Lord S Prayer

Creative Living Bible Study
Connecting With God

Insights into the Lords Prayer
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CONNECTING WIT GO!
INSIGTS INTO TE LO"!#S $"%&E"
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Connecting With God
Insights into the Lord's Prayer
$art I: 0o1us on God and is Will
% Introd"ction 0
3aving a 2erfect 3eavenly 4ather
2 5hat 3eaven is Li!e %4
0 6no#ing 7od 20
4 7od-s 7ood and 2erfect 5ill 00
$art II: 0o1us on Our Needs and Struggles
& As!$ See!$ 6noc! 0+
' 8he 4reedom of 4orgiveness 4&
/ 8he 4reedom of 4orgiving &0
1 4acing 8emptation '0
+ 2rotection Against 9vil '1
%0 8he 6ingdom$ the 2o#er and the 7lory /&
The Lord#s $rayer as a Guideline 2or $rayer 3+
4a5or 0ootnote !ire1tory 36
Bibliogra7hy 3-
%bout the %uthor
Connecting With God
Connecting With God
Insights into the Lord's Prayer
Part 1: Focus on God and His Will
Lesson (
The Lord-s 2rayer is perhaps the best !no#n passage of the (ible. It is
recited millions of times each #ee! aro"nd the #orld. Concise$
profo"nd$ simple$ serene::the '' #ords of #hat has become !no#n as
the Lord-s 2rayer reveal the deepest tr"ths abo"t o"r relationship #ith
7od and f"lfillment in life.
;es"s gave 3is disciples this e<emplary prayer #hen one of them as!ed$
=Lord$ teach "s to pray= >L"!e %%?%@. 8he disciples #ere all ;e#s and
familiar #ith prayer$ b"t perhaps they sa# ;es"s- comm"nication #ith
3is 4ather to be different and the secret of 3is ama,ing ministry. 8hey
m"st have observed that 3is fre."ent times of prayer act"ally lin!ed
3im #ith the "nseen #orld. Ane a"thor states?
It became clear that Jesus had a lin with eternity! "hough He mo#ed
through time$ there was something transtem%oral about Him$ something in
Him that brought %eo%le into con&rontation with the dee% issues o& li&e! I'm
sure He was &un to be with((natural and )oy&ul$ a good com%anion((but
somehow His manner and His words tended to %itch %eo%le's attention onto
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Connecting With God
im%ortant things$ matters o& de%th and %ermanence! He was a man with one
&oot %lanted in time((&or God truly intersected history with His incarnation((
but with the other &oot in eternity!
*
So perhaps the real desire of the disciple #ho as!ed$ =Lord$ teach "s to
pray$= #as to discover the secret of Christ-s po#erf"l life. ;es"s
responded #ith a brief prayer meant to be a g"ideline for all prayer.
8he Lord-s 2rayer is made "p of t#o parts. 8he first foc"ses on 7od
and 3is redemptive #or! in the #orld >Batthe# '?+:%0@. 8he second
emphasi,es personal needs and help in daily str"ggles >Batthe# '?%%:
%0@. 8his order sho#s that prayer sho"ld begin #ith t"rning from self
to foc"s on 7od-s maCesty and #ill >3is !ingdom or lordship@ in o"r
lives. 8his prepares "s to desire 3is #ill above o"r o#n as #e pray
abo"t concerns and needs.
2erhaps most important to remember is that ;es"s gave the Lord-s
2rayer in the conte<t of teachings that strictly censored hypocrisy. 8he
prayer #as never meant to be a lit"rgy$ b"t rather to e<emplify sincere
comm"nication #ith a loving heavenly 4ather abo"t everyday needs.
Anly as #e pray the Lord-s 2rayer from the heart do #e bring Coy to
7od and find f"lfillment o"rselves.
Det ho# easy it is to recite the Lord-s 2rayer #itho"t even thin!ing
abo"t its meaning. 8he p"rpose of o"r st"dy of this great prayer is that
#e might more f"lly "nderstand its meanings and be able to pray it
#ith absol"te sincerity. Another p"rpose is to learn principles from this
e<emplary prayer that direct o"r overall prayer life to be li!e that of
;es"s$ that #e also might !no# the po#er and Coy that comes from
having one foot planted in time and the other in eternity.
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aving a $er2e1t eavenly 0ather
Our Father
5hat a privilege to address 7od as =A"r 4ather.= It #as ;es"s #ho
ta"ght this familiar #ay of concept"ali,ing 7od. 8hro"gho"t 3is
ministry$ ;es"s modeled and enco"raged s"ch an intimate$ personal$
family:li!e relationship #ith 7od. 8he gospels record ;es"s referring to
7od as 4ather over seventy times.
8he Script"res "p to the time of ;es"s rarely mentioned 7od as a
4ather. 3o#ever$ other h"man terms #ere "sed to reveal the character
of the transcendent Almighty 7od of heaven and earth. 4or e<ample$
Ald 8estament passages spea! of 3is face loo!ing at "s #ith grace$ 3is
ears hearing o"r prayers$ 3is eyes seeing all things$ 3is voice
comm"nicating 3is #ord to "s$ 3is fingers creating "s$ 3is hands
saving$ g"iding$ providing$ protecting and disciplining 3is children. 8he
2salms especially are filled #ith the love$ goodness and faithf"lness of
7od depicted in h"man terms.
In spite of these descriptions$ the #orld at the time of Christ$ as today$
#ondered #hether the Ane behind the "niverse #as a hostile$
indifferent or friendly being. 8he incarnate Son of 7od ans#ered these
."estions as 3e introd"ced the omnipotent Ane #ho called all things
into being as a loving 4ather::perfect in compassion$ #isdom and
C"stice::#ho desires an intimate relationship #ith each of 3is children.
8he Script"res reveal that 7od$ "nli!e imperfect earthly fathers$ is
dependable$ loyal$ available$ "nderstanding$ strong$ and "ncondemning.
3e loo!s #ith compassion and deep concern on o"r str"ggles and is
moved by o"r least effort to resist evil and do good. (y 3is Spirit$ 3e
e<tends 3is grace to help and lift "s above sin-s p"ll. 3is tho"ghts and
inner attit"des to#ard each of 3is children are good$ gentle$ !ind$
perceptive and affectionate. In 3is love$ 3e is al#ays strongly opposed
to things destr"ctive to o"r lives$ b"t in any sit"ation #elcomes "s into
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3is presence #ith a sympathetic ear. 3e is not temperamental or
moody$ b"t consistent and even:nat"red.
8he #hole concept of 7od as o"r 4ather is filled #ith incredible love$
meeting o"r deepest need to be f"lly !no#n$ #ith all o"r fa"lts$ and
f"lly loved. 8hro"gh teachings s"ch as the parable of the prodigal son$
;es"s demonstrated that even #hen #e have bro!en 7od-s heart by o"r
actions$ 3e #ill receive 3is repentant child #ith forgiveness and an
open:handed$ greathearted #elcome.
8o relate to 7od as an affectionate$ loving child is a great privilege and
brings the deepest sense of sec"rity and f"lfillment in life. 5e #ill
begin o"r st"dy of 8he Lord-s 2rayer observing biblical tr"ths related
to !no#ing 7od as a perfect heavenly 4ather.
%. 3o# does ;es"s begin 3is e<ample of effective prayerE
Batthe# '?+
2. 3o# do the follo#ing Ald 8estament Script"res describe the
fatherhood of 7odE
2salm '1?&
Isaiah '4?1
0. 5hat negative attrib"tes of h"man fathers can #e "nconscio"sly
transfer to 7odE
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4. 8o !no# 7od as a loving heavenly 4ather re."ires #or!ing thro"gh
these misconceptions and grasping the (ible-s revelation of 3is
character$ primarily 3is love. 8he (ible declares that 7od is love >%
;ohn 4?1b@. 3o# does the follo#ing passage describe 7od-s loveE
% Corinthians %0?4:1a
&. 8he greatest evidence of 7od-s love is in 3is #illingness to pay the
penalty for o"r misdeeds. 5hat do the follo#ing verses declareE
;ohn 0?%':%/
"e2eren1e: ote 2$ +Why did Christ ha#e to die in my %lace,+ p. %2.
'. a. 5hat m"st #e do to have a personal relationship #ith 7od as a
4atherE
;ohn %?%2:%0 >Him refers to ;es"s ChristF cf. 7alatians 0?2'@
Note: -ecei#ing Christ refers to inviting 3im to come into o"r livesF belie#ing in
3is name involves tr"sting 3im to control o"r lives.
b. 5hat is also involved in receiving Christ and coming to the 4ather
thro"gh 3imE
Acts 0?%+
Note: )epentance involves sorro# for sin and t"rning to 7od from self.
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/. 5hen #e place o"r faith in 3is Son$ ;es"s Christ$ #hat does the
4ather give "s in addition to eternal lifeE
)omans 1?%&:%'
;ohn %4?20
;ohn %'?20b
1. ;es"s told a parable to sho# the consistent "nconditional love of the
4ather to#ard 3is children. )ead L"!e %&?%%:24.
a. 3o# did the father respond to his son-s re."est for his inheritance
and independenceE
b. 5hat did the father probably e<perience beca"se of his son-s
actionsE
c. 5hat did the son reali,eE
+. a. 3o# did the father receive his son >%&?20@E
b. 5hat #as the son-s attit"de >%&?2%@E
c. In spite of the heartache he had e<perienced$ ho# did the father
respond >%&?22:24@E
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%0. 5hat comforting aspects of o"r heavenly 4ather-s character did
;es"s reveal in this parableE Af #hat does this story ass"re "s #hen #e
have come to the 4ather #ith a bro!en$ repentant heartE
"e2eren1e: ote 0$ "he older brother$ p. %0.
%%. In addition to grasping 7od-s love$ it is important to !no# that 3e
sees everything in o"r lives and "nderstands "s completely::better than
#e "nderstand o"rselves. 3e !no#s o"r ma!e"p and #hy #e are as #e
are. 5hat do the follo#ing passages tell "s abo"t 7od-s "nderstandingE
2salm %4/?&b
2salm %0+?%:4
%2. a. Since o"r heavenly 4ather "nderstands "s and all things
completely$ #hat can #e confidently doE
3ebre#s 4?%'
b. 9ven tho"gh 7od sees even the #orst abo"t "s$ of #hat are #e
ass"redE
)omans 1?0%b:02
)omans 1?01:0+
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%0. As #e begin the Lord-s 2rayer #ith the #ords$ =A"r 4ather$= for
#hat can #e praise 7od$ according to % ;ohn 0?%E
S U B B A ) D
%4. 5hat tone does addressing 7od as a heavenly 4ather set in o"r
prayer lifeE
%&. 5hat stands o"t to yo" abo"t the character of the 4ather from this
lessonE
%'. 5hy is the 4ather-s greatest demonstration of love fo"nd in ;es"s
ChristE
%/. 3o# can !no#ing 7od as a 4ather meet deep needs in yo"r lifeE
_____________
Note: Go yo" str"ggle #ith the concept of 7od as a 4atherE 2erhaps
yo" #o"ld li!e to ta!e a moment to as! 7od to reveal 3is character$
especially 3is love$ "nderstanding and forgiveness$ to yo".
"e2eren1e: God is Easy to Live With$ p. %0.
(oo!s that can help yo" discover 7od as a perfect heavenly 4ather?
What is the .ather /ie, by 5. 2hillip 6eller.
0* 1ays o& 2raise by )"th Byers.
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% 0inal Note
As #e sa# in H"estion I' above$ the Lord #aits to be invited to share
3is life #ith "s on a heart level. 8he e# 8estament e<plains that a
personal relationship #ith 7od as a loving heavenly 4ather begins #ith
faith in 3is Son$ ;es"s Christ >;ohn %?%2F 7alatians 0?2'@. In )evelation
0?20$ ;es"s states 3is desire to come into o"r lives? =3ere I amJ I stand
at the door and !noc!. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door$ I
#ill come in and eat #ith him$ and he #ith me.= If yo"r desire is to
place yo"r faith in ;es"s by inviting 3im into yo"r life$ the follo#ing
prayer can help yo" e<press this desire to 3im?
/ord Jesus$ I o%en the door o& my li&e to you! 2lease &orgi#e the sin that maes me
&eel awward in your %resence! "han you that this is %ossible because you too the
%enalty &or my sin on the cross! Come into my li&e and mae me the %erson you
created me to be! "han you &or gi#ing me eternal li&e as I %lace my &aith in you!
3men!
-e&erences: -omans 0:40(456 5:406 Colossians 4:*0(*7!
If yo" prayed this prayer$ #hat does 3e promise to yo" in )evelation
0?20 >above@$ 3ebre#s %0?&b and % ;ohn &?%%:%0E
89cer%t &rom 8God is Easy to Live With8
by 3! W! "o:er
It is most im%ortant to our s%iritual wel&are that we hold in our minds
always a right conce%tion o& God! I& we thin o& Him as cold and e9acting
we shall &ind it im%ossible to lo#e Him$ and our li#es will be ridden with
ser#ile &ear! I&$ again$ we hold Him to be ind and understanding our whole
inner li&e will mirror that idea!
"he truth is that God is the most winsome o& all beings and His ser#ice one
o& uns%eaable %leasure! He is all lo#e$ and those who trust Him need ne#er
now anything but that lo#e! He is )ust$ indeed$ and He will not condone
sin6 but through the blood o& the e#erlasting co#enant He is able to act
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toward us e9actly as i& we had ne#er sinned! "oward the trusting sons o&
men His mercy will always trium%h o#er )ustice!
"he &ellowshi% o& God is delight&ul beyond all telling! He communes with
His redeemed ones in an easy$ uninhibited &ellowshi% that is rest&ul and
healing to the soul! He is not sensiti#e nor sel&ish nor tem%eramental! What
He is today we shall &ind Him tomorrow and the ne9t day and the ne9t
year! He is not hard to %lease$ though He may be hard to satis&y! He
e9%ects o& us only what He has Himsel& &irst su%%lied! He is ;uic to
o#erloo im%er&ections when He nows we meant to do His will! He lo#es
us &or oursel#es and #alues our lo#e more than gala9ies o& new created
worlds!
How good it would be i& we could learn that God is easy to li#e with! He
remembers our &rame and nows that we are dust! <ome o& us are
religiously )um%y and sel&(conscious because we now that God sees our
e#ery thought and is ac;uainted with all our ways! We need not be! God is
the sum o& all %atience and the essence o& indly good will! We %lease Him
most$ not by &rantically trying to mae oursel#es good$ but by throwing
oursel#es into His arms with all our im%er&ections$ and belie#ing that He
understands e#erything and lo#es us still!
LESSON ( NOTES
( 9verett L. 4"llam$ /i#ing the /ord's 2rayer$ p. '.
