David Bailey - Talking With God - Class 6 - Living a Prayerful Life

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   But we’ve found that prayer. Is talking with God we walk and talk together in his presence even Bible study is done with prayer in his presence prayer must not be what we. Do but who we are, It’s a it’s a lifestyle. But. How do we do? All of this, the things that we’ve considered today in our in our day. Our life today is totally.

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   Different to those in Bible times, but is that really true? People in those days LED busy. Lives also. People worked long hours. Mums in Bible times also had kids. And. And time was not their own either. Their day was not 9 till five in the end. It’s a choice. It’s a matter of priority.

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   Now let me illustrate with example of people who. Lived a God. Conscious life within an environment similar to our own. And of course I’m speaking. About. The Book of Ruth. And I’d like to just go. Through the book of Ruth. Walk through it. And highlight how these people lived. OK, Ruth. And we’ll begin in chapter one. Look how conscious of God.

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   These people were how they lived in his presence. In Ruth chapter. One and we look at verse 8. After the death of. Her husband and her two sons, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem and it says in verse 8 and no. Only said unto her two daughters in law. Go return each to her mother’s house. Yahweh, deal kindly with you as ye have dealt kindly with the dead and with me.

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   Yahweh grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the House of her husband. And so Naomi invokes Yahweh’s blessing. Upon her two daughters. In law and she also asks him. To bless those two daughters. In law with a new. Husband and family see how natural. It was that she just.

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   Brings him into these things. And then we have Ruth’s. Beautiful response in verses 16 to 17, but we look at verse 17 where she says where thou. Diest will I die, and there will I be buried. Yahweh do so to me and more also if all but death part thee. And me she too invokes.

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   Yahweh. As a witness to her pledge and see how naturally she brings him into her interactions. They enter into Bethlehem and the women gather around. And Naomi says unto them in verse. 20 She said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me. Mara for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with. Me, I went out full and Yahweh have brought me. Home again, empty.

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   Why they call you me, Naomi, seeing Yahweh have testified. Against me and the Almighty has afflicted. Me see again. How? Naturally, Naomi. Speaks about God. To her neighbours, is she? Told of God’s hand in her life and the grief that he has brought into her life because of what she. And her family had done now.

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   We are introduced to Boaz, So what is? He like chapter 2 and verse four, and behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers. Yahweh be with you. And they answered him, and Yahweh bless thee. That’s how they greeted each other. They brought Yahweh into their. Greetings. Now look. How he speaks. To Ruth in verse 12, Yahweh, recompense thy work. And a full reward be given thee of Yahweh Elohim of Israel, under whose?

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    Wings thou outcome to. Trust. And so he seeks God’s blessing upon. Her they that they bring. God into everything, and when Ruth returns with all her gleanings, and that which Boaz. Had given her. Naomi’s response in verse 20 was Blessed be he of Yahweh, who hath. Not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.

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    Her automatic response it was from Yahweh and when Ruth asked Boaz to perform the rite of. The near kinsman and marry. Her in chapter 3 and in verse 10. He says. Blessed be thou of Yahweh. My daughter. Again, he’s. Invoking blessings from Yahweh upon. Ruth. And then says in verse 30 at the end of that verse, and if he, the unnamed kinsman, will not do the part of the kinsman to thee. Then will I do the part?

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    Of the kinsman to thee. As Yahweh liveth and he brought God into his promise and in chapter 4 those finally offers to take Ruth to wife. And he calls upon everyone there to witness what he promised. And he is the. People’s response verse chapter 4, verse 11. And all the people that were in the gate of the elders said we are. Witnesses Yahweh make the woman.

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    That has come into thine house like Rachel and like Laia. Which dude build the House of Israel, and do thou worthily in Ephrata, and be famous in Bethlehem, and let thy house be like the House of Pharise? Whom tame our bear unto. Judah of the Seed which? Yahweh shall give unto. Thee of this young woman. So the people invoke Yahweh’s blessing upon the couple and express their confidence that God would give. Them seed.

