Prayer, Week 6 Day 2

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 6, Day 2, pages 76-77

Scripture: Exodus 32:9-14

Good morning,  ladies!  Here are my word/Word study and thoughts for Day 2 from the Effective Prayer book.  Looking forward to your sharing.

--------------------------

Entreated/besought comes from two Hebrew words:

chalah (2470):  to be or become

• Weak
• Sick
• Grieved
• Sorry

Face/Paniym (644):  face or presence

-----------------------------

After Moses heard God speak, he faced Him or came into His presence weakened by what he had heard, sick in heart, grieved and sorry for his/His people's obstinance. 

Prayer, Week 6, Promise of God

Book:  The Essentials of Effective Prayer by Kay Arthur

Page 75

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Vine's:

-------------------------------------

Promise/epaggelia (1860)

[from epi which means upon and angello which means to proclaim or announce]

Primarily a law term, denoting "a summons"; also meant "an undertaking to do or give something." 

It frequently stands for the thing promised, and so signifies a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation. 

Intercessory Prayer

Good morning! :-)

As I read my devotional this morning, I was hit by a reality I already knew in my heart but that Oswald Chambers put into words.  I love these kinds of confirmations.

Just as I learned when my father died 18 years ago that the ultimate healing is death and that when I pray for healing, I must be prepared for that reality... today I learned intercessory prayer is more than asking God to intercede on behalf of someone-- to make their circumstances better or to ease their hurting soul.

Here's what Chambers wrote:

Prayer, Week 5 word/Word study

Here is a copy of my word/Word study for Week 5 with many quotes taken from Vine's Expository Dictionary.  I look forward to your insights.

Forgive/aphiēmi (863)

To send away debts and trespasses

To send away sins signifies

• the remission of the punishment due to the sinful conduct
• the deliverance of the sinner from the penalty divinely, and therefore righteously, imposed
• the complete removal of the cause of offense

Such remission is based upon the vicarious and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ.

In the O.T., the word atonement is used.

Application

Prayer, Week 4, Prove the Will of God

I pray each of you finds at least one thing in the following word/Word study that renews your mind.

Prove/dokimazō (1381)

• to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
• to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy

Uses of prove/dokimazō (1381):

Miscellaneous uses:

• This word can be translated as discern in Luke 12:56.
• In Luke 14:19, a man wanted to prove (1381) his oxen-- in other words, to test or examine them and deem them worthy after examination.

How God proves:

Prayer, Week 4, Prayer Affects Our Soul

Topic 1:  Prayer affects our soul:  will, emotions, mind. 

The Scriptures we studied this week show us how to cooperate with God through relationship, which is prayer.  Our part in this relationship is to believe and seek God with all our heart; God's part is to hear and answer.  I believe He always answers, but He does not always give us what we pray for; rather, He gives us what we need to grow. 

This prayerful relationship touches our soul:

First, our will is conformed to His will because we pray.

• Our part is to abide and ask according to His will (more on this in the next post related to Topic 2, proving the will of God).

• Our service is to be the sacrifice, just as Jesus was the ultimate Sacrifice.  Being a sacrifice means I choose by an act of my will to let God use me as He chooses.  God chose to use Jesus as the Sacrifice for sin, and Jesus chose by an act of His will to cooperate (Luke 22:42).  When I am a willing sacrifice, I will be satisfied with however God chooses to use me to further His kingdom. 

Just a little FYI.  In sign language, there are two different signs for the word "use."  One sign has a negative connotation; the other, positive.  When God "uses" us to further His kingdom, of course, He is not using us in the negative way but in a positive way for our benefit and His glory.

Second, our emotions won't rule us because we pray.

Prayer, Week 3, Silversmith

In my last post, I noted that Truth is the essence of a matter, and that the essence of any matter is in Jesus.  I hope this little story that I read some time ago helps to bring home this point:

------------------------------

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures and make them the subject of conversation.  While reading Malachi 3:3, they came upon a remarkable expression: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the pure, sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ.  Then she proposed to visit a silversmith so that she could report to them what he said on the subject.  She went there accordingly and, without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

"But, sir, "she said, "Do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"

Prayer, Week 3, Day 4

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 3, Day 4, page 41

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 4:4

What did you learn from marking references to the Word of God in these verses?  How would you describe its importance in the life of a believer?

