I. Living the Christian life Understanding the Bible Lesson Fourteen I m Born Again! Now What? Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:41-42 A. Things necessary for spiritual survival II. The apostles doctrine Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2 A. Doctrine: Teachings that form the basis of a belief III. Fellowship But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I John 1:7 A. Who we fellowship with determines what we become B. When we choose our friends, we choose our future IV. Breaking of bread For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. I Corinthians 11:23-25 A. Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood
V. The Lord s Supper is a loyalty oath For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. I Corinthians 11:26-27 A. How often should we observe the Lord s Supper? B. Peter vs. Judas VI. What is prayer? A. Prayer is talking and fellowshipping with God B. It is also sometimes spiritual warfare VII. Teach us to pray (Matthew 6:9-13) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. A. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise Psalms 100:4 VIII. Thy kingdom come Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. A. In the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom Daniel 2:44 B. Seek first the kingdom of God and IX. When you pray, forgive Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. A. How often should we pray? B. If we won t forgive, God won t forgive us
X. Deliver us from evil And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. A. Without God, we will fall XI. One accord with Jesus For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. II Corinthians 10:4-5 A. The power of our prayer will be in direct proportion to how alone we get with Him XII. When we pray, believe But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. James 1:6-7 A. Unbelief blocks God from doing what He wants to do XIII. Have faith in the blood of Jesus For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 A. We come boldly before His throne by the blood B. Guilt separates us from God
XIV. Pray in Jesus name If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14 A. We don t deserve anything, but our Father has everything that we need in the bank XV. Don t pray to be seen of men And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. 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. Matthew 6:5-6 A. We should never boast about praying B. Don t use vain repetition XVI. The Pharisee and the Publican And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:13-14 A. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble XVII. Praying according to God s will And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. I John 5:14-15 A. We pray according to God s will by conforming our will to His will
XVIII. Effective prayer The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 A. Must be fervent B. Jacob: I won t let you go XIX. Key to answered prayer And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8 A. Woman and unjust judge B. Never give up! C. Friend who needed bread XX. Supernatural prayer For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. I Corinthians 14:2, 14 A. Receiving the Holy Ghost is our first lesson in praying in the spirit XXI. Speaking in tongues fills us with the Holy Ghost He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I Corinthians 14:4 A. The Holy Ghost is our power
XXII. The spirit makes intercession for us. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 A. Praying beyond our ability XXIII. Praying in the spirit What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. I Corinthians 14:15 A. Sometimes we pray in tongues and sometimes in our native language XXIV. A typical time of prayer A. Focus your attention on Jesus B. Speak to Him like you would to any person C. Thank Him and praise Him D. Talk to Him about His kingdom E. Begin to pray in tongues F. Your spirit is now praying even though you don t understand G. You will become more and more aware of the nearness of His presence H. As your spirit talks to Him, His spirit will talk to you I. Write down the things you feel God has spoken to you that you should not forget J. Pray however the Spirit leads K. You will find yourself edified and renewed
XXV. The apostles had a set time of prayer Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. Acts 3:1 A. The first thing in the morning is good, it practical XXVI. Most important thing about prayer A. Do it, and don t ever give up! XXVII. Next week A. Second Temple Destroyed B. Instructions to the Churches
This page intentionally left blank
Understanding the Bible Lesson 14 Quiz 1. Name four things that Christians should continue steadfastly in.,,, 2. List at least three of the principle doctrines of Christianity. 3. What is prayer? 4. How often should a person pray? 5. Is there anything that could cause God to not forgive us? If so, what? 6. How should we enter the Lord s presence? 7. Quotation completion: The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 8. Who do we speak to when we speak in an unknown tongue? 9. What is the most important thing about prayer?