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FAITH

Biblical definition of Faith:
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
(New Living Translation – NLT)

Character Study:
Abraham – Genesis 11:27 – 25:34. He is also mentioned in Exodus 2:24; Matthew 1:1,2;
Luke 3:34; Acts 7:2-8; Romans 4:1-25; Galatians 3:6-14; Hebrews 2:16; 6:13-16; 7:1-10; 11:8-15
Abraham is called the father of the faithful in Galatians 3:26; Romans 4:11 and also “The friend of God” in
James 2:23. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans but spent most of his life in the land of Canaan. His father was Terah; his wife – was Sarai whom God changed to Sarah; his nephew – Lot; his sons – were Ishmael and Isaac.
God changed his name from Abram – exalted father – to Abraham – father of many nations.

Abraham is known for his:
Faith in God
Hebrews 11:8-15 tells us that it was by faith that Abraham obeyed God when asked to leave his home and go to another land.  He believed in the promise of a son, even though both he and Sarah were well advanced in years. He was 100 and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born.
Romans 4:18-21 Because of his faith, Abraham enjoyed the victory of faith.
Genesis 22:1-19 Abraham Tested.
Obedience to God
Genesis 21:8-14 Abraham sent Hagar and his son Ishmael away. God assured him that Ishmael’s descendants would also become a nation because he is Abraham’s son. In this way he showed obedience; whatever God wanted him to do, he did without questions or qualms.
Devotion to God
Genesis 18:16-33 Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah when three men visited him. When they were about to leave it says the LORD wondered whether they should tell Abraham that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, because of their wickedness. The LORD had singled Abraham out to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. In vv23-33 we see that six times Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah to not be destroyed.
Humility
Genesis 13:5-9 Abram and Lot separate. A conflict arose, between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen – because “their possessions were so great” that the land could not support both Abram and Lot. He allowed Lot to choose where he would like to settle. He regarded others better than himself.
Weakness
Abraham’s weakness was that when under direct pressure he would distort the truth.
Genesis 12:10-20 In Egypt Abraham instructed Sarai to say she is his sister when she appears before Pharaoh.
Genesis 20:1-18 He did the same when he deceived Abimelech by saying Sarah is his sister.
Genesis 20:12 And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her. (NLT)

What the Bible teaches about faith:
Old Testament:
Exodus 14:15-31 After their escape through the Red Sea the Israelites put their v31 “faith in the LORD.” (NLT)
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, we read the account of the war Judah had with the surrounding nations. When King Jehoshaphat was told of the impending war, he proclaimed a fast to seek help from the LORD.
In vv13-15 the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, a Levite, and he told Jehoshaphat. v15b ’Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’  In v20 Jehoshaphat encouraged the people of Judah to have faith in the LORD their God.
In Isaiah 7:1-9 the prophet has a message for Ahaz, one of Judah’s worst kings. He refused help from God and instead he tried to buy aid from the Assyrians with silver and gold from the Temple. (2 Kings 16:8)
When he heard that the armies of Aram and Israel were allies:  Isaiah 7:2b “the hearts of Ahaz and the people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” Isaiah and his son Shear-Jashub (meaning of the name “a remnant will return) go out and meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. Isaiah tells him not to be afraid because the Sovereign LORD says it will not happen and it will not take place. His message to Ahaz from the LORD is that unless his faith is firm, the LORD cannot make him stand firm.
In Zechariah 8:1-23 the prophet received a message from God that He will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Even though it was the remnant of the people that returned from exile, the LORD promises that He will save His people from countries from the east and the west. God assures them that they will be His people and He will be faithful and righteous to them as their God. We as children of God also have the assurance that one day Christ will reign in His Kingdom on earth.