I found the 2 Timothy 2:15 word/Word study so appropriate for this list's name:  TruthHimself. In this verse, I noticed that we are to handle accurately the word of truth (emphasis mine). Before this study,  I remembered this verse as reading "accurately handling the Word of God," which I believed to mean accurately handling the Bible as the Word of God.  But as I looked up truth/alētheia (225) I found Jesus, Truth Himself!

• Truth/alētheia (225) is the essence of a matter.  Think about that.

• "In philosophy, essence is the attribute or set of attributes that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity." -wikipedia

And the essence of any matter is in Jesus (Ephesians 4:21), Truth Himself.

From the BlueLetterBible:

• "The truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ (emphasis mine), and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians."

What does "the essence of any matter is in Jesus" mean really?  

Prayer, Week 3, Day 3

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 3, Day 3, pages 40-41

Scripture: Philippians 3:20; Matthew 6:33

The Heavenly Citizen's Riches

My citizenship is in heaven; I am an ambassador here on earth representing my heavenly country. 

My heart is with the Leader of that country; my goal is to represent the riches of that country-- riches freely given to all who are citizens  (Ephesians 1:18)--  in a way that draws others to the Leader. 

Since I have all the riches associated with my heavenly citizenship available to me, I don't need to be seeking things that aren't necessary to live as a Christian.  That's part of what Matthew 6 is all about:  Don't seek things you don't need because you already have all you need in Christ.  The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21).

Prayer, Week 3, Day 2

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer
Week 3, Day 2, pages 37-39
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-6; Psalm 100:1-4, Psalm 118:1-9




What did you learn about the Lord and our relationship to him from these passages?  What are we to do?


Word study for Philippians 3:20

Rejoice	No new discoveries on this word study.
Lord.kyrios (2962)	Having power or authority, translated as master, owner, sir,
Anxious/merimnaō (3309)	"to draw in different directions, distract"  That which causes a care,
Prayer/proseuchē (4335)	Always used of prayer to God
Supplication/deēsis (1162)	Primarily a wanting, a need; an asking, entreaty, supplication.  Always addressed to God
Thanksgiving/eucharistia (2169(	To give freely, gratitude
Gentle spirit/epieikēs (1933)	Not insisting on the letter of the law; it expresses that considerateness that looks humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case in contrast to contentiousness

Prayer, Week 3, Day 1

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 3, Day 1, page 36

Scripture: Daniel 2:19-23

What characteristics of God did Daniel highlight in these verses?

Wisdom and power belong to Him

He changes the times and the epochs

He removes kings and establishes kings

He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.

He reveals the profound and hidden things

He knows what is in the darkness

Light dwells with Him

Discuss how you see worship being manifested in this passage.

Prayer Week 2, Day 9

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 9, pages 29-30

Scripture: Exodus 15:26; Psalm 107:17-21

Who does God say He is in Exodus 15:26?

Rapha, the Healer.

From Vine's:  To heal may be described as restoring to normal.  Not only are human diseases healed but also

• bad water is restored to normal or healed (2 Kings 2:22),
• salt water is healed or made fresh (Ezek 47:8),
• even pottery is healed or restored (Jer. 19:11).

A large number of the uses of rapha express the healing of a nation-- such healing not only involves God's grace and forgiveness but also the nation's repentance. 

Prayer Week 2, Day 7

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 7, pages 26-27

Scripture:  Psalm 91:1-9

What name is used twice in this passage to describe God?

El Elyon, the Most High

What other descriptions of God did you notice?

Prayer Week 2, Day 6

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 6, pages 25-26

Scripture:  Genesis 14:18-20

What name for God is used three times in this passage?

God Most High, Elyown or El Elyon

For a description of this Name and others, click here

What additional description of God is given in verse 19?

Possessor of heaven and earth.

What exactly had God done for Abram, according to Melchizedek?

Delivered his enemies into his hand.

