Nina

Jacob set up the stone as a way to honor God and remember what God had promised him. At that time, anointing was a way of cleansing and consecrating something to God. Jacob promises God that if God will watch over him, Bring him safely to his father's land, provide food and clothing then Yahweh will be his God, the pillar will be God's house and he would give a tenth of everything to God.

Many things in life cannot be reversed or re-done. That is why we must seek God and not quickly jump into things as Isaac did. When we doubt, we need to check things out. The blessing given to Jacob was God's will.

One of Isaac's flaws was to be too trusting. With the time involved, Jacob's voice, etc., he had doubt that it was really Esau but he dropped his doubt and accepted Jacob as Esau without pressing the issue. Sometimes, this is a flaw with Christians. Doubt is there but it is easier to go with the flow than to question and cause a rift. One of Rebekah's flaws was discriminate love. Jacob and Esau should each have been loved for who they were and not their birth position. Another flaw was deceit. I think all Christians have this from time to time. Esau's self gratitude was his main flaw and Jacob evidentally learned deceit from his mother. From time to time, we are guilty of each of these character flaws. We can pray to overcome them.

I believe it causes tension and strife when children sense you love one child more than another. I believe this is one of the biggest mistakes a parent can make. It can make a child feel worthless or give a false sense of superiority. It is the cause of a lot of domestic violence. I am thankful this was not the case in my family. To love our children equally but differently means we have to consider their capabilities and treat each child as an individual. Children do not have the same strengths and weaknesses even in the same family. We have to show love, concern, and appreciation for each unique quality a child possesses.

Q3. (Genesis 27:6-29) God had told Rebekah that Jacob is supposed to rule over Esau (Genesis 25:23). To what extent does this excuse her plan to deceive her husband Isaac? How much responsibility does Jacob bear in the deception? I don't believe Rebekah's plan to deceive Issac was all right even though God told her that Jacob is to rule over Esau. Did Rebekah do this because of God's plan or because she loved Jacob more than Esau? Many times we sin and try to excuse it as being part of God's plan. God would have taken care of the situation without the human deceit. As always, God used human imperfection to work out his plan. Jacob was a willing partner in the deceit. He cannot be excused just for doing what his mother told him to do. He was a grown man, he easily could have said this is wrong, I'm sorry, I cannot be a part of this deception.

Q2. Was Rebekah a spiritual woman, that is, interested in spiritual things? Was Isaac a spiritual man? Which do you think was the more spiritually sensitive? What evidence of spirituality do you see in Jacob? In Esau? I believe Rebekah was a spiritual woman. She was willing to leave her family and become Issac's wife because she believed Abraham's servant and that her reactions to him were what he had prayed for. Another indication of her spirituality was praying for a child and after becoming pregnant asking why the struggle in her womb. God spoke to her and she accepted his word that there were two nations struggling in her womb. Issac was also a spiritual man. He had the upbringing of Abraham and saw what God did for him. He prayed for his barren wife and she became pregnant. I believe Issac probably was more spiritual only because it was Rebekah who plotted with Jacob to obtain the blessing from Issac. Both Jacob and Esau had evidence of spirituality, however, Esau turned from his family and God after Jacob obtained his birthright and blessing. He became bitter and took wives from foreigners although later he forgave Jacob.. Even though Jacob sinned by deceiving Issac, he turned to God and was richly blessed in obtaining his wives, growing a large herd of animals, and becoming a part of the lineage of Jesus. He prayed, set up memorials to God, and was greatly blessed by God.

Q1. Why does the New Testament condemn Esau for selling his birthright? (Hebrews 12:16-17) What did selling the birthright represent? What does this transaction say about Esau's character and values? What does it reveal about Jacob's character and values? Esau was only concerned with satisfying his hunger immediately. His birthright did not have meaning to him. He could not wait for physical gratification in order to receive his rights as the first born in the family. Selling his birthright represented unconcern for his rights and legal aspects of their culture. It clearly represents someone who does not think about the future or the consequences of his actions. Jacob's part in obtaining the birthright does not represent a man of character. You would think a man would gladly give a bowl of lentils to his hungry brother. Obtaining the birthright as Jacob did is not a show of good character. His name meaning deceiver fits the situation. He shows no love for his brother and seems only concerned about what he can get for himself.

Q2. (Romans 5:2-5) According to this passage why should we rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations? One by one, what is the importance to our lives of: perseverance, tried character, and hope? We should rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations because God uses them to develop his character in us. Perseverance is important because it gives us the ability to hold out until the end in the face of difficulties. Tried character is going through a test or ordeal and having the ability to stand it or come through it. It is experience that we as Christians gain from. Hope is built in us through these experiences and gives us the assurance that through the resurrection of Jesus, we will be resurrected and be prepared to go to heaven.