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    And when it came in verse 14. And the woman said unto Naomi. Blessed be Yahweh, which hath. Not left me this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel now. Look at how these people. Lived. They lived before God, and they brought God into their lives, into their language, into their daily interactions in everything

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    they’re continuously invoking Him in. Greetings, blessings, promises and thanksgivings and blessings of God. Now, Can you imagine speaking like that today in this our world, we barely mentioned God, especially in public or in the workplace. But what even about brothers and sisters? Speaking to each. Other.

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    And yet this, brothers and sisters, was in Bethlehem in the time. Of the judges. And if you know anything about. Bethlehem in the time of the judges. It was totally depraved.

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    You only have to look at the. Appendices of the Book of Judges and it’s all in Bethlehem. And the wicked and evil things that were practised, their behaviour was against the grain. So it’s possible to live like this in this kind of environment if we choose in faith. Now we’ve seen in our studies that prayer. Is involving ourselves with God.

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    But what should we expect from God? In response to our prayers, should we expect answers? And by answers to prayer, we we usually mean getting what we want, and we get upset when it doesn’t happen that way.

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    Now we would. Like answers to prayer to be not only what we want, but immediate. We just like it to happen now. And you know the Bible. Actually indicates that God does respond to our prayers immediately. I want you. To turn with me to Daniel Chapter 9, we’ve used Daniel several Times Now, but just look at what it says here in Daniel Chapter 9. And he said his face.

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    Unto God to seek by. Prayer and supplication and the record says I prayed unto Yahweh my God and made confession verses 3:00 and 4:00 and then in verse 20 it says. And whilst I was speaking. And praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people. Israel and presenting. My supplication before Yahweh, my God for the Holy.

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    Mountain of my God. Yeah, whilst I was speaking. In. Prayer. Yeah, I don’t know how many times he needs to reiterate the point that it was. While he was speaking. Even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision of at the beginning, been caused to fly swiftly touched. Me. About the time of the.

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    Evening oblation, the time of prayer and he informed me and. Talked. With me and said, oh, Daniel. I now come forth to give thee skill. And understanding at the beginning of. Thy supplications, the commandment came forth. And I came to show thee. And so it goes on. So the Angel Gabriel. Interrupts Daniel’s prayer and he tells them that God immediately.

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    He started praying, said Gabriel. It’s as if God couldn’t wait. It shows that God knows what we are going to ask before we. Ask just as the. Lord said in Matthew 6 verse 8. Now here’s another adventure of the same. Immediate recognition of. Daniel’s Prayer. But the response is different. In chapter 10. In chapter 10 and verse 2.

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    In those days I. Daniel was mourning 3-4 weeks. I ate no pleasant bread. Neither came flesh nor wine. In my mouth, neither did I. Anoint myself at all till. Three whole weeks. Were fulfilled and. On the forward 20th. Day of the first month. As I was by the side of the great river which is hid a cow.

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    Then I lifted up my eyes and. Looked, and behold a certain. Man clothed and linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of euphates. So Daniel was mourning for. 3. Four weeks, as he describes it, and while he fasted and prayed, and he was praying the whole time. It says that in verse 12. But look.

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    At what the Angel says verse. 12 Then said He unto. Me. Fear not, Daniel. For from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to. Understand and to chasten myself before God. Thy words were. Heard and I am come for thy words, but the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia. Withstood me one in. 20 days but though like.

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    One of the chief Princess. Came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of. Persia, now I am coming. To make the understand. What shall before my? People in the latter days and so on. So God heard Daniel’s. Prayer. At the beginning of the. 3-4 weeks. But the Angel could not respond before he finished more.

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    Pressing work, Daniel’s needs were significant. But there were higher. Priorities. And that’s something we’ve got to learn, brothers and sisters, that. God is working. On many matters, not just us, sometimes he requires. Other. Things to occur before our prayers can be answered. Now I. Take from these examples that God hears our requests and decides immediately, but not. Necessarily when or.

