UNDERSTANDING PRAYER

ANTHONY OKUCU
aokucu@yahoo.com
okucu67@gmail.com
 Introduction
Prayer
a wholesome relationship with God.
A two way, communion (spiritual union) in which
one speaks, the other listens (and/or responds).
Ingredients:
Physical Expression: (kneeling, lifting up of hand,
dancing, bowing, prostrating, clapping, etc.)
Audible (Sound) Expression: (shouting, singing,
etc.)
Emotional Release: (laughter, weeping in joy/in
sorrow)
 Types of Prayer
All the Ingredients can be used to pray to God in one of the following
ways:
ADORATION
To esteem, admire, reverence, appreciate God
EXALTATION
To promote, raise, lift, laud God
THANKSGIVING
Thank show gratitude, recognize, acknowledge God for who He
is/What He has done.
REPENTANCE:
Showing sorrow, regret or remorse for the wrongs done in Gods sight
or to other people and seeking forgiveness
PETITION/ INTERCESSION/SUPPLICATION
Pleading, appealing to or entreating God to intervene in some
situation
 PRAYER - GOD AND MAN IN A
SPECIAL UNION/MEETING
The picture of Prayer is elaborately spelt out
in the book of EXODUS.
After the departure of Israel from Egypt (the
land of sin) God now seeks to meet His own
people in His own Guestroom, a project He
personally directed,
Endowing the craftsmen with skills (Exo
31:1 -6)
Specifying the gems, wood types, colors of
linen, the dimensions, etc. by Himself.
Upon Completion of the Tabernacle

Exodus 40: 34 -38

 The Art of Prayer
ENTRANCE: the Place of Gratitude.
Enter His Gate with THANKSGIVING in our hearts
COURTS:
The place of PRAISE. God inhabits the praises
of Israel (Psalms. 22:3)
Enter His courts with PRAISE
Say this is the day that the Lord has made
(ADORATION)
Rejoice for He has made you glad (LAUD Him)
Sing with gladness of heart, tell of His goodness,
victories, works, love, kindness and who He is!
(Psalms 147)
 The Art of Prayer
COURTS:
The place of CLEANSING.
The Bronze altar of Sacrifice (Burnt offering)
The Bronze laver (Basin)
Come with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalms
24:3-4; Jas 4:8 - 10) right motives, no double-
mindedness.
Come with a pure conscience (Heb. 10:22)
Come with a humble heart and a broken spirit (Psalms
51: 17)
Offer your body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1
-2)
 The Sanctuary (Holy Place)
The Place of MEDITATION
The Lampstand (The Word of God that
illuminates our mind, lights out path unto
righteousness - Ps. 119:105)
The Table
The showbread (the Word of God, the bread of
Life, Jesus Christ that satisfies us John 6: 35)
The Veil (Torn at the Death of Jesus Lk. 23:45;
Mk 15:38: Heb. 6: 19 -20)
The Altar of Incense
Articles in the Holy Place
The Lampstand
(Exodus 39: 35-36) The Showbread
The Place of
True Worship
Burning of Incense
(daily Exo 30: 7-8)
signifying worship
emanating from a
cleansed, sincere and
pure heart,
surrendered to God.
The Blood of Jesus
qualifies us to be
priests 1 Peter 2:5)
The VEIL was TORN!
We have access by
Him into the Presence
of God. (Col 1: 20
23)
The Most Holy Place
The Place of
Instruction
Meditation
Quiet time
Reflection
Where God writes His
laws in our Hearts
He teaches us wisdom
The Image of Christ is
imprinted in us
Meditation
Psalms 119: 99 Psalms 199: 97 -98

O how I love your law!

It is my meditation all
I have more
the day.
understanding than all
You through your
my teachers; for your
commandments have
testimonies are my
made me wiser than
meditation .
my enemies; for they
are ever with me
 Take Care!!!
Defile not the Holy Place
Lev 20:1 3 (giving your children to
Molech to defile the lords sanctuary)
makes you cut off.
Lev 10:1 2 (Nadab and Abihu
sons of Aaron) offering of un-holy
incense led to their death.