New Testament:
In Matthew 9:18-33 Jesus restored the synagogue ruler’s daughter to life; He heals a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years; He lets two blind men see again and He casts out a demon from a man who was demon-possessed and could not speak, v33b the man who had been mute spoke. – Jesus did this all, because of their faith.
In Romans 5:1-11 we read that we have been justified through faith and therefore have been reconciled with God; we are at peace with Him. This peace is only possible because Jesus paid the price for our sins through His death on the Cross. How wonderful to know that we can confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
In Galatians 2:11-20 Paul opposes Peter because before certain men (Judaizers – NLT) came to Antioch, Peter had been eating with the Gentiles. After they arrived he began to draw back, fearing those who belonged to the “circumcision” group; this made other Jewish Christians follow in his hypocrisy. Here we see that we are not justified by observing the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 11:1-40 we read about some of the great heroes of faith in the Old Testament.v6 And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
James 5:14-16.When someone in the church is ill the elders of the church are there for support and prayer. The prayer offered in faith by those praying will be answered, but we have to remember it is God who heals and not faith. All prayers are subject to God’s will.

Application
Hebrews 11:6 says that it is impossible to please God if we don’t have faith. Every day we face all kinds of trials and temptations
For this reason we need to hold onto 1 John 5:1-5 which says that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, has become a child of God.
Faith and endurance go hand in hand. When our faith is tested, endurance has a chance to grow.
When we face trials of many kinds, the Bible says that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. James does not say “if” trouble comes our way, but “when” it does God is faithful. We can believe He is right in the middle of our troubles, with us. James 1:2-12
Make prayer an integral part of your day. Colossians 4:2
Take time to write down your thoughts and prayers in a journal. At those times when it feels as if your world is falling apart, read previous thoughts and prayers you have written down. You will be surprised to read how many of your prayers have been answered!

Conclusion
Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Responding in Prayer
Read Psalm 30:1-12 – God is always faithful when earthly security is uncertain.
We have seen that our God is faithful. When we are faithless, He remains faithful. His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime.
Take time to exalt the Lord, sing to the Lord, and praise His holy name. We can thank the Lord for His faithfulness knowing at those times when trouble comes along we can cry for help because the One we love and worship will help us through the difficult times.

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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WORSHIP

Biblical definition of Worship:
Psalm 96:9 Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Character study:
Mary Magdalene – Matthew 27:56-61; 28:1-10; Mark 15:40-41 and 47; 16:1-11;
Luke 8:2; Luke 23:49; 55-56; 24:1-10; John 19:25; 20:1-2; 11-18
Not much is known about Mary Magdalene, only that she loved and served Jesus with a spirit of gratefulness.
Mark 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons. The most likely reason that her second name was Magdalene was that she was from “Magdala”, a fishing town on the coast of Galilee. This name also helps us distinguish her from the other Marys in the Bible.

Mary Magdalene is known for her:
Gratitude:
In Luke 8:2 we read that she was one of the women from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons.  After her deliverance, she became one of Jesus’ most loyal followers.
Devotion to Jesus:
We first read of her in Luke 8:2-3 when Jesus started His ministry. She was one of the women who supported Jesus and His disciples’ ministry with her own money.
Being at the Cross when Jesus was crucified:
John 19:25 She was there when Jesus was crucified.
Matthew 27:6 and Mark 15:47 We see her at the burial of Jesus.
She was the first one to see the risen Christ.
Mark 16:9-10 says that after Jesus had risen He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.
John 20:10-18 In this passage Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. At first, she did not recognize Jesus, but when He says her name she immediately recognizes Jesus and cries out “Rabboni” which is Hebrew for “Teacher.”

What the Bible teaches about worship:
Old Testament
True worship means that we must ascribe glory to God – in this way we genuinely praise the Lord.
In Exodus 20:2-6 we read that when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He instructed them not to have any other god but Him. In v5 God commands them to not bow down or worship any other god. God says that He is a jealous God who will not tolerate their affection for any other gods.
In 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 we see David giving true thanksgiving/worship:
vv8-22 He remembers what God has done;
vv23-30 he tells others about it;
vv31-33 even nature will proclaim God’s glory;
vv34-36 thankfulness, praise, honour and glory belong to God.
In the final chapter of Isaiah 66:1-24 titled “Judgment and Hope”(NIV) we read that:
v3 God will esteem the humble;
v16 judge all people;
v18 gather all nations and tongues to see His glory;
v22 establish the new heavens and the new earth.
Psalm 29:2 – we are to worship the LORD in the splendour of His holiness.
Psalm 95:6 – we are to bow down in worship; kneel before the LORD our maker.
Psalm 105:3 – we are to exult and rejoice when we worship the LORD.
In Daniel 3:1-30 we read about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who defied King Nebuchadnezzar by not worshipping an image of gold, set up by him on the plain of Dura.
God had warned Israel on countless occasions about worshipping false gods.
In Zephaniah 1:2-9 the prophet Zephaniah warns Israel about the “Day of Judgment” because they had followed pagan customs and participated in pagan worship ceremonies.