, 8Why did Christ have to die in 9y 7la1e:8 8his is one of the
most important yet least "nderstood ."estions of the Christian faith.
8he follo#ing e<planations of vario"s biblical terms ans#er this
."estion?
a; $ro7itiation is a biblical #ord meaning =satisfaction= and refers to
the righteo"s demands of 7od being satisfied. 7od #ill not
compromise 3is attrib"tes of righteo"sness and C"stice #hich are
legitimately o"traged by man-s deliberate violation of 3is #ill. ("t
7od-s attrib"te of love motivated 3im to provide a #ay to bring man
bac! into fello#ship #ith 3imself without com%romising 3is attrib"tes of
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absol"te righteo"sness and C"stice. 7od-s holy character demanded that
man-s sin be paid for. 8herefore$ 7od came into the #orld in the
person of 3is Son$ ;es"s Christ. (eca"se Christ #as born #itho"t sin
and never committed an act of sin$ 3e ."alified to bear the holy #rath
of 7od d"e the h"man race as 3e #illingly died on the cross for o"r
sin >cf. 7enesis 2?%':%/F 0?'$ 20:24F )omans &?'$ %&$ %/@. In so doing
3e =satisfied= the C"st demands of 7od-s holy character against man-s
sin. 8his act set 7od-s love free to po"r o"t grace on those #ho receive
3is gift of salvation. In this #ay$ 7od is =C"st and the one #ho C"stifies
the man #ho has faith in ;es"s= >)omans 0?2'@.
b; <usti2i1ation refers to 7od declaring "s =not g"ilty= and righteo"s
in his sight$ even tho"gh #e are g"ilty of sin. 7od is able to do this
beca"se of the life and death of ;es"s Christ acting as man-s s"bstit"te
>)omans 0?20F '?20@. 5hen 7od declares a person righteo"s in 3is
sight$ 3e does so on the basis of the life and death of the Ane #ho #as
acting on his behalf. =;es"s o"r Lord...#as delivered over to death for
o"r sins and #as raised to life for o"r C"stification= >)omans 4?24:2&@.
5hen #e p"t faith in ;es"s Christ to save "s from sin$ 7od declares "s
C"stified$ or not g"ilty$ and righteo"s. 5e are C"stified by the death of
Christ #hich paid the penalty for o"r sin$ and #e are C"stified by the
life of Christ #hose life of righteo"sness is also credited to "s. 8his
C"stification$ #hich is all by 7od-s grace and received by faith$ brings "s
into fello#ship #ith 7od as a child in 3is family.
See also ote %$ -edem%tion$ -econciliation$ p. &%.
+ "he older brother >L"!e %&?2&:02@ sho#s ho# pride$ self:righteo"sness
and a legalistic attit"de can prevent "s from !no#ing o"r heavenly
4ather. 8he person #ho sees 7od as harsh$ hard and very demanding
cannot sense 3is fatherly love$ compassion$ generosity and forgiveness.
3e !eeps 7od at arms length as did the older son. It is important to
!no# 7od-s character as revealed in 3is 5ord and in the person of
3is Son #ho perfectly reflected his 4ather >3ebre#s %?%:0@.
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Lesson ,
What eaven is Like
Our Father in heaven . . .
3eaven is mentioned over 400 times thro"gho"t the '' boo!s of the
(ible. Sometimes it refers to the earth-s atmosphere. =As the rain and
the sno# come do#n from heaven...= >Isaiah &&?%0@. Sometimes heaven
is "sed to spea! of o"ter space. =8he heavens declare the glory of
7od...= >2salm %+?%@. Certainly 7od is in these places beca"se 3e is
spirit and omnipresent. =Go I not fill heaven and the earthE= is the
declaration of the Lord recorded in ;eremiah 20?24.
("t the heaven ;es"s refers to in the Lord-s 2rayer #hen 3e prays$
KA"r 4ather in heaven$L is the third "se of the #ord heaven in the
Script"res. It is the place #here 7od d#ells and from #hich 3e reigns
eternally. In the e# 8estament$ it is sometimes described as a
heavenly co"ntry$ a e# ;er"salem$ a home prepared especially for
7od-s children. (eing a realm #e cannot see$ it is hard to imagine$ and
many ."estions s"rro"nd the concept. In his boo!$ /i#ing the /ord=s
2rayer$ 9verett 4"llam states?
Imagine you ha#e a blacboard in &ront o& you$ and we ha#e drawn a line
across it hal&way between the bottom and the to%! 8#erything below the line
re%resents the world within our e9%erience((the absolute limit o& our human
reasoning$ e#en o& imagination! "hen we %lace the /ord God abo#e that
line$ beyond the reach o& human nowledge$ wisdom$ and understanding!
>ur &inite minds will not %enetrate that area$ no matter how hard we try!
Now this would be a true %icture were it not &or the astounding &act$ the
most central and sobering teaching o& the Christian &aith$ that God at a real
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%oint in history came down below that line and entered the world o& our
e9%erience! In this boundless uni#erse o& gala9ies$ ;uasars and &ormations
sur%assing our wildest imaginations$ this tiny little globe on which we li#e
became$ in the words o& J! B! 2hilli%s$ +the #isited %lanet!+ God Himsel&$ in
the %erson o& His <on$ came among us!
%
;es"s$ the incarnate 5ord of 7od >;ohn %?%f@$ came to reveal tr"ths of
the "nseen #orld to "s$ b"t even 3e fo"nd it diffic"lt to e<plain to
man!ind in terms #e co"ld "nderstand. In the conte<t of o"r
e<perience #ith h"man fathers$ the #ord &ather to describe 7od falls
short$ b"t the phrase in hea#en places 3im in the realm of the infinite
and eternal... absol"tely "nlimited and "nfettered by the conditions in
this #orld that restrict "s h"mans. 3e is heavenly$ not earthly. ;es"s
#ants "s to see that the 4ather is transcendent$ omnipotent >all:
po#erf"l@$ omniscient >all:!no#ing@ and omnipresent >every#here
present@$ even tho"gh o"r h"manness ma!es "s incapable of f"lly
comprehending those descriptions.
In the #ords$ =A"r 4ather in heaven$= ;es"s reveals that this
transcendent Ane$ enthroned in heaven$ #ants to relate to "s as dearly
loved children. 3is infinite love can heal o"r emotional #o"nds from
earthly fathers and others$ and 3is #isdom can be tr"sted. 3e reigns
over all things from a place called heaven that the Script"res say #ill
one day be the believer-s eternal home. 8he descriptions of this place$
envisioned by men li!e Isaiah and the Apostle ;ohn$ so"nd li!e
something #e #o"ld see on a modern movie screen... almost
"nimaginable. 8hey had diffic"lty "sing h"man lang"age to depict #hat
they sa#.
("t in common terms$ ;es"s promised that those #ho believe in 3im
#ill be there and that 3e has gone to prepare a place in heaven for each
one. (eca"se 3is res"rrection is a fact of history$ #e can !no# ;es"s
#as 7od-s Son$ and 3is promises regarding heaven and o"r eternal
f"t"re there #ill be f"lfilled.
3ebre#s %%?% says$ =o# faith is the ass"rance of things hoped for$
the conviction of things not seen.= In teaching "s to pray$ =A"r 4ather
in heaven$= ;es"s enco"rages "s to begin prayer #ith faith that the
4ather is on 3is throne$ and #e #ill one day see 3im face to face. In
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this lesson$ #e #ill loo! at some of the facts the (ible gives "s abo"t
heaven.
%. a. 3o# does ;es"s describe 7od in Batthe# '?+E
b. 3o# does ;es"s- description of 7od as a hea#enly 4ather set 3im
apart from h"man fathersE >See also commentary notes.@
2. a. 5hat are some common preconceived ideas abo"t heaven and o"r
4ather in heavenE
b. 5hat does % Corinthians %0?%2 say abo"t o"r "nderstanding of the
"nseen #orldE
0. a. 5hat do these Ald 8estament passages reveal abo"t heavenE
2salm %00?%+
2salm +0?2
b. 5hat #ill al#ays ca"se those aro"nd the throne of 7od to #orship
3imE
2salm 1+?%4
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4. 5hat does 3ebre#s %?2:0 state abo"t ;es"s ChristE
"e2eren1e: ote 2$ Jesus at the right hand o& God$ p. 20.
&. a. 5hat does ;es"s promise the believerE
;ohn %%?2&:2'
;ohn %4?%:0
b. 5hat does 2hilippians 0?20:2% add to this promiseE
'. 8he (ible tells "s that 7od #ill ma!e a ne# heaven and earth >2
2eter 0?%0$%0F )evelation 2%?%@$ and the #hole created #orld #ill be
redeemed and set free from decay and str"ggle. 3o# do the follo#ing
verses describe this redemptionE
)omans 1?%+:2%
Isaiah %%?':+
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/. ;es"s- res"rrection body gives "s a pict"re of #hat o"r eternal bodies
might be li!e$ bodies not s"bCect to decay or sic!ness b"t made to live
eternally. 5hat do yo" observe abo"t 3is res"rrection body in the
follo#ing passagesE
L"!e 24?%&:%'$ 00:0%$ 0':40$ &%
Acts %?+:%%
1. 5hat do yo" observe from the follo#ing verses abo"t the ne#
heaven and earth #here believers #ill live foreverE
)evelation 2%?%$ 0:&
)evelation 2%?%0:2%
)evelation 2%?22:2/
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)evelation 22?%:&
Note: /amb is a term "sed for ;es"s >9<. %2? % Cor. &?/F ;ohn %?2+F Is. &0?/@.
"e2eren1e? ote 0$ -e&lections on hea#en$ p. 2%.
+. As #e pray$ =A"r 4ather in heaven$= for #hat can #e praise 7odE
% 2eter %?0:4
Note: Ho%e biblically is certainty$ not C"st #ishf"l optimism.
9<od"s %&?%1
S U B B A ) D
%0. 3o# #o"ld yo" describe heaven to someone that as!edE 5hat
characteristics of heaven stand o"t to yo" from this lessonE
%%. Are yo" certain that yo" #ill go to heavenE According to ;ohn 0?%'
and ;ohn %?%2$ #hat m"st one doE
Note: If yo" #o"ld li!e to be certain that yo" #ill go to heaven$ the
prayer on p. %%$ and the verses of ass"rance #hich follo#$ may be
helpf"l.
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Connecting With God
%2. Af #hat are yo" reminded as yo" pray$ KA"r 4ather in heavenMLE
L9SSA 2 A89S
( 9verett L. 4"llam$ /i#ing the /ord's 2rayer$ p. 2&.
, Jesus at the right hand o& God. (oth Ald and e# 8estaments reveal
that ;es"s Christ #ill reign forever$ one #ith the 4ather. Isaiah-s
Bessianic prophecy states? =4or to "s a child is born$ to "s a son is
given$ and the go#ernment will be on his shoulders. And he #ill be called
5onderf"l Co"nselor$ Bighty 7od$ 9verlasting 4ather$ 2rince of
2eace= >Isaiah +?'F emphasis mine@. =In love a throne #ill be establishedF
in faithf"lness a man #ill sit on it::one from the ho"se of Gavid::one
#ho in C"dging see!s C"stice and speeds the ca"se of righteo"sness= >2
Sam"el /?%0:%'$ emphasis mine@.
In the e# 8estament$ the angel 7abriel anno"nced to Bary$ =-3e #ill
be great and #ill be called the Son of the Bost 3igh. 8he Lord 7od #ill
give him the throne of his father Gavid$ and he #ill reign over the ho"se
of ;acob foreverF his !ingdom #ill never end-= >L"!e %?02:00$ emphasis
mine@.
;es"s also claimed to have come from the 4ather and to be one #ith the
4ather. =I came from the 4ather and entered the #orldF no# I am
leaving the #orld and going bac! to the 4ather= >;ohn %'?21@. =I and the
4ather are one...Anyone #ho has seen me has seen the 4ather...it is the
4ather$ living in me$ #ho is doing 3is #or!.= >;ohn %0?00F %4?+:%0@.
8he #riter of 3ebre#s states$ =Mb"t in these last days 3e has spo!en
to "s by his Son$ #hom he appointed heir of all things$ and thro"gh
#hom he made the "niverse. 8he Son is the radiance of 7od-s glory and
the e<act representation of 3is being$ s"staining all things by 3is
po#erf"l #ord. After 3e had provided p"rification for sins$ 3e sat
do#n at the right hand of the BaCesty in heaven. ("t abo"t the Son 3e
says$ -Do"r throne$ A 7od$ #ill last for ever and ever$ and righteo"sness
#ill be the scepter of yo"r !ingdom.-= >3ebre#s %?2:0$1@.
)evelation %%?%& states? =...and there #ere lo"d voices in heaven$ #hich
said$ -8he !ingdom of the #orld has become the !ingdom of o"r Lord
and of 3is Christ$ and 3e #ill reign for ever and ever.-= >Cf. )evelation
&?%0.@
20
Connecting With God
+ -e&lections on hea#en! In his boo!$ 3 /ayman /oos at the /ord's 2rayer$
pp. 00:42$ 2hillip 6eller lists the follo#ing freedoms and benefits in
heaven.
0ourteen things =e =ill be 2reed o2 in heaven;
%. 4reedom from assa"lts of Satan::s"btle insin"ations and dar!
deceptions$ temptations and deceitf"l tactics. o more do"bt or
temptation.
2. 4reedom from the strain of separation from loved ones. 5e #ill
have ."iet contentment$ no more restless spiritsF at home #ith 7od.
0. 4ree from tears of ang"ish$ despair$ fr"stration$ no more painf"l
ang"ishing moments.
4. o more death beca"se of #hat Christ accomplished on the
cross::3is death #as the door#ay to 3is home. 4ree from
foreboding tho"ghts abo"t #hen and ho# #e #ill die.
&. 4reedom from regrets and remorse over errors$ #rong attit"des$
"n!ind #ords$ selfish motives$ #rong actions. 4"lly forgiven$ free
from folly$ sorro#$ regret over misdeeds. Instead$ deep delight.
'. o more search for tr"th$ having come home to find o"r 4ather
there #aiting to #elcome "s.
/. Geliverance from pain::physically and emotionally and spirit"ally.
o more #atching others end"re agony.
1. 5hen 7od-s ne# heaven$ ne# earth and e# ;er"salem are
"nveiled$ there #ill be no ch"rch b"ildings or doctrinal divisions$ only
#armth and love and "nderstanding prod"ced among 7od-s people
by 7od-s presence.
+. o s"n or moon::time #ill be no more. 5e #ill not be limited by
the timeNspace conditions of life on earth. o more meeting
deadlines$ sched"les$ organi,ing o"r lives aro"nd the cloc! and
calendar. o more sense that time is r"nning o"t on o"r lives. o
"rgency::instead peace$ ."iet$ "nh"rried life free from the fret and
strain of earth-s on:r"shing pace.
