Never Ceasing to Pray for you

Friday, January 23, 2015
1 Samuel 12:19-25 KJV 

19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) The children of Israel asked for a king and the Lord granted their request with a display of His power, what did the people say to the Prophet Samuel as a result? (v.19)
2) What did Samuel say to the people of God, in response? (v.20-21)
3) What did Samuel declare to the people about the Lord their God? (v.22)
4) Why did the prophet agree to pray for the people and what else would he do for the people of God? (v.23)
5) What was the prophet's warning to the children of God? (v.24-25)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Who has the Lord given you a burden to pray for?
7) How obedient are you to pray for them?

LIFE LESSONS
8) At times, the Lord will relent and grant our heart's desire, though it may not be in keeping with His good and perfect will for our lives.
9) We are assigned to pray for those the Lord has brought into our lives, whether we agree with them or not.
10) When we refuse to pray for those we are responsible for, we are disobeying the Lord.