Lisa Rupert

Q1. (1:1-6) Why does Nehemiah pray day and night for four months? NEHEMIAH PRAYS BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING JERUSALEM, THE WALL IS BROKEN DOWN ALONG WITH THE GATES BEING BURNED WITH FIRE. JERUSALEM WAS IN GREAT TROUBLE AND DISGRACE. Why does he fast and weep? THE NEWS OF THE DISTRUCTION TO JERUSALEM DEEPLY AFFECTED NEHEMIAH THAT HE BEGINS TO WEEP ALOUD. HE WEEPS, MOURNS, AND FAST AFTER HEARING THE NEWS. "THE SUFFERING AND SHAME OF HIS COUNTRYMEN IS ALSO HIS SUFFERING AND SHAME." Isn't that excessive? NO, HE WANTED TO GET GOD'S ATTENTION AND TO SHOW HIM HOW HIS HEART WAS FEELING AFTER HEARING THE NEWS ABOUT JERSALEMS CURRENT STATE.

Q4. (9:15-19) What was Daniel's essential prayer? DANIEL'S ESSENTIAL PRAYER WAS A PRAYER OF INTERCESSION FOR MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. What are the various grounds of Daniel's appeal? GOD'S PRECEDENT DELIVERING ISRAEL FROM EGYPT--GOD'S GLORY--DELIVERANCE WILL BRING GOD GLORY--GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS-AS AN ACT OF MERCY--GOD'S PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION WITH JERUSALEM--JERUSALEM IS KNOWN AS THE CITY OF GOD. How did God answer the prayer (see Daniel 9:20-23)? HE ANSWERED HIS PRAYER WITH BOTH THE PERSONAL MESSENGER THE ANGEL GABRIEL TO GIVE HIM SKILL AND UNDERSTANDING AND WITH A VISION

Q3. (9:5) Since Daniel is such a righteous man in his generation, why does he identify himself with the sins of his people? DANIEL BEING A RIGHTEOUS MAN KNEW THAT IN ORDER TO PRAY FOR INTERCESSION HE HAD TO TAKE ON THE SINS OF THE NATION. HE HAD TO INCLUDE HIMSELF IN THOSE SINS EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN. He didn't commitment them. HE HAD TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE SIN IN ORDER TO INTERCEDE. NO MAN IS SINLESS. WE HAVE ALL SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR JESUS. SO HE CAN NOT SAY THAT HE IS ABOVE SINNING. WE ALL BEAR THE GUILT BECAUSE OF THE SINS OF ADAM. How does this compare to how Jesus sought forgiveness for his people? IT MEANS THAT INTERCESSORY IS COSTLY. LOOK AT THE PRICE JESUS PAID TO SAVE US FROM SIN. I DON'T THINK IT COMPARES WITH THE SACRAFICE THAT JESUS MADE BUT IT IS A VERY GOOD BEGINNING FOR A HUMAN WHO KNOWS THAT HE IS NOT WITHOUT SIN AND CAN HUMBLE HIMSELF BEFORE GOD FOR HIS SINS AND THE SINS OF HIS NATION.

Q2. (9:3-4a) What is Daniel's demeanor as he prays? FIRST DANIEL TURNED TO THE LORD AS A HUMBLE MAN. HE TAKES THIS INTERCESSORY PRAYER SERIOUS BY FASTING (SHOWS THAT HE IS A HUMBLE MAN BEFORE THE LORD) AND WEARING SACKCLOTH (MOURNING) AND ASHES (PENITENCE--HEARTFELT). How does he prepare? IN PRAYER AND PETIION, IN FASTING AND IN SACKCLOTH AND ASHES. HE PRAYED AND CONFESSED. DANIEL PLEAD (MEANING HE SEEKED ANSWERS). HE MADE A PETITION (A HEARTFELT RESPONSE ASKING FOR MERCY). HE CONFESSED ALL THE SINS OF HIS NATION. HE DID THIS ALL NOT ARROGANTLY BUT HUMBLY. Why is this so important in this case? IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO APPROACH GOD IN A HUMBLE MANNER BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GRANT ANYONE ANYTHING. HE IS GOD. SO ARROGENCE WON'T GET THE ATTENTION DANIEL NEEDS IN HIS INTERCESSORY PRAYER. HE DIDN'T APPROACH GOD WITH A BOLD REQUEST INSTEAD HE HUMBLES HIMSELF AND ASK FOR MERCY. In what ways might you and I prepare for intercession? WE SHOULD USE DANIEL'S EXAMPLE OF PRAYER TO HELP US PREPARE INTERCESSION. IT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

