Monday, December 30, 2013

BIBLE STUDY ANSWERS WEEK 4

ANSWERS: WEEK 4

 

1.  In your own words, describe at least three steps to significant time of personal praise and worship.

Make sure my praise time is spent in a worshipping attitude unto God; I will remember to thank God for all He has done for me; I will bless the Lord at all time, His praises will continuously be in my mouth, because He is an awesome God.

 

2.   Why do you think some of your deepest worship will occur in times of pain or disappointment?

At such times we are truly offering God the sacrifices of praise because our heart will be in the praise. As the writer said, "After all, anyone can praise God when things are going good."

 





 





Saturday, December 28, 2013

TALKING POINTS (WEEK 4) 12/28/13

 

Talking Point:  Week 4

 

1.    Spend time praising God for who He is and what He is like (His characteristics).

§   Meditate on each of God's characteristics and praise Him for what they mean to your life.

§  Meditate on the meaning of His biblical names.

 

Besides those listed in the book, what other Biblical names can you think of for God?  

 

Father God, Heavenly Father, Great Creator, Lover of my soul, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shalom, and there are many more.

 

Which of God's names do you relate to the most?

 

Father God, Almighty, Princess of peace, my strength, Jehovah, Lord of lords, King of kings, IAM.

 

Why?  The number one is "Father God;" it makes me know I am talking to my Father in heaven.

 

§  When we take time to meditate on Who God is and all He has done for us, praise becomes natural and spontaneous.

 

Who is God to you?  Spend some quiet time thinking about God and who His is to you.  As you   think of words or phrases to describe Him write them down.  Give examples of God's characteristics that has blessed or ministered to you.

 

When I think about God, I feel peace in my very soul, I feel a peace I know the world didn't give to me, and it can't give to me, nor can the world take it away. I cry when I think about Him in His awesomeness, I think of Him as the very essence of my being, and existence.  It is hard to put into words! There were times when I felt lonely and not a single person in this world was with me, then God talked to me and I felt such peace, I will never forget that day, and from that day on, I knew in my knowner, the spirit within me that God was my stay, peace, joy, my love, and my everything.  That characteristic is love. I know God loves me!




 





 





Tuesday, December 24, 2013

BIBLE STUDY WEEK 4 (12/24/13)

Phase One:  Approaching God through Daily Praise and Worship

 

 

SPEND THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES IN GENUINE

PRAISE, THANKSGIVING AND WORSHIP

 

Use praise, thanksgiving and worship to prepare your heart for dynamic prayer.

§  In Psalms 100:4, the writer says "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise."

 

What are some areas of your life that you are thankful? _____________________________

 

 

 

What words of praise come to your mind?  List them. _______________________________

     

 

§  In this text, God reminds us to come before Him with a sense of awe, praise, and reverence.

 

When you pray, what attitude or sense do you feel?  ________________________________

 

Is it one of awe? ____________________________

 

How do you develop a sense of awe before the Lord? ________________________________

 

 

 

Do you think awe and reverence are the same?  Explain your answer.

 

________________________________________________________________

 

§  We also see this in Jesus' model prayer:  "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name" (Read Luke 11:2).

 

In the Lord's prayer, what does it mean "Hallowed be thy name?" ______________________

 

 

 

 How do we as humans genuinely praise and worship God? ___________________________

     

 

Steps to a Meaningful Time of Praise

 

1.    Dedicate adequate time to heartfelt praise and worship.

§ Do not rush through your time of praise so you can get to your want list!

§ A minimum of several minutes should be given to nothing but praise and worship.

 

Is your prayer time mostly devoted to a "wish list" filled with your needs? ________________

 

Estimate how much time you spend in praise rather than in asking. _____________________

 

2.    Spend time thanking God for things He has done in your life.

§ Thank God for past, present and promised future blessings.

§ Nothing builds faith and prepares you to pray like thanking God for a significant list of answered prayers!

 

As the Holy Spirit guides you, make a list of past blessings for which you can thank God. 

 

____________________________________________________________________

    

    

Make a list of present blessings that God has given you. _____________________________                           

 

 

 

Now make a list of future blessings that God will bestow upon you.

 
_____________________________________________________________________

     

 

 

3.    Spend time praising God for who He is and what He is like (His characteristics).

§   Meditate on each of God's characteristics and praise Him for what they mean to your life.

