Prayer Special: What Role Does Prayer Play in Your Life?

Class Outline:

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A divine framework for getting through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

An Online Christian Church

Teaching the Word of God

Verse-by-Verse

 

RORY CLARK

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

I’m Pastor Rory Clark welcoming you to a Bible lesson with Barah Ministries, an intimate online Christian community committed to learning the Word of God verse-by-verse.  I’m happy to teach the Word to those who want a deep, intimate and personal relationship with the Savior of the world and the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

No matter where you are in the world, no matter how the Lord gets this Bible lesson to you, thanks for listening!

 

Studying the Bible is one of the best gifts you give yourself every day.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Role Does Prayer Play in Your Life?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

At this year’s Coeur d’Alene Conference, we’re going to be learning about praying for your enemies.  So in preparation for that lesson, we’re going to review some of the things we’ve learned about prayer over the years.

 

Prayer is a gift from God.  In John, Chapter 16, Verse 23 the Lord says…

 

JOHN 16:23b

…I (the Lord Jesus Christ) say to you believers in Christ, whatever you ask God the Father in My name…He will give it to you.

 

What role does PRAYER play in your life?  We’ll investigate the subject in

today’s lesson.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let’s hear some music!

 

Prayer is a transformative experience.  It takes you from where you are to a totally different mental place, because prayer is powered by our Almighty God.  First John, Chapter 5, Verses 14 and 15 say…

 

FIRST JOHN 5:14

This is the confidence we believers in Christ have before Jesus…that if we ask anything according to His will…He hears us.

 

FIRST JOHN 5:15

And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, and of course we do, we know that we already have the requests which we have asked from Him.

 

Here’s June Murphy to sing about prayer in her song WE PRAY TO THE FATHER.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

WE PRAY TO THE FATHER

June Murphy

 

OPENING PRAYER

 

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful to You Heavenly Father for providing us with the absolute truth of the Word of God…

 

…thank you Father…both for the flock of believers in Christ and for the unbelievers that You bring to these lessons every week…thank you for giving me a caretaking role over the souls you introduce to the Word of God through this ministry…Your ministry…and thank you that all of us believers in Christ are in unity, placed there by God the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation…it’s an intimate relationship we’ll experience fully when we are face-to-face with You for all eternity…

 

…Father, open our spiritual eyes to the things You are teaching us today about how to best communicate with You through praying, and how to make prayer a regular part of our daily routine…

 

…we ask these things through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Role Does Prayer Play in Your Life?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

Prayer is not only a gift from God, but also it is a weapon.  In this lesson you’ll get some things to think about concerning prayer that have been learned by many Christians before us.

 

What is prayer?  Prayer is…

 

PRAYER

An intentional intimate conversation with God…whether formal or informal… whether audible or silent…whether public or private…where we talk with God and where we listen to the messages God has for us…messages He communicates either through the Word of God or through people.

 

PRAYER

Our chance to be vulnerable with God, knowing that He knows us better than we know ourselves.

 

PRAYER

In prayer, we bring our GRATITUDE for God’s blessings, our PETITIONS for self, our INTERCESSION for others, and our concerns about the influence of our ENEMIES before Almighty God’s throne.  We use His supernatural, divine power to deliver us to the desires of our hearts.

 

What are the elements of prayer?

 

ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

 

1

We direct our prayers to God the Father.

 

ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

 

2

In prayer, we take the time to express our GRATITUDE.  Prayer time is a good time to thank God for all He does for us, whether great or small.

 

One of the best things you can do for yourself every day is to write down one thing

you are grateful for that God has done for you.  It will overwhelm you when you realize all He does for you.

 

For example, He woke you up this morning.  He puts breath into your lungs.  He provides financial blessings.  He allows you to make choices.  He gives you relationships, either to teach you or to nourish you.  These are just a few of the many things He does for you…things you may not even think about consciously.

 

ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

 

3

In prayer, we communicate the desires of our heart which is called PETITION for self.

 

It is not selfish to make requests of God for self, nor is it selfish to put your needs first when you are praying.

 

ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

 

4

We communicate our desires for others through prayer, which is called INTERCESSION.

 

We make a case before God for others…whether we know them or not…even if

we don’t know their names…and we ask God to bring His supernatural power to

the circumstances of others.