New Testament:
Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8 relates that when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness – he offered to give Jesus all the kingdoms in the world – Jesus told him that the only One we are to worship is “the Lord your God”
In Luke 24:1-53 we read about “The Resurrection” of Jesus vv1-12; He appears to two of them “On the Road to Emmaus” vv13-35;  “Jesus Appears to the Disciples” vv36-49; and “The Ascension”vv50 -53
v52 Then they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
John 4:4-26.Being tired from the journey Jesus sat down by Jacob’s well in Samaria and there meets a Samaritan woman who came to draw water. Speaking to Jesus she realizes that Jesus knows everything about her. When she questions Jesus about where to worship – on the plot of ground Jacob had given the Samaritans or in Jerusalem – Jesus replies that true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth!
Hebrews 9:11-25 says that Christ has become the “Perfect Sacrifice.”  Jesus Christ did this so that we can worship the living God. In the first covenant, the priest had to sprinkle the blood of an animal. According to the Law of Moses, everything was purified with blood, because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. In the New Covenant Christ died once and for all time as a sacrifice to take away our sins. When He comes again He will bring salvation to all who are waiting for His return.
Revelation 4:11 says true worship is to realize that only God should get our glory, honour and power.
Revelation 19:10 We read that in his vision of heaven John fell before the angel, but was told to “Worship only God.”

Application:
We are to present our bodies to God because of all He has done for us. This means that we lay aside our desires and follow Him.
Romans 12:1 We must put all our energy and resources at His disposal and trust only Him to guide us.
Romans 12:2 We must be vigilant and try to avoid worldly behaviour such as pride, selfishness and being arrogance. We must allow the Holy Spirit to renew, re-educate and redirect our minds to the things of God.
Isaiah 12:5 Make it a habit, to sing or listen to Gospel music whether you are at home, or driving a car. These days we can listen on our cell phones using earphones while walking or doing exercises.
Psalm 95:1-7 There are times when we can sing for joy; shout aloud; come before Him with thanksgiving; extol Him with music and song. Then there are times when we bow down in worship and kneel before our God. Both these types of worship are appropriate expressions of worship to God.

Conclusion:
John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. v24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 96:1-13 – Worldwide worship
How can we praise God? We sing a song; declare His glory among the nations; know that the LORD is worthy of our praise and He is to be feared above all gods. A day is coming when every knee shall bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Ask God to give you the confidence to witness spontaneously to others about His majesty, goodness and faithfulness towards all the peoples of the earth.

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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PRAISE

The biblical definition of Praise:
Psalm 150:1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. v2 Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. v3 Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, v4 praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, v5  praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. v6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Character Study;
Mary – Mother of Jesus: Luke 1:26-56. Her story is told throughout the Gospels and she is also mentioned in Acts 1:14

Mary, a virgin, lived in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. She was engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David. After being told by the angel Gabriel that she would conceive and give birth to a son, whom she is to call Jesus, she responded that she was the Lord’s servant. Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
A few days later she goes and visits Elizabeth who says to her: v45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil His promises to her!  Mary responds with “Mary’s Song of Praise” also called “The Magnificat” Luke 1:46-55
Mary was the mother of Jesus and the only human being who was with Him from birth to death.

