Prayer

October 26, 2008
The lesson today is on prayer. Off the top of your head, what kind of reaction do you have when you hear that we are doing a lesson on prayer?

     a)  I don't really need to hear this; I am doing fine,
b) How depressing, I can never get the prayer thing right,
c) Great! I love talking about prayer,
d) Other, please specify.

Matthew 7.7 - 11.
7. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

• What do we learn about God from this passage? 
  Any man who prays is bound to want to know to what kind of God he is praying. He wants to know in what kind of atmosphere his prayers will be heard. Is he praying to a grudging God out of whom every gift has to be squeezed and coerced? Is he praying to a mocking God whose gifts may well be double-edged? Is he praying to a God whose heart is so kind that he is more ready to give than we are to ask? --Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT) 

• Is this talking about three different activities, or the same activity three times? 
  There is no need to try to distinguish different kinds of activity between ask, seek, and knock. Jesus was probably using the three verbs to refer to the same activity of petitioning the Father. His use of three different verbs added emphasis to his message. This three-pronged approach, together with the fact that all three verbs are in the present tense, conveys a clear picture of persistence in prayer.--Holman New Testament Commentary
• Is asking, seeking, and knocking something we are to do once and we are done, or is it something we are to do continually?  
  Although this is the charter of prayer, it lays certain obligations upon us. In Greek there are two kinds of imperative; there is the aorist imperative which issues one definite command. "Shut the door behind you," would be an aorist imperative. There is the present imperative which issues a command that a man should always do something or should go on doing something. "Always shut doors behind you," would be a present imperative. The imperatives here are present imperatives; therefore Jesus is saying, "Go on asking; go on seeking; go on knocking." He is telling us to persist in prayer; he is telling us never to be discouraged in prayer. Clearly therein lies the test of our sincerity. Do we really want a thing? Is a thing such that we can bring it repeatedly into the presence of God, for the biggest test of any desire is: Can I pray about it? --Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT) 

Luke 18.1 - 8.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"

6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

 On page 91 ina the study manual, Charles Stanley mentions a number of reasons why God might delay answering our prayers. What are some reasons God might delay answering our prayers? 

Wrong attitudes; unhealthy lifestyle; testing our sincerity in order to build persistence; increase our faith and develop patience

  

Question for each of us, “Is prayaer a daily part of our lives?”

Day Two.  The Real Enemy is Satan. 

Someone read the scriptures in the margin on page 92.  Listen for characteristics of Satan:

 Murderer, liar, tempter, schemer

2 Corinthians 10.3 - 5; Philippians 4.8
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 (NIV) 

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 1 Peter 4:7 (NIV) 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (4) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

 

• What do these two verses teach us about prayer? 

We ae to destroy human argujents against God 

Nurturewhatever is right and pure, etc

Day 3.  The Strength to Stand comes from prayer. 

Someone read the verse printed in the margin on page 94, Ephesians 6:18 

How do we get God’s power in our lives? 

A lifestyle of prayer

Colossians 4.2 and 1 Peter 4.7
 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 1 Peter 4:7 (NIV)

•  What do these verses teach us about prayer?
   To "be clear-minded" suggests that believers pray intelligently or that they think about and evaluate their situations in life maturely and correctly as they begin to pray about them. In light of the context, perhaps Peter was cautioning them against giving way to eschatological frenzy and panic. To be "self-controlled" as one comes to prayer suggests that believers are to pray with a mind that is focused and alert. In other words, prayer should not be practiced nonchalantly or flippantly. Believers are to take prayer seriously.--Holman New Testament Commentary 

Day Four.  Pray without Ceasing 

1 Thessalonians 5.17 is a familiar passage.
Pray continually; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)N
Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (GW)
and never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (CEV)
pray at all times, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (TEV)
Pray constantly. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (HCSB)
Always keep on praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (TLB)
pray all the time; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (MSG)

• This raises a question. If you did this, what would become of your work? 
  The next staccato note follows: pray continually. This means never stop praying. Paul was a busy missionary, and he wrote about the Christian's duty to fulfill daily responsibilities, so this is not a command about speaking non-stop prayers. It refers, however, to the attitude of prayer, or reverence before God. The Christian's life of righteousness and his approach to relationships and responsibilities should be such that he maintains a constant attitude of being in God's presence. Such a person will pray often and about many things, including requests, praise, and thanksgiving. This command also means that we should never quit praying.--Holman New Testament Commentary. Continual prayer is not prayer that prevails without any interruption, but prayer that continues whenever possible. The adverb for continually (adialeipts, also in 1:3) was used in Greek of a hacking cough. Paul was speaking of maintaining continuous fellowship with God as much as possible in the midst of daily living in which concentration is frequently broken.--Bible Knowledge Commentary 

• What practical steps might we take to remind ourselves to pray throughout the day?
  One thing I have been doing a lot recently is listening to the Bible and praying about what I hear. I have the Bible on my IPOD and often listen as I drive or other such tasks.