%0. o night there. A"r ne# spirit"al bodies #ill not need sleep and
restoration as o"r physical bodies have.
%%. o more mis"nderstanding bet#een o"rselves and others or
7od. 8otal and complete enlightenment::#e #ill !no# as #e are
!no#n::no more fears$ do"bts$ misC"dgments$ animosities$ despair
from mis"nderstanding.
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Connecting With God
%2. othing there to contaminate o"r tho"ghts or moral life. othing
there #ill dra# "s a#ay from devotion to 7od. o more dominated
by str"ggle to earn a living::deliverance from the strain and stresses
of o"r "npredictable earthly soCo"rn. 8he #orld can-t p"ll "s do#n.
%0. o more tension of loo!ing good for othersF no more mas!s or
false fronts to cover fla#s. o more deceit$ lying$ dishonesty$
d"plicity. 5e #ill C"st be o"rselves before 7od and others.
%4. 4ree from sin and the p"ll of evil$ freely #al!ing in paths of
righteo"sness. o longer b"rdened #ith sin::e<"lt #ith lighthearted
abandon.
Seven Bene2its o2 heaven God>s $resen1e =ill 9ake 7ossible;
%. Satisfaction and tran."ility$ contentment and repose$ complete
satisfaction contin"ally.
2. Ab"ndant ."ality of life::absol"te love$ honesty$ good #ill and
righteo"sness.
0. Absol"te C"stice and fairness.
4. Service to 7od. All o"r #or! #ill have significance and deep
meaning for it #ill be divine::a series of delightf"l enterprises in
#hich men and 7od are active co:#or!ers.
&. 9<."isite fello#ship::see o"r heavenly 4ather face to face.
8remendo"s Coy in !no#ing 3im #ill bind everyone together in a
loving family.
'. Complete revelation of 7od and every aspect of life::all bright and
right. o fear or foreboding.
/. *ictory$ rest at last as #e reign forever and ever #ith Christ.
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Connecting With God
Lesson +
?no=ing God
Hallowed be your name.
3o# easy it is for "s to r"sh into 7od-s presence #ith an "rgent
concern or list of concerns #hich #e inform 3im abo"t >as tho"gh 3e
doesnOt !no#@ and then instr"ct 3im ho# to deal #ith.
("t ;es"s teaches "s to begin prayer #ith$ =A"r 4ather in heaven$
hallo#ed be yo"r name.= 3erein lies an important principle of a
po#erf"l and f"lfilling prayer life. 5e sho"ld begin prayer by t"rning
o"r foc"s on o"r heavenly 4ather$ opening o"rselves to 3is presence$
p"tting o"rselves "nder 3is sovereignty and remembering #ho 3e is.
5hen #e start there$ o"r concerns may #ell diminish in si,e in light of
the goodness and greatness of the Lord #ho bids "s come to 3im in
prayer.
5hat does the phrase$ =hallo#ed be yo"r name$= meanE 5e m"st go
bac! in biblical history to "nderstand. 8he name of 7od #as so holy to
the ;e#s of old that they ref"sed to prono"nce it. 5hen they read the
Script"res alo"d$ they did not say the #ord$ #hich consisted of fo"r
consonants$ transliterated ;353$ #hich later became ;ehovah or
Dah#eh. 5hen they came "pon the name$ they s"bstit"ted the #ord
3donai$ #hich means Lord. 8he #ord LA)G in the 9nglish (ible is
"s"ally the translation of ;353.
("t #hen #e see =thy name= >6;*@ or =yo"r name= in the (ible$ it
does not C"st stand for Dah#eh. 8he =name= of 7od biblically stands
for the #hole being of 7od. In other #ords$ to !no# 3is name is to
!no# 3is character$ 3is personality$ 3is temperament$ 3is love$ 3is
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Connecting With God
mercy$ 3is po#er. 4or e<ample$ #hen the 2salmist declares$ =...those
#ho !no# Do"r name p"t their tr"st in Do"= >2salm +?%0@$ he is saying$
=8hose #ho tr"ly !no# #ho and #hat Do" are p"t their tr"st in Do".=
In the same #ay$ the psalmist #ho #rote$ =Some boast of chariots$ and
some of horsesF b"t #e boast of the name of the Lord o"r 7od=
>2salm 20?/@$ #as saying that Israel too! pride and fo"nd her identity
and strength in !no#ing 7od.
7od has revealed 3imself thro"gh the inspired Script"res and thro"gh
the e<periences of people #ho #al!ed #ith 3im::individ"als li!e
Abraham$ Boses$ Gavid$ the prophets and the Apostles of the e#
8estament. Bost po#erf"lly$ 7od has allo#ed "s to !no# 3im
thro"gh the incarnation of 3is Son$ ;es"s Christ$ #ho is Kthe e<act
representation of 3is beingL >3ebre#s %?0@.
%
As #e st"dy the character
of 7od revealed in these #ays$ and as #e #al! thro"gh life #ith 3im$
#e gro# in the !no#ledge of 7od that is the basis for tr"ly hallo#ing
3is name.
8o hallow the name of 7od$ then$ is to magnify$ honor and revere #ho
3e is. 5e do this #hen #e #orship and praise 3im$ reminding
o"rselves of 3is glory and 3is loving:!indness seen thro"gho"t the
(ible and e<perienced in o"r lives. In this lesson$ #e #ill ma!e some
observations abo"t this very important first step in prayer.
%. a. 5hat can easily be o"r foc"s #hen #e come to 7od in prayerE
b. 5hat does 7od #ant "s to do #ith o"r concernsE
2hilippians 4?'
2. a. 5hat does it mean to =hallo#= 7od-s name before #e ma!e
re."ests in prayerE
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Connecting With God
b. 5hy do yo" thin! this is importantE
0. 8he commentary stated that the name of 7od in the (ible stands for
the #hole being of 7od. 8o !no# 3is name is to !no# 3is character$
3is personality$ 3is temperament$ 3is love$ 3is mercy$ 3is po#er. 8o
better "nderstand this concept$ thin! of someone yo" !no# and love
and describe that person.
8o =hallo#= this person-s =name= is to respect and e<po"nd on all
these ."alities.
4. At this point in yo"r spirit"al Co"rney$ #hat do yo" "nderstand to be
tr"e abo"t 7odE 3o# #o"ld yo" describe 3imE
"e2eren1e: ote %$ God has re#ealed Himsel&$ p. 21.
&. 2salm %4& is one of many passages of Script"re that hallo#s the
name of 7od. 5hat phrases describe the character and maCesty of the
Ane #ho bids "s come to 3im as a loving heavenly 4atherE
2salm %4&?%:/
2salm %4&?1:%0a
2salm %4&?%0b:%'
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Connecting With God
2salm %4&?%/:2%
"e2eren1e: >%tional <tudy on the 3ttributes o& God$ p. 21.
'. 3o# do the follo#ing verses describe the essence of 7od revealed in
ChristE
Colossians %?%&:%/$%+
"e2eren1e: ote 2$ &irstborn o#er all creation$ p. 2+.
2hilippians 2?&:%%
"e2eren1e: ote 2$ Why 1id Christ Ha#e to 1ie in my %lace, p. %2.
Isaiah +?'
/. a. It is po#erf"l to pray in the Kname$L or a"thority$ of ;es"s. 5hen
3e is Lord of o"r lives$ #hat does ;es"s promiseE
;ohn %&?/
Note: As #ith the 4ather$ the name of ;es"s s"ms "p the 2erson. 8o pray in
;es"sO name is to pray in accordance #ith 3is character and is aimed at
carrying forth 7odOs #or! as 7od #ills.
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Connecting With God
b. 5hat is the evidence of 7odOs character in "s if #e are abiding in
ChristE ;ohn %&?%2
1. 3o# does 2salm %00 reflect ;es"sO teaching to begin prayer honoring
7odOs name and #illE
S U B B A ) D
+. a. 5hat does the =name= of the Lord mean in the Script"resE
b. 5hat does it mean to =hallo#= 3is nameE
%0. 3o# can the follo#ing b"ild yo"r ability to tr"ly Khallo#L the name
of the LordE
(ible st"dy.
2raying abo"t everything >2hilippians 4?'@.
Allo#ing ;es"s Christ to be Lord of yo"r life >;ohn %&?4:/@.
%%. 5hat have yo" observed in this lesson abo"t the phrase Khallo#ed
be yo"r nameL in the LordOs 2rayerE
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Connecting With God
O7tional study on the attributes o2 God;
3is BaCesty? % Chronicles 2+?%2
4aithf"lness? 2salm 0'?&
7oodness? ah"m %?/
7race? )omans 0?20:24 >8it"s 0?/@
7od-s 7racio"sness and 2atience? 2salm %00?1
7reatness? 2salm %4&?0
3oliness? >p"rityF separate from sin@ 2salm ++?& >Isaiah &?%'@
3is Imm"tability >3e does not change@? 2salm %02?2/ >3eb. %0?1@
Impartiality? ;ob 04?%+ >Acts %0?04:0&@
;"stice? 2salm 00?&
Love? ;ohn 0?%'
Bercy? 2salm %00?%0:%2 >Lamentations 0?22:20@
Amnipotence >all:po#erf"l@? L"!e %?0/ >;ob 42?2@
Amnipresence >every#here present@? 2salm %0+?/:%0
Amniscience >all:!no#ing@? 3ebre#s 4?%0 >;ob 0%?4@
2rovidence >care@?
2roviding? 2hilippians 4?%+
2rotecting? 2salm +%?4
7"iding? 2roverbs 2?1
)ighteo"sness? Ge"teronomy 02?4
Sovereignty? Ganiel 2?20:22
3is 5ays and La#s? 2salm %1?00F 2salm %+?/:1$%%
Understanding? 2salm %4/?& >% Chronicles 21?+b@
5isdom? Isaiah 21?2+ >;ames %?&@
4or f"rther st"dy? "he ?nowledge o& the Holy by A. 5. 8o,erF ?nowing God
by ;. I. 2ac!erF @our God Is "oo <mall by ;. (. 2hillips
L9SSA 0 A89S
( God has re#ealed Himsel& in the Script"res thro"gh the e<periences of
people #ho #al!ed #ith 3im. At ++ years of age$ Abraham discovered
3im to be God 3lmighty >9l Shaddai@ as 3e enabled Sarah >+0@ to give
birth to Isaac$ the long promised heir >7enesis %/?%@. Later$ in the
dramatic story of Abraham being #illing to give "p his son in
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Connecting With God
obedience to 7od$ the patriarch discovered the /ord our %ro#ider
>7enesis 22?%4@ as the Lord 3imself made provision for the sacrifice.
4o"r h"ndred years later$ 7od revealed himself to Boses from the
b"rning b"sh as the one and only 7od$ the eternal 7od$ the KI AB$L
the 7od of the "nspea!able name ;353. 8hen in the 9<od"s story as
the people of Israel #andered in the #ilderness$ 7od revealed himself
as the /ord your healer >9<od"s %&?2&:''@ and as the /ord our banner or
#ictory >9<od"s %/?%4:%&@. Later in time$ 7ideon discovered the Lord as
our %eace >;"dges '?22:24@.
Isaiah foresa# a m"ch different revelation of 7od to come as he
prophesied? K4or to "s a child is born$ to "s a son is given . . . and 3is
name #ill be called AWonder&ul Counselor$ Bighty God$ 8#erlasting .ather$
2rince o& 2eaceL >Isaiah +?'@. Seven h"ndred years later$ the angel came to
;oseph in his distress and told him$ K. . . do not be afraid to ta!e Bary
home as yo"r #ife$ beca"se #hat is conceived in her is from the 3oly
Spirit . . . and yo" are to give 3im the name ;es"s$ beca"se 3e #ill save
3is people from their sinsL >Batthe# %?20:2%@. ;es"s means @ahweh
sa#es or @ahweh is sal#ation. After the res"rrection$ 2eter$ filled #ith the
3oly Spirit$ declared to tho"sands$ KAnd there is salvation in no one
else$ for there is no other name "nder heaven given among men by #hich
#e m"st be savedL >Acts 4?%2@. 2a"l declared that 7od Ke<alted 3im to
the highest place and gave 3im the name that is abo#e e#ery name$ that at
the name o& Jesus every !nee sho"ld bo#$ in heaven and on earth . . .L
>2hilippians 2?+:%0@.
8hro"gh these and other revelations of Script"re$ #e read of #ho 7od
is. As #e #al! #ith the Lord$ #e gro# personally in the !no#ledge of
3im as Almighty$ 9verlasting$ 3ealer$ *ictory and 2eace:giver$
2rovider$ Savior. And above all is the name of ;es"s.
9verett 4"llam on /i#ing the /ord=s 2rayer$ pp. 04:40.
, &irstborn o#er all creation >Colossians %?%&@. K;"st as the firstborn son
had certain privileges and rights in the (iblical #orld$ so also Christ has
certain rights in relation to all creationPpriority$ preeminence and
sovereignty >vv. %':%1@.L "he NIV <tudy Bible$ p. %1%4.
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Connecting With God
Lesson 6
God#s Good and $er2e1t Will
Your kingdom come, Your will be done.
All of Script"re points to 7odOs overall p"rpose to establish 3is
righteo"s !ingdom on earth. 8he (ible tells "s that this !ingdom #here
7odOs #ill is perfectly carried o"t #ill one day replace the !ingdoms
and nations of this #orld >Ganiel /?2/@. It also e<plains that 7od has
gone to great lengths to bring people into this !ingdom::people #ho
are #illing to relin."ish dominion over their o#n lives and
#holeheartedly s"bCect themselves to 7odOs appointed 6ing$ the Lord
;es"s Christ.
;es"sO preaching foc"sed on the !ingdom of 7od. Batthe# +?0& states$
K;es"s #ent thro"gh all the to#ns and villages$ teaching in their
synagog"es$ preaching the good ne#s of the !ingdom and healing every
disease and sic!ness.L 2hrases s"ch as K)epent$ for the !ingdom of
heaven is near$L K8he !ingdom of 7od is li!eML and Ksee! first 3is
!ingdom and 3is righteo"snessL #ere common in 3is teachings.
After 3is res"rrection$ ;es"s contin"ed this foc"s. Acts %?0 records$
KAfter 3is s"ffering$ 3e sho#ed himself to these men and gave many
convincing proofs that 3e #as alive. 3e appeared to them over a
period of forty days and spo!e abo"t the !ingdom of 7od.L
5hen ;es"s told "s to pray$ KDo"r !ingdom come$ yo"r #ill be done$L
3e #as directing "s to begin prayer foc"sed on 7odOs overall p"rpose
to establish 3is righteo"s !ingdom$ not only on earth one day$ b"t in
o"r hearts today.