Q1. (9:1-3) What encourages Daniel to seek God for the forgiveness and restoration of Israel to its homeland? DANIEL UNDERSTOOD THE SCRIPTURES GIVEN BY THE PROPHET JEREMIAH THAT DESOLUTION ON JERUSALEM WOULD LAST 70 YEARS BECAUSE OF UNFAITHFULNESS TO THE LORD. ALL OF ISRAEL HAD TRANSGRESSED THE LAW AND TURNED AWAY FROM THE LORD. SO DANIEL ASKED FORGIVENESS AND RESTORATION OF ISRAEL BECAUSE HE WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN AND HE KNEW OF GOD'S MERCY. DANIEL WAS INTERCESSOR FOR THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE WAS PRAYING TO THE KING INSTEAD OF PRAYING TO GOD. What trait on Daniel's part brings this encouragement to pass? BECAUSE DANIEL WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST RIGHTEOUS MEN IN HISTORY, RIGHT ALONG WITH NOAH AND JOB. HE WAS DEVOTED TO GOD AND WHEN HE KNEW THAT PRAYING TO ANYONE EXCEPT THE KING WOULD LEAD TO PUNISHMENT HE DID IT ANYWAY. BECAUSE DANIEL KNEW GOD AND KNEW THAT THE 70 YEARS WERE ABOUT TO BE OVER SO HE PRAYED FOR MERCY FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. DANIEL NEVER COMPROMISED HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD EVEN AFTER SERVING 60 YEARS UNDER THE PAGAN GOVERMENTS.

Q4. (139:23-24) Why is this prayer of surrender to God so difficult to pray? I BELEIVE THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT PRAYER BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING FOR GOD TO TEST US. WE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT GOD MIGHT PUT US THROUGH, BUT IF WE TRULY BELIEVE THEN WE KNOW THAT WHATEVER HE PUTS US THROUGH, HE GOES THROUGH IT WITH US. BUT THE UNKNOWN, THE LACK OF CONTROL, FRIGHTENS US AS HUMANS SO IT MAKES THIS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO. NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE PRAYER BUT A DIFFICULT PRAYER. A DIFFICULT ONE ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WAYS OF THE LORD AND GOD'S ULTIMATE LOVE FOR US. When was the first time you prayed this kind of prayer to God? THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TRIALS THAT I KNOW GOD HAS PUT ME THROUGH, HAVE I REQUESTED THEM? I AM NOT SURE, BUT I KNOW I'VE SURVIVED THEM. SOME OF THEM I AM STILL GOING THROUGH NOW. What was the result? THERE IS ALWAYS A LESSON, THAT I CAN GUARANTEE AT THE END OF EACH TRIAL. SOMETIMES I'VE CHOOSEN THE WRONG PATH BUT OTHER TIMES I SELECTED THE RIGHT PATH. I'VE NEVER BEEN ALONG BECAUSE NO MATTER THE TRIAL I KNOW GOD IS THERE WITH ME. Can a person be a genuine disciple without praying this kind of prayer? NO, A PERSON CANNOT BE A GENUINE DISCIPLE IF HE/SHE DOES NOT PRAY THIS TYPE OF PRAYER. BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS TYPE OF FAITH, HOW DOES ONE KNOW THAT THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH? HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE FOLLOWING GOD'S ULTIMATE PLAN FOR YOU IF NOTHING IS EVER TESTED? HOW DOES ONE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TRULY SURRENDERED IF EVERYTHING WORKS FINE IN THEIR LIVES? WITHOUT TESTING NOTHING CHANGES, WITHOUT TRIALS WE LEARN NO LESSONS AND WE STAY THE SAME. WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO GOD'S WILL.

