Bible Studies 1 (For newest Bible Study see "Bible Studies 19")
What is the Bible? Is it TRULY the Word of God?
In order to believe anything concerning Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, or anything Christians claim as a part of our faith, we must first understand what the Bible is, and accept what it says. If the Bible is the Word of God, then to dismiss it is to dismiss God Himself.
The fact that God gave us the Bible is an evidence and illustration of His love for us. The term “revelation” simply means that God communicated to mankind what He is like and how we can have a right relationship with Him. These are things that we could not have known had God not divinely revealed them to us in the Bible. Although God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible was given progressively over approximately 1500 years, it has always contained everything man needs to know about God in order to have a right relationship with Him. If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority for all matters of faith, religious practice, morals – all aspects of our lives.
We must first remember that the Bible is not a single, autonomous work. Rather, it is a collection of 66 different books written over a vast time span (1,500 years) in three languages on three continents with authors from every station in life and written in each person’s personality and from the perspective of their life experiences. These ancient works cover every major topic dealing with the human condition including: love, hate, death, sin, marriage, civil laws, and relationships with each other as well as with God. Although these works were written independently, they show an amazing congruency and they never contradict each other!
When Paul writes "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16), his primary reference is the Old Testament, which was completed 400 years previously. This is not to say that the verse doesn't apply to the New Testament as well, but Paul's subject matter was the Scriptures Timothy was taught as a child. Paul believes the Scriptures are "God-breathed;" (the Holy Spirit gave each author the words to write) that is they hold the same authority as if God were to come down and speak to you directly. Every word recorded in the original documents is considered to be chosen by God.
What do we know about the Bible and does it align with what we'd expect from a message whose source is God? In his landmark Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh Mc Dowell notes that if God created man with a desire to know Him, we would expect His message (the Bible) to have some unique properties:
· It would be widely distributed so man could attain it easily
· It would be preserved through time without corruption
· It would be completely accurate historically.
· It would not be prone to scientific error or false beliefs held by the people of that time.
· It would present true, unified answers to the difficult questions of life.
The Bible stands alone as the only religious text that can claim it meets all the above criteria. (I could go into detail on each one of the, but for our purposes, please believe each of these properties have been verified by scientists and Biblical scholars over the last 2,000 years. NOTHING, and NO ONE, has been able to disprove, or truly refute ANY of the Bible.)
The coming of the Jewish Messiah (Jesus) is the focus of the Old Testament. There are over 300 separate prophecies about the "Holy One of Israel" found there. They are so specific as to predict the city of Jesus' birth (Micah 5:2), His nature (Isaiah 7:14), His works of healing and miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), His betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), His suffering (Isaiah 53), His style of execution (Psalm 22) and His resurrection (Psalm 16:10, Acts 13:35) amongst other things. These prophecies were written anywhere from 400 to 1000 years before Jesus' birth, yet they describe His life with the accuracy of an eyewitness. The odds against a living person meeting even a few of these predictions are so astronomical it is considered impossibility.
In Jeremiah 16:15, God promises that the Israelites will dwell "in the land I gave their forefathers", and Ezekiel 36 describes the incredible transformation of the land itself into a major agricultural center. We still have documentary footage of how the land of Palestine (Israel) was transformed from a mosquito-infested swampland to the breadbasket of Europe. It is now the sixth largest producer of fruits in the world!
When all the evidence is studied, it leads to an inescapable conclusion: the Bible must come from a source other than that of natural man. It is a reliable document that faithfully records history and in that record it documents God intervening in the lives of men. The New Testament verifies that the Old Testament is the word of God, and Peter verifies that the writings of Paul are Scriptural; that is, from God (2 Peter 3:16). Peter also states, "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21)" This is a consistent message throughout the Bible.
In any field of study, when people examine the objects of their study, they classify them by their attributes. A bird fits the definition of an animal with feathers that lays eggs. Every animal that has those attributes is considered a bird. A mammal must be warm-blooded, have hair, and suckle its young. In examining all the religious texts of the world, only the Bible exhibits all the attributes of a God-inspired message.
I hope the 1st Bible Study was interesting and enlightening. :-) I felt the understanding and belief in the complete accuracy of God’s Word is fundamental – AND CRUCIAL – to developing one’s Christian foundations and trust in God and His Word.
May, 2010
Some information taken from: http://www.comereason.org/cmp_rlgn/cmp005.asp#ixzz0noMOwG3D
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Who is Jesus Christ?
John 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
The Divinity of Christ (this paragraph by Matthew Henry)
“The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word (Jesus IS the LIVING Word of God), seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so the Son of God was sent in order to reveal His Father's (God) mind to the world. What the evangelist (John) says of Christ proves that He is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by Him, and not as an instrument. Without Him was not anything made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified He was (is) for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from Him, and depends upon Him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ. (John 1:6-14)”
So, who did Jesus claim to be? Who does the Bible say He is? First, let's look at Jesus’ words in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” At first glance, this might not seem to be a claim to be God. However, look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement, “‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God’” (John 10:33). The Jews understood Jesus’ statement as a claim to be God. In the following verses, Jesus never corrects the Jews by saying, “I did not claim to be God.” That indicates Jesus was truly saying He was God by declaring, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). John 8:58 is another example: “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’” Again, in response, the Jews took up stones in an attempt to stone Jesus (John 8:59). Jesus’ announcing His identity as “I am” is a direct application of the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14). Why would the Jews again want to stone Jesus if He had not said something they believed to be blasphemous, namely, a claim to be God?
John 3:16 is in New Testament of the Bible. It reads: "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And John 3:17 goes on to say, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."