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    Even if we should receive what we request. Not everything that we. Ask for will be a yes. The answer can be a no. Remember David praying for his child and he he mourned and in sackcloth and ashes throwing himself on the earth he wouldn’t eat because. He believed in God, the possibility, as Christ said all.

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    Things are possible to God, but the answer was no. So. I I learned from this. Brothers and sisters, that we must accept the consequences of our actions. There are times when it can only be known or we have the example. Of the Apostle Paul who prayed. Three times that the. Thorn. Be taken from him. But the answer was no.

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    Sometimes we must suffer for our own good, as Christ told the apostle Paul. Or the Lord Jesus Christ in the garden. He also prayed 3. Times that the cup pass that the answer was no. Sometimes we must suffer for the good of others. We are in good. Company. Brothers and sisters. Far. Greater people than you and. Me.

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    Have had their requests denied, but always for a good reason. And each of these humbly accepted the answer of God. And so should we, sometimes. We get what we asked. For but. Is it really? What we need? Comes with me to our reading. And James chapter 5, James 5 and in the verse 16.

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    And the second part. Of that verse, the effectual fervent. Prayer of a righteous. Man of ours much? And James anticipates his readers thinking, well, how can I consider myself to be righteous? So he gives an example. So he says in verse 17. Elijah, Elijah. Was a man subject to like passion as we But this man, he said, if I be a prophet. Then let fire come down from heaven and consume you, and you’re 50.

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    And it did. He’s like the word of God made flesh, and it’s it continues. And he prayed earnestly that it might not. Rain. And it rains not on the Earth by the space of three years. And six months. There’s nowhere in the record of Kings that it says that. That it was Elijah’s prayer, but James says it was Elijah that. Asked for that to happen.

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    Elijah did this. It was his idea. Not gods. And we know from James and from. Elsewhere that that Elijah’s motive was that the people returned to their God. He desperately wanted that, and God heard him and he stopped the rain.

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    And when he thought. The time was right. He he, he he called for a contest on Mount Carmel. And. When the prophets of Baal. Didn’t succeed. He scoffed at them, and then when it was his turn, he he built the altar and and then he gave. This beautiful, simple prayer. But God consumed the sacrifice and it didn’t.

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    Fire came down from heaven. And Elijah is a late. And all the people are with them, and off with the heads of the prophets of Baal and and. And and he tells Ahab, you better get ready, the rain’s coming. He’s so confident. And he goes up onto Mount Carmel, and he throws himself on the ground, and he has his head between his knees, and he prays unto God, and he tells the seven. Go up to the top.

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    And see what you see. And there was nothing. And seven times he does it. And finally verse 18 it says. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth a fruit. And Elijah is on a. High and Yahweh and his people. Thou united, and this was all he wanted to bring them back to their God.

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    He’s so full of elation that he he runs before Ahab’s Chariots. But it takes. The word of one. Woman to send his world. Crashing it didn’t work all his. Plans. All his thoughts of how it could go, God worked with him. God used what He had asked for to bring judgement upon His. People but he was working with.

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    Elijah. Too, And that’s the same with us. His intentions were good when he took Elijah to where Moses was to learn the same message lessons as Moses. That is the still small voice Yahweh’s character expressed, not in The wind and the fire. And the. Earthquakes.

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    The fact is, brothers and sisters, God still did hear the intentions of Elijah and he’s going to come back and he’s going to do that work of restoring his people to their. God, he’s going to do that, he has heard. That breath. But it’s not how and when Elijah thought it should be. And it’s the same with us, brothers and sisters. God is fully in control.

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    He’s. Working with us despite our limited understanding, He hears our prayers and He does what is best for our. Ultimate development and good. It’s always with the letter N in mind. Now, another thing that we find difficult. With is how to interpret answers to print. We’re talking about Providence, really. Because. You know, that’s how God works today. It’s not by miracles, it’s by by Providence. Sometimes I think, though, we think that there should be miracles and we’re expecting them. Our problem.