 

ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

 

5

We pray for our ENEMIES, just as God requests.

 

In Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 44 the Lord says…

 

MATTHEW 5:44

…love your enemies unconditionally, and pray for those who persecute you…

 

ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

 

6

We pray for assistance from the divine power of God the Holy the Spirit.

 

ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

 

7

We ask for assistance in Jesus Christ’s name.

 

 

God wants us to make prayer a habit.  First Thessalonians, Chapter 5, Verse 17 says…

 

FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:17

Pray without ceasing … (said another way, make it a habit to pray)…

 

What are some of the things God wants us to know about prayer?

 

God wants us to be bold when praying because we are sure He answers our prayers. Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verse 16…

 

HEBREWS 4:16

Therefore, because we have such an amazing High Priest in Jesus…let us believers in Christ draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, fully expecting to

receive mercy and to experience His grace to help in time of need.

God wants us to know that He knows what is best for us.  In Romans, Chapter 11, Verses 33 to 36 the apostle Paul says…

 

ROMANS 11:33

Oh, the depth of His glorious riches…giving us both the wisdom of God and the knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and how unfathomable are His ways!

 

ROMANS 11:34

For who has known the mind of the Lord…or who has become good enough to be His counselor?

 

ROMANS 11:35

Or what creature has first given to God that it might be paid back by God to him again?

 

ROMANS 11:36

For from God and through God and to God are all things. To Him is the glory forever. Amen.

 

God answers our prayers at the proper time…in due time…perhaps immediately… perhaps not…but always guided by His omniscient, all-knowing wisdom.  The Lord recognized out loud, in prayer, the wisdom of His Father on the night before He was crucified.  Luke, Chapter 22, Verse 42…

 

LUKE 22:42

“Father…if You are willing…and I know you are…remove this cup from Me (the cup of crucifixion on a Cross)…yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

 

Here are a few things to incorporate into your prayer life.

 

THINGS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR PRAYER LIFE

 

1

Pray to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord.

 

Exodus, Chapter 33, Verse 13…

 

 

EXODUS 33:13

“Now, therefore, I (Moses) pray to You Lord…if I have found favor in Your sight… let me know Your ways THAT I MAY KNOW YOU…so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation (Israel) is Your people (The Jews).”

 

To get to know others, we communicate with them.  Prayer involves communicating with the Lord so you get confidence in Him.

 

THINGS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR PRAYER LIFE

 

2

Pray to get answers from God.

 

After Moses asked God for something in prayer, here’s what happened…Exodus, Chapter 33, Verse 14…

 

EXODUS 33:14

And the Lord said, “My presence shall go with you…and I will give you rest.”

 

God answers prayers.

 

THINGS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR PRAYER LIFE

 

3

Pray expecting God to use His supernatural, divine omnipotence in human circumstances.

 

In First Kings, Chapter 18, Verses 37 to 39 Elijah said…

 

FIRST KINGS 18:37

“Answer me, O Lord…answer me that these people may know that You, O Lord, are God and that You have turned their hearts back again.”

 

FIRST KINGS 18:38

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench.

 

 

 

FIRST KINGS 18:39

When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, “The Lord…He is God…the Lord…He is God.”

 

THINGS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR PRAYER LIFE

 

4

Pray to praise God, expressing gratitude for many things, including the adversity of tribulation and the prosperity of getting blessed with the desires of your heart.

 

First Samuel, Chapter 1, Verses 26 and 27…

 

FIRST SAMUEL 1:26

Hannah said, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord.”

 

FIRST SAMUEL 1:27

“For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him.”

 

Thank God for listening.

 

THINGS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR PRAYER LIFE

 

5

Pray for God’s protection in times of desperation when you are despised, defamed, and persecuted.

 

Here is David in Psalm 31, Verse 4 expressing confidence in the Lord during a time of desperation…

 

PSALM 31:4

You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me for You are my strength.

 

David continues…Psalm 31, Verses 11 to 15…

 

 

PSALM 31:11

Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and I have become an object of dread to my acquaintances…those who see me in the street flee from me.

 

PSALM 31:12

I am forgotten as if I am a dead man…out of mind…I am like a broken vessel.

