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Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Prayer – Hit the Mark — 18 Comments

  1. Let us make GOD as our very best friend. Give all our life anxiety to Him and lean on Him for deliverance and day to day friend. Talk to Him and He sure will enjoyed to respond to us daily !

    (18)
  2. ◦What does prayer mean to you? (Don’t use the answer “speaking to God”)

    Prayer is communion with God. It is sharing with Him one's joys and sorrows, needs, and longings. It's praying earnestly for the salvation of others, as well giving of one's own self to God. It's thanking Him for His bounties and blessings and seeking His will for our lives. It's talking to Him, with Bible in hand as we think of His promises and His Words, and asking for the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds with these truths.

    ◦What, if any, is the difference in the life of someone who spends time in prayer compared to someone who rarely does?

    They have a relationship with God. When in situations they send a prayer to God for guidance and it affects their response in the situation.
    By being in communion with God -- it changes a person, they are connected to Someone far greater than themselves.
    Without Him we can do nothing
    With Him all things are possible to them that serve Him.

    ◦Is it possible to be a faithful Christian without spending much time in prayer? Why yes or no? (Personal reflection question) Are you a faithful Christian?

    No -- it's like asking, can you have a great marriage if you don't communicate much with your spouse.
    Yet, its greater than that. For prayer unites us with One far greater than a spouse.

    ◦What does it mean in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to “pray without ceasing” and why should we do that?

    Praying without ceasing is not constantly being on your knees (though special prayer time is important) but praying without ceasing is walking with the sense that God is by your side all day, and sending little prayers for guidance and thanks etc. in the situations that face us during the day.

    ◦If you agree that there is such a thing as selfish prayers, how would you describe an unselfish prayer?

    Selfish prayers tend to be "I want something and I don't care what God's will is for me, I just want Him to give it to me" type of prayers. Unselfish prayers still include our wants and needs but they are embedded with desire for God's will to be done. A true prayer life is one of trusting in God, in His promises, and believing that no matter what, we can trust Him

    ◦Is it true that the “better” we are as Christians the more likely our prayers will be answered? Why yes or no?

    It depends upon what is meant by "better Christians".
    If the "better" is centered upon our own goodness -- then the answer is no. The Pharisee's prayer didn't go very far, whereas the Publican's prayer was answered.

    But if the "better Christians" means one who is genuinely in relationship with Christ. Then yes --
    The prayers of a righteous person availeth much. James 5:16
    While cherished sin can hinder our prayers. (see Isaiah 59:2)

    ◦Is the following statement True, Mostly True, Somewhat True or Not True: I should do all in my power to answer my own prayers. Explain your answer

    Somewhat true. If we are in debt, praying to get out of debt, we need to avail ourselves of jobs, do some serious budgeting etc, and continue to pray that God will guide in these activities and help us make proper choices. When praying for restored health we need to learn good health habits and avail ourselves of needed medical help.
    However, one can overdo this answering one's own prayers -- God's will needs to be our priority. There are times when it's better to simply "let go and let God", trusting in Him to provide and work. Praying for the salvation of loved ones, is often defeated by doing too much in our power to try and convert them, while not praying enough for God to work. Then there's Abraham and Hagar, Rebecca and Jacob, and their sad examples of people trying to answer their own prayers.

    (24)
    • Ulicia, thank you for taking the time to answer the questions. I particularly enjoyed your answer to the last question. It was very insightful. We should do all within our power to answer our own prayers and you described that very well. Thanks!

      (9)
      • Curtis, you did an excellent work in using the story of Jesus' visit with the Samaritan woman, highlighting:
        1. Accepting the invitation to talk with someone she did not know, but being alert to His personal presentation of respect, love and caring, traits of a remarkable character
        2. Getting to know Who she is talking to by staying in the conversation (prayer)
        3. Significantly raising expectation as she began to discover a new world of forgiveness, acceptance and possibilities in this first prophet, ah, this Messiah

        In responding to Ulicia, you affirmed doing all within one's power to answer our own prayers. Question: May I query, so then what is the rational for praying for Divine assistance?
        May I affirm the insight of Ulicia in observing that there are Biblical characters of faith who did all they can to answer their prayers and went against the will/plan of God?
        Additionally, you did a wonderful job in your article in identifying the change in thinking of the woman of Samaria as she met God, Who in the Biblical narrative gave to her several gifts that she had absolutely no capacity to do for herself.

        There are prayers that recognize that only God can give a Divine miracle (not magic in the hand of a created being, angel or human); and there are prayers where God will use someone else to meet the need; and there are prayers where I give it my best effort. Surrendered persons "become partakers of the Divine nature", which is God's work in the person; but the saved person must invest everything in giving up, denying, searching, asking, working, giving, overcoming, assured that "it is God Who is working in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure". Phil 2:13 and 4:13 testify of a combined effort, the Divine working in me to produce my best effort to accomplish His will.

        Thank you sincerely for an insightful article. God bless your ministry.

        (3)
        • Hurford wrote: "In responding to Ulicia, you affirmed doing all within one's power to answer our own prayers. Question: May I query, so then what is the rational for praying for Divine assistance?

          --Actually my response was a "somewhat" with qualifications, not a full affirmation. Everything we do should be by seeking the Lord's will in the matter. Yet are we to believe that God will answer our prayers if we do not follow his will in the matter? Scriptures reveal God's will for our lives, then ask God that His will be done in our lives, and believe that He will answer that prayer by doing all in our power, believing He will fulfil His promise.