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Connecting With God
7odOs intent to b"ild 3is !ingdom begins "nfolding in 7enesis as 3e
created man in 3is image #ith the capacity to have a personal
relationship #ith 3im. ("t 7enesis tells "s of manOs decision to
dethrone the Lord from 3is rightf"l place as 7od. 4alling for the
serpentOs temptation$ Adam and 9ve "s"rped 7odOs prerogative to
determine right and #rong. 9verett 4"llam #rites?
God said it was wrong to eat &rom a certain tree! 3dam and 8#e said$
CNo$ it is not wrong6 it is right!D (<ee Genesis 4:*5(*E6 0:*(E!) "hey with
all o& us &ollowing their e9am%le$ became the standard by which good and
e#il$ right and wrong$ are )udged! We e9ercise our &reedom against the will
and %ur%ose o& God! We establish ri#al ingdoms in which we are the
so#ereigns$ trying to bend others to our wills and %ur%oses! "hus throughout
the earth we ha#e millions o& ingdoms ri#al to the ingdom o& God$ %eo%le
who will not li#e willingly under His so#ereignty! 3nd we ha#e chaos! <o
Jesus said we should %ray$ C"hy ingdom come ! ! !D
%
After the fall recorded in 7enesis$ the rest of Script"re reveals 7odOs
steps to resc"e man and to restore the original !ingdom man #as
created to live in forever. 3e did this by calling one man$ Abraham$ to
be the father of a nation thro"gh #hom a Savior #o"ld come. )omans
&?%2:2% e<plains that as thro"gh one man$ Adam$ all fell from 7odOs
!ingdom$ so thro"gh one man$ ;es"s$ #e can again enter 3is !ingdom.
)omans tells "s that #hen #e choose to tr"st in ;es"sO s"bstit"tionary
death for o"r sin$ #e are given the gift of ;es"sO righteo"sness before
7od. ot only this$ b"t 7od places 3is Spirit #ithin "s to motivate "s
to do 3is #ill and ma!e it possible for the s"preme po#er of 7od to
again r"le in o"r hearts.
All #ho so choose ma!e "p the restored !ingdom of 7od and #ill one
day be a part of 7odOs reestablished !ingdom on earth. ;ohn$ the
a"thor of )evelation$ ca"ght a glimpse of the f"t"re #hen ;es"s Christ
#ill ret"rn to set "p 3is !ingdom as he #rote$ K(ehold$ 3e is coming
#ith the clo"ds$ and every eye #ill see 3im . . .L >)evelation %?&:/@.
So to sincerely pray$ Kyo"r !ingdom come$ yo"r #ill be doneL is to first
ac!no#ledge 7od is !ing of a realm #e donOt yet see$ b"t into #hich
#e enter #hen #e choose to let Christ reign in o"r hearts. It is to
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Connecting With God
determine to follo# the good and perfect #ill of a loving heavenly
4ather at #hatever the personal cost.
Sadly$ tho"sands pray this prayer daily #itho"t really meaning it. 4or
each #ho "tters this petition$ the ."estion sho"ld be? Goes ;es"s Christ
reign in me$ th"s ma!ing me a part of 3is !ingdom on earth todayE
%. a. )evie# 4"llamOs vie# of the fall of man in the commentary. 5hat
stands o"t to yo" in his statement regarding the problems in o"r #orld
and individ"al livesE
b. In light of this$ #hy is it important to begin o"r prayers #ith an
attit"de of s"bmission to 7odOs sovereignty and #illE
2. a. 5hat do yo" imagine 7odOs !ingdom on earth #ith ;es"s Christ as
Lord #ill be li!eE
b. 5hat do these verses s"ggestE
2salm 4&?'
Ganiel /?2/
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Connecting With God
0. ;es"s spo!e of the !ingdom of 7od on earth in the f"t"re$ b"t also
said$ K8he !ingdom of 7od is #ithin yo"L >L"!e %/?2%@$ in the hearts
and lives of people #ho choose 7odOs #ill in the present. 5hat does
the 3oly Spirit prod"ce in "s #hen #e choose to direct o"r tho"ghts$
#ords and deeds to#ard b"ilding 7odOs !ingdomE
Batthe# %1?%:4
Batthe# 22?0/:0+
7alatians &?22:20$2&
4. a. Along #ith Kyo"r !ingdom come$L ;es"s ta"ght "s to pray Kyo"r
#ill be done.L 3o# does )omans %2?2b describe 7odOs #illE
b. 5hat enables "s to discern 7odOs leading in small or great decisionsE
)omans %2?%:2a
2roverbs 0?&:' >2hilippians 4?'@
-e&erences in %arenthesis > @ are o%tional!
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Connecting With God
2salm %%+?%0& >2 8imothy 0?%'@
"e2eren1e: ote 2$ 1iscerning God=s will$ p. 0/.
&. a. 5hom did ;es"s promise #o"ld direct "s in doing 7odOs #illE
;ohn %4?%':%/F %'?%0
"e2eren1e: ote 0$ "he Holy <%irit$ p. 01.
b. 5hat does the 3oly Spirit give "s according to % Corinthians 2?%'b
>%%:%2@E
'. In the (ible$ the #ill of 7od refers to t#o things? >%@ the la#s or
g"idelines 7od has given "s to live by and >2@ 7odOs #ill in history and
in o"r everyday lives. 5hat is tr"e of 7odOs g"idelines for o"r livesE
2salm %+?/:%%
/. 5hat res"lts #hen #e live by these g"idelines according to 2salm
%?0 >%:2@E
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Connecting With God
1. 7odOs #ill in the Script"res also refers to 3is sovereignty over
history and circ"mstances. Af #hat can #e be s"re #hen the path of
life is diffic"lt$ conf"sing$ or over#helmingE
2salm %1?00
Isaiah &&?1:+
)omans 1?21
)omans 1?0%:02
"e2eren1e: ote 4$ "rusting God in hard times$ p. 01.
+. a. 5hat does 7odOs 5ord promise the one #ho sincerely prays$
Kyo"r !ingdom come$ yo"r #ill be doneLE
2salm 20?'
2salm 02?1
35
Connecting With God
S U B B A ) D
%0. Bany people thin! if they let Christ be Lord of their lives$ 3e #ill
ma!e their lives miserable. 5hat have yo" seen in this lesson abo"t the
re#ards of s"bCecting o"rselves to 3imE
%%. a. Are there areas of yo"r life that are conf"sing or diffic"lt at this
timeE
b. 5hat is 7odOs #ill for yo" in this area>s@E
c. 5hat is 3is promiseE
%2. 5hat does it mean to sincerely pray$ Kyo"r !ingdom comeLE
Kyo"r #ill be doneLE
%0. 5hy is it important to begin prayer #ith this mindsetE
36
Connecting With God
L9SSA 4 A89S
( 9verett L. 4"llam$ /i#ing the /ord=s 2rayer$ p. &0.
, 1iscerning God=s will!
9verett 4"llam #rites? KIn order to discern the LordOs #ill abo"t
something$ I say$ QLord$ I donOt #ant to do this "nless yo" #ant me to.
If yo" #ant me to do it$ incline my heartF if yo" donOt #ant me to do it$
disincline my heart.O 8hen I tal! #ith my #ife$ my friends$ proven
co"nselors. And$ very importantly$ I "se the brains 7od gave me. I
#eigh alternatives. And little by little things begin to happen. I find a
solid$ reasonable desire that I can tr"st gro#ing #ithin me to go one or
another direction.L /i#ing the /ord=s 2rayer$ p. '&.
2hillip 6eller gives seven g"idelines for discerning 7odOs #ill?
%. Is it definitely in agreement #ith 7odOs #ill e<pressed and #ritten
in 3is 5ordE If so$ fine. If not$ donOt do it.
2. 3ave yo" faced a similar sit"ation beforeE If so$ #hat did 7od
sho# yo" as 3is #ill thenE If yo" made a mista!e$ donOt repeat it.
0. If the decision is diffic"lt and far beyond yo"$ see! the #ise and
prayerf"l co"nsel of mat"re and godly persons #ho !no# ho# to
ascertain 7odOs #ill.
4. Ba!e the matter one of ."iet b"t earnest prayer. As! 7od$ yo"r
4ather$ by 3is Spirit$ to impress "pon yo" distinctly by a deep inner
conviction #hat the proper co"rse of action is.
&. A"r 4ather has endo#ed "s #ith a f"nd of #holesome and
practical !no#ledge #hich 3e e<pects "s to "se. 5e ignore it #ith
ris!.
'. 9<pect and #ait to see events and circ"mstances s"rro"nding this
sit"ation alter in s"ch a manner as to infl"ence yo"r mind and #ill
in determining 7odOs #ill. 8ime ta!es care of many decisions. 5e
are prone to be too impatient and hasty. 7od is seldom in a great
r"sh abo"t things.
/. Anticipate that as time goes on$ the #ay #ill either open or the
#ay #ill close for yo" to proceed along any given co"rse. 8his
sho"ld be accompanied by a sense of acceptance$ gladness that yo"
are being made a#are of 7odOs #ill$ happiness in doing it$ and peace
abo"t it.
3 /ayman /oos at the /ord=s 2rayer$ pp. 10:14.
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Connecting With God
8he late Gr. (ill (right ta"ght #hat he called the Kso"nd mind
principle.L At the top of a divided sheet of paper$ #rite 2 8imothy %?/?
K7od has not given "s a spirit of fear$ b"t of po#er$ love and a so"nd
mind.L 8hen$ #ith an open mind and being as honest and obCective as
possible before 7od$ as! 3im to g"ide "nmista!ably as yo" list the
pros and cons on the co"rses of action before yo". Bany times$ the
evidence is over#helmingly in favor of or against a decision.
+ "he Holy <%irit! 7od has made 3imself !no#n in the (ible as a
8rinityF three divine persons >4ather$ Son and 3oly Spirit@$ all #ith the
same essence of deity. 8he 3oly Spirit$ !no#n as the third person of
the 8rinity$ ind#ells every person #ho personally receives Christ >;ohn
%?%2F %4?%':%/F )omans 1?+@. 8he Script"res reveal the 3oly Spirit not
as an it$ b"t rather as a He$ a distinct personality. In ;ohn 0$ ;es"s tells
icodem"s that the 3oly Spirit brings abo"t regeneration or spirit"al
birth in the believer. 5hile the 3oly Spirit cannot be seen$ #e can see
the evidence of 3is #or! >0?1@. 5hen #e as! 7od >L"!e %%?%0@ to KfillL
"s #ith 3is Spirit >9phesians &?%1b@$ 3e responds by s"pernat"rally
instr"cting and empo#ering "s to live the Christian life >7alatians &?22:
20F 9phesians 0?%':20F 9,e!iel 0'?2':2/@. Sometimes the (ible refers to
this as KChrist in yo"L >Colossians %?2/b@. See also ote 4$ Wors o& the
Holy <%irit$ p. '/.
6 "rusting God in hard times! C. 3. 5elch #rote? K8he Lord may not
definitely have planned that this sho"ld overta!e me$ b"t 3e has most
certainly permitted it. 8herefore tho"gh it #ere an attac! of an enemy$
by the time it reaches me$ it has the LordOs permission and therefore all
is #ell. 3e #ill ma!e it #or! together #ith all lifeOs e<periences for
good.L
)"th Byers$ in her 0* 1ays o& 2raise$ states? K2raise can heighten yo"r
a#areness that distressing circ"mstances are 7odOs blessings in
disg"ise. 8hro"gh praise yo" foc"s yo"r attention on 7odMyo" begin
to loo! at yo"r problems from a ne# perspectivePyo" compare them
#ith yo"r mighty$ "nlimited 7od. Do" see them as molehills rather
than mo"ntains$ as opport"nities rather than hindrances$ as stepping
stones instead of st"mbling bloc!sMthe prel"de to ne# victories$ the
ra# materials for 7odOs miracles.L 0* 1ays o& 2raise$ p. %2':%2/.
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Connecting With God
Part II: Focus on Our Needs
and Struggles
Lesson -
%sk@ Seek@ ?no1k
Give us today our daily bread.
othing is more #onderf"l for the Christian than 7odOs open
invitation to come to 3im #ith all that is on o"r hearts. 8h"s far$ ;es"s
has ta"ght "s to begin prayer by seeing 7od in 3is s"perior place and
coming to 3im as o"r loving heavenly 4ather #hose #ill and !ingdom
#e see! above all. 8his p"ts "s in the right frame of mind to openly
disc"ss needs and concerns and lay o"r re."ests before 3im. ;es"s
teaches "s that 7od #elcomes this and is al#ays available to listen$
provide$ lead and protect. It is this aspect of o"r relationship #ith 7od
that ;es"s addresses in the second part of the LordOs 2rayer.
;es"s begins this section #ith the petition$ K7ive "s today o"r daily
bread.L 8he term KbreadL certainly refers to physical s"stenance$ b"t
also to all o"r basic needsPphysical$ emotional and spirit"al. 7od
desires that #e loo! to 3im as o"r sole so"rce of s"pply for all #e need
to s"stain the Kf"llL life ;es"s came to give "s >;ohn %0?%0b@. 5hile 3e
may "se a friend to help "s$ a doctor to heal "s$ or a Cob to provide for
"s$ Kevery good and perfect giftL "ltimately comes from 7od >;ames
%?%/@. 5hen #e come to 3im #ith childli!e faith$ 3e promises to carry
"s thro"gh each challenge of life$ orchestrating to give "s the KbreadL
#e need one day at a time.
39
Connecting With God
Bore importantly$ this dependence on 7od and open comm"ni:cation
abo"t o"r needs meets o"r deep spirit"al need for fello#ship #ith o"r
Creator. 8he fifth cent"ry theologian$ A"g"stine$ #rote$ K8ho" has
made "s for thyself$ A 7od$ and o"r hearts are restless "ntil they find
their rest in 8hee.L As #e learn to tal! to 7od abo"t everything$ by
7odOs design$ #e #ill find rest in o"r relationship #ith 3im.
;es"s said$ KI am the bread of life. 3e #ho comes to me #ill never go
h"ngry$ and he #ho believes in me #ill never be thirstyL >;ohn '?0&@.
8hro"gh 3is death on the cross$ ;es"s made the #ay for "s to be
reconciled to 7od and be close to 3im as a loving heavenly 4ather. As
#e meet #ith the Lord daily for prayer and meditation on 3is 5ord$
o"r so"ls are fed$ o"r spirit"al thirst ."enched and o"r spirit"al life
s"stained. ot only this$ b"t 3is Spirit #ithin "s "ses o"r time #ith
Christ to transform "s into 3is li!eness and strengthen "s to reach o"t
to others #ith 7odOs love and grace.
