The Disciples of Christ said, “Lord teach us to pray,” Luke 11:1.

Welcome to our study on the beautiful subject of prayer. We'll be thinking about some of the fundamentals of prayer; specifically: the how, the what, and the when of prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” As we think about the how, the who, and the what of prayer, we realize that Christians must know and must be convicted of the importance of prayer and need for it in their life. This is why Paul taught us to pray without ceasing. Never let there be a time in your life when you can't pray to God. And we can surely see that in the life of Jesus.

Do you remember Matthew 14:23? Jesus had been teaching the multitudes. Jesus sent the multitudes away. He went up by Himself on the mountain to pray. Jesus needed prayer in His life. Matthew 26:53, even in that great moment of struggle in the garden Jesus said, “Do you not think that I cannot now pray to my Father and receive 12 legions of angels to help?” Jesus understood the power and need of prayer.

If we can be convinced of a correct understanding of what prayer is and how it should be used, it'll help us to utilize that power in our own lives.

We begin by asking, what does the Bible say on the subject of prayer? Let's talk about some of the prerequisites that are necessary for one to pray as God wants him to. For example one must be taught how to pray scripturally. It's not the case that I can just get up and pray any old way that I want to, or say anything I want to, or do anything I want to in prayer. You've got to be to be taught from the Bible by God how to pray correctly. Luke 11:1 clearly teaches this. Jesus' disciples had heard John's disciples pray. John had taught his disciples, and so the Disciples of Christ came to Him. They said, “Lord teach us to pray as John also told his disciples to pray.”

Wouldn't you have loved to sat at the feet of Jesus and learn how to pray? Friend isn't that what we find in the Bible? We can hear Jesus pray. We can see what Jesus taught His disciples, and what God's taught us to pray. And I can learn how to pray the way God wants me to. In so doing, I will pray in a way that will honor and magnify Almighty God.

As part of the prerequisites to prayer, let's also realize I've got to pray, if I'm going to pray correctly, I need to pray with a firm belief and commitment in God's ability to help, Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:22. We know God knows what we need. We're taught to pray in faith with no doubt. We're to seek, we're to knock, we're to ask, and we're to be convicted that God can help us. This is why James said in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach it will be given to him, but let him ask in faith with no doubting.” Why? “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea tossed and driven by the wind.” If I'm going to pray correctly, I need to have a commitment, a firm conviction, God does hear. God does know, and because of my faith in God and the evidence of Him, I know God wants me to pray and wants to help in my time of need.

We're not talking about someone saying, ‘Well I hope God does this, or if I pray God might care,’ or the wishful thinking, or best guess or any doubt involved in that. We all pray in view of the Lord's will but when we pray, we need to pray with conviction and commitment that God wants to help us accomplish His will on this earth.

Then another prerequisite that is so important to prayer is we need to pray according to the will of God.

I want you to notice what the Scripture says in 1 John 5 about this idea. 1 John 5:15 specifically addresses the Christian praying in view of the will of God, and as God would want him to pray. Here's what that verse says, “and if we know He hears us whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions we've asked of Him if,” verse 14 says, “If we ask according to His will.” What's the will of God Taught to us in the Bible? It's what we as Christians have the mindset of doing. It's what Jesus said in Matthew 27:46 and Matthew 26:39, “Not my will but thine be done.” We hear Christians say sometimes, ‘if the things we pray for are according to Your will; we pray that Your will accomplish those; if not, we pray that You'll defeat us in the things that are not.’

Friend we want to have the mindset, ‘if this is your will.’ All that we pray is contingent upon ultimately the will of God being done first, and His ultimate plan being accomplished.

Then as another prerequisite, we want to have a humble attitude when we pray. Luke 14:11 the Bible says, “Whoever humbles himself he’ll be exalted, whoever exalts himself he’ll be humbled.”

Now let me ask you this question: do you ever see anybody in the Bible who prayed with a haughty, self-righteous, ungodly attitude? Well sure we do! You remember Luke 18? Listen to the story of the two men who went up to the temple to pray. One had a great attitude, and the other he felt like God needed him on his side. Listen to Luke 18:10. The Scripture records, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector,” now watch this Pharisee, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God I thank you I'm not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess.’” Can you imagine a man praying like that? Imagine someone bowing their head and saying, ‘God thank you that you've made me better than everybody else. Thank you that you didn't make me like this tax collector, and by the way let me tell you why you need me: I pray, I fast, and I give, look at what I do. Thank you for not making like everybody else, and thank you that I am who I am.’

What a haughty self-righteous man! What about the tax collector? The story goes on to tell us, the tax collector wouldn't even look up to heaven. He beat his breast, and he said ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’

Jesus in essence said, ‘which of those two do you think God heard? Not the one who was glad he was better nobody else and thought he was righteous, but the one who knew he wasn't and needed God.’

Friend let's not let pray with the haughty, self-righteous, pious attitude. We need to pray in humility of heart. We need to recognize, and you me, when we've done all those things commanded us say, ‘I am an unprofitable servant; I've only done that which was my duty to do,’ Luke 17:11.

Now we mention another prerequisite, another how to prayer and it's this, we need to make sure that we don't pray like the hypocrites. Matthew 6:5-7, Jesus condemned the hypocrites when He said, “They stand on the street corners, they pray these long prayers, they have to be wearing the right garments, they have to be in the right place, and have to make sure everybody's watching them.” Jesus said, “They go halfway around the world to make a disciple, then they make him twice as much the son of hell as themselves.”

What was wrong with those people? They wanted the glory; they wanted to be looked up as the spiritual elite. They wanted everybody to say, ‘Wow look at that man pray; He must be close to God.’ They weren't giving God the glory in their prayer. They were trying to receive glory from their prayer.

When we pray, we don't have to use the big words, not saying that's in and of itself wrong, but we don't have to do it for everybody to look at us. I don't have to pray a long prayer, so everybody can think ‘wow he really knows how to talk to God.’ I don't have to use big words, big religious words, so people can say ‘oh he's really smart in praying to God.’ Or we don't have to do it in the right place and say so people can look at us, and say ‘look at him he must be a spiritual person.’

If our mindset is to have people look at us when we pray, have people think highly of us when we pray, friend we've missed the whole purpose of what prayer is all about. Remember what Jesus said in contrast to those hypocrites? Jesus said, “And you when you pray, don't stand out on a street corner and do like they did instead,” He said, “go into your upper room when you're in your upper room, shut the door, go into your closet,” in essence, “as it were and when you pray, pray in secret to your

Father in secret. He blesses those who pray that way.”

Our prayers need to have a sense of humility and a sense of knowing that God hears based on who we really are. Like the tax collector, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” that's the attitude that we as Christians need to have.

Then as we think about a prerequisite to prayer, part of the ‘how’ we need to recognize prayer should always be offered in the name of Christ. John 14:13-14 Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “There is one God one mediator between man and God the man Christ Jesus Himself.” Who is the mediator? Christ. Who do we pray through? Christ. Whose name and authority do we pray in? The name and the authority of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christians don't close the prayer in Jesus' name because that's what we've done for a thousand years 2000 years. We do that because that's how God, that's how Christ has taught us to pray scripturally in the Bible, to honor Him; and to show Him as our mediator as our dependence is given upon Him in every way.

You know as we think about part of the ‘how’ of prayer, we also need to realize that scriptural prayer, prayer that honors God, is a prayer that is thought about, prayer that is given with the spirit and understanding. We often apply this to singing, but the verse also applies it to prayer. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:15, “I will pray with the spirit, and I'll pray with the understanding, I'll sing with the spirit, and I'll sing with the understanding.” What's that mean? If I'm going to pray with the spirit and sing with the spirit, my person is involved in that. My emotion, it’s heartfelt, my intellect is involved in that as well. So I'll pray with the spirit and with the understanding. That means that our prayers don't need to be just verbiage that we've always heard. So, we say it as well. It doesn't need be some wrote words that somebody said, and we kind of like those one time, and so, we work it into our prayer.

No matter what prayer needs come from the heart. Prayer needs to be thought about. When I pray, and this is a struggle that we all have at times, when we pray we need to stay focused. We need to really think about what we're saying. We need to communicate with God. We need to do our best not to let our mind and our heart wander in times like those. That's real prayer and singing with the spirit and with the understanding.

Let's also realize this, as part of the ‘how’ in praying correctly, I must pray, I must pray in such a way that not only honors and glorifies God, but to pray correctly I need to be right with God and with my brother. To have prayer be what God wants it to be, I've got to be in a relationship with God. Again we mention the verse in Psalm 66:18. “God heareth not the prayer of sinners.” John 9:31 and Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Proverbs 28:9, “He turns His ear away from hearing the law the Lord doesn't hear that man's prayer.” “His face is set against those who do evil,” 1 Peter 3:12.

So for prayer to be what is designed to be, for it to be effective for God to hear it, I've got to be in a relationship with the Father. To talk to the Father, I've got to be a child of the Father. I've got to be a son or daughter of God.