Jesus Christ IS God's Son who was sent to save the world through His selfless sacrifice as stated in John 3:16. Did you know that the life and death of Jesus Christ was declared in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 53 about 750 years BEFORE Jesus was born? And Isaiah was told Jesus' name (Immanuel, "God with us") and that He would be born of a virgin in Isaiah 7:14. Also, a well-respected 1st century Jewish historian named Josephus, (who was never a Christian, born in 37 AD) mentions Jesus in two separate passages in his writings. And Tacitus (a Roman historian of the 1st century) mentioned Jesus and Pontius Pilate in his writings. There IS secular corroboration as to Jesus’ existence.
"Jesus of Nazareth is a remarkable historical figure. He was born in a stable to a teenage mother with no wealth and no influence. After escaping a close call with a violent government official, He spent His early years traveling abroad. He was a carpenter who toiled most of His life in a backwater province of the Roman Empire. His speaking career lasted only three years. He never wrote anything down. He spent the majority of His time with people who were poor, outcast, or downtrodden. He was crucified by His fellow citizens at the age of 33. Those who first professed His message were hunted and oppressed.
And yet 2,000 years later, He has two billion followers, representing nearly every country on the planet. His words are the most published in history. Kings and presidents quote Him. Brave men and women have died for Him. Many adherents of other faiths - Jews, Muslims, and Hindus among them - revere Him as a prophet or a teacher. And Christians view Him as nothing less than the Son of God." excerpt taken from Five Ways to Communicate Like Jesus by John Coleman
During His life Jesus suffered through poverty, indignation, family humiliation, ridicule, shame, beatings, hunger, thirst, intense and unbearable physical and emotional pain. He suffered through loneliness, false accusations, and condemnation. Through it all he did not use supernatural powers to change His circumstances. Jesus died on the cross at the hands of the very people He became Man to redeem. He could have called down ten thousand angels to rescue Him and minister to Him. He did not.
Jesus, our Savior, He endured the same kinds of temptations, pain, and suffering we do (in fact, for most of us, more!). He endured through it all, never committing ANY sin. He is our Fortress and our Strong Tower. He endured everything for us – He gave His precious life and died a horrible death for us. BUT, He rose on the 3rd day and DEFEATED Hell, Death, Satan, Temptation, Sickness, Pain, and Suffering. Jesus IS OUR KING AND OUR SAVIOR!!!
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The Holy Spirit and the Trinity
“The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. Understand that this is not in any way suggesting three Gods. Keep in mind when studying this subject that the word “Trinity” is not found in Scripture. This is a term that is used to attempt to describe the triune God—three coexistent, co-eternal Persons who make up God. Of real importance is that the concept represented by the word “Trinity” does exist in Scripture. (Taken from Gotquestions.org, http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html
There is, and always will be, only “one” God. Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” The mystery of God in Christ is revealed. God the Father is the soul of His Being demonstrated in the actuality of His eternal magnificence and glory. God the Son is God’s creative authority revealed as the Word (see previous Bible study on Jesus), Who presented God’s physical body as Jesus the Christ. God the Holy Spirit is His splendid holiness, all-encompassing sanctity and purifying power of Almighty God. God has a triune nature. He is Soul, Body, and Spirit, yet eternally exists as One, and evidenced in plurality. Our unchanging God is revealed in the New Testament in Colossians 2:9, “For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
In Matthew 3:13-17 we see all 3; “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John (John the Baptist) at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice (the voice of God) came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” We were created in God’s image and we too have a triune nature consisting of body, soul, and spirit.
(The following is taken from EveryStudent.com, http://www.everystudent.com/forum/hspirit.html) "The Holy Spirit is a real person who came to reside within Jesus Christ's true followers after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven (Acts 2). Jesus told His apostles... "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)
The Holy Spirit is not a vague, ethereal shadow, nor an impersonal force. He is a person equal in every way with God the Father and God the Son. He is considered to be the third member of the Godhead. Jesus said to His apostles...
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And all the divine attributes ascribed to the Father and the Son are equally ascribed to the Holy Spirit. When a person becomes born again by believing and receiving Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13; John 3:3-21), God resides in that person through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Holy Spirit has intellect (1 Corinthians 2:11), emotion (Romans 15:30), and will (1 Corinthians 12:11).
A primary role of the Holy Spirit is that He bears "witness" of Jesus Christ (John 15:26, 16:14). He tells people's hearts about the truth of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also acts as a Christian's teacher (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). He reveals God's will and God's truth to a Christian. Jesus told His disciples...
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." (John 14:26)
"When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." (John 16:13)
The Holy Spirit was given to live inside those who believe in Jesus, in order to produce God's character in the life of a believer. In a way that we cannot do on our own, the Holy Spirit will build into our lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Rather than trying to be loving, patient, kind, God asks us to rely on Him to produce these qualities in our lives. Thus Christians are told to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). And the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to perform ministerial duties that promote spiritual growth among Christians (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
The Holy Spirit also performs a function for non-Christians as well. He convicts people's hearts of God's truth concerning how sinful we are -- needing God's forgiveness; how righteous Jesus is -- He died in our place, for our sins; and God's eventual judgment of the world and those who do not know Him (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit tugs on our hearts and minds, asking us to repent and turn to God for forgiveness and a new life."
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The Lord’s Prayer and How to Pray
The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Matthew 6:9-13 reads (Remember this is Jesus’ words while he is teaching His disciples, and us, to pray), “This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Satan). For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen'” Many people mistakenly understand the Lord’s Prayer to be a prayer we are supposed to pray word for word. Some people treat the Lord’s Prayer as almost a magic formula, as if the words themselves have some specific power or influence with God.
The Bible teaches us the opposite. God is far more interested in our hearts when we pray than He is in our words. Matthew 6:6 teaches us, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:7 goes on to say, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” In prayer, we are to pour out our hearts to God (Philippians 4:6-7), not simply recite memorized words to God.