Q1. (Romans 5:1-2) According to verses 1-2, faith is a key to salvation. For Abraham (4:3), what was the relationship between faith and justification? For us (5:1-2), what is the relationship between faith and justification? In your own words, just what does it mean to be justified? Abraham's faith, simply believing God, brought him righteousness. For us, we have peace with God because of our faith that brings justification for us. Without faith, there is no justification. Faith is the substance that allows us to receive God's forgiveness or justification. To be justified means to be forgiven and counted as righteous.

Q9. (3:21) How can God receive more glory in your local congregation? How can you help this happen? God will receive more glory in our church when we learn to praise Him. We have to get to the point of putting ourselves to the back of our thoughts and focusing on God. When we are free to praise God, it encourages others to praise Him as well. We must strive to increase our prayer life, our faith, our study of the Bible and learn to give God the glory by prayer and songs of worship to Him. I can help this happen by being an example and encouraging others to worship Him.

Q8. (3:20) How should verse 3:20 of the doxology energize your prayers? What happens when we limit God by our own ability to comprehend? How can we get past this failing? The verse should energize our prayers because it tells us that we ourselves are what limits what God will do for us. God is all powerful and we are the reason things do not happen. There is no limit to what God can do for us except the limits we set ourselves. We limit God by the power that is working in us. When we limit God by our ability to understand, we cannot expect great things. There is a lot that we don't understand. We don't have to understand everything, we just have to believe and accept the blessings given to us. We can improve and get past limiting God and our ability to comprehend by studying God's word and applying it to our own lives. We can learn of the faith of others in the Bible and pray for faith like theirs. The limits may not be instantly broken but will gradually come as we pray and draw near to God. Prayer and studying God's work increases our faith and breaks the binds that we have that limit God.

Q7. (3:19) Have you ever prayed for a fellow believer that he or she might be "filled with all the fullness of God"? What would you be praying for with that kind of prayer? How does this prayer relate to Ephesians 5:27 and Colossians 1:28? I don't know if I have actually used those words in praying for a fellow believer but I have prayed that fellow believers be filled with God's presence and knowledge that he will provide in every way. In praying for a believer to be "filled with all the fullness of God" I would be praying for total submission to God's will and that God would fill every need and expectation. Ephesians 5:27 relates to the fullness of God in that the scripture tells us to present ourselves are a believer without spot or wrinkle - without sin. God can help us strive for that if we pray for the fullness of God. Colossians 1:28 relates to the fullness of God in that we must teach and tell everyone that they may be presented perfect in Christ.

Q6. (3:17-19) Why does Paul pray that the believers grasp the fullest extent of Christ's love for them? How does comprehending this love change a person's spiritual life? Is there any end to Christ's love for a person? As believers we know of God's love. Paul is praying that believers will come to more of a knowledge of the greatness and vastness of God's love. Getting a better grasp or understanding of the greatness of God's love will help us grow in the riches of Christ. Paul is praying for them to have power to grasp, faith to grasp the fullness of Christ's love for us. The fullness of his love surpasses our knowledge. Getting a better understanding of this love changes our spiritual lives by leading us closer to God. It increases our faith and gives us more power to receive, believe, and share with others. We cannot grasp the greatness of God's love. I believe it is like a circle that totally encompasses us with no beginning or end.

Q5 (3:16-17) Why does Paul pray for strengthening of the inner man? How would we pray this prayer today? Why does he pray that Christ dwell in the believers' hearts? Isn't this already an established fact? Paul is praying that Christ will richly dwell in the hearts of men and that they will be strong in the Holy Spirit. Christians live way under the riches and power that is available to us. Paul is praying for the believer's hearts that they will grow in faith and power. We should also pray that God will draw us close and increase our faith today just as Paul was praying for the believers at that time so that we can realize the great riches and power we have in Christ. As Christians we know that God dwells in our hearts but we live way beneath the power, faith and riches through Christ.

Q4. (1:18) Why is a revelation of "his incomparably great power for us who believe" essential to a vital faith? How do you develop this faith in yourself? How do you pray for it for others? We have to try to fathom the great, extrordinary power that is available to those who believe. It is the same power that Jesus had when he went through suffering for us, that raised Lazarus from the dead, and performed miracles in the Bible. In order to have vital faith - significantly important faith- we need to have some idea or understanding of the power we have as Christians. We can develop it by studying God's word and seeing how many in the Bible received faith for God's great power. Through that, we can be assured that God will give that to us too if we believe. Prayer to be in God's will and to believe will help develop faith. We need to pray for others that they too will develop some understanding of the great power that is available to us.