Then as a Christian and as part of the requirements for prayer, not only do I have to make sure I'm in a right relationship with God, trying to walk in the light, trying to do what God wants me to; I need to also look at my relationship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Not only must I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, I've got to love my neighbor as myself. How's my relationship with other Christians? Is there anybody who I've offended or sinned against that I've not made right? Let me show you the words of Jesus. Let me share with you the words of Christ as it related that this in Mark 11. Listen to what Jesus says in verse 25. Jesus said, “And whenever you stand pray if you have anything against anyone forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses, but if you do not forgive neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses.”

If I stand to pray and I realize I've got a fault with somebody, somebody's got a fault with me, I need to be ready and willing to forgive, if that person is willing to repent. You know you see the example of somebody is at the altar, and they realize their brother has a fault with them. They leave their sacrifice at the altar. Make it right with your brother, and then come worship God. There's the idea of prayer is dependable on my relationship with God being right, and my relationship with others also be what God wants it to be.

Now let's speak a little more specifically about maybe a practical

plan. How does God want me to pray? What's a plan for prayer as found in the Scripture? We can be rest assured by knowing that God has taught us how to have a good practical plan, an everyday approach for prayer. Prayer according to the pattern of Jesus ought to be one of the first things we do when the foot hits the floor every morning. The Bible says of Jesus in Mark 1:35, “In the morning a great while before daylight He departed, went to a solitary place, and prayed.” Think about this. First thing in the morning, a great while before daylight. Jesus likely got up early. It was one of His first thoughts in the morning. Jesus got away from the rat race of life, and He took time to pray to God. Could you think of a better way to start your day than with prayer?

Secondly prayer ought to be made especially for parents. If you don't have this habit, you've got to work very difficult, very hard at it. Parents ought to teach their children to make a good habit out of prayer. Friend there's nothing wrong with having a good habit of prayer. Daniel had that. Daniel 6:10 listen to this, “As was his custom from early days from childhood, Daniel prayed three times that day with his window open toward Jerusalem.” Who taught Daniel that custom? Likely his parents. It was a habit. Daniel had a habit of praying three times every day. It was a part of his life like brushing his teeth, like eating cereal in the morning, whatever it may be, like combing your hair, or taking a shower. Daniel had a good habit of prayer.

A person needs to develop that kind of habit in his own life. Prayer to really follow the plan God wants it to be, it ought to be a private time between you and God. ‘Go into your upper room, when you're there close the door pray to your Father.’ It ought to be a time just between a man and God. A time when a man can get down on his hands and knees and communicate with the Father to pray in thanksgiving, to pray in adoration, to pray asking God for certain things, whatever it may be; we each need that time to communicate directly and personally with Almighty God.

You know, a biblical plan that we find is morning, noon, and evening. Listen to the words of Psalm 55. I want you to notice a plan that the psalmist set forth in Psalm 55:17. The psalmist said these words about his own plan for prayer. He said in Psalm 55:17, “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud and He shall hear my voice.” Evening, morning, and noon, there was a plan. He had a set time. He wanted to do that. As long as it's with the spirit and understanding, there's nothing wrong

with having a set pattern when we pray.

When we talk to God, Friend let's realize this, prayer really ought to be kind of a constant in our life. I'm not saying everything we do is a prayer. I'm not saying from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed you're always in prayer, but there ought never to be a time when we can't pray. Acts 2:42, “They continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship breaking of bread and in prayers.” “Pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

So in our life, let's make sure that there's never a point when we're too proud or haughty or to discourage to get down and ask God for His help, His Thanksgiving in times when we live our life.

Then we want to offer kind of maybe a prescribed method of prayer, prescribed way from Scripture of things that we specifically ought to mention in prayer. What should I pray for when I pray? Have you ever thought about that? What does the Bible say specifically that a Christian ought to pray for? Here are some of those things.

We ought to first pray for the lost. Jesus said, ‘pray the Lord of hosts that He'll send laborers into his harvest.’ When we pray, we want to pray for those who never obeyed the gospel. Do we really believe and realize that the majority of this earth's population is going down the path that's going to lead to eternal destruction? If so and if Jesus taught us to pray for the lost, friend that ought to be something that's a regular part of our prayer.

Secondly as we think about what to pray for, we ought to pray to overcome sin and Satan in our own life. “Men ought always to pray and never lose heart or get discouraged.” Jesus taught us in Matthew 6, ‘to pray that our trespasses would be forgiven as we forgive those who've sinned against us.’ Again the idea that we want to pray to overcome sin and overcome Satan, ‘Deliver us not or lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one,’ Matthew 6:6-12.

We also as Christians want to pray for forgiveness of sin. None of us are perfect. The Bible teaches us clearly that, “there is none righteous no not one,” Romans 3:1-10. As Christians when we pray, we need to have the attitude and the mindset that if we have unwittingly, unknowingly violated the will of God, if we're trying to walk in the light, and we have unknowingly

violated the will of God, and we need to pray that God will forgive us. And if we know specifically for sure that there's sin in our life, Peter taught Simon, “pray the evil thought of your heart might be forgiven you,” Acts 8:22-24. And repenting of those sins surely we need to have the attitude, ‘I'm going to pray to God and ask him for help in overcoming this.’

Then as Christians, the Bible teaches that prayer should be offered for those who are sick and those who are suffering. ‘If any among you sick let him call for the elders the church, let them pray over him.’ Prayer has the ability to help those who're suffering, to help those who are sick. ‘May the God of all comfort you in your trouble,’ Paul would say in 2 Corinthians 1:3.

As Christians we also want to pray for those who are living in error. It's sad, but there are at times those who do fall away from the truth. There are those who fall away from living faithfully as God wants them to do. I cannot replace prayer with going to talk to them, but both ought to work together in encouraging them and teaching them. I ought to pray for them as well. 1 John 5:16 clearly teaches we pray for those who are in error. And we want to pray that they'll come back to the truth and obey the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

But friend I'll assure you this is something that we all need to pray for. Don't we need to pray for wisdom? ‘If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God.’ Why? ‘Who gives to all liberally and without reproach.’ I need to pray for the ability. And here is what wisdom is, wisdom differs, is different from facts in that facts are the knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to take that knowledge and plug it into my life. Tomorrow I need the ability to understand how have the wisdom to know how to put God's truth, insert God's truth into my daily life. Friend surely we want to pray for the wisdom to know how to do that.

I want to pray for the necessities of life. Philippians 4:6-9, we're to pray for those needs. James 4:3-4, the things that we need we ought to ask for those things. I want to pray, and friends listen carefully, there's nothing wrong with praying before one eats. 1 Timothy 4:4-5, ‘our food is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.’ God said it's okay to eat it so that's why. Secondly it's set apart by prayer there's nothing wrong with praying before a person eats. In fact, the Scripture does teach that is something that the

child of God ought to do.

We want to mention specifically in the day and age especially in which we live, we want to mention one other thing. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 Paul said, “I desire therefore that men pray for kings all who are in authority that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” What ought we to pray for? We ought to pray for our world leaders. We ought to pray for our national leaders. We ought to pray for our elected leaders. We ought to pray for our government, and more than anything, we ought to pray that they'll start doing, if they're not, they'll start doing the will of God that this country can be one nation under God, and that God's will and the word of God will be that which we really guide our life and our country by.

So, these are things practically every day that a Christian ought to pray for.

Friend we hope that this lesson has been an encouragement to every one of us to really utilize the power of prayer.

Remember, “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man overcomes much.” Let's use prayer, for prayer has powerful results.

Study Questions for: “Prayer: Lesson 3”

1. What did the disciples ask Christ for in Luke 11:1?

2. What should we ask God for according to James 1:5?

3. How should we ask God for things in prayer according to 1 John 5?

4. In Matthew 27:46 and Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed for what?

5. What kind of attitude should we have according to Luke 14:11?

6. In Luke 18, which man approached God correctly? Why?

7. According to John 14:13-14, how should we ask for things in prayer?

8. Who is the mediator between man and God according to 1 Timothy 2:5-6?

9. According to Proverbs 28:9, who does God turn his ear away from?

10. What was the psalmist prayer plan in Psalm 55?

The Scripture says, “Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good,” 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

Welcome to our study of the religion of Islam.

What do you know about Islam?

I've heard a lot about it in the past. You've heard a lot about it. World events that have occurred that have been directly linked to Islam. But what facts and what do I really know about the history and the teaching of Islam?

In this series of lessons we want to examine what Islam really is. Then we will look at its tenants, its beliefs, and examine critically whether or not it is from God.

We want to look at the evidence and see- does it support the facts as many Muslims will say that Islam is the book from God and the religion of God. Or is it another hoax that has been perpetrated on man and that is really not from God?

We begin by asking- why? Why study the religion of Islam? Why do we need to look at this as Christians? We need to study it because there are a lot of souls who are important to God that are involved in this.

Did you know that Islam is the religion of 1/5 of the world's population? One out of every five people in the world is caught up in Islam. It is believed to be one of the fastest growing religions even in the United States. Because there's so many people involved in it, we want to learn

about it. It's now the second most popular religion on the planet with more than a billion followers. Second only to Catholicism is the religion of Islam. It is growing faster and faster every day. Like it or not you're going to run into Muslims. I'm going to run into Muslims, and I need to be ready to talk to them about the gospel and point out why Islam may or may not be from God.