2a"l #rote$ KAnd my 7od #ill meet all yo"r needs according to 3is
glorio"s riches in Christ ;es"sL >2hilippians 4?%+@. ;es"s said$ KAs!$ and
it #ill be given to yo"$ see! and yo" #ill findF !noc! and the door #ill
be opened to yo"L >Batthe# /?/@. 8o pray$ K7ive "s today o"r daily
bread$L is to as! 7od to meet all o"r needsPphysical$ emotional and
spirit"alP!no#ing 3e is there to do this today and every day to come.
%. a. 5hat do people tend to do #ith their needs if they do not ta!e
them to the LordE
b. 5hat does Batthe# '?2&:02 tell "s not to do #ith o"r needs and
#hyE
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Connecting With God
c. 5hat are #e instr"cted to do insteadE
Batthe# '?00
2hilippians 4?':/
2. a. 3o# do these verses describe the e<tent of 7odOs care for "sE
2salm %2%?0$ /:1
L"!e %2?/a
b. 5hat does 3e #ant "s to do #ith o"r needs and concernsE
2salm '2?1
L"!e %1?% >% 8hessalonians &?%/@
Verses in %arenthesis ( ) are o%tional!
3ebre#s 4?%'
0. a. Af #hat do these passages remind "s as #e come to 7od #ith o"r
needsE
Acts %/?21a
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Connecting With God
2 Corinthians 0?&
;ames %?%/ >;ohn 0?2/@
b. 5hat #arning did Boses give Israel that is important for "s to heedE
Ge"teronomy 1?%0:%4$ %/:%1a
4. 4or 40 years$ 7od s"pernat"rally provided food for millions of
Israelites in the #ilderness.
)ead 9<od"s %'?%4:2/$0%$0&.
a. 3o# often did manna comeE
b. 5hen did they collect itE
c. 3o# long did it lastE
d. 5hat did they learn from 7odOs #ay of providing for themE
&. a. 3o# did ;es"s describe 3imself in ;ohn '?02:0&E
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Connecting With God
b. 5hat did ;es"s also promise in ;ohn '?4/:&%E
"e2eren1e: ote 2$ Why did Christ ha#e to die, p. %2.
'. a. ;es"s not only gives "s spirit"al life #hen #e p"t o"r faith in 3is
redemptionF 3e also #ants to contin"ally feed "s spirit"ally as #e
spend daily time #ith 3im in prayer and meditation on 3is 5ord.
3o# is this Kdaily breadL li!e the manna the Israelites fed "pon in the
#ildernessE >)evie# H"estion 4.a:d.@ 5hat parallels do yo" seeE
b. 5hat did ;es"s say abo"t o"r need to contin"ally stay connected to
3imE
;ohn %&?&
c. 3o# are #e changed by being #ith the LordE
2 Corinthians 0?%1
/. 3o# does Batthe# /?/:1 reflect 7odOs desire for "s to come to 3im
#ith every need$ concern and ."estionE
1. 5hat is 3is promiseE
2hilippians 4?%+
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Connecting With God
S U B B A ) D
+. a. 5hat physical$ emotional or spirit"al needs are in yo"r life todayE
5hat concerns for othersE
b. 5hat does ;es"s tell yo" not to do in the face of these needs and
concernsE
c. 5hat are yo" enco"raged to doE
%0. a. 3o# can #e e<perience ;es"s as Kthe (read of lifeEL
b. 5hy is daily time #ith 3im important in yo"r lifeE
c. Go yo" have a place$ a time and a plan to meet reg"larly #ith the
Lord to pray and meditate on 3is 5ordE If not$ perhaps yo" #o"ld
li!e to establish this no#. Gisc"ss #ith 3im the obstacles yo"Ove faced
and yo"r need for help to ma!e this time a priority.
%%. 3o# #o"ld yo" s"mmari,e #hat it means to pray Kgive "s today
o"r daily breadLE
44
Connecting With God
Whenever a 9an is ready to
un1over his sins@ God is
al=ays ready to 1over the9;
Lesson .
The 0reedo9 o2 0orgiveness
Forgive us our debts . . .
In this second section of the LordOs 2rayer$ five phrases deal #ith o"r
personal needs and str"ggles$ t#o of #hich relate to forgiveness. 8he
topic is of s"ch importance that ;es"s later too! the time to
reemphasi,e and develop it in depth. 2erhaps this is beca"se the
emotions involved #ith g"ilt >to be addressed in this lesson@ and
"nforgiveness >#hich #e #ill consider in Lesson /@ can be devastating.
Sadly$ a lot of people pray the phrase$ Kforgive "s o"r debts$L #ho do
not really e<perience 7odOs forgiveness. Some donOt feel any sense of
indebtedness to 7od. As the 2harisees of ;es"sO day$ they compare
themselves #ith other K#orse sinnersL and feel pretty good abo"t
themselves. 3o#ever$ ;es"s set the norm m"ch higher than that. 3e
said$ K(e perfect as yo"r heavenly 4ather is perfectL >Batthe# &?41@$
ma!ing 7od and 3is 5ord the standard.
Still others live #ith g"ilt$ trying to cover sin by denying that it is sin or
trying to someho# earn 7odOs forgiveness. Bany live #ith false g"ilt.
2
("t 7od #ants to set "s free from the draining emotions s"rro"nding
g"ilt and shame$ and 3e has paid a great price to ma!e it possible.
8hro"gh the cross of Christ$ #here ;es"s too! the penalty for o"r sin$
#e can be set free from the g"ilt that drains o"r energy and separates
"s from a loving heavenly 4ather. ;es"s #as also teaching that #e m"st
45
Connecting With God
be open #ith o"r heavenly 4ather regarding sin in o"r lives in order to
#al! #ith 3im in a f"lfilling personal relationship.
8he phrase$ Kforgive "s o"r debts$L then$ reminds "s to as! the 3oly
Spirit to bring to mind any #rong #e need to confess and abandon. If
3e reminds "s of something specific #e have done$ #e can
immediately agree #ith 7od abo"t o"r sin$ determine to change and
than! 3im that$ on the basis of ChristOs death on the cross$ #e are
forgiven.
If the Spirit does not point o"t anything$ the #ords$ Kforgive "s o"r
debts$L can remind "s to be than!f"l that #e can come into the
presence of a holy 7od beca"se of the forgiveness #e have received
thro"gh the cross of Christ. In this sense$ #e #ill al#ays feel indebted
and gratef"l to 7od for 3is ama,ing grace. Ane #riter described it
th"s?
Because the sinless <a#ior died
By guilty soul is counted &ree$
.or God$ the Just$ is satis&ied
"o loo on Him$ and %ardon me!
In this lesson$ #e #ill loo! at the freedom of forgiveness 7od #ants "s
to e<perience as #e pray$ Kforgive "s o"r debts.L
%. 5hat problems do people e<perience as a res"lt of g"iltE
2. a. In #hat #ays do people try to deal #ith g"ilt and the separation
they feel from 7odE
b. 5hy do these responses to g"ilt only prod"ce more problemsE
46
Connecting With God
0. 5hat do yo" thin! are the real needs of the g"ilty personE
4. a. 5hat separates man from holy 7od$ according to Isaiah &+?2E
b. 5hat is the penalty for sin according to )omans '?20a >cf. 7enesis
2?%':%/@E
Note: 1eath biblically denotes separation$ in this case from 7od.
&. a. 3o# did Isaiah describe 7odOs gift of redemption /00 years
before ;es"s ChristOs sinless life and sacrificial deathE
Isaiah &0?&:'
Isaiah &0?%0:%2
b. 3o# is this e<pressed by 2eter after ;es"sO res"rrectionE
% 2eter 2?24
'. a. 3o# are #e made right #ith 7od according to the follo#ingE
)omans 0?22
)omans 0?24:2&a
"e2eren1e: ote %$ -edem%tion$ -econciliation$ p. &%.
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Connecting With God
9phesians 2?1:+
b. 5hat is the res"lt of receiving 7odOs gift of forgiveness in ChristE
)omans &?%
/. )eceiving 7odOs gift of salvation in Christ is a once:and:for:all
decision that places "s in the family of 7od eternally >% ;ohn &?%a$ %%:
%2@. ("t as a follo#er of Christ$ #e can contin"e to find cleansing from
sin$ forgiveness$ and a ne# start.
a. 8o e<perience 7odOs love and forgiveness$ #e m"st con&ess o"r sin$
#hich is to agree #ith 7od that a specific action #as #rong. 5hat is
7odOs promise #hen #e confess o"r sin to 3imE
% ;ohn %?+E
b. 8o e<perience 7odOs love and forgiveness re."ires re%entance$ a total
t"rning from #rong to live a godly life. 3o# did Gavid demonstrate a
repentant heart in 2salm &%?%0:%2E
1. a. 5hat do the follo#ing verses reveal abo"t 7odOs character that
enco"rages "s to approach 3im #ith a repentant heartE
2salm %00?1:%4
Bicah /?%1:%+
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Connecting With God
b. 5hat is 7odOs promise to the one #ho comes to 3im in gen"ine
repentanceE
Isaiah 40?2&
Isaiah &&?/
+. An #hat basis are #e cleansed from any sin$ small or greatE
9phesians %?/ >Colossians %?20:22@
Verses in %arenthesis ( ) are o%tional!
Batthe# 2'?21 >;es"s spea!ing@
%0. 8he prayer$ Kforgive "s o"r debts$L is not meant to send "s into
introspection and shame. Some people str"ggle #ith false g"ilt. 3o# is
false g"ilt different from tr"e g"iltE >See ote 2$ .alse guilt$ p. &2.@
%%. 5hat does 2salm %00?0:4$/:1 declare abo"t the LordOs forgiveness
and redemption later f"lfilled in ChristOs sacrificial deathE
Note: .ear o& the /ord >2s. %00?4@ is reverent tr"st in 3im.
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Connecting With God
S U B B A ) D
%2. An #hat basis does 7od forgive "s o"r debts and free "s from
g"iltE
%0. 5hy #as the cross of Christ necessary for yo" to be forgiven by a
holy 7odE 5hat does the cross prove abo"t 7odOs love for yo"ER
%4. 5hen #e have received Christ$ #hat do #e have to do to receive
7odOs forgiveness for #rongs on a daily basis >H"estion /@E 5hat heart
attit"des are importantERR
%&. 5hat does the prayer$ Kforgive "s o"r debtsL remind yo" to doE
______________
RIf yo" have never made the decision to receive 7odOs forgiveness in
;es"s Christ and #o"ld li!e to no#$ the follo#ing is a s"ggested prayer.
/ord Jesus$ I acnowledge that my sin has se%arated me &rom you! I belie#e that
you %aid the %enalty &or all my sins when you died on the cross! I now recei#e the
com%lete &orgi#eness that you o&&er! I in#ite you to come into my li&e and mae me
the %erson you created me to be! 3men!
If yo" prayed this prayer$ #hat does Christ promise yo" in 3ebre#s
%0?&b and )evelation 0?20E
AA3re there areas o& your li&e where you would lie to e9%erience God=s &orgi#eness
once and &or all, It may be helpf"l to ta!e a piece of paper$ go before the
Lord$ and prayerf"lly list any "nforgiven sin. 8a!e time to Kcall it sin$
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Connecting With God
call it forgiven on the basis of the cross$ and call on 7od to change
yo".L 8hen #rite % ;ohn %?+ in large letters across the sheet and destroy
it$ symboli,ing 7odOs total forgiveness.
9<press forgiveness to yo"rself$ then ac!no#ledge forgiveness of
specific individ"als #ho have h"rt yo". 4inally$ yo" may feel led to as!
forgiveness of individ"als yo" have #ronged. As diffic"lt as these tas!s
may seem$ great Coy and freedom is the res"lt.
LESSON . NOTES
( a; "ede97tion is a biblical #ord meaning =to b"y o"t= or =to set
free by the payment of a price >ransom@= and refers to a slave being
p"rchased o"t of slavery. )omans 0?24 says #e are =C"stified freely by
his grace thro"gh the redem%tion that came by Christ ;es"s.= As born
sinners$ #e are in the slave mar!et of sin$ so to spea!. ("t Christ$ the
only free man #ho ever lived >beca"se 3e #as sinless@$ paid the ransom
price of 3is o#n blood to p"rchase sinners o"t of the slave mar!et of
sin and set them free to become sons of 7od. Anly by the price of
death can one be set free >)omans '?20@$ and only one #ho is free
>sinless as Christ #asF cf. 3ebre#s 4?%&F 2 Corinthians &?2%@ can b"y a
slave-s freedom. (y paying the ransom price of 3is shed blood$ ;es"s
p"rchased the person #ho p"ts faith in 3im o"t of the slave mar!et of
sin and sets him free to become a son of 7od >7alatians 0?%0F %
8imothy 2?&:'F % 2eter %?%1:%+F 7alatians 4?4:&@.
b; "e1on1iliation means =to change a person from enmity to
friendship.= 8he (ible says that man is born at enmity #ith 7od. Sin
erects a barrier bet#een man and 7od beca"se of a sense of g"ilt in
man. 8his g"ilt p"ts him at odds #ith 7od. )econciliation is the aspect
of Christ-s death on the cross #hich removed the barrier of man-s sin
and its conse."ences and th"s too! a#ay g"ilt #hich ca"sed enmity
against 7od. Christ-s death on the cross removed every barrier bet#een
a holy 7od and sinf"l man. )econciliation is available to all men$ no
matter ho# sinf"l. 5hile reconciliation is available and s"fficient for
everyone$ only those #ho accept the gift of this reconciliation
personally by faith receive it. =8herefore$ since #e have been C"stified
thro"gh faith$ #e have peace #ith 7od thro"gh o"r Lord ;es"s Christ=
>)omans &?%@. =5hen #e #ere 7od-s enemies$ #e #ere reconciled to
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Connecting With God
3im thro"gh the death of 3is Son= >)omans &?%0@. See also ote 2$
Why did Christ ha#e to die, p. %2.
, .alse guilt! In her boo!$ .alling 3%art or Coming "ogether$ Lois 5alfrid
;ohnson contrasts the follo#ing differences bet#een tr"e and false
g"ilt.R
T"BE GBILT 0%LSE GBILT
7UIL8 The oly S7irit Satan condemns$
2)AGUC9) convicts$ based based on lies.
on tr"th.
A(;9C8I*9 Improvement. Gefeat.
S2A8LI738 Specific$ 2ast fail"res and
"nforgiven sin. forgiven sinF
general in nat"re.
DAU) )emorse and 3elplessnessF a
)9AC8IA repentanceF as!ing no:#in sit"ationF
for forgiveness. not !no#ing ho# to
ma!e a changeF no
peace if yo" as! for
forgiveness.
7UIL8 7raceF Acc"sation.
2)AGUC9)-S forgiveness.
AC8IA
)9SUL8 2eaceF feeling o peaceF defeatF
set free$ cleansed hopelessnessF
and loved. despairF #orth:
lessness. 4eeling
emotionally$
spirit"ally and
physically tired.