Mary is known for her:
Humility
Luke 1:26-38  She did not argue with the angel, Gabriel, but accepted what he told her.
Faith
She did not doubt that what the angel had said would happen.
John 2:1-12 At Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine, she showed faith that He could do it.
Knowing the Scriptures
Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s Song of Praise is a song of joy and shows us how well she knew God. The song is filled with allusions to the Old Testament, which includes the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets.
Being a Good Mother
Luke 2:21-24 When Jesus was 8 days old; she took Him to the Temple to be dedicated.
Luke 2:42-51 She was concerned when at the age of 12 she could not find Jesus on their way back from Jerusalem. They went back to Jerusalem and found Him 3 days later in the Temple.
John 19:25 She was there when Jesus was crucified.
Acts 1:14 The last time we read about Mary.

What the Bible teaches about praise.
Old Testament:
After the people of Israel had escaped through the Red Sea and had seen the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before Him.
In Exodus 15:1-21 Moses and the Israelites sang a song of praise and deliverance to the LORD for leading them out of Egypt.
In v20-21 Miriam and the women joined him with tambourines and dancing.
In both 2 Samuel 22:1-51 and Psalm 18:1-50, David sang a song of praise to the LORD when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and the hand of Saul.
1 Chronicles 16:7-36 After the Ark of the Covenant was brought back to Jerusalem, David wrote a song of praise.
2 Chronicles 5:1-14 We read the account of King Solomon dedicating the Temple and bringing the Ark back to the Temple.
2 Chronicles 6:1-11 Solomon praises the LORD.
Psalm 117 This Psalm is the shortest chapter in the Bible. It shows that God loves “all the people of the world.”
We can praise God for His unlimited love and faithfulness toward us.
In Daniel 2:1-21 we read about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. When the king’s astrologers, magicians or enchanters were unable to reveal the meaning of the dream, Daniel went to see the king requesting more time to tell the king what the dream meant. On his way home he asks his friends to ask God to show them mercy by telling them the secret of the dream. That night the secret of the dream was revealed to Daniel in a vision. In v20 He praises the name of God.
In Daniel 4:34 even Nebuchadnezzar “praised and worshipped the Most High.”

New Testament:
Matthew 5:13-16 From the “Sermon on the Mount/Beatitudes.”  Jesus teaches about salt and light. We are to let our light shine so that people may see our good deeds and therefore praise our heavenly Father.
In Luke 2:8-20 we read that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, shepherds watched over their flocks at night. When an angel appeared to them giving them the good news of Jesus’ birth, a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel praising God. The shepherds hurried to go and see the baby and after seeing Him they left, spreading the word about the birth of Jesus. They returned to the fields, glorifying and praising God.
In Acts 2:1-47 on the day of Pentecost, after Peter had addressed the crowd, some believed his message and they were baptized.  About three thousand were added to their number that day. They met daily, breaking bread, praising God and enjoying the favour of the people.
Romans 15:1-13 In this passage Paul writes why the Messiah came; Jesus came to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises He made to their ancestors. In v9 he quotes from 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49 saying that Jesus also came so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy and sing praises to Him.
Ephesians 1:3-14 is about “Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ” v14b “To the praise of His glory.

Application:
The Book of Psalms can be used not only for prayer but also for praise. David and the other writers of psalms all expressed their fears and doubts; confessed their sins; asked God for help and would then praise and worship Him.
Psalm 35:1-28 says that when we praise the LORD we take the focus from ourselves and instead put it on, God. It brings us back to where we acknowledge that God is in control, not us because as our Creator and King, He is above all.
Psalm 103:1-22 gives us a list for which we can praise the LORD. Forgiveness of sins; healing our diseases; redeems our life; crowns us with love and compassion; satisfies our desires; gives us righteousness and justice. At those times when it feels like: “life is getting you down” read Psalm 103 and praise the LORD!

David introduced music into the Tabernacle and Temple services. As we can see from our Biblical definition of Psalm 150 the music must have been loud and joyous as evidenced by the list of instruments, and the presence of the choirs and song leaders.

When we feel that we are in a pit of despair and there is evil all around us, the best “medicine” is to praise the Lord. We learn this from Paul and Silas while they were in jail. Acts 16:16-40

Hebrews 13:1-16 There are times that our prayers are nothing but complaints about our circumstances or situations. We forget that God knows our hearts and He cares about our concerns. When we praise Him we focus on what He has done for us!