In the towns in which we lived there are going to be mosques, temples, and there are going to be places of worship most likely in a very short vicinity to us relating to Islam religion. When I think about studying Islam, we need to learn about Islam and be ready to talk about it because of its exponential growth rate even in the United States. For example in 1970 in United States of America there were only 100,000 Muslims. In a study done in 2008 there were 9 million Muslims. In 38 years Islam grew from having just 100,000 all the way up to 9 million Muslims. I want to learn about this, and I want to know about it. I want to be prepared to talk about it. In countries throughout the world, Islam has grown greatly. In fact, some estimates will show that there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. What a growth rate it's had! In fact this growth rate, if it ever gets a start in the country, it grows and always goes in an upward gathering. For example in Turkey in the year 1300 there were 0% Muslims. Right now in the country of Turkey there is 100% Muslims-99.5 to 100%. How did it grow from having 0% all the way up to 100%? That's the way Islam works! It has a growing presence in every country in the world, and we need to be prepared to talk about it.

Let me give you another illustration. In the United Kingdom 1910- 1920, maybe 2% were the population of Islam in the UK. By the year 2020 it is estimated that there will be 5 million believers in Islam in the United Kingdom. Look at that growth rate! How does it grow so fast? That is why we need to study it because it's a growing world religion, and I need to be prepared to talk to others about it.

We also need to be prepared to talk about Islam because of world events that have occurred or maybe will occur that are directly related to Islamic beliefs and some Muslim factions. Many terrorist events are performed in the name of Allah. When you think about the events that occurred in 9/11, the events that occurred at those World Trade Towers in New York City, what caused that? Who was behind that? We realize that Islam at least a faction in Islam was directly linked to that. All those people

who lost their lives! All these Muslim countries, how do they feel about Christians and the United States of America? 9/11 is example of how some of them feel about us. More recently the attacks that occurred in Benghazi on the diplomatic center on our ambassador there why did that occur? Some of it is directly linked to Islam. The way they feel about America, the way they feel about Christians, the way they feel about our government and our state-it's directly linked to their beliefs.

We also want to study Islam to the follow the biblical command to search and prove all things. Do you remember Acts 17:11? The Bible says, “These Christians were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” If I'm going to have a good and honest heart and if I'm going to be pure in heart before God, I have got to examine the evidence. I just can't blindly say ‘this is the way we've always done; it must be right or I don't like that so it must be wrong.’ No, I've got to examine the evidence. I've got a search the Scriptures, so that I can give a ready defense from what I believe.

Maybe just as importantly, I need to study this so I can prepare myself to teach the gospel to the lost. Mark 16:15 Jesus said to take the gospel to every creature. Matthew 28:18-20 we’re to go to all nations. If that's true and I know it is because the Bible says so, if that's true and the second fastest growing religion in the world is Islam- then friend I need to be ready to talk to them about the gospel. I need to be ready to point out that Islam is not from God and that it is not true even to its own teachings in many ways.

Maybe you've heard of Islam. Maybe you've kind of got an idea of what it is. I want to just a few moments to define some terms that will give a background so that we can be better familiar with it when we talk others. In Islam you often hear the word Allah. What does that mean? In Islam Allah simply means the God or it is that description of God that encompasses all of his supreme attributes. It would be like saying Jehovah. It will be like saying Almighty God to the Christian. Allah represents to Islam the Muslim the greatest name you could ever ascribe to God showing all his qualities and characteristics.

What is Islam? The word Islam simply means submission. Islam therefore is submission to Allah meaning and stating the person who claims

to be a Muslim is in full submission to that the God Allah and to the teaching of the Quran. Now Muslim then of course is one who submits to God, who submits to Allah, and intends to give his life even at the point of death to Allah.

One of the key parts of Islam, and maybe you've seen pictures of people walking around this, is the cube -the cabal that they often walk around. It is a site they go to sometimes yearly sometimes more than that. The cabal simply means the cube. It’s a shrine, a place of worship in Mecca where Muslims will go on a pilgrimage at least once in their life and inside the shrine are supposedly holy artifacts. As they walk around it, it supposedly brings them closer connection with God.

Now it's also impossible to accurately describe the history of Islam without relating the story of the main prophet Mohammed. All of us have probably heard about Mohammed. Who is he really and what do we know about his characteristics? What type of person was this man? Mohammed was born in the year 530 in Mecca in Arabia. He was considered by Muslims to be the last of a continuing chain of profits to restore the true religion of God. Think about that- a last the last in a continuing train of profits? Again there seems to be a little contradiction there. When you talk about Mohammed to someone who believes in the Islam faith, you're talking about someone similar to the Christian like Jesus. He is the major prophet. He's believed to be their Savior in many ways. He is held right up there with God, with Allah in many ways. He's key to understanding this.

The history Islam is a lot like Judaism and Christianity in some ways- that it has ties back to Old Testament figures. Islam takes its history back to the patriarch Abraham. Supposedly Ishmael, the son of Abraham as we know from history, was born to him born by Hagar. He was born by an Egyptian slave we know as Hagar. The Bible tells us of course that when Sarah gave birth to Isaac, Ishmael and Hagar were sent away into the desert of Perran into Mecca. And so concerning these events, Islam will look to Ishmael and Abraham sending Hagar and her son Ishmael out. They will say that's where our history goes to. According to the Quran Abraham and Ishmael built together the holiest sanctuary in Islam known as the cabal. This was thought to be the original site, they say, of Adam’s place of worship. And thus in the southeast corner of this cube there is a meteorite called the Blackstone, supposedly some stone fell out of heaven. They got the stone in the shrine, and it's embedded in the silver frame.

They walk around and worship. They think this is the holiest place. In fact the Quran says God told Abraham that the cabal would be a place of pilgrimage.

Now again this is not found Bible. These events concerning Abraham and Ishmael are not found the Bible. This is simply the history of Islam. Here is an interesting fact about this cube that they often go to, the Blackstone is believed to have been a gift from God, they will say, to Adam when he and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. It later became a symbol of God's covenant with Abraham, Ishmael, and thus the Muslim community. Muslims believe it was originally white but went black by absorbing sins. It thus serves as a symbol of human degradation and the need for God's forgiveness.

Now you think about this. When Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, what did God do? Well God give them a gift. I don’t think God was in a real gift-giving mood when God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden after their sin. They will say the stone which is in this cube was originally white, but it took upon itself supposedly seeing and it became black. It represents all that. You know it sounds a lot like Jesus taking the sins of the world. We will again see some mixing of these things by Mohammed and some other things we will mention. This cube is central part of every Muslims life.

Now concerning its history and the history of Mohammed, at an early age Mohammed became orphaned. He was taken in by his grandfather and then his uncle. Tragedy struck his life. When he was a teenager, Mohammed was identified by a Christian monk as having marks on his body that signified his status as a prophet. As best we can tell, this was some type of birthmark and somehow this monk believed this to be a sign that Mohammed was a prophet. How? We don't know. We don't know all the details on that. Then at the age of 40 Mohammed made a spiritual retreat during the month of Ramadan to a cave. While he was in this cave during this retreat, Mohammed alleges the angel Gabriel began to reveal the Quran to him. Over the next 23 years of Mohammed's life, the Quran is continuously revealed to him through the angel Gabriel. Here is one of the main teachings of the Quran, the Koran teaches that Jews and Christians have distorted the pure monotheistic religion of God and thus God gave Mohammed this message and sent him to restore and supplement the prophets and the apostles’ teachings. And so in the days of Mohammed, it

is a reaction to what he believed Jews and Christians how they were worshiping more than one God which we’ll see other lessons. He thought Christians, when we talk about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were talking about multiple gods- although we recognize there's only one God with three unique personalities.

Now as it relates further to the history of Islam, it was during this retreat also that Muslims claim Mohammed received this first of an ongoing series of revelations that were later compiled into the Quran. After Mohammed received these revelations, he was then told by his angel to preach them publicly. It was these public proclamations of this revelation that brought Mohammed great persecution. So supposedly the angel gives in this message, tells him to write it down go preach it and when he preaches it, he was persecuted for doing so. The curettes some of their aristocrats of Mecca eventually ridiculed, stoned, and banished Mohammed for his teaching. Nobody wanted to hear it, and it was at the height of these trials when he is facing intense persecution that Mohammed allegedly experienced the night of Ascension. In this supposed vision, Mohammed went through seven heavens into the divine presence himself. He spoke with prophets of old. He was blessed with the divine presence. The year 622 is significant in Muslim history. It was in this year that Mohammed was invited, actually he was forced to leave Mecca, he came to Medina and it's this year, 622, that changes the status of Mohammed from being that of persecuted to that of a prophet. The people in Medina began to accept his message. They begin to recognize his status, and thus the Muslim calendar and the Muslim era is calculated from 622 the events took place that year. A single central part of Muslim reenactment starts its calendar and its timeframe in this year.

Now a little more about the history, because of Mohammed's acceptance in Medina war breaks out between Mecca and Medina. These two cities are now fighting. One likes Mohammed. One hates him greatly. Medina defeated Mecca, and yet because there are constant battles between these two each side claiming victory- there was always a little bit of war. Finally in the year 630, Mohammed returned to Mecca. The cube, the central shrine, was purged of idols and Mecca now becomes the center of Muslim worship as it is to this day. In the year 632 Mohammed died. Before and during the time of his death, Mohammed made one fatal mistake that has haunted Islam to this very day. He forgot or either he wasn't able to appoint or dictate how the new spiritual and political leader of

Islam was going to be appointed. He was that leader. He dies abruptly and there's no one left to lead.