Q3. (139:13-16) How is an awareness of God's involvement in your prenatal development meant to encourage you? THIS PROVES THAT I AM HERE FOR A REASON. THAT EVERYTHING I DO WAS CAREFULLY PLANNED OUT BY GOD BEFORE I WAS EVEN CREATED. EVERY MOVEMENT THAT I MAKE, EVERY BREATH I TAKE, EVERY PERSON I MEET, IS ALL A PART OF HIS PLAN FOR ME AND MY LIFE. THIS PROVES THAT IN NO WAY SHOULD I EVER BELIEVE THAT I AM A MISTAKE, THAT I WAS CREATED TO BE A PART OF GOD'S PLANS. What might this mean to a young woman carrying a child? THIS SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE WHO IS CARRYING A CHILD BECAUSE IT IS KNOWN THAT THIS CHILD IS IN GOD'S PLAN. A young father-to-be? SHOULD KNOW OF THIS SPECIAL GIFT OF CREATION THAT GOD HAS GIVEN. A FATHER SHOULD TEACH HIS CHILD THE WAYS OF THE LORD. A FATHER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF HIS CHILDREN, LOVING THEM, CARING FOR THEM AND CHERISHING THIS WONDERFUL GIFT GIVEN FROM GOD. Why is such knowledge overwhelming to us? IT IS OVERWHELMING TO BELIEVE BECAUSEE IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE WERE THOUGHT ABOUT IN ADVANCE. A PLAN WAS MADE FOR US BEFORE WE WERE EVEN CONCEIVED.

Q2. (139:5, 10). In verses 5 and 10, how does God's hand touch the psalmist? IT'S STATES THAT GOD'S HAND IS ON DAVID FOR GOOD (GUIDANCE). IT PROTECTS DAVID. IT GUIDES HIM ON THE RIGHT PATH. IT IS CERTAIN. Have you ever felt God's hand on you in a special way? YES, I FEEL GOD'S HAND IN MANY THINGS THAT I DO. Was it for your good? OF COURSE IT IS ALWAYS PLEASING TO HAVE THE HAND OF GOD LEADING AND GUIDING YOU. KNOWING THAT HE IS PROTECTING YOU WITH HIS LOVING KINDNESS. What was it like? IT IS THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD. IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT I'LL TRY. I GUESS WHAT I COULD SAY IS THAT IT'S LIKE HAVING A SENSE OF SECURITY. KNOWING THAT NO MATTER THE SITUATION GOD IS THERE TO LEAD YOU, PROTECT YOU, WIPE YOUR TEARS AWAY, SOOTHE YOUR BROKEN HEART, STAY WITH YOU, LOVE YOU, TEACHES YOU, INSTRUCTS YOU, CORRECT YOU, GUIDE YOU, LEADS YOU, HEALS YOU, CARES FOR YOU, ETC......

Q1. (139:7) Why do people sometimes want to flee from God? IN MY EXPERIENCES PEOPLE FLEE FROM GOD TO AVOID HAVING TO COMMIT TO A LIFE WITHOUT SIN. THEY FLEE TO AVOID PUNISHMENT AND GUILT. SO LET'S PRETEND THAT WE DON'T KNOW AND WE CAN'T BE GUILT RIDDEN FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE OR ARE DOING. WE FLEE BECAUSE WE WANT WHAT WE WANT AND FIGURE SINCE NO ONE IS HERE TO CONVICT US WHY SHOULD WE WORRY. SOME BELIEVE THAT THE DESIRE WAS WORTHY ENOUGH OF ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR FEEDING THAT OLD SELFISH DESIRE. Why do people imagine that God doesn't know what they do? I BELIEVE THAT WE IMAGINE THAT GOD DOESN'T KNOW WHAT WE DO BECAUSE WE KNOW GOD IS A LOVING AND A FORGIVING GOD. HE ISN'T PRESENT (IN FLESH) LIKE A MOTHER OR FATHER IS TO SCOLD US AT THE VERY MOMENT WE COMMIT OUR SINFUL WAYS, SO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF KNOWING OR BELIEVING THAT WE CAN GET AWAY WITH OUR SINS BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS. SOME PEOPLE TEACH THAT ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED NO MATTER WHAT. BUT THAT TEACHING DOES NOT PROVIDE THE LICENSE FOR SIN. AND IF IT IS NOT CORRECTLY TAUGHT IT WILL LEAD TO DISASTER. SOME TEACHERS AND PEACHERS MAKE THEMSELVES MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOD. SO PEOPLE FEAR THE PEACHERS AND TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE PHYSICALLY PRESENT AND CAN HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE NOW. Have you ever felt this way? YES, I'VE IMAGINED THAT WHAT I WAS DOING WAS RIGHT EVEN THOUGH I KNEW IT WAS WRONG IN THE EYES OF GOD AND IN MY HEART ALSO, BUT MY DESIRE FOR IT WOULD BE SO STRONG AND OF COURSE I WAS WRONG. SO NOW I FIGHT THOSE DESIRES WITH GOD'S LOVE AND THE WORD. BY NO MEANS BELIEVE THAT I AM PERFECT OR HAVE FOUND THE SOLUTION AGAINST THIS BATTLE. I'M JUST A STRUGGLING CHRISTIAN TRYING TO FIND MY WAY, THE RIGHTEOUS WAY THROUGH GOD'S WORD.

