Week 4

We're back after a short break for Vacation Bible School. What a wild ride that was! Bunches of kids all praising God and learning about Him. If you missed it, next year be sure to volunteer. You'll be tired, but happy you came. If you can't wait until next year, volunteer in the children's ministry now. They've kicked off a great train themed program: The One Way Express!

In week 3 we talked about the prayer of forgiveness; how to get back to God. A big part of that is not only asking for forgiveness, but giving forgiveness. Your homework was to extend an olive branch to someone that has been on your "hit list" for a long while. It could be a difficult neighbor, a sales person or even a relative.

I'd like to do a quick review before we jump in to this week's lesson.

The biggest reason why we need to forgive others, is because God said to. He won't forgive us until we are obedient and forgive someone that has hurt or insulted us. Matthew 6:15 is pretty clear: "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."

If you feel like your prayers have been hindered, you need to clear the air somewhere. A good place to start is checking your heart. Is there someone you've locked up and given the cold shoulder? Is there someone out there that just the thought of them makes your eyes roll? Am I hitting a nerve yet? A wise man once said, "Not forgiving someone is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die." It hurts your walk as a Christian and sets you on the path away from God.

How do you start? Jesus was pretty clear. He wants you to drop everything and start now. Let's turn to Matthew 5:21-26.

If you can't bring yourself to go to that person yet, you need to start with prayer. Ask God for help in forgiving that person. Be persistent. Ask Him for healing in the relationship and prepare the other person for you to approach them. You'd be amazed how you will slowly come around--be forewarned--the more stubborn you are, the slower it will happen.

What do you need to watch for? I would keep my eyes and heart open for "fruit".

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Ephesians 4:31-32 will also give you an idea of what to watch for.

Make a list of what forgiveness towards that person would look like, and keep your eyes open.

If you owed a debt to someone...a big one, like a mortgage...and you received a letter one day saying that your mortgage was paid off, what would that mean to you?

• No more monthly payment


• No threat of foreclosure


• No Officer at your door with a letter to vacate the premises

How would that feel? Very freeing I'm sure. What would you do with that extra money? How would that affect your credit report?

Now look at forgiveness. In the act of forgiveness, you pardon someone's debt to you.

• No more daily thoughts of regret


• No anxiety at bumping into them at WalMart


• No Officer at your door with a summons for a lawsuit

How would that feel? What would it look like? What would you do with the extra time? The freedom from anxiety? How would that affect your daily walk with God?

Jesus' goal of His life was forgiveness. He literally gave His life so we could come to God forgiven. How important have you made forgiveness in your life?

~*~

OK, now that you have forgiveness down pat, let's look at tonight's lesson: Praying for others.

The most important question you should ask yourself when you start to pray for others is, "Why?" I want you to really chew on that question as we read through some scripture.

• 1 Samuel 1:10-15, 26-28, Hannah's prayer

Ask yourself why did Hannah pray, to get even with her rival? To fill that empty spot? Look at her prayer, it was answered. Why?

• Genesis 21:14-21, the prayer of the child of a single mom

If you stop to realize, Ishmael was Abraham's very first son by his wife's maid Hagar. He was circumsized, and knew who the God of Abraham was. He was probably a young teen who had just been kicked out of his father's life. How devastated would you be? How abandoned? His prayer was a cry to the God of Abraham, and he was heard. God made a nation from Ishmael.

• Acts 12:5-9, the church prays for Peter

Why did the church pray for Peter? Was it to obliterate the government that held him in chains? No, he was their leader and they needed him. They asked for his release so he could continue his work. And their prayer was answered.

• Acts 9:11-19, Ananias prays for Saul

Was Ananias happy to pray for Saul? Was he happy about going to see him and to heal his eyesight so this killer could see who he was? The Why of his prayer was because God told him to. He knew only God could turn Saul around...and He did.

When we begin to look at why we pray, our eyes will be open as to why we sometimes do not get the answer we expect. When we begin to pray "in God's will", our prayers get a jolt of power from the Holy Spirit. We realize that a prayer that's merely a list of items for ourselves is not enough. When our prayers become aligned with the will of God, we participate in His miracles on earth!

The goal of prayer is to build that relationship with God, and to build that relationship with our Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus priestly prayer in John 17:13-21 is answered when we pray in God's will, as one.

"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 18:19

So how do we know what God's will is in any circumstance? Read what He says in His word. The Bible has answers for the smallest issue. From divorce to healing, from job hunting to saving money...it's all there.

Why are you going to pray about that issue? Is it all about you, or do you see that problem the way God does? Do you want God to zap someone, or do you just want the pain to stop? If you can clarify the why of your prayer, you're a step closer. Romans 8:26-27

When you find out what God says about the issue, hang on to that scripture. Build a prayer out of it. Like a lawyer quoting a legal precedence, show God you know what He said about that issue. Then stand on that finding.

In 2 Chronicles 6:16-17 you'll see an example of Solomon reminding God of a promise to his father David. We can do the same thing with scripture.

Pray
Until
Something
Happens

This week I'd like you to focus your prayers on someone. It could be that person you're working on forgiveness with. It could be your pastor or a sick relative. I want you to dig through your Bible and see what God says about that person. Pick some key verses, and start praying. Build your prayers using the cement of God's word. You did it in our first week...you took the Lord's Prayer and put it in your own words. Now, do the same thing with the key scriptures you find. Let's get our laser sights on the issue this week and really give the devil a blast or two.

When we meet back next Wednesday, I hope your prayer journals are full of praises!