RLois 5alfrid ;ohnson$ .alling 3%art or Coming "ogether (Binneapolis?
A"gsb"rg$ %+14@$ p. ''.
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Connecting With God
Lesson C
The 0reedo9 o2 0orgiving
Forgive us our debts, as we also have orgiven our debtors.
Conflict #ith others is "navoidable in life. As 9verett 4"llam so
elo."ently stated >."ote on p. 2+@$ the res"lts of the fall of man is that
each of "s has the tendency to #ant the #orld to be o"r personal
!ingdom #here #e call the shots and others follo#. Conflict res"lts$
and in these conflicts #e all have the opport"nity to choose revenge or
forgiveness.
;es"s clearly ta"ght "s to choose to forgive. 3e vie#ed this as so
important that 3e inserted the phrase Kas #e also have forgiven o"r
debtorsL in the middle of 3is model prayer. In the same breath that #e
as! for 7odOs forgiveness$ #e m"st pa"se to be s"re that #e have
forgiven anyone #ho has #ronged "s.
8his is not al#ays easy. 5hen #e are living or #or!ing #ith someone$
for e<ample$ #ho contin"ally ab"ses$ #rongs or irritates "s$ the
temptation to harbor resentment and h"rt them for h"rting "s is
ongoing. 5e co"ld all thin! of sit"ations #here #e #ill never feel li!e
e<tending grace in o"r conflicts #ith others.
("t ;es"s teaches in the LordOs 2rayer that #e m"st choose to forgive
others as an act of the #ill in order to e<perience 7odOs forgiveness.
K4or if yo" forgive men #hen they sin against yo"$ yo"r heavenly
4ather #ill also forgive yo". ("t if yo" do not forgive men their sins$
yo"r 4ather #ill not forgive yo"r sinsL >Batthe# '?%2$%4:%&@.
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Connecting With God
Li!e ;es"sO teachings on loving o"r enemies in Batthe# &$ these
principles can be so diffic"lt to accept that many people choose to
disregard them altogether. 8his may be beca"se #e donOt thin! it is
reasonable or necessary to forgive in some sit"ations. Ar perhaps #e
donOt feel 7od has m"ch to forgive "s for$ or #e have forgotten the
e<tent to #hich 3e has gone to cancel o"r debt for sin.
("t 7od not only #ants "s to e<perience 3is forgiveness$ b"t also
freedom from the cons"ming and imprisoning emotions of bitterness
and "nforgiveness in o"r lives. 3e #ants "s to tr"st 3im to deal #ith
the person #ho has #ronged "s. 8his is not to say that #e do not
create healthy bo"ndaries in o"r lives or that #e enable others in their
addictions. It is to say that #e !eep fresh in o"r mind the #ay 7od has
forgiven "s and the mercy 3e has sho#n "s. 8hen #e choose to e<tend
that same forgiveness to the one #ho has h"rt "s. 8he res"lts can be
ama,ing.
It is important to !eep in mind that ;es"s$ as 3e ta"ght these
principles$ contin"ally faced "navoidable conflict d"ring 3is ministry.
8he religio"s leaders of the day #ere threatened by 3is pop"larity and
teachings #hich openly confronted their rigid r"les and p"blicly
e<posed their hypocrisy. In 3is teachings on forgiveness and love even
to#ard o"r enemies$ ;es"s "sed terms that act"ally described ho# he
#as treated by 3is opposition? hated$ c"rsed$ mistreated$ physically
ab"sed$ and$ had it been possible$ robbed of 3is a"thority as the Son of
7od. Det he ta"ght and modeled 3is teachings on forgiveness. An the
cross 3e loo!ed do#n in agony "pon those #ho h"rled ins"lts at 3im
and said$ K4ather$ forgive them$ for they do not !no# #hat they are
doingL >L"!e 20?04@.
8he LordOs desire is that #e not only e<perience the freedom of 7odOs
forgiveness sec"red for "s thro"gh the cross$ b"t also the benefits and
freedom of forgiving others in the conflicts of life.
%. a. 5hat are o"r nat"ral responses to ab"seE
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Connecting With God
b. 5hat res"lts #hen #e follo# these nat"ral responsesE 5hat have
yo" observed in yo"r life and the lives of othersE
c. 5hat are some problems that have been ca"sed by revenge in o"r
#orldE
2. a. In the last lesson$ #e loo!ed at the great price 7od paid to C"stly
forgive o"r sins. 3o# is this s"mmari,ed in % 2eter 2?24E
b. 5hy do #e all need the forgiveness of the crossE 5hat is the benefit
to "s #ho believeE )omans 0?20F '?20
0. 5hat are #e to do in light of 7odOs gracio"s forgiveness to#ard "sE
Colossians 0?%0
4. 5hat did ;es"s teach "s abo"t forgiveness in Batthe# '?%2$%4:%&E
&. a. 3o# did ;es"s e<plain this f"rther in Batthe# %1?2%:0&E
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Connecting With God
b. 5hat is the principle in this parableE
'. 5hat related principles did ;es"s teach in these passagesE
L"!e '?0/:01
"e2eren1e: ote %$ Judge not$ p. &+.
L"!e '?4%:42
/. a. 5hat did ;es"s also teach 3is disciples in Batthe# &?44E
b. 3o# did 3e model these principles d"ring 3is trial and cr"cifi<ionE
L"!e 20?04a
% 2eter 2?20
1. a. 5hat related principles abo"t forgiveness are stated in the
follo#ingE
9phesians 4?2'
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Connecting With God
% 2eter 0?+$%%
2roverbs %+?%%
b. 5hat does )omans %2?%+$2% commandE
c. 5hy is 7od alone able to C"dge perfectlyE
2salm %4/?&b
Also$ % Chronicles 21?+? KMfor the Lord searches every heart and
"nderstands every motive behind the tho"ghts.L
+. a. Ane of the most moving stories in the (ible is that of ;oseph
>7enesis 0/:&0@. After hostile and Cealo"s brothers sold ;oseph into
slavery in 9gypt$ a famine re"nited the family after 20 years of
separation. ;oseph$ #ho had become 2haraohOs right hand man$ freely
forgave his brothers and provided for them and their families$ saving
them from famine. 5hat attit"de did ;oseph choose rather than
revengeE 7enesis &0?%+:2% >4&?2:1@
b. 5hat does 7od promise in all circ"mstances of o"r livesE )omans
1?21
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Connecting With God
%0. Gavid end"red the "nC"st acc"sations and assa"lts of 6ing Sa"l that
forced him to be a f"gitive for many years. An t#o occasions #hen
Gavid had the chance$ he did not !ill Sa"l$ even tho"gh Sa"l #as
see!ing to !ill Gavid. 5hat #as GavidOs foc"s rather than revengeE
>S"mmari,e #ith a sentence or t#o.@
2salm 0/?%:1
% Sam"el 2'?/:%%a
%%. At times it may seem impossible to forgive the h"rts inflicted on "s
by others. 5hat so"rce of po#er to e<tend 7odOs love and forgiveness
do #e find in 2hilippians 4?%0E
S U B B A ) D
%2. a. An #hat basis does 7od forgive "s o"r debts and free "s from
g"iltE
b. 3o# can remembering the debt 7od has canceled for yo" help yo"
forgive othersE
%0. a. 5hat principles of forgiveness and dealing #ith anger stand o"t
to yo" in this lessonE
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Connecting With God
b. 5hat freedom and other benefits come from follo#ing these
principlesE
%4. 5hen #e pray the LordOs 2rayer$ #hat does the phrase Kas #e also
have forgiven othersL remind "s to chec! in o"r livesE
LESSON C NOTES
( Judge not >'?0/@. KIn the conte<t of L"!e '?2/:0'$ to C"dge is to pass
C"dgment on someone$ to declare #hat he C"stly deserves$ and
f"rthermore to #ish heartily that he #ill get #hat is coming to him.
;es"s #arns against C"dging that someone is yo"r enemy$ that he
deserves to be hated and p"nished for hating$ c"rsing$ mistreating$
stri!ing$ or robbing yo" >'?2/:2+@. ;"dgment and condemnation are the
opposites of love$ mercy$ giving and forgiving.L /ue$ Life Change
Series$ av2ress$ p. +&.
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Connecting With God
Lesson 3
0a1ing Te97tation
!nd lead us not into tem"tation...
As s"rely as conflict is "navoidable in life$ so is temptation. (eca"se
;es"s #as faced #ith enormo"s temptation early in 3is ministry$ 3e
!ne# the ang"ish #e e<perience #hen it comes to resisting p"lls to
rebel against 7odOs #ill. So 3e ta"ght "s to pray that 7od #o"ld Klead
"s not into temptation.L
Certainly as #e see! to follo# the Lord in o"r daily lives$ 3e #ill lead
"s a#ay from many temptations that easily entice those #ho do not
follo# 3im. 5hen #e receive Christ into o"r lives$ 3e gives "s a heart
li!e 3is. ot only are #e no longer dra#n to many "nhealthy$
"nconstr"ctive activities$ #e see the fallacy in the idea that #e m"st
have certain things to be happy$ li!e money$ se< and po#er. If #e begin
each day giving o"r lives to 7od and as!ing 3is Spirit to control "s$ 3e
#ill give "s great strength #hen #e face temptation$ and not allo# "s to
be tempted beyond #hat #e can handle.
("t #e #ill face temptation$ beca"se #e have an old sinf"l nat"re that
responds readily to the schemes of Satan$ the master of temptation.
8he (ible tells "s that he is real$ see!ing to "ndermine o"r faith by
"sing vario"s deceptive schemes to entice "s to sin$ and so#ing seeds
of do"bt$ "nbelief and rebellion in "s. As #e st"dy SatanOs t#o best:
!no#n temptations in the (iblePAdam and 9ve in #hich he s"c:
ceeded$ and ;es"s in the #ilderness in #hich he failed completelyP#e
see SatanOs often:"sed strategy of tampering #ith 7odOs #ord. 3e
t#ists #hat 7od has said and leads "s to#ard self:pleas"re$ self:
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Connecting With God
reasoning and self:prominence. 8he Script"res tell "s to stand firm in
the faith and #atch o"t for the temptation schemes of the enemy.
In o"r #atchf"lness$ it is important to reali,e Satan attac!s the area
#here #e are most v"lnerable$ the area of o"r personality that is not yet
f"lly "nder 7odOs control. In times of temptation$ #e #ill "ndergo a
great str"ggle bet#een o"r old sinf"l nat"re and o"r ne# Christli!e
nat"re #hich is ind#elt by the 3oly Spirit >7alatians &?%':%/@. It is
important not to feel #e have sinned C"st beca"se #e e<perience this
battle. ;es"s #as also tempted$ b"t 3e never sinned. 5e only sin #hen
#e ma!e the choice to disobey 7od.
If #e choose to t"rn the area of #ea!ness over to the 3oly SpiritOs
control$ regardless of ho# many times #e have failed$ 3e #ill "se the
battle to develop more of ChristOs character in that area. If #e do not
t"rn the area over to the SpiritOs control$ it #ill become a spirit"al
stronghold from #hich Satan can la"nch more assa"lts on o"r
relationship #ith 7od. A"r character and mat"rity as 7odOs children
gro#s as #e determine to !eep choosing 7odOs #ay thro"gh the
temptations of life$ calling on 3is Spirit for help and g"idance in the
battles.
;. (. 2hillipsO translation of ;ames %?2:4 describes the good that can
res"lt from temptation in o"r lives.
When all inds o& trials and tem%tations crowd into your li#es$ my brothers$
don=t resent them as intruders$ but welcome them as &riendsF -eali:e that
they come to test your &aith and to %roduce in you the ;uality o& endurance!
But let the %rocess go on until that endurance is &ully de#elo%ed$ and you will
&ind you ha#e become men GwomenH o& mature character with the right sort
o& inde%endence!
8he diffic"lt ordeal of temptation is a contin"al challenge for every
believer. As #e pray$ Klead "s not into temptation$L #e declare o"r
commitment to do 7odOs #ill in the po#er of 3is Spirit. In this lesson$
#e #ill loo! at biblical principles that give hope as #e face the constant
temptations of life.
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Connecting With God
%. a. 8he biblical definition of temptation is being enticed to sin against
7od. 5hat are some s"btle temptations that people face everydayE
b. 5hat are res"lts of falling to these temptationsE
2. a. 5hat areas of temptation are listed in % ;ohn 2?%'E
b. 3o# are these areas reflected in Adam and 9veOs temptation in the
beginning of h"man historyE
7enesis 2?%':%/F 0?%:'
c. 3o# are these areas reflected in ;es"sO temptation in the #ildernessE
5hat #as common in all of ;es"sO responsesE
Batthe# 4?%:%%
"e2eren1e: otes %:2$ Jesus= tem%tation$ and ote 0$ <atan$ p. ''.
0. If #e are committed to pleasing 7od in o"r lives$ ho# does 3e
promise to help "s #ith temptationE
% Corinthians %0?%0
3ebre#s 2?%1
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Connecting With God
3ebre#s 4?%&:%'
4. Satan t#isted 7odOs 5ord to tempt Adam and 9ve. ;es"s "sed
7odOs 5ord to resist SatanOs temptations. 3o# can the 5ord of 7od
help "s to ma!e healthy$ constr"ctive choices in the face of temptationE
2 8imothy 0?%':%/
2salm %%+?%00F %01
&. 5hat does ;ames %?%0:%& tell "s abo"t temptationE
'. a. 3o# do the follo#ing passages describe the ChristianOs battle #ith
temptationE
)omans /?%&:20
7alatians &?%/
b. 5hat do these passages e<plain abo"t overcoming temptationE
7alatians &?%'$2& >)omans 1?&:'@
"e2eren1e? ote 0 "he Holy <%irit$ p. 01$ and ote 4$ Wors o& the Holy Spirit$ p.
'/.
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Connecting With God
/. 5hat are #e commanded in 9phesians &?%1E
Note: 8o be filled #ith the Spirit is a contin"o"s act of choosing to be
controlled by the 3oly Spirit of 7od. 8he analogy #ith #ine in 9phesians &?%1
s"ggests that being filled #ith the Spirit controls one-s life in a positive #ay as
alcohol controls one negatively.

"e2eren1e: ote &$ Be &illed with the <%irit$ p. '/.
1. 8o be filled$ or controlled and empo#ered$ by the 3oly Spirit$ #e
m"st?
(*) Con&ess any sin in our li#es (* John *:I)6
(4) 2resent e#ery area o& our li#es to God (-omans *4:*(4)6 and
(0) 3s God to &ill us with His <%irit!