Linda

Moderator

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthHimself/

Prayer Week 2, Day 5

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 5, pages 23-24

Scripture:  2 Chronicles 20:5-12

Briefly summarize Jehoshaphat's description of God.

• God of our fathers
• God in the heavens
• Ruler over all kingdoms
• Powerful and mighty
• No one can stand against You
• One Who hears and delivers

Compare Jehoshaphat's prayer with the Lord's Prayer.  What similarities do you notice?

More Than I Asked

This morning, I accidentally turned to the wrong date in my morning devotional book, but :-) it really wasn't the wrong date; it was God's leading.  After completing this morning's study for Week 2 Day 4, I realized that what God was showing me in that study was also what He was showing me while I read the devotion for the "wrong" date.

Here are a few lines from the devotional:

"The temper of mind is tremendous in its effects; it is the enemy that penetrates right into the soul and distracts the mind from God... beware of 'the cares of this world' because they are the things that produce a wrong temper of soul...[There were a few comments about the cares of the world.] When we discern that people are not going on spiritually and allow the discernment to turn to criticism, we block our way to God.  God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize but that we may intercede."

Sometimes the enemy is not the army of the external but the army we allow into our minds, isn't it?  At least that's what I find in my own life.

I will remember that discernment is not so we can criticize but so that we can intercede.  Prayer.  Hmmm...  God is teaching me not only how to pray but when to pray.  More than I asked for.  Thank You, Lord.

Linda
Moderator
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthHimself/

Prayer Week 2, Day 4

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 4, pages 21-22

Scripture:  2 Chronicles 20:1-4

What do verses 1 and 2 reveal about Jehoshaphat's situation?

He was afraid because the enemy was making war against God's people.

Fear/yare' (3372) 
connotes the psychological reaction of fear, being afraid of something or someone.

Note:  There is another word fear/mora that is used exclusively of the fear of being before a superior kind of being, to describe the reaction evoked in men by God's mighty works of destruction and sovereignty

What was his initial response?  How did he overcome it?

He resolved to seek the Lord.

Seek/darash (1875)

To inquire of God.  Often it refers to the contacting of a prophet who would be the instrument of God's revelation.  Reading the rest of this chapter, we see that God did answer through a Levite.

Prayer Week 2, Day 3

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 3, pages 20-21

Scripture:  Matthew 6:9-13

In light of what we read earlier in Matthew 6:7, do Jesus' words in verse 9 indicate that He intended His disciples to repeat these exact words on a regular basis?  Explain your answer.

We are not to pray vain repetitions.

If the Lord's Prayer provides a basic structure for our conversations with God, we should note the key elements it suggests.  Read through the passage again, watching for these elements, and next to each key element listed below, note the verse number(s)s where it appears:

• Worship-- showing reverence v. 9
• Declaration of allegiance--stating where your loyalties lie  v. 10
• Petition--making a request  v. 11
• Confession of sin--seeking forgiveness  v. 12
• Request for deliverance--pleading for protection  v.13

What element begins and ends this prayer?  What does this suggest?

Worshipping God's character and recognizing His sovereignty. 

Discuss what you've observed so far about the Lord's Prayer and how it will impact your prayer life.

I did a study on this Scripture a few years ago, plus received a teaching about it.  Here are a few of my notes:

"Our Father"

When I pray, I am praying as a part of the Church, the Body of Christ.  Not my Father but our Father. 

Prayer Week 2 Day 2

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 2, pages 18-19

Scripture:  Matthew 6:5-8

From what you read in this passage, did Jesus expect His followers to pray?  Explain your answer.

Yes, He didn't say "if you pray" but "when you pray."

What else did you learn from marking the references to praying?  What two things are we not to do when praying?

• We are not to pray so we may be seen by men.
• We are not to pray meaningless prayers of repetition.

I found a gem of a word/Word study in answer to this question.  The word reward used in v5 is different from the word reward used in v6.

Prayer Week 2 Day 1

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Week 2, Day 1, pages 17-18

Scripture:  Luke 11:1

What did you learn from marking praying and pray?