 

PSALM 31:13

For I have heard the slander of many…terror is on every side…while they took counsel together against me…they schemed to take away my life.

 

PSALM 31:14

But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord.  I say, “You are my God.”

 

PSALM 31:15

My times are in Your hand…deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.

 

David summarizes…Psalm 31, Verses 19 and 20…

 

PSALM 31:19

How great is Your goodness…which You have stored up for those who fear You…

which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You…before the sons of

men!

 

PSALM 31:20

You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man…you keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.

 

THINGS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR PRAYER LIFE

 

6

Pray for personal solutions because God knows you intimately.

 

In Psalm 139, Verses 1 to 4 David says…

 

PSALM 139:1

O Lord…You have searched me and known me.

PSALM 139:2

You know when I sit down and when I rise up…You understand my thought from afar.

 

PSALM 139:3

You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

 

PSALM 139:4

Even before there is a word on my tongue…behold, O Lord, You know it all.

 

THINGS TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR PRAYER LIFE

 

7

Pray when you’re scared.

 

Matthew, Chapter 14, Verse 30…

 

MATTHEW 14:30

Seeing the wind, Peter became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out,

“Lord, save me!”

 

Why don’t we pray more?  Because of the Lord’s abundance!  We have been so amply blessed we think it selfish to ask the Lord for more.  It is not selfish.  The Lord expects us to keep on asking so He can keep on providing.  So if you learn nothing else from this lesson, learn to make known to God every request you have.  God wants to hear what you have to say.

 

When we return from the break, we’ll request an offering and then we’ll get more insights about prayer.

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET

Danny Gokey

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Role Does Prayer Play in Your Life?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

At Barah Ministries we choose not to charge for the things we provide to help you study the Word of God.  We wish to reflect God’s grace.  No price appears on any material from Barah Ministries so that anyone who wants to learn about God can do so free of charge.  Even though the materials are free of charge, they are not free of cost.  We appreciate your financial support.  Second Corinthians, Chapter 9, Verse 6 reminds us…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 9:6

Now this I (Paul) say…he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly…and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

 

God expects us to do everything with a mindset of abundance and to do nothing with a mindset of scarcity.  Let your giving reflect abundance.

 

Let’s listen to Deacon Denny Goodall present one of his always thoughtful and always inspiring offering messages.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

HEBREWS 12:28

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude by which we may offer to God the Father an acceptable service with reverence and awe…

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

What Role Does Prayer Play in Your Life?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

What does God expect from you as a Christian in the matter of prayer?  What does our prayer life look like in perfect condition?

 

Christians use prayer as a weapon in the Creator-creature conflict.  Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verses 10 to 17…

 

EPHESIANS 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

 

EPHESIANS 6:11

Pick up and put on the full armor of God…so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (on victorious ground).

 

EPHESIANS 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood (human beings) … but our struggle is against the rulers…against the powers…against the world forces of this darkness…against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

EPHESIANS 6:13

Therefore, pick up and put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, having done everything to stand firm.

 

EPHESIANS 6:14

Stand firm, therefore…having girded your loins with truth…and having put on the breastplate of righteousness…

 

EPHESIANS 6:15

…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…

 

EPHESIANS 6:16

…in addition to all…taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to

extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

 

EPHESIANS 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation…and the sword of the Spirit…which is the Word of God.

 

Why did God give us prayer?  The Lord gave us prayer so that we would receive supernatural, divine help from the Sovereign God of the Universe to assist us in the journey of our lives.  Second Corinthians, Chapter 12, Verses 9 and 10…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 12:9

And the Lord has said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you, for divine power is perfected in human weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ (divine omnipotence) may dwell in me.

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 12:10

Therefore, I am well content…with weaknesses…with insults…with distresses… with persecutions…with difficulties…for Christ’s sake…for when I am weak…then I am strong.

 

God wants us to be content regardless of our circumstance.  Why?  Because He has us firmly in His grip.  In John, Chapter 14, Verse 14 the Lord says…

 

JOHN 14:14

“If you choose to ask Me anything in My name, I (the Lord Jesus Christ) will do it.”

 

What do we count on to make our prayer lives meaningful?

 

We count on a schedule.  We set aside time for prayer every day.  First Thessalonians, Chapter 5, Verse 17…

 

FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:17

Pray without ceasing (make it a habit to pray).