          Br. Curtis mentioned that "Our operating in a spirit of low expectations must be replaced with a deeper belief that comprehends the priceless offer of heavenly resources. Our expectations must be higher."

          How do we live life when our expectations are high that God will answer prayers that are according to His promises?

          We step out in faith.
          We know God promises us victory over sin. We know Christ died to release us from the power of sin. How do we show that we believe this?
          When Jesus offered healing to the paralytic telling him to get up and walk, the paralytic did all in his power to answer -- he stood up and walked. Jesus did the healing, yet would the paralytic have been healed if he simply lay there and said -- I can't get up and walk?
          One person with an alcohol problem mentioned that they prayed for victory, but till God removed the desire, they just weren't going to worry about their drinking problem.
          Why not claim God's promise for victory and believe God gives the victory -
          "Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:11

          Why pray --
          Because in ourselves we don't have the power or the victory, it is all in our connection with Christ. It is only in the transforming power of Christ in our lives that true victory is given.
          Without Him we can do nothing. John 15:5
          I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil 4:13
          Our wills are placed under God's will.

          Hurford wrote: May I affirm the insight of Ulicia in observing that there are Biblical characters of faith who did all they can to answer their prayers and went against the will/plan of God?"

          Yes, there is the other side -- but notice, in every case in these situations when Bible characters tried to answer their own prayers, they stepped out of the will God to do so. They lost faith in God to perform His promises, and depended on devious methods to achieve the end they wanted. They didn't ask God to lead in these actions, they didn't act in faith, when they tried to do it "their way" instead of "God's way".

          (3)
    • For me prayer is absolutely awesome, it's getting intimate with the GREATEST being in all of the entire universe. Presidents of nations, Kings, princes and every other variant of important vip just won't be able and in many cases willing to listen to all my personal issues. The omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, creator of everything in heaven on earth and in the entire ever expanding universe not only listens to me, HE yearns for intimacy with me. wow, wow, wow, how amazing, my mind boggles at my reluctance to experience this ultimate, intimate connection and bond, now words fail me.......Oh wretched man that I am thank God for Jesus Christ and His ever present Holy Spirit.

      (2)
  3. May God bless you for sharing, and I pray that God will help us all in our journey to heaven. I also pray that God's people will realize that all mankind was created for a purpose and the purpose is to reflect the image of God which was demonstrated to us by Jesus Christ on this earth. Our priorities must be of things above, but not of things on this earth.

    (12)
  4. I have been struggling for months or even a few years in my spiritual walk, not praying as I should; recognizing my need to draw closer to my Father in prayer. This writing hit a place in my heart. My Father has more than met my temporal physical needs of food, water, shelter, but I needed Him to do the impossible, soften and transform my heart of stone. After this reading, the heart of stone is becoming a heart of flesh. Thank you Brother Hall for allowing the Holy Spirit to use you. Glory to the King!!

    (18)
    • Dana, Curtis truly well represented the love of God in his article. Thank you for affirming the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart, through his ministry. May our Father bless you with a continued walk with HIM, regularly reading these wonderful stories of His work and promises, and regularly taking time to say Thank You for the transformation of the Holy Spirit. This is written with the affirmation of a prayer on your behalf. Amen. God bless you.

      (2)
  5. Thank you Brother Curtis for allowing yourself to be a conduit to bless and encourage others. I needed to be reminded to raise my expectations! I live and work in China and the challenges are many and varied. Being in a prayerful state of mind, speaking with my Heavenly Daddy wherever and whenever keeps me going. Yet, I need to raise my expectations....thank you again!

    (5)
  6. Curtis,

    Thank you for this wonderful lesson. I particularly like your hit the mark questions. You questions make me think about how I think about prayer if that makes sense. I like the last question about should I do all that is in my power to answer my own prayers. There are some prayers that we ask which only God can answer, and there are prayers where it is a joint effort between us and God, and I also I believe there are some prayers which God will not answer. Sometimes we pray presumptions prayers as a way of procrastinating what God has already told us to do.

    (3)
  7. Thank you about this week"s lesson Really God is talking to us ,I was impressed by Jesus prayer life when He was on earth before anything Jesus prayed. That also is teaching us to take prayer seriously

    (2)
  8. What a wonderful God we serve. He knows our souls and our hearts and our every need. To me this story brings out the truth that Jesus went to seek the lost sheep with a deep set desire for the living water. She did not it existed. We all have a longing desire for the truth. We have a Void that cannot be filled unless Jesus fills it. We try filling it with money, clothes, etc. all the things that this world has to offer. Yet we are never filled by these things. He is there offering us the living truth Jesus if only we open our hearts. He is at the door and knocks. He seeks for us ready to give us what we really need. A living connection with Him. She did not look for Jesus. Jesus went looking for Her. He offered and she accepted the living water. He is willing to give us better gifts than a father is willing to give to his children. What a merciful Father we have. He seeks me daily as He searched that first morning when Adam and Eve got lost. He has found the woman at the well. Today He seeks me and you. What will be our answer?

    (4)
  9. Thank God for fellowship! These comments are as spiritual titbits. They are so energizing. May God help us to advance spiritually and make ourselves available to help others along the journey. According to our
    lesson, let us be bold enough to ask God's help in our lives to experience acknowledgement, confession, contrition and submission to His will when we sin against Him. I am trusting Thee Lord Jesus.

    (1)
  10. Thank your lord for the sabbath school lesson for tonight it helps us to understand spiritually strong in our faith especially in these last days the end
    Of time is very near
    God bless
    Us all

    (1)

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