Study GuideThe World and Prayer
Key Scripture: During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission (Hebrews 5:7). Simple WMPL Video 100A: “Transforming the World” Before watching the video answer this question: “What does prayer have to do with transforming of the world?” ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ React and expand on Chuck Lindquist’s answer. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Digging Deeper: Let me begin by sharing five personal insights: 1) There are a lot of people in this world. 2) A tremendous amount of communication problems exists at all levels. 3) This world is filled with great evil, corruption and suffering and needs hope. 4) A huge number of people are dying separately and in groups. In the wave of all these four negative thoughts comes the fifth. 5) God is a loving, caring, compassionate God who loves and knows each individual on earth. Because he cared and still does he sent Jesus to be a missionary to this sin sick world full of “loud cries and tears.” Death no longer has to be at the top of everyone’s list of fears. “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Intimate conversation and dialogue with the almighty God is possible. We can live life to the fullest and with hope. However, I question whether many Christians really understand this possibility. This challenge to talk to God faces each human being, whether they realize it or not. People of every background attempt to create conversations with a spiritual being. Even when individuals don’t directly pray to any god they wind up inventing something to take God's place. Prayer is so important that it can be compared to the air we breathe. To learn to pray can be similar to learning to talk and listen. It takes a lifetime of learning to communicate with the Triune God. There is always room for improvement to reach an understanding of how to pray while living in this world. Let’s begin building our personal insights on prayer with a basic question: What is your definition of prayer? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Around the globe as they watched TV on September 11, 2001 people saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center building in New York City. Etched into their minds were pictures no one could ever expect or imagine: a jet liner plowed into a skyscraper. There were clouds of smoke and fire billowing into the sky. Millions of tons of concrete collapsed like a house of cards and turned into dust and rubble. American citizens ran through the streets of New York City in terror. Firemen, policemen and others were coated and caked in ash and soot. It seemed like a movie but it wasn’t; it was real life. Passengers in the four jets that crashed on that day were no doubt terrified in those last few minutes. It was one of those “I-can't-believe-this-is-happening-to-me” experiences. Surely there were screams of fright and despair. How many were calling on God in prayer? Perhaps nearly all were. How many of the victims knew how to pray to God? It has been said that the true test of a Christian is how she or he acts when something unexpected happens. Those who have a close relationship with the Lord before surprises will be ready to turn to him in emergencies. They will be prepared. Sincere Christians will have identified with the same request made by the disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray." Additional Bible Passages: Read these verses, answer the questions and summarize your thoughts. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail (Luke 22:31,32). When Jesus prayed for Simon, what was his concern? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24). What was the condition that Jesus placed with a prayer request? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ...(II Peter 1:5ff). According to this verse, what is the starting point to personal character? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah (Psalms 62:8). What is to be done at all times? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ From these verses what is the beginning and foundation of prayer? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Your Additional Thoughts: ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Questions to Ponder: 1. Look back at your definition of prayer. Is your definition of prayer relative to a particular religion denomination or an individual’s relationship with God? ____Yes ____No 2. What could make your definition of prayer uniquely Christian? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Quote of the Day: “Nothing distinguishes the children of God so clearly and strongly as prayer. It is the one infallible mark and test of being a Christian. Christian people are prayerful, the worldly-minded, prayerless. Christians call on God; worldlings ignore God, and call not on his name.”[1] E. M. Bounds Prayer Assignment: Pray for the conditions and issues that are in world news today. Challenge Time: Find another Christian prayer partner who would mentor you on this topic of prayer and keep you accountable to taking this course on how to pray. Resource/Links: http://wmpl.org/ If you are unfamiliar with the World Mission Prayer League, please spend time on this website. “Prayer is our response to what God has done.” A. L. Barry, |