Conclusion:
Psalm 113:1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD you His servants; praise the name of the LORD. v2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 148:1-14 – Let all creation praise and worship the Lord.
In our prayers, we can respond by praising God for His holiness, mercy and justice; for His grace, goodness, kindness and salvation. Praise and worship usually go hand in hand. When there is praise on our lips, it usually overflows, so that we automatically worship the Lord in song.

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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LOVE

Biblical definitions of Love:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Character Study:
John – We read about the life of John throughout the Gospels, Acts and Revelation.
His father was Zebedee; his mother was Salome; his brother was James.
He wrote 5 New Testament books. The Gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; Revelation.
1 John 2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment – to love one another – is the same message you heard before. v8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. (NLT–New Living Translation)

John is known as:
The Beloved Disciple.
In the Gospel of:
1) John 13:23 he is “the disciple whom Jesus loved” reclining next to Jesus.
2) John 19:26 at the crucifixion of Jesus, was the disciple,” whom Jesus loved”, standing nearby Jesus’ mother.
3) John 20:2 when Mary Magdalene saw the empty tomb she ran to meet Simon Peter and the other disciple “the one Jesus loved.”
4) John 21:7 after Jesus’ resurrection when He appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee, it was John “the disciple whom Jesus loved” that recognized Jesus.
5) John 21:20 says that after Jesus had reinstated Peter, Peter turned around and saw “the disciple whom Jesus loved” following them.”
The Apostle of Love
In 1 John 4:7-21, he writes about loving one another. The word “love” is mentioned repeatedly – 27 times in this passage alone.
In 1 John 5:3, he gives us the definition of how to love God.
Other facts about him
John 1:35 He was one of John the Baptist’s disciples before following Jesus.
John 1:37 He was also one of the first to follow Jesus after overhearing John the Baptist talking about Jesus.
Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2 He was one of the 12 disciples and with Peter and James, one of the inner three that were closest to Jesus and was present at the Transfiguration
Matthew 26:36-38; Mark 14:32-34 He was with at the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was in deep agony being troubled and distressed and praying to His Father to “take away this cup of suffering.”
John 19:26-27 At the crucifixion Jesus saw John standing beside His mother Mary. Jesus knew John could be trusted, so He gave him the charge of His mother.
John 2:17 John studied and knew the Scriptures. Throughout his Gospel, he writes how certain Scriptures had been fulfilled by Jesus.
He was a man of prayer: Mount of Transfiguration – Luke 9:28; On the Mount of Olives – Mark 14:33;
He also went to the Temple to pray – Acts 3:1
John was banished to the island of Patmos and there he received a vision from Christ, which he recorded in the Book of Revelation.
Weaknesses
Mark 3:17 Jesus gave the brothers James and John the name Boanerges, which means “Sons of Thunder”
Mark 9:38 He seems to be intolerant when he told Jesus that they had stopped a man who had been driving out demons in Jesus’ name
Luke 9:51-55 The two brothers tended outbursts of selfishness and anger.
In Matthew 20:20-22 their mother asks Jesus, whether James and John could sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in heaven.
In Mark 10:35-37 the brothers’ requests are the same as their mother’s.

What the Bible teaches us about love.
Old Testament:
While the Israelites were in the desert, God gave them The Ten Commandments and various other laws. Leviticus 19:18 says that they were not to seek revenge but to love their neighbours as themselves.
Deuteronomy 11:1-32 In this passage Moses instructs the Israelites’ to love and obey the LORD.
Psalm 145:1-23 This Psalm of praise was written by David. There will come a day when people all over the world will worship God Almighty. David writes that God will lift us, because of His: v3 greatness; v4 mighty acts; v5 glorious splendour; v6 great deeds; v7 righteousness; v8 graciousness, richness in love; v9 compassion and in v20 he writes that the LORD watches over all who love Him.
Jeremiah 31:1-14 Jeremiah writes that there is hope for the restoration of the people of Israel and God’s love for them. In v3 he reminds them that God has always loved them with an everlasting love.

