Lord God, I just come before You tonight with a song 
in my heart and praise for You. You are so wonderful
Father and I thank You for Your Love, Your Grace, 
Your Mercy ...without You in my life Father
 
I would be lost. You Oh Lord are my Hope, my Strength
and my Source for Everything!! Oh Bless the Lord O my
soul and ALL that is within me!! I Exalt Thee O Lord
and give You all the Praise, Glory, Honor and Power.

Blessed Be Our Lord and King!! Thank You, Father for
the opportunity to gather together in this place in Your
Name, we ask that You would bless this place and all 
who enter. Give us wisdom and understanding of Your Word
tonight. Father that we would have eyes to see, ears to hear
and hearts that are open and ready to receive the precious 
gift of Your truth. For You ARE the Way, the Truth, and 
the Life.
FIll us with Holy Spirit, descend upon us O Lord 
and dwell in our praises to You. Give us spiritual eyes to see
Your truth. Holy Spirit take control, this place is Your abode, 
teach us Your ways. 
Cover us O Lord in Your Precious blood, protect us from the attempts of
the evil one to distract and confuse. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our
risen Lord and Savior, I rebuke you satan, you have no place nor power 
here.

Servant - Holy Spirit come and anoint every word spoken here you
are welcome in this place Have your way and we bind any forces 
that would attack this bible study in any way Jesus cover each
computer and phone lines as we learn about your word In Jesus 
name we pray amen.

I bind you in the Name of our Precious Savior and cast you far
from this room, our lives, our computers. In the Name of Jesus 
Christ, you ARE DEFEET-ED satan , so BE GONE!! Thank You Jesus!!
Thank You Lord!!

OldTimer - In agreement. satan you are a liar and have no place 
here. We resist you in the Name of Jesus and command you to flee
FAR from us! Hallelujah! AMEN

 Lord, we lift Heidi up to You and ask that You would touch 
her with Your healing touch, bring her to wholeness and health in
You, Father. Father, we ask that You would touch each of us, 
You Know our needs Lord.
Athie - Amen and Amen
Teach us O Lord, help us to become more like you. I Your Holy
Name I pray. Amen.


 
Tonight, our topic is prayer...so ....what does prayer mean to you? 

OldTimer - Obviously prayer is something that satan doesn't want us
           to learn about!!!!!
Servant - communication with my Lord 
OldTimer - talking to my Father about EVERYTHING....
prodigal son - Prayer is comunicating with my Lord and Father. 
gg & jaybird - hi room, prayer is so important it is our means of
               comuunicating with our God and gives us the opportunity
               to fellowship praise and worship Him couldn't live 
               without it 
OldTimer - All the time about everything, being "OPEN" to heaven's 
           whisper...

Yes yes yes!!!
The dictionary says that prayer “ is an act of worship by which we 
offer up praise and thanksgiving to God and bring our requests before
Him.” 
Proverbs 15:29,‘The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the 
prayers of the righteous.’

What does righteous mean??

Servant - doing what is right
OldTimer - being in right relationship with God, doing His will...

Righteous means to be in right order...in right standing with God...
to be morally good and just...in the greek...dikaios... “signifies 
“just”, without prejudice or partiality”...just means to be honorable 
and fair...
1 John 1:9, “ To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the
Lord than sacrifice.” 

Vine’s even states that righteous in the English language used to be
spelled “rightwise.” Righteous in the New Testament denotes ‘a state 
of being right, or right conduct, judged whether by the divine standard,
or according to human standards, of what is right.’

Also ... Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious for anything, but in 
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your 
requests to God.”, 

and 1 Timothy 2:1-2,
“I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and 
thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority.”, 
and again in 1 Peter 3:12, 
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are 
attentive to to their prayers.”

