The Wednesday Notes
PrayerThe GOD HELP ME Prayer, Feb 13, 2002
This is a short desperate prayer because of an urgent need.
Planned Prayer, Feb 20, 2002
Going for a walk with Jesus–let’s talk
Prayer Plan, Mar 27, 2002
The Lord’s prayer; a structure for prayer.
Prayer is Incense, Apr 3, 2002
Filling the bowl in heaven.
Prayer is Tarrying, Apr 10, 2002
To stay–especially, longer than originally intended; to hang around.
Prayer is Listening, Apr 17, 2002
Learn the language of God in the law–go to Horeb.
Prayer is Hearing, Apr 24, 2002
Positioning yourself to where you can hear; not hiding; not refusing
Prayer is Doing, May 1, 2002
If we have heard from God–take it to heart and put it into practice
Prayer is Constantly, May 8, 2002
Whatever we are doing, be in prayer–continually
Prayer is Alone, May 15, 2002
Prayer is done by you--alone--withdrawn--in secret.
May 15, 2002 – Prayer is Alone - Part 10
Prayer is AloneYOU MAY PRAY WITH PEOPLE, BUT PRAYER IS ALONE– IT IS DONE BY YOU.
PEOPLE MAY PRAY FOR YOU– BUT THAT IS NOT YOU PRAYING–unless you "amen" it.
WHERE? WITHDRAWN
– a room; a friend’s place
– a different town
– a boat; a lake
– a mountainside
– a desertCloset
Matt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. KJV
Gen 43:30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Lonely Place
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 22:41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
Matt 14:13-14 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.
Mark 3:7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.
Luke 9:10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,
Withdrawn from church people
Ezra 10:6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
MEDITATE
Isaac
Genesis 24:63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. NIV
Meditate on the Law of God
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalms 19:14; Psalms 48:9; Psalms 77:12; Psalms 104:34; Psalms 119:15; Psalms 119:23; Psalms 119:27; Psalms 119:48; Psalms 119:78; Psalms 119:97; Psalms 119:99; Psalms 119:148.
Meditate on the works of God
This is your diary; your journal, your record of what God has done.
Psalms 143:5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. [and Psalms 145:5]
PRAYER IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT– IF YOU ARE WATCHING, YOU ARE NOT PRAYING
Even during "corporate prayer", our "amen" means that individually we have agreed to what was said and in effect made it our own prayer. [1 Cor 14:16]
May 8, 2002 - Prayer is Constantly - Part 9
Prayer is CONSTANTLY
1 Thess 5:16-18 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
• Did they eat?
• Did they sleep?
• Did they work?
• Did they do life while they were constantly in prayer?PAUL
Rom 1:8-10 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.2 Thess 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
2 Tim 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
• Does that mean Paul was always in his prayer closet?
• Did Paul never eat or sleep?
• Was Paul always on his knees saying specific prayers?
• How did he do it?Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Romans 8:26-27; 1 Cor 14:14-15; Jude 20 reinforces Paul’s methods
EPAPHRAS
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.WIDOW
1 Tim 5:5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.ANNA
Luke 2:36-38 ...worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.JESUS
Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ... because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"ALWAYS THANK GOD
Col 1:3-4 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints-1 Thess 1:2-3 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philem 4-7 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
PRAY WITH JOY
Phil 1:4-6 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.PRAYER IS CRYING:
Psalm 5; Psalm 39:12 “hear my cry”
May 1, 2002 – Prayer is Doing - Part 8
Prayer is DOINGIF IN PRAYER WE ARE HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD, THEN WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RECEIVING HIS WORDS AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WHILE IN PRAYER, IF WE ARE NOT HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD, WHAT ARE WE DOING? APPARENTLY JUST TELLING GOD WHAT TO DO–BEING GOD’S BOSS.
Ezek 33:30-32 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.
Deut 32:46 [Moses] said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.