Jesus prayed (4336).  As we learned on Day 2 of Week 1 in II Kings, Proseuchomai (4336) is used of prayer in general and is always used of prayer to God.  So Jesus was relating to Father-God, either silently or outloud.  This passage doesn't really tell us which.

One disciple asked Jesus to teach "us" to pray.

Autumn Activities

Just a little personal sharing from our home to yours this autumn, my favorite season, in the northern hemisphere.

Our Backyard

Autumn rain and a sunny sky make a beautiful rainbow,
which is the view from my kitchen window.

We sold Vivian, our big green van!
We've had her for 11 years.
She's served us well.

A member of our online Bible study group
sent these flowers to encourage me.
Thank you!

My daughter and her friend carved these pumpkin faces,
Sherlock and Spock.

Here's a close-up of my daughter's pumpkin carving.

All lit up!

Hope you're enjoying this season of your life.

Linda

God's Affirmations

Good Day, everyone!

Just a little sharing with you about how God has been affirming for me the truth that He hears prayer.

First affirmation.

Last week my kids and I finished up a study of John 11 about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  Here's the summary in the book:

"Have you ever wondered if God heard your prayers or cared enough to answer because you didn't get an answer right away?  Well, Martha and Mary may have had similar thoughts and feelings when Jesus didn't come immediately.  But if God doesn't answer our prayers our way, when and how we want, we know it's because God has a better plan, a better way, or a better time.  We just need to keep praying and we will see God's awesome power and love."

Second affirmation.

And then in my devotional book by Chambers, there was this:

"When He had heard therefore that he [Lazarus] was sick, He abode two days in the same place where he was. ~John 16:6

"Has God trusted you with a silence--a silence that is big with meaning?  God's silences are His answers...His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvelous understanding of Himself.  Are you mourning before God because you have not had an audible response?  You will find that God has trusted you in the most intimate way possible, with an absolute silence, not of despair, but of pleasure, because He saw that you could stand a bigger revelation.  If God has given you a silence, praise Him; He is bringing you into the great run of His purposes.  The manifestation of the answer in time is a matter of God's sovereignty.  Time is nothing to God.  For a while you said, 'I asked God to give me bread, and He gave me a stone.'  He did not, and today you find He gave you the Bread of Life.

"A wonderful thing about God's silence is that the contagion of His stillness gets into you and you become perfectly confident -- 'I know God has heard me.'  His silence is the proof that He has...If Jesus Christ is bringing you into the understanding that prayer is for the glorifying of His Father, He will give you the first sign of His intimacy--silence."

Third affirmation.

Then I popped in a CD my uncle made for me, and it included a lovely song about Jesus giving life to Lazarus.

My thoughts.

Mary and Martha wanted their brother healed, but Jesus waited because He had something bigger to reveal about His power:  He gives life to those who are dead.  What a revelation!  I know He hears; I just need to wait to see His power revealed in ways I can't even imagine.

Yes, Lord, I believe You hear and Your silence is Your answer.  Teach me to pray and wait with hope for that deeper revelation of TruthHimself.

Linda
Moderator
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthHimself/

Prayer Week 1 Day 6

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer:  Pages 12-13

Scripture: Isaiah 29:13-14

What did you learn from marking the references to the people in the passage?

They drew near.

How did the people draw near to God?  Were their hearts in it?  Explain your answer.

Their hearts were not near to God but far removed.  They followed the traditions of men (Mark 7:6-7) when drawing near.  Their reverence (yir'ah (3347)) was simply rote.

• Reverence or yir'ah (3347):  "Fear of a person in an exalted position.  Standing in awe.  This is not simple fear, but reverence, whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect.  In this sense, the word may imply submission to a proper ethical relationship to God."  (Vine's)

Prayer Week 1 Day 5

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer: page 11

Scripture:  Psalm 5:1-3

I found some gems in the word/Word studies I did related to this passage, so instead of answering the questions on this page, I'm going to summarize what I learned as I studied the words in this passage.  Then I'll end with a personal paraphrase of David's prayer.  FYI,  if you'd like a copy of my word/Word study, let me know and I'll send it along to you privately, as it is too hard to format it for this post.