OldTimer - rightwise, I like that, being right AND wise=righteousness!
Z - Amen!
OldTimer - So does that mean we should pray for Bill Clinton first of
		   all???
Z - Oh yes OT!! we should definitely be praying for President Clinton...
OldTimer - Father God we lift up our President tonight. Many serious 
           charges are being brought against him and the country is in 
           turmoil. We ask that your will be done. May he truly repent 
           and lead our country in repentance, so we can get back in 
           step with you! In Jesus Name AMEN.
gg & jaybird - Amen
Z - we may not like or approve of the President and his actions, but we
    NEED to pray for him...that he would truly repent ...thanks OT! 
    Amen!
Servant - amen
OlePappy - Father, I lift our congress that they will follow Your will
           in this matter. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Here we are taught to pray not just for our own needs, but for others
as well...we even need to pray for our enemies!! Hard to believe...
but true....take a look at 
Proverbs 25:22, 
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thisty, 
give him water to drink, 22 for in doing so, you will heap coals of
fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you.” 
Imagine how pleased God is when we pray for our enemies!

We pray for others as seen in 3 John 1:2 “ Dear friend, I pray that 
you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as 
your soul is getting along well.”


gg & jaybird - He also hears us when we are not "acting" to righteous 
               and if our prayers are within His will He answers, 
               although not always the way we want or when *S* 
               ( sorry just putting in my two cents)
Z - YAY!! I like your 2cents gg!!
gg & jaybird - when we pray for our enemies we are putting into effect
              "we reap what we sow"
prodigal son - When we pray for our enimies we are also puting others 
               before our selves. Being a servent to them.
Z - yes prodigal! Just like our Jesus!!
OldTimer - When we pray for our enemies, we are also allowing the Lord 
           to change US to be more like Him and his agape love, that 
           pours out to all.
Servant - when we pray for our enemies we are drawn from the being part 
          of the problem to being part of the solution
Z - yes Servant!! Rather than being judgemental and condemning of our 
    enemies..we lift them up in prayer before the Lord

OlePappy - God always answers prayer...sometimes its yes, sometimes its
           no and sometimes it is wait...but it is His will that reigns.
gg & jaybird - yes ole pappy and Gods will is good and perfect I am 
               always amazed at answered prayer it is always much better
               than what i thought it should be



OldTimer - Father, we look to you for leadership in these dark days. We
           declare that we are STILL one nation under God and we ask 
           You to rule and reign in this land. AMEN

gg & jaybird - AMEN AMEN AMEN so be it 

OldTimer - Right servant, and it sets a watch on our lips against
           gossip! You can't curse and pray for someone at the same 
           time. Well you can, I guess, but my conscience would kill me.
Z - Amen! We are the righteousness of God! and need to act that way 
    too!!

gg & jaybird - what a hard thing to put aside our "emotions" and
               demonstrate Jesus love to someone who has wronged us 
               I pray Lord that you would lead and direct me always 
               help me to be open to your Holy Spirit
OldTimer - Some of my most cherished memories of my grandmother is 
           seeing and joining her in prayer. Her solution for EVERY 
           problem was, "Let's pray!" Glory, what a glorious example.
Servant - amen
OlePappy - In the name of Jesus, AMEN

OldTimer - OK, pray for our rulers, pray for our enemies, do 3 John 1:2 
           again ZZZZZZZZZZz
Z - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray continuously.!!!!
Z - okie dokie!
Z - We pray for others as seen in 3 John 1:2 
“ Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may
go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 

Also James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray 
for each other so that you may be healed.” 

OldTimer - Do you think we practice James 5:16 enough, or at all?
Z - personally, OT, i don't think we do...
OldTimer - I've been to a lot of services where there were prayers for
           healing, but can't recall one where we confessed our sin
           first. Do you think that's why more aren't healed today?
OldTimer - That never jumped out at me before. Hmmmmmmm..... 
prodigal son - OT Im confessing my sins all the time. I do it with out
               thinking and it seems God is there tapping me on the 
               shoulder saying you know better. 
Z - I would think so ..we need to come before the Lord , with a clean 
    heart...and ask forgiveness ... Praise God OT!!
OlePappy - Praise God
OldTimer - It's always bothered me that many times people aren't 
           "real" in the church, everybody acts so perfect, when you
           KNOW some are hurting. Of course, I'm SO real I bug people... LOL

gg & jaybird - I have a question when you pray for healing do you pray
               just for healing or for healing according to Gods will 
               .... I believe sometimes He will heal the heart and mind
               (peace) and not the body. Jesus first forgave sins then 
               healed the body as a sign " to a wicked generation" 
               I believe those people could have gone on in peace 
               without the healing of their bodies with forgivness of 
               God Himself.