You wonder why is there so much division in Saudi Arabia? Why is there so much division in these countries where Islam is popular? Much of it goes back to who's in charge. Are we going to follow Mohammed or are we going to follow the spiritual leaders? Because of this fatal error of not electing a new leader, Muslims have been divided ever since Mohammed's death. There are two main factions in Islam and these are, as you may have heard in history and in news reports, the Sunnis and the Shiites. There are Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims. The Sunnis hate the Shiites, and the Shiites hate the Sunnis. They both believe the other is trying to steal power, but really it's all about not just power but money. When you think about the Sunnis and the Shiites and their fights, we kind of have to understand little bit about them and their background to really appreciate what's going on and see how difficult it is.

After Mohammed's death his best friend Abu Bakr was elected as the first Caliph that is the successor to the prophet. The only problem with this man, his best friend, being elected to lead was there was another legitimate option. The courageous and trustworthy cousin of Mohammed, Ali, who was married to Mohammed's favorite daughter Fatima, could have been chosen. And so you've got two lines of thought. One says we need to elect his best friend and the other says his daughter and her son, her husband need to lead. Tradition has it that Mohammed transferred his spiritual light to his daughter before his death. Yet in the midst of his funeral arrangements, his sudden death Fatima and Ali didn't participate in this election. Thus the Sunnis claim that the Caliph's are their leaders. That is the Caliph is the community that comes together and generally they elect a spiritual leader. So the Sunnis believe we need to get together democratically and elect somebody. The Shiites believe that the only spiritual leaders must be a direct descendent of the family of Mohammed. And so, there's always been war over these two.

Now there are some common beliefs that both of them share. Both branches are a part of Islam. Both follow the five pillars, follow the Quran, and believe that Allah is the only God. They both believe Mecca is the sacred place for the religion. They complete a pilgrimage there at least one point in their life. There are also some very differing beliefs. The Sunnis believe that their leader would be elected by the community which differs

from the Shiite belief that Mohammed's descendants should rule. The clothes that they wear are also different. Shiites- the men wear a tie and a black or white turban. While Sunnis- the men wear a headpiece and have a long beard. The Sunni follow the elected caliph, and they believe the matter of a successor is left to the Muslim community. They consider themselves traditionalists, and they emphasize the authority of the Quran. Most Muslims are Sunnis. They believe the community gets together and elects a leader. Only 10 to 15% of Muslims are Shiites. Shiite faith people are adamantly devoted to the memory of Mohammed's family, to Ali, to Fatima to Hassan and Hussein, their sons. The martyrdom of Hussein which is enacted yearly by the Shiites this is what brings them together, the killing of some of their own. Their catastrophe, their martyrdom often brings them together. Rather than recognize the caliphs the elected leaders, the Shiites pay allegiance to a succession of imams. Now as you think about Shiites, they believe that there are 12 imams these are known as 12 or Shiites. The Shiites place their authority in this belief based on the statement made by Mohammed. Mohammed said, ‘I leave two great and precious things among you, the book of Allah and my household. If you keep hold of both of them, you will never go astray after me.’ And so they look at the statement by Mohammed and they say ‘Mohammed intended for his household to lead us.’ Shiites believe that the 12th imam was commanded by God to go into hiding, and he will return publicly at the day of resurrection. They believe this 12th descendent of Mohammed is miraculously still alive today. Now you stop and think about this a moment. They believe there's a final imam that has been hiding and that he's miraculously preserved day by day, living beyond what anybody else lives today. They believe it so much that 1/5 of Shiite Muslims yearly profits are given to this hidden imam. Now where is he? How is he using that money? Who knows! This is a big division in Islam.

Now let's talk about some countries and their variation- whether their Shiite or Sunni. Iran is overwhelmingly Shiite-89% of them are Shiite. Shiite Muslims also form a majority of the population in Yemen, Bahrain, and 60% of the population of Iraq. There are also sizable Shiite communities along the East Coast of Saudi Arabia and in Lebanon. The well-known organization has Bala which has forced Israelites out of southern Lebanon in 2000 is Shiite. Shiites are very war minded. They are ones who would attack others very quickly. Worldwide Shiites constitute about 10 to 15% of the overall population. But listen carefully, these 10 the 15% make up the majority of the radical, violet element in Islam. They are the ones who are

antagonistic and aggressive. They're the ones who often blow themselves up in many ways. There are also some well-known Sunnis. Osama bin Laden was a well-known Sunni. The leader of Iraq and all those who go along with that were well-known leaders of the Sunni religion. Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein they were both of the Sunni background. A well-known Shiite today would be as we think about those who are on this belief Ahmadinejad the president of Iran. He is Shiite very adamant, very aggressive with a lot of his statements to take the United States off the face of the map.

Our study of Islam has revealed that this is a very serious religion. It's growing at a fast pace throughout the world. When I think about this I asked myself as a Christian, ‘What am I going to do about this?’ Am I just going to go on with the flow and do nothing? Or am I going to equip myself? Am I going to learn some of these things that are little unfamiliar and maybe a little harder to grip around? Am I going to learn in such a way that I can be prepared to tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ?

In our next few lessons we are going to talk about Mohammed. Islam revolves around Mohammed. We are going to ask the question- Is Mohammed really a prophet of God or was he a religious imposter? Is there any evidence that will show either way? I want to take a critical, analytical look at the evidence. We’re also going to look at the Islamic view of Jesus Christ. How do Islam's view the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? We want to look very critically at the Quran. We will examine its prophecies, look at it historically, and see if it lines up. Is the Quran a book that will hold up to scrutiny?

Maybe you're thinking today what good will this do me? I hope and pray today that you will continue to join us and the material will show that Islam is not from God. Mohammed was not a prophet of God. The evidence is overwhelming that such is not the case. I want to prepare myself to talk to others about that.

Maybe you've never obeyed the gospel. We invite you to study God's book, the Bible. Test the Bible. We want to encourage you to examine this book and see if it's from God. See if it will hold up to scrutiny. If it will, won't you give your life to the word of God which promises eternal life to all who follow it?

Study Questions for: “Islam: Lesson 1”

1. What does 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tell us to prove?

2. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:21, what should we hold fast to?

3. According to Acts 17:11, why were they more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica?

4. According to Mark 16:15, who are we to take the gospel to?

5. Where are we to go with the gospel according to Matthew 28:18-20?

6. Why is it important for us to study Islam?

‘Though He was a son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.’

Welcome to our study of Jesus, the author of eternal salvation. As we think about the idea of Jesus being the author of eternal salvation, this word for author is a very unique word.

In fact it's only used one time in the New Testament. That makes it unique and special. When God inspired the New Testament, He wrote it in the common language. To find a special or unique word like this there is an idea that God is trying to get across. The word literally means ‘that which causes’ or ‘is the source of anything that resides.’ It's the idea of being the reason or force for an action. The idea of author carries with it someone who maybe writes a book or someone who invents a storyline. There are some similarities there but maybe even a better word would be ‘the inventor.’

Jesus is the inventor of eternal salvation. He brought to fruition. The idea was in the mind of God, and Jesus put into action by His perfect life and lifestyle in every way.

When you think about famous inventors and inventions and the effect that they had a life and humanity-where would we be without certain inventions that have made life so much more productive?

For example in the year 1903, the Wright brothers invented the airplane. Look at what a difference that has made in our ability to go to other countries and even in the ability to spread the gospel to places. Before the airplane the automobile was created in the year 1889. Look at the way travel has taken off with the automobile, roads, engines, and all that goes along with that. Think of other inventions like the steel plow. John Deere made the steel plow in 1836, and look at the way agriculture has changed for good. Thomas Edison created the lightbulb invented it in the year 1879. Think about how much that invention has changed the world.

Then think about the greatest invention of all time. Jesus Christ is the greatest inventor. The greatest invention ever is salvation and bringing that to fruition. That's what God did. That's what God made possible through His son Jesus Christ.

Today we will ask several questions as it relates to Jesus, the author or inventor of salvation.

First of all what makes it possible for Jesus to be the author and the inventor of salvation? Friend as you think about the salvation, we have this is only because of the perfect life that Jesus lived. Jesus makes salvation possible, because He lived a perfect life of obedience to God. Were it not for Jesus’ life and His perfection, salvation wouldn’t be possible. “Having been perfected,” the Hebrew writer says “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

But what does it mean that Jesus became perfected? Friends just like me and just like you, Jesus faced challenges. He faced difficulties. He was tempted. Yet through all that, He lived a pure and perfect life. Notice what the Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 4:15. The Bible says “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are,” notice “yet without sin.” It's not that we can't sympathize with Jesus. Jesus can sympathize with us. He knows what I'm going through. He knows what you're going through, because He's been there. And yet, Jesus did it without sin. 1 Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin nor was guile or deceit found in His mouth.” For that reason the Bible

says ‘God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin, to be the sin offering on our behalf that we might be the righteousness of God in Him.’ When we think about Jesus the son of God, we must realize He is that perfect example of a life lived correctly.

