LESSON SIX

Prayer Warriors

Read for This Week?s Study: (Texts summarized below)
Dan. 2:20-23; Daniel faced execution along with the other wise men, unless he could interpreted the king's dream. In these verses Daniel praises the Almighty, all wise God, Who knows all things, yet revealed the secret things to humans, revealing the meaning of the dream to Daniel.

Dan. 6:10-11; A law decreed all who prayed to anyone but the king would be thrown to the lions. Danie. Daniel continues to pray to God three times every day.l

Acts 20:36; Paul, on his last missionary trip talks and knells and prays with believers.

Gen. 5:22-24; Enoch walked with God. Enoch must have been ?continuing steadfastly in prayer?.

Exod. 33:15-23; Moses on the Mount with God

Exod. 32:31-32 Moses interceding for Israel.
Moses, we see that he?s almost continually in God?s presence, asking for guidance and interceding for the people he is leading.

Memory Text: ?I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live? (Psalm 116:1-2, NKJV).

In this lesson we learn about the lives of different individuals in scripture who prayed, and how they communicated with God. It is just as essential, for us to pray three times a day as it was for Daniel. Prayer is the life of the soul, the foundation of spiritual growth.
We need to keep open the channel of communication between God and the soul.

"Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious evidence of the divine love and care for him. " {GW92 35.1}

Prayer Warriors

DANIEL'S PRAYER FOR HIS PEOPLE
Daniel 9:3-6
Daniel set his face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and prayed unto the Lord my God, and made confession. and said O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.

Burdened in behalf of Israel, Daniel pleaded with the Lord, he identified himself fully with those who had fallen short of the divine purpose, confessing their sins as his own. With faith founded on the sure word of prophecy, Daniel pleaded with the Lord to fulfil His promises.

We have as great a need to call upon God as had Daniel.

Prayer Warriors

Enoch walked with God.

To walk with God is having a conscious realization of His presence; an understanding of the reality of His presence which is as real as if we could actually see Him.
Contemplate on this thought -- that you are in the presence of Jesus, walking with God, your life hid with Christ in God.

Of Enoch it is written that he lived sixty-five years, and begat a son. After that he walked with God three hundred years....

After the birth of his first son, Enoch realized more fully the love of God; he was drawn into a closer relationship with God. He realized he was a beloved child of God, and with it he realized more fully his own obligations and responsibility as a son of God.

Enoch lived in a time when there were wicked people all around him. It was an extreme time of moral darkness. This drove him to seek ever more of the purity and righteousness of His Savior.
Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion with God. Praying -- talking with God unceasingly whether working or retreating to a quite place.

Prayer Warriors
Moses

We have much more information on Moses than we have on Enoch.
Moses was chosen for a very difficult, challenging task. He was to lead a huge crowd of rather unruly people out of Egyptian Bondage and on into the promised land.

Moses was born in bondage but miraculously he was sent to the best schools in the known world. He was trained to lead, trained to command, trained to possibly be the next pharaoh. Everything the world could give in preparation, Moses received in the first 40 years of his life.

Not only was he given the top education the world could give in the arts of leadership and command positions, he was smart and a very strong man. Strong enough to single handedly kill an Egyptian guard, or drive away a whole group of shepherds harassing seven young girls. At age 40 he was wanting to get on with his task of freeing people -- but was he ready? He was young, strong, well educated for the task and eager. No, he was not ready, he was acting on impulse and his strength rather than communicating with God as to how to go about the task. His rashness in attacking the Egyptian forced him into fleeing.

Moses first had to learn, to not only believe in God, but to fully rely on God and seek God's wisdom continually if he was to be successful in this huge mission.

When we see Moses again (in the story in scripture) forty years later, he is now 80 years old, and no longer trusts self. He is now ready to listen to God, and constantly turn to God. This is something he does consistently throughout the next 40 years as he leads Israel out of Egypt and on to the borders of the promised land. Moses speaks to God in a very real way. He is almost continually in God's presence. Asking for help and direction, pleading for the people, and seeking to know God better, longing to be in His presence.

Lesson Seven
PRACTICAL PRAYER

Memory Verse: ?Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us? (Psalm 62:8, NKJV).

Read Bible passage:1 Kings 19:1-18

Notice Elijah and his prayer life.
We find Elijah praying with strong faith, standing before a king, a throng of false prophets, and a big crowd of people. Yet his faith is strong that God would send fire. God had promise and Elijah fully believed God would fulfil His promise.

In a second session of prayer -- Elijah again showed faith, even though his prayer was not immediately answered he just kept praying for the rain. Again he fully believing God would send it, even though the sky was cloudless after six prayer sessions. Finally when only a small cloud was appearing in the sky, Elijah tells king Ahab to go home quickly for it was about to rain. And it did, in torrents!

