The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Prayer

  • God’s Great Gifts

    “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
    Romans 10:9

    Everyone knows John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is undoubtedly the greatest gift anyone could receive. God offered His only Son to mankind. However, most people do not understand this gift.

    Because of the sin of man, there is a separation between God and man. God cannot look upon sinful man. Nevertheless, God sent His only Son to take the penalty for that sin, to allow restoration of the separation that man caused. This restoration could only come by the death of Jesus, God’s Son, on the cross. So, Jesus willingly came, lived a perfect life, laid down His life in the death on the cross, and took His life back up again. He is now seated in heaven next to God on His throne.

    In an amazing prayer of Jesus right before He died upon the cross, Jesus declared that He came to glorify God. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee” (John 17:1). Glorify means “to reveal the divine character and attributes of God.” Jesus did that. Everything Jesus did revealed God to mankind from the perfect life that He lived to His suffering death for sinners. Why would Jesus be willing to do all of that? Continue reading His prayer in the garden: “2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:2-3). Jesus gave His life on the cross to restore that separation caused by man because of sin and to give eternal life to anyone who would receive this gift. There is only one “work” that a person must do to become a Christian. “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29). One must believe on Jesus, whom God sent.  

    Jesus prayed for Himself and what He was about to do (His death upon the cross), for His disciples, and finally, He prayed for any who would believe upon Him. However, there is something very interesting found in John chapter seventeen that needs to be understood.

    What could be so important? The gift that God gave to Jesus. God gave to Jesus the people who chose to believe in Jesus and the work He did on the cross. They are Believers (Christians), the ones who accepted the free gift of God. Take note of the following: Believers (Christians) are God’s gift to His Son, Jesus. Read the following excerpts from verses in Jesus’ prayer found in John 17:

    • “…to as many as thou hast given him” (John 17:2).
    • “…the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me …” (John 17:6).
    • “… I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me …” (John 17:9).
    • “…keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one… those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost …” (John 17:11-12).
    • “…I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am …” (John 17:24).

    However, the best one is the following verse: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). Jesus knew that I would one day believe on Him, and He prayed for me in the garden that night. Moreover, He knew that I would be a gift to Him from His Father, God.

    Have you believed in Jesus, becoming a gift from God to Jesus?

    How to be Saved

  • Apply Your Heart unto Wisdom

    “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
    Psalm 90:12

    Have you ever had an urgency to do something? What drove that urgency?

    For those who belong to the Lord, that urgency should come from Him. We should not act upon our own fears or uncertainties – but we often do. There should be a basis of a relationship with God that we know where He wants us to be, and that we are doing what we should be doing. Sometimes He will place something of importance in front of us that we need to take care of now. Most often, it is just the regular day by day as we follow Him as He leads. There are many things of this world that will affect that day to day consistency if we allow them. That is something of which we must be keenly aware.

    One can’t help but think back to the time right before Jesus was to be crucified. He gave his disciples some much needed final instruction. He knew that it would be different for them – for He would no longer be physically walking with them. They would need to know what was happening and what to do. One very interesting thing we can find is found in John 17. There was so much on Jesus’ mind. He knew the day for which he had come had finally arrived: the day that He would willingly lay down his perfect, sinless life to pay the penalty for all of sinful mankind – if only they would believe.

    He went to the garden to pray. He knew the day was at hand, and He knew there was one final thing He had to complete. At the beginning of His prayer, He recalled why God had sent Him into the world, and he acknowledged that He had completed the things God hand sent Him to do. But that only encompassed the first five verses. The rest of the chapter, through verse twenty-six, Jesus prayed for others. He prayed for His disciples that had walked and talked with Him, for they were about to face the world without Jesus’ physical presence to be with them. All together different than the previous three years had been! But He prayed that God would help them remember the Words that they had been taught, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me” (John 17:8). He had told them what they needed to know to continue. He understood that trouble would come, but that God would be with them, encourage them, and help them, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). The disciples still had work to do. They were to tell the world what Jesus had come to do, establishing the foundation of the church and its doctrines.

    But the one amazing thing that has always encouraged me is that Jesus knew that one day I would believe in Him, giving my life to Him. He knew that I, too, would need encouragement. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). He knew that I must understand that He placed me here for a purpose, to fulfill His will for my life, and that I needed to act upon that – not what I want. Jesus was right where God wanted Him. He had done it all, with one final job to compete: He had to lay down His life and take it up again. I will never have such an important job to complete – no one ever will! But each person that belongs to Jesus has a job to fulfill. It is important to be wise enough to understand that. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Read what else He prayed – for each Believer: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). One day I will be with Him in heaven, but until then, I need to be right were Jesus was – right in the midst of the plan God had for His life.

    Are you in the midst of the plan God has for your life?

  • Our Help in a Time of Need

    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
    Psalm 46:1

    Have you ever found yourself in a place where you did not know what to do, or even where to go? What did you do about it? Did you cry, did you grumble and complain, or stress about the situation? Or did you take your problem to God in prayer? How often we forget that our first response should be to take our requests to God!

    As Christians, we have the privilege to approach the throne of God with our requests. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6). This should be our immediate reaction when we need to receive an answer from God. We also must remember that He will answer us in His timing – not ours. Have you ever asked God a question, yet did not wait for Him to answer? How often do we miss God’s plan for our lives when we are too impatient to wait upon Him?

    Recently, I have been a part of a group of people who were seeking God and His plan for us. We had committed to stand by the truths found in God’s Word. However, we needed clear direction. We prayed. We searched for answers. We waited. We continued in the path we believed He had for us to travel. Many other people disagreed with the decisions that we had made. Relationships were lost. New ones have been made. We set a date that we needed an answer from the Lord, or we could not continue. The date came, and God answered our prayer on that day, above and beyond our hopes and expectations! We had put into practice what we had learned: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6)

    Through all of the turmoil during those days, and the negative words spoken against us for standing for the truths found in God’s Word, we understood more about the truths of God’s Word. “2. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4.  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:2-7). We experienced that, truly: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). We recognized that God is with us.

    We witnessed first hand what it is to do the following: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

    Another encouraging word… “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

    “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:24).

    Will you wait upon God?

  • Lesson 13 (Lesson 52): Jesus in the Old Testament: Jesus our Friend

    Key Verse

    “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if any of them have friends.  What characteristics make someone your friend? (i.e.: dependable, good listener, kind, always there, etc.)  Read today’s memory verse to your class.  Ask if any of them have a friend like that.  Would they, themselves, be the kind of friend that would lay down their life for another person?  The best friend in the world we could ever have is Jesus.  Today we will look at Jesus’ prayer in the garden on the night he was arrested.  Have them pay attention to what was on Jesus’ heart and mind as we read His prayer in the garden the night before He died on the cross.

    Summary:  We have been studying the five Personal Books of the Old Testament.  As we have learned, these books dealt with individuals’ very personal experiences with God.  We have been able to see some serious heart issues as these individuals sought to know and understand God better.  In studying them, we should now understand how very personal of a God we serve.  When these men cried out for answers, God answered.

    If you remember last week, we learned of a perfect love and compared it to a Christian’s love with God.  Just as God loved us and sent His Son, Jesus, we are to love Him with all of our hearts.  If our students can learn to love Jesus with all of their hearts, then their hearts will be prepared to one day love a man or a woman.  Remember, Christians are the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25:  “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”.  Compare this thought to today’s memory verse.)

    Today we will see the heart of Jesus revealed as He prayed in the garden on the eve of his arrest and crucifixion.  Just as the men who wrote the Personal Books laid their hearts open and bare for us to read about, Jesus’ prayer revealed the deepest and innermost thoughts of His heart.  Notice how He first dealt with himself, then his disciples He would be leaving behind, and finally with those who hadn’t believed upon Him yet – many of which hadn’t even been born yet (that is you and me.)  After this great prayer, we then look back at Psalm 22 which foretold of Jesus’ suffering death upon the cross, realizing Jesus knew He was about to lay down His life for His friends.  This is the greatest picture of a friend (see today’s key verse).  Jesus is the greatest friend because He gave up His life for me (and anyone who would believe).

    Just as we have been learning how to relate to God as the men who recorded the Personal Books, Jesus is our ultimate example of one who was not afraid to make His petitions known to God – knowing He would answer.  He is also a perfect example of the kind of friend we are to be to others.  Remember, the people He prayed for were the same people He gave His life for – His friends.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Jesus is our ultimate example of the kind of friend we are to be – willing to give all.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 52 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 52 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  For today’s lesson give your students a blank piece of paper.  Have them write down some of their friend’s names.  Once they have finished this, have them think of something specific that they can pray about for each friend. (Examples:  maybe their friend is sick, or maybe they are on vacation, or maybe they are not very truthful and need prayer, maybe they have a friend who is especially mean to others and need prayer to help them be kinder, etc.)  Over all, encourage them to see needs in their own hearts and lives and the lives of others for which they can pray  Children, too, need to learn the importance of prayer.  And they will be encouraged and blessed as they see a prayer that they have written down answered!

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 3 (Lesson 42): Psalms 42-72: Book 2

    Key Verse

    “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”  Psalm 55:22

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they have ever had a problem.  Do you remember the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt?  Did they have a problem?  What did they do? (They cried out to God.)  What did God do for them? (He sent Moses to deliver them from bondage in Egypt.)  Did God take care of them?  Read the memory verse for today.

    burden:  your problem

    sustain:  hold you, guide you, and provide for you

    suffer:  cause or allow

    righteous:  lawful, or honest; one who obeys God’s laws

    moved:  be removed; cast away; or off course

    God will provide and take care of His people who obey His laws and live for Him.  We will read words David and others wrote as they remembered God’s provision for His people through the years.

    Summary Today we continue with the second of the Personal books, Psalms.  Remember that the Psalms is broken up into 5 books.  We will look at book two of the Psalms (chapters 42-72) today, revealing man and God’s dealings with man as compared to the book of Exodus.  We find the main theme was Israel and their cry for deliverance, their redemption from Egypt, learning that the law reveals sin, and learning to trust God.

    After Moses led the people out of Egypt, God spoke to them from the top of Mount Sinai, and it was there the law was given (beginning with the Ten Commandments – Exodus 19-20.)  This law showed mankind their sin.  They were to obey God’s Law.  The Israelites were taught that obedience to God is necessary, and that they could not be a redeemed, set apart people, unless they obeyed God’s commands.

    During the book of Exodus, God’s people learned to trust Him for everything.  God provided for their every need in the wilderness – a cloud of covering during the heat of the day, a pillar of fire by night, food (manna), and even water (from the flint rock.)  They learned to trust in Him – completely.

    Much of the second book of the Psalms was written by David.  If you remember, he spent many years fleeing King Saul in fear for his life.  During that time, he learned to trust in God.  He cried out many times for God to provide for him, and even to deliver him from enemies.  During this time, he learned to praise God for His wonderful provisions and answer to prayers.  David also learned that sin separated him from God, until he repented of his sin.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Encourage them to learn to trust God for everything they need in life.  Help them recognize that sin separates us from God until we come to him in true repentance.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 42 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 42 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we colored the verse Psalm 46:10a.  After we finished that, we glued the verse to a piece of construction paper.  The important thing was to understand the verse – to be still and know God!

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 2 (Lesson 41): Psalms 1-41: Book 1

    Key Verse

    “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  Colossians 3:16

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  After reading the verse with your students use the following definitions to help them understand it a little better.

    word of Christ:  refers to the revelation which Jesus brought into the world which is undiscoverable except by God and the Scriptures

    wisdom:  practical wisdom; sound judgment; good sense

    teaching:  to advise, or put in mind – as a tutor would do

    admonishing:  to caution or reprove gently; to warn

    hymns: a song sung in praise to God

    Use this discussion to prepare your students to understand the importance of the Psalms as we begin our study of them.  We see in our memory verse that the Psalms are songs sung as praises to God, but they are also to instill wisdom and good judgment in our hearts and minds to teach us how to live.

    Summary:  Today we continue with the second of the Personal books, Psalms. Psalms is known as the Israelites’ songbook.  David is often accredited to as its author.  Although he probably wrote almost half of them (about 73), there were other authors, known and unknown.  Many of the Psalms were written when different men approached God in prayer because of circumstances surrounding them.  You can see instances of great sorrow, admitted sin, repentance, hope and trust in God, faith, and a great love for God.  Throughout Psalms, man’s prayers from the heart turn to singing in that prayer – ending with man praising God, revealing that the Psalms are not only prayers from the heart, but songs as well.  Some were written in praise and adoration of who God is vs. who man is. So, many of these hymns are rich in Israel’s history.  If we know the history, we will better understand the circumstances surrounding many of these songs.

    In the book of Psalms, we find God is infinite – sovereign; yet despite man’s failings, God still communicates with man, and allows man to communicate with him.

    We will especially see how the Psalms, broken into five books, parallel to the first 5 books of the Bible (the Law).  Many believe the 5 books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy) are God’s words to His people, whereas the 5 books of the Psalms are God’s people’s words (prayers and songs) back to God.  Each of these five divisions ends with its own doxology (a hymn of praise to God).  We begin today with the first book of the Psalms (chapters 1-41) revealing man and God’s dealings with man as compared to the book of Genesis.  Remember in Genesis, we saw sin enter into the world, causing separation from God.  We also found God actively involved in men’s lives.  You may want to review that in Genesis there were 4 main events (the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel) and 4 main people (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph).

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  All of God’s Word is important – converting the soul and making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7).

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 41 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 41 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we took an outline of a sheep and filled it with cotton balls to make a fluffy sheep.  That was one way to remember that David (who we learned was a shepherd boy) wrote many of the Psalms.  You could choose to do a craft that reminds your students of one of the 4 Main Events in Genesis (Creation, Fall, Flood, and Tower of Babel) as we compare them to Book 1 of Psalms.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 6 (Lesson 32): I Samuel 1-7: Eli to Samuel

    Key Verse

    “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.”  Proverbs 13:13

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Help them understand despiseth means “to disrespect” and feareth means “to be afraid; reverent.”  After you have explained these words to them, help them understand this verse is referring to God’s Word and His commandments.  It clearly helps us see that those who disrespect God’s Word will be destroyed, but one who reveres God’s Word will be rewarded.  Help them understand the difference and encourage them to choose to revere God’s Word.

    Summary:  As we begin the first book of Samuel, we will be introduced to the first two of four main characters found within the book.  They are Eli and Samuel.  Most of our time will be spent on Samuel.  His mother, Hannah, had been barren and prayed to God for a son.  God gave her the request, and Hannah kept her promise.  When she had prayed, she had promised to give back to God the son He would give to her.  Samuel grew up in God’s house serving a godless priest (remember the condition the nation was in from the book of Judges).  His name was Eli.  He had two sons who were wicked men.  In the book of I Samuel, we see how God allowed those who despised His Word to be destroyed, and how he took one who feared God’s commands and lifted him up to be a priest and prophet of God.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  We are to make our requests known to God, so that He can answer our prayers.  God’s people must always obey God’s commands and do what He tells us to do instead of what we want.  Also, we must listen for God to call upon us so that he can use us to serve him as did Samuel.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 32 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 32 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1

    Lesson 32 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 2

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we found a Samuel coloring picture that we cut out to fit into a Samuel bedroll coloring picture.  We colored each picture.  We then cut out the bedroll coloring and glued the sides and bottom together to make a pocket for Samuel to sleep in.  Remind them of the importance of hearing God when He calls and responding to that call.

    Another idea to do in this lesson is to take Lesson 32 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1 and cut apart the Key Verse that is in pieces and glue it together on a piece of construction paper (see the picture below).

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.