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    Is interpreting. When it does happen, how to interpret Providence everything. We we interpret tends to be how we want to it’s from our own point of view and to our advantages. Come with me to. There are many. Examples we could use here, but First of Samuel chapter 24 is one good example. First of Samuel, chapter 24. Now Saul entered into a cave.

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    To relieve himself, he thought he was alone. Something that you would do. Privately. But David and his men? Worked deeper inside that very cave now God was. Obviously in this everyone could see that when it all came. To pass David. ‘S men certainly saw it that way, and his men in first of Samuel 24 in verse four they whispered to David, behold the.

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    Day of which Yahweh said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayst do to him. As it shall seem. Good unto thee.

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    God had never said those words to David. These words were the interpretation of those men. About Providence, what had happened, it was clearly from God. The Hebrew goes like this. Lo, the day that. Yahweh has said to you. Lo, I am delivering your. Enemy into your hand. That you may do to him. As it shall seem good unto you, see. They were saying God has brought Saul into this very cave where we are.

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    So that you can do. What you want with them? God’s telling you, David, here’s your opportunity. And David’s reticent and he says to his men in verse 6. Yahweh forbid that I should. Do this thing unto my master Yahweh’s anointed to stretch forth my hand against Him, saying He is. The Anointed of Yahweh.

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    Now it’s clear to everyone, including. Saul says the same that God. Had brought. Him into David’s hands. David saw it that way. His men saw. It that way, this was of God, but for what? Purpose is the question. His men interpreted this as God gifting David with. Saul’s life. But David filters the incident.

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    Through the word of God. And he comes to a different conclusion. So God was providentially working here with all of these people, with David’s men, with David, with Saul. He was testing them.

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    You see how God works on several things at once. And no. Doubt. David had been praying for deliverance and here it seems. Like God was at work. But he needed the word of God. So The thing is, is the. Principle triumphed over a self. Centered interpretation of the Hand of Providence. David’s men thought that God had sent.

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    A sign you often hear people saying, taking things as signs from God. There’s a danger in looking. For signs, looking for signs can be yet another attempt. For us. To know that God is with me. It’s this feeling that God is. Really there instead of trusting the word that he’s there we want.

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    These little. Indications that God is there I can I can tell you that the churches believe in these signs too they get them and all of. These things happen. Among many people, and people that aren’t even religious, things are taken as signs and omens and so on. So how can you trust him? How do we interpret it?

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    Against what? What’s the basis for interpreting? Those signs, there’s only one basis. We know the word. Of God, that’s what he’s told us now. The Lord regularly confronted the. Dubiousness of sign seeking. The leaders and the people. Were. Always. Seeking signs? From Cross and. Twice he said this. An evil. And an adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas.

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    He had done so many miracles it wasn’t funny, but they refused to accept. Them they wanted some kind of a sign, he says that. He will see the. Sign of the prophet Jonas. And they still did not believe why he summed up their problem. As those who put trust. In signs and miracles rather than.

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    Hearing the Word of God. Except you see. Signs and wonders. You will not believe. But they still didn’t believe. So what’s the one stable thing we’ve got? Brothers and sisters, except this. Book, We’ve got to believe that. Is God really? Interested in giving? US little. Clues that he’s there, he wants us to believe. His word, like any father, preparing a son or daughter for life, developing our ability to make. Choices and take responsibilities are more critical than giving.

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    Clues and playing mind games. With his children, he wants us to make spiritual decisions. Now we have seen that asking. In Christ’s name restricts petitions to the things he would want, or in other words, as it’s also expressed, if it’s according to his will that thy will be done as we know but does that mean, brothers and sisters, that.

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    The only. Things that we can ask for. Other things well that we know from the word about the Kingdom, the things to do with God in Christ the apostle Paul says in Philippians 4 be careful for nothing but in everything by. Prayer. And supplication with Thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known unto God. So does.