John said in John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” I believe Mark summed it up in Mark 7:37 when he said this “And they were astonished beyond measure saying He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” What a great commentary on the perfect life of Jesus. He did everything well. That summarizes Jesus, the inventor of salvation, by His perfect life.

What else did Jesus do that makes the salvation possible? Jesus makes this salvation possible by His suffering that He gave on Calvary. I want you to think about Hebrews 5:7-8. “Though He was a son, yet He learned obedience by the things He suffered.” Jesus had to suffer to make salvation a reality and to bring it to fruition. He had to go through horrible suffering. Think about the words of 1 John 2:1-2. The Scripture says John says “My little children these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ, the righteous, and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus suffered for all mankind. He gave up His life. Hebrews 2:9 “He tasted death for every man.” He was offered outside the camp. Hebrews 13:12 He suffered greatly so that I can have the hope of eternal life and so that you could as well. Peter thought about the suffering. Peter saw the suffering Jesus went through in many ways first hand. When he thought about this suffering here's what he said in 1 Peter 4:1. Peter said “Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind for He was suffer in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Peter identifies that this suffering was in the flesh- meaning that it did hurt when Jesus suffered. It was painful. The things He went through were agonizing. Jesus did all of that so that we can have the hope of eternal life through Him.

I want you think about, for just a moment, some of the passages that teach us about the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. For example take your mind back to the events surrounding the cross and the events surrounding the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Think about this: Jesus suffered horribly at the hands of ungodly men. Matthew 26:67 the Bible says “Then they spat in His face and beat Him and others struck Him with

the palm of their hands.” Before that Roman government and the Jews and all the evil people of that day- what did they do to Jesus? Can you imagine? They spit in the face of the Lord. They beat Him. They strike Him with the palm of their hand. I don't think it's a slap; I think it's more with the palm like a martial arts hit. They did that to Jesus as part of His suffering.

But then think about this also. In Matthew 27:26 we’re told “Then he,” Pilate, “released Barabbas to them, and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered Him to be crucified.” What else did Jesus go through? Jesus was scourged. When you think about the scourging of Christ we’re talking about something like a whip with metal or bone or pieces of glass embedded in the end of it. They would stretch Jesus’ back tightly across a post or something like that. Then over and over again they brought that whip down on the back of Jesus. Why did they do that? He hasn't done anything wrong. They did that so that Jesus would suffer the penalty of my sin and for yours. They may not even have known that, but in God's mind that suffering Jesus went through was the suffering that each of us deserve to receive. And yet, Jesus took our place.

We learn in Matthew 27:28-29 not only did they scourged Jesus, the Bible says this “And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, And when they twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head.” They take Jesus, and after they've beaten Him they place that robe on his back. That robe adheres to the sores and the wombs. They take a crown of thorns, and they put it in the on Jesus’ head. They press it into His brow. Can you imagine the suffering Jesus had to endure? Making Him out to be a king, mocking Jesus, and then listen to these words “then they spat on Him, took the read, struck Him on the head, and when they mocked Him they took the robe off.” That crown of thorns that’s in the brow Jesus, they then hit Him on the head with something like a stick and pressed those thorns into His brow. Then that robe, which had adhered to His bloody back, they tore off and the pain started all over again. Then we learn in Matthew 27:35 “Then they crucified Him and divided His garments casting lots.”

They took the Lord and Savior, the great inventor of salvation, and they nailed Him to a cross. For every breath Jesus had to put pressure on His ankles, and to exhale He had to let it out on His arms. Jesus suffered in agony until He died on that cruel cross for me and for you. Jesus has the right to be the inventor of salvation because of what He suffered in this life and what He gave up.

Let's think about this then, what is it that makes this salvation that Jesus brought to life so great? What is it about salvation that makes a person want to take part in that? This salvation is great because it's eternal in nature. We’re not talking about being saved temporarily or momentarily. We’re talking about being saved from sin forever. If one obeys the gospel, Matthew 25:46 Jesus said, ‘The righteous will go away into eternal life never ever having to worry about sin and death and all the things that go along with that.’ When I get to heaven, it'll be eternal in nature.

Sometimes when we think about eternal life, we only think in terms of time, but when God defined eternal life, God didn't define it based on time. Here's God's view of eternal life. John 17:3 notice what the Scripture says. The Bible says in John chapter 17:3 Jesus speaking, “And this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

What's eternal life all about? Living forever? Not in the real sense. That's included in it. Jesus said this is ‘eternal life that they may know you.’ Eternal life is being in a close relationship with God. Having that closeness that oneness that's the real essence of eternal life.

What else makes this salvation great? This salvation is great because it is salvation from sin and from Satan. What is it in this life that hurts man? It's sin and the work of Satan. Sin causes death. It's something we all have to deal with. Romans 3:10 says “There is none righteous, no not one.” “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. As result of the fact that all have sinned the Bible says “the wages of sin is death.” Not dying physically necessarily but spiritual death. ‘The soul who sins shall surely die.’ It's the death, the eternal destruction of the soul in hell.

Think about in these terms. In Isaiah 59:1-2 the Bible says “The Lord's ears not heavy that He cannot save, nor His arm shortened that He cannot save, Lord's ear heavy that He cannot hear, but your sins and your iniquities have separated you from your God.” Sin is a separation. If eternal life is being in the closeness of God, then the opposite of that is sin is a separation from God and from His presence. The good news is Jesus and the salvation He brought to life gives us hope from sin. Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.” But aren’t you thankful for the last part of that verse? “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Not only am I safe from sin, I also can be saved from Satan and all his devices.

The Bible says that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He's actively trying to cause men and women to be lost. Here's the good news about Jesus salvation: He, Jesus, through death overcame in the power of death and has released those, who all their lifetime, were subject to bondage. Jesus defeated death, and He has defeated Satan.

Think about the words of Romans 6:17. Notice this beautiful statement that Paul makes. The Bible says “God be thanked that though you were the slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which were delivered, we have the hope that as we have obeyed the gospel we can know we been delivered from sin and Satan.”

Then there's a third thing that makes this salvation so great. This salvation is ultimately in that beautiful place we know is heaven or Paradise. Remember what Jesus told his disciples in John 14? His disciples had been hearing that Jesus was about to have to leave them. He was going to go back to the Father and knowing that they would get discouraged. Jesus said this “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in me. In My Father's house are many mansions. Were it not so, I would've told you.” And then He said this “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also.”

Jesus has gone to prepare that heavenly place that place where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death; all the former things have passed away, Revelation 21:4. That place the Bible describes as Paradise. Jesus said to the thief in Luke 23:43 “This day you shall be with Me in paradise.”

Don't you long to go to a place like that? I think of the words Romans 8:18 Paul said “We consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

When we think about heaven, that wonderful eternal home of all the saved, friend that's one of the things that makes salvation so great.

Let's ask another important question about this salvation that Jesus has invented or brought to life. Who can receive the salvation? Who's it for? Is it for just a few? Is it just for the elite? Is it just for one group or another?

The good news is all who are willing to obey Jesus can access the salvation. Remember again Hebrews 5:8-9. “Though He was a son yet He learned obedience by the things He has suffered, and having been perfected He became the author of eternal salvation,” listen, “to all who obey Him.” This salvation is not prejudiced. It is not biased. It is not just for one group. Any person who's willing to obey God and submit to Him can and will be saved.

I love the words of Peter in Acts 10:34-35. The Bible says “Then Peter opened his mouth and said ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality,’” but notice ‘every nation who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’” God is not prejudice. God is not partial. The Bible says ‘Every nation.’ Every nation who does what? ‘Fears Him and works righteousness can be accepted.’

Friend the good news is this salvation is available to the whole world. Here's the nature of God. “God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth,” 1 Timothy 2:4.

How bad does God want that? God wanted so bad. His son, His only unique son, tasted death for every man. He is the propitiation for our sins. Not for ours alone, but for the sins of the whole world. When God makes His invitation, He clearly says “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden,” Matthew 11:28. “Let whosoever will come” God says, Revelation 22:17.

Anyone who is willing to change their life and submit to the will of God can be saved.

Notice what Paul said to a group of idolatrous people in Acts 17:30-31. The Scripture says “Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Why? “Because He has appointed a day that He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom He has ordained. And He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” I know God is willing and able to save all who will repeat.

All men everywhere, from every nation, who are willing to obey God's will can partake of this salvation.

There's one final question that we need to ask. How does a person obey Jesus, the inventor or author of salvation?

Friend, if Jesus is the author and if He is the inventor, He owns the patent. He holds the right, and He gets to set the guidelines for what a person must do to be saved. It doesn't matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what you think or some religious leaders somewhere thinks. Here's what matters: What does the Scripture say? Romans 4:3, Jeremiah 37:17.

What has God said one must do to become a Christian?

It's this simple if you will do what God says in the Bible, you can partake of this salvation. I love the words of Mary at the wedding in Cana in John 2. Somehow Mary has sensed that Jesus is going to perform His first miracle turning the water into grape juice, turning the water into wine. In John 2 when she realizes Jesus is going to do this, she turns to the servants and says “Whatever He,” Jesus, “says to you do it.”