Q4. (20:3) What is the basis on which Hezekiah asks for healing? WELL THE BASIS WAS A LITTLE SELFISH BUT WAS RIGHT IN TIME WITH WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED TO DAVID. HEZEKIAH BEING A RIGHTEOUS MAN WHO PRAYED WENT TO GOD, THROUGH PRAYER FOR ANSWERS AND FOR GOD'S HELP, WAS REWARDED WITH THE ANSWERS TO HIS REQUEST. HEZEKIAH HAD TO KNOW GOD'S WILL IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS REQUEST (EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARRED SELFISH) IT WAS WITHIN THE WILL OF WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED. GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES. Why is personal righteousness and holiness important in getting your prayers answered? PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS IS IMPORTANT TO RECEIVE ANSWERS TO PRAYERS BECAUSE GOD LOVES AN OBIEDIENT CHILD. A SINNER YES BUT ONE WHO CAN CONFESS THOSE SINS AND HONESTLY MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO STAY ON THE RIGHTEOUS PATH. KEEPING GOD IN YOUR LIFE AND FOLLOWING HIS WILL AS CLOSELY AS YOU CAN. CONSTANTLY PRAYING AND KEEPING AN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH GOD IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ONE ON THE RIGHTEOUS PATH. IT SHOWS GOD THAT YOU WANT HIM WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, YOU DO NOT DISCREDIT HIM FOR YOUR OWN SELFISHNESS, BUT YOU LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL AND NOT THE WILL OF MAN. How can unrighteousness prevent answered prayer if all gifts from God are by grace anyway? IT CAN PREVENT GOD FROM HEARING YOUR PRAYERS, GRACE IS NOT FROM WORK BUT YOU HAVE TO COME TO GOD THROUGH YOUR OWN ACCORD. ASKING HIM TO BE A PART OF YOUR LIFE HERE ON THIS EARTH SHOWS HIM YOU LOVE HIM AND YOU WANT HIM TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR DECISION MAKING FOR THE GRACE OF HIS GLORY AND NOT THE GRACE OF YOUR GLORY. GOD DOES NOT LIKE SIN AND UNRIGHTEOUS PRAYERS ARE BASED UPON THE WILL OF MAN OR SATAN AND NOT THE WILL OF GOD. SO UNRIGHTEOUS PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED BECAUSE GOD CAN NOT AND WILL NOT HEAR THEM.

Q3. Why is Hezekiah's healing important for his nation? HEZEKIAH'S HEALING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE NATION'S FUTURE WAS UNCERTAIN IT WAS UNDER MILITARY PRESSURES, LEADERLESS, AND WITHOUT A SUCCESSOR THAT WOULD BRING ABOUT UNITY AND RESISTANCE. How did it relate to God's promises to David? BECAUSE GOD PROMISED AN UNBROKEN LINE OF DAVID'S SON'S UPON THE THRONE. GOD ALSO PROMISED FOR OFFSPRING AND FOR A LONG LIFE TO THOSE WHO WALK UPRIGHTLY BEFORE HIM.

