Saturday, May 2, 2015
1Timothy 2:1-7 KJV
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, [and] lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the Apostle Paul exhort his readers to do and why? (v.1-3)
2) Why is it acceptable to God that we pray for all people, especially those in authority? (v.4)
3) Why would our intercessions matter to Jesus and to the Apostle Paul? (v.5-7)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Why do you pray for those in spiritual and/or civic authority over the members of your family, church, and nation?
LIFE LESSONS
5) Our Lord determines who will be in authority over us. Our prayers for them will ensure our protection and provision in times of trouble.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Jeremiah 8:18-22 KJV
18 [When] I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart [is] faint in me. 19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: [Is] not the LORD in Zion? [is] not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, [and] with strange vanities? 20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. 22 [Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What two (2) things happened when the prophet mourned for his people? (v.18)
2) What was the complaint of the prophet's people against God? What was the Lord's complaint against His people? (v.19-20)
3) Why was the prophet grieving for the people of God? (v.21-22)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever grieved over the spiritual condition of a lost or backslidden family member or friend? If so, please explain why and describe one such instance.
5) Do you ever grieve over the spiritual condition of this nation? If so, why?
LIFE LESSONS
6) The best and only thing that we can do for the lost among us is to pray for them.
7) The Lord is grieved by when any nation does not acknowledge, or turns from, Him.
8) The Lord expects His people to pray for the people in a wayward nation.
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.