Z - Jesus taught His followers and us, as well, in Mark 11:24-25, 
“whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, 
and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything
against anyone, forgive him,  so that your Father in heaven may forgive
you your sins.”


gg & jaybird - does anyone find themselves during prayer just praying 
               and not being silent and giving the Lord time to speak?

(This question never did get addressed, but is very valid and crucial
to the study on prayer and will be addressed in a later session...Z)


Z - you know, in James 5:16 it says,“Therefore confess your sins to 
each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”  

Like you said OT...so many try to act perfect and it seems as tho 
we do need to confess our sins one to another..not saying we need to 
shout them out for the world..but be accountable to another.


OldTimer - I believe in confessing sins to God of course, but there 
           must be some reason why James said to confess to each other.
           Accountability, that's it! We are members one of another, 
           need to submit to one another in love, and be accountable 
           for our walk. That's good z

Z - Well, God sees our hearts...perfectly...but people do have the 
ability to "hide" their sins...Z - and if we became accountable to 
one another for our actions, etc..wouldn't it help us to actually 
come before the Lord with a clean heart asking for forgiveness??
OldTimer - Maybe one reason we don't do this is we don't TRUST one 
another with our secrets???

OldTimer - Hey, I have another thought too - when we confess our sins,
           that is weaknesses, to one another, we can hold each other 
           up in prayer for God's strength in that area!  And that 
           creates TRUE UNITY - and  fosters an atmosphere of love. 
           Cool, Z, never thought of that before! You go girl!
prodigal son - If we confess our sins to each other it makes us more 
            acountable. When someone knows you have done something
            wrong they will be watching to see if you do it again
Z - and being there for you too, prodigal when you slip...encouraging 
    each other to walk in His Light
prodigal son - Amen Z

Z - Praise God!! Thank You for Your Word of Truth Lord!!!
gg & jaybird - maybe that is why some people don't confess their sins 
               to each other prob thinking that that person will be 
               looking at them under a microscope *just a thought*
prodigal son - That was my point gg. 
gg & jaybird - I meant there are people that would shall I say um 
               judge you for what you tell them 
OldTimer - Right gg, I don't think being accountable is to be a 
           judgemental, condemning thing at all, but in the spirit of 
           love, a help.
Z - Right OT! 

Z - You know tho...the way the "church " is now...with the feeling that
    you will be condemned instead of encouraged to walk rightly...
    How can God do a Mighty Move ??
OldTimer - Z, there's a lot of truth to that sis - how can God move if
           we are playing "games" - instead of confessing our sin and 
           walking in step with the Spirit?
Z - Repentance for our wrong attitudes and unloving ways needs to come
    ...so that we can truly have fellowship with one another in the 
    church and draw the lost and hurting to the Lord
Z - right ~! instead of playing church..we are supposed to BE the 
    church!
gg & jaybird- Amen Z ...... it's those "perfect" christians 
              that scare the heck outta me

gg & jaybird  - woooooo hooooooo AMEN Z

Z - we need to humble ourselves before the Lord....and each other...
    none of us is perfect...we all have areas to grow in...so ....
gg & jaybird- lead Z and direct her thoughts and words Holy Spirit 
Z - Lord, help us here in this room..to be bold enough to bring this 
    to our own churches...so that You can move in us. Let us be lights
    for You, Jesus


Z - Jesus taught His followers and us, as well, in Mark 11:24-25, 
“whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, 
and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything
against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive
you your sins.” 
Jesus also said in John14 :12-14, “Anyone who has faith in Me...may ask
me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” 
Now this does NOT mean that anything that you pray for, God will grant
to you...but as stated in the scriptures we have just been looking at, 
He hears the prayers of the righteous...we must pray believing...and 
having faith in Jesus...

OldTimer - Mark 11:24 is ANOTHER verse we need to put into practice. 
           "If you are holding ANYTHING against someone else, FORGIVE 
           or you will NOT be forgiven.
Z - like OP said before, God always answers our prayers..sometimes with
    a yes..sometimes with a no..and sometimes with a wait
Z - Exactly, OT..just as in the Lord's Prayer...forgive us our debts...
    as we have forgiven our debtors...
Savior's Servant - Amen
Z - so if we can't forgive others...how can we expect to be forgiven??
OldTimer - I'm not perfect, OP SAYS AMEN, by any means, but I try to be
           QUICK to forgive, or better yet, not to take offense in the 
           first place.
Z - Amen!

