Talk To Your Friend
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Review of last week
Review of last week
Sin is broken relationship with God
You can KNOW you have eternal life when you truly believe in Jesus
What does truly believing in Jesus mean? it means:
You are adopted
You are an heir to the throne of God through Jesus
It is our choice to accept the adoption
We will be just like Him
Talk To Your Friend!
Talk To Your Friend!
Have you ever been unable to breathe? When I was a young boy there was a Horse Chestnut tree across the street from my home. It was a great climbing tree--tall with big branches! But, the first branch was more than six feet off the ground (when you're only three feet eleven inches tall, that's a problem).
Once I fell from that first branch and landed flat on my back. The wind was knocked out of me. This had never happened to me before. It was a panic sort of situation. I couldn't breath and I hurt. I thought I was going to die!
Sometimes, we try to hold our breath. One summer, during my college years, a friend and I did "overseas mission service" in Hawaii (hey, someone had to do it). We often were able to arrange our schedules to go snorkeling in the afternoons (we worked hard mornings and evenings). On one such occasion, I saw something at the bottom I wanted. It didn't appear too far down so I took a deep breath and dove. It was further than I realized.
As I approached the bottom my body screamed "breathe." I lost interest in whatever it was that I had gone down for and frantically headed for the surface--it seemed a lot further coming up than it had going down!
At the surface I drew in a deep breath anticipating the feeling of air only to discover that my snorkel was still full of water!! While it is true that water is largely composed of oxygen, it doesn't feel the same in the lungs.
How important is breathing to you? I discovered it's really important to me!! After much contemplation, I have found the following facts about breathing to be true:
When you breathe normally you tend not to notice it. Even so, the oxygen you are taking in is supporting your life.
If something gets in the way of breathing, the only security is to drop everything else and take care of it--if you stop breathing for very long other things stop being important!
What you breathe is important. Breathing is to bring oxygen into your body. Breathing the wrong things can be fatal. Breathing is the only means of getting oxygen into your body. Oxygen sustains life.
Breathing is to bring oxygen into your body. Breathing the wrong things can be fatal. Breathing is the only means of getting oxygen into your body. Oxygen sustains life.
We are made for more than breathing. We are not just a giant lung--our bodies are made for activity. Unless we breathe, nothing else matters much. When we breath, all sorts of opportunities are available.
For the most part you have to breathe for yourself. Life can be supported in an emergency by respirators or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; however, the goal of even these procedures is to get you breathing again.
One big breath in the morning along with some little breaths at mealtime is not sufficient to sustain life!
In , Paul says to "pray continually." Sounds a bit like breathing doesn't it? Perhaps that's why some Christian authors refer to prayer as the "Breath of the soul."
Could prayer be as important to our spiritual life as breathing is to our physical life? Could the facts we noticed about breathing hold true for praying as well?
1. When did Jesus pray?
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Jesus prayed after a great success
Matthew 26:36
Jesus prayed after a great success
Jesus prayed before a great trial
and Luke 5:16
Jesus prayed after a great success
Jesus prayed before a great trial
Jesus prayed after the power of God was revealed to men
Jesus prayed after a great success
Jesus prayed before a great trial
Jesus prayed after the power of God was revealed to men
Jesus prayed when he was about to start his ministry
Jesus prayed before He entered into important events (choosing the disciples, raising Lazarus, crucifixion, etc.), after great successes (baptism, feeding 5,000, etc.), and regularly in between. Prayer was an important part of Jesus' life--He even prayed for us! ()
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
2. What did Jesus have to say about prayer?
:38Luke 6:28Luke 11:9-13John 14:12-14
38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Luke 11:9-13John 14:12-14
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
John 14:12-14
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
3. what practical council does the Bible give regarding prayer?
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4. According to this passage, what should you talk to God about?
5. According to this passage is prayer a "last-ditch" effort or a place to begin? Explain.
http://www.moreaboutjesus.org/maj/images/04friend.gif5. What promise does Jesus make to you through this passage?
6. What promise does Jesus make to you through this passage?
Since the basis of Christianity is friendship with Jesus, prayer is communicating with God as we would with a friend. Share with Jesus your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears. (Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.-- ).
describes the Christian life in terms of warfare.
describes the Christian life in terms of warfare.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
6. What commands are given in this passage?
7. As Christians, who do we struggle against? Are you stronger than that power?
8. After we are all suited up in our "spiritual armor" what is the battle plan? (vs. 18)
Prayer is so important that it is the focus of Satan's attack and needs to be protected by an impressive array of "spiritual armor." Our success in developing and maintaining a relationship with Jesus depends largely on prayer.
Prayer is keeping in touch with our Friend. Prayer is connecting with the Source of every good gift. Prayer is spiritual warfare against the supernatural powers of evil. Our battle plan is prayer!
Testimony
9. There are many passages and promises related to prayer in the Bible. This shows how much God wants to communicate with us! What promises are contained in the following verses?
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
:14Psalm 91:15Isaiah 65:24Romans 8:26
24 “It shall come to pass
That before they call, I will answer;
And while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Psalm 91:15Isaiah 65:24Romans 8:26
26 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.
10. How can you put into practice?