- Jesus pointed to fathers who help their children (Matthew 7:11). If you are a parent, how do you try to be wise in the way you answer requests from your children?
- What was God’s answer to Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane? (Matthew 26:39)
- What was Paul’s attitude when his thorn in the flesh was not taken away? (2 Corinthians 12:9)
- What do you think of the course’s statement, “In true prayer, we either receive what we specifically request or something far better”?
- Why can we “give thanks in all circumstances”? (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)
- Why would certain scribes receive “the greater condemnation” (Mark 12:38-40).
- What decisive action will you take now, as a result of this lesson?
EXTRA REFERENCES AND NOTES
Suppose that, for your own purposes, you want to look up other Scriptures related to this lesson. In that case, you may wish to start with the topics Confession of Sins, Thoughtful and Providence along with the topics mentioned at the end of the previous lesson, Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Surrendered 1.
Confession of Sins OT Confession was integral to sacrifice and worship Leviticus 5:4-6; 16:21; 26:40-42; Numbers 5:7; 21:7 cf. 2 Samuel 12:13; 24:10; Psalm 28:13; 32:5; 38:18; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 10:23-24; 14:7-22; Daniel 10:12; Jonah 1:14; 3:5-10. Confessions quoted at length include Psalm 51:1-19; Ezra 9:5-10:14; Nehemiah 1:4-11; 9:2-38; Daniel 9:4-20. God demanded sincerity and consistency Judges 2:18-20; 3:9, 15; 4:3; 6:6-10; 10:10-16 cf. Job 16:17-19; Psalm 7:8; 17:3; 24:3-6; 66:8-20; Proverbs 15:8, 29; Jeremiah 3:10; Hosea 7:14. NT Confession at conversion Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:5; Acts 19:18. Confession as a Christian James 5:16; 1 John 1:9 cf. Acts 8:22.
Thoughtful Where is the sin in meaningless repetition? It treats God as impersonal and unreal. Imagine a friend who never changes what he says to you. His sterile manner implies that you are not worth even the little thought that normal relationships need. OT Malachi drew a similar picture. The Jews were bringing their worst animals for sacrifice. God challenged them: “When you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor?” Malachi 1:8. We owe our very existence—including our capacity to think and to feel—to our Creator. When we come before Him, can we hardly rouse our thinking and feelings enough to use them? Do we treat Him as we’d never dare to treat our bosses and friends? Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 warns against approaching heaven’s King without proper thought and care. “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God…. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few” Ecclesiastes 5:1-2. NT “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers” 1 Peter 4:7. Prayer is with mind and spirit Romans 1:9-10; 1 Corinthians 14:15, in purity of heart 2 Timothy 2:22 cf. 1 Timothy 2:8.
Providence If Jacob prayed for the safety of his favorite son, Joseph, he may have felt that God had failed to answer. All available evidence pointed to Joseph’s death Genesis 37:33. Sorrow burdened Jacob’s soul for years. From his limited perspective, Jacob had no way to see the larger picture. God was keeping the boy safe! Earlier prayers for the boy were being answered! In fact, God was going one better. As Joseph himself later explained to his guilty brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God” Genesis 45:7-8 cf. 50:20. In the same way, if Joseph prayed for freedom, answers often seemed negative. Yet God used every disadvantage to the ultimate advantage of Joseph and His chosen people. From our tiny peep-hole on the universe we sometimes wonder if God is still in control. Does He still care? Does He answer our prayers? We ask such questions because our vision is so limited. If we could glimpse the bigger picture, we would acknowledge with the comforted Jacob that God “has been my shepherd all my life long to this day” Genesis 48:15. That was toward the end of Jacob’s life. Do we have to wait so long? We experience set-backs, problems and trials. These need not cast doubt on God’s faithfulness. Rather, they test our faithfulness Deuteronomy 8:2, 16;13:3; 2 Chronicles 32:31; 1 Peter 4:12. When taken in faith, these tests become tools that purify and strengthen us James 1:2-3; 2 Peter 1:6-7; Romans 5:3-4. If, in our own Gethsemane, God seems to answer “No,” it is because God has far greater blessings in mind. Always, His purpose is “to do you good in the end” Deuteronomy 8:16; cf. Deuteronomy 6:24; 10:13; Romans 8:28.