 

This verse is in the mood of command, which means the Lord is ordering us to pray.  Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verse 16…

 

HEBREWS 4:16

Therefore, because we have such an amazing High Priest in Jesus, let us believers in Christ draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may fully expect to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 26…

 

ROMANS 8:26

In the same way (by the agency of the first fruits God the Father has given us)… God the Holy the Spirit helps our weakness when we pray…for we do not know how to pray as we should…but God the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us during prayer with groanings too deep for words…

 

In First John, Chapter 2, Verses 1 and 2 the apostle says…

 

FIRST JOHN 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins…and of course we do…we have an Advocate with God the Father… Jesus Christ the ONLY righteous One…

 

FIRST JOHN 2:2

…and Jesus Himself is the propitiation for our sins (He is the only perfectly satisfactory payment for sins in the eyes of God the Father)…and not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

What are some of the things we can pray for?

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

Pray to know God’s PLAN for your life.

 

Psalm 86, Verse 11…

 

PSALM 86:11

Teach me Your way, O Lord.  I will walk in Your truth…

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

Pray for God’s PROTECTION.

 

God shields us from our enemies…Psalm 23, Verse 5…

 

PSALM 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…you have anointed my head with oil…my cup overflows.

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

Pray for God’s PROVISION.

 

God carries our burdens and He covers of our needs.  Matthew, Chapter 6, Verse 33…

MATTHEW 6:33

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things (like food, shelter, clothing, and finances) will be added to you.

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

Pray for God’s PRESENCE.

 

Psalm 46, Verse 10…

 

PSALM 46:10

God is our refuge and strength…a very present help in times of trouble.

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

Pray for the realization of God’s PROMISES.

 

John, Chapter 16, Verse 23…

 

JOHN 16:23

In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I (the Lord Jesus Christ) say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, the Father will give it to you.

 

Matthew, Chapter 21, Verse 22…

 

MATTHEW 21:22

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

Pray for God’s POWER.

 

Colossians, Chapter 2, Verses 9 and 10 and 12…

 

COLOSSIANS 2:9

For in Jesus…the Christ…all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form…

 

 

COLOSSIANS 2:10

…and in union with Him you have been made complete…

 

COLOSSIANS 2:12

…having been buried with Him in baptism…in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God the Father…who raised Jesus from the dead.

 

It’s the same power that resurrected Christ from among the dead ones.

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

Pray for God’s PRESSURE.

 

Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 1 to 5

 

ROMANS 5:1

Therefore, having been justified on the principle of faith in the past, we believers in Christ now and forevermore keep on having peace with God the Father through our union with the Lord Jesus Christ…

 

ROMANS 5:2

…and through our union with Christ we believers in Christ have obtained direct access to a Person of privileged rank, God the Father, who placed us into a sphere of grace in which we presently stand…and through our union with Christ also we keep on exulting in the future hope of the glory of God.

 

ROMANS 5:3

And we not only exult in all these things (from our past, righteousness and justification…in our present, peace…in our future, glory) … but we also exult in our tribulations that are given to us by God the Father, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance…

 

ROMANS 5:4

…and perseverance brings about proven character…and proven character brings about hope…

 

 

 

ROMANS 5:5

…and hope does not disappoint, because the unconditional love of God the Father has been poured out within our hearts through God the Holy Spirit who was given to us by God the Father as a pledge of our inheritance.

 

WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

 

We even have a right to ask God in prayer for His help in keeping His commands.

 

The enemy of God, Satan, distorts prayer like He distorts everything else.  Here are a few of the distortions the Bible makes evident…

 

SATAN’S PRAYER DISTORTIONS

 

Vain Repetition

 

Matthew, Chapter 6, Verse 7…

 

MATTHEW 6:7

“And when you are praying…do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do…for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.”

 

The Roman Catholic “Hail Mary” as part of praying a rosary is an example of vain

repetition.  Catholics say the words over and over but they have no meaning.  The rosary and its prayers are not a way to communicate with God.

 

SATAN’S PRAYER DISTORTIONS

 

Self-Aggrandizement

 

Luke, Chapter 18, Verses 9 to 14…

 

LUKE 18:9

And Jesus also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they

were righteous…and who viewed others with contempt…

 

LUKE 18:10

“Two men went up into the temple to pray…one a Pharisee…and the other a tax

collector.”

