Golden Bells #410 - Prayer by Bible Class

Golden Bells

#410

Prayer

Memory Verse You have not, because you ask not - James 4:2.

Claire’s Column Hello to you all again!

Here we are back with #410 to learn all about prayer. Let’s start at the very beginning.

Q: What is A: Prayer is talking Prayer? to God Now that is simple. But there is a little bit more to know before you get started… Talking to God is not like talking to your friend or brother or sister or even to your mum and dad. You can’t just talk however you like to God – you can’t just say whatever you want to say. Why not? Because God is

Matthew asks: How should I pray?

Claire Golden Bells PO Box 1463 Sunnybank Hills QLD 4109 not one of us, He is greater, higher, mightier and completely different. God is God. In this issue, we are going to find out from God Himself how we should pray. God tells us in the Bible how He wants us to speak and what he wants to hear us say. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray. So let’s start our study just like the disciples who said, ‘Lord teach us to pray’ and we will learn to pray prayers that God is pleased to hear and certain to answer.

A People in the Bible prayed standing, kneeling and even flat on their face. It doesn’t matter how you pray. Claire’s tips: Closing your eyes is good to help you concentrate. Folding your hands is good to stop them fidgeting. Kneeling down can show that you know God is greater than you and you are praying to worship Him.

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Prayer #410

swers prayers, an od G ys sa le ib B e Th . I know that this is true answer ‘Yes’, We wish He’d always , too. But ‘No’ is an answer hy my days I sometimes wonder w ned. Don’t go the way I plan en be, But one day, I’ll in heav nd. And then I’ll understa

Harry asks: Why does God say ‘no’?

A Q If it doesn’t seem that God is answering your prayer, then stop and think...

1 About Yourself Have you done anything to make God sad? Have you disobeyed anything in His word, the Bible? Have you forgiven the people who were nasty to you?

The Bible tells us to fix these things up before we come and speak to God.

2 About God

God knows everything and is very wise. He will always give us what is best for us. His answers are perfect, whether they be ‘yes,’ ‘no’ or ‘wait.’

A Shannalee You can pray anywhere at all. But remember, asks: Where prayer is just between two people - you and God. Jesus says should I it is good to go to a secret place, somewhere where you can be alone to talk with God. pray?

Kids Story One day, both men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood up where everybody around could see Him. He looked up towards heaven and said in a very loud voice…

here were once 2 men. They lived very near to each other. They went to the same shopping centre to buy their groceries and to the same doctor when they got sick and needed medicine. They even went to the same Temple (a temple is a bit like a church where people go to pray and worship God). But although they had a lot of things in common, they were actually very different.

‘God I thank you that I am not like other people – bad, naughty, wicked and sinful. I do not lie. I do not steal. I am very good and holy. I give money to poor people and I pray a lot.’

The first man was a Pharisee (a Pharisee is a religious leader a little bit like a priest). He went to the temple every single day! He tried to do all sorts of good and right things like giving money to poor people. He was very proud of himself and thought that he was probably one of the best people in the city. He felt sure God was very pleased with Him. The second man was a Tax Collector (a Tax Collector is a person who collects money off people to give to the government). This man didn’t have any friends. Nobody liked him because he was mean and took too much money off them. He even took money off the poorest people. And do you know something terrible… He didn’t give all of the money to the King, He kept some of it for himself!

The Pharisee’s prayer didn’t go up to God in heaven. It got no further than the roof! Actually he was only praying with himself. God did not want to hear him boast about himself es-

Two men. Two prayers. Two answers. The Tax Collector was over in the corner of the temple on his knees with his head bowed down. He knew he was not always good and he was sorry for his sin. He did not dare to look up into heaven. Instead the Tax Collector was hitting his chest and praying… ‘Lord be merciful to me the sinner’.

a sinner and needed God’s forgiveness. The Tax Collector only said a short prayer but it went right up to God in heaven. He knew he was a sinner and needed God’s forgiveness. God heard him and answered his prayer. God forgave his sins just like he asked. God Justified the Tax Collector. (Justified means to be made right with and accepted by God). When the Pharisee left the temple he was not changed at all. He was exactly the same as before. When the Tax Collector left the temple he was a totally different man. Happy and forgiven because God had heard his prayer and changed him.

LORD BE MERCIFUL TO ME THE SINNER

pecially about how good he thought he was. God was not impressed by his good works. In his long, long prayer, the Pharisee did not realize the most important thing of all – that he was

This is one of the most important prayers in the Bible. God wants to hear every person in the world pray like the tax collector. You must realise that you are a sinner and ask God to show you mercy. God will hold back the punishment you deserve for your sins and show you kindness instead. He will make you righteous. This is what being saved really means.

...Study Guide

The

Lord’s

Prayer ---

Hallowed means holy. God is pure an righteous. God is light and in Him i darkness. He is separate and comple different to us. In this prayer you ar acknowledging this and praying th the whole world will recognise the na of God.

Our Father who

1 Hallowed be 2 Thy Kingdo

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s We g n i h T 6 y For a r P d l Shou --

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3 Thy will be done o

in Hea

If you are a Christian should fir you st be interest in God. He e d must be th e most important person in y our life. He has bec ome your heavenly Fathe r and you have a living rela tionship w it h You now h ave interes Him. Things ts in things out side of this world. God wants about us are you to pra y about His work, His glory second and His honour.