Z - Lord help us to quickly forgive ...help us to have right attitudes
    and not an attitude ready to take offense
OldTimer - A GREAT book to read is THE BAIT OF SATAN by John Bevere, 
           how satan tries to BAIT us with offenses so he can
           manipulate us.
wen - A test of your maturity in the Lord is how long you hold an 
      offense or how quick we are to forgive
Z-Help us to see others as You do Lord..as children of the Almighty God.
OldTimer - Right Z, it all goes back to the heart - our attitude - 
           basically, Father, not my will, but THINE be done. AMEN!

OlePappy - Above all Lord, give us patience with our fellow man, in
           Jesus name. AMEN

OldTimer - HE'S UNDER OUR FEET!!!!
peanut - hmm.. as i have seen in the last few days about forgiveness 
         forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin but the 
         magnitude of the forgivers love....just something the peanut
         is learning each day
Z - Amen peanut!
OlePappy - AMEN TO THAT, peanut, a big AMEN
OldTimer - Amen, sister peanut! great insight there!


Z - ok..here we go...

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary,“prayer is to be offered in 
the name of Lord Jesus, 
John 14:13, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the 
Son may bring glory to the Father.”... 

wen - We are to keep our eyes on the one who loves us so unconditionally
      and we will not be swayed be other things

Z-that is the prayer must be in accord with His character, and must be
  presented in the same spirit of dependence and submission that marked
  Him...
wen - like in Lev the smoke from the offerings went the Lord as a sweet
      smelling aroma so are our prayers
 
Luke 22:41-42 
“He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 
42"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will,
but yours be done." 
This Jesus prayed on the night He was betrayed and captured...not His 
will to be done...But the Father’s will.  Jesus had the power that night 
to defeat the enemy...to escape His capture..but chose to do the will 
of the Father...not His own will. We must also pray the will of the
Father.


OldTimer - That's a neat thought Z, that praying in the Name of Jesus 
           must be in accord with His character and must be presented 
           in the same spirit of dependence and submission that marked 
           Him...IF we pray like that, our prayers WILL be answered! 
           Because we would be praying in accordance with God's will,
           right?
Z - yes!...His character...of Love, humbleness, gentleness...


Vine’s also states that...“Faith is essential to prayer...for faith is
the recognition of, and the commital of ourselves and our matters to 
the faithfullness of God.” 

Matt. 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in 
prayer."
Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, 
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

OldTimer - Again, a great thought... faith is a commital of ourselves 
           and our matters to the faithfulness of God! If we could only
           get a vision of God's faithfulness and love for us! THAT
           would BANISH doubt forever!
Sherry - We must always believe though right
wen - If we learn to trust the Lord with out reservation totally, 
      then we will come boldly in to the throne room and we will enter
      into an intimacy with Him 
OldTimer - And would keep us from being "committed" to the looney bin,
       LOL!
Z - Faith...having complete trust in God ..kowing that He will never 
    let us down...He loves us and wants what is good, acceptable and 
    perfect for us
Z - yes sherry...always believe!
Z - Ha!! Seems like some would like to "commit " us for our commitment
    to the Lord!
OldTimer - Well, between being a "fool for Christ's sake" and a fool 
           for the devil, duh, no contest!
Z - I R a Fool for Christ!!!
OldTimer - Right Sherry. Yes! Wen we can come BOLDY to the throne of 
           grace to obtain help in the time of need! AMEN just walk 
           right up to God's throne, and say Daddy, I need help...
Z - Amen OT!!

Sherry - If we have doubt though Z does that mean that our prayers 
         will not be affective?
Z - doubt in who sherry?? ourselves or in God??
Sherry - Both Z I guess
wen - He is who He says He is so He will never let us down He can do 
      anything so we should seek Him until we get that revelation that
      He CAN Do ANYTHING
Z - seems I doubt myself more than anything else...i have complete 
    faith in God...and He's helping me to have faith in me!
OldTimer - doubt can be a positive thing Sherry if we allow it to lead
           us to seek God, to know Him better, to read His Word, and to
           seek understanding.
Z - Yes He can!! He is The ALMIGHTY GOD!! RULER OF THE HEAVENS AND THE 
    EARTH!
OldTimer - Jesus honored the prayer of the man who said, "Lord I 
           believe. Help thou mine unbelief" Don't fret about it. Trust
           God to make it clear to you as you grow in Him.