Q2. (19:15) How do the first two sentences of Hezekiah's prayer (verse 15) correspond to the first sentence of the Lord's Prayer? HEZEKIAH'S PRAYERS MODELS THE LORD'S PRAYER BECAUSE BOTH KNEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAISING GOD FIRST BY RECOGNIZING HIS AWE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRAY MAKES GOD HAPPY. IT PLEASES GOD WHEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE HIM FOR WHAT HE IS. How are they important to faith? THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO FAITH BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE FROM YOUR HEART THESE THINGS YOU MUST FIRST BELIEVE IN THE AWENESS OF GOD. How are they important to God answering the prayer? THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD ANSWERING PRAYERS BECAUSE IT PLEASES HIM WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE HIM AND MAKES HIM HAPPY SO IN RETURN HE ANSWERS THE PRAYER WITH JOY AND BLESSINGS.

Q1. (19:14) What is the significance of Hezekiah spreading out the enemy's message before the Lord? TO LET GOD KNOW THAT THE KING OF ASSYRIA HAD WRITTEN A LETTER INSULTING HIM FAR MORE THAN AN INSULT TO HEZEKIAH SO THIS REQUIRED A RESPONSE FROM GOD. HE LET GOD KNOW THAT A RESPONSE SHOULD COME FROM ABOVE TO THE KING OF ASSYRIA BECAUSE OF THE INSULT. What is the underlying principle illustrated here? THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE ILLUSTRATED HERE IS TO PROVE THAT WE SHOULD RELY ON GOD AND NOT FEEL THAT WE HAVE TO HANDLE THINGS ALONG. GOD IS WITH US ALL THE WAY. HE HAS NOT ABANDONED HEZEKIAH AND HIS PEOPLE AND HEZEKIAH KNOWS THIS THAT IS WHY HE IS CALLING ON GOD FOR A RESPONSE TO THE LETTER FROM THE KING OF ASSYRIA. WE ARE NOT GENERALS IN GOD'S WAR WE ARE ONLY SOLDIERS AND WE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS COMMAND. BY DOING SO, HEZEKIAH IS SHOWING GOD THAT GOD IS THE LEADER AND THE CREATOR OF HIS WILL AND THAT HEZEKIAH WILL AWAIT HIS RESPONSE AND FOLLOW GOD'S COMMAND. How can we apply this principle to our own lives? WE CAN APPLY THIS PRINCIPLE TO OUR LIVES BY FIRST KNOWING THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE AND THAT WE ARE TO FOLLOW HIS COMMANDS, NOT THE COMMANDS OF MEN BUT GOD'S WILL. What happens when we don't apply this principle? WHEN WE DON'T APPLY THIS PRINCIPLE THINGS DON'T FOLLOW GOD'S WILL AND THE RESULTS WILL ONLY PERISH.

