Tecnico

Different Kinds of Prayer
A Bible Message by Bayless Conley
Copyright © 2008 Answers with Bayless Conley

Please look at Ephesians 6:18…
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to
this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
The context of that verse talks about us being in a spiritual battle. We are not wrestling againstflesh and blood, but against huge hosts of wicked spirits; against principalities, powers, and the
rulers of the darkness of this world. One of the main things that we need to do in order to be
victorious in this ongoing struggle is to pray earnestly and consistently. Paul said, “praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” Goodspeed’s translation says, “Use every
kind ofprayer and entreaty. And at every opportunity, pray in the spirit.” Use every kind of
prayer.
There are different kinds of prayer. I want to talk to you about some of those different types of
prayers. I know some people will say, “Well, you know, prayer is prayer. You teachers! You just
want to dissect everything and separate it into little boxes.” Well, no, we realize that it flows
together likethe fingers on our hand, yet different kinds of prayer are separate in some
respects. To say “prayer is prayer” is equivalent to saying, “Well, sports are sports.” Well, yes
sports are sports. They do share certain things in common; but different rules govern different
sports.
I remember when the boys were small I was assistant coach for their Little League team, and
there were some boys whohad never played ball before. I still remember: This kid hit one into
the outfield; the outfielder grabbed the ball. The little boy who hit the ball was running to first
base; then to second. Rather than throw the ball to the second baseman, the outfielder fired it
at the kid and hits him! Then he says, “You are out! I got you! You are out!” I said, “Look, that
works in dodge ball. This isbaseball. The kid has to be tagged with a ball. If you had thrown it to
the second baseman, he might have had a chance to tag him, but he is not out because you
threw the ball at the runner.” The rules for dodge ball do not work for baseball. Try to play
basketball with ice hockey rules. It will not work.
There are different principles that govern different types of prayer.
The same is true withprayer. There are different “rules,” for lack of a better word. There are
different principles that govern different types of prayer. If we are going to be successful in
spiritual warfare, like the verse we read mentions, we have to employ all different kinds of
prayer. One type of prayer does not cover every need. I believe, as Christians, we should learn
to be proficient in prayer. In fact,receiving answers to prayer should be the norm for us, not an
exception. We ought to think it strange when we do not get answers to prayer. So, hopefully,
when we are done here, you will have a better understanding of perhaps some different types of
prayer that you would use in different circumstances.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND CONSECRATION
I want to talk to you first about the prayer ofdedication and consecration. In Mark 14, Jesus has
just finished the Passover meal with His disciples. They have crossed the Brook Kidron, and

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they are in the garden where He is praying. He realizes that in a very short while He is going to
be arrested; He is going to be beaten; and He will be crucified. He realizes that the Scriptures
will be fulfilled that talk about His very soulbecoming an offering for sin, as Isaiah said in Isaiah
53, or as the Apostle Paul stated that He who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be
made right with God. Jesus realizes that He is going to be separated from the bright presence of
the Father, which we read about when, on the cross He cried out, “My God, My God, why have
You forsaken Me?” So Jesus was praying about these issues and...