Any person who will have that mindset ‘Whatever God says to me in the Bible, I'm going to do it,’ that person can be saved. In fact look at what Jesus said. Jesus realized it wasn't enough just to verbalize His name, but you had to do what He said. Notice Matthew 7:21. The Bible says Jesus speaking “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.” It isn’t enough just to look up and say ‘Lord, Lord’ you've got to be willing to do what God says. Jesus asked this haunting question to the religious elite to the Pharisees in Luke 6:46 Jesus said “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do the things which I say?”

Friend it is true that if I'm going to be saved, I have to obey Jesus. Obedience is essential to salvation. In fact, you can't say you love God if you're not willing to obey Him. Did you know that's what Jesus said? Jesus simply said “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

What must a person do then to be saved? What does Jesus say I've got a do to be saved?

The Scriptures clearly teaches that a person must first hear the word of God. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 “without faith it's impossible to please God.” If I have to have faith to please God, then whatever way I get

faith is essential.

How do I get faith in God? Romans 10:17 tells us “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” To be saved I first must hear the word of God, which creates faith in the individual member. Jesus said every one of the seven congregations in Revelation and in every one of those letters Jesus said “To him that has ears let him hear.” I must listen carefully what God says, and only except His word as the final truth.

Secondly then I must believe in Jesus. Here's what Jesus said. Jesus said “Unless you believe that I'm He, you'll surely die in your sins,” John 8:24. It can't stop at the point ‘believe only.’

There's more to being saved then just believing in Jesus. A person also has to repent. The Bible says Jesus speaking in Luke 13:3-5, “I tell you no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Repentance is a turn. Acts 3:19 Peter preached “Repent and turn again that your sins may be blotted out.”

Are you willing today not only to believe in Jesus, not only to accept His word as the final guide, but to turn from a life of sin to a life of serving God?

If so, would you make that great confession? Jesus taught us it was essential to confess Him before men. Jesus said “If you won’t confess me before men neither will I confess you before the Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32-33.

Having made that great confession, would you be immersed in water to obey Jesus?

Here's how plain and how simple Jesus made it, in Mark 16:16 Jesus said “He that believes and is baptized will be saved.” If you've got the mindset ‘Whatever Jesus says, I'm going to do it,’ then friend you have got to realize Jesus said you must believe and be baptized. For what reason? To be saved. That's in accord with the first gospel sermon in Acts 2. When they cried out “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The answer was “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Baptism is not something you do two weeks after

saved. It's not something that is just something good to do. It is necessary.

The Bible says “One must be born of water and spirit to get into the kingdom of God,” John 3:5.

We ask you today, are you sure you've accessed this great salvation? He is, Jesus is, the author of eternal salvation to all who obey.

Ask yourself: Have I really obeyed the word of God? Are you sure today? Don't wonder. Don't guess.

Are you sure, based on the knowledge of God's word that you’re saved?

If not, we encourage you today get your life right. Make sure you have accessed the great salvation before it's everlastingly too late.

Study Questions for Topical Lesson 2:

“Jesus, the author of eternal salvation”

1. According to Hebrews 4:15, can Jesus sympathize with us?

2. According to Hebrews 4:15, how was Jesus tempted? Did He sin?

3. What does 1 Peter 2:22 say of Jesus?

4. Who takes away the sins of the world according to John 1:29?

5. How does Mark 7:37 summarize Jesus’ life?

6. According to 1 John 2:1-2, why were the things written?

7. According to 1 John 2:1-2, if we sin who is our advocate?

8. According to Hebrews 2:9, what did He taste for every man?

9. What does Matthew 25:46 say about the righteous?

10. What’s the free gift of God according to Romans 6:23?

The Scripture records, of the good king David, that at times he was a man after God's own heart.

We welcome you today to our study of great Bible characters.

As we think today about David, we want to emphasize the good that David did, some of the areas that he could have done better in and then some of the things that were really ugly in the life of David so that it will help each of us to be closer to Almighty God.

As we think today about King David, we think about principles of righteousness, principles for life, and practical lessons of both- what to do and not to do- so that our relationship with God can be better.

You know someone once said, "Smart people learn from their own mistakes. Really smart people learn from mistakes of others." Not only can we say that about mistakes, we could say that about right things done as well. I can learn from the good David did. I can learn from the bad and the ugly in his life. In each principle, I can learn it in a way that it can be applied to my life so that I can live faithful to the Lord.

Now, as you think about David, what brought David into being king?

Because of King Saul's unlawful sacrifice committed in 1 Samuel 13 and his failure to obey God's commands, 1 Samuel 15:21-22. God, according 1 Samuel 13:14 began to look for an immediate replacement to King Saul.

David, in Samuel's estimation, was the most unlikely of all of Jesse's sons to be replacement for King Saul. He wasn't the tallest. He wasn't the strongest, but he did have the right heart. David's life and his work cover a large portion of biblical literature in the Old Testament.

The life of David can be found from 1 Samuel 16 through 31, all of 2 Samuel. 1 and 2 Kings covers a lot of David's life as well as 1 Chronicles 11 to 29. So, you've got a massive chunk of Old Testament literature, and on top of the Psalms, that deals with the life of David. He is a key figure in Scripture.

We want to think about his life and what we can apply for that from that for just a few moments.

These following four statements are kind of a summary description of David's life maybe his epitaph we might think of. David is aptly known as a man who was a mighty man-of-war. When we think about David, he was a warrior, a gladiator in many ways, 1 Samuel 16:18. At the same time, he's known as the sweet psalmist, poet of Israel. Of David it was said by Nathan, you are a man caught in sin.

The Bible says he was a man after God's own heart. What a great complement! Now of David, he was a man who died in old age, for the most part, as a man of God. In fact David's reign actually became the litmus test, the criterion, by which all other Kings are judged according 1 Kings 15:3.

Let's take just a few moments and think about some of the things in David's life that were really good that he did.

First, and probably one of the least mentioned of the things David did that was good as it related to God, is David actually spared Saul's life on various occasions. David had already been anointed as king of Israel, according to 1 Samuel 16, yet David would not rise up and take that mantle

away from Saul because he revered him as God's anointed 1 Samuel 24:6 and 1 Samuel 26:9.

Now did David have every right to be king? Absolutely! Had God already placed His approval on that? Yes, he had! But God had anointed Saul. Saul was still reigning as king and the people recognized that. So for David to rise up and do that could have been detrimental to some of the people watching or to the view of God's anointed. He didn't want to do anything that would detract from people serving God, from God remaining holy, and having that reverence and fear for him in their lives.

From David we learn great respect and reverence for Almighty God.

Friend, when people look at my life, when they look at your life, and they see Christ living in us, we want people to see respect for God and holy things. When we talk about the Bible, we want people to see the respect oozing out of our lips. We want people to see how much love we have for God. When we talk about God himself, his character, his nature, his promises, we want the respect for the Almighty to be seen in our words. But just not in our words, we want people to see in our actions. We want what we say to match up to what we do, just as David tried to do in his life.

We want to really live for Christ every day. Especially as you, think about this, as young people look at other Christians, they're looking to see what a pattern for Christ lived in somebody else's life looks like. Friend, we want them to see this. Jesus said, "If any man desires come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."

A second good thing that David did, and this is probably what David is best known for, is his defeat of the ungodly giant Goliath.

You remember the story of David and Goliath. There is this giant of the heathen nation, Goliath by name. Nobody in Israel wanted to go up against him. He's huge. He's a big, strong, mighty man of valor. The text tells us in 1 Samuel 17, he goes out every morning, and he taunts God's people. He rebels and mocks God. David, just a shepherd boy, is going to deliver goods to his brothers who are actually soldiers. He hears this; he's made angry. He's incensed by it. So David says ‘I'm not to let this go on.

Give me some armor. Let me go out there.’ He puts the armor on, and it doesn't fit. He goes out there anyway as a young lad, five stones and a sling, and God behind him, takes that giant down.

You know when you think about David, here's what you learn: This good lesson from the life of David shows us the courage David had and his deep abiding trust in God and his promises.

Friend, isn't that practical lesson for us? What can Christians accomplish with God on their side? The Bible says in Philippians 4:13,"I can do all things through Christ, through him who strengthens me." The question is not: What can we accomplish? The question is really: What can we not accomplish?

There isn't anything beyond our reach, if we put our trust and faith in God. We do have some pretty monumental tasks set before us. Jesus gave us one of the greatest. Do you remember it? "Go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature", Mark 16:15. That's a magnificent, monumental task. Can that be accomplished? Only with God, can it be accomplished. I need the courage to take God at His word, to do my best, to do what I can to serve Him, and to never let fear or lack of courage get in the way.

Then I need the ability, just like David, to trust God's promises. Did God tell His people you can defeat the heathens? I'm going to give them your hand, you will win the battle? You bet he did on numerous occasions.

Israel's failure is when they begin to look at their foes as bigger than their God. David didn't see that. He didn't see a giant in Goliath. He saw a giant in God and with God on his side wasn't anything he couldn't accomplish.

Friend, we need to trust in the Almighty. Listen to the words of Hebrews 13 the Bible says, "Let your life be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have." Why? "For the Lord Himself has said ‘I will never’ ", listen to this, "I will never leave you nor forsake you, so that you may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can men do to me?' " Another great promise or blessing David received, and a part of the good came from his life is due to his faithfulness. David received the seed promise which is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, 2 Samuel 7:12-14. God says to David, "There'll be one of your seed who will sit on your throne. He'll reign in the house of Judah forever." Who is that? Jesus is that seed of Abraham bless all nations, Galatians 3:14-15. And it is said of Christ, in Luke 1:32-33, "You will call His name Jesus. He'll be great. He'll be son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and", listen now, direct fulfillment, "He will reign over the house of

Israel or Judah forever." He had that wonderful blessing because he put trust in God. God worked through his family, worked through his lineage, to bring Christ into the world. How grateful we are for those who are willing to follow God!

Look at the good that can be done. Only eternity will know what good can be done in my life and yours, if we trust God and take Him at face value and do what He says.

Friend, I also learn from the life of David about kindness and mercy that must be extended to others. David showed great kindness to Mephibosheth, that is the son of Jonathan. Although he could've been viewed as an enemy and viewed in a negative light, this young man who faced a hard life himself brought to the table of David, treated like a son, dealt with in mercy and fairness and kindness and love.

What a powerful lesson for us! How does God want me and you to deal with people? We're to deal with them in love. "Love your neighbor, do good to those who use you and those who mistreat you" Jesus would say

in Matthew 5:10-12. I am to have the kindness that Christ had. Let the spirit of Christ rule in me. I'm to be tenderhearted, kind, loving, and gentle towards all men and in view of that I do it all to give God the honor and the glory when people look at my life. If we have the kindness, the love, the sincerity, the hospitality, that we ought to have, Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven," Matthew 5:16 .

As we think about practical lessons that were good from the life of David, David stands out as a true and faithful prophet of God, who ended up writing by inspiration many of the Psalms and Proverbs.

When you think about David, David was a man inspired by God.

2 Samuel 23:2, David said, "His word was on my tongue." As a prophet, as one who looked into the future through God using him, he faithfully proclaimed and said what God said. He stood true to the word of God and he let God use him to speak His word.

Now let's make practical application of that today. As God's people today, if we can learn from David how he was a faithful prophet, a man of God, we too need today to be faithful spokespersons of, faithful people who are willing to speak God's word.

Remember 2 Timothy 4:2? The Bible says, "Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season." Paul said to Titus, "As for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine" Titus 2:1.

So when we speak, let's let our speech be the speech of God. Let's say what God says. Let's speak the truth in love and point Jesus point people to Jesus by faithfully proclaiming what He's taught and what He said.

You know another very practical, this is a difficult lesson that we learn from David is: he's an example of a man who was willing to repent.

Was David perfect? Not at all. He had problems in his life and we'll identify some of those. In particular the one is being spoken of in Psalm 51, is his sin with Bathsheba. He committed wrong. He tried to hide it.

He did those things that were not pleasing in the sight of God. And yet, while we may think about that momentarily, the thing to hone in on as we relate to David's good qualities, is he was a man when he recognized sin owned up to it. He was willing to repent.

Listen to the beautiful words of David in Psalm 51, David said, "Have mercy upon me, oh God, according to your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin," Psalm 51:3, "I acknowledge my transgressions, my sin is always before you a before me, against you and you only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight."

And so when I think about David's life, I think of a man who was willing to repent.

Who among us doesn't need to have that quality? The Bible says, "All, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. I've made mistakes. I've done things wrong and so have you. So, part of being a person who has the heart after God, is when we do wrong, we're willing to repent and make it right. Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" Luke 13:3.

Now let's shift gears for just a moment. As we think about David's life, I want to learn from the good; I want to follow that. I also want to take note of some things he did that were not right. I want to avoid that.

One of the things David did that was bad is in violation of the law of God: he multiplied wives-which was a direct violation of God's word and wasn't according to the original principal of marriage in Genesis 2.

Listen to the words of Deuteronomy 17 where the Scripture clearly teaches that Kings were not to multiply wives. Deuteronomy 17:17 says this

principle is given to the king says, "Neither shall he, the king, multiply wives for himself lest his heart turn away, nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself." And so, God said to the king, ‘Don’t multiply wives.’ What's God's original pattern? Jesus goes back to it in Matthew 19. He says, "From the beginning it was not so.” What beginning? "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh."

Did God intend for all these Kings to have all these? Never in His original pattern. Did God allow it? Yes, Acts 17:30-31, 'These times of ignorance, God once overlooked,’ allowed them to continue it without endorsing it- but it was never a part of his plan.

Some of the problems you'll see in David's life- and especially, you can't help but read Deuteronomy 17:17 and think of Solomon. God said don't multiply wives- they're going to turn your heart away from God. We're now in 1 Samuel, 1 Kings 11, up on the hilltop, there's Solomon with his wives worshiping false gods. Proof that it would never was God's plan and it was going to pull them away from the Almighty.

I want to learn from this that God intended for one man and one woman to remain in that marriage for life, Romans 7:1-4, that they're to help one another, to love one another, to encourage, to uplift, to follow the teachings of God, and by doing that, you can have the best life possible.

Now another bad thing that we learned that David did-I don't think it was intentional-I know it wasn't intentional, but it was still bad: David transported the Ark of God in an unauthorized way. It led to Uzzah's death.

Do you member the scene and the setting? The people, the enemies have taken over the Ark of God. They're asking God's people to take it back

because they couldn't handle it. It's being sent back, and David goes to get it. The Bible tells us that Uzzah and Ahio put it on a new cart, and they drove it. As they reach a place called Nachon's threshing floor, evidently they hit what one might think of as a bump in the road. It looks like the Ark is going to fall. Uzzah loves God. He loves the Ark. He doesn't want it to fall, and so he reaches out to stabilize it. H died right there on the spot. He drops dead. David's angry. He didn't know what's going on. He thinks he's trying to do the right thing and yet, in the process of this, he had violated the word and the will of God unknowingly.

Look to 1 Chronicles 15, concerning this event, "For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us. Because we did not consult him about the proper order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel and the children of the Levites bore the Ark of God on their shoulders by its poles as Moses had commanded according to the Lord.

What do we know about David? David made an error here. Was it intentional? No, but they didn't consult God about the proper order. They didn't look to the word of God to find out how to transport that.

Friend, as we think about this, even though our intention

may be to follow God as David's was, the only way to do that correctly is by following God's word. That's how God has revealed Himself to us in His word the Bible.

Now, let's turn our attention to the ugly in David's life. And friend, it is ugly in the sense that these things are violations of the will of God and heinous crimes against God and man. There are powerful lessons I can learn from in the negative sense of what not to do. What's the ugliest of all? We turn to 2 Samuel 11 and 12. We think about David. He's up on the rooftop, time when kings ought to be out to war. He sees beautiful Bathsheba bathing nude. He desires her. He wants to take her as wife and

at the time when he should've been out to war. He finds another man's wife he's attracted to. In 2 Samuel 11, he desires her. In the process, he takes her for his own. In the process of this adulterous relationship where David and Bathsheba are together, she becomes pregnant. He tries to bring her

husband home so he'll think it's his. He eventually sends him to the front lines and tells them to back away so that he'll be killed.

You've got adultery, lying, deception, murder, and a host of things going on here all because he wanted to have another man's wife. David's family suffered greatly because of this sin with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 12 through 20. The things that go on with Absalom, the unrest that was in David's house, can be directly related back to this: David's sin against God in doing that.

We desperately need to realize that this was a violation of God's will and His commands. What do I learn from that? Friend, listen very carefully, we have the expression "the grass is always greener on the other side" but you know that's just not true. The Bible says in Proverbs 5,"Rejoice with the wife of your youth." If you're always trying to up the ante, you'll never be happy. If you can find the true joy in two people striving to serve God together and help one another get to heaven-what a wonderful thing that will be.

We have the adultery with Bathsheba, David's cover-up, his continued sinful relation in that and we have him causing her husband

to be murdered, and having to deal with the consequences and guilt of that. There are a host of things that were very ugly, back to this one event.

As you think about David's life and the ugly things in it, David did one other thing that God was deeply upset about. David sinned against God in his unauthorized census of the people. This is recorded in 2 Samuel 24 and as a result of this sin, 70,000 people died in three days. When you look at that context in 2 Samuel 24, it wasn't even that the numbering or the census was the problem is that in so doing it looks like they were putting their trust in their numbers not in God.

Friend, as we think about trusting God, it's not the numbers. It's not the amount of people. It's not the weaponry. It's not those types of things. It's God who is the true source of our health and our hope. People are going to be hurt.

You know I learn from David's life, when I make bad decisions and you make bad decisions, when we do things that are direct violation of God's will, it not only hurts us, it hurts others.

How do you think Bathsheba felt when she found out her husband was dead? How do you think that they both felt when that son died? How do you think David felt for the lie as a public figure, for the lying that he did there, for the deception, when the nation found out and they would, what happened? What about the 70,000 people who died because David decided to make a census for their own showing?

My actions and your actions, although sometimes we think they're independent of ourselves, have deep ramifications with everyone in our life.

I need to think about what I'm doing before I do that.