Q4. Why is a person's attitude with regard to giving related to that person's attitude towards praise? FIRST AND FOREMOST WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE BEATTITUDES.IF A PERSON GIVES FREELY HE/SHE IS GIVING FROM A HEART THAT HAS THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. A PERSON WHO IS FOLLOWING THE ORDER AND IS OBEYING GOD'S WILL. WE SHOULD GIVE AS IF IT DOESN'T BELONG TO US AND IN KNOWING THAT WE CAN TRUST GOD TO MAKE A BLESSING OF THAT GIVING. WE SOMETIMES WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A TRAGEDY TO GIVE FREELY BUT WE SHOULD GIVE CHARITY TO ALL THAT NEEDS IT AS GOD DOES. WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OR WHAT MAY OR NOT HAPPEN WITH THE GIFT. Why does an attitude of possessiveness with regards to giving get in the way of worship? AN ATTITUDE OF POSSESSIVENESS WITH GIVING GETS IN THE WAY OF WORSHIP WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE EARNED EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND IT IS YOURS TO CHOOSE HOW IT SHOULD BE GIVEN. THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE EXIST MAINLY IN THOSE WHO BELEIVE THEY ARE IN TOTAL CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES AND SITUATIONS. SO THEY CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO GIVE INSTEAD OF FEELING THAT THEY SHOULD GIVE FREELY, BECAUSE EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD, NOT TO YOU, BUT TO GOD. BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU HAVE TO WORSHIP SOMEONE ELSE FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE YOU'VE ACHIEVED THEM ALL ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT THE HELP OF ANYONE ESPECIALLY GOD. In what sense do all your possessions belong to God? IN EVERY SENSE DOES ALL MY POSSESSIONS BELONG TO GOD BECAUSE EVERYTHING BELONGS TO GOD. HE CREATED ME AND EVERYTHING THING LIVING AND DEAD ON THIS EARTH AND BEYOND. SO HE IS THE CREATOR SO HE HAS THE DEED TO IT ALL. What then should be your relationship to your possessions? MY RELATIONSHIP TO MY POSSESSIONS SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN PRAISE OF GOD WHO HAS GIVEN ALL TO ME. EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE BREATH THAT I TAKE BELONGS TO GOD. SO HE HOLDS THE DEED. EVERYTHING I HAVE IS A LOAN FROM GOD IT DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. INSTEAD HE HAS LOANED IT TO ME TO HELP ME ON MY JOURNEY ON THIS EARTH. I OWN NOTHING, NOT EVEN THE DUST I WAS FORMED FROM. How will these truths re-energize your giving? Your praise? THESE TRUTHS ENERGIZE MY GIVING AND MY PRAISES BY HELPING ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE ARE ALL TEMPORARY POSSESSIONS. I AM NOT TO HAVE INTEREST IN THESE POSSESSIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE LOANERS (PROVIDED TO ME BY GOD) TO UTLIZE DURING MY TIME HERE ON THIS EARTH. THESE POSSESIONS DO NOT BELONG TO ME. BECAUSE ALL THINGS BELONG TO GOD. I AM TO CONCENTRATE ON LIVING A CHRIST-LIKE LIFE AND NOT TO CONCENTRATE ON MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES HERE ON THIS EARTH. THEY ARE NOT IMPORTANT. BY GIVING PRAISE I AM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF MY EVERY EXISTANCE, HE PROVIDES FOR MY NEEDS AND HE TAKES CARE OF ME BECAUSE I HAVE SURRENDERED MY LIFE OVER TO HIM. EVERYTHING ELSE IS NOT OF IMPORTANCE. I AM TO GIVE AS IF IT DOESN'T BELONG TO ME AND I AM TO PRAISE HIM FOR MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR ME TO BLESS SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS GIFT. LIKE HE HAS BLESSED ME WITH IT. WITHOUT GOD I WOULD NOT HAVE A GIFT TO GIVE SOMEONE ELSE IF HE DID NOT PROVIDE IT TO ME.

Q3. 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? BY MENTIONING ABOUT HIS GREATNESS, ABOUT HIS POWER, HIS MERCY AND HIS LOVE. I CAN ACKNOWLEDGE HIS AWE. Where is this kind of praise found by example in the Lord's Prayer? IT IS FOUND IN THE COMPLETE LORD'S PRAYER, IT ACKNOWLEDGES WHO GOD IS, WHERE HE IS, AND WHAT HE IS. IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES HIS WILL. ASKING FOR MERCY FOR US SINNERS. What are your favorite songs that point to God's greatness? HOLY, HOLY, HOLY GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD

Q2. In what way does praise exalt God? OUR PRAISE EXALTS GOD BY LIFTING HIM UP BY DECLARING THAT HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD. IT SHOWS THAT HE IS OUR CREATOR AND WE (THOUGH WE ARE SINNERS) TRY VERY HARD TO OBEY HIS VERY WORD. Why should we exalt God? WE SHOULD EXALT GOD TO SHOW HIM AND THE WORLD THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS THE ONE TRUE GOD. THAT WE LOVE HIM AND WE THANK HIM FOR EVEN THE BREATH THAT WE TAKE EACH DAY. FOR EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES WE HONOR HIM REGARDLESS OF IT BEING GOOD OR BAD BECAUSE OF FAITH WE KNOW THAT HE TAKES EVERY SITUATION AND TURNS IT INTO GOOD. AND HE LOVES US FIRST. What does this exaltation do in us? THIS EXALTS IN US THE NEED TO BE HUMBLE, TO BE LOVING CHILDREN OF GOD, TO FOLLOW HIS WORDS AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, KNOWING THAT WE WILL BE WITH HIM FOREVER. What does it say about us? THIS SAYS THAT WE KNOW WHO OUR TRUE GOD IS, WHO OUR FATHER IS. WE KNOW WHAT HE DOES FOR US AND WE KNOW WHAT HE PROMISES US AND WE KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVES US. WE FOLLOW BECAUSE OF THE LOVE WE HAVE IN OUR HEARTS. WE KNOW THAT HE IS A LOVING GOD. AND THAT WE HAVE IN OUR HEARTS THE LOVE THAT WANTS TO PRAISE HIM FOR ALL THINGS.

