PathFinder51

What is Daniel's demeanor as he prays? In fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes," depicts his manner of prayer -- deliberate and abject humility. He comes asking mercy for a clearly sinful people. He comes humbly. How does he prepare? The seriousness of the prayer is expressed by the phrase, "in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Fasting was a way to humble oneself before God. Sackcloth was a sign of mourning and with ashes "symbolized the penitence with which Daniel came to represent his people before the Lord."7 Why is this so important in this case? Because Daniel believes God's promises for a return. Daniel's prayer was no casual thing, but a firm heart's resolve to seek God for his people until an answer came. Daniel pleads with God on the basis of His character. In what ways might you and I prepare for intercession? Fast and humble ourselves before God, get in a quiet place, praise and worship. Don't come to God in boldness to plead a righteous cause. God owes you and whom ever you are making intercession for nothing. Instead, come asking mercy for a clearly sinful Individual or people. Come in humility.

What encourages Daniel to seek God for the forgiveness and restoration of Israel to its homeland? As Daniel studied the scriptures, he realized that the 70 years of Jerusalem's desolation would soon come to an end. Daniel knew that the God he served was merciful and forgiving. Therefore he prayed and appealed to God to forgive and restore Israel to its homeland. What trait on Daniel's part brings this encouragement to pass? For nearly 60 years he served at the top rungs of a pagan government, serving three different kings without compromising his relationship to God. God listens to those who fear Him, who stand in awe of His greatness, goodness and power. God listens to the righteous.

Why is this prayer of surrender to God so difficult to pray? The fear we have of exposing our inner most thoughts and sins to God. Only a person who has come to trust God can sincerely pray for God to refine him or her. When was the first time you prayed this kind of prayer to God? 4/25/2015 at approximately 3:06 EST What was the result? Fear, anxious, vulnerable, relief, hope that God will help me to become the man he ordained me to be. Can a person be a genuine disciple without praying this kind of prayer? No! Unless a man is willing to follow Jesus down the path that leads him to the way everlasting, he will never see heaven. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14 that if you enter through the wide gate, broad is the road that leads to destruction. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." You want to be on the right path, not the wrong path. so you pray that awesome, trusting prayer to Jesus, the Guide: "Lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:24b).

How is an awareness of God's involvement in your prenatal development meant to encourage you? We regard our formation inside our mother with awe and reverence. I am "distinct and marked out," now as I was from the time of my creation before the foundations of the earth. God knows me from the inside out. What might this mean to a young woman carrying a child? When she holds her firstborn in her arms and counts all the tiny fingers and toes, she feels what the psalmist was feeling. Awe, amazement, wonder at the miracle of conception, formation, and birth. A young father-to-be? The same as his wife - Awe, amazement, wonder at the miracle of conception, formation, and birth. Why is such knowledge overwhelming to us? "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13 NIV) God has made the heavens and the earth by his great power, but also the tiniest parts of a tiny human while still an embryo, a fetus. God's awesome power extends to the smallest detail. As you put it Dr. Ralph - "WOW"!

In verses 5 and 10, how does God's hand touch the psalmist? God's grip will not slip, no matter what the danger. God's guidance will be clear, no matter how much fog might obscure the path. God's hand leads, guides, conducts one along the right path. Verse 5b: you have laid your hand upon me." You have taken ahold of me. Verse 10: "... even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Have you ever felt God's hand on you in a special way? No! If He did lay His hand on me. I didn't recognize it. Was it for your good? N/A What was it like? N/A

Why do people sometimes want to flee from God? People sometimes want to flee from God when they are tempted to sin, when they are in a sin that they do not want to give up, or when God tells them to do something and they do not want to do it, so they run like Jonah. Why do people imagine that God doesn't know what they do? Human nature wants to block out God from the evil that we are entertaining. But there is never a comfortable spot to rest in when we do wrong or think it. Have you ever felt this way? I feel convicted when I have thoughts that would cause me to try and cross God's boundaries.

What is the basis on which Hezekiah asks for healing? Hezekiah appealed to God's promises for an heir and for long life for those who live a righteous life. He needed and heir to the throne should he die of which there was none and he was appealing to God's promises to David concerning his son Solomon and Solomon's offspring. Why is personal righteousness and holiness important in getting your prayers answered? His salvation is not by works but by HIs grace. All God's gifts are by grace -- his own favor towards us, which is neither earned nor deserved. How can unrighteousness prevent answered prayer if all gifts from God are by grace anyway? God's heart is open to the prayer of His child seeking to live a faithful, upright, righteous life. Since God has less need for discipline, He has greater freedom to grant us answers to our prayers without hurting us.