Luke 6:47-49 [Matt 7:24-27] I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and DOES NOT PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Without ACTION, faith is dead
James 2:14-17 ...In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.1 Peter 1:13-14 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
ACTION IS OBEDIENCE
1 Sam 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.Rom 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
NON-ACTION IS DISOBEDIENCE
James 4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.Gen 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
1 Kings 13 Hazard of NOT obeying the word of God, completely.
ACTION MAY NOT TASTE GOOD
Rev 10:9-11 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.
Apr 24, 2002 – Prayer is Hearing - Part 7
Prayer is HearingIn order to listen, you need to be able to hear. You can’t hear God when you don’t want to. And you can’t hear God if you are not near where He is speaking. Hearing does require proximity.
Heb 3:15 {Ps 95) As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
Hearing is always on.
You cannot shut your ears; you can only drown the sound out. White noise and music are used in business to drown out interrupting sounds. Background music has no highs or lows that might startle anyone.
In "silence" you start hearing your body functions such as your heartbeat or your stomach doing material handling.
Eccl 1:8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
HOW TO NOT HEAR
- Be far enough away so you can’t hear
- Have enough things in the way such as walls–shut the door
- Wear ear plugs (this only deadens the sound)
- Physically damage your hearing mechanism: eardrum, nerves, etc.
- Have even louder background noise: music, radio, TV
- Concentrate on something else; like reading
- Choose
Not hearing God is a willful choiceAnd it requires specific action such as requesting God to shut up. Or going away from where God is: leave Horeb, leave church, leave Christians, don’t read the Bible, stay away from all potential of hearing.
Deut 18:16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die."
Not hearing God is foolish and senseless
Jer 5:21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:
Not hearing God is arrogance
Jer 13:15 Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.
Not hearing God is rebellion
Ezek 12:1-2 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.
Not hearing God means you do not belong to God
John 8:47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
NOT HEARING PARABLES
Matt 13:13-17 This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
"'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
NOT HEARING CORRECTLY
This is listening again. Remember–potentially we can hear everything. We MUST learn to separate the voices. God is usually in the one closer to a whisper. And don’t add your own interpretations.
"God told me that you should..." usually indicates something is not going as planned and this is used almost like an expletive to reinforce faulty planning–similar to shouting when starting to lose an argument. Art Katz points out that in charismatic circles, when the presence of God is not "felt"and certain manifestations don’t happen, the music gets louder. "God told me.." is usually an attempt at guilt transfer.
Apr 17, 2002 – Prayer is Listening - Part 6
Prayer is Listening
Some might say that effective communication is 10% talking and 90% listening. Is effective prayer 10% talk and 90% listening?John 10:27-28
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.John 10:15-16
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.Rev 3:20
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.Rev 3:21-22
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."HOW?
Adam walked with the Lord. Abraham talked and had lunch with the Lord. Noah heard the voice of God. Enoch walked with God. Maybe that was easier. We–more often than not–have an unseen God.Burning bush
Acts 7:30-34; Exodus 3:1-5
– An amazing sight
– Holy Ground
Moses went over to look more closely–a pilgrimage at Mount Horeb.Gentle Whisper
1 Kings 19:11-13
– wind
– earthquake
– fire
– gentle whisper
Elijah was on a retreat–from Jezebel–getting away from it all– he made a pilgrimage to Mount Horeb.HOW DOES ONE HEAR GOD? GO TO HOREB (the roots of Law).
Mal 4:4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.THE LAW OF GOD IS THE LANGUAGE OF GOD
Listening requires knowing the language: the law of God reveals the language of God. Learn the language: the “Aleph, Beth, Gimel’s”–study scripture 2 Tim 2:15Psalms 119
Aleph: I will obey your decrees
Beth: I have hidden your word in my heart
Gimel: Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Daleth: Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
He: Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Waw: I have put my hope in your laws.
Zayin: In the night I remember your name, O LORD
Heth: I have sought your face with all my heart;
Teth: Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
Yodh: for I have put my hope in your word.
Kaph: I have put my hope in your word.
