power of prayer

Pray On & Pray Through

/ Bob

In Luke 11 and Luke 18 we find two parables which Jesus told in order to encourage his followers to pray – to seek the Father in all things. We prepare for every eventuality and yet so many times our plans fail. God is there waiting for us to turn to him. When we have wasted our resources, God is there waiting for us to turn to him. Even in those times when you declare with the defiant fortitude of a two year old, “I Got This,” He is still there ready to help you pick up the pieces when you realize you got nuthin’.

God is way more gracious than the grumpy neighbor of Luke 11 and way more kind than the unjust judge of Luke 18. If we would learn to ask, seek, and knock as He tells us to do in Luke 11:9-10 and keep on going to Him – not as a last resort when everything has blown up in our face – but always. We should go to Him first to find grace and help in our time of need. He knows what we need before we even ask Him. He just wants us to ask. If you’ve been a parent you know how you long for your kids to come to you when they need help. That’s what our Father wants us to do – go to Him in prayer.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, October 13, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 10.13.2024 – Pray On and Pray Through – Luke 11.5-13Download

What You Say and What You Do – James 5:12-10

/ Bob

At the end of the book of James we find some timely advice on what we say and what we do in relation to our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as on what we say and do in prayer.

Verse 12 speaks to our integrity in what we say. We shouldn’t have to swear to something or take an oath to support what we say or to prove that our word is good. Our word should stand on its own. Our word should be as good as gold. Our yes should be yes and our no should be no.

In prayer we should submit to God. James has already told us why we don’t get what we pray for in James 4:3. But it goes deeper. Praying for healing is something the church must do. Prayer offered in faith will bring healing. The prayer of faith offered up by the righteous is powerful – as powerful as that of Elijah the prophet.

Finally, in loving our fellow believers, we must be mindful of those who are struggling in their faith. As we read in Galatians 6 we who spiritual are to assist those who have wandered from the faith, remembering that next time it might be us who will be in need of assistance.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 19, 2023. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james-study-guide/ .

Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

X – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

class-notes-11.192023-james-5.12-20-what-you-say-and-what-you-sayDownload