Hezekiah, I am sure, had not reached sinless perfection, but he had been careful (unlike his father) to live a godly, righteous, and faithful life before the Lord. He had been zealous for the Lord, in the face of much pressure and criticism from idolaters. He had encouraged the people with confidence and trust in God when threatened by his enemies. Hezekiah not only talked about a righteous life. He lived it! He walked the walk! In order to be a good disciple of God and an evangelist, if you can't walk the walk, what makes you think you can convince others to follow God? In today's society, words mean nothing if they don't have actions behind them. So, if you can't prove to others that you walk the walk of Jesus, Please don't waste God's time by trying to convert sinners to Christianity. You are only making it harder for others to do God's work!

Why is Hezekiah's healing important for his nation? There are a couple of reasons why Hezekiah's healing would be important. 1. As a demonstration of how God treats His faithful servant: Hezekiah was a true servant of God. He trusted in God; He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following Him Hezekiah purified and repaired the Temple, purged its idols, and reformed the priesthood. In an effort to abolish what he considered idolatry from his kingdom, he destroyed the high places (or bamot) and the "bronze serpent" (or "Nehushtan"), which was made by Moses and became an objects of idolatrous worship.In place of this, he centralized the worship of God at the Jerusalem Temple. Hezekiah also resumed the Passover pilgrimage and the tradition of inviting the scattered tribes of Israel to take part in a Passover festival. His people would have seen this as a true example of Godly behavior. The Israelites would therefore have a reasonable expectations that such a good example would be blessed by good health and be a recipient of God's saving grace and mercies. 2. At the time of Hezekiah's reign Judah did not have a successor to the throne. During this time period, the nation of Israel was in a perilous state. Many surrounding nations had fallen to the Assyrians and had penal taxes to pay. Judah remained under serious threat from the Assyrians. It was critical for Hezekiah to have an heir to the throne; a strong and God fearing leader who would have the confidence of the people and could protect the nation. How did it relate to God's promises to David? God promised an unbroken line of David's sons upon the throne. Hezekiah is also appealing to God's promises for offspring and for a long life to those who walk uprightly before Him.

Hezekiah prays that God will now glorify himself in the defeat of Sennacherib and the deliverance of Jerusalem out of his hands: (2 Kgs. 19:19) 19 "Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”

How do the first two sentences of Hezekiah's prayer (verse 15) correspond to the first sentence of the Lord's Prayer? 2 Kings 19:15 (NIV) "And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth." Matthew 6:9 (ASV) "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." Hezekiah begins his prayer with a vision of who God really is. Introduction Introduction "Our Father who art in heaven" "O Lord" The word translated as father is abba. Hezekiah adores God First Petition "God of Israel" Because Israel was his peculiar people. "Hallowed be thy name" People may look upon God's name "Enthroned between the cherubim" as holy; something that inspires awe There was the peculiar residence of his glory upon earth. and reverence. "the God of the whole earth" Hezekiah gives glory to God who is not confined to the temple. "for thou hast made heaven and earth" Being Creator of all, by an incontestable title God is owner and ruler of all. How are they important to faith? The title says it all. If our own vision of God is small, we'll never ask of him great things. Hezekiah's prayer springs from his faith in the God of creation. How are they important to God answering the prayer? The actual petition is quite brief: "Deliver us from his hand!" The basis of Hezekiah's appeal is that God be seen by the nations as the only true God.

James 4:2-3 (NIV) 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. If you persist on fighting your own battles, God won't stop you. He'll let you do what you want. But then you have no one to blame but yourself when things don't work out or go according to plan. So, the only way to solve that dilemma is to ask God - "You do not have because you do not ask God." (James 4:2 NIV) "The Battle Is the Lord's!"

What is the significance of Hezekiah spreading out the enemy's message before the Lord? It is vital to understand that Hezekiah is bringing God's problem to God, rather than trying to solve it himself. The principle is: "The Battle Is the Lord's!" What is the underlying principle illustrated here? The principle is: "The Battle Is the Lord's!" How can we apply this principle to our own lives? We can apply this principle to our lives by laying everything before the Lord, so He can give us true and lasting victory. What happens when we don't apply this principle? If we insist on being self-reliant, it may come to a point where we feel discouraged, anxious and will ultimately give up. This will give the enemy an open door to atttack us even more.

