iam4-1god

Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves? We don't want to admit that we are wrong. This will keep us from confessing. A broken spirit will produce tears! I just experienced this! I was shaken to my core when God revealed my sin, and I was humiliated and embarrassed. We must face it for what it is. We cannot hide from God. We may be able to deny it to ourselves and others, but we Can't hide from God.

Q3. Is it possible to have a pure heart? How does God bring about a pure heart? What is our part in this? We must ask and seek after it with an honest and sincere heart. We can have it, but we have to believe that God can and will give us this. Examine our hearts daily and see if there is anything in it that will separate us from God. Then, ask Him to remove whatever is not clean and pure, and believe that He will.

Q2. In his prayer does David seek to minimize his sins? To maximize them? Why does an authentic prayer for pardon require clear, unvarnished acknowledgement of sin to be effective? The bottom line is this-we are in rebellion when we go against The Word. And, we can't hide our intensions or aour reasons for doing what we do. So, when we ask for forgiveness, we must come clean. Nothing is hidden, so we should confess all. Anything left unconfessed is a clear act of unbelief, and disrespect for God, who clearly knows what we've done anyway. Disrespecting God is like saying that it doesn't matter what He thinks, or how He feels.

Q1. In what way does a prayer for pardon require faith? What is that faith based on? How does a person gain the faith to pray this prayer in confidence? We have to believe that God will do what we ask Him to. Otherwise, it's pointless to ask. That faith is based on the Word of God! Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Read and study the Word, and believe what we read. Ask The Spirit for wisdom and knowledge-that is, heart knowledge.

Q4. In what way does Abraham show persistence? Why is persistence necessary in prayer? Have you ever experienced "praying through"? What was it like? Abraham asks God if He will spare 50, then 40, etc. He doesn't give up. Persistence, I believe, works two ways-one way is, it builds our faith and our staying power. The second way is, I think God sees that we are serious about our faith in His ability to deliver our need, and He wants us to be able to see that whatever it is that we need, He is able to help us. It kind of puts a period on the milk-to-meat part of our faith. I hope this makes sense

Q3. Do you think Abraham's boldness pleased God? Why or why not? What might cause God to take delight in your prayers to him? God wants us to be real. He knows what we need before we even ask. He just wants us to be sincere. To address Him and show the proper respect. Kind of like our earthly parents do when we speak to them.

Q2. How did Abraham demonstrate his humility before God? Why must boldness be tempered with humility? Abraham acknowledged the fact that he was not worthy of any consideration on God's part by referring to himself the way he did-referring to himself as dust and ashes. We must remember that, were it not for Jesus' sacrificial death, we all would be as Sodom and Gomorah-doomed for destruction! But, because Jesus was obedient to God, and suffered death on the cross, we now have direct access to God through Jesus. We are what we are because of Jesus. We should never forget that fact.

Q1. What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom? How does it relate to God's character? Abraham was looking out for his nephew Lot. He didn't want Lot to be destroyed with the wicked people. God was executing judgement on wicked people-He is just. We get what we ask for when we are not obedient. When we are obedient, then God is just to protect us and deliver us from His judement on the wicked.

Q4. How can prayer change God's mind without conflicting with the doctrine of the Immutability of God? Can God answer a prayer for something outside of the scope of his will? I know that I already answered this, but I realized something that I forgot to put in my answer. When we pray, we need to ask forgiveness of course for our sins. When we ask forgiveness before we ask for ourselves, or someone else, then God, Who has forgiven us because we asked Him to, will be able to grant our requests, because we are praying in His will. God can not be in the presence of sin-He's too Holy! So we must be cleansed and forgiven in order for Him to be with us as we pray, and also to grant our requests. So, anyway that is what I wanted to add to amy answer.

Q4. How can prayer change God's mind without conflicting with the doctrine of the Immutability of God? Can God answer a prayer for something outside of the scope of his will? As long as we are praying in His will, and we know what He says in His Word about the thing that we are asking for, God will respond according to His Word. That is what we must base our prayers on. So if I need help from God on an issue that I'm having, then I go to The Word and see what it says about that issue. Then, I go to The Throne of Grace and find help in time of need. I know that God cares for me-He loves me. I don't need to take anyone's word for that. I have His Word right in front of me. I know that His Word says that If I don't know how to ask, then The Holy Spirit will help me. And I know that Jesus is interceeding for me. So, if we have this going on for us, then how can we be afraid or hesitant to ask? Not for nothin', but this is a win-win situation! God is good, and His mercy endures forever! Gloray!