 

LUKE 18:11

“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people who are swindling, unjust, and adulterers…I’m not even like this tax collector.’”

 

LUKE 18:12

“‘I fast twice a week and I pay tithes of all I get.’”

 

LUKE 18:13

“The tax collector, standing some distance away was unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner (an unbeliever)!’”

 

LUKE 18:14

“I (the Lord…Jesus…the Christ) tell you…the tax collector went to his house justified and not the Pharisee…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled…but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

SATAN’S PRAYER DISTORTIONS

 

In Fellowship…Out of Fellowship

 

There are those who think that as believers in Christ, when they sin, they are ejected from fellowship with God.  They see this verse as instruction to get themselves back in fellowship with God.  First John, Chapter 1, Verse 9…

 

FIRST JOHN 1:9

If we confess our sins, God the Father is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

This arrogant thinking assumes human beings can control their fellowship with God.

 

As a believer in Christ, you didn’t put yourself into fellowship with God, and you can’t do anything to get out of fellowship with God.  If you are out of fellowship with God (which means you are an unbeliever), there is certainly nothing you can do to get yourself into fellowship with Him.  You need God the Holy Spirit to do it for you.

 

There is not a single piece of evidence in the Bible that supports the thought that believers in Christ…who are saints, not sinners…can be unrighteous.  There is ample evidence that God has made believers in Christ righteous.  Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 21…

 

SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:21

God the Father made Jesus…who knew no sin…to be sin on our behalf…so that we believers in Christ might have the righteousness of God the Father in union with Him.

 

My hope is if you are a Christian, you’ll evaluate the quality of your prayer life… and if you look at your prayer life through God’s eyes and find it lacking, I hope you’ll do something about it.  You won’t regret it.

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race

 

The next ten minutes could be the ten most important minutes of your life.  You’ll be introduced to the good news concerning how you can spend all eternity in heaven when you close your eyes in this life.  We want you to know that…

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

He Wants You Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

…and what He wants for you is that you make the most important decision of your life.

 

Even if you don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you still matter to God.  He created you…you’re one of His creatures…and He wants the highest and best for you.  Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9 says…

 

SECOND PETER 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of... instead, He is patient toward unbelievers…not wishing for any to perish (in the Lake of Fire) but for all to come to repentance (a voluntary change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).

The bad news is that everyone, including you, is born in a state of unrighteousness.  You were born physically alive and spiritually dead as an ungodly, unrighteous unbeliever.  You were born on Satan’s team.  In God’s eyes, you were born a sinner and you need a Savior.

 

It’s not your fault you were born this way, but it is your circumstance.

 

In First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22, the Bible says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:22a

For all in union with Adam at physical birth (and that is every human being who comes to earth) are set to die the second death in the Lake of Fire…

 

To God’s enemy, Satan…the ruler of this world…you don’t matter at all.  First Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 8 says…

 

FIRST PETER 5:8

Be of sober spirit…be on the alert! Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 

You are the “someone” on Satan’s list.

 

Satan despises you so much he doesn't want you to be saved.  He doesn't want you to be with God in heaven when you close your eyes in this life.  Instead, he wants you to be with him in the Lake of Fire, and he wants you so badly he sends false teachers with false teachings to deceive you.  In Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 15, the Lord Himself warns about this…

 

MATTHEW 7:15

“Beware of the false teachers…who come to you in sheep’s clothing…but

inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

 

When an animal is ravenous it has an insatiable desire to tear you apart.  So it is with false teachers who pretend to be for you, yet truly they want you to be twice the sons of hell that they are.

 

This gospel message offers GOOD NEWS to rescue you from the kingdom of death and darkness you were born into, inviting you to be born again to the spiritual life available in God’s kingdom of light.  You can choose to be on God’s team.  John, Chapter 3, Verses 16 and 17 highlight Jesus’ mission concerning you…

 

JOHN 3:16

“For God the Father loved the world unconditionally…and He loved the world so much…that He gave His uniquely born Son (the God-man…the Lord Jesus Christ to be crucified on a Cross) … so WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish, but has eternal life.”