Q1. In what way do our prayers of praise "bless" God? OUR PRAYERS OF PRAISE BLESS GOD BY ACKNOWLEDGING HIS LOVE AND GOODNESS WITH OUR LOVE, KINDNESS, CONSIDERATION, AND THANKS FOR WHO HE IS. What do we mere humans have that God desires in a blessing? OUR HEARTS AND OUR LOVE IW WHAT HE DESIRES IN BLESSING. HE WANTS US TO LOVE AND OBEY HIM AND HE GETS THIS FROM US ACKNOWLEDING THAT WE DO LOVE AND OBEY HIM. WE TELL HIM THAT WE WANT TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF JESUS AND WE WANT TO LOVE HIM UNCONDITIONALLY NO MATTER WHAT THIS WORLD CHOOSES FOR US. WE WILL NOT ABONDON HIM WE WILL NOT STOP WORSHIPPING AND PRAISING HIM AND WE WILL ALWAYS COUNT ON HIM. What are prayers like, that don't include blessing God? SELFISH IS WHAT A PRAYER IS LIKE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE A BLESSING TO GOD.

Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? To have a broken heart means to have a empty cold heart. It means that there is no love and joy present inside of an empty heart. An broken heart has no compassion and it is rootless and contrite. It is full of sadness and sorrow. A broken spirit is a empty capsule. It has no relationship with God and has no reason to believe in repentence. A broken spirit cries out for MERCY but the broken heart cannot hear it's cries because of it's emptiness and lack of compassion. Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? As with any relationship, when we do someone wrong it is important to ask for forgiveness, if we are planning to continue that relationship. It is important to pray for pardon to humble ourselves before God because of our sins to let him know the importance of our relationship with him. Important because we know we are sinners and we plan to do everything to resist sin because of our love for God. It's funny because I notice how people often hid things from their pastors but often forget that God see's everything and they were committing these sins before him, but would hide them from their pastors and other Christians not to be exposed shamed and embarrassed. I always found that funny, God see's all but we don't have to account our actions to him, but when it came down to man we would hide in shame of our trangressions (that we committed in front of God) so no one knew. How can a Christian forget that God see's all and man can not sustain you, only God can do that? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? One of the ultimate sacrifices is to render ourselves onto the Lord. Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves? We resist a broken and contrite heart because we don't want to feel that we are sinners. We want to believe that what we do here on this earth is right and we shouldn't have to answer to anyone for it. Believe it or not a lot of folks believe that God put us in charge of this earth and we have the right to do whatever we feel we desire. We forget about God until Sunday when it's time for church, from which we worship a few hours making believe that we are all holy returning to our regular lives of sin from Monday thru Saturday. We are selfish people who believe that we can be forgiven at a drop of a hat for our sins. Which leads to a broken and contrite heart because it is an empty heart. A heart that has nothing to feel it with joy and love.

Q3. Is it possible to have a pure heart? YES IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A PURE HEART, WE CAN BECOME CLEAN AGAIN . JESUS TAUGHT US "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD" (MATTHEW) How does God bring about a pure heart? BY RESTORING THE JOY TO US THAT IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT AS A CHRISTIAN. JOY IS THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRITS WORKK IN YOUR LIFE. What is our part in this? OUR PART IS TO CALL OUT TO GOD IN REPENTENCE ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SINS ASKING FOR CLEANSING AND WE WILL RECEIVE THE JOY GOD WANTS FOR US.

Q2. In his prayer does David seek to minimize his sins? To maximize them? IN HIS PRAYER DAVID SEEKS TO CONFESS ALL OF HIS SINS. Why does an authentic prayer for pardon require clear, unvarnished acknowledgement of sin to be effective? YOU NEED TO BE HONEST AND TRUE IN ORDER TO BE FORGIVEN FOR YOUR SINS.

