Lesson #3 - Talking to God...


Welcome to lesson #3.

You are doing very well in your Bible studies and we are so pleased that you are continuing to grow in your new relationship with the Lord.

In our last lesson, we looked briefly at two important subjects for us to study about. They are important to our growth as a Christian. Those two subjects are prayer and our enemy.

In this lesson we will study about prayer.

1) The first thing for us to learn is that there is something that stops my prayers from getting through to God.
Look up Psalm 66:18. What does this verse tell us will stop our prayers?
Answer sin

2) If sin will stop my prayers from reaching God, is there anything I can do about my sin, after I am a Christian. Oh, did we forget to tell you that? Well, let us tell you now - just because you are a Christian, doesn't mean you will never sin again. Because you will! But remember, that even though you do sin, you are still God's child because nothing can ever take you away from God! Remember that! OK?

3) But God has given us the answer of how to deal with sin in our lives after we are a Christian. Turn to 1 John 1:9. What are we supposed to do when we sin after we are a Christian?
Answer confess our sins

4) Who should we confess our sin to?

5) Right - God! And what two things does our verse tell us He will do for us when we confess our sin?
Answer forgive us and clean us up

6) By the way, confessing our sins, means that we agree with God that what we have done is wrong, and really is sin.
When we pray about sin, don't just use the word sin.
For example, don't just say, "Father, forgive me of my sin!" Name them - because God knows about them already anyway.
Say "Father, I confess my sin of lying (or whatever it is) to You. Thank you for forgiving me and making me clean again. In Jesus name, Amen."

7) Here are some important verses to read about prayer. Read them and then after, answer the questions.
Ephesians 5:20 - John 14:6,13,14 - John 15:16 - John 16:23,26,27

8) Should you pray to the Father, the Son or the Holy Ghost?
Answer God the Father

According to these verses, would it be wrong to pray, "Dear Jesus"?
Answer yes

9) We are to pray in somebody's name. If you listen closely to other Christians as they pray, you should hear them finish their prayer by saying a certain phrase. In whose name are we to pray (what phrase is repeated over and over in these verses)?

10) That's right - in Jesus' name. And that is how we should conclude our prayers.
"In Jesus name, Amen".

11) Now turn to Romans 8:26. Here it tells us what the Holy Spirit does for us when we are praying. Sometimes we may not know the words to say about something we want to pray about what does this verse tell us the Holy Spirit does for us?
Answer prays for us, when we do not know exactly how to pray

12) So then how can I know my prayers will be answered? The Bible tells us that there are certain things that we have to do to make sure our prayers will be answered. Read the following verses and see what those guidelines are:
1 John 5:14,15 - Pray according to what?
Answer God's will

1 Peter 3:12 - What am I to avoid doing?
Answer evil





Matthew 21:22 - What am I to do when I pray?
Answer believe

John 16:23 - In whose name are we to pray?
Answer Jesus' name

James 5:16 - What is something I should do as a part of prayer?
Answer confess my sin

13) Why does God answer our prayers? Read John 14:13 and John 16:24.
a) Who is glorified when we pray properly?
Answer God the Father
b) And what does God want to make full for us, when we pray properly?
Answer our joy

14) I am sure that you have heard of what is usually called "The Lord's Prayer. It is found in Matthew 6:9-13. It lists at least 6 things that we are to pray for. Can you find them all?
a) Answer God's will to be done on earth
b) Answer for our daily needs
c) Answer forgiveness of my sins
d) Answer God's help to be able to forgive others
e) Answer God's help to deal with temptation
f) Answer God's help to deal with Satan

15) And then lastly, when is a good time to pray? If we turn to our Bibles and see when and where Jesus prayed or suggested we pray, it will be a good example for us, won't it?
Read Mark 1:35 and then Matthew 6:5,6.
When?
Answer beginning of my day

Where?
Answer a quiet place with no distractions

This has been quite a big study on prayer, but while God speaks to us through His Bible, He gives us the opportunity to speak to Him through prayer.

And when we are talking to God we want to get it right, so that makes this a very important lesson, doesn't it?

Say - why not drop us a note and let us know that you have finished this lesson. We would be so glad to hear from you.

Send me an email here