5hat does ;es"s promise in L"!e %%?%0E
+. 8o be controlled by the 3oly Spirit is to live in Christ and allo# 3im
to live 3is life thro"gh "s. 5hat does 3e tell "s that relates to
temptation in ;ohn %&?&E
%0. 5hen #e fall to temptation$ ho# can #e get bac! on trac!E >See
also I/ above.@
% ;ohn %?+
%%. 5hat is 7odOs attit"de to#ard "s as #e str"ggle to overcome
temptation in order to please 3imE
2salm %00?1:%4
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Connecting With God
S U B B A ) D
%2. 5hat does the prayer Klead "s not into temptationL mean to yo"E
%0. a. 5hat temptations are most prevalent in yo"r life todayE
b. 3o# does 7od #ant to help yo" #ith this temptationE
%4. Gescribe the battle in o"r lives bet#een the 3oly Spirit and o"r old
sinf"l nat"re #hen #e are temptedE
b. 5hy are yo" not sinning #hen yo" e<perience this battleE
%&. Anly the Spirit can give "s the po#er to overcome temptation.
5hat m"st yo" do to e<perience this po#erE
%'. 5hat is yo"r prayer regarding the 3oly Spirit and yo"r lifeE If yo"
have never as!ed Christ to fill::control and empo#er::yo" #ith 3is
Spirit$ perhaps yo" #o"ld li!e to as! 3im for the first time no#. 8he
follo#ing is a s"ggested prayer that yo" can pray daily?
/ord Jesus$ I acnowledge that I cannot li#e the Christian li&e in my own strength!
"han you that you ha#e &orgi#en my sins through your death on the cross &or me! I
now in#ite you to tae control o& my li&e! .ill me with the Holy <%irit as you ha#e
commanded me to be &illed and as you %romise to do i& I as! /i#e your li&e through
me$ /ord$ in the %ower o& your <%irit! I %ray this in the name o& Jesus!
3men!
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Connecting With God
LESSON 3 NOTES
( Jesus= tem%tation in the wilderness >Batthe# 4?%:%%@. K8he devil$ also
called Satan$ tempted 9ve in the 7arden of 9den$ and here he tempted
;es"s in the desert. Satan is a fallen angel. 3e is real$ not symbolic$ and
is constantly fighting against those #ho follo# and obey 7od. SatanOs
temptations are real$ and he is al#ays trying to get "s to live his #ay or
o"r #ay rather than 7odOs #ay. ;es"s #ill one day reign over all
creation$ b"t Satan tried to force his hand and get him to declare his
!ingship premat"rely. If ;es"s had given in$ his mission on earthPto
die for o"r sins and give "s the opport"nity to have eternal lifeP#o"ld
have been lost. 5hen temptations seem especially strong$ or #hen yo"
thin! yo" can rationali,e giving in$ consider #hether Satan may be
trying to bloc! 7odOs p"rposes for yo"r life or for someone elseOs life.L
"he NIV /3B$ %! *57J!
, KJesus wasn=t tem%ted inside the tem%le or at his baptism b"t in the desert
#here 3e #as tired$ alone$ and h"ngry$ and th"s most v"lnerable. 8he
devil often tempts "s #hen #e are v"lnerableP#hen #e are "nder
physical or emotional stress >for e<ample$ lonely$ tired$ #eighing big
decisions$ or faced #ith "ncertainty@. ("t he also li!e to tempt "s
thro"gh o"r strength$ #here #e are most s"sceptible to pride. 5e m"st
g"ard at all times against his attac!s.L "he NIV /i&e 3%%lication Bible$ %!
*57J!
+ <atan means Kthe acc"ser.L 3e is also called the de#il. 5hile Satan and
evil adversaries$ or demons$ are incredible to some$ it is important to
"nderstand #hat the (ible has to say abo"t them. In the 7ospels$ ;es"s
delivered people from demons in n"mero"s incidents. 8he (ible refers
to Satan as an angelic being #ho led a heavenly revolt against 7od.
Conse."ently$ 7od cast him o"t of heaven #ith his rebelling host of
angels >2 2eter 2?4F )evelation %2?/:+@. Under SatanOs leadership$ these
angelic beings became !no#n as demons$ and are organi,ed in their
schemes and attac!s on h"man beings >9phesians '?%2@. Satan and his
forces #or! to get people to #orship Satan >L"!e 4?/@ and to prevent
individ"als from t"rning to 7od >L"!e 4?1@. SatanOs defeat is promised
in 7enesis 0?%& and #as completed at the cross of Christ >Colossians
2?%&@. In the res"rrection$ Christ #as victorio"s over Satan and his
po#er. 8herefore$ ;es"s Christ is the permanent r"ler of the #hole
#orld. Satan is still a force to be rec!oned #ith "ntil Christ ret"rns to
C"dge the earth >Batthe# %'?2/@. Satan is the temporary r"ler of the
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part of the #orld that chooses to follo# him. ;ames 4?/ instr"cts
believers to resist the devil >or demonic forces@ by contin"ally
s"rrendering to 7odOs leadership in their lives.
6 Wors o& the Holy <%irit. (eca"se the 3oly Spirit is the so"rce of
po#er in the ChristianOs life$ it is important to !no# #ho 3e is.
8hro"gho"t Script"re$ the 3oly Spirit is revealed along #ith the 4ather
and the Son as a f"ll and distinct person of the 7odhead. As a divine
2erson$ the 3oly Spirit is eternal$ every#here present$ almighty$
perfectly #ise$ perfectly C"st and perfectly good >3ebre#s +?%4$ 2salm
%0+?/:%0$ % Corinthians 2?%0:%%@.8he 3oly SpiritOs distinct role is the
Sanctifier #ho frees "s to lead ne# lives in Christ >2 Corinthians
0?%/@. It is the 3oly Spirit #ho leads "s to spirit"al rebirth$ brings
ChristOs presence to "s$ !eeps "s in to"ch #ith 7od$ ma!es "s reali,e
7odOs love$ gives "s po#er to #itness and to live the Christian life$ and
gives "s spirit"al gifts #ith #hich to serve the body of Christ >8it"s
0?&$ ;ohn %4?%':%1$ )omans 1?2'$ )omans &?&$ Acts %?1$ )omans 1?&:+$
% Corinthians 2?4:%2@. 3e teaches$ enco"rages$ comforts$ pleads for "s
and leads "s into all tr"th >;ohn %'?%0$ Acts +?0%$ ;ohn %4?%'$
)omans 1?2/@. )omans 1 tells "s that allo#ing o"r minds to be
controlled by the 3oly Spirit is the !ey to Qlife and peaceO >1?'@ and
e<periencing victory over the sin that see!s to control "s. See also ote
0$ Holy <%irit$ p. 01.
- Be &illed with the Holy <%irit >9phesians &?%1@ does not refer to a
."antity of the Spirit >li!e a glass needing to be filled as opposed to
half:filled #ith #ater@. 8he phrase refers to the contin"al choice #e can
ma!e to allo# the 3oly Spirit to completely control o"r lives. either
does the analogy #ith alcohol >Kdo not get dr"n! #ith #ineL@ mean #e
get dr"n! #ith the Spirit in a #ay that #e donOt see$ hear$ feel or reason
realistically or #ith self:control. 8he 3oly Spirit prod"ces the life of
Christ in "s$ giving "s godly perception$ po#er$ love and self:discipline
>2 8imothy %?/@$ and the fr"it listed in 7alatians &?22:20.
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Connecting With God
Lesson *
$rote1tion %gainst Evil
...but deliver us rom the evil one.
Ane need only read a ne#spaper or t"rn on a television to observe that
evil is a reality that daily #rea!s havoc on nations and individ"als. 4or
many$ the response to evil is fear and despair. ("t the Christian can
have hope. 8hro"gho"t the Script"res 7od reveals 3imself as o"r
ref"ge and salvation in the face of evil$ and 3e is stronger than the
destr"ctive forces #e face in this #orld. 7od has made death itself into
a passage#ay to eternal life #ith 3im in a ne# heaven and earth that is
absent of evil. In ac!no#ledgement of this hope and o"r dependence
on 7od for protection$ ;es"s ta"ght "s to pray$ K4atherMdeliver "s
from the evil one.L
8o "nderstand this re."est$ #e have to loo! at the 7ree! #ords "sed
for deli#er and e#il. 1eli#er is translated from the #ords a%o rhuomai
meaning to rescue away &rom$ to %reser#e through$ and so$ to deli#er.
8he #ord %oneros$ denotes what is e#il in in&luence and e&&ect$ malignant$
destructi#e$ in)urious in nature. It is the opposite of #hat is !ind$ gracio"s$
and of service.
8he "sage of the #ord as a no"n indicates ;es"s #as spea!ing of Satan$
the one the (ible ascribes to being the originator of all that is evil in
o"r #orld.
%
;es"s had faced Satan and his demonic forces in 3is h"man
e<perience and !ne# 7od alone co"ld preserve "s thro"gh the
po#erf"l and age:old destr"ctive schemes of this enemy. ;es"s is
teaching "s in the LordOs 2rayer that o"r heavenly 4ather is available
and able to do this.
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Connecting With God
8o as! the 4ather to deliver "s from evil$ then$ is essentially as!ing 3im
to !eep "s from falling into the cl"tches of evil$ to ta!e "s thro"gh it
and deliver "s from the destr"ctive intentions of Satan.
2
3o#ever evil
stal!s "sPthro"gh over#helming temptations$ diffic"lt circ"mstances
or the cr"elty of othersP#e can !no# that 7od is Kfor "sL and is
more po#erf"l than the one behind the evils #e face. Satan is limited
by 7od. othing can to"ch "s "nless permitted by 7od$ and then it is
allo#ed only for o"r benefit.
0
As stated$ death itself is only victory for
the believer in Christ.
7odOs deliverance from evil not only involves protection from an
over#helming foe. 7od "ses o"r conflicts #ith evil to b"ild and
transform "s into #hole people #ho reflect 3is character. In his boo!$
3 /ayman /oos at the /ord=s 2rayer$ 5. 2hillip 6eller sho#s the 4atherOs
love in this process "sing the analogy of a child learning to #al!. ;"st as
a loving parent is s"pportive and attentive and enco"raging as his child
progresses thro"gh the falls$ b"mps and br"ises$ 7od helps "s learn to
K#al!L spirit"ally as #e battle evils in o"rselves and the #orld. 3is
desire is not that #e be in a state of despair over o"r #ea!nesses and
fail"res$ b"t rather that 3e be #ith "s in the learning process$ providing
strength and g"idance and enco"ragement thro"gh the str"ggles that
b"ild #holeness and a deeper relationship #ith 3im in o"r lives.
In his boo!$ 6eller spea!s of three !eys to e<periencing 7odOs
deliverance from evil. 4irst$ #hen #e face evil #e m"st deliberately t"rn
to 7od for help. In simple$ sincere prayer$ #e can tell 3im ho# the
battle is beyond "s to cope #ith and as! 3im by 3is Spirit to get "s
thro"gh it #itho"t falling.
A second !ey to e<periencing 7odOs deliverance from evil is to heed
common sense. 2a"l told 8imothy to K4lee these SevilT thingsML
>% 8imothy '?%%@. In areas of o"r lives #here #e are most v"lnerable to
fall$ #e need to heed the inner voice that says to stay a#ay from the
places$ sit"ations or people that p"ll "s do#n. 8he 3oly Spirit #ill also
give "s a sense of ca"tion #hen #e cannot see the danger.
8he final !ey is to be ready to resist the devil >;ames 4?/@. 5hen #e feel
over#helmed by fear$ do"bt$ "nbelief or the p"ll to rebel against 7odOs
#ay$ #e m"st remember that the Ks#ord of the SpiritL that destroys the
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Connecting With God
enemy is the 5ord of 7od >9phesians '?%/@. 5e resist the devil by first
s"bmitting o"rselves to 7od and then ."oting Script"re related to the
sit"ation. ;es"s did this in 3is #ilderness temptations >Batthe# 4@. 8he
more #e st"dy and memori,e Script"re$ the easier this becomes.
All of these areas of biblical tr"th are bo"nd "p in ;es"sO prayer$
K4atherMdeliver "s from the evil one.L In this lesson$ #e #ill loo! at
some of these principles from the Script"res.
%. a. 5hat is the definition of evil in the commentary >paragraph 2@E
b. 5hat is the deliverance ;es"s spea!s of in the LordOs 2rayerE
>)evie# commentary$ paragraphs 2$ 4.@
2. 5hat does 9phesians '?%0:%0 tell "s abo"t the battle against evil in
o"r #orldE
"e2eren1e: <atan$ p. ''.
0. a. List #ords or phrases that describe the armor of 7od in
9phesians '?%4:%/. 5hat protects "s in the battleE
b. 5hat practical choices allo# "s to p"t on 7odOs armorE
2roverbs 4?%4:%&
% 8imothy '?%%
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Connecting With God
)omans '?%0
4. a. 5hat is the most important !ey in the battle against evilE
9phesians '?%1
b. 8he po#er of prayer and praising 7od in the battles of life is
demonstrated dramatically in 2 Chronicles 20. S"mmari,e this story.
2 Chronicles 20?%:'$ %2:%&$ 2%:24.
c. 5hat #ere the !eys to victory for the nation of ;"dahE
d. 5hat does this story enco"rage "s to doE
&. a. 5ho gives "s the strength from #ithin for the battlesE
)omans 1?2'
9phesians 0?%'$20
b. 5hat spirit does the 3oly Spirit give "s in the #arfareE
2 8imothy %?/
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Connecting With God
% ;ohn 4?4
'. 3o# are #e changed by str"ggles against evilE
)omans &?0:& >;ames %?2:4@
% 2eter &?%0
/. As #e ma!e these choices of faith and commitment$ of #hat can #e
be confidentE
2salm 0/?20:24
Isaiah 40?2:0a
% ;ohn &?%1
1. 5hat do these Script"res instr"ct regarding the battles #e face
against evilE
% 2eter &?1:+
"e2eren1e: ote 2$ <atan constrained$ p. /0.
+. 5hat is the final res"lt of 7od delivering "s from evilE
2 8imothy 4?%1
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;"de 24:2&
S U B B A ) D
%0. 5hat is the promise hidden in ;es"sO prayer$ K4atherMdeliver "s
from the evil oneLE
%%. 5hat choices can yo" ma!e in order to receive 7odOs protection
against evilE
%2. 5hat does 7od #ant to do in yo"r life thro"gh yo"r str"ggles #ith
evilE
%0. Is there an area of yo"r life #here yo" are battling evil right no#E
5hat enco"ragement have yo" fo"nd in this lessonE
LESSON * NOTES
( "e2eren1e: ote 0$ <atan$ de#il$ p. ''.