Instead, the Lord’s Prayer should be understood as an example, a pattern of how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to pray. It gives us the “ingredients” that should go into prayer. Here is how it breaks down. “Our Father in heaven” is teaching us who to address our prayers to, the Father (God). “Hallowed be your name” is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is. The phrase “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world, not our own plan. We are to pray for God’s will to be done, not for our desires (or OUR will, but God’s). We are encouraged to ask God for the things we need in “give us today our daily bread.” “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” reminds us to confess our sins to God and to turn from them – and then also to forgive others as God has forgiven us. (Remember, God has forgiven us through the Sacrifice of Jesus. We are supposed to forgive those who have done anything bad to us, or against us, through the love we are supposed to have for our fellow man. We receive this love and ability to forgive when we receive Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior.) The 2nd to last line, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Satan)” is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Is acknowledging God’s glory and honoring our Father.
One last thing I want to mention as far as our “prayer formula” is concerned: All of our prayers should end by saying “In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” In John 15:15-17, Jesus said “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you (through the Bible). You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.”
So, again, the Lord’s Prayer is not a prayer we must memorize and recite back to God. It is the perfect example of how we should be praying. Is there anything wrong with memorizing the Lord’s Prayer? Of course not. Is there anything wrong with praying the Lord’s Prayer back to God? Not if your heart is in it, and you truly mean the words you say. Remember, in prayer, God is far more interested in us communing with Him and speaking from our hearts than He is in the specific words we use. Philippians 4:6-7 declares, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
(This last verse is saying that through the Holy Spirit’s presence in us, and through God’s love for us, we are to pray for God’s will to be done in our lives. This does not say we can’t pray for the things we want or need. We are to pray for our needs. However, with our wants, as a person gets closer to God, and learns more through his walk with Jesus, his desires begin to turn from inward – self, to outward – fellow man and for the ability to be in God’s will.)
My friend, have you asked Jesus into your life? The reason I ask now is I don’t want too much more time to go by with our fellowship together and me not ensuring you’ve had the opportunity and guidance to KNOW your sins have been forgiven and you are ready for heaven. All you need to do is follow these steps:
Admit you’ve sinned. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Believe in Jesus. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Confess and leave your sin behind. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
So, all you have to do is say this prayer and believe the words: “Dear God. I know I have sinned and deserve to suffer in Hell for all eternity for those sins. I ask you to please forgive me for my sins. I understand that Jesus died on the cross so that my sins may be forgiven. I accept Jesus as my Savior and ask you to please allow your Holy Spirit to come into me and guide me in my walk with you. Thank you Father. In Jesus’, Amen.”
Now for a quick note on your personal prayers. I am sure you've heard, and read, prayers that make you feel inferior and unworthy to say your prayers to God, but let me say this: God does not care if your prayers are flowery, beautifully composed, and full of words. God wants to talk to you and He wants you to talk to Him. He loves simple prayers that are from the heart and spirit. So, don’t hesitate to “say it in your own words.” :-) And know this too: When you are hurting so much in your very soul, and don’t even know how to say any words, the Holy Spirit is there and praying for you. Paul said in Romans 8:25-27, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts (God) knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Bet you didn’t realize you are considered by God to be a “Saint” did you? Kind of cool huh? :-)
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PRAYING – PART TWO
Every believer should strive for a REAL relationship with God. Paul said in Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Prayer can be classified into two basic categories: Petition and Praise.
** Petition is the easy one. We always seem to tell God what we want, or turn to Him in time of need. But, all too often as soon as that need is met, or that crisis passes, we forget our loving Father until the next crisis or need arises. Some are even good about "saying their prayers" before bed, or during a certain time of day. How often do we just go through the motions? How often do our lips say words, but our minds aren't tuned in to God? I too, am guilty of these things. That is what Paul means when he instructs us to "Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). God does not want to hear us going through the motions. It must be an insult to Him when we just ramble on and don't get "tuned in" to Him when we are praying. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants us to remain with Him AT ALL TIMES! Pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything. To pray without ceasing does not mean we have to be on our knees 24/7. I would venture to say that's not possible. It does mean we can (and should strive to) have a running conversation with Him. Just imagine God as your best friend. Aren't there things you tell your best friend that you would not, could not, say to anyone else? Think of God as your new best friend. He longs to have that type of loving, caring relationship with you. Please understand God DOES speak to us through the Holy Spirit, through the Bible (we may get a new direction or plan from a verse or passage) and through other believers. Anytime we are wondering whether it was God who spoke to us or another entity (or maybe just our own imagination) we (the believer) must do two things: We must make sure that whatever it is that was said to us is founded on the Word of God (the Bible). That is, we want to make sure the "voice"/direction does not contradict God's Word. Remember, God will NEVER tell anyone to harm someone or themselves, commit sin, or do anything that would contradict the Bible. The second thing we must do is, STEP OUT in faith (see below for more on faith). As you go about your day, speak to God AND listen to God. God wants to hear everything you have to say to Him. He wants you to tell Him how you feel: emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally, etc... That doesn't mean we just download on Him, but TALK to Him. That's what it means to "pray without ceasing."
** Praise and Worship is the other category of prayer. Not only is praising God a blessing and privilege, it is a commandment. We are instructed "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We must raise up our voices in praise and worship to our Heavenly Father. God deserves our praise for He alone is worthy and just to receive praise and worship. Praise honors God. Psalm 51:15, "O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise." Praise has a personal benefit for us too. It strengthens and edifies us to do battle with the enemy (Satan and his minions). Psalm 56:4, "In God I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?"
In Perry Stone's book Putting on your God Gear he edifies us by revealing,
· Praise teaches us to pray with greater conviction.
· Praise focuses on God, who helps us overcome our disappointments.
· Praise gives us a greater glimpse of God's will, way and plan for our lives.
· Praise enables us to honor, worship and give glory to the only One who deserves it.
· Praise lifts out hearts in song, with thankfulness.
· Praise helps us to please the Lord and do His will.
· Praise increases the process of maturity as we grow up in all dimensions into Christ.
· Praise creates a deep hunger in us for more of the knowledge of God.