§  Meditate on the meaning of His biblical names.

 

Besides those listed in the book, what other Biblical names can you think of for God?  

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

Which of God's names do you relate to the most? __________________________________           

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Why? ________________________________________________________________

 

§  When we take time to meditate on who God is and all He has done for us, praise becomes natural and spontaneous.

 

Who is God to you?  Spend some quiet time thinking about God and who His is to you.  As you   think of words or phrases to describe Him write them down.  Give examples of God's characteristics that has blessed or ministered to you.

 

____________________________________________________________________

 

____________________________________________________________________

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Take your time of praise very seriously.  The greatest way to secure God's manifest presence is to give Him genuine praise and worship.  Remember, "God inhabits the praises of His people" (Read Psalms 22:3).

 

 

& KEY POINTS – The Biblical Path to a Powerful Prayer Life

 

& There is not an exact pattern for prayer, but there are general patterns for prayer that are biblical and serve as basic guidelines.

 

& Your daily time with God is a relationship and should always contain an element of spontaneity and variation. The goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to direct each time you meet with God.

 

& God wants your heartfelt praise and worship above everything else.

 

& If you will give regular time to significant praise, God will revolutionize your relationship with Him !

 

& If we neglect praise, prayer becomes more like a dry ritual than a warm personal relationship.  Learn that you cannot praise only when you "feel" like it.  Never forget, the deepest praise and worship is based on a choice, not a feeling

.

& Like nothing else, praise and worship prepare your heart for dynamic prayer.

 

& Take your time of praise very seriously!

 

& Pray for a deeper and purer worship every day of your life.

 

Ask God to increase the depth of your praise and worship.  When we ask, God continually reveals  ways to worship Him in ever-increasing depth.

 

Please turn to page 52, look up the scriptures, answer the study questions and pray the prayers for daily growth.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

 

1.   In your own words, describe at least three steps to significant time of personal praise and worship.

 

2.   Why do you think some of your deepest worship will occur in times of pain or disappointment?

 

 

PRAYER:

Father God, teach us to give You thanks and praise at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Make us keenly aware of the many things for which we should praise, thank and worship You.  Lord, teach us to worship in ways ever deeper and pure. Enable us to especially worship and praise in times of trial.  Teach us to offer the sweet sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15). This we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Monday, December 23, 2013

BIBLE STUDY WEEK 3 (ANSWERS)

ANSWERS:  WEEK 3

 

1.  According to Matthew 4:4, Romans 10:17 and 1 John 5:14-15, why is Scripture so vital to spiritual health and powerful prayer?

 

Help us to know His will, purpose, and plan for our lives; and to grow closer to Him

 

2.  Describe two ways to encounter God when you read His Word.

 

Having confidence in Him, and believing His Word through faith when we spend time reading and meditating on His Word.

 

3.   In your own words, briefly list and describe the eight principles of powerful prayer.

 

We must use the authority and confidence in Jesus' name, as we spend quality time so God can search our hearts to cleanse it from hindrance. We should ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit, so the Holy Spirit can pray through us in faith. Pray for no evil influence, but for a spirit of fervency and be specific. A committed prayer partners are good to have for agreement and unity in your prayer requests to God.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

BIBLE STUDY WEEK 3 (12/17/13)

  How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life Study Guide
(By Dr. Gregory Frizzell)
DATE: 12/17/13
 
CHAPTER (3)
 
 
 
 
Beginning Guidelines for a Powerful Prayer Life
 
PRACTICAL PRAYER PATTERNS THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE
YOUR PRAYING BY HELPING YOU PRAY EFFECTIVELY
 
Many Scriptures emphasize the importance of learning to pray effective prayers.
§  Since (James 5:16) states that some prayers are effectual, we must conclude that some prayers are not effective.
§  In the same spirit, Jesus' disciples made perhaps their wisest request when they said, "Lord teach us to pray." (Read Luke 11:1)
It is truly sad that many Christians are praying on ineffective levels and don't even realize it.
 
TWO PRELIMINARY PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER
 
1) The regular reading of significant amounts of Scripture is absolutely essential to your prayer life.
§  It is impossible to develop powerful biblical praying without joining your prayers to the promises of God's Word. 
1.    (Romans 10:17) reveals the importance of God's Word to our faith.  "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."
2.    Jesus even stated that we live by every word that proceeds from God. (Matthew 4:4)
3.    In (1 John 5:14-15), we see further evidence of the importance of God's Word in prayer.  "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us; And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him."
 