But then something happened -- exhausted emotionally and physically, Elijah, upon hearing the queen was out to kill him, somehow lost faith. He didn't pray thanking God for His mighty interventions of that day, and trusting in God that He would deal with Jezebel. Somehow he forgot the promise, " If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) " The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man (or a queen) do unto me? (Psalms 118:6)
Elijah ran for his life.

But God did not forsake His fearful servant. God showed Elijah that He care about Him, and was with him. Giving him food and water to sustain him, even though he was running in fear.
And Elijah's faith returned, God had a plan for him, and he would followed God's plan.


SO WHAT IS PRACTICAL PRAYER



Practical prayer isn't some formal utterances we need to do. It's not all those phrases we expect to hear when someone does public praying at the table or at church.

Practical prayer is based on FAITH -- and spiritual faith includes believing and knowing God and trusting in Him.
Practical means: it is something relating to, or concerned with ordinary activities, business, or work. Practical prayer is not some mantra of mystical formality, but dialogue with our God, talking over with Him concerning actual work, projects, mission activities or any useful activities. Talking with Him, seeking His will in our activities, our fitness, our needs, thanking Him for His blessings, and simply "pouring out our hearts before Him" knowing He is there and very much involved in our lives.

Lesson Eight
Having Faith

Memory Text: ?Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see? (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

This sounds very different from the popular -- Seeing is believing saying.
Faith is believing and trusting in something we have not seen.

Ultimately, spiritual faith is believing God is Real ,and also that He is very much involved with our existence. Faith believes God's promises are sure even when we have no visible evidence that they will be fulfilled.

Yet it is not "blind faith". God has given us much evidence that He is a powerful and trustworthy God -- if we seek Him and study the evidence we will find much evidence that He is real and He is involved in our lives!.
How can a person explain the intricacy of the universe and all the creatures in our world --oh they try to remove God, but common sense demands a genius mastermind is absolutely essential to create such a marvelously intricate, fine tuned and varied aspects of life.

The historicist prophecies -- Christ came as predicted the first time, why doubt concerning His promise to come again?

And probably the most convincing in individual lives, is to experience God's hand in their lives. The Bible says "Taste and see that the Lord is good."

People even in Jesus? time, when everywhere Jesus went, He healed people, there were those who still wanted a sign that Jesus was really God?s Son, even though they had received many signs. (See Mark 8:11-12.)

Jesus "sighed deeply" -- yes it was discouraging that for some there is never enough signs to draw them into believing. Doubt seems their preferred companion.

The lesson gives several Bible verses and encourages us to claim them as an act of faith to strengthen our relationship with God today:

Heb. 12:1-2; "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Rom. 3:23-26; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Luke 7:48-50. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. ..Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.




Speak them out loud as part of your prayer to God.

How do we know if we have true faith, or whether it is a delusion of blindness and presumption?

Too often we are led to think -- if we only have enough faith, life here on earth will be just grand. People have even suggested to a sorrowing widow, had she more faith her husband would not have died! But does faith give us some kind of guarantee that we will not face the first death, or experience any devastating trials in this life?
How many people have turned against God, because He did not give them the cushioned life here on earth that they expected?

So what is true faith?

1. True faith trusts and follows Christ in both good times and hard times.

Job 13:15-16 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation:

Psalm 73:26 ?My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.?
The ultimate reward is eternal live in a land of endless joy and peace with Jesus. It is not a life of pamper and no pain here. In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world:. (John 16:33) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27-28). Though God also gives good gifts now, it's not a bed of roses, we will have tribulation, but when we follow Him we can have peace, even in tribulation.

2. Faith produces fruit of righteousness revealed in good works!

Ephesians 2:8-10 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: a gift of God: ...For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Faith leads a person into good works.
That only makes sense since when we fully trust (have faith) in the far superior plans of God for our lives, we will follow and obey Him. That's what true faith is all about -- believing God knows and wants what is best for us, and so we follow His leading!


3. Faith leads a person into obedience, including the keeping of God's commandments.

Heb. 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark
Heb. 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went
Romans 6:13 Neither are you to yield your members to participate in unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Heb. 10:23-24 Let us hold fast the profession of faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Rev. 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Works in themselves don't save anyone.
Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is.

Faith is revealed by our following Jesus, listening to Him, walking with Him on the paths of righteousness.

1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with him (with Christ), yet we walk in darkness, we are living a lie, and do not the truth:
1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.


Presumption, on the other hand, encourages carelessness and sin. Presumptuous faith is based on following the flesh under and umbrella of believing in God.
True faith is putting the flush under the control of God and His will for us, and following Christ where ever He leads.

Lesson 9
Sin, the Law and the Gospel

"Sin is the greatest obstructer to a close relationship with God. Not only does sin separate us from God now (Isa. 59:2), but it also deceives, hurts, consumes, and eventually destroys us. Our battle against sin and self is the greatest battle we?ll ever face, with tremendous, even eternal, implications."