· Praise reminds us of how rich we are through God's blessings.
· Praise reminds us to lean on His strength, not our own.
· Praise builds our spiritual self-esteem.
· Praise grows us in wisdom and knowledge, and helps us to better understand God's character.
We are to follow Paul's example in prayer for each other as he outlined in Colossians 1:9-14, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
We must shun and repent of all sin.
As Paul exhorts each of us in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
What this means is we are to continually think and meditate on those things that are WORTHY for a believer to consider:
· TRUE things -- All that is in harmony with eternal truth in creation and revelation.
· HONEST (noble) things -- All that is grave, decent, honorable, and Christian.
· JUST things -- All that is in harmony with justice and righteousness.
· PURE things -- All that is chaste and holy for body and soul.
· LOVELY things -- All that is pleasing and tends to bless others.
· Things OF GOOD REPORT -- All that is in harmony with the best public good, virtuous and praiseworthy.
Jesus instructs believers to have faith in Mark 11:22-26, "So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God (literally, have the Faith OF God). For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’" and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” There is NO ROOM for both faith AND fear in the same spirit. If you live in fear for anything, your faith will be diminished. That's why Jesus instructs us to have the faith of God. When we come upon anything that is a hindrance, stumbling block, need, yes and even our wants, Jesus tells us to say to THAT mountain (hindrance, stumbling block, need, want) "Be removed and cast into the sea." We are to command our "mountains" and they must obey. We have the Power of Attorney to use the name of Jesus.
And finally, "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" Galatians 1:3-5. How Great is our God!
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Praising Our Father
As I continue to mature in my fellowship and relationship to our Father God, I am just beginning to scratch the surface in realizing how important it is for us to lift up our voices in praise and worship to our Heavenly Father.
“Praising God - The First Thing!
Do you know that praising God is the best thing to do first before anything else? Have you ever been in a situation that you feel all alone? Or have you encountered a difficult situation in your life and you don't know what to do, like losing your job or suffering the loss of someone very close to your heart? Consider the good times such as when you receive a raise from your boss or earn high marks at school? What do you usually do during these moments? Praising God makes every circumstance of our lives complete, essential, and eminently worthwhile.
Webster defines the word praise as to say good things about and it is synonymous to words such as admire, commend, extol, honor, and worship. A definition of Christian praise is the joyful thanking and adoring of God, the celebration of His goodness and grace.1 This simply implies that the act of praising is rightfully due to God alone.
Praising God - Why?
Why is praising God important? The reasons are countless. First, God deserves to be praised and He is worthy to receive our praise:
· "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalm 96:4).
· "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom" (Psalm 145:3).
· "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:4).
· "You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).
Second, praising God is useful and favorable for us. By praising God, we are reminded of the greatness of God! His power and presence in our lives is reinforced in our understanding. "Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant" (Psalm 135:3).
Third, praise discharges strength in faith, which causes God to move on our behalf. "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger" (Psalm 8:2). Praising God also transforms the spiritual environment that we have. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 clearly illustrates the alteration that happened when the Levites gave praise and thanks to the Lord and the temple was filled with a cloud signifying the glory of God. "The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: 'He is good; his love endures forever.' Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God."
Fourth, God inhabits the atmosphere of praise. Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel (KJV). If we want to see a clear manifestation of God's blessings and grace, all we need to do is to praise Him with all our heart, our mind, and our soul.
Praising God - Who and When?
Who is to praise God? "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD," states Psalm 150:6.
· "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips (Psalm 34:1)."
· "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:3-4).
· "Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD" (Psalm 134:1-2).
We cannot embark on the true joy and benefits of praising God unless we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As children of God, He dwells in our bodies through the Holy Spirit. This means that wherever we go, God is to be praised. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states that "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (I substituted the NIV version for the NKJV of this passage.)
Praising God - How to Praise and Worship God
How is praising God possible? Singing songs and hymns, clapping our hands, even jumping for joy…the list is endless. We can give glory and praise to our God with the use of our physical bodies, with our hearts and minds, and with our deeds. There are many ways to praise God! No matter how you praise and worship God, it should result in an awe of God's power, love, and grace for all of us!”
Footnote:
Definition from the NIV Bible
The above article was posted on “all About God” http://www.allaboutgod.com/praising-god.htm
Remember, not only is praising God a blessing and privilege, it is a commandment. We are instructed "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We must raise up our voices in praise and worship to our Heavenly Father. God deserves our praise for He alone is worthy and just to receive praise and worship. Praise honors God. Psalm 51:15, "O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise." Praise has a personal benefit for us too. It strengthens and edifies us to do battle with the enemy (Satan and his minions). Psalm 56:4, "In God I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?"
In Perry Stone's book Putting on your God Gear he edifies us by revealing,
· Praise teaches us to pray with greater conviction.
· Praise focuses on God, who helps us overcome our disappointments.
· Praise gives us a greater glimpse of God's will, way and plan for our lives.
· Praise enables us to honor, worship and give glory to the only One who deserves it.
· Praise lifts out hearts in song, with thankfulness.
· Praise helps us to please the Lord and do His will.
· Praise increases the process of maturity as we grow up in all dimensions into Christ.
· Praise creates a deep hunger in us for more of the knowledge of God.
· Praise reminds us of how rich we are through God's blessings.
· Praise reminds us to lean on His strength, not our own.
· Praise builds our spiritual self-esteem.
· Praise grows us in wisdom and knowledge, and helps us to better understand God's character.
One last thing: I have found that if I listen to a Christian radio station while in the car (I like Christian Contemporary Music-CCM, but find a station, or a few, that plays the type of music you like) it helps me stay focused on Godly things and helps me keep my mind on Jesus.
So, lift up holy hands, and your voice, in honor and praise and worship of our Most-High God! He deserves it, and you reap the rewards. :-)
All scripture in the above article is referenced back to the New King James Version (NKJV) for clarification purposes. The author used the New International Version (NIV) except where noted.