, <atan constrained. K8o "nderstand the po#er of Satan in the lives of
Christians$ imagine a sta!e driven into the gro"nd. 8ethered on a long
chain attached to the sta!e is a roaring$ raveno"s lion. As a Christian
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Connecting With God
passes by$ the lion sees him$ roars and ma!es a mighty l"nge to#ard
him$ b"t heOs stopped by the chain and thatOs as far as he can go. All he
can do is roar. 3o#ever$ beca"se of free #ill$ the Christian can$ if he
#ants to$ #al! #ithin the radi"s of the chain. ("t he #ill be cons"med$
for in that case he is no match for the evil one. 3o#ever$ the lion canOt
force the Christian to #al! #ithin his range. And neither #ill 7od lead
him #ithin that circle of gen"ine dangerF 3e #ill merely let the
Christian be tested. 7od has set limits on SatanOs po#er. Satan cannot
lead "s into rebellion and sin "nless #e agree to cooperate. 8he
Script"re tells "s that Christians have been ta!en o"t of the !ingdom of
dar!ness over #hich Satan r"les and transferred into the !ingdom of
7odOs beloved Son >Colossians %?%0@. ItOs as tho"gh #e have
embla,oned on o"r foreheads the #ords$ -Under e# Banagement.-
Satan no longer has rights over "s "nless #e give them to him.L
9verett 4"llam$ /i#ing the /ord=s 2rayer$ pp. %00:%0%.
+ "e2eren1e: ote 4$ C. 3. 5elch$ p. 01.
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Connecting With God
Lesson (D
The ?ingdo9@ the $o=er
and the Glory
For yours is the kingdom, and the "ower, and the glory,
orever.# !men.
8he do<ology at the end of the LordOs 2rayer appears in only abo"t
half of the '$000 f"ll or partial e# 8estament man"scripts e<istent
from early times. 9minent te<t"al a"thorities believe it #as added by
later hands$ probably to ma!e the prayer more s"itable for p"blic
#orship.
Certainly inspired by the 3oly Spirit$ if not from ;es"sO lips$ the
do<ology of the LordOs 2rayer ma!es the prayer begin and end #ith
#orship. Its main ideas are clearly biblical and coincide #ith a prayer of
Gavid recorded in % Chronicles 2+?%%PKDo"rs$ A Lord$ is the
greatness and the po#er and the glory and the maCesty and the
splendor$ for everything in heaven and earth is yo"rs. Do"rs$ A Lord$ is
the !ingdomF yo" are e<alted as head over all.L
4or these reasons$ it seems appropriate to concl"de o"r st"dy of the
Lord-s 2rayer #ith a loo! at the meaning behind its traditional
do<ology.
8o say KDo"rs is the !ingdomL is to reaffirm that the Lord is sovereign
over o"r #orld. 6ings and nations rise and fall and are limited by 7od
in #hat they can do. 5hile Satan has great po#er to infl"ence$ the
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Connecting With God
(ible ma!es very clear that the Lord #ill finally tri"mph in the battle
bet#een good and evil. 8ho"gh 3e created a #orld in #hich evil #as
possible$ it e<ists by 3is permission and to accomplish 3is p"rposes.
(iblical prophecy and events prove that 7od reigns s"preme over the
events and destiny of history. Its final boo!$ )evelation$ tells "s that in
the end the Lord #ill replace o"r chaotic #orld #ith a ne# eternal
heaven and earth absent of evil$ filled #ith the righteo"sness of 7od$
and r"led by ;es"s Christ$ #hom 7od has declared 6ing of 6ings
forever >)evelation %/?%4F %+?%'@.
KDo"rs is the !ingdomL th"s reminds "s that o"r heavenly 4ather is
sovereign and bids "s to lay do#n o"r rival !ingdoms and let 3im reign
in o"r lives.
KDo"rs is the po#erL reminds "s that all po#er resides in 7odOs hands.
3e s"stains 3is creation$ ordering gala<ies as #ell as the life of the
smallest organism. 9ach personOs e<istence as #ell as #hat he may ta!e
pride inPbea"ty$ talents$ intelligence$ riches$ or other#isePcomes
from 7od. 8his leaves no room for self:e<altation. 3is po#er not only
s"stains o"r lives today$ b"t #ill one day bring abo"t the !ingdom
#here believers #ill live eternally. KDo"rs is the po#erL calls "s to bo#
before the Ane #ho holds o"r lives in 3is hands.
KDo"rs is the gloryL reminds "s of the glorio"s character of 7od. 8he
more #e see the character of o"r heavenly 4atherP3is greatness$
C"stice$ love$ generosity$ gracio"sness::the more #e are seeing 3is
eternal glory. 9verything e<ists for the glory of 7od::to reveal 3is
maCesty$ holiness$ goodness$ and perfection.
8he greatest revelation of 7odOs glory is in 3is Son$ ;es"s Christ. (y
3is life$ death$ res"rrection$ and present reign in heaven$ 3e is a
reflection of 7odOs perfect character and passion to bring sons and
da"ghters o"t of the h"man race to share 3is glory. As #e yield o"r
lives to 7od$ the 3oly Spirit delights to prod"ce 7odOs character in "s$
enabling "s to reflect 3is nat"re in o"r #ords and deeds and
co"ntenance. As the moon reflects the light of the s"n$ so #e are made
to reflect 3is glory forever.
4inally$ the KamenL that concl"des the LordOs 2rayer is not C"st a #ord
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Connecting With God
"sed to end o"r prayer. It means Kso let it beL or Klet it be so.L 8o say
KamenL is to say$ KDes$ this is rightF I agree. Let this happenF let this be
the case.L As #e praise o"r heavenly 4ather$ see! first 3is !ingdom$
tr"st 3im for o"r needs$ receive 3is forgiveness$ and dra# on 3is
strength to overcome temptation and evil$ #e can be s"re 3e #ill
accomplish 3is good and loving p"rpose for o"r lives. 8he KamenL of
the LordOs 2rayer is a final declaration of faith in 7od and commitment
to 3is #ill above o"r o#n.
8he disciple #anted ;es"s to teach him ho# to pray as 3e did to
"nloc! the secret of 3is ama,ing ministry. And so ;es"s gave it to him$
and to "s in the Lord-s 2rayer.
%. 5hat does KDo"rs is the !ingdom forever and everL meanE
2. a. 5hat does 2salm +0 declare abo"t the LordOs reignE
2salm +0?% >0$4b@
2salm +0?2
2salm +0?&
2salm 1+?%4
b. 3o# does 2salm 1+?%&:%/a describe people #ho revere the Lord and
allo# 3im to be 6ing in their livesE
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Connecting With God
0. 8o #hat does KDo"rs is the po#er forever and everL referE
4. a. Ban tends to ta!e pride in his o#n reasoning and strength. 5hat
do the follo#ing verses stateE
Ge"teronomy 1?%/:%1a >% Chronicles 2+?%2@
Acts %/?21a
Isaiah 40?':1$ 22a
Isaiah 40?20:24
b. 3o# is 7odOs po#er described in the follo#ingE
Isaiah 40?%2$ %&
Isaiah 40?22b$ 2'
Isaiah 40?%0:%4
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Connecting With God
&. 5hat is 7odOs promise to those #ho tr"st in 3is po#er and
#isdomE
Isaiah 40?%%
Isaiah 40?2/:2+
Isaiah 40?0%
'. a. 5hat po#er has 7od vested in the risen Lord ;es"s ChristE
3ebre#s %?0aF Colossians %?%/
b. 3o# do these passages describe the po#er prod"ced in o"r lives
thro"gh faith in ChristE
9phesians %?%1:20
9phesians 0?%'$ 20
/. 5hat does KDo"rs isMthe glory forever and everL meanE
1. a. 8he glory of the Lord is the rightf"l honor 3e sho"ld receive
beca"se of #ho 3e is. >4or revie#$ see Attrib"tes of 7od list$ p. 21.@
5hat does Gavid declare in % Chronicles 2+?%%E
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Connecting With God
b. 3o# do the follo#ing verses describe 7odOs glorio"s characterE
2salm %4&?1:+
2salm %4&?%0b:%4
+. a. ;es"s laid aside 3is glory #hen 3e came to serve "s. 5hat did
;es"s pray in the garden of 7ethsemane before 3is cr"cifi<ionE
;ohn %/?&$ 22:20
b. 5hat do these verses say abo"t reflecting the glory of 7odE
2 Corinthians 0?%1 >7alatians &?22:20@
Colossians 0?%2:%/
S U B B A ) D
%0. a. 5hat tr"ths abo"t 7od and yo"r relationship to 3im stand o"t
to yo" from this lessonE
b. 5hy is it important to end prayer #ith a foc"s on 7odOs !ingdom$
po#er and gloryE
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Connecting With God
%%. a. In #hat areas do yo" need special comfort$ strength$ and #isdom
todayE
b. 5hat promises from this lesson enco"rage yo"E >Go a ."ic! revie#
of yo"r lesson and list references here.@
c. 5hat do these promises enco"rage yo" to doE
%2. 5hen yo" give the Lord all the praise and glory$ 3is glory is
reflected in yo"r life. 5hat manifestations of 3is glory do yo" most
desire the Spirit to prod"ce in yo"E
" E E I E W Conne1ting With God:
Insights into the Lord>s$rayer
%0. a. 5hy is it important to begin and end prayer #ith a foc"s on 7od
and 3is #illE
b. 5hat did ;es"s teach abo"t coming to 7od #ith personal needs and
str"gglesE 5hat sho"ld #e as! 3im forE
%4. 5hat comes to mind as yo" thin! of these phrasesE
>ur .atherK
In hea#enK
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Connecting With God
Hallowed be your Name!
@our ingdom come$ @our will be done on earth as it is in hea#en!
Gi#e us this day our daily bread!
.orgi#e us our debts!
.orgi#e us as we &orgi#e our debtors!
/ead us not into tem%tation$ but deli#er us &rom the e#il one!
.or @ours is the ingdom$ the %ower$ and the glory &ore#er and e#er!
3men!
%&. 5hat have yo" learned abo"t 7od and yo"r relationship #ith 7od
from this st"dyE
%'. 5hat secret to 3is ama,ing ministry did ;es"s give the disciple #ho
as!ed$ KLord$ teach "s to prayLE
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The Lords Prayer as a Guide to Prayer
Our Father in heaven Dear heavenly Father, thank you that I can
call you Father.
Hallowed be your name May your name e honore!, ecau"e you
are #rac$ou", lov$n#, merc$%ul, #oo!, &$"e,
concerne!, un!er"tan!$n#, 'u"t, (ure, holy, all)
(o&er%ul an! all)kno&$n#. I &or"h$( you.
Your kingdom come *or!, I #$ve you all I have an! am an! a"k you
to re$#n $n my l$%e to!ay y your +($r$t.
Give us today our daily I look to you to meet all my nee!"
bread to!ay,(hy"$cal, emot$onal, "($r$tual,a" you
have (rom$"e!. -.ray aout "(ec$%$c nee!" o%
your"el% an! other" here./
Forgive us our debts *or!, thank you that you (a$! %or all my "$n"
on the cro"". -0on%e"" any "(ec$%$c "$n that
come" to m$n!, an! thank 1$m %or 1$" %or)
#$vene"" throu#h the cro""./
as we have orgiven our 2ecau"e you have %or#$ven me all o% the
debtors "$n" o% my l$%e &hen you !$e! on the cro"",
I !on3t &ant to haror any un%or#$vene""
to&ar! other". -Declare your %or#$vene"" o%
any "(ec$%$c (eo(le that come to m$n!./
!nd lead us not into *or!, %$ll me &$th your +($r$t that 1e may #$ve
tem"tation me the (o&er to !o your &$ll to!ay an! to
re"$"t the tem(tat$on" I &$ll %ace. -0on%e"" any
"$n that come" to m$n!. 4hank 1$m that 0hr$"t
!$e! on the cro"" %or all your "$n"./
but deliver us rom the *or!, (rotect me %rom the enemy y your
evil one +($r$t an! y your m$#hty an#el". 4hank you
that your +($r$t &$th$n me $" #reater than
the %orce" o% ev$l $n th$" &orl!.
-.ray %or (rotect$on or !el$verance o%
other" that are on your heart./
For yours is the kingdom Father, I (ra$"e you that you re$#n over our
&orl! an! over all the un$ver"e.
Yours is the "ower 5ou alone are all (o&er%ul, not k$n#" or
nat$on". 6ll (o&er $" your".
Yours is the glory Forever your name $" #lor$ou" )) you are holy,
orever #rac$ou", lov$n#, %a$th%ul. I love an! (ra$"e
!men. you, !ear heavenly Father. 6men.
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Connecting With God
Lesson $age Note F To7i1
% %% A. 5. 8o,er$ K7od is 9asy to Live 5ith.L
%2 2 K5hy did Christ have to die in my placeEL
a. 2ropitiation.
b. ;"stification.
2 20 2 ;es"s at the right hand of 7od!
2% 0 2hillip 6ellerOs reflections on heaven.
0 21 % 5hat 7od has revealed abo"t 3imself.
4 0/ 2 Giscerning 7odOs #ill.
01 0 8he 3oly Spirit.
4 8r"sting 7od in hard times.
' &% % a. )edemption.
b. )econciliation.
&2 2 4alse g"ilt chart by Lois 5. ;ohnson.
/ &+ % ;"dge not.
1 '' % ;es"sO temptation in the #ilderness.
2 ;es"s #asnOt tempted inside the temple.
0 Satan.
'/ 4 5or!s of the 3oly Spirit.
& Be &illed with the <%irit >9phesians &?%1@.
+ /0 0 Satan constrained.
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4%<O" 0OOTNOTES
Connecting With God
Bibliogra7hy
4"llam$ 9verett L. /i#ing the /ord=s 2rayer$ e# Dor!$ e# Dor!?
(allantine (oo!s$ %+10.
3enry$ Batthe# Batthew Henry's Commentary in >ne Volume$ 7rand
)apids$ Bichigan? Uondervan Corporation$ %+'%.
"he Interlinear Gree(8nglish New "estament$ London$ 9ngland? Sam"el
(agster and Sons Limited$ %+/4.
6eller$ 5. 2hillip 3 /ayman /oos at the /ord=s 2rayer$ Chicago$ Illinois?
Boody 2ress$ %+/'.
/i&e 3%%lication Bible$ New International Version$ 5heaton$ Illinois?
8yndale 3o"se 2"blishers$ Inc.$ %++%.
"he New International Version <tudy Bible$ 7rand )apids$ Bich.?
Uondervan Corporation$ %+1&.
"he New International Version "o%ical <tudy Bible$ 7rand )apids$ Bichigan?
Uondervan (ible 2"blishers$ %+1+.
*ine$ 5. 9. Vine=s 89%ository 1ictionary o& >ld and New "estament Words$
7rand )apids$ Bichigan? (a!er (oo! 3o"se Company$ %+1%.
5alvoord$ ;ohn 4.$ and U"c!$ )oy ($ "he Bible ?nowledge Commentary$
New "estament$ Script"re 2ress$ %+10.
Wycli&&e Bible Commentary$ Chicago$ Illinois? Boody 2ress$ %+'2.
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