Everything comes from God. "Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory." Romans 11:36 Living Bible Everything that exists does so for the glory of God. God"s glory is the expression of His goodness. God's goodness is... The essence of His nature. The weight of His importance. The splendor of His radiance. The demonstration of His power. His very presence. Creations reveals His glory. We can not add anything to His glory! Everything created by God reflects His glory in some way. "The Lord has made everything for His own purpose." Proverbs 16:4 (NLT)

Why is a person's attitude with regard to giving related to that person's attitude towards praise? Matthew 6:24 You Cannot Serve God and Riches 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who loves God, must give up the friendship of the world. Why does an attitude of possessiveness with regards to giving get in the way of worship? When we offer things to the Lord, this represents sacrifice in the sense that we are depriving ourselves of something in order to give something to God. The book of Malachi points out that the lack of commitment to serve God was evident in the giving patterns of the people. Rather than offering the best of their flocks, the worst representatives of the flocks were being offered in sacrifice. In other words, animals were being offered in sacrifice that the farmers didn't want anyway. They were reserving the best for themselves and giving the leftovers to God. This was equivalent to offering no true sacrifice, to seeing worship as a mechanical exercise rather than as part of a relationship with a living God, and to treating God with contempt. In what sense do all your possessions belong to God? Our possessions have no "meaning" to the Lord, it is out obedience, regardless of the circumstances, that He is seeking. 1 Chronicles 29:14-16 (NIV) "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously26as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you." Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NIV) "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today." What then should be your relationship to your possessions? We are only a temporary steward of God's abundance. Our giving shows who or what has priority in our life. Christians must never allow their possessions to possess them. It is frightening when we realize how many are actually controlled by a desire for things. This desire is covetousness. Jesus said, “15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”(Luke 12:15 NIV) How will these truths re-energize your giving? Your praise? Less possessiveness in our giving and more spontaneous with our praise.

The Greatness Of Our God by Hillsong Give me eyes to see more of who You are May what I behold still my anxious heart Take what I have known and break it all apart For You my God are greater still No sky contains, no doubt restrains All You are, the greatness of our God I spend my life to know and I'm far from home To all You are, the greatness of our God Give me grace to see beyond this moment here To believe that there is nothing left to fear And that You alone are high above it all For You my God are greater still And no sky contains, no doubt restrains All You are, the greatness of our God I spend my life to know and I'm far from home To all You are, the greatness of our God And no sky contains, no doubt restrains All You are, the greatness of our God I spend my life to know and I'm far from home To all You are, the greatness of our God There is nothing that can ever separate us There is nothing that can ever separate If from Your love, no life, no death of this I am convinced For You my God are greater still There is nothing that can ever separate us There is nothing that can ever separate If from Your love, no life, no death of this I am convinced For You my God are greater still And no words could say or song convey All You are, the greatest of our God I spend my life to know and I'm far from home To all You are, the greatness of our God And no sky contains, no doubt restrains All You are, the greatness of our God I spend my life to know and I'm far from home To all You are, the greatness of our God All You are, the greatness of our God

Verses 11 and 12 both attribute various characteristics to God, such as glory, honor, and might. How might you begin to mention God's greatness in your own prayers? I would start by properly praising God—with holy awe and reverence, and agreeable affection, acknowledging His infinite perfections; that He is great, powerful, glorious, etc., but also that He is the greatness, power, and glory that is in and of Himself. Where is this kind of praise found by example in the Lord's Prayer? Our Lord’s prayer ends with a doxology much like this which David here begins with— 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, . . . " 1 Chronicles 29:11 Greatness: physical growth as well as increase.7 Power: might Glory: beauty, to beautify, to boast, to glorify. ". . . . . for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. . . . . " Matthew 6:13b We ask for all these things BECAUSE the Kingdom is Yours, the Power is Yours, and the Glory is Yours. All else are requests, but these three are declarations. “Thine IS the Kingdom… Thine IS the Power… Thine IS the Glory.” That is the conclusion that we come to, and it is the reason that we pray in this way. What are your favorite songs that point to God's greatness? As I'm sure you have read other comments on favorite songs of God's greatness, these I just mentioned are only a few. Pending on ones taste for music, there are the old hymns, gospel music, and modern day Christian music. Then you have the gospel songs sung by African American sung on plantations. I may not be a music aficionado, but my tastes range from gospel to blues to light jazz, to some modern day Christian artists to the classics. How Great Is Our God; North Point Live - Our Great God; Hillsong - The Greatness Of Our God; How Great Thou Art; My God is an Awesome God; Amazing Grace.

In what way does praise exalt God? Praise is the language of faith"; by praising God we acknowledge and honor Him as God above all. Why should we exalt God? We should exalt God openly because it encourages us and others to see God as the exalted One. It shows God’s greatness, power, glory, majesty, and splendor. What does this exaltation do in us? Praise is the language of faith. When we acknowledge God's greatness, it also strengthens our own faith. God inhabits the praises of His people. What does it say about us? Our praise to God declares our belief, faith, and will show in our conduct. If we only praise God with our lips and not with our lives', it is all in vain.