Z - Eph 1:17, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 
    glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, 
    so that you may know him better.”
OldTimer - Also that FAITH comes by HEARING the Word, there's no cure 
           for "doubt-itis" like the Word of God!
Z - Amen!!
peanut - ummm doesnt doubt come when you dont have enough information 
         to convince us something is true..isnt doubt a inclination not
         to believe.. wouldnt the process of doubt be good for us if we
         come out on the other end with greater conviction of belief
OldTimer - Yes! Z, in writing to the Ephesians, Paul reveals that they
           had problems with this too, otherwise why would he have 
           prayed this "may give you the Spirit of wisdom and 
           revelation, so that you may know Him better"?
OldTimer - right peanut, like I said doubt can be POSITIVE if it leads
           us to seek God and to want to know Him better.
Sherry - Yes Peanut if we do good point thanks man I did not know I 
         talk so much 

OldTimer - Father God we ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to
           come upon Sherry, and ALL of us, that we might know you 
           better!


OldTimer-  my Heavenly Father is perfect, good and loving. One thing I 
           had a hard time dealing with is that God my Father loves me 
           ALL the time...
Z - not just when He feels like it, or thinks I'm being good enough...
    But our Heavenly Father loves me ALL the time!!Thank You Lord!!

OldTimer -The Father's love is revealed or shown in the fact that He 
          sent Jesus, knowing that His Only Son would have to die for 
          us. That's how much God the Father loves us, more than even 
          the best earthly father could. Jesus saw the need for the 
          Heavenly Father when He was all grown ... think on that.

prodigal son - Sorry to hear that. It seems all the rooms have changed
               some. There doese not seem to be the love and fellowship. 
prodigal son - Sorry room that was not for this room
Z - oh but it is, prodigal...remember this is the church too...
    and what better place to start practicing what we are learning??
Exodus - amen Z
Z - Lord, we ask for Your spirit of Love and fellowship would be 
    here in us and in these rooms... Thank You Lord!!
Servant - amen
Savior's Servant - Amen


And so, we concluded our first night on the study of prayer...It amazes
and humbles me every time we get together for these studies...as the
Holy Spirit begins to move, and truly does lead our discussions!! We 
all learned and contributed to this study ...and I truly thank and ask 
the Lord to bless everyone at the study and you who are now reading 
these notes. 

We learned tonight that:
1.  We can and NEED to come to God in prayer about everything...
2.  That the prayers of the righteous are heard...and as born-again
    believers, we are the righteousess of God...that thru our walk with
    Jesus, we are changed into righteousness...
3.  Righteousness- the right order of God, in right standing with the 
    Lord...
4.  Righteous originally was "rightwise: right and wise!!
    Part of being righteous is having a repentent and humble heart, 
	ready and willing to submit to the Will of the Father...not our
	own will to be done...
5.  We need to pray for others as well as ourselves...including our 
    leaders, even our enemies!
6.  That we need to confess our sins one to another...become accountable
    to one another in a spirit of love and compassion for one another...
    to be real, not putting on a mask or "churchface", but real before 
    each other and before our Lord, as He knows our hearts, our 
    intentions...
7.  We pray with belief and faith that God can and does answer our 
    prayers..he may not give us the answer we wanted..sometimes it is
    yes!..sometimes it is no...and sometimes it is wait...but whatever
    the answer...we need to believe and have faith that God has our
    best in mind...
8.  We need to forgive one another, and that my friends includes
    forgiving ourselves... 
9.  We need to pray in the name of Jesus and in accord with His 
    character...with the same spirit of dependence and humbleness that
	Jesus did...
10. We are the church!! And we need to start behaving like it!!

I'm looking forward to our next session...I can't wait to see what the
Holy Spirit will bring us next! Thank You, Lord!! I praise You, I 
Adore You and I give You, O Lord ALL of the Glory!! Amen!