Prayer Week 1 Day 4

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer:  page 9-10

Scripture reference:  Psalm 4:1-5

Once again David was clearly in a stressful situation.  How did he respond?

He called on God.

What did he expect God to do in regard to his prayer?  On what did David base his expectation?

David expected God to hear Him because David was abiding (The Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself [v3].  Our study on holiness helped us to see that God sets us apart.)

Prayer Week 1 Day 3

Book The Essentials of Effective Prayer:  page 6-7

Scripture reference:  Psalm 3:-15

What did you learn about David in verses 1 and 2?  How would you describe his emotions at this point?

Even his own son is against him, and he is heartbroken.

The word but in verse 3 signals a contrast, a change in direction.  According to verses 4 and 5, what actions did David take in the midst of his enemies and their taunting, and why did he pursue this course of action?

He turned to and called God by Name.  He pursued this course because he knew His God.

What phrase is used in this passage to describe prayer?

Crying out to the Lord.

When God answered David's prayer, how did David respond?  What shift does this indicate from the emotions he felt at the start of the prayer?

He started out restless and ended up resting.

Prayer: My Understanding

One of the first things I like to do before starting any study is to capsulize my current understanding of the topic for two reasons:

•  So I can see when the Spirit corrects my understanding as I delve deeper into His Word; or

• So I can praise Him as He affirms and establishes my understanding, rooting me more firmly into what He has already taught me.

Related to prayer, here's what I currently understand prayer to be:

Prayer: 

A communication between God and me so He can adjust my will to His.

Prayer is not what I want; it's what God wants.

God's will: 

That Christ is my Head and has first place in everything I think, do, and say (Ephesians 1:9-11).

My part:

Seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).

Kingdom of God:

The place where Jesus rules: 

• First in my own heart (Luke 17:20-21)
• Then within His Body, the Church (the group of all people who have Christ in first place)
• Then in the world (Let it be soon, Lord!) (Matthew 6:10)

I look forward to what the Lord will teach us about TruthHimself as we learn to pray effectively together.

Linda

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthHimself/

Inductive Study Tools

My children and I just finished up Kay Arthur's book teaching children how to do an inductive Bible study.  I hope this summary of the tools for inductive study help you delve into the Word of God and discover TruthHimself:

• Observe the text by looking at context

• Search for key words

• Interrogate the text by asking the 5 Ws and an H question

• Make lists

• Find contrasts and comparison

• Look at terms of conclusion

• Find figures of speech

• Use a concordance and Bible dictionaries

• Look up cross-references

• Know the importance of historical and cultural context

• Make a chart summarizing the theme of each chapter of the Book of the Bible you are studying

Linda

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TruthHimself/

Kick-Off to Effective Prayer Study

Hello to each of you joining in this study on effective prayer.  I'd like to share a little metaphor to kick things off.

Three of my children have been taking swimming lessons during September, and I join with my youngest son and his coach at the time of the lesson so I can help him practice what he learns at the lesson during the week. FYI, I can stay afloat and not drown, but I'm not really a very good swimmer.

Prayer Week 1 Day 2

Page 5
I Kings 8:27-30, 38-39

What did you learn from marking the references to Solomon?

He knows who he is:  a servant.

What did you learn from marking the references to prayer in this passage?

Even though God is not able to be contained, He still regards the prayers of His people.

How did Solomon characterize God's relationship with His people?

A forgiving God who knows each person's heart.

Prayer Week 1 Day 1

Page 4
James 5:16b-18

What did you learn from marking the references to prayer in this passage?

Using the inductive tool of observation first, I noticed:

As I look at James 5:16b-18, I see that James is dealing with intercessory prayer, praying for those who need healing.  Then he talks about Elijah's prayer for rain.  Hmmmm…..  I was trying to find that prayer in Kings 17, where Elijah is first mentioned.  I didn't see his prayer there, only that he said to Ahab, "[As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

Effective Prayer Bible Study

Bible Study

Book:

The Essentials of Effective Prayer

Author:

Kay Arthur, David & BJ Lawson

Week One:

October 1-14, 2012