ABOUT THE BOOK
Before God is a combination of a meticulous Bible study, pastoral application, and heartwarming devotion.
Part One: What is Prayer?
Chapter 1: How Should We Measure Truth?
In chapter one, we look at common ways that people measure truth: feelings, experience, reason, and faith. Though each area can contribute something to our understanding about prayer, we should never make any one of them the basis for truth.
Chapter 2: Scripture Alone
In this chapter we establish our need to rely on the special revelation of God as contained in the sixty-six books of the Bible. The Bible alone is enough to establish truth and must be the measure of all things. Jonah is an example of one who went through suffering by placing his trust outside the Word of God.
Chapter 3: Communication and Communion
Chapter three looks at the two irreducible elements of prayer: prayer as communication and prayer as communion. We will scan through the Scripture to see what the Bible says regarding communication and communion with God and how both of these elements are essential for true prayer to take place.
Chapter 4: Jesus Prayer Life
In chapter four, we take a close look at the devotional life of our Lord Jesus and how prayer was a distinct characteristic. We also look at how prayer was a feature of His ministry. Jesus is always seen praying before difficult decisions and major events in His life.
Chapter 5: Jesus our Mediator and High Priest
Part one closes out with this chapter regarding Jesus as our Mediator and High Priest. Here we see our Savior as our sacrifice and intercessor. Therefore, we take a close look at the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17.
Part Two: The Components of Prayer:
An Exegesis of The Lord’s Prayer
Chapter 6: The Foreword to the Lord’s Prayer
In chapter six, we begin to study the Lord’s Prayer, and the theological concepts that are contained in each phrase. We begin with the need that believers have to learn how to pray. After grasping the fact that we must seek our strength and assistance from God we gaze into the profound truth that Christians have the privilege of intimacy with the Father.
Chapter 7: The First Petition
Chapter seven begins by defining what a petition is and then enters into a biblical exegesis of the phrase, “Hallowed be your name.” We study the name of God, i.e. His glorious character, His holiness and how we can hallow His name in our daily lives.
Chapter 8: The Second Petition
“Your Kingdom Come” is a petition that many people misunderstand. This chapter answers the question, “What type of kingdom is Jesus referring to?” Therefore, we look into the two-fold kingdom of grace and kingdom of glory.
Chapter 9: The Third Petition
In chapter nine, we study the third petition, “Your will be done.” Here we look at what the Bible says about the will of God’s desire, and the will of God’s decree. Furthermore, we recognize the great privilege and honor we have to do His will.
Chapter 10: The Fourth Petition
This chapter gives attention to the first request made for man: “give us each day our daily bread.” We look at God as the great giver and provider, the one in whom we must depend upon for all of our needs, both physical and spiritual.
Chapter 11: The Fifth Petition
The fifth petition, “forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” is what we study in chapter eleven. Therefore, we look at the biblical understanding of confession and forgiveness.
Chapter 12: The Sixth Petition
In chapter twelve, we investigate the final petition, “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Here we examine where temptations come from, how to be better prepared for temptation, and specific types of temptation. We also look into the question, “Why God allows us to be tempted?”
Chapter 13: Additional Components of Prayer
Chapter thirteen is where we tackle other components of prayer that were not explicitly mentioned in the Lord’s Prayer: thanksgiving, adoration, praise, and intercession. This, like the other chapters, is a very challenging and fruitful look into various components of prayer which bring us closer before God.
Part Three: Additional Thoughts on Prayer
Chapter 14: The Importance of Prayer
In chapter fourteen, we look at the importance of prayer. Prayer brings us into fellowship with the Living God and deepens our trust in Him. We also examine what it means to pray in the “Name of Jesus,” the Sovereignty of God and prayer, and unanswered prayers.
Chapter 15: The Manner of Prayer
Chapter fifteen describes the manner of prayer throughout the Bible: lifting up the hands and eyes, standing, kneeling, bowing of the head, and bowing facedown. In addition, we address aspects of public and private prayer, prayer meetings, and being specific in prayer.
Chapter 16: Issues in Prayer
This chapter addresses certain issues in prayer such as: our legal basis for approaching the throne of grace, the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer, who do we pray to?, and what types of prayers can we give? We also look into prayer and fasting, the laying on of hands, and anointing with oil.
Chapter 17: Robert Murray McCheyne: A Preacher Marked by Prayer
This final chapter takes a brief look into the life of the Scottish preacher Robert Murray McCheyne. He was a man who was marked by an exceptional prayer life. His ministry was less then seven years, yet the impact of his saintliness still burns bright.
Comprehensive Concordance
Full Scripture Index
Click here to order Before God: the Biblical Doctrine of Prayer by Mike Sarkissian | Foreword by Stephen Macasil