New Testament:
1. 1 John 4:16 God’s love for mankind.
2. Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God. Jesus said our most important responsibility in life is to love God.
3. Love your neighbour.
a) All the people of the world are our neighbours.
Luke 10:25-37 When Jesus was questioned by an expert in religious law about who our neighbour was,  Jesus, told him the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
b) Enemies are our neighbours too.
Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus teaches about loving enemies.
c) Sinners are our neighbours too.
John 8:3-11 Jesus forgives an adulterous woman.
4. Love is the greatest of the Spiritual Gifts.
In 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Paul defines real love.  v7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Even though all of us have different gifts, love is available to everyone.

Application:
How do we show love to others?
– The kind of love that we should show to one another is an “action” kind of love.
– Tell someone that you love them.
– Sometimes just listening to someone experiencing sorrow, loss, or going through a difficult situation, without volunteering any advice, can mean a lot to that person.
– Volunteer in church
– Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a stranger today.
– Visit someone lonely – at home or in a retirement centre.
– Add some of your ideas on how to show love to others.

Quote: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” (Anonymous)

Conclusion:
1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Responding in Prayer
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 – Love Is the Greatest.
This chapter defines real love. We can have great faith, we can offer sacrifices or have acts of dedication, and we can even have miracle-working power, but without love, it has little effect.
Ask the Lord to use your gifts and actions, and then you can show others, that with love it is available to everyone.

Journal – Scripture/Prayer/Thoughts:

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PRAYER

The Biblical definition of Prayer:

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Prayer defined in the Bible is:
1. A lifting up of our soul to God – Psalm 25:1: 143:8
2. Pouring out our heart to God – Psalm 62:8
3. A crying out to God – Psalm 86:3
4. Spiritual incense to God – Revelation 5:8
5. Coming before the throne of grace – Psalm 84:1-2; Hebrews 4:16
6. Prayer is a spiritual sacrifice and the fruit of our lips – Hebrews 13:15
7. Drawing close to God in friendship, fellowship and trust – James 4:8

Character Study
David – 1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2; Amos 6:5; Matthew 1:1&6; 22:43-45; Luke 1:32; Acts 13:22; Romans 1:3; Hebrews 11:32
His father was Jesse whose father was Obed; David was the great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth – Ruth 4:17-22
He was the youngest of eight sons – 1 Samuel 17:12;
The second and most beloved king in Israel’s history – 1 Chronicles 18:14
David offered a prayer of thanks – 2 Samuel 7:18-29 expresses his humble acceptance of who God is.
2 Samuel 7:28 Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. v29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing, the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
His hometown was Bethlehem, also called the “City of David.”

David is known as:
Shepherd, musician and armour bearer:
1 Samuel 16:11-23 He was anointed by Samuel as a young shepherd boy – this was done in secret: he was not publicly anointed until much later, to be the next king of Israel and he also served in Saul’s court as a musician and armour bearer.
Giant slayer:
1 Samuel 17:1-58 tells the story of David and Goliath. v19 says that Saul and all the men of Israel were fighting against the Philistines in the Valley of Elah. Vv41-51 describes how David fearlessly, trusting God to help him was able to kill Goliath with only a sling and a stone
His Humility:
In Psalm 86:1-17 we see David as a man of prayer, coming before God in humility. He had a devoted trust in God in times of deep trouble. He also had an unchangeable belief in the faithful and forgiving nature of God.
For God’s covenant with David and his descendants
2 Samuel 7:8-17 These were the key features of God’s continual protection of David and preserving his kingly line throughout history.
David was called “A man after God’s own heart.”
In 1 Samuel 13:1-14, Samuel rebukes Saul for being disobedient and tells him that God had “sought out a man after His own heart.  Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, He made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
Failures:
2 Samuel 11:1-27 shows that even though David was great, he sometimes stumbled and fell into sin.
He committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah murdered.
2 Samuel 12:1-25 Nathan the prophet rebuked him.
2 Samuel 13 – 18 tells us of the family problems David had.
Amnon and Tamar – Even though David was angry with his son Amnon, he did not
punish him.
His son Absalom incited the entire nation to rebellion and crowned himself king.
David was a great king and military leader, but he lacked skill and sensitivity when it came to being a father.
2 Samuel 24:1-25 tells us that David gave into pride by taking a census to glory in the strength of his nation.

