MATURER 

In This Lesson

1. A Life of Prayer
2. The Word of Life
3. Paradoxes of Truth

Section 1 – A Life of Prayer

QUESTION: What is a life of prayer? Is there a right way to pray?

Prayer is the highest honor and the greatest tool we receive in this life. Prayer is communication with God. Whether we are bestowing honor, offering thanks, making requests, or seeking the will of God, prayer is the life sustaining force for the Christian believer.

Intimacy with the King of kings is an incredible opportunity, yet many find it difficult to establish a regular prayer life. Even Jesus’ disciples had difficulties with regular prayer. Let’s take a look.

Teach Us to Pray

In Luke 11:1-6 and Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus instruct His disciples on the

subject of prayer. These passages are commo “Lord’s Prayer”.

ly recognized as the “Lord’s Prayer”.

Luke 11:1 “Now it came to pass, as He [Jesus] was praying…one of His disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’…”

Jesus replied, “After this manner, therefore pray ye…” What an honor to learn how to pray from Jesus Himself!

1. “Our Father which art in heaven.” We give glory to God our Father. We can placestrong confidence in God’s love to us, just as a father has for his children. Jesus will hear our prayer!
2. “Hallowed be thy name.” The word hallowed in Scripture means “set apart”. We hallow the name of Jesus in conversation, in our families, and in His nameis set apart as a name that is higher than any other (Acts 4:12).
3. “Thy kingdom ” We pray that the gospel of Christ may spread until the whole world is filled with His glory.
4. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” All power belongs to He can do as He wills, but He offers us achoice. We can exercise that freedom by allowing His will to be accomplished in our lives.
5. “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are dependent on God for the supply of our needs and This is ouropportunity to make our requests known to God.
6. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” God extends mercy when we are willing to show A life ofdaily repentance is crucial to the believer (Ps. 139:23).
7. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from ” God delights in helping us overcome difficulties. With each temptation, He promises a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13).
8. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.” We end by expressing praise once again. God has the power to accomplish every need! All glory belongs to Him.
9. “Amen.” The word amen expresses It literally means “so be it”!

Necessity of Prayer

The New Testament instructs us to pray for people of all types. Allow these Scriptures to guide your daily prayer time.

1. Pray for Each Other. “…pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Pray for healing, strength and restoration for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Pray for Leaders. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers…be made for all men; For kings, and forall that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:1-2). Pray for those in authority, that they may be inclined to do that which is right.
3. Pray for Enemies. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you…pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). Pray for those who mistreat you. We disapprove of wicked conduct, yet we return good for
4. Pray for Soul‐Winners. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:38). We should earnestly pray for God to send forth ministers who will feed people with knowledge and spread the truth across the globe.
5. Pray for Yourself. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). Our best intentions are crushed under the weight of sin when the spirit is Daily, focusedprayer allows us to withstand temptation and overcome sin.

Power of Prayer

QUESTION: Will God hear me? Do my prayers make a difference?

Let’s look at what prayer can achieve. Through prayer, God is able to:

• Heal the sick (James 5:13-16)
• Sanctify and cleanse our food (I Timothy 4:4-5)
• Unlock prisons (Acts 12:1-9, Acts 16:25-26)
• Cast out demons (Matthew 17:14-21)
• Lead us to salvation (Acts 10:1-22, Acts 10:44-48)
• Give children to those previously barren (I Samuel 1:10-28)
• Turn back the judgment of God (Genesis 18:22-23, 19:29)
• Help in time of trouble (I Samuel 8:1-9)
• Extend life (Isaiah 38:1-8)

God can provide anything you need through the power of prayer. It is the strongest weapon in our arsenal.

James 5:16 “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Is there an amount of time we must put on our prayer? No. God never declares a specific length of prayer required for approval.

I Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

We should not neglect our duties to stay at the altar 24/7, but we can meditate on the Lord throughout our day and consistentlyremain in the spirit of prayer. Consistent prayer – combined with a dedicated period of focused prayer – will allow our relationship with God to thrive, and we will experience wonderful moments of fellowship with our Creator!

Section 2 – The Word of Life

QUESTION: How powerful is the Word of God? How can I develop a love for the Word of God?

In Philippians 2:15-16, the saints of God “shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life.” In John 6:63, Jesusproclaimed that the words He spoke, “they are spirit, and they are life.”