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    That mean really mean everything. Yes, you see, because God. Wants to be involved in every part of our lives and we should want to God to be in every part of our lives. Look at this the story of the book of Rose. Look at how they involve God. But the point. Is where?

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    Are our lives focused? Is there anything on this list for which we should not pray? There’s nothing on that list for which we cannot pray but. Whatever we ask for must not be. As James says, to consume upon our lusts just for our own ease, for our own. Gratification is if our lives.

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    Are devoted to him. It’s all about him. Our lives. Are devoted to him prayer. Involves our whole lives, every facet it even. Comes down to our moods come. Back with. Me to James and chapter 5 again. James 5 and verse 13. Is any among? You afflicted, let him pray. So these are moods like. Those afflicted of old, as we saw yesterday. We can meditate upon God’s character. His works his word and be encouraged, but we saw that meditation really is meditative prayer, and that’s what he’s. Getting at.

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    Is any. Mary. Well, let. Him sing psalms, we speak to ourselves. That’s meditation. In psalms and hymns and spiritual. Psalms singing. And making melody in our hearts to the Lord. Ephesians 5. 19 and 20, that’s meditation. We saw that yesterday.

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    Is meditative. Prayer. Now, how immersive is our life? And prayer and meditation to be our. Lives are to be conscious of God, talking to God and about God every. Living moment which involve God in everything we do now here’s something else that we’ve been asked to do in our. Lives. It’s at the heart of the royal law. To love our neighbour, and that’s to pray for them. It’s called intercession.

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    Praying on. Behalf of. Others it’s in verse 14 it says is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the ecclesia, and let them pray over him. Anointing him. With oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of. Faith shall save the. Sick and the Lord. Shall raise him up. And if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him, and I believe.

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    This is dealing with the spiritually sick. And these are the elders. Of the Ecclesia working with the spiritually. Sick because you see the spiritually sick. Feel so distant from. God, they can’t find him. They’re struggling to get access. Will he? Listen to me. I feel so far from him. How can I approach him? And so they they, he says.

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    Go to the. Elders and they will pray. Over him, they’ll do. Something else as well. It says they’ll. Anoint him in. The name of the Lord on the Lord’s behalf, and while oil was. Used literally as a medicine and I believe it’s symbolic. Here. Because. He’s this is the spirit. But James is alluding to Leviticus 1410 to 18 about the restoration. Of the letter, it’s symbolic of the word of God that. Anointing him gently, soothing him. With the Word of God and prayer, there they are again together, and they pray over him the idea.

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    Is that their prayer? Is superimposed upon. Him. So that eventually his. Prayer of faith will save the sick, and if there are sins, they will be forgiven. Now this is what James says. Is this what happens in our Eccleses? Can any member of the? Ecclesia feel that they could go to the arranging brethren and open up to them about their spiritual weaknesses and and, and.

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    Ask for help in coming back and they open their souls without condemnation. Well then, it seems in verse 16, confess your faults 1 to. Another and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Now stop and think. About what James is saying here. The. Literal Greek is this be. Praying on one another’s behalf that you all. May be healed, forgiven.

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    Now, what kind of spirit is? This, brothers and sisters, this is truly loving. Our neighbour, do we have that that kind of openness and that kind of humility within the ecclesia so that you can go and confess you have a problem with? Something. Or other and you need. Your brother’s prayers. And help with that problem without being looked down upon. Because the fact is, he’s saying you all ought to be doing that because we’re all in the same boat. We’ve all got problems, doesn’t matter how long we’ve been in the.

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    Truth how much knowledge we’ve. Got what? Standing we have in the accretion we’ve. All got this. Problem, he says we’re all on the same level here, and we should. All be able to do. This.

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    This is what an ecclesia is meant to be like. And just as Christ intercedes. On our behalf. So he wants us to intercede on each other’s behalf. Paul often prayed for others. Didn’t he? We often mention this in his epistles. He’s he’s constantly praying for others and he asks others to pray for him in his work. But.