 The Armor of God

Read Ephesians 6:10-17 on page 97

Mark 1.35.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35 (NIV)

• Why do you think Jesus prayed in the morning?
  
• What is the best time of day for you to pray?
  
• How would you say your prayer life is going these days?
  
• What keeps you from prayer?
  

 

God Refines us by Fire

October 19, 2008
We are studying, “Living the Extraordinary Life”  Do you know anybody who has lived an extraordinary life who has not suffered trials and tribulations?

 God is in Control of Everything Zechariah 13.9 and Malachi 3.2 - 4
This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'" Zechariah 13:9 (NIV) 

 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, (4) and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. Malachi 3:2-4 (NIV) 

• What do these two verses have in common?
• What do these verses teach us about God?
• What do they teach us about man?

 

Psalm 103:19
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:19 (NIV) 

• What do we learn about God from Psalm 103.19
• This theme is echoed in Zechariah 1.11.

They reported their findings to the Angel of God in the birch grove: "We have looked over the whole earth and all is well. Everything's under control." Zechariah 1:11 (MSG) ⁽³⁾

 Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

•  Has anything happened in your life this year that made you question if Romans 8.28 was still true?
  

 Psalm 34.7
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalms 34:7 (NIV)

• How is God pictured in this Psalm?
• What one or two-word description would you use?

Conclusions:

1. God uses life to refine us.
2. If we did not believe that God is in control we could not accept his refining.
3. God’s definition of success is for us to be more like him everyday.
4. Think about what life might be like if the majority of people really believed that everything that happensis a result of God’s sovereign will.

We are Made Stronger Through Trials Romans 5.3 - 5; James 1.2 - 4
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4 (NIV)

• James was written about AD 50 by the brother of Jesus when the church at Jerusalem was under extreme pressure from the Romans. 
• What do these two passages have in common?
• We will likely live our whole lives learning to live out these verses. What progress have you made?
• Could anyone tell a story of how you were able to rejoice in one of the speed bumps of life?  You learn to lift weights by starting with the light weights and working your way up. You learn to count it all joy by doing so in the speed bumps in life and working your way toward the more difficult things.
• Have you known people for whom the least little thing totally overturned their apple cart? Anyone have a story? What is wrong with being this way? Why does it benefit us all to grow so that this is not true of us?
• What are the benefits of troubles?
• How have troubles made you stronger? Be specific.

 

Adversity Exists in the Life of A christian  Isaiah 55.8 - 9.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

• Just how much higher are God's thoughts than our thoughts? Can you think of a metaphor to communicate this?
  Like us and an ant.
• Do you ever find yourself thinking, "If only God would do what I want!" Anyone have a story? In light of how high his thoughts are above our thoughts, how much sense does this make?
• Even though we can’t understand it, God allows everything to happen that happens!  Everything.

 Genesis 50.15 - 20. 
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.  18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.  19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  Gen 50:15-20 (NIV) 

• Someone overview the story of Joseph for us. What has happened up to this point to make Joseph's brothers nervous?
• How does Joseph's story illustrate Romans 8.28?
• Let's look at the reasons Charles Stanley gives as to why God allows adversity from page 85ff. How has God used adversity to get your attention? Who has a story?
• How has adversity reminded you of God's great love for you?
• How has adversity brought you to a new level of self examination?
  
• How has adversity taught you to hate evil? Does anyone have a story?
  
• How has adversity caused you to reevaluate your priorities?
  
• How has adversity tested your works?
  

 Six Reasons God Might Allow Adversity in our Lives

1. To get my attention
2. To remind me of His love for me
3. For self examination
4. To teach me to hate evil
5. To cause me to reevaluate priorities
6. To test my works

October 12 Knowing the Will of God

Knowing God's Will is Worth the Wait

Opening

In a sentence or two, how are you doing these days? What are you worried about? What are you excited about? 

Psalm 37.4 - 7.  (margin p.66)

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

 

Be still[1] before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their lives, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 

• Look for the commands in these five verses?
• What are the promises in these five verses?
• Are commands and promises often tied together in scripture?  Can you think of other examples? 
  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 

• What exactly does it mean to delight in God? [2]
• Is it easy or hard to delight in God?  What causes you to delight in God?
  I hope you feel as I do-that you absolutely love being a Christian and absolutely love following Christ. It is such a blessed life. It is so good to follow God.
• Does it really mean He will give us everything our heart desires as we delight in Him?  That seems to be what it is saying.
• What does it mean to commit our ways to the Lord?[3]
• What does it mean to be still before God? Can you give an example?
• What damage does anger do? Who has a story?
  