In (Romans 10:17), we find faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of God.  (Matthew 4:4) says we live by every word that proceeds from God.  (1 John 5:14-15) says the confidence that we have is if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him. 
 
How much time a day do you spend reading God's Word? ____________________________
 
If you are not spending time every day reading God's Word, list the things you do on a daily basis
beginning with your morning routine and ending with when you go to bed.
    _____________________________________________________________________
   
_____________________________________________________________________
According to the above scriptures which of these things are more important than spending time in God's Word?
    
   ____________________________________________________________________
 
During your Bible reading time, do you give God time to speak to you? ___________________
 
What insights has God given to you lately?
    _____________________________________________________________________
 
§  When we know God's Word, we know His will and then we know how to pray and we know the answers are on the way.
§  I make two suggestions concerning God's Word.
1.    Spend daily time reading and meditating on God's Word.
§  Read through the entire Bible at least once each year.
§  Invest in a practical study Bible.
§  After your Bible reading, write down key insights that God speaks to your heart.
2.    Invest in one of today's excellent journaling tools for daily prayer.
 
2)   Familiarize yourself with the basic guidelines and biblical principles for powerful prayer.
§  Only when we follow God's rules will His mighty power be released. 
§  Tragically, many Christians cannot even name the basic principles of powerful prayer (much less practice them).
 
 
THREE PRACTICAL GUIDLINES FOR PRAYER
 
1.    Be prepared to give God the best time of your day with one hour as your goal.
2.    Purpose to experience a "balanced" prayer life.
3.    Daily ask God to teach you to pray (Luke 11:1).  Always ask for God's anointing and leading as you pray.
 
What is your best time of day? _______________________________________________
 
Do you seek a fresh encounter with God as you pray or do you fall into the trap of daily routine?
 
_____________________________________________________________________
 
EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF POWERFUL PRAYER
Become familiar with the Eight Principles of Powerful Power
 
1.    Pray with an attitude of authority and confidence through the name of Jesus. 
§ We are to come in Jesus' name, confident He forgives, knowing He invited us to pray big prayers—John 14:13-14, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it". 
§ Be assured of His powerful answers—Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
 
Are you asking God for anything big? __________________________________________
 
Do you have the confidence that your prayers will be answered? ________________________
 
2.    Spend quality time allowing God to search you so you are freshly cleansed from every sin or hindrance.
§ Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." It is vital that your confession and repentance be thorough.
§ Do not rush through your confession time in a brief or casual manner.
 
 Ask God to forgive you of the sins of which He has made you aware.  Ask Him to reveal to
 you through His Spirit other sins that you may be committing and then confess those sins.
 
3.    Specifically ask Him to fill and anoint you with His Spirit (Read Ephesians 5:18).
§ Romans 8:26, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself, maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
§ In order to pray in power we must have the fullness of God's Spirit.
 
 Pray that God will fill you with His Spirit. 
 
There is a story of a mother who prayed for her estranged son to return home, or at least let her know where he was.  Then one day her son was saved, gave up his wayward life and returned home.  Little did this mother know that her son did not really need to return home, but what he needed was the Lord.  All along she was praying for her son's return because that is what she wanted.  God wanted her son to be saved. 
 
Pray that God will show you what you ought to pray; rather, than what you think you should pray.
 
4.    Determine to pray in genuine faith and expectancy.
§ Mark 11:22-24 "And Jesus answering saith unto them, 'Have faith in God. For verily I said unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those
things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.'"
Only believing prayer has power with God.
§ Use God's Word to find the will of God in your praying (Read 1 John 5:14-15, Romans 10:17).
§ It is vital to remember that faith must be a "choice" and more than a mere "feeling."
 
 List prayers that you have had answered._______________________________________
 
_____________________________________________________________________
 
Were these prayers answered in the way you expected them to be answered? _______________
 
How have these answers helped grow your faith in God? _____________________________
 
_____________________________________________________________________
 
 
5.    Ask God to prevent the influence of Satan in yourself and in the subjects for which you pray.
§ Remember, entering a serious time of prayer is like begin a soldier entering the battlefield.
§ Be sure your armor is on!  Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." 
§ Prayer is not just how we prepare for spiritual battle, prayer is the battle.
 