What the Bible teaches about Prayer:

Old Testament:

In Exodus 15:22-27 Moses led the people of Israel from the Red Sea into the desert of Shur. After three days they started grumbling because they could not drink the water at Marah, as it was bitter. After Moses had cried out to the LORD, he was shown a piece of wood. Throwing it into the water, the water became sweet. It is interesting to note that Marah stands for “bitter” meaning the unbelieving, grumbling attitude of the people. After Marah, they came to Elim where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees meaning God’s bountiful provision.

1 Kings 18:16-39 In this passage we read how Elijah challenged the people to take a stand – he gave them the choice to either follow the 450 prophets of Baal or they can follow God. The prophets of Baal called on Baal’s name from morning until the evening sacrifice. There was no response, no one answered, and no one paid attention. Elijah then built an altar and drenched a bull and wood with water. Elijah prayed to God and his prayer was answered when the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the water in the trench.

There are many Psalms we can pray:
Psalm 3 – trusting God for protection and peace in times of trouble.
Psalm 13 – when we despair or have self-doubt, we can trust God even though He does not always answer us immediately
Psalm 23 – we all know this well-known Psalm which can be prayed in times of fear.
Psalm 51 – David prayed this Psalm after he had committed adultery and murder. Nathan the prophet came to him and rebuked him. Praying for mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing is still just as appropriate today.
Psalm 145 – we have the assurance that we can rely on God.

Jeremiah 29:12-14 In these verses Jeremiah reassures the people of Israel, who had been in exile in Babylon, that God had not forgotten His people. They still had the presence of God in their midst, the privilege to pray to Him and above all His grace.

New Testament:

Jesus teaches about prayer:
In Matthew 6:5-15 Jesus teaches about prayer.
In v5 praying in public;
v6 closet prayer;
v7 repetition;
v8 He reminds us that the Father knows what we need before we even ask Him;
vv9-13 The Lord’s Prayer;
vv14-15 forgiveness.
This teaching was for His disciples to use as a model to keep in mind when they prayed, but it also applies to us as believers in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:26 As a believer, there are times when it feels as if we are unable to “pray” about our problems. The most amazing thing is that at those times the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. He will intercede for us “according to God’s will.” All we have to do is to trust that God will always do what is in our best interest.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually. This verse is self-explanatory

Philippians 4:6-7 We all worry at one time or another. The wonderful thing is that we can take our worries in prayer to our Heavenly Father. It is so easy to pray and petition, but our prayers should also include thanksgiving. We so easily forget to thank the Lord for answered prayer!  v7 gives us the assurance that we will receive the “peace of God which transcends all understanding,” and to also know that God is in control.

Application
Prayer should be an integral part of our life. As we believe in Jesus and humble ourselves before Him, we are made holy. Psalm 99:5

We can use Jesus’ life as an application for prayer. Jesus’ ministry was characterized by prayer.
1. Jesus began His ministry by praying.
The Baptism of Jesus – Luke 3:21-22
2. Jesus prayed throughout His ministry
All night – Luke 6
Alone – Luke 9:18a
Before daybreak – Mark 1:35
3. Jesus always found time to pray.
Never too busy to pray – Luke 5:15-16

Charles H Spurgeon wrote: “Oh, my brothers and sisters, you will not do better after all, than to quote Scripture, especially in prayer! There are no prayers so good as those that are full of the Word of God! May all our speech be flavoured with texts?” – 1893, Sermon 2310

Conclusion
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Responding in Prayer
Read Psalm 116 – Talking to God.
In this Psalm David says that God bends down to hear our voices and our prayers for mercy. When we call on the LORD in our time of trouble and sorrow, we have the assurance that He is listening and will answer according to His will for our own good. He protects those of childlike faith. In response to God’s mercy we can worship Him with a thankful response and a grateful heart.

All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: