allyann

What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? For those of us who have known God and have experienced the presence of God, the biggest heartbreak over sin comes with the realization that we have greived God. If we have a love relationship with God, hurting Him is painful because we are like children with a favored parent. We always seek to please that parent out of love, and when we disappoint them we hurt because they hurt. Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? God takes our sin personally. When we leave sin unconfessed and unrepented, we scoff at the cross. Its like crucifying Christ all over again. Its a sacrifice, in the sense we lay ourselves bare, leaving ourselves open to God's chastisement and willing to accept it in order to be restored to a right relationship with Him. Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves? We give God lip service, we ask to be restored, yet we continue to be disobedient because we have not fully turned from our sin. We do not have a willing spirit to cooperate fully with the pain of true confessions of our sins and turning from that sin. Because we either do not believe that its wrong because everybody else is doing it so it can't be all bad, even though it's wrong in the sight of God.

Is it possible to have a pure heart? Nobody but God can create a pure heart. Pure hearts are not natural occurrences. Pure hearts are probably God's most wonderful creation. Salvation in the form of Jesus's shed blood. We must reconcile our selves to God for Him to work both on us and through us. How does God bring about a pure heart? To quote Beth Moore author of David 90 Days With a Heart Like His, "David knew something about God that we need to realize as well. God did not create us in His image to be unaffected by Him. More than any other creatures we are products not of His head but of His heart." If we confess our sin specifically as David did, then He will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The Lord sets all our sins before His face;even our secret sins aren't hidden from Him. He breaks our hearts and humbles us to confession and repentance in order to make us holy, to restore us and to present us faultless before His throne. What is our part in this? We must confess our sins, naming them one by one and and repent of each and every one even our secret sins in order to be restored.

In his prayer does David seek to minimize his sins? To maximize them? No, David in no way attempts to minimize his sin, he acknowledges that his sin is ever before him and that he and he alone is guilty of sinning a gainst God and did evil in His sight. He is not trying to hide his sin, but in verses 3-6, he is acknowledging that sin was present not only in his present circumstances, but also from the very beginnig of his life. He is saying that man has a disposition for sin not to maximize his personal sin, but to emphasize the dimensions of sin and the effect it has on all mankind. Why does an authentic prayer for pardon require clear, unvarnished acknowledgement of sin to be effective? God know our hearts, even our innermost parts, we cannot hide from God. For our prayers for forgiveness to be effective, we have to be up front with God. God already knows that we have sinned and He knows to what extent we have sinned, He is only waiting for us to come to him fully acknowledging that we have sinned and are truly repentent.

In what way does a prayer for pardon require faith? A prayer for pardon requires faith because we have to trust and have faith in God's covenant promises made with each of us with the death an ressurection of our redeemed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ died on the cross for our sins. if we go to the Lord with truly repentent and contrite hearts asking for forgiveness, Jesus said that he would be on the right hand side of the Father offering intercession on our behalf. What is that faith based on? Faith is based on our belief and our relationship with God. How does a person gain the faith to pray this prayer in confidence? We can do as David did, by looking over our lives and seeing all of the times God has been with us. We must have a right relationship with God gained by spending time with Him and developing a relationship with Him. We have to know God well enough to know that although God hates sin, it in no way dimimishes His love for the sinner. David is called a man after God's own heart, not because he was perfect; David was far from perfect, but what God loved about David was that he immediately repented for his sins and begged God's forgiveness, fully acknowledging that he and he alone sinned against God.

In what way does a prayer for pardon require faith? A prayer for pardon requires faith because we have to trust and have faith in God's covenant promises made with each of us with the death an ressurection of our redeemed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ died on the cross for our sins. if we go to the Lord with truly repentent and contrite hearts asking for forgiveness, Jesus said that he would be on the right hand side of the Father offering intercession on our behalf. What is that faith based on? Faith is based on our belief and our relationship with God. How does a person gain the faith to pray this prayer in confidence? We can do as David did, by looking over our lives and seeing all of the times God has been with us. We must have a right relationship with God gained by spending time with Him and developing a relationship with Him. We have to know God well enough to know that although God hates sin, it in no way dimimishes His love for the sinner. David is called a man after God's own heart, not because he was perfect; David was far from perfect, but what God loved about David was that he immediately repented for his sins and begged God's forgiveness, fully acknowledging that he and he alone sinned against God.

In what way does Abraham show persistence? Abraham showed persistence in his continual intercession and pleas to God to save Sodom if 50......10 people could be saved. He did not give up and stop when God acceded to his request if fifty people could be found. Why is persistence necessary in prayer? God's no does not mean never. If we give up everytime a prayer is not answered immediately, we will miss out on a great number of God's blessings. God's time and ways are not our ways and they are not for us to understand. God is Alpha and Omega, He knows our beginning and our end. He knows what we can handle and when we can handle it. If we pray for something and it doesnt come right away, if we are persistent and it's in God's will to grant us the desires of our heart, they will come in God's good time. Persistent prayer shows God's our faithfulness, trust, earnestness and our belief in Him. Have you ever experienced "praying through"? What was it like? Yes. There was a time in my life when God allowed Satan to attack every aspect of my life, my home, marriage, children, job etc. It was life changing, because I reached the point where the troubles didnt matter, all that mattered to me was my relationship with God. I had to pray through all of my issues, things that interfered in my relationship with God and prevented Him from being my Abba Father. I learned that when God answers prayers according to need. Some areas that Iwas having issues with, God answered my prayers right away, others, it took awhile and some I'm still enduring. Through praying through, I learned to trust God in everything. I have a closer relationship with Him and a hunger to have that relationship become deeper and a desire that every child of God have that same relationship and know God as a deliverer, father, provider, healer, Hes whagever you need when you need Him.

Do you think Abraham's boldness pleased God? Why or why not? Yes, it is evident that God was pleased in that he heard and acceded to each of Abraham's pleas for deliverance for Sodom if 50, 45, 40...10 righteous people could be found. Because of the love He bore for Abraham, God let Abraham define the parameters for deliverance. What might cause God to take delight in your prayers to him? If we come before Him with a righteous an contrite heart. If we use Abraham's prayer as an example, we will have a prayer that is pleasing to God. Abraham first acknowledged that God was a righteous and just God; this knowledge was based on the relationship that Abraham himself had with God, one of faith and trust. God knows our hearts, and when we come before Him with a pure heart and a delight in Him, God inhabit the praises of His People.

How did Abraham demonstrate his humility before God? Abraham humbly acknowledged God as his Soveriegn Lord and himself as dust and ashes, no doubt referring to God's creation of man from dust. Abraham was acknowledging who he is in relation to who God is. Why must boldness be tempered with humility? Boldness in and of itself may be interpreted as boastfulness if not tempered with humility. God does not want to share His glory as His first commandment states. All glory and honor belongs to God. If boldness is not tempered with humility, God does not hear our prayers and supplications, in other words he turns a deaf ear.

How did Abraham demonstrate his humility before God? Abraham humbly acknowledged God as his Soveriegn Lord and himself as dust and ashes, no doubt referring to God's creation of man from dust. Abraham was acknowledging who he is in relation to who God is. Why must boldness be tempered with humility? Boldness in and of itself may be interpreted as boastfulness if not tempered with humility. God does not want to share His glory as His first commandment states. All glory and honor belongs to God. If boldness is not tempered with humility, God does not hear our prayers and supplications, in other words he turns a deaf ear.

What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom? Abraham was convinced that there were righteous people in Sodom and his prayer and intercession was for those people in addition to his nephew Lot and his family. Abraham felt that the righteous people should not be treated the same as the wicked, yet his prayer was that the wicked be spared for the sake of the righteous. Abraham appealed to God's justice. How does it relate to God's character? God is a God of justice. He is a God of mercy.

What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom? Abraham was convinced that there were righteous people in Sodom and his prayer and intercession was for those people in addition to his nephew Lot and his family. Abraham felt that the righteous people should not be treated the same as the wicked, yet his prayer was that the wicked be spared for the sake of the righteous. Abraham appealed to God's justice. How does it relate to God's character? God is a God of justice. He is a God of mercy.

How can prayer change God's mind without conflicting with the doctrine of the Immutability of God? Exodus 32:30-33" The next day Moses said unto the people, You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; Perhaps I can make an atonement for you." So Moses went back to the Lord and pleaded on behalf of the people of Israel, Please forgive their sins, if not blot me out of the book you have written. Moses in this instance acted much like our Redeemer Jesus Christ, although he had committed no sin himself, he was willing to accept the punishment for those who had sinned. Mose's sincere prayer delayed punishment and God blotted the sin out of His book. However, God's will be done, although he forgave the sinner, the sin had to be punished, otherwise it was bound to be repeated. Can God answer a prayer for something outside of the scope of his will Yes God can answer a prayer for something outside the scope of his will, the answer will be No. If it is not in His will, then it will not be done.

How can a wrong understanding of determinism and predestination keep us from the kind of gutsy prayer that Moses prayed? If we dont know God's Holy Word, if we have not prayed for wisdom, knowledge and understanding of that word, we will lean into our own understanding and not God's will for our life. Therefore we won't be able to remind God of His promises for our lives and have the attitude of what ever will be will be. What do you call a belief that our prayers make no difference to God's response? Secularism- skeptical in regard to religion. Do not know the Lord, have not really had a relationship with Him. Pray, but don't believe prayers will be answered. The attitude of this type of person is defeatist, I call them Eeyores, always looking at the glass as half empty, and never expecting anything but the worst.

How can a wrong understanding of determinism and predestination keep us from the kind of gutsy prayer that Moses prayed? If we dont know God's Holy Word, if we have not prayed for wisdom, knowledge and understanding of that word, we will lean into our own understanding and not God's will for our life. Therefore we won't be able to remind God of His promises for our lives and have the attitude of what ever will be will be. What do you call a belief that our prayers make no difference to God's response? Secularism- skeptical in regard to religion. Do not know the Lord, have not really had a relationship with Him. Pray, but don't believe prayers will be answered. The attitude of this type of person is defeatist, I call them Eeyores, always looking at the glass as half empty, and never expecting anything but the worst.

What aspects of Moses' prayer of intercession should we emulate in our own prayers? Remind God that we are his people, created in his image. Remind him of his loving care for us, and how he delivered us in the past. Remind him of his promises to us to never leave or forsake us. As David prayed to be delivered from our enemies, to not be shamed in front of them. Upon what logical grounds does Moses offer this bold appeal to God? The covenant God made with Abraham, Issac and Jacob ( named Israel): " Your descendents will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give you descendents all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever." What do you think it means to "pray the promises of God"? When we pray, we remind God of the promises made to us as written in His Holy Word. How does knowing the Bible help you get your prayers answered? When you know the Bible, if you have specific prayer requests, when you pray, you can petition God according to His Word. How does this help our prayers be within God's will? This helps our prayer to be within the will of God, because our prayers are according to God's own promises to us, the covenant he made with each of us.