Quiet Times Search

Summary

The Lord promised Abram an heir and many descendants. Abram believed. He was told that they would be enslaved but would then return.

Observations

Genesis 15:6 - Abram believed the LORD ... credited it to him as righteousness
Even though Abram had no kids for a long period of time, he believed the Lord would provide. He had this prayer for a long time - many, many days he prayed. But nothing. He he came face to face with God, He told him a son was coming and his descendants would be as many as stars in the sky. Abram chose to believe and his faith was credited to him as righteousness. How long do we pray before giving up?

Genesis 15:14 - I will punish the nation they serve as slaves
At the beginning of the chapter, God said he was Abram's shield [Genesis 15:1]. Here he expands on his promise - in the future, he will punish the Egyptians for making his people to become slaves. God will protect us. The judgement of our enemies might not come on our timetable, but it will come. We need to patient and be still, the Lord will fight for you [Exodus 14:14]

Personal Application

Sometimes I believe that perseverance is my strength but as I look at my prayers for the desires of my heart, I give up way easily. "But it has not happened in 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years" - I say. Abram waited until he was 100 years for his son to be born.

1. What was David feeling as he prayed to God? Why?
2. How has the Lord treated you with undeserved honor and blessings?
3. How did God bless Israel?
4. How has he done even greater things for his people today?
5. What attitude toward God does this prayer express?

1. Why do you think the Lord answers this prayer so quickly?
2. The servant's prayer was simple, but he had great faith. How can you tell?
3. What was the servant's first response to the answered prayer?
4. Are you remembering to thank God for every answered prayer?

1. What makes prayer powerful and effective?
2. Do you pray eagerly and earnestly?
3. Do you pray with great faith? Have you been righteous this week?

• Who do you serve?
• Do you serve those who are struggling in their faith?
• Do you feel opposed at everything you try to do?
• Could it be God opposing your pride? James 4:6 Is God simply trying to teach you humility and trust?
• What simple thing can you do to serve someone today? Whether they are in the church or not.

• What are some of the greatest things that you have ever done in your life?
• What great things do you dream about doing now?
• What "greater things" are you going to do this year?

• Look at how God has overcome my shortcomings to help me grow.
• Build trust in God today by sharing a victory with a friend.

We must totally aware of our own unworthiness

It took a while, but Job finally understood this: "My ears heard you but now my eyes...and repent in dust and ashes" - Job 42:5-6

This is the reaction we should have when sinful selfs meets a pure, holy and prefect God

David understood our unworthiness: "But who I am... Everything comes from you" - 1 Chonicles 29:14-15

Solomon aware of his own afflicions, asked God to hear men's prayers - 1 Kings 8:38

Jesus warned that we need to be careful to not be proud based off anything we have or done - Revelations 3:17
But to have the attitude of the tax collect who prayed "Have mercy on me, a sinner " - Luke 18:13

Our good deeds or possessions in no way make worthly of coming in the presence of the holy one

When we pray, let us give God the respect he deserves

A holy God requires us to be righteous

• David cried out to God and praised him but he cherished sin in his heart and God did not listen - Psalms 66:16-20
• Israelites tried to attack Ai, but they failed because God did not bless because Achan took some devoted things - Joshua 7:1-5
  • Joshua fell face down before God
  • God explained why they were not being blessed and that they need to destory the devoted things
• People prayed during the three year famine - 2 Samuel
  • God responded that the Israelites had violated their pledge of putting the Gibeonites to death
  • God expected them to keep their word even through it was made hundreds of years eariler in Joshua 9
  • David made admens and God did ended the famine - 2 Samuel 21:4

All the prayer in the world will not get through to God if it is not uttered from a pure heart

Jesus wanted his disciples to remember where they were headed
Heaven thinking changes the way we feel and the way we pray

When Jesus prayed, heaven was in his mind
Even when the disciples recjoiced in the victories God had given them, Jesus reminded them what was most important was their names were written in heaven - Luke 10:17-20
Their final destination was more important than their day to day victories and defeats

We are being transformed into Jesus' likeness - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
But when he appears and takes us to heaven, "we shall be like him" - 1 John 3:2
When we get to heaven, we will be in fellowship with God forever
On earth, we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror - 1 Corinthians 13:12

Pictures of the fellowship of heaven, not like being there:

• Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets will be there on Judgement Day - Luke 13:28-29
• It will be like a feast, people from everywhere in attendance
• Be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - Hebrews 12:1
• Peter, James and John had a taste with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah - Matthew 17

In this world we get to be with ones we love and respect, in heaven it will be great fellowship and unending

WHo is he who will devote himself to be close to me? - Jeremiah 30:21

God looks for people who will devote themselves to being close to him
Some of the greatest men of the Bible were described as God's friends

• Enoch - walked with God for 300 years before took him away - Genesis 5:22-24
• Noah walked with God - Genesis 6:9
• Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend - Exodus 33:11
• Abramham was God's friend - James 2:23
• Daniel was God's friend from the first time he prayed - Daniel 10:12
• Solomon prayed that his words would near to God day and night - 1 Kings 8:59
  • And God answered him - 1 Kings 9:3

Nehemiah had an intimate friendship with God:

• Referred to God's convenant of love - Nehemiah 1:5
• He pleaed for God to hear him - Nehemiah 1:6
• Had personal confession of sin - Nehemiah 1:6-7
• He reminded God of his great deeds - Nehemiah 1:8-10
• He appealed to God - Nehemiah 1:11

 Luke 1:13 - Your prayer has been heard

A priest’s intercession for the nation undoubtedly included a petition for the Messiah, Israel’s promised Deliverer and King.

The Creator and Sustainer of the universe was ready to answer a prayer that had been prayed for hundreds of years, but He purposely chose a man who could pray an old prayer with a fresh heart.

The prayer at that exact moment may not have been for a son.
Perhaps he remembered Abraham and Sarah, and he knew God could do the impossible.

Zechariah could not possibly have known was how intimately connected would be his corporate prayer for the Messiah and his personal prayer for a son.

Not becoming hopeless over a repetitious request can be terribly challenging.
God does not have some limited supply of power, requiring that we carefully select a few choice things to pray about.
God was simply waiting for the perfect time.

We need to continue to walk faithfully with God even though you are disappointed.
Recognizing all the other works God is doing in your life will prevent discouragement

Zechariah waited a long time for God’s answer, but when it came, it exceeded everything the priest could have thought or asked.

Can you even imagine being told in advance of your child’s conception that he or she would bring joy and delight to you and be great in the sight of the Lord?
We breathe a huge sigh of relief over a sonogram showing all the right appendages. What we’d give for a few guarantees about their character!

Summary

Eliezer met Rebekah by the well exactly as he had prayed.

Observations

Genesis 24:12 - Please give me success today
So much of our success or failure can depend on our willingness to pray. Eliezer [Genesis 15:2] learned to pray to the "God of my master" and to have a dependant faith via Abraham. What are the people around learning from our prayer life and faith? Do we ask God for guidance before our important and not so important ventures?

Genesis 24:14 - This is how I will know; "I will water your camels too"
Abraham's servant prayed in great detail for Issac's wife to show herself. Hospitality standards of the time was to offer a drink to weary travelers but not to the animals. He did not ask for a certain number of ear rings and braclets (beauty) as a sign of Isaac's future wife but rather for woman great inner beauty. For Rebekah, this second mile offer to provide water for the ten camels, would be no easy feat. A camel can drink up to 30 gallons at a time. After just finishing the journey of 450 miles and two weeks, the camels probably drank pretty close to that amount. How many trips to the well would that have been for Rebekah? 10 camels x 30 gallons = 300 gallons;  1 gallon = 8.2 lbs; Maybe she could carry 40 lbs; 40lb / 8 = 5 gallons per trip; 300 gallons / 5 gallons per trip is about 60 trips.

Genesis 24:15 - Before he finished praying
God knows what we need, we just need to ask for it. Eliezer received an exact and immediate answer. He was left to watch in silience [Genesis 24:21] (possibly shocked) as God answered his prayer exacly as he prayed. When we pray according to His will, he will answer and bless us beyond what we have imagined. Rebekah not only provided water for his animals but she did with kindness and with servant heart. Not only did she provide some water for the camels but enough water until they were finish.  God also answered by blessing the servant with other attributes of Isssc soon-to-wife. The Bible also describes her a very beautiful phyiscally, old enough to marry, and a virgin.

Application

I do not have the dependant prayer I need to have. I have many failures because I depend on myself and do not ask God.

