More On ABC Method Of Bible Study

Write Down Your Observations

   It has been a long long time since I last posted in this blog.
   When I go look at the statistics of this blog I note that the ABC method is still being read. So I have decided to help you some.
     As I may have mention this is a good way to study the Bible for small groups or even discipleship.
     As you recall, you are doing a small analytical study method. It is not a full analysis in the sense of using a concordance, a Bible dictionary, a commentary.
    You don't use them with this method. You are allowed to consult them after you have done your study if you should desire.
    Let us say you are doing this for a small group. You gather together and decide on the passage you will be studying. For example you should perhaps use 1John and take no more than ten verses-- maybe less.
    All of you can use a notebook to jot down your observations. These observations will form your discussion when you meet and share together what you have learned.
    You read the passage over three times. You next paraphrase what you have read. This is where asking what is there?, who is speaking?, to whom is it being addressed?, What is being taught? and so on.
    Next step is to note other passages that may be useful in   understanding what is being said ( You could jot down questions to yourself that you may need to  explore later or in group)
    You will noticed in your reading that there is a verse that jumps out at you. Jot this down and memorize it.
     Then there is the application or what you are going to do with what you have discovered using this study method.
    You can notice that this is why I say it is good for a small group. Or you can use it for your own discipleship.
   

Am I Praying Correctly?- Posting Three

Open My eyes That I may See

  Often we are praying, or attempting to pray, and we wonder, is there anyone there?
   Does anyone receive our prayers?  That is very important to know. Does someone really care, other than ourselves?
   Hebrews 11:6 states that ...for those who come to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. And seeking is active and expectant .
    Prayer doesn't have to always be because of need. Prayer is a normal conversation between a parent and a child.
     Remember, I posted earlier that it is a family deal. You have been adopted by God if you have a relationship with Him. Children ask their parents, in this case, Father, for things. The father listens because you are his child. They hear you in a different manner than the person who is not his kid. He doesn't have to hear and answer the neighbor's kid. He has a special link with you that he doesn't have with the other child.
     Also he doesn't have to answer you if you are not asking according to His will.
     Where is this will found?
      In  the Bible.
      That is also why I say you should pray before reading the daily Bible section. "Show me what you have today for me"
       And the prayer doesn't have to be a set written prayer. It is better if it comes from your heart in your own words.
      You could use others prayers as examples, sure, but this is your need not the others.
       Feel free to express your self to God. He wants to hear from you.
      

Prayer's Pipe Line

Open The Pipeline

   Maybe I handled this issue earlier in a post a few months ago. This is the issue of prayer getting to the throne of God to be answered.
   Of course we know that God hears the prayers of most everyone. Maybe not the muslim who is deep in his belief system. Not the Jehovah's Witness. Not the Mormon. Not the person who has no connection to God through the new birth.
    Sin blocks our prayers from getting to heaven to the throne room. Sin has to be removed or the prayer just hits the blockage and like a pool ball goes elsewhere. But not to God.
     The death of Jesus on the cross and the resurrection three days later and the ascension opened up the pipe line of prayer. Now it was possible for the prayer of a child of God to get to heaven, to the throne room ,and be heard.
   The connection was now there for the prayer to go up and the answer to come down.
    That is prayer's pipe line. Nothing we can do to keep it open. That is one of the gifts of God granted freely to His people.
    Of course on our end we need to keep confessing so that we can be assured of being heard and assured of getting an answer.. But we have nothing to do with the pipeline. That is already set. When we confess it is like using a Drano solution to keep the pipe clear.

Let Us Discuss Prayer

    So now let me look at the one right we have. I call it the believer's privilege. That is the one weapon beside the Bible that we have. It is prayer.
    Prayer has a power, so I have been told. Things can happen because a Christian prays.
    Let me define Christian. A Christian is a person who has a relationship with God because he has acknowledged he is a sinner and that Jesus died and rose again for him. Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and you shall have a relationship with Him.
    And you are given a weapon called prayer. Not only a weapon but a way to talk to God. Just as a child talks to his father, so we talk to God by prayer. And if we pray right we shall receive what we request.
    It seem most of the time.  The request must be in accordance with what God sees is best for you to  have at that point in your life.
    I am also coming to undertand we must be on praying ground. As I see it praying ground is not having sin blocking the passge way. That is why we confess our sins to cler out the passage way.
   And the passage way has been set up by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So we all have praying ground. God himself has provided the ground.
   God sees us sinless. So the ground is always open on His end.
    When  can I pray? Always. The ground is open. If you have confessed all the sin you know of, you have the assurance that the way os lear. God sees it clear at all times. The blockage is on
our side if there is blockage.
     Please feel free to leave your comments.