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    Why We Pray
    Why We Pray
    Why We Pray
    Ebook102 pages1 hour

    Why We Pray

    By William Phillip

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    About this ebook

    Prayer is foundational to the Christian life, but many people don’t understand it. What is it for? How does it work? Why do we do it? This short and accessible book explains what prayer is, why it exists and how it can encourage us in our life of faith. Written by a pastor with years of teaching and counselling experience, Why We Pray doesn’t simply tell readers why they should pray, but instead focuses on four blessing-filled reasons that will help us want to pray. Rather than feeling discouraged and disheartened by our inconsistency in prayer, we feel reinvigorated to approach God with confidence and joy, delighted by the privilege of talking directly to our heavenly Father.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIVP
    Release dateFeb 20, 2015
    ISBN9781783591985
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      Book preview

      Why We Pray - William Phillip

      Prayer is a particular kind of relationship to God, not a technique. By examining the fundamentals of that relationship—who he is and who we are—with straightforward Bible exposition, William Philip helps you understand and enter into it.

      Timothy J. Keller, Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City; best-selling author, The Reason for God

      There are not many books on prayer, and there are fewer good books on prayer. Here is a handbook on the subject that combines clarity and brevity and provides us with a thoroughly biblical and understandable framework for prayer. I commend it enthu­siastically.

      Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Cleveland, Ohio

      Philip grounds prayer in the nature of the triune God, thus avoiding the modern evangelical tendency to make ‘the experience of prayer’ central. When divine Sonship and not feelings define you, then you have real prayer with a real God. This book will bless you.

      Paul E. Miller, Director, seeJesus; author, A Praying Life and A Loving Life

      This book made me want to pray! It shows us what God is like—a Father who speaks, and whose adopted children are able to speak to him, by his Spirit. It is thoroughly biblical, honest, and entertaining. Philip takes our eyes off ourselves and our performance and onto God—Father, Son, and Spirit.

      Caz Dodds, Scotland Assistant Team Leader, UCCF

      Wonderfully refreshing, biblically realistic, and personally motivational—this book cuts through the stereotypes and guilt about prayer and presents us with our amazing privileges. It will do your heart good!

      David Jackman, Former President, Proclamation Trust, London

      To speak freshly about prayer is neither easy nor common. Philip has done it here. In answering so well the big question he has set himself, he has enriched my thinking and practice.

      Dick Lucas, Rector Emeritus, St. Helen’s Church, Bishopsgate, United Kingdom; Founder, Proclamation Trust

      "In this wonderful book I find that my prayer life needs a reality check. The heart of prayer is not only talking to God but knowing I pray because God is a speaking God."

      Karen Loritts, author; conference speaker; blogger, MomLife Today; mother of four and grandmother of eight

      In this fine book on prayer you will find no super-spiritual hype nor dry detachment, but robust and sensitive exposition. Philip has put us all in his debt by this little book, which can be read with enjoyment in one sitting but will reward repeated study and will give both challenge and encouragement.

      Bob Fyall, Senior Tutor, The Cornhill Training Course, Scotland

      I found my heart and will deeply moved by the key premise of this book: that we learn about prayer by learning about God. He speaks—are we listening to him? He sends his Son—are we responding to him? He is sovereign—do we trust him and think his thoughts after him? He sends his Spirit—do we realize we’re empowered to pray? Internalize these great Bible truths, and your prayer life will come alive.

      Rico Tice, evangelist; author, Christianity Explored

      "It’s refreshing not to have another Christian how-to book. Philip takes us right in by the front door and down the stairs to examine the very foundation of prayer. As he presses us to face the why, we also find help with the what and the how. I found these studies an essential exercise in thinking, a welcome source of relief, and a gentle lure to repentance."

      Dale Ralph Davis, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary

      WHY

      WE

      PRAY

      WILLIAM PHILIP

      Foreword by Alistair Begg

      Copyright © 2015 by William J. U. Philip

      Published by Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, USA. This edition published by arrangement with Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.

      Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Scripture references marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

      All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

      First published 2015

      ISBN: 9781783591978

      Cover design: Kev Jones

      IVP

      INTER-VARSITY PRESS

      Norton Street, Nottingham NG7 3HR, England

      Email: [email protected]

      Website: www.ivpbooks.com

      Inter-Varsity Press publishes Christian books that are true to the Bible and that communicate the gospel, develop discipleship and strengthen the church for its mission in the world.

      Inter-Varsity Press is closely linked with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, a student movement connecting Christian Unions in universities and colleges throughout Great Britain, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. Website: www.uccf.org.uk

      To the memory of my father, James Philip

      His prayers, especially those from the pulpit of Holyrood Abbey Church, Edinburgh, were an enriching benediction for which I and countless others will give thanks all the days of our lives.

      Contents

      Foreword by Alistair Begg

      Introduction

         1  We Pray Because God Is a Speaking God

         2  We Pray Because We Are Sons of God

         3  We Pray Because God Is a Sovereign God

         4  We Pray Because We Have the Spirit of God

      Notes

      General Index

      Scripture Index

      Foreword

      In the pregnant pause between the ascension and Pentecost there is a prayer meeting in Jerusalem. Jesus had instructed his followers to wait for the promised Holy Spirit in order that they might take the gospel to the end of the earth. Luke records the gathering of the eleven apostles in the upper room. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers (Acts 1:14). It is no exaggeration to say that the church was born in prayer and that the subsequent growth of the Word and of the church cannot be explained apart from their prayers. Jesus had made it clear to them that apart from him they could do nothing (John 15:5), and he had also taught them that if they knew how to give good gifts to their children, to a far greater extent the Father would give good gifts to them that asked him (Matt. 7:11; Luke 11:13). Throughout Acts we find the church at prayer.

      In seeking a replacement for Judas they prayed for guidance (Acts 1:24). When Peter and John were confronted by opposition and threats, they lifted their voices together to the sovereign Lord and prayed that they might continue to speak the Word with all boldness (Acts 4:29). When the practical demands of a growing church became the occasion of discord, the apostles made it clear that nothing must divert them from the priority of prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).

      This thread of earnest, united, believing prayer is woven throughout the fabric of the early church. When Herod had killed James, and it looked as though Peter was next, earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church (Acts 12:5). The commissioning of Barnabas and Saul took place in the context of worship and prayer (Acts 13:3). As Derek Thomas observes, "The New Testament Church had grasped the essential truth that the

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