Cornelius

He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God - Acts 10:1-2

Cornelius was a busy captain of a Roman regiment and head of his family

God honored Cornelius' generousity and Lord sent an angel - your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God - Acts 10:4

He became the first Gentile covert to Christ

When you give generously to those in need, you put yourself in a position to receive good things from God

They realized this work had been donw with the help of our God - Nehemiah 6:16

Nothing keeps a man's feet on the ground like remembering that everying blessing he has comes from the hand of God

Nehemiah understood the importance of giving God the credit in all things

Order of events:

1. Nehemiah learned of the city's wall condition
2. He sprang into action
3. He surveyed the problem
4. Prayed about it
5. Came up with a plan to rebuild the walls
6. Reconstructed he the wall in 52 days

Nehemiah knew when he gave God the credit that the swiftness of the rebuilding project would be a warning to Jeruslem's enemies

There is no self-made men - only men who recognize the God who made them

What good thing is God doing in your life right now? Have you given him the credit?

Yet I want your will to be done, not mine - Mark 14:36

We sometime have a difficult time with the idea of a loving God when we go through difficult times

A life of without suffering is prefered and you will would probably do anything you could to avoid it

Even as Jesus prayed for relief, he remained completely and single-mindedly submitted to his Father's will

At the moment of truth, he was willing to go through with the appointment God had made for him

Nothing tests your submission to God's will and plans like adversity

Jesus returned and found the disciples sleeping - Mark 14:37

He knew their weaknesses

Jesus told his disciples eariler that evening that they would all abadon him

As Jesus prayed in the garden that night, Peter fell fast asleep leaving him defenseless against the coming temptation

The big fisherman failed Jesus miserably because he relied on his own strength and courage

When you remain prayerfully on alert for those temptations, God can give you the strength and wisdom you need

Publius' father was ill; Pual went in and prayed for him and laying hands on him, he was healed - Acts 28:7-8

Paul was in a place where he could have used some rest and relaxation

He travel to Rome but became shiprecked at Malta - a beautiful place which remains a popular tourist destination today

You would think Paul might have taken a break during this opportunity but his commitment motivated him to make best use every moment God gave thim

Paul did the same thing he did on his previous missionary journeys:

• Healed the sick
• Preach the Word of God
• Planted seeds of faith

Make the best use of every moment God gives you, whatever your situation

From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin - Ezra 9:7

People usually follow an example than any amount of talking

If you want people to do what is good and right, do those things yourself

Ezra led the second wave of Jewish exiles to their homeland after 70 years of capivity

They started living like pagans they had married - Ezra 9:1

Ezra was innocent of any wrongdoing and could have let God deal with them as they deserved

Instead, Ezra prayed in repentance on behalf of all the people and included himself

His repentance by example move his people to change their ways

Issac's wife was unable to have children and the Lord answered his prayer with twins - Genesis 25:21

In those days, a married couple without children for a long period of time was considered to have shameful lot

Would he give up? Would he father a child with another woman? Would a child come when they were old?

His heart was set on something and he got on his knees and prayed

God delivered not only once but twice

It took 20 years but Issac recived God's blessing in God's way

For days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to God of heaven - Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah learned the dilapidated walls around Jerusalem had left the Jewish residents vulnerable to attack

What did he do? Nothing but talk to God about the crisis

He offered the kind of prayer that GOd delights in answering:

1. He praised and worshiped God
2. Confessed his sins and the sins of his people
3. He thanked God for all things
4. He made his requests know

Nehemiah didn't rush into the task before first pleading for God's favor - Nehemiah 1:5-11

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord gave him twice as much as before - John 42:10

As Job's painful story draws to a close, he faces a choice: how to handle his friends offering nothing but accusations and condemnation?

They basically said - If you are suffering like this, it must be because your sin has angered God

Most of us shrink from those who attack us.

Not Job:

• Job did not hold a gruge or complain to God about them
• Job prayed for them
• Job blessed those who had accused him and God blessed him in return - Job 42:10

Job took the high road and refused to hold grudges, he took an even higher road when he prayed for them

He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord - 2 Kings 4:33

Elisha had sent his assistant Gehazi ahead to try to raise the boy from the dead, but he had failed

Asfter Elisha took over, the boy's mother was carrying her living son out of the bedroom

What made the difference? Not:

• Elisha was a prophet
• Gehazi was Elisha servant

The difference was Elisha turned to God through prayer and consistently communicated with God before he acted