Memory Text: ?I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life. I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts? (Psalm 119:93-94, NKJV).

What is sin?
Sin is a transgression of God?s law (1 John 3:4),

Sin is not having faith in God, trusting that He knows best, sin is thinking we know better than God what is right.
Hebrews11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Sin is the root of the trouble in this world. People like to ask why there is so much trouble since we say God is love? But trouble isn't God's fault, it is the natural result of sin. It's humanities lack of love for God, His law, and for others, that causes trouble.

\\God's law is not some arbitrary rules with no relevance to peace and happiness. Truth is, if everyone from a heart of love to God and in His strength made God's law their standard, crime would stop, we wouldn't need police, We wouldn't have to live in fear. There would be happiness and trust everywhere.

Grace is God's longing to restore us, forgive us, wipe our sins away, not just legally, but clean our minds and actions, He paid a tremendous price so He could do this for us.

When we have faith and love for Jesus permeates our minds and hearts, we will also love God's law! For the law is good and holy and helps us to know how to be more like Jesus . Jesus said, ?If you love me, you will obey my commandments? (John 14:15, NET)

https://ssnet.org/lessons/26b/less10.html

I was reading the lesson and came to this part,
"Real Repentance
The secular world bombards us with messages of independence, indulgence, and self-promotion--the opposite of the principles of God?s kingdom. Interestingly, the first words recorded in the Bible by John the Baptist and Jesus were similar. John said, ?Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!? (Matt. 3:1-2, NKJV). Jesus said, ?The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel? (Mark 1:14-15, NKJV; see also Luke 24:46-47). Both Jesus and John called those listening to repentance because the kingdom of heaven was near. Could it be that this same message is equally as relevant to us today?"

So what does repentance do for us, does it lead to change, real repentance does. Does it bring us closer to God, as we clear out the anger and hate and addiction to sin, I would say it does. Most importantly, how does it bring us to the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with Christ? True repentance is not merely feeling guilty or avoiding punishment or being shames, it is a sincere turning away from sin and toward God, involving humility, honesty, and a change of heart. We must allow the Holy Spirit to do its work and guide us down the path of transformation, and stop holding on to hating our brother or breaking what allows for sin and iniquity, and what takes us away from loving God and our fellow man. True repentance involves as what is simple as we see, 'two steps: (1) sincere pain and sorrow for our sins; and (2) the honest decision to abandon sin. In the Bible, repentance is almost always connected to forgiveness. We genuinely repent; God forgives. It?s that simple.'

So why dont we repent and turn from what is evil?

Lesson Ten
Repentance and Forgiveness


Good question! The lesson gives one reason of which we may all be guilty.

Self-Justification.
We may feel a sense of guilt but instead of repenting the mind starts justifying the action. We tell ourselves:
it needed to be done, or they deserved it, or it wasn't really that bad, or they needed to know how I really feel, or I have rights, they can't treat me like this, or I needed that diversion to relax, and so on, till we have quieted the sense of guilt and pushed away the call to repentance.

The problem is that self-justification is formidable wall blocking out real justification.

It is repentance, seeking God's forgiveness and cleansing, that leads to real justification.
The justification that we find at the cross coming from our Savior who died because of our sins, so He can forgive us, and cleanse us, and count as justified before God.

In Luke 18:10-14, Jesus contrasts the self-justifying one with the penitent one. Only one of these two received true justification.
The first parades his supposed good deeds as his self justification.
The other humbly prays, Lord have mercy upon me a sinner.
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, not the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.


Self justification elevates self's excuses, those who justify themselves, don't sense their need, they think they don't need God's justification, they can justify themselves.

But they can't:

Romans 2:3-8 paraphrased --
2:3 And what do you think, you who are quick to point out and condemn other people's sins, yet you are just as guilty as they, for you do the same. Do you think you will escape the judgment of God?
2:4 Why are you despising the riches of God's goodness and forbearance and patience; not knowing that to understand the goodness of God will lead you to repentance?
2:5 But because you think you don't need repentance, your impenitent heart treasures up for you wrath against the day of wrath when God will judge with righteous judgment;
2:6 God will render to every man according to his deeds:
2:7 To them who have walked with Christ in humility, by patient continuance in well doing, seeking for His glory and honour, they will receive immortality, and eternal life:
2:8 But unto them that are contentious, who have treasured up sin in unrepentant hearts, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, they will receive indignation and wrath,

The key verse is in Romans 2:4'
When we KNOW and understand the riches of God's goodness and grace to us it will lead us to repentance. It will melt that hard impenitent heart, and we will desire forgiveness and cleansing. In humility we will repent, because we don't want sin separating us from Him, we greatly desire and cherish His forgiveness, cleansing and a close relationship continual with Him