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    Paul doesn’t just list off a whole. Lot of names. He. Gives the reasons why so in our prayer list, we they they need. To be more. Than just a list of names and mention them in our prayers. We need to. Know about each of those. Brothers and sisters. Need to keep up. To date with them.

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    To know where they are so that we can pray meaningfully about each of. Them we’ve got to become involved. Not only with God, but with. Them as he is with them. We saw in our very. First study that in. All the old. Testament and New Testament words There were two basic categories of prayer. There were prayers, which the word prayer means. To ask.

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    That they express our need. And the other. Sort was praise which expresses our involvement with. God and his. Purpose. So I want in the last few moments that we have to consider Thanksgiving and praise. Because praise is good. To sing praises unto our God, for it is pleasant, and praise is coming, and we ought to praise God for there is none like Him. But there’s got to be more than this, doesn’t? There you think about it.

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    We praise. An. Athlete for breaking a record and we praise a pupil for coming first in class or we praise a hero. For saving the child, but while we may be pleased. With that person and admire. Them is not personal. To us it’s it’s simply. Something that we see as distinguished. Or remarkable, and that can be the same with God. We can be in awe of the miracles of the Red Sea or of the mountain on.

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    Fire and shaking and the trumpet. Getting louder and louder. Amazing things. Or of Christ walking on the water. Or healing. So many people witnessed and rejoiced in all those miracles, but forgot when they came to the next well and found it to. Be dry, the praise born of. Thankfulness comes from a different place and has a different outcome. Giving thanks is a response.

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    We thank someone because that person has done something. For us, the thing done is the. Motivation for giving thanks. But it’s not just. About the gift, is it? It’s also. About the giver because of their. Thoughtfulness that we say it’s. The thought that. Counts. So we give thanks to a person for their thoughtfulness.

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    So there are two things. The Gift and the. Thoughtfulness of the giver. And it’s no different in the Bible. Now we’ve seen how Paul regularly gave thanks to God for brothers and sisters and always gave a reason. Well, here’s 3 examples.

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    First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ. For you all. That your faith is spoken. Of throughout the whole world. That’s why he gave thanks. Romans one verse 8. One Corinthians one verse 4. I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is. Given. You. By Jesus Christ, Second of Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 13.

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    But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the. Beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification and so on. It’s cause. And effect. Paul thanks God for what God had done for these brothers. And sisters. But it goes further. Come with me to 2nd of Corinthians, Chapter 9 in Second of Corinthians and Chapter 9 and it’s concerning the collection that Paul had organised for all believers in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers there.

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    The Jerusalem. Poor fund is it’s often called. And so he says in verse 11. Now, not just these words. Being enriched in everything to all. Bountifulness. In other words, he’s speaking about the money. But it’s more than that. Which causes through. US Thanksgiving to God it’s. Cause and effect which causes through US Thanksgiving to God for the administration of the service not only supplies the want of the Saints, but as a result is abundant also by.

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    Many thanksgivings unto God. Now the question here is why would the? Thanksgiving be given unto God instead of those that gave the givers. Well, it’s a little. Obvious really, isn’t it, brothers and sisters? Because. It’s God that put that into their hearts. It’s God that did that. It’s because of God His. Thoughtfulness. His gift, he says in verse 15, Thanks be unto God. For his unspeakable gift, it’s.

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    His gift, and that gift was Christ, and that gift was behind all they’re giving. Christ becomes the motivation because. The gift is so valuable. It accomplishes so much and once again, the thoughtfulness of the giver. Now thankfulness is is important to God. It’s there in the law of, of, of the the sacrifices. There’s a Thanksgiving offering.

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    It’s the most important of all the offerings don’t have time to. Look at that, but this. Is what he does say. Colossians 3 verse 17 And whatsoever you do in Word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God or even the Father by Him or first of Thessalonians and chapter 5 verse 18 and everything gives thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you or? In colossians 3 verse with Dean and let the. Peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful.