4 Give us this day o And forgive us o 5 forgive those who not into 6 Lead usdeliver us f

For Thine is the power and the glo ever. Am

Christians must take sin v seriously. Sin saddens God and ruins Give us today the food that we need daily enjoyment of the relationship we h for today. Always depend on God for with Him. You must confess your sins re your food and everything you need. larly. In this prayer you are asking God Whether you have lots or just a little forgive you in the same way that you forg bit, realise it came from God. Don’t people who sin against you. It is only natu take it for granted - give Him thanks. for Christians who have known God’s forg ness to freely forgive other people.

nd is no etelly re hat ame

o is in heaven Thy name

om Come

on earth as it is aven

our daily bread

our sins as we o sin against us

The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God. By praying this prayer, you are firstly asking God to rule in your heart by being your king and helping you keep His laws. Secondly, you are praying for the whole world and looking forward to a day in the future when every single person will bow to God’s authority, His rule and His reign.

Things about God go first

temptation but from evil

Kingdom, the ory, forever and men.

very our have egud to give ural give-

Jesus says ‘If you forgive people their sins, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive people their sins, neither will your Father forgive your sins’ (Matt 6v14-15).

Because Satan is ruling, the earth is a place where people rebel against God. In heaven however, every one is very busy serving God and doing His w ill. In this prayer you ar e asking that what is going on in heaven may also happen here on eart h.

The Lord Je sus tells u s to pray for the thin gs we need (not the things we want). Sometimes we t hink we n e ed a lot of things from God. Actually, these three reque s ts cover all our bas ic needs fo r living.

Only serious Christians will make this request. Christians who know how dreadful sin is and does not want to displease their Heavenly Father or bring Him sorrow. We have a great enemy called Satan – we are in an evil world and we have a weak sinful nature. There are many things to tempt us and it is easy for us to sin! This request is that God would control your day so that in every situation, you will not be caused to fall.

Prayer’s Secret!

Your ly n e v a e H .. Fath- e- r-. - - ----

Are you one of G od’s children? The listen to this wonderful secret … The God who m ade the universe and controls it, who is higher an d greater than ev erything else is your Heavenly Father. When you were saved, God adop ted you into His own family and m ade you His own child. Your Heavenly Father is aliv e and real. He kn ows all about you, is interested in you, loves to he ar from you and wants to bless yo u. Next time you co me to pray, say ‘O ur Father who is in heaven…’ don’ t rush… close yo ur eyes… realize that you are spea king to God. This is the greatest thing that you ca n do.

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> Disclaimer

en this not saved, th *** If you are . rs u t be yo secret canno know God. # You do not r. heavenly Fathe God. # You have no ith w n connectio no ve ha ou #Y g barrier that instead is a bi ve ier is ha u yo t Wha God. The barr to u yo om fr iven and blocks the way your sins forg ve ha t us m secret of your sin. You know the real n ca u yo re removed befo prayer.

Cut out activity pages along this line

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How many doves can you find? Colour the fishing boat brown and green Circle the group of six sheep

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Circle two people doing kind things Put an X over the old lady with a walking stick Put a heart around the child playing an instrument

True or False?

Harder

Hardest

Start at the bottom to see how high you can climb the true or false ladder

Find it in the Bible Mistreating your wife hinders your prayers [1Pet 3:7] Paul and Timothy prayed in jail [Acts 16:25] We should pray for our enemies [Matthew 5:44] We are to pray without ceasing [Thess 5:17] God is more likely to hear you if you repeat yourself over and over again [Matthew 6:7-8] The Church forgot to pray for Peter while he was in prison [Acts 12:5] It is good to pray in a private place [Matthew 6:5-6] Elijah prayed that it would not rain [James 5:17]

Easy

Find it in the mag Christians pray to God as their heavenly Father Sometimes God says no to our prayers God wants us to tell Him how good we are We should pray for our own needs first and foremost We can talk to God the same way we talk to friends

Easiest

Find it in your head Sometimes God is too busy to answer prayer God only hears people when they kneel down God can hear more than one person praying at a time Jesus never prayed God answers prayer

If You Scored... You Will Earn... Activities P2

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Hannahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prayer

Draw your own pictures to match the story of Hannah

Hannah was sad because she had no children

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Hannah prayed to God for a son. She prayed silently with the tears rolling down her cheeks.

God gave Hannah a son. They called him Samuel.

Hannah took Samuel to live in the temple where he could serve God for the rest of his life.

Read the story in 1 Samuel 1

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The Back Page Prayer Match-Ups

Draw a line between the passage, the person and the prayer Delays Daniel 2:23 Moses Show me Thy glory. As of July 2007 it is now our aim to produce Golden BellsDaniel approximately (6-8inisLuke 22:42 My bi-monthly heart rejoices the Lord, sues per year). We apologise that release dates my horn is exalted in the Lord. I seem to be a little haphazzard of my late.enemies Unfortu-because I smile at nately, as Golden Bells isrejoice produced entirely on in you. volunteer time, we work as time is available. 1 Samuel 2:1 Solomon I thank You and praise You O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might. Exodus 33:17-18

Jesus

Not my will but Thine be done.

Matthew 14:29-30 Peter

Lord God of Israel, there is no God In heaven or in earth like You.

2 Chron 6:12-14

Lord save me.

Hannah

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1 Thing I Learnt About Prayer...

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mail@goldenbellsmag.com.au

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