Lamedh: Your word, O LORD, is eternal;
Mem: Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Nun: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Samekh: Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live;
Ayin: Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me
Pe: Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Tsadhe: Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right.
Qoph: Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true.
Resh: All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Sin and Shin: I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil.
Taw: Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.THE TEN
Exodus 20; Deut 5 and Matt 22:37-40 When asked, Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Apr 10, 2002 – Prayer is Tarrying - Part 5
Prayer is TARRYING:
to stay–especially longer than originally intended–to wait--to hang around a whileMatt 26:38; Mark 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: TARRY ye here, and watch. KJV
Luke 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to TARRY with them. KJV
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but TARRY ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. KJV
John 4:40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would TARRY with them: and he abode there two days. KJV
John 21:22-23 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he TARRY till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he TARRY till I come, what is that to thee? KJV
Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but WAIT for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." NIV
Rom 8:23-25 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we WAIT eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we WAIT for it patiently. NIV
IN HEAVEN
Rev 6:11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. NIVTARRYING IMPLIES A PROCESS IS INVOLVED
Usually, we humans have little patience for the process to complete itself.
- Creation was presented as a 6-day process
- Job went through a period of suffering
- Moses and Israel went through 10 plagues and then wandered
- Daniel had to wait for an answer (Dan 10:12-13)FAITH IMPLIES TARRYING
Heb 11:39-40 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. NIVWAITING IN THE PSALMS
Ps 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and WAIT in expectation. NIVPs 27:14 WAIT for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and WAIT for the LORD. NIVPs 33:20 We WAIT in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield. NIVPs 37:34 WAIT for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. NIVPs 38:15 I WAIT for you, O LORD;
you will answer, O Lord my God. NIVPs 119:166 I WAIT for your salvation, O LORD,
and I follow your commands. NIVPs 130:5-6 I WAIT for the LORD, my soul WAITs,
and in his word I put my hope. 6 My soul WAITs for the Lord
more than watchmen WAIT for the morning,
more than watchmen WAIT for the morning. NIV
Apr 3, 2002 – Prayer is Incense - Part 4
Prayer is IncensePs 141:1-2
O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me.
Hear my voice when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. [NIV]Mal 1:10-11
My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty. [NIV]Matt 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. [NIV]Rev 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [NIV]Rev 8:3-5
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. [NIV]{Luke 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. [NIV] }
WHAT IS INCENSE?
Ex 30:1-36
30:1 "Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high--its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding--two on opposite sides--to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony--before the atonement cover that is over the Testimony--where I will meet with you.
7 "Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. ...
34 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take fragrant spices--gum resin, onycha and galbanum--and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. [NIV]STRANGE INCENSE
Lev 10:1-3
10:1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
"'Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.'"
Aaron remained silent. [NIV]USE OF INCENSE
Ex 30:37-38
37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD. 38 Whoever makes any like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from his people." [NIV]
Secrets of the Temple and Rabbinic Attempts to Uncover ThemSource: http://www.jewishgates.org/taland/talmud/kabbalah/secrets.stm
According to our Mishnah there were special secret skills required for the Temple worship. These secrets were preserved by different families who guarded them jealously. Scholars are very suspicious of this tradition: one of the great strengths of both the Hebrew cult and Rabbinic Judaism is that there was no secret cult. Perhaps the cultural pressures of the surrounding religions influenced our sages to create some secrets for the Temple cult as well. Be that as may be, these secrets were supposedly kept by specific families. When they refused to make their secrets public, our sages tried to get others to produce the same products. They failed.
THOSE OF THE HOUSE OF ABTINAS WOULD NOT TEACH ANYTHING ABOUT THE PREPARATION OF THE INCENSE. Our Rabbis taught: The house of Abtinas were expert in preparing the incense but would not teach [their art].The Sages sent for specialists from Alexandria of Egypt, who knew how to compound incense as well as they, but did not know how to make the smoke ascend as well as they.
The smoke of the former ascended [as straight] as a stick, whereas the smoke of the latter was scattered in every direction.
When the Sages heard of this, they quoted: ‘Everyone that is called by My name, I have created for My glory,' as it is said: The Lord has made everything for His own purpose, and [said]: The house of Abtinas may return to their [expected] place.
The Sages sent for them, but they would not come.
Then they doubled their hire and they came. Every day [up til then] they would receive twelve minas, [from] that day twenty-four.
The Sages said to them: What reason did you have for not teaching [your art]?
They said: They knew in our father's house that this House is going to be destroyed and they said: Perhaps an unworthy man will learn [this art] and will serve an idol therewith.
And for the following reason was their memory kept in honor: Never did a bride of their house go forth perfumed and when they married a woman from elsewhere they expressly forbade her to do so lest people say: From [the preparation of] the incense they are perfuming themselves. [They did so] to fulfil the command: ‘You shall be clear before the Lord and before Israel.'
It was taught: R. Ishmael said: Once I was walking on the way and I came upon one of their children's children and I said to him: Your forefathers sought to increase their glory and to reduce the glory of the Creator; now the glory of the Creator is at its expected level, and He has reduced their glory.
R. Akiva said: R. Ishmael b. Luga related to me: One day I and one of their descendants went to the field to gather herbs and I saw him crying and laughing. I said to him: ‘Why did you cry?'
He answered: ‘I recalled the glory of my ancestors'
‘And why did you laugh happily?'
He replied: ‘Because the Holy One, blessed be He, will restore it to us'
‘And what caused you to remember?'
He said: ‘There is smoke-raiser (the kind of plant which caused the smoke to go straight up) before me.'
‘Show it to me!'
He said to me: ‘We are bound by oath not to show it to any person'
R. Yochanan b. Nuri said: Once I came upon an old man, who had a scroll [containing prescriptions] for frankincense in his hand.
I asked him: ‘From where are you [derived]?'
He said: ‘I come from the house of Abtinas'
‘What have you in your hand?'
He replied: ‘A scroll [containing prescriptions] for frankincense.'
‘Show it to me!'
He said: ‘As long as my father's house was alive they would not surrender it to any one, but now here it is, but be very careful about it
When I came and told thereof to R. Akiva he said: ‘Henceforth it is forbidden to speak of them negatively.'
1 Kings 3:3
3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. [NIV]1 Kings 11:7-8
8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. [NIV]2 Kings 12:2-3 (REPEATED IN MANY AREAS)
3 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. [NIV]Ezek 16:18-19
18 And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense before them. 19 Also the food I provided for you-the fine flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat-you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign LORD. [NIV]INTERCESSION INCENSE
Num 16:46-50
46 Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started." 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped. [NIV]Prov 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.PROTECTION INCENSE
Lev 16:12-13
12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the Testimony, so that he will not die.[NIV]ANGELS-CAN-APPEAR INCENSE
Luke 1:8-14
8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.DAVIDIC INCENSE
Psalms 17
17:1 A prayer of David.
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer--it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2 May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. 4 As for the deeds of men--by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. 5 My steps have held to your paths;my feet have not slipped.
6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. 7 Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings 9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.
13 Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword. 14 O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. 15 And I--in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. [NIV]Psalms 102
102:1 A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.
Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. 2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
3 For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. 4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. 5 Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones. 6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. 7 I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. 8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. 9 For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears 10 because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. 11 My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. 13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. 14 For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. 15 The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. 16 For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. 17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: 19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." 21 So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem 22 when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.
23 In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. 24 So I said:"Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. 25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end. 28 The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you." [NIV]
Mar 27, 2002 – A Prayer Plan - Part 3
Prayer PlanQUESTIONS THE DISCIPLES DID NOT ASK
• How do you change water into wine?
• How do you walk on water?
• How do you heal the lame?
• How do you calm storms?
• How do you heal the blind?
• How do you know what people are thinking?
• How do you heal the leper?
• How do you feed thousands from a loaf of bread?
• How do you raise the dead?
• How do you tell parables?
• How do you know scripture so well?
But they did ask how to pray.
Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."INSTRUCTIONS ON PRAYING [Matt 6:5-7]
1. Don’t pray for show
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.2. Pray in secret
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.3. Do not babble
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.What about repetition?
What about reciting prayers learned by rout?
What about tongues that sound like babbling?
Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.1 Cor 14:13-19 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Groaning
Rom 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.WHY PRAY WHEN GOD KNOWS ANYWAY?
Matt 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.Matt 21:21-22 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
why pray when you can worry?
Matt 6:28-34 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
REVIEW
The “God help me” prayer – this is a short desperate prayer because of an urgent need.Planned, scheduled prayer – going for a walk with Jesus
Intercessory pray – praying for the promises God has made; praying for His will.
A PRAYER PLAN
The apostles asked Jesus how to pray. Jesus gave a structure for their and our use.The greatest fear in most people’s lives is speaking in front of people. Public prayer is considered public speaking so people fear it. Their mind is more on their presentation and appearance than on the words actually said. And the other side is the “show” Jesus warned about.
Did the Apostles have this fear of public speaking–they were mostly fishermen? Or did they see the power that Jesus’ prayers had and wanted that?
Jesus gave a rough outline for public speaking prayer. When your mind freezes up in public, follow the process.
And He gave an organization scheme all of us should use when we do any kind of praying. This is our closet praying, too.
Matt 6:9-13 "This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'
NIVLuke wrote it down approximately the same.
Luke 11:2-4 He said to them, "When you pray, say:
"'Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.'"Some manuscripts also include (KJV):
“For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.”
STEP ONE
Salutation.
Who are you talking to? What are some of His attributes so you and anyone else knows who you are talking to?Jesus’ example included:
Our father
The one in heaven
The one who is holy
The one with a holy nameOthers could include all the names and attributes of God:
Creator
Provider
Healer
Judge
Savior
Redeemer
etc.Jesus taught His disciples to pray to the Father because that is what He did. Should we do the same or should we pray to Jesus who is with the Father or the Holy Spirit who is with us?
John 14:12-14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 16:26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
STEP TWO
Adoration.
This is part of the salutation in that not only is God identified as holy and His name is holy, but the person praying declares how holy He and His name are. We have addressed whom we are speaking to, now how do we adore him? The Psalms will teach us how.STEP THREE
Will.
Adam took God’s will and replaced it with his own. When we pray, we desire God’s will replace our Adamic will just like it is in heaven. In effect, we are crucifying ourself–burying our nature–letting God rule.This is acknowledging the prophecy of God and desiring that they be fulfilled as written. This is praying the promises of God rather than whining about our problems–which He also cares about.
This is knowing there is an Israel–God’s chosen people whom we should pray about.
This is praying the other things He told us to pray about:
governments
leadership
the churchSTEP FOUR
Needs.
This is what we know and He knows we need today–not tomorrow. We don’t know what tomorrow’s needs may be, so why ask? Let’s get our concerns–our worries–out of the way.Luke 12:22-31 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Matt 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
STEP FIVE
Forgive.
Self repentance is needed. It seems repentance is always needed when we pray. God is holy. We are not. Only Jesus is holy.Some pray to saints because Jesus is “too” holy. Some pray to Mary because Jesus has to listen to His mother. People are conscious of their own unholiness but frequently ignore the practice of David.
Ps 19:12-13 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.Ps 51:1-5
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.Ps 32:1-5 Of David. A maskil.
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"--and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
To the same measure that we forgive, we will be forgiven. If our forgiveness is a teaspoon full, we will receive a teaspoon of forgiveness.
Matt 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
STEP SIX
Lead.
This is asking for guidance. Let our walk be in ways that keep us from needing forgiveness. We make plans, but God guides our steps if we let Him. How far away from the evil one can we walk?Prov 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.Ps 37:27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
STEP SEVEN
Conclusion.
This is continuing in praise and worship of God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.REITERATION
In six days God created the earth–in six steps we can pray.1. Salutation - to whom
2. Adoration - what do we think of Him
3. Will - God has declared His will through the prophets
4. Needs - He said to ask for today even though He knows
5. Forgive - Repentance
6. Lead - help us walk far from the evil oneSabbath - conclude in worship and praise
PRACTICE PRAYING
1. Salutation
2. Adoration
3. Your will
4. My needs
5. Forgive me
6. Lead me
Continue praise and worship
Feb 20, 2002 – Planned Prayer - Part 2
PLANNED PRAYERThis is the type of prayer where we have a schedule. The simplest is the mealtime prayer, the bedtime prayer–scheduled for every meal and every bedtime and always ending in “Amen”.
“Now I lay me down to sleep,
I prayer the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.”“Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
may this food to us be blest,
for Jesus sake.”“God is great, God is good,
we will thank Him for this food.”And most popular:
“Rub-a-dub-dub,
bless this grub,
yeah God.”Scheduled prayer, yes, but not much communion with God.
Slightly more prayer may be in daily devotion: personal or family altar. Yet, that is sometimes 90/10 scripture reading and a few words hoping to keep you from harm’s way during the day.
SCHEDULED PRAYER SHOULD BE:
Amos 3:3 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?Scheduled prayer should be more, “Hey God. Can the two of us go for a walk at this time, all the time?” This is a one-on-one staff meeting. This is God and you going fishing–or going shopping–playing golf. Just the two of you.
1. Adam
Walked with God in the garden. Apparently, the routine in the Garden was for God to come and walk with Adam and Eve in the evening, as the day was cooling down. They needed to talk to each other and wanted to. It was fellowship. It was also highly desirable by God because He even came to walk and talk after they sinned.Gen 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
2. Enoch
Walked with God–and they just kept walking. There is no indication of prayer, but how can a person walk with another without fellowship and communion?Two disciples walking–when Jesus came
Luke 24:30-32 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"Gen 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
Heb 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Jude 14-16 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
Walking and talking with God will give you more information and will aid you in the prophetic because you learn how to talk God’s way.
3. Daniel
Dan 6:10-11 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.Daniel had a reputation with God–God brags about him:
Ezek 14:12-14 The word of the LORD came to me: 13 "Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, 14 even if these three men-Noah, Daniel and Job-were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.Ezek 14:19-20 "Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals, 20 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.
Ezek 28:3 Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you?
Daniel had confidence:
Dan 1:11-13 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.Dan 2:16 At this, [a death sentence for all wisemen in the land] Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
Daniel had impact:
Dan 9:20-23 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill- 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:4. Anna
A regular schedule of prayer and fasting will prepare you for a surprising encounter with God–and you will recognize it where others do not. And you will know more about it than others.Luke 2:36-38 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
5. Jesus
Did Jesus need to pray? He is God. Yet, He scheduled time with the Father: dark, solitary place, lonely place, mountainside, specific place..Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Luke 9:18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
Luke 9:28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
WILL THE SON OF GOD FIND FAITH WHEN HE RETURNS?
Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"
6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
6. Beginning church
When Jesus ascended, the church-to-be met to pray.Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!
7. Peter and John
Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the afternoon.Scheduled pray at specific times.
Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
8. Widow
A true widow in need prays.1 Tim 5:5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
9. Paul prays night and day
2 Tim 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.1 Thess 3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Col 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Paul suggests that he prays constantly–that his schedule for praying is 24/7. Is that do-able?
Matt 6:5-8 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Luke 12:29-31 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
MIND and SPIRIT
Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.1 Cor 14:14-15 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
Rom 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
10. Besides
1 John 2:1-2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.“He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own;...” In the Garden, #635
Feb 13, 2002 – “God Help Me” Prayer - Part 1
THE “GOD HELP ME” PRAYERThis is a short desperate prayer because of an urgent need.
Consider Exodus 20:7 and the wrong use of the name of God. Just the inflection in a person’s voice could change the prayer into an abomination. Yet this type of prayer moved the shadow from the sun.
We hear this type of “prayer” all around us in cursing–they just don’t realize that they are praying. When someone hollers out “God D_m it”, they have just uttered a prayer to God asking Him to condemn the situation or person to an eternity of suffering. That cursing is always said with great emotion and intense feelings–not infrequently with personal pain. Do you see why it is a prayer? And does God hear it? And is it a violation of that commandment?
Yet, maybe we can learn something from our not quite sanctified acquaintances. If our short prayers–“God Help Me”–would have the same level of intensity, maybe the sun would back up for us. Instead, we freeze up and try to be holy using “thee” and “thou” rather than crying out like Hezekiah.
1. Hezekiah’s Prayer
2 Kings 20:1-11
20:1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.'"
7 Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.
8 Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?"
9 Isaiah answered, "This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?"
10 "It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps."
11 Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.Isa 38
38:1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
7 "'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: 8 I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.'" So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.9 A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
10 I said, "In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years?" 11 I said, "I will not again see the LORD, the LORD, in the land of the living; no longer will I look on mankind, or be with those who now dwell in this world. 12 Like a shepherd's tent my house has been pulled down and taken from me. Like a weaver I have rolled up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom; day and night you made an end of me. 13 I waited patiently till dawn, but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of me. 14 I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"
15 But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. 17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 18 For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. 19 The living, the living--they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.
20 The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.
21 Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."
22 Hezekiah had asked, "What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the LORD?"
NIVProv 25:1
25:1 More Proverbs of Solomon
These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
Some believe Hezekiah’s men and Hezekiah were actively involved in scribing scripture and that Psalm 120 through 134 were specifically added and/or created by Hezekiah for his additional 15 years of life and the 10 steps the shadow moved. 10 of them may have been written by him.
Psalms 120:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 121:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 122:1 A song of ascents. Of David.
Psalms 123:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 124:1 A song of ascents. Of David.
Psalms 125:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 126:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 127:1 A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
Psalms 128:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 129:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 130:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 131:1 A song of ascents. Of David.
Psalms 132:1 A song of ascents.
Psalms 133:1 A song of ascents. Of David.
Psalms 134:1 A song of ascents.AND ALSO
ASCENTS, SONG OF ( "song of steps"). A title given to each of the fifteen psalms from 120 to 134. Four of them are attributed to David, one is ascribed to the pen of Solomon, and the other ten give no indication of their author.
The opinion held by Rosenmuller, Herder, and others is that some of the psalms were written before the Babylonian captivity, some by exiles returning to Palestine, and a few at a later date; but that all were incorporated into one collection because they had one and the same character. With respect to the term rendered in the NASB and NIV "ascents" (KJV, "degrees"), a great diversity of opinion prevails among biblical critics. According to some it refers to the melody to which the psalm was to be chanted. Others, including Gesenius, derive the word from the poetical composition of the song and from the circumstance that the concluding words of the preceding sentence are often repeated at the commencement of the next verse (cf. 121:4-5, and 124:1-2 and 3-4).
A good instance of the "step" style is found in the KJV rendering of Ps 121: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."
Iben-Ezra quotes an ancient authority that maintains that the ascents or degrees allude to the fifteen steps which, in the Temple of Jerusalem, led from the court of the women to that of the men, and on each of which steps one of the fifteen songs of ascents was chanted. The generally accredited opinion, however, is that they were pilgrim songs sung by the people as they went up to Jerusalem.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: S. Cox, The Pilgrim Psalms (1983).
(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)Pray for Jerusalem
An instruction of David
Ps 122:6-9
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels."
8 For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.2. Nehemiah
Neh 1
:1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.' 10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was cupbearer to the king.2:1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; 2 so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."
I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
4 The king said to me, "What is it you want?"
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it."
3. Esther
4:1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 When Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.4. Leper
Matt 8:1-4
8:1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Mark 1:40-42
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Luke 5:12-13
GOD HELP ME
JESUS, ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE ME CLEAN?His answer is, “I AM WILLING”
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13 NIV
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