Q3. (1:18) What is the result in prayer and faith if believers think that God is poverty-stricken? How does knowledge of a "glorious inheritance" motivate our lives? Our prayers? How can you pray for others to glimpse this inheritance? If believers think that God is poverty-stricken the results of prayer and faith will be void. If God is poverty stricken, what can He do for you? Praying would be a total waste. Knowlege of our glorious inheritance motivates us to draw close to God to prepare for that inheritance. It motivates our lives to live better and our prayers to be frequent, sincere, and pleasing to God. We can pray for others to receive Christ and learn of their glorious inheritance. We can pray that God will work to win others through our living and our example.

Q2. (1:18) How has your Christian "hope" changed your way of living? What is the result of Christians with only a meager or minute hope? How would you pray for hope to be borne in others? Because of my Christian hope, I can face problems knowing God is in control. This hope has caused me to strive to live close to God and to do is will. Christians who only have a meager hope try to make things happen on their own. They are living for the present. They do not have a solid hope for their future that they will live forever with God. We need to pray that God will open the eyes and hearts of all people to accept him and put their trust or hope in him. This should be a daily prayer for all Christians that God will use us to be witnesses to others to led them to Christ - the birthing of hope.

Q1. (1:17-18). What do you learn from Paul's manner of prayer for the Ephesian believers? If Christians stopped praying for people to receive a revelation of God, would people come to know God on their own? Would God work in them at all? How important is this kind of prayer? Paul prayed that the people would know God better. He prayed emphasizing four characteristics: wisdom, comprehension, strength and love. His prayer was his ministry. Even when he was in prison, he could see the results of his ministry. He didn't ask one time but kept them in prayer. Some people might come to know God on their own but it is not too likely. Other situations might draw them to God but the prayers Christians pray for other Christians and sinners enable and enhance the work of God in their lives. This prayer by Christians for others is extremely important. We are guilty of underestimating the power of prayer. We are also guilty of the lack of prayer.

Q4. (22:43) Did Jesus get "special treatment" because he was the Son of God to have angels help and strengthen him in his spiritual struggle? Do we get that help, too? Jesus received strength from angels to help him with what he had to go through. We can all have that special treatment with help from angels or other humans if we submit to God. Many times that is how we receive the strength to go on in spite of the situation.

Q3. (22:42) When Jesus prayed "not my will, but yours be done," was the Father pleased? Why is the Father not pleased when we are passive and uncaring and dispassionate in our prayers that his will be done? What is required for us to pray the prayer of submission with authenticity? I believe the Father was pleased with Jesus' prayer. He stated his own will but put God's will first and he submitted to it. We can pray our petitions, but we should always put our will second to that of God's. If we do not, I believe it displeases God and we look like we are only concerned with our selfish desires or needs. To pray a prayer of submission with authority we must definitely put God first. We need to state our petition but in faith turn the situation over to God. We gain faith through the reading of God's word and the application of it to our lives.

Q2. (22:42) Why did Jesus pray that the Father take the cup from him? According to Mark and Matthew, Jesus repeated this prayer three times. Why was he so intense about it? What did this mean? Why was Jesus resisting the Father's will? Or was he? Jesus knew the pain and suffering that he would be going through. The very nature of man would be to avoid it if at all possible. He may have also considered the pain that his suffering would put his Father in. His prayer was repeated three time to show his great need and fervancy. Jesus was sincere and very intense regarding his situation. Jesus was not resisting His Father's will because He presented His petition and then submitted to His will.

Q1. (22:40-41, 45-46) Why did he ask his disciples to pray? What temptation did Jesus know they would be facing? What was the content of their prayer to be? Did they actually pray this prayer diligently? How does the Lord's Prayer word this kind of prayer? Why do you think Jesus wanted to be alone during his own prayer? Jesus asked his disciples to pray so they would not give in to the temptations they would be facing. He knew they would be tempted to turn from him, and not acknowledge that they were his disciples. The important part of their prayer was to be that they would be strong and not fall into temptation. They kept falling asleep and then gave in to temptation so it does not seem that they prayed diligently. The Lord's prayer is worded Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. He also was praying for strength and wisdom from His Father.

Q4. (2:4) What danger is Nehemiah in? Why does he pray quickly and silently before he answers the king? How does this quick "arrow prayer" relate to the four months of prayer he has just finished? Nehemiah is in danger of being banished and losing his job but he asked the king anyway. He had been praying about this previously but sends another quick prayer to God for help in the matter. The arrow prayer is a follow up or continuation to the four months of prayer he had been praying. It was a quick prayer but sincere and direct showing he needed God's help and trusted Him to send the right answer.