.  We are to SEEK -- it is there to be FOUND.  We are to KNOCK -- it is there to be OPENED.  We should pray in FAITH,  and pray in PRACTICE.  Prayer is the KEY to God's treasures, and it is our fault if we do not become rich toward Him.

PRAYERS SHOULD BE: 
1. Counted by weight instead of length. 
2. Specific, by name and occasion, etc.
3. Importunate -- that is with urgency. 
4. In a forgiving spirit. 
5. Doing our part.

WATCH AS WELL AS PRAY: 
1. Watchfulness is like the hands of a clock that point the time. 
2. Prayer is the weight that keeps the machinery in motion.

EACH IMPORTANT DECISION OR ACTION, SHOULD BE PRECEDED BY FERVENT PRAYER. 
1. Christ prayed in Gethsemane, prostrating Himself, showing a need for body participation. 
2. In many places in the Old and the New Testaments, we find holy men of God taking humble bodily positions before the Lord in their prayers. 
3. They were not ashamed to kneel or to bow low or to prostrate themselves before the Lord.

NOTICE A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS AT PRAYER.  Read Acts 4:24-30.  In this prayer, we find that they were:
1. UNITED -- "With one accord." 
2. FERVENT -- "They lifted up their voice to God." 
3. REVERENT -- "Lord Thou art God." 
4. BELIEVING -- "Who by the mouth of David." 
5. INTELLIGENT -- They knew whom they addressed adn what they wanted. 
6. MERCIFUL -- They did not ask for vengeance on their enemies. 
7. HOPEFUL -- They had large expectations as to the future of Christ's cause -- by signs and wonders, vs. 30.

TYPES OF PRAYER: 
1. Praise and thanksgiving. 
2. Desires and petitions. 
3. Public and private. 
4. Intercession, such as for Simon the Sorcerer. 
5. Benedictios -- to speak well of, such as, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." 
6. Thanks before meals. 
7. All prayers should be regulated according to: time, place, prevailing conditions, needs, etc.

PRAYER WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS:  Should be voiced by a brother on behalf of the whole congregation.  In such prayer, the considerations of the congregation as a whold should be considered.  This is not the time for private, personal prayers.  These prayers should be spoken loudly, clearly and distinctly. This should be done, because it is actually the prayer of the whole congregation and not just for the one that is doing the speaking.  Sometimes a brother speaks so lowly or softly that I sometimes wonder if he can even hear himself.  How can the rest of the congregation pray along and give their A-men, if they cannot hear and understand what is being said?

Paul rebuked the Corinthians for using tongues that could not be understood in their prayers in the assembly. He told them that it was alright to use the Spirit in their praying, but it was also most necessary to use under-standing as well.  He goes on to say that he could speak in more tongues than they all, but if the tongues could not be understood, what good were they going to do?  In other words, how can he that is listening give his Amen (let it be true) if he didn't understand what was being said?  1 Cor. 14:12-19.  Even though we are not lead directly by the Spirit as they were in Paul's day, we still have information and examples of prayers given in the Bible to direct us in our prayers whether publicly or privately.

So, brethren, we need to give more earnest heed when we pray, especially in the assembly, that others of the congregation may hear, understand, and give their A-men.

[ Brethren, this concludes our discussion with respect to SCRIPTURAL WORSHIP WITHIN THE CHURCH.  Our next study will be the SCRIPTURAL WORK OF THE CHURCH.  I will not start this particular study tomorrow because I will be away from my computer after tomorrow for a few days.  The Lord willing I will try to begin the study on this particular subject when I return.  Tomorrow, I will present an article that will be a one-time installment and then when I return I will take up the SCRIPTURAL WORK OF THE CHURCH.  I hope you will be with me at that time.  I will be travelling to see my middle daughter and her family out in Seattle for a few days.  I solicit your prayers on my behalf in my travels.  I am looking forward to seeing Seattle, I have never been there.  They say that it is a beautiful place.  But, you know, the Bible indicates that Heaven is a beautiful place, and I have never been there.  But, the Lord being my Helper, I hope to some day.  Don't  you?]