In order to believe anything concerning Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, or anything Christians claim as a part of our faith, we must first understand what the Bible is, and accept what it says. If the Bible is the Word of God, then to dismiss it is to dismiss God Himself.
The fact that God gave us the Bible is an evidence and illustration of His love for us. The term “revelation” simply means that God communicated to mankind what He is like and how we can have a right relationship with Him. These are things that we could not have known had God not divinely revealed them to us in the Bible. Although God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible was given progressively over approximately 1500 years, it has always contained everything man needs to know about God in order to have a right relationship with Him. If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority for all matters of faith, religious practice, morals – all aspects of our lives.
We must first remember that the Bible is not a single, autonomous work. Rather, it is a collection of 66 different books written over a vast time span (1,500 years) in three languages on three continents with authors from every station in life and written in each person’s personality and from the perspective of their life experiences. These ancient works cover every major topic dealing with the human condition including: love, hate, death, sin, marriage, civil laws, and relationships with each other as well as with God. Although these works were written independently, they show an amazing congruency and they never contradict each other!
When Paul writes "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16), his primary reference is the Old Testament, which was completed 400 years previously. This is not to say that the verse doesn't apply to the New Testament as well, but Paul's subject matter was the Scriptures Timothy was taught as a child. Paul believes the Scriptures are "God-breathed;" (the Holy Spirit gave each author the words to write) that is they hold the same authority as if God were to come down and speak to you directly. Every word recorded in the original documents is considered to be chosen by God.
What do we know about the Bible and does it align with what we'd expect from a message whose source is God? In his landmark Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh Mc Dowell notes that if God created man with a desire to know Him, we would expect His message (the Bible) to have some unique properties:
· It would be widely distributed so man could attain it easily
· It would be preserved through time without corruption
· It would be completely accurate historically.
· It would not be prone to scientific error or false beliefs held by the people of that time.
· It would present true, unified answers to the difficult questions of life.
The Bible stands alone as the only religious text that can claim it meets all the above criteria. (I could go into detail on each one of the, but for our purposes, please believe each of these properties have been verified by scientists and Biblical scholars over the last 2,000 years. NOTHING, and NO ONE, has been able to disprove, or truly refute ANY of the Bible.)
The coming of the Jewish Messiah (Jesus) is the focus of the Old Testament. There are over 300 separate prophecies about the "Holy One of Israel" found there. They are so specific as to predict the city of Jesus' birth (Micah 5:2), His nature (Isaiah 7:14), His works of healing and miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6), His betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), His suffering (Isaiah 53), His style of execution (Psalm 22) and His resurrection (Psalm 16:10, Acts 13:35) amongst other things. These prophecies were written anywhere from 400 to 1000 years before Jesus' birth, yet they describe His life with the accuracy of an eyewitness. The odds against a living person meeting even a few of these predictions are so astronomical it is considered impossibility.
In Jeremiah 16:15, God promises that the Israelites will dwell "in the land I gave their forefathers", and Ezekiel 36 describes the incredible transformation of the land itself into a major agricultural center. We still have documentary footage of how the land of Palestine (Israel) was transformed from a mosquito-infested swampland to the breadbasket of Europe. It is now the sixth largest producer of fruits in the world!
When all the evidence is studied, it leads to an inescapable conclusion: the Bible must come from a source other than that of natural man. It is a reliable document that faithfully records history and in that record it documents God intervening in the lives of men. The New Testament verifies that the Old Testament is the word of God, and Peter verifies that the writings of Paul are Scriptural; that is, from God (2 Peter 3:16). Peter also states, "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21)" This is a consistent message throughout the Bible.
In any field of study, when people examine the objects of their study, they classify them by their attributes. A bird fits the definition of an animal with feathers that lays eggs. Every animal that has those attributes is considered a bird. A mammal must be warm-blooded, have hair, and suckle its young. In examining all the religious texts of the world, only the Bible exhibits all the attributes of a God-inspired message.
I hope the 1st Bible Study was interesting and enlightening. :-) I felt the understanding and belief in the complete accuracy of God’s Word is fundamental – AND CRUCIAL – to developing one’s Christian foundations and trust in God and His Word.
May, 2010
Some information taken from: http://www.comereason.org/cmp_rlgn/cmp005.asp#ixzz0noMOwG3D
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Who is Jesus Christ?
John 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
The Divinity of Christ (this paragraph by Matthew Henry)
“The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word (Jesus IS the LIVING Word of God), seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so the Son of God was sent in order to reveal His Father's (God) mind to the world. What the evangelist (John) says of Christ proves that He is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by Him, and not as an instrument. Without Him was not anything made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified He was (is) for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from Him, and depends upon Him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ. (John 1:6-14)”
So, who did Jesus claim to be? Who does the Bible say He is? First, let's look at Jesus’ words in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” At first glance, this might not seem to be a claim to be God. However, look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement, “‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God’” (John 10:33). The Jews understood Jesus’ statement as a claim to be God. In the following verses, Jesus never corrects the Jews by saying, “I did not claim to be God.” That indicates Jesus was truly saying He was God by declaring, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). John 8:58 is another example: “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’” Again, in response, the Jews took up stones in an attempt to stone Jesus (John 8:59). Jesus’ announcing His identity as “I am” is a direct application of the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14). Why would the Jews again want to stone Jesus if He had not said something they believed to be blasphemous, namely, a claim to be God?
John 3:16 is in New Testament of the Bible. It reads: "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And John 3:17 goes on to say, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."
Jesus Christ IS God's Son who was sent to save the world through His selfless sacrifice as stated in John 3:16. Did you know that the life and death of Jesus Christ was declared in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 53 about 750 years BEFORE Jesus was born? And Isaiah was told Jesus' name (Immanuel, "God with us") and that He would be born of a virgin in Isaiah 7:14. Also, a well-respected 1st century Jewish historian named Josephus, (who was never a Christian, born in 37 AD) mentions Jesus in two separate passages in his writings. And Tacitus (a Roman historian of the 1st century) mentioned Jesus and Pontius Pilate in his writings. There IS secular corroboration as to Jesus’ existence.
