Bible Study & Principles Of Prayer

Good evening.  Tonight we are going to take a look at a couple more keys to getting and keeping a closer walk with God.  If you would ask a youth group how to do that, the typical Sunday School answer would be, “Go to church, read the Bible, and Pray.”  Well, last week we looked at going to church, so this week we will look at reading the Bible and praying.

Nothing is more important to the Christian than a good knowledge of God’s word.  The church cannot be built on ignorance.  God’s work in this world cannot be done by ignorance.  We cannot love the Lord in ignorance.  We cannot worship God properly through ignorance.  Someone once said that ignorance is bliss, but it is not.  In fact, ignorance can be fatal.  In Hosea 4:6 it says that, “…my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”

Now, if ignorance was able to destroy the Jews, it will surely destroy Christians today as well.  In II Timothy 2:15 it tells us to, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

What can God’s word do for us?

Well, the Bible possesses the power of sanctification.  Does anyone know what that word means, sanctification?

Well, the word sanctification means, “To Set Apart.”  If we expect to be used by God, then we need to study His word and live our lives set apart from the world.  John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

The Bible also possesses the power of salvation.  When received properly, it has the power to save your soul.  I John 5:13 tells us that, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

So, why should we study the Bible?

First, it is the will of God that you grow spiritually.  God has given us His word so that young Christians can grow into mature Christians.  I Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

Secondly, the key to spiritual growth is the knowledge of God.  And we get to know God through studying the Bible.  Your growth in Christ is directly related to your willingness to spend time in your Bibles.

And thirdly, if God is going to use us for anything, we must prepare ourselves by learning all that we can from His word.  II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Why is it that Bible study is so often neglected?

First, some people just take the preacher’s word for it.  These people don’t realize it is their responsibility to test the spirit.  In I John 4:1 it says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Secondly, some people say that they just don’t get anything out of the Bible.  They may feel this way because they read it so little, because they have a translation that they cannot understand, or because they don’t have the proper motive when reading it.  In II Timothy 4:3-4 it says, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

And thirdly, with some people, and this is the majority of people, it’s just not a priority.  In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

So, what are some methods that you know of for studying the Bible that we could follow?

Book Study?

Topic Study?

Character Study?

Random Study?

Well, as we wrap up our look at reading the Bible, allow me to give you some suggestions for Bible study.  Set a regular time.  Have a designated place.  Pray before you begin.  Don’t rush it or you won’t get anything out of it.  And then write down any thought or questions and then further pursue those things.

Here are some things that are helpful when it comes to Bible study.  Use different translations.  Find one that you can understand and use it.  Consider getting a cheap concordance or Bible dictionary, or commentary to assist you in understanding what you are reading.  Possibly get a study Bible.  They have extra questions to get you thinking and to cause you to find way to apply what you are reading.

Now, before we move on, does anyone have anything else that they would like to add when it comes to reading the Bible?

Well, if there is nothing else, we will move on.  One of the greatest blessings enjoyed by Christians is the privilege of prayer.  It is through prayer that we can approach God.

Through prayer, the Christian can find forgiveness of their sins.  I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

Through prayer, the Christian can find peace to replace anxiety.  In Philippians 4:6-7 it tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Through prayer, the Christian can find strength from God.  Ephesians 3:14-16 says, “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being…”

Prayer is simply communication with God.  Our relationship with God is the same as a relationship with someone else.  Unless you spend time with them, the relationship will not work.  You have no relationship with those you don’t spend time with.

So, what are some characteristics of acceptable prayer?

1. It must be offered in faith.  In Matthew 21:22 Jesus says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

2. It must be offered in the spirit of humility.  Prayer is no place to get proud.  Notice the example that we have in the Pharisee and the tax collector.  In Luke 18:9-14 it says, “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”  But the tax collector stood at a distance.  He would not even look up to Heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””  You need to be very honest with God.  You cannot hide anything, God knows anyway.

3. It must be offered in harmony with God’s will.  In other words, it cannot be selfish.  God only answers prayers that are offered according to His will.  In I John 5:14 it tells us that, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

4. It must be offered by those who are righteous before God.  Righteous simply means, in Christ.  In I Peter 3:12 it says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  Also, if you look at James chapter 5 it shares in this same thought.

5. It must be offered in the spirit of thanksgiving.  In Philippians 4:6 it tells us that, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

6. It must be offered with persistence.  The parable of the persistent friend is a good example of this.  In Luke 11:5-10 it says, “Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.”  Then the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me.  The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed.  I can’t get up and give you anything.”  I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs…”

“…So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Also, the parable of the persistent widow is a good example.  In Luke 18:1-8 it says, “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.”  For some time he refused.  But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 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!”  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  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?  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?””  It is all about acknowledging God as our source, showing commitment, and showing conviction.

7. It must be offered in the name of Jesus.  Ephesians 5:20 tells us to, “…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What are the possible answers to our prayers?

Well, I usually tell you that there are 3 possible answers, but tonight, I am going to change it up a bit and tell you that there are 4 possible answers.

One, God may say yes and grant your request.

Two, God may say yes and grant your request, but just not right now.  Wait!

Three, God may say yes and grant your request, but not in the way that you might

have expected it to be answered.

Four, God may say no.

Now, here are some questions to consider as we wrap things up this evening:

How much time to you typically spend in prayer?

Do you find it easy or difficult to pray?  Why?

Do you really believe in the power of God to answer your prayers?  Why?

What are your feelings towards God when you receive each of these answers:

            Yes?

            Yes, but wait?

            Yes, but not in the way that you expected?

            No?

Now, does anyone have anything to add tonight before we close?

Well, if there is nothing else, just keep in mind that it is crucial for our growth in Christ that we be involved in studying God’s word, and that in order to have a proper relationship with God, we need to be spending time in prayer as well.

Let’s Pray!