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    It’s important to God He’s looking. For a response. But the father isn’t looking for a perfunctory. Thanks in every prayer. Like a child with a mouthful. Of cake being told to thank the kind lady. It ought to be genuine and spontaneous. Come with me to Philippians chapter 4. We’ve looked at this passage several Times Now through our studies.

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    We’ve mentioned it and it comes collide. But let’s have a look at the context of this Philippians chapter 4, verses five to seven. Now this I’m going to translate. It is my own translation from the Greek, and it says this the Lord is nigh be anxious for nothing but in. Everything by. Petition and supplication with Thanksgiving. Let your.

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    Request be made known unto God, and the peace of God that exceeds. All reasoning shall. Guard your hearts and minds. In Christ Jesus. Now the point of. Each of those words for. Prayer there is not to indicate different types of. Prayer. But rather that they’re all different words for. Petition. For asking God it goes like this and everything.

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    By whoops, like on backwards. There we go, see that and everything by petition supplication. Request that all about petitions. And that’s what we like, brothers and sisters. Prayer is usually mostly about asking God because we’ve got such a great need and our lives are full of all these needs at once and that we’re desperately in need of God all the time.

88. 43:28

    But what Paul says, make sure you don’t forget to be thankful. We’ve got to remember brothers and. Sisters in those times, desperate times and that’s what he’s speaking about. Don’t get anxious, but remember with. All. The asking what he’s done for you, the gifts, what he’s already given. Remember that and be thankful with your. Prayers and petitions, remember that. The question is, why should we be thankful? Well, God has provided the gift.

89. 44:19

    And of course. We have that gift. God so loved the. World that he gave his only. Begotten Son, that whosoever believes. In him should not perish, but have everlasting. Life. Gifts ought to bring a response.

90. 44:44

    Because it’s. A gift that has accomplished so much and it expresses the great thoughtfulness of our Heavenly Father. These demand a moral and heartfelt response that people people talk about. God’s love not. Expecting anything in return that’s not true. He doesn’t. Expect it, but he’s looking for the ones that. Do respond just to say thank you.

91. 45:15

    He does want that. Brothers and sisters, our problem is we do feel thankful, don’t we? We we feel thankful at this Bible school now now’s the time we feel the most thankful. We’re thankful to each other and we’re thankful to our Heavenly Father for such a spiritual. Environment. And we go down the road and it starts to wane. I mentioned that picture once before, but. That is what it’s like, isn’t it? It wanes our.

92. 45:43

    Thankfulness becomes less genuine. More. And less spontaneous it becomes more. Ritualistic. Because we know we should give thanks. So how on earth are we to remember the the thoughtfulness of God and. The greatness of his beauty.

93. 46:04

    How do you think God? Feels when we lose our thankfulness. Where do we feel when someone takes us for? Granted. It’s like that little kid that’s got a mouthful of cake and doesn’t bother thanking the kind lady.

94. 46:21

    How? Can then we maintain our thankfulness? Well, I think it’s sort of obvious. If we consider what we’ve been considering over our studies, it’s the word of God and it’s it’s so obvious, it’s meditation, it’s constantly meditating on those things. We can only retain the effectiveness of God’s gift and thoughtfulness with its response by constantly drawing upon the water through those roots into.

95. 46:55

    Lives of. Fruitfulness. Have you ever wondered? Brothers and sisters, why there is only. Two prayers. That we have. Been told to give as an ecclesia. Now there Paul was told this is what you do. 1 Corinthians 11 to give thanks for bread, give thanks for wine. Twice. For the same offering, that’s emphasis.

96. 47:36

    He emphasizes the gift and these prayers are. Given at the memorial meeting. A meeting of remembrance do this. In remembrance of me. That’s meditation. He’s asking us to come to meditate on the gift that it might produce. In US a response now, brothers and sisters. We have a lot. To be thankful for we.

97. 48:17

    Ought to perhaps start a? List out of thankful hearts for all the things that God has given, and we can meditate upon them. To God it is. So wonderful, so wonderful in His thoughtfulness and in His gift. So through Jesus Christ, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. None.