Q3. How can a wrong understanding of determinism and predestination keep us from the kind of gutsy prayer that Moses prayed? What do you call a belief that our prayers make no difference to God's response? What is the use of praying if prayer won't change anything? I believe that God looks in my heart, and answers my prayers according to my heart. However, I have experienced times when I prayed for something, and then The Holy Spirit came and cleaned me up-or, made me fit to ask. Then He showed me how to ask. If I didn't think or know that God can't or won't change His mind, then I wouldn't even bother to ask. Predestination-well, I don't know how that all works, but I believe that God knows our hearts-whether we are sincere or not. I believe He knows whether we are His or we are just putting on a show. So for me, I want to make sure that my heart is right, and now I will make sure that I ask the right thing in the right way! His will, not mine!

Q2. What aspects of Moses' prayer of intercession should we emulate in our own prayers? Upon what logical grounds does Moses offer this bold appeal to God? What do you think it means to "pray the promises of God"? How does knowing the Bible help you get your prayers answered? How does this help our prayers be within God's will? I believe that if we are studying God's Word, and hiding it in our hearts, then we will know how to pray within God's will. Also, we will know what to base our prayers on-The Word. I never looked at prayer this way before, and I find this concept very exciting and enlightening! Gloray! Prayers based on God's promises are riveting, because God cannot lie, and He cannot go back on His Word. The Bible says that His Word will not return to Him void. It will accomplish whatever The Lord meant for it to! Now how exciting is that?

Q1. Read Exodus 32:1-14. What had the people done that was so bad? How can a loving God be angry? Is God's sentence to destroy Israel and raise up a new nation through Moses justified? After God had provided everything that they needed to survive the trip, The Israelites, who couldn't see Moses, decided that they needed a god they could see-a leader. So they made an image of a calf made from gold. The Bible says that God is a jealous God-He loves us that much. After everything He had done for these people, they turn to a golden calf and worship and sacrifice to it. Yes, God is justified in being angry and wanting to raise up a new nation through Moses. It's kind of like me-if I was told that I'm a bad parent, even though I feed, clothe, and shelter my children. I give them everything they need to survive-love, education-everything. Suddenly they come to me and tell me that I didn't do enough and they want new parents. Oh yea, I would be very angry! I would tell them to go and get new parents! But when I cooled off and had time to think about it, I would be hurt, and I would forgive them, and try to find out what their problem is. God is way higher than me, and we have to be careful. God won't play games. We're either His or we're not.

Q4. Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness? We continuously sin. God can not be in the presence of sin. For us to be in God's presence, we need to be cleansed of all unrighteousness. This includes forgiving others who have wronged us. If we don't forgive, God won't forgive us. Therefore, He can not bless us. God sent His Son to die for us, so that we could be forgiven. Why would He forgive us, if we can't forgive others?

Q4. (Matthew 7:24-27) Does Jesus require obedience of his disciples? (John 15:14). Is there a kind of true Christian who believes, but does not obey? How do you justify Jesus' requirement of obedience with Paul's teaching that salvation is a gift, not because of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-10)? Jesus wanted us all to be on equal ground when we were saved. He didn't want anyone to say that they were more important to God than anyone else. So, if I am truly saved, and have confessed my sins, I will WANT to do the things that are required of me. Obedience, dedication, kindness, humility, giving-all this, and more if I am truly His. I want to.

Q3. Why do we seek to be independent of asking anyone for help? Why do we seek to be independent of God? Why should we ask God to "give" us daily bread so long as we can earn a living for ourselves? I was taught from the time I was old enough to walk, that if I ever wanted to have anything, then I would have to work and get it myself. No one would give me anything. So, now that I am saved, and I can go to The Father for whatever I need, this is very hard for me. Also, I think we have problems with understanding that God is in control, and He gives us everything that we have. And the ability to make money. Some people just don't like the idea of being told what to do by a higher authority. When we become adults, we don't want anyone messing with us. We have to learn that God IS in control of every aspect of our lives, and we should be glad! I always just mess mine up!

Q3. (Matthew 7:21-23) How is it possible to deceive yourself, so that you presume that you are "doing" when you are only "hearing"? (see James 1:22-25). How might it be possible to prophesy, drive out demons, and perform miracles in Jesus' name and not enter the Kingdom of heaven? Some time ago, I was heavily involved with an organization that preached Jesus Christ, but they also preached about prosperity and how we could get Jesus to give us tons of money. While I was involved, I did the prayers, I sent the money, and I followed the "recipe" to the letter. The Holy Spirit delt with me about my witness, and, even though some of my prayers were answered, I was spanked because I was talking about something that was not biblical at all. I believe that , If your heart is in the right place, then The Holy Spirit can show you when you are on the wrong path, and you can get on the right one. But I know some people that preach or witness one thing, and do another. Or they teach the wrong thing. They are susccessful for a while, but sooner or later, they will get the wake-up call from The Master, and their world, as they know it, will crash. They had wrong motives, and they were aftwer a different god. The heart will tell on us every time!