"Jesus of Nazareth is a remarkable historical figure. He was born in a stable to a teenage mother with no wealth and no influence. After escaping a close call with a violent government official, He spent His early years traveling abroad. He was a carpenter who toiled most of His life in a backwater province of the Roman Empire. His speaking career lasted only three years. He never wrote anything down. He spent the majority of His time with people who were poor, outcast, or downtrodden. He was crucified by His fellow citizens at the age of 33. Those who first professed His message were hunted and oppressed.
And yet 2,000 years later, He has two billion followers, representing nearly every country on the planet. His words are the most published in history. Kings and presidents quote Him. Brave men and women have died for Him. Many adherents of other faiths - Jews, Muslims, and Hindus among them - revere Him as a prophet or a teacher. And Christians view Him as nothing less than the Son of God." excerpt taken from Five Ways to Communicate Like Jesus by John Coleman
During His life Jesus suffered through poverty, indignation, family humiliation, ridicule, shame, beatings, hunger, thirst, intense and unbearable physical and emotional pain. He suffered through loneliness, false accusations, and condemnation. Through it all he did not use supernatural powers to change His circumstances. Jesus died on the cross at the hands of the very people He became Man to redeem. He could have called down ten thousand angels to rescue Him and minister to Him. He did not.
Jesus, our Savior, He endured the same kinds of temptations, pain, and suffering we do (in fact, for most of us, more!). He endured through it all, never committing ANY sin. He is our Fortress and our Strong Tower. He endured everything for us – He gave His precious life and died a horrible death for us. BUT, He rose on the 3rd day and DEFEATED Hell, Death, Satan, Temptation, Sickness, Pain, and Suffering. Jesus IS OUR KING AND OUR SAVIOR!!!
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The Holy Spirit and the Trinity
“The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. Understand that this is not in any way suggesting three Gods. Keep in mind when studying this subject that the word “Trinity” is not found in Scripture. This is a term that is used to attempt to describe the triune God—three coexistent, co-eternal Persons who make up God. Of real importance is that the concept represented by the word “Trinity” does exist in Scripture. (Taken from Gotquestions.org, http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html
There is, and always will be, only “one” God. Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” The mystery of God in Christ is revealed. God the Father is the soul of His Being demonstrated in the actuality of His eternal magnificence and glory. God the Son is God’s creative authority revealed as the Word (see previous Bible study on Jesus), Who presented God’s physical body as Jesus the Christ. God the Holy Spirit is His splendid holiness, all-encompassing sanctity and purifying power of Almighty God. God has a triune nature. He is Soul, Body, and Spirit, yet eternally exists as One, and evidenced in plurality. Our unchanging God is revealed in the New Testament in Colossians 2:9, “For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
In Matthew 3:13-17 we see all 3; “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John (John the Baptist) at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice (the voice of God) came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” We were created in God’s image and we too have a triune nature consisting of body, soul, and spirit.
(The following is taken from EveryStudent.com, http://www.everystudent.com/forum/hspirit.html) "The Holy Spirit is a real person who came to reside within Jesus Christ's true followers after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven (Acts 2). Jesus told His apostles... "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)
The Holy Spirit is not a vague, ethereal shadow, nor an impersonal force. He is a person equal in every way with God the Father and God the Son. He is considered to be the third member of the Godhead. Jesus said to His apostles...
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And all the divine attributes ascribed to the Father and the Son are equally ascribed to the Holy Spirit. When a person becomes born again by believing and receiving Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13; John 3:3-21), God resides in that person through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Holy Spirit has intellect (1 Corinthians 2:11), emotion (Romans 15:30), and will (1 Corinthians 12:11).
A primary role of the Holy Spirit is that He bears "witness" of Jesus Christ (John 15:26, 16:14). He tells people's hearts about the truth of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also acts as a Christian's teacher (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). He reveals God's will and God's truth to a Christian. Jesus told His disciples...
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." (John 14:26)
"When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." (John 16:13)
The Holy Spirit was given to live inside those who believe in Jesus, in order to produce God's character in the life of a believer. In a way that we cannot do on our own, the Holy Spirit will build into our lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Rather than trying to be loving, patient, kind, God asks us to rely on Him to produce these qualities in our lives. Thus Christians are told to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). And the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to perform ministerial duties that promote spiritual growth among Christians (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
The Holy Spirit also performs a function for non-Christians as well. He convicts people's hearts of God's truth concerning how sinful we are -- needing God's forgiveness; how righteous Jesus is -- He died in our place, for our sins; and God's eventual judgment of the world and those who do not know Him (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit tugs on our hearts and minds, asking us to repent and turn to God for forgiveness and a new life."
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The Lord’s Prayer and How to Pray
The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer that Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. Matthew 6:9-13 reads (Remember this is Jesus’ words while he is teaching His disciples, and us, to pray), “This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Satan). For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen'” Many people mistakenly understand the Lord’s Prayer to be a prayer we are supposed to pray word for word. Some people treat the Lord’s Prayer as almost a magic formula, as if the words themselves have some specific power or influence with God.
The Bible teaches us the opposite. God is far more interested in our hearts when we pray than He is in our words. Matthew 6:6 teaches us, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:7 goes on to say, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” In prayer, we are to pour out our hearts to God (Philippians 4:6-7), not simply recite memorized words to God.