Q1. In what way does a prayer for pardon require faith? A PRAYER REQUIRES FAITH IN GOD'S PROMISES. THAT WE BELIEVE IN HIM AND THAT WE BELIEVE IN HIS WORD. What is that faith based on? FAITH IS BASED UPON GOD'S WORD. THE BIBLE. How does a person gain the faith to pray this prayer in confidence? YOU CAN GAIN THE FAITH TO PRAYER FROM THE WORD OF GOD AND WITH THIS, FAITH PROVIDES YOU WITH THE CONFIDENCE TO BELIEVE IN GOD'S WORD.

Q4. In what way does Abraham show persistence? ABRAHAM SHOWS PERSISTENCE BY NOT JUST EXCEPTING A NO ANSWER. Why is persistence necessary in prayer? PERSISTENCE IS NECESSARY IN PRAYER FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: (1) IT DEMSONSTRATES A STRONG DESIRE TO SEE THINGS THROUGH. (2) IT SHOWS FAITH FOR WHAT ONE BELIEVES IN. (3) IT SHOWS COMMITMENT. (4) IT ILLUSTRATES A STRONG WILL. (5) IT CONFIRMS A YEARNING OF PASSION FOR THE ISSUE. Have you ever experienced "praying through"? YES, I HAVE EXPERIENCED PRAYING THROUGH. What was it like? PRAYING THROUGH IS LIKE HAVING SOMEONE AROUND TO TALK TO THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDS YOU.

Q3. Do you think Abraham's boldness pleased God? Yes, I believe that Abraham's boldness did please God. Why or why not? Why do I believe Abraham's boldness pleased God is simply that God wanted Abraham (as he does with all his children) to tell him what's in his heart. He wanted Abraham to be a member of his family. In families we try to keep an open line of communication with other members. When you love someone you want to hear their thoughts, know their feelings, share in their life. This is what God wanted from Abraham, he wanted to develop an intimiate relationship with him. What might cause God to take delight in your prayers to him? God would take delight in our prayers when we demonstrate that we want an intimate relationship with him. If we include him in our decisions and share our lives with him. He very much wants to share his family with us. By doing so we can all demonstrate our love for each other. By keeping an open line of communication we are acknowledging that he is our Father and that we want to share our lives with him, we want to include him in our everyday existance on this earth. By doing this we use prayer as that open line of communication between us and our Father.

Q2. How did Abraham demonstrate his humility before God? ABRAHAM DEMONSTRATED HUMILITY BEFORE GOD BY FIRST MAKING KNOWN HIS STATUE ("I AM BUT DUST AND ASHES...") HUMBLING HIMSELF BEFORE GOD. THIS LET'S GOD KNOW THAT ABRAHAM IS NOT ARROGANT AND DOES NOT PUT PRIDE AND EGO BEFORE GOD. ABRAHAM AGNOWLEDGES GOD'S AWESOMENESS ("WHO ART IN HEAVEN") AND GOD'S HOLINESS ("HALLOWED BE THY NAME"). Why must boldness be tempered with humility? GOD DOES WANT TO BE INTIMATE WITH US, BUT WE MUST NOT FORGET WHO WE ARE AND WHO HE IS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LET GOD KNOW WHAT'S IN OUR HEARTS. BUT IT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD IN OURSELVES AND TO THE WORLD. BOLDNESS MUST BE WITH HUMILITY TO MAINTAIN HUMBLENESS. SHOWING GOD THAT WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH THAT WE WILL APPROACH HIM WITH THE MUST HIGHEST ADMIRATION. HUMBLING OURSELVES FOR THE SINNERS WE ARE. WE CAN NOT FORGET OUR STATUE HERE ON THIS EARTH. EVEN THOUGH HE ALLOWS US TO SPEAK TO HIM, THIS DOES NOT MAKE US GODS. WE ARE SINNERS.

Q1. What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom? THE BASIS OF ABRAHAM'S ARGUMENT WAS TO SPARE THE RIGHTEOUS AMONG THE PEOPLE OF SODOM. HE KNEW THAT EVERYONE THERE WERE NOT JUST THE UNJUST, BUT AMONGS THE UNJUST WERE ALSO THE JUST. How does it relate to God's character? GOD'S CHARACTER STANDS UPON HIS WORD. TO SPARE THE RIGHTEOUS FROM PERSECUTION. HIS CHARACTER ALSO EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME THING. TO FIND THE JUST WHERE THERE IS MUCH INJUSTICE.