Satan attacks us at our most vulnerable area.  In which area are you the most vulnerable while   
trying to stand against the wiles of the devil? 
 _____________________________________________________________________
 
How can you overcome this vulnerability? _______________________________________
 
 ____________________________________________________________________
 
6.    Ask God for the spirit of fervency in your praying.
§ "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).
§ Periodic fasting can be very helpful toward increasing the fervency and power of your prayers.

 
Look up the following words. 
 
effectual_______________________________________________________________
 
fervent________________________________________________________________
 
righteous______________________________________________________________
 
availeth_______________________________________________________________
 
Now rewrite James 5:16 using the synonyms or definitions from each of the above words.
 
_____________________________________________________________________
 
_____________________________________________________________________
    
Paraphrase what James is telling us in James 5:16. ______________________________
 
 ____________________________________________________________________
 
When was the last time you had a reason to fast? ______________What resulted of your fast?
 
_____________________________________________________________________      
 
7.    In your praying be as specific as possible.
§ Specific prayer moves mountains! Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
§ Ask God to give you very specific requests that are Scripture-based. 
§ It is vital to learn to pray the very Word of God.
 
Fill in the blank spaces using Philippians 4:6.
 
"Be____________________ for ____________________; but in __________________
 
thing by _________________________ and ______________________________ with
 
____________________________________ let your requests be made known unto God."
 
Which of the words that you added is the most important to you? ______________________
 
_____________________________________________________________________
 
 Why? ________________________________________________________________
What are some scripture verses that you pray back to God? ___________________________
 
_____________________________________________________________________
 
8.    Concerning your key prayer requests, seek to find committed partners who will agree with you in united prayer.
§ Matthew 18:19, "Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."
§ There is special power when believers unite in specific prayers of faith.
§ Every great revival and spiritual awakening was born from intense, united prayer.
 
List the names of potential prayer partners who will agree with you in united prayer.
 
_____________________________________________________________________
    
Ask them to commit to you as a prayer partner.
 
& KEY POINTS – The Biblical Path to a Powerful Prayer Life
 
& Above all, remember that a powerful prayer life is the only way to a dynamic, growing relationship with the Father.
 
& You must believe that your prayers have mountain-moving power because you are coming at His invitation.
 
& Your prayers are only as powerful as you think they are.
 
& Genuine prayer is not a ritual or exercise; it is the very heart of a powerful relationship with God.
 
& Ask God to help you pray in cooperation with all biblical principles of genuine prayer.
 
& It is vital to learn to pray the very Word of God.
 
& Use the Bible to find the will of God in your praying.
 
& The more you adhere to biblical prayer principles the more the indwelling Christ will pray through you.  Miracles will surely follow!
 
& There is special power when believers unite in specific prayer.
 
& Every great revival and spiritual awakening was born from intense, united prayer.
 
 & IF YOU SHOW UP FOR DAILY PRACTICE, GOD WILL TEACH YOU TO PRAY!
 
Please turn to pages 47, look up the scriptures, answer the study questions, and pray the prayers for daily growth on page 48.
 
QUESTIONS:
 
According to Matthew 4:4, Romans 10:17 and 1 John 5:14-15, why is Scripture so vital to spiritual health and powerful prayer?
 
Describe two ways to encounter God when you read His Word.
 
In your own words, briefly list and describe the eight principles of powerful prayer.
 
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, help us daily meet You in Your holy Word.  Grant that we would no more neglect Your Word than we would neglect to eat our daily meals.  Father, teach us to pray in the mighty authority and indwelling power of Jesus Christ (John 14:12-14). God, grant us the desire to purify our hearts before You (1 John 3:3). Father, without Your grace we know not how to pray as we ought. Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may sense Your leading and pray in the ability of Christ Himself (Romans 8:26).  Lord Jesus, please reveal Your promises and help us pray in genuine mountain-moving faith (Mark 11:22-24, Romans 10:17).  Father, make us a threshing instrument in prayer. Help us use the weapons of prayer to tear down the strongholds of the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Protect us from the wiles and attacks of the enemy.  God, grant us a fervent heart.  Give us eyes that weep over that which makes You weep.  Lord Jesus, reveal Your Word that we may pray according to Your perfect will (Philippians 4:6). Amen.
 

 

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