Instead, the Lord’s Prayer should be understood as an example, a pattern of how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to pray. It gives us the “ingredients” that should go into prayer. Here is how it breaks down. “Our Father in heaven” is teaching us who to address our prayers to, the Father (God). “Hallowed be your name” is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is. The phrase “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world, not our own plan. We are to pray for God’s will to be done, not for our desires (or OUR will, but God’s). We are encouraged to ask God for the things we need in “give us today our daily bread.” “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” reminds us to confess our sins to God and to turn from them – and then also to forgive others as God has forgiven us. (Remember, God has forgiven us through the Sacrifice of Jesus. We are supposed to forgive those who have done anything bad to us, or against us, through the love we are supposed to have for our fellow man. We receive this love and ability to forgive when we receive Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior.) The 2nd to last line, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Satan)” is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Is acknowledging God’s glory and honoring our Father.
One last thing I want to mention as far as our “prayer formula” is concerned: All of our prayers should end by saying “In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” In John 15:15-17, Jesus said “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you (through the Bible). You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.”
So, again, the Lord’s Prayer is not a prayer we must memorize and recite back to God. It is the perfect example of how we should be praying. Is there anything wrong with memorizing the Lord’s Prayer? Of course not. Is there anything wrong with praying the Lord’s Prayer back to God? Not if your heart is in it, and you truly mean the words you say. Remember, in prayer, God is far more interested in us communing with Him and speaking from our hearts than He is in the specific words we use. Philippians 4:6-7 declares, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
(This last verse is saying that through the Holy Spirit’s presence in us, and through God’s love for us, we are to pray for God’s will to be done in our lives. This does not say we can’t pray for the things we want or need. We are to pray for our needs. However, with our wants, as a person gets closer to God, and learns more through his walk with Jesus, his desires begin to turn from inward – self, to outward – fellow man and for the ability to be in God’s will.)
My friend, have you asked Jesus into your life? The reason I ask now is I don’t want too much more time to go by with our fellowship together and me not ensuring you’ve had the opportunity and guidance to KNOW your sins have been forgiven and you are ready for heaven. All you need to do is follow these steps:
Admit you’ve sinned. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Believe in Jesus. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Confess and leave your sin behind. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
So, all you have to do is say this prayer and believe the words: “Dear God. I know I have sinned and deserve to suffer in Hell for all eternity for those sins. I ask you to please forgive me for my sins. I understand that Jesus died on the cross so that my sins may be forgiven. I accept Jesus as my Savior and ask you to please allow your Holy Spirit to come into me and guide me in my walk with you. Thank you Father. In Jesus’, Amen.”
Now for a quick note on your personal prayers. I am sure you've heard, and read, prayers that make you feel inferior and unworthy to say your prayers to God, but let me say this: God does not care if your prayers are flowery, beautifully composed, and full of words. God wants to talk to you and He wants you to talk to Him. He loves simple prayers that are from the heart and spirit. So, don’t hesitate to “say it in your own words.” :-) And know this too: When you are hurting so much in your very soul, and don’t even know how to say any words, the Holy Spirit is there and praying for you. Paul said in Romans 8:25-27, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts (God) knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Bet you didn’t realize you are considered by God to be a “Saint” did you? Kind of cool huh? :-)
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PRAYING – PART TWO
Every believer should strive for a REAL relationship with God. Paul said in Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Prayer can be classified into two basic categories: Petition and Praise.
** Petition is the easy one. We always seem to tell God what we want, or turn to Him in time of need. But, all too often as soon as that need is met, or that crisis passes, we forget our loving Father until the next crisis or need arises. Some are even good about "saying their prayers" before bed, or during a certain time of day. How often do we just go through the motions? How often do our lips say words, but our minds aren't tuned in to God? I too, am guilty of these things. That is what Paul means when he instructs us to "Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). God does not want to hear us going through the motions. It must be an insult to Him when we just ramble on and don't get "tuned in" to Him when we are praying. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants us to remain with Him AT ALL TIMES! Pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything. To pray without ceasing does not mean we have to be on our knees 24/7. I would venture to say that's not possible. It does mean we can (and should strive to) have a running conversation with Him. Just imagine God as your best friend. Aren't there things you tell your best friend that you would not, could not, say to anyone else? Think of God as your new best friend. He longs to have that type of loving, caring relationship with you. Please understand God DOES speak to us through the Holy Spirit, through the Bible (we may get a new direction or plan from a verse or passage) and through other believers. Anytime we are wondering whether it was God who spoke to us or another entity (or maybe just our own imagination) we (the believer) must do two things: We must make sure that whatever it is that was said to us is founded on the Word of God (the Bible). That is, we want to make sure the "voice"/direction does not contradict God's Word. Remember, God will NEVER tell anyone to harm someone or themselves, commit sin, or do anything that would contradict the Bible. The second thing we must do is, STEP OUT in faith (see below for more on faith). As you go about your day, speak to God AND listen to God. God wants to hear everything you have to say to Him. He wants you to tell Him how you feel: emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally, etc... That doesn't mean we just download on Him, but TALK to Him. That's what it means to "pray without ceasing."
** Praise and Worship is the other category of prayer. Not only is praising God a blessing and privilege, it is a commandment. We are instructed "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We must raise up our voices in praise and worship to our Heavenly Father. God deserves our praise for He alone is worthy and just to receive praise and worship. Praise honors God. Psalm 51:15, "O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise." Praise has a personal benefit for us too. It strengthens and edifies us to do battle with the enemy (Satan and his minions). Psalm 56:4, "In God I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?"
In Perry Stone's book Putting on your God Gear he edifies us by revealing,
· Praise teaches us to pray with greater conviction.
· Praise focuses on God, who helps us overcome our disappointments.
· Praise gives us a greater glimpse of God's will, way and plan for our lives.
· Praise enables us to honor, worship and give glory to the only One who deserves it.
· Praise lifts out hearts in song, with thankfulness.
· Praise helps us to please the Lord and do His will.
· Praise increases the process of maturity as we grow up in all dimensions into Christ.
· Praise creates a deep hunger in us for more of the knowledge of God.
· Praise reminds us of how rich we are through God's blessings.