 

JOHN 3:17

“For God the Father did not send God the Son (the Lord) into the world to judge the world…but the Father sent the Son into the world that the world might be saved through Him.”

 

God wants you to respond positively to the good news of this gospel of Jesus Christ so He can save you!

 

Who is this God who saves you?  The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (the apostle Paul) delivered to all of you as of primary importance the gospel message I also received from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

If a gospel message makes it sound like you have to work to get to heaven, it’s a false gospel message from a false teacher.  Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 6 says you don’t have to work to be saved…

 

ROMANS 11:6

…if salvation is by grace (a free gift from God) … and of course it is…it is no longer on the basis of your works…otherwise, grace (as a free gift) is no longer grace (it is not free).

 

Romans, Chapter 4, Verse 4 says you CAN'T work for salvation…

ROMANS 4:4

Now to the one who works for salvation, his wage for his work is not credited to his account as a favor from the grace of God, but his wage is credited as what is due for the work.

 

Your hardest work is not perfect enough to earn you a spot in heaven.  So, relax!  You can get to heaven when you close your eyes in this life free of charge.  Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31 says…

 

ACTS 16:31

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

John, Chapter 3, Verse 36 warns you and invites you…

 

JOHN 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment…but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

 

If you choose, you can spend eternity with God’s enemy, Satan, in the Lake of Fire…OR…you can have the free gift of eternal life right this minute!  RIGHT WHERE YOU SIT, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THIS MOMENT God can save you if you let Him.  You can tell God the Father that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and that is the moment of eternal life for you.

 

Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10 exhort you…

 

ROMANS 10:9

…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (that He is God) … and if you believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead… you will be saved…

 

ROMANS 10:10

…for with the heart a person believes…resulting in the imputation of absolute righteousness by God (your admission ticket to heaven) … and with the mouth a person confesses (admitting faith in Christ alone) resulting in salvation.

 

There is a consequence for rejecting a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ…in Matthew, Chapter 8, Verse 12, the Lord says…

 

MATTHEW 8:12

“…the sons of Satan’s kingdom (unbelievers) will be cast out into the outer darkness…and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 

Many parents are false teachers leading their children to an eternity in the Lake of Fire.  Do you want to know if you’re a good parent?  Just ask yourself a simple question…are you influencing your children to have a relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Sovereign God of the Universe?

 

Jesus is the ONLY WAY to get to heaven according to John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to the doubting apostle, Thomas, “I am the way (to salvation), and I am the truth (through the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Word of God), and I am the resurrection life (eternal life)…and no one comes to God the Father in heaven but through believing in Me.”

 

There’s no time to waste!  GOD WANTS YOU!  If you want to go to heaven when you close your eyes in this life, simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!  Take His word for it concerning salvation, and the resurrection life is yours free of charge!

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

For Christians, the center of our lives is Christ…whether we know it or not… whether we feel it or not…whether we know HIM or not.  As Christians, does it still excite you that you have a relationship with Christ?  For a Samaritan woman who had just had a conversation with Jesus, the excitement was real.  She ran into town gushing about meeting the Lord.  John, Chapter 4, Verse 29…

 

JOHN 4:29

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did…this couldn’t be the Christ (the Messiah), could it?”

 

June Murphy wrote a song about the woman’s experience.  Let’s listen to COME

SEE A MAN.

 

MUSIC - OPENING SONG

Let’s Hear the Singing of the Lord’s Praises

 

COME SEE A MAN

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

Thank you for providing Your message today…thank you for giving us Your Son, our Lord, to save us from our sins with the payment of His blood… thank you for giving us the Word of God so that we know Your Son’s mind and so we can have an intimate relationship with Him through the study of the Word of God…thank you for the power of prayer which allows us to communicate with You and to use Your supernatural, divine power to solve our human problems…

 

…open closed hearts to the truth…help us to discard the garbage that has been placed in our souls by Your enemy, Satan, to make us indifferent or antagonistic toward You…open our spiritual eyes so that we can see all the places in our lives where we are substituting self-will for Your will…and remind us to value relationships because You provided every one for our benefit…You know how to work all things together for our good…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.

 

GOT BIBLICAL QUESTIONS OR WANT US TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE?

 

Ask the Pastor

pastor@barahministries.com

 

KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!

 

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