Q2. In what sense are we asking that the Father's kingdom should come? Why are we asking for the Father's will to be done here on earth? How should this prayer affect our living? I think that when we ask for The Kingdom to come and for God's will to be done, it means that we should be concerned with having Jesus in control of our lives-Him dwelling in us. That is God's will. That we live with the heart and mind that Jesus is in us, and we are to be about our Father's business. When this happens, we will conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God, and also in a manner that others can see and know that something is different about us.

Q2. (Matthew 7:15-20) Jesus says that one's inner self will eventually become apparent (Matthew 12:34). What kinds of "fruit" might be clues to a false prophet? Not long ago, I received a sermon on giants in The old Testament from an online pastor. I e-mailed him back, telling him that I thought his essay was interesting. The next thing I know, he's talking about Jesus returning for His bride, and when that would happen. He was setting a date for it, and I instantly took him off my address book. The hair on the back of my neck stood up! We don't know when this will happen-the event is imminent. Anyway, the point is, if someone tells us something that isn't biblical, then you know it's a false prophet. Lakeland, FL is a good example, but I won't go there.

Q1. What about our lives and words "hallows" the name of our Father? What desecrates and besmirches it? How should we "hallow" the Father when we begin to pray? We need to be careful when we say The Name! We are being disrespectful when we just throw The Name out there. Only with the upmost respect and honor should we speak The Name. We need to honor God and give Him respect when we begin to pray. Praising Him and honoring Him should always come first.

Q1. (Matthew 7:13-14) If Jesus' teaching about the narrow gate and the narrow road to life is to be believed, what change would this make in how you conduct your life? What difference would it make to how you witness to your neighbors? How might it affect your acceptance of Universalism? When I witness to people, The response I hear the most is that all roads lead to Jesus. The general consensus is that we can worship any way we want, because God doesn't care how you worship-just as long as you worship. I believed this myself for a time. But when I started studying The Word myself-there is the key-I found that God has a different view. We make a grave mistake when we don't study for ourselves and, instead, take another's word for what The Bible says. It is very important to know what The bible says for yourself, so then when you speak to other people you can know what you're talking about. It has changed me just doing this study in so many ways. I wnat the truth, not another's version of the truth. There is only one way, one truth, one God. And only through Jesus Christ can we find this way, truth, God. And therein is the life! Praise God Almighty!

Hi, all! My name is Debbie Butler, and I live in Indiana. I see that there are a lot of newbies, and that is exciting! You guys are in for a treat, to be sure! I think these Bible studies are awsome, and I really learned a lot from The Sermon on the Mount study. I, too, struggle with prayer, and so I pray that we will all learn a great deal from this study!

Q4. (Matthew 7:12) In what way does the "Golden Rule" capsulize the message of the law and the prophets? This seems like a different "summary" of the law and the prophets than Jesus indicated in Matthew 22:37-39. How are they the same? How are they different? When we practise love for one another, this encompasses everything. Love your neighbor-don't need a lawyer. Work things out amongst yourselves. This is how it's suppose to be. If we have love for one another, then we are fulfilling the law-we wouldn't need the law. We won't need it in The Kingdom! Praise His Holy Name!

Q3. (Matthew 7:9-11). What do these verses teach us about God's relationship to us? What do they teach about God's characteristic response toward us? How does this differ from a cynical view of God? Why is a positive understanding of God important to be able to pray with faith? It does no good to pray without faith. We must believe that God is Who He says He is! God actually loves us, and wants to give us good things. He knows what we need before we even ask! God's Word is His bond. How many times have we said that ourselves? If He says it, it's so! We can't see Him, and so we have trouble believing in a deity we can't see. But if we stay rooted and grounded in The Word, our faith will be built up and remain strong. We must believe! Faith without works is dead!

Q2. (Matthew 7:7-8) Which lesson is taught in both the Parables of the Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5-10) and the Widow and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-6)? How do these relate to the commands in Matthew 7:7-8? Persistence is paramount when petitioning God. Not because He wants us to beg, or because He is a tyrant, and wants to be mean, but because we need to be clear about what we need, and we need to be consistent when asking, seeking or knocking. It is for our benefit-God already knows what we need before we ask. He wants to make sure we know what our needs and motives are. There is a cleansing process that goes with all this.