The Word of God expresses the will of God for humanity and reveals the history of God’s relationship with mankind. This knowledge is a great treasure to the Christian (Jer. 9:23-24).

1. The Word of God is the only source of divine truth. We should thoroughly examine this book in which we place somuch
2. The Word of God is a spiritual book. It can only be understood through the Spirit (Matt. 16:17).

Power of God’s Word

In the midst of changing times, God’s Word forever remains the same. When we lean upon the Word of God, the power of the Word accomplishes the following:

• Exposes the heart. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…and is adiscerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
• Assures salvation. “These things have I written unto you…that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” (I John 5:13)
• Proves that Jesus is “…these [signs] are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ…” (John 20:31)
• Offers “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
• Warns of the destructive power of “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition…” (I Cor. 10:11)
• Provides “…be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (I Peter 3:15, NIV)
• Qualifies to “…the things that you have heard from me…commit these to faithful men who will be able toteach others…” (II Tim. 2:2)
• Arms with “And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17)
• Promises “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it… will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

The enemy would rather see a believer spend hours reading self-help books than to spend five minutes in God’s revealed truth.This is why bookstores are loaded with alternatives.

1. The Word of God is the source of the believer’s spiritual sustenance (Matt. 4:4). It has power to nourish our
2. The Word of God transforms a believer from the inside out. Over time, the Word will gradually “rewire” the believer’s“circuits” if he remains faithful and spends daily time in the Word (James 1:21-25)

How to Approach Scripture

• Listen. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy…for the time is ” (Rev. 1:3).Discuss the Bible with others, listen to recordings of sermons, and take notes during midweek Bible study sessions.
• Read. “…and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law…” (Deut. 17:19). Read the Bible through in one year or less. A Bible reading program is often helpful.
• Study. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15). Verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book. Use different translations, study key phrases, and read what commentators and apostolic authors have to say.
  • Cross Reference Study. Compare Scripture with Scripture. The Bible is its own commentary. God establishes truth by two or three witnesses (Matt. 18:16).
  • Topical Choose a subject of interest and exhaust every resource until you know and understand the subject well.
• Meditate. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Take sections of

Scripture and carefully mull over each phrase. Read each section repeatedly, asking the Holy Spirit to bring the Wordalive to you. God will reveal precious nuggets of truth.

• Memorize. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Memorize key verses on doctrine, faith and holiness. This will allow you to “pray the Word” and use Scripture to overcome temptation.

Study is essential to Christian growth and development. Never become neglectful or discouraged because you do not learn everything overnight. Keep working; the rewards are innumerable! Develop good study habits and stick with it.

Section 3 – Paradoxes of Truth

QUESTION: What is a paradox? How do paradoxes help us understand mysteries?

The Christian faith consists of many paradoxes that convey the mysteries of God (i.e. Jesus was both God and man). Paradoxescan be a useful tool in teaching because they require you to think more carefully about what is being said.

Paradox: a true statement that either is contrary to conventional wisdom, or seemingly absurd.

The Bible contains many paradoxes, not to cause confusion, but to expanding our thinking and plant the seeds of truth in our hearts (Prov. 1:5-6). Let us examine a few paradoxes in Scripture that we can apply to daily Christian living.

Love Your Enemies

At first glance, Jesus’ statement is shocking in its radical expectations:

Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”

While it makes little sense to love our enemies, if we look through the lens of unconditional love, it may be that your enemy is:

• Distracted
• Going through a personal crisis
• Sick or exhausted

Regardless of the reason, we should respond in a Christian manner (Luke 23:34). Do not take it personally, give in to hurt feelings, or let your emotions control you. Instead, love the person as someone with a problem who needs God’s help and your prayers.

Give and It Will Come Back to You

Scripture has promised a “return on investment” when we give of our finances, time, energy and resources (Mal. 3:10). When we bless the kingdom, God promises to bless us in return!

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…”

Expanding upon this topic, Scripture offers numerous additional reasons for giving.