· Praise reminds us to lean on His strength, not our own.
· Praise builds our spiritual self-esteem.
· Praise grows us in wisdom and knowledge, and helps us to better understand God's character.
We are to follow Paul's example in prayer for each other as he outlined in Colossians 1:9-14, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
We must shun and repent of all sin.
As Paul exhorts each of us in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
What this means is we are to continually think and meditate on those things that are WORTHY for a believer to consider:
· TRUE things -- All that is in harmony with eternal truth in creation and revelation.
· HONEST (noble) things -- All that is grave, decent, honorable, and Christian.
· JUST things -- All that is in harmony with justice and righteousness.
· PURE things -- All that is chaste and holy for body and soul.
· LOVELY things -- All that is pleasing and tends to bless others.
· Things OF GOOD REPORT -- All that is in harmony with the best public good, virtuous and praiseworthy.
Jesus instructs believers to have faith in Mark 11:22-26, "So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God (literally, have the Faith OF God). For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’" and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” There is NO ROOM for both faith AND fear in the same spirit. If you live in fear for anything, your faith will be diminished. That's why Jesus instructs us to have the faith of God. When we come upon anything that is a hindrance, stumbling block, need, yes and even our wants, Jesus tells us to say to THAT mountain (hindrance, stumbling block, need, want) "Be removed and cast into the sea." We are to command our "mountains" and they must obey. We have the Power of Attorney to use the name of Jesus.
And finally, "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" Galatians 1:3-5. How Great is our God!
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Praising Our Father
As I continue to mature in my fellowship and relationship to our Father God, I am just beginning to scratch the surface in realizing how important it is for us to lift up our voices in praise and worship to our Heavenly Father.
“Praising God - The First Thing!
Do you know that praising God is the best thing to do first before anything else? Have you ever been in a situation that you feel all alone? Or have you encountered a difficult situation in your life and you don't know what to do, like losing your job or suffering the loss of someone very close to your heart? Consider the good times such as when you receive a raise from your boss or earn high marks at school? What do you usually do during these moments? Praising God makes every circumstance of our lives complete, essential, and eminently worthwhile.
Webster defines the word praise as to say good things about and it is synonymous to words such as admire, commend, extol, honor, and worship. A definition of Christian praise is the joyful thanking and adoring of God, the celebration of His goodness and grace.1 This simply implies that the act of praising is rightfully due to God alone.
Praising God - Why?
Why is praising God important? The reasons are countless. First, God deserves to be praised and He is worthy to receive our praise:
· "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalm 96:4).
· "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom" (Psalm 145:3).
· "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:4).
· "You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).
Second, praising God is useful and favorable for us. By praising God, we are reminded of the greatness of God! His power and presence in our lives is reinforced in our understanding. "Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant" (Psalm 135:3).
Third, praise discharges strength in faith, which causes God to move on our behalf. "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger" (Psalm 8:2). Praising God also transforms the spiritual environment that we have. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 clearly illustrates the alteration that happened when the Levites gave praise and thanks to the Lord and the temple was filled with a cloud signifying the glory of God. "The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: 'He is good; his love endures forever.' Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God."
Fourth, God inhabits the atmosphere of praise. Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel (KJV). If we want to see a clear manifestation of God's blessings and grace, all we need to do is to praise Him with all our heart, our mind, and our soul.
Praising God - Who and When?
Who is to praise God? "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD," states Psalm 150:6.
· "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips (Psalm 34:1)."
· "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:3-4).
· "Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD" (Psalm 134:1-2).
We cannot embark on the true joy and benefits of praising God unless we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As children of God, He dwells in our bodies through the Holy Spirit. This means that wherever we go, God is to be praised. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states that "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (I substituted the NIV version for the NKJV of this passage.)
Praising God - How to Praise and Worship God
How is praising God possible? Singing songs and hymns, clapping our hands, even jumping for joy…the list is endless. We can give glory and praise to our God with the use of our physical bodies, with our hearts and minds, and with our deeds. There are many ways to praise God! No matter how you praise and worship God, it should result in an awe of God's power, love, and grace for all of us!”
Footnote:
Definition from the NIV Bible
The above article was posted on “all About God” http://www.allaboutgod.com/praising-god.htm
Remember, not only is praising God a blessing and privilege, it is a commandment. We are instructed "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We must raise up our voices in praise and worship to our Heavenly Father. God deserves our praise for He alone is worthy and just to receive praise and worship. Praise honors God. Psalm 51:15, "O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise." Praise has a personal benefit for us too. It strengthens and edifies us to do battle with the enemy (Satan and his minions). Psalm 56:4, "In God I will praise His word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?"
In Perry Stone's book Putting on your God Gear he edifies us by revealing,
· Praise teaches us to pray with greater conviction.
· Praise focuses on God, who helps us overcome our disappointments.
· Praise gives us a greater glimpse of God's will, way and plan for our lives.
· Praise enables us to honor, worship and give glory to the only One who deserves it.
· Praise lifts out hearts in song, with thankfulness.
· Praise helps us to please the Lord and do His will.
· Praise increases the process of maturity as we grow up in all dimensions into Christ.
· Praise creates a deep hunger in us for more of the knowledge of God.
· Praise reminds us of how rich we are through God's blessings.
· Praise reminds us to lean on His strength, not our own.
· Praise builds our spiritual self-esteem.
· Praise grows us in wisdom and knowledge, and helps us to better understand God's character.
One last thing: I have found that if I listen to a Christian radio station while in the car (I like Christian Contemporary Music-CCM, but find a station, or a few, that plays the type of music you like) it helps me stay focused on Godly things and helps me keep my mind on Jesus.
So, lift up holy hands, and your voice, in honor and praise and worship of our Most-High God! He deserves it, and you reap the rewards. :-)
All scripture in the above article is referenced back to the New King James Version (NKJV) for clarification purposes. The author used the New International Version (NIV) except where noted.