In what way do our prayers of praise "bless" God? A great part of Spirit-inspired prayer is praise. We are declaring the wonders of God and His deeds of power. We are extolling and worshipping God in his greatness, glory, and splendor. We are giving praise, rejoicing at the willingness and uncompelled free giving of ourselves. What do we mere humans have that God desires in a blessing? Giving that gets to the roots of our faith, our future, and our surrender to God. Giving out of love, "freely, willingly". What are prayers like, that don't include blessing God? " . . . . I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1 They are empty and selfish prayers, they lack the intimate relationship that God desires with us, and God is not blessed when we forget to remember who He is and what He has done for us.

What does Jesus mean when he says, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit"? First, Jesus speaks to God with intimacy. No matter how bleak the moment, He knows His Father is present with Him - now present to receive His spirit. Second, Jesus entrusts Himself to His Father. As He let's go of His life, Jesus trusts His eternal destiny to the Father's everlasting arms. Finally, Jesus speaks a word of surrender. He gives up His human life to His Father who gave it to Him 33 years before. Why does this saying comfort us so much? At the end of our lives, we can let go of our human life in order to embrace the life that God the Father has to offer in HIs own presence.

What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Until our hearts break with sorrow at our sin, we are not quite ready for forgiveness. Contrite is consistently used for one who is physically and emotionally crushed because of sin. It's a feeling or expression of remorse or penitence that is affected by guilt because of sin. Many conversions these days seem to lack the deep repentance that rends the heart Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? Too often people just go through the motions of religion without real repentance, without a genuine desire for change, without a real love for God. Confession is important in this process, but whatever shape it takes, God is not looking for outward religious action but for heart repentance and change. In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? The sacrifices of such a broken heart and contrite spirit are the sacrifices God desires, approves, accepts of, and delights in. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves? It is this inner person who must be converted and cleansed and discipled. Our actions (when we are not putting on an act for others) flow from this inner person, from our heart of hearts. So often we are sad at being caught or exposed, but not sad at hurting the God who loves us or injuring his reputation by our sins. Man is not willing to expose the inner man, so he carries the idea of the inner being as a person covered up by the body.

What had Jesus "finished"? Jesus had finished his purpose here on the earth. He came to fulfill the will of the Father. He came to die on the cross and shed his blood for our sins. He was obedient, even unto death. What can we learn for our own lives from this Sixth Word: "It is finished"? We can learn from this Sixth Word for our own lives that we should live purposeful lives for God; use the gifts He has given us; with focus (not scatter-shot), with obedience and then we can say with a victory shout...."It is finished". We must be willing to suffer to achieve God's purpose for our lives.

What do you learn from Jesus; Fifth Word: "I thirst"? Jesus died in the flesh for us and for our sins Christ would rather court an affront than see any prophecy unfulfilled. This should satisfy us under all our trials, that the will of God is done, and the word of God accomplished. What does this tell us about Jesus? Jesus has come in the flesh; He is able to sympathize with our human frailties; His human blood was shed for our sins; and He was fully God and fully Man. These are biblical truths that cannot be denied. What does this tell us about his experience on the cross? This was tangible physical suffering, of which extreme thirst and physical exhaustion were a part. And yet he does not want to die without a final word. He asks for something to drink to wet his lips for this final effort.

What does Jesus' Fourth Word from the cross teach us about faith? Even though Jesus has addresses God as would any other supplicant, it doesn't represent loss of faith. The fact that he is praying, "My God," shows that he still trusts God. But the intimacy of fellowship seems to have been broken. There is a loss of contact. Jesus can no longer feel his Father's presence. About commitment? Jesus knows that the cross would mean separation from God. He struggles hard against it. Yet in the end, he prays, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). He has made his decision. About love? Jesus' agonizing saying from the cross teaches us something about how much the Father and Son both love us -- so much that that they are willing to sever for a time their love for each other. What effect should this understanding have on our lives? The understanding of Jesus' faith, commitment and love for his Father and us should show how we are to love the Lord. Mark tells us: "29 “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31 (NLT))

(John 19:26-27) Why does Jesus make St. John responsible for his mother Mary? This disciple whom Jesus loved, St. John, one of three disciples closest to him, is the only male disciple who is at the foot of the cross as Jesus is dying. Jesus entrusts his mother to John's care instead and John takes this commission seriously: John 19:27b "From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."23 What does this tell us about Jesus? Jesus demonstrates self-sacrificial love. This is possibly the clearest, most easily understood demonstration of "self" renunciation of genuine "self“ denial, to be found in the New Testament. How should we apply this in our own lives? First, we must love our parents -- no matter what. Second, we are responsible for family obligations. But, above all else, Jesus was clear that his disciples must put commitment to Him above family relationships. Our obedience to Christ must become primary and obedience to parents must become secondary. Our priorities are clear: (1) God himself, (2) our families, (3) our work for God.