1. Giving is an “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:20). Let us not forget that we are merely caretakers of God’s gifts. Everything we have belongs to Him.
2. Giving is “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year” (Deut. 14:22). A Biblical ‘tithe’ is ten percent of one’s income. God’s chosen method for supporting the ministry is through the tithe of the people whom the minister serves.
3. Giving supports the ministry. “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn” (I Cor. 9:9). The ox who cultivates the earth should also be permitted to enjoy the fruit of his labors. The same is true for those who labor in the service of God. They should receive a portion of that fruit.
4. God loves a cheerful “God loves a cheerful giver” (II Cor. 9:7). Just as Jesus willingly offered Himself for our sins, how much more should we pour our love on Him through giving?

To Live, We Must Die

Paul uses this paradox so that we might understand that – in order to gain eternal life – our selfish lifestyle must die, and we must learn to follow Christ.

Luke 9:23‐24 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Forwhoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What

good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (NIV)

This concept is also used to describe the conversion of a Christian.

Romans 6:3‐6 “We are buried with him by baptism into death… that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

This seems absurd because death is typically the end of life, but this is not necessarily true. What if we apply this paradox tonature? In order for a seed to sprout and produce fruit, it must first ‘die’ as a seed (I Corinthians 15:36).

In the World, but Not of the World

Jesus let us know that His followers would be hated by the world.

John 17:14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am notof the world.”

We should not love the world, or the things in it (I John 2:15-17). We must not pattern our lives after the ways of the world and allow its influences to lure us away from Christ (Rom. 12:2).

Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…”

Jesus sent us into the world to preach the gospel and be a shining beacon of truth (Matt. 28:18-20). God does not isolate us from sin, but He promises to control our exposure so we will not be overwhelmed (I Cor. 10:13). In this paradox, we must follow the example of Jesus:

• He spent time learning Scripture (Luke 2:46-52)
• He was in the world, working with sinners (I Timothy 1:15)
• He took time to separate Himself for prayer (John 6:15)
• He faced temptation, but did not give in to sin (Hebrews 4:15)

How does a Christian grow and mature? By constantly reaching toward Jesus, trying to always be like Him!

For Deeper Study

A Life of Prayer

1. Even when we set time aside to communicate with God, we find ourselves running out of things to The prayerwheel below is designed to make our prayer lives more effective. If you will spend 5 minutes for each of the 12 aspects of prayer, you will have prayed for one hour!

PRAYER CLOCK

1. Praise – exalt Him by talking about His attributes, creation and works (Ps. 99:1-9)
2. Waiting – silently focus on God’s love and your love for Him (Ps. 46:10)
3. Confession – ask God to reveal specific sins; repent and ask forforgiveness (I 1:8- 9)
4. Scripture Prayer – pray the prayers of Scripture (Eph. 3:14-21)
5. Watching – ask God for inst uction c ncerning your ministry(Acts 20:28)
6. Outreach – pray for local, national and worldwide outreach of thegospel (Matt. 9:37- 38)
7. Intercession – lift up family, saints and friends as God inspires (II Thess. 1:11)
8. Petition – as God for spiritual, emotional, physical and financial help (Matt. 7:7-11)

9. Thanksgiving – thank God for what He has done and what He is doing (Col. 3:17)
10. Meditation – focus on a verse or attribute of God for a period of time (Josh. 1:8)
11. Listening – mentally absorb divine instructions from God; listen for His voice (Ps. 81:13)

12. Singing – sing songs of praise, thanksgiving and petition (Eph. 5:19)

Paradoxes of Truth

1. In addition to the paradoxes in Section 3, here are a few more prominent examples:

1. We see unseen things (2 4:18).
2. We conquer by yielding (Rom. 6:16-18).
3. We find rest under a yoke (Matt. 11:28-30).
4. We reign by serving (Mark 10:42-44).
5. We are made great by being the least (Luke 9:48).
6. We are exalted by being humble (Matt. 23:12).
7. We become wise by being fools (1 1:20-21).
8. We are made free be becoming bondservants (Rom. 6:18).
9. We wax strong by being weak (2 12:10).

 

Short Answer

I Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray without “ceasing.” What does this mean?

In what ways have you studied the Bible in the past? List an additional way of studying the Bible mentioned in this lesson that you can apply.? 

What does it mean to be “in the world” but not be “of the world”?

Memorization

   Memorize James 5:16

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

   Memorize Psalm 119:11.

Psalm 119:11“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

 

Bible Reading

   Read Matthew 5. This passage is the most well-known sermon of Jesus and one of the strongest Biblical lessons on Christian living.