• Day two raises a question, “What are we to do when God doesn't seem to answer?”[4]  Sometimes God delays His answer, and Charles Stanley says we should not deny that we have a problem, don't avoid the problem, don’t lie, don’t give in or give up and don’t move forward until you are sure God has given you the green light.
• Day three-bottom of page 70 “When you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances, prayer is the one way to change the direction of your mind and heart.  It places focus on ‘God, who is the only source of hope and truth”
• Handling unmet needs begins with prayer.  Then acknowledge your need and the burden you are carrying; claim God’s promise and seek God’s direction.  Be willing to wait and thank God in advance for His provision.

 Philippians 4.6 - 7.   

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. (TLB)

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (MSG)

 

Don't worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. (Phillips NT)

• Why is it important to God that we not worry?
  
• Is it possible to live the John 10.10[5] abundant Christian life and be continually worrying?
  
• What are some steps we could take to cut our worrying in half?
  
•  Does anyone have a story about a time when you experienced the peace that passes all understanding-about a time when you experienced incredible peace and it didn't make any sense for you to have that peace?
  
•  Why is it wise to wait for God?  

1. To  receive God’s clear timing.
   
2. To allow God the proper time to prepare you for His answer.
3. To strengthen your faith in Him.
4. To allow God to sift through your motives to reveal you desires

Questions related to a decision you are considering: (page 73-74)

1. Is your proposed decision consistent with the Word of God?
2. Is this a wise decision?
3. Can I honestly ask ‘God to enable me to achieve this?
4. Do I have a genuine peace about this?
5. Does this fit who I am as a follower of Jesus?
6. Does this fit God’s overall plan for my life?
7. Will the decision honor God?

---

[1]     Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:14.

 [2]      The word translated "delight" comes from a root that means "to be brought up in luxury, to be pampered." It speaks of the abundance of the blessings we have in the Lord Himself, totally apart from what He gives us. To enjoy the blessings and ignore the Blesser is to practice idolatry. In Jesus Christ, we have all God's treasures, and we need no other. If we truly delight in the Lord, then the chief desire of our heart will be to know Him better so we can delight in Him even more, and the Lord will satisfy that desire! This is not a promise for people who want "things," but for those who want more of God in their lives.--Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament

[3]    The exhortation to "commit" one's way to the Lord is not a simple abandonment. It involves a full commitment to "roll away" or to "cast" one's feelings of anger, resentment, and jealousy on the Lord. - Expositors Bible Commentary

[4]      The story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus is example of a time when God delayed His answer.  John 11:1-16.

[5]      I am come that they may have life and have it to the full.

October 5 Obedience Brings a Blessing

Luke 5.1 – 11.

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, (this is the Sea of Galilee) with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. (This is a small request from God.) Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."  (This request seems unreasonable because you don’t catch fish in the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the day.)

5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (This is a dramatic request from Peter.) 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Jesus had called them earlier but apparently they were still fishing and following Jesus part time.)

1.              Obeying God in small things is key to receiving greater blessing,
   
2.               Our obedience benefits others.
3.            Obedience may require doing something that seems unreasonable.
4. 4.       We will never be disappointed when we obey God.
   
5. 5.       Our obedience allows God to demonstrate His power in our lives.
   
6. 6.       Obeying God always results in a deeper understanding of God’s working.
   
7. 7.       Obedience to God will result in dramatic changes in our lives.
   

 Isaiah 48.17 – 19

This is what the Lord says--our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel "I am the Lord your God,who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

19 Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be cut off nor destroyed from before me."

 This passage says that God teaches us what is best for us. 

• Is following God always best for us?
• Are we naturally drawn to what we believe is good for us? Verse 18.
• How do we come to believe-really believe-that following God is totally in our best interest? 
• Describe a time in the last few days when you experienced "peace like a river."

Deuteronomy 11.26 - 28.

6. See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse-- 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

 

• What is the blessing? What is the curse?
• Do you think outsiders see Christianity this way – that it is all about God wanting to bless us?
• How could we communicate to outsiders that Christianity is all about a God who wants to bless us?

 Psalm 62.1, 5.

     My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

     Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

• Describe what resting in God feels like for you?
• Good principles to follow

       1.       Trust God with you life and leave the consequences to Him.

       2.       Learn to wait on the Lord.

       3.       Learn to meditate on God’s Word.

       4.       Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit.

      5.       Be willing to walk away when the path is uncertain.

      6.       Be willing to experience conflict.

      7.       Accept God’s discipline with Thanksgiving.

 How can we pray for one another this week?

Dear Father in Heaven,

I ask Your forgiveness for my self-sufficiency and for all the times I hear Your commands yet fail to obey them.  I purpose to align my life with Your principles and to obey Your Word.  Please help me in this pursuit and convict me when I stray.

Amen.