David, a man after God's own heart, teaches us good things we can do in serving God, in following him, living after his truth, and in trying to have the right heart.

We mentioned David did repent of those things. He did get his life right with God. He was man enough to say, ‘I have sinned. I've erred exceedingly.’ He said ‘you know I'm putting this out before you, help me deal with it,’ in essence. He was big enough to deal with it, and we learn greatly from that.

We also learn some things I don't want to do: I don't want to lie. I don't want to cheat. I don't want to look after another man's wife. I want to put my trust in God and His word. I always want to turn to this book to find out what to do.

Friend, we ask you today to seriously consider your own spiritual state.

Jesus asked two questions to get to the heart of what our real priority ought to be.

Jesus said, "What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

The most valuable thing you have, my friend, is your soul. That soul will spend eternity somewhere forever. There are only two options: either heaven with God and with Christ or hell with the devil and all the wicked of eternity.

Friend, our encouragement to you is to obey the gospel and become a Christian.

If you already believe Jesus is the son of God, would you be willing to follow that up by making true repentance in your life? Would you confess "I believe Jesus is the Christ"? Would you be baptized for the remission of your sins?

Wouldn't it be great of us, if one day, it was said that's a man who tried to follow the heart of God.

Study Questions for:

“Great Bible Characters Lesson 2: King David”

1. Who was the other king compared to in 1 Kings 15:3?

2. How did David beat Goliath in 1 Samuel 17?

3. According to Philippians 4:13, what can we do through Christ?

4. What great task did Jesus give us in Mark 16:15?

5. What did God promise us in Hebrews 13:5?

6. In 2 Samuel 23:2, who spoke through David?

7. In Psalms 51, did David acknowledge his sins and repent?

8. According to Romans 3:23, who has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?

9. According to Luke 13:3, what will happen if we do not repent?

10. Who did David say he sinned against in Psalms 51:4?

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUS

TEACH US TO PRAY SERIES

“Introduction to Prayer: Lesson 1”

Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Ben Bailey.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man overcomes much,” James 5:16.

We welcome to our study of prayer. The disciples said to Jesus, ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ We're going to be thinking about in this series of lessons, the beautiful subject of prayer. We encourage you to get your Bible, and stay tuned as we study this wonderful subject together.

As we think about prayer we begin by asking, what is prayer? Is prayer just wishful thinking? Is prayer just some hopeful idea? Is it a maybe? Is it a guess? Is there doubt involved in that? What exactly is prayer to the child of God?

When you think about prayer, there are some interesting ideas that go along with that. Prayer gives the child of God great strength. Jesus said in Luke 18:1, “Men ought to pray always and never lose heart.” In fact it was Leonard Ravenhill who once said, ‘If weak in prayer, we are weak everywhere.’ Prayer has a certain amount of strength that it gives to the child of God. How true it is that we need prayer in our life.

Prayer is also a necessity. It's something that the child of God cannot go day-to-day without having in his life. Like breathing, like eating and drinking, prayer ought to be second nature to the child of God. Francois Fenelon said this, "Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity, none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer." We all talk about prayer; we think about it; we sing about prayer; we know that the Scripture says, ‘We

can come boldly to the throne of grace that we might find grace and mercy to help in time of need.’ But, do we really make prayer an active part of our life, or is prayer something we just kind of neglect at times?

I believe it was Corrie ten Boom who once said, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Do we really utilize the power of prayer as found in Scripture, or is it something we just lean up on when bad times come?

We can use prayer at any time. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we ought to, ‘Pray without ceasing.’ Prayer needs to be more than just a last resort for the child of God.

Let's let the Bible and the language of the New Testament define what prayer is. If we were to look up the word prayer in the dictionary, Webster would define it this way: prayer is to address God with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving. It is the communication between God and His children to express their praise, to express their thanksgiving, and no doubt to find help in time of need.

And while that's a textbook definition of prayer, the Greek language does help us a little with this subject. The Greek word proseuchomai, proseuchomai is the word that's most common used for prayer. And really it's a combination of two words. The word 'pros' literally means to express one's desire or longing toward in the direction of. When we talk about prayer from the original language, it's the expressing of one's desire with a direct purpose toward Almighty God. Our desire, our longing is expressed through the avenue of prayer directly to God. It's our way of showing our praise and thanksgiving to Him. Another Greek word that is used to describe prayer is 'erotao.' This word is defined: to ask or to make one's request.

When we think about prayer in this aspect, we're making our request toward God. We're asking Him for help. We're letting our cares fall upon Him, as 1 Peter 5:7 teaches.

But then there's a third word that we emphasize from the Greek language, and this is the word 'parakaleo.' This word paints a beautiful picture of the idea of prayer. In fact the word means: to call to one's aid or to entreat, to ask for help. A perfect example of this is found in Matthew

26:53. Notice what Jesus here said. Jesus used this word when He said, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father and He will provide Me with more than 12 legions of angels?” When you look at prayer from this viewpoint, it's asking God to come to our side, to come to our aid. We know Hebrews 2:16-18 says that we can find grace to help in time of need and that Christ is able to aid those who are in need. This picture of prayer is that we’re petitioning the throne of God, and God's forces are coming to the aid of His children. What a beautiful picture these ideas paint of prayer.

As we give an introduction to the idea of prayer, let's also realize that prayer is not just a figment of somebody's imagination. Prayer is not just wishful thinking. It's not talking to the sky we might say. In prayer there is real power, strength, and praise that is given to and received from Almighty God. Christians believe prayer is real, because the Scripture says so. Matthew 6:9 in the disciples' prayer, Jesus taught them ‘Pray our Father who is in heaven.’ Jesus didn't think prayer was a figment of somebody's imagination or a hoax or a trick. Jesus believed prayer was real communication with Almighty God. James 5:16 tells us it's real, “For the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man,” here's how it's real, “overcomes much.” Prayer has real results. It has real power, and the child of God can take true faith in that. Isaiah 38:5 God said, “I've heard your prayer and your supplication.” 1 Kings 9:3 speaking to the king there God said, “Your prayer and your supplication that you've made before Me,” in essence “I have heard.”

We know God heareth not the prayer of the ungodly, implied from that is He hears the prayer of the righteous, Acts 10:31 and John 9. And so, when we think about prayer let's realize, prayer is real, that it's something Christians can take comfort and encouragement in. Now someone says, ‘well how do we know prayer is real?’

Let me offer just a few ways that one can know from experience and from the things that happen that prayer is real. For example the Bible teaches us to pray for those who are sick. "If anyone's sick let them call for the elders the church, let them pray over him,” James 5:13-16. We know that prayer is real, because it helps those who are in need to get better, to overcome sickness, and to overcome the struggles, and the diseases that they may have. Prayer is real, because it has real power in evangelism. Matthew 9:36-38 Jesus, He looked out upon the multitudes, and He said to

His disciples, “Truly the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few,” and listen to this, “pray the Lord of hosts He'll send laborers into His vineyard or His harvest.”

Prayer has powerful results in reaching the lost. How many of us have prayed for someone who was lost, who never obeyed the gospel, whose heart was hardened, and God through the power of prayer and the word and those who were working with it, began to work on their heart?

Prayer is also real because we know it helps us in overcoming our troubles. Do you remember 1 Peter 5:7? Peter says, “Cast all your cares upon Him, the Lord, He cares for you.” When we find ourselves in trouble and in difficulty and in turmoil and difficulty of heart, how do we overcome that? “Cast all your anxieties or cares upon Him, He cares for us.” A Christian can pray and know that the burden and the weight that he is carrying, God is more than able and willing to help with that. Remember again Luke 18:1, Jesus said, “Men ought to pray always and never lose heart.”

When we get discouraged and we go down on her hands and knees to the Father in prayer, there is strength, there is help, and there is power to be attained through Almighty God. But you know we also know prayer is real because we believe in our faith in Almighty God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” One who truly has faith in God's word, we're not talking about a leap into the dark, we’re talking about faith in the inspiration of the Bible, faith in the evidence that shouts to us there is a God, faith in that creates a faith in God's word and faith in God, and prayer go hand-in-hand. This is why James would say, ‘If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberally without reproach and it will be given to him, but let him ask in faith with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea tossed to and fro and driven by the wind.’

When we ask in faith, we can have confidence; we can know God is more than able and willing to help His people. And so in understanding what prayer is, it also helps us to understand the reality of prayer. When a man bows his head, when a person gets down on his hands and knees at night, he's not just talking to the air. He's communicating with the creator of the universe, who spoke and all things came into existence, who sent His son to die for the sins of the world, and who ultimately wants to help His people go to heaven.

Now as we think about prayer, let's also realize we’re not talking about naturalism. And by that we mean this, we're not just saying that the things that are naturally going to happen are going to happen anyway. When we talk about prayer, we’re talking about God intervening and helping in someone's life. The naturalist approach to life just simply says that that we are completely governed by the laws of nature, which cannot be changed. What's going to happen is going to happen, and there's nothing we can do to change that. Friend, this is where prayer has power. If things are going to happen no matter what, what's the purpose in praying? Christians realize the Bible teaches that prayer has the ability to change the outcome, to change the course, to supplicate the will of God, and as a result intervene. God intervene on man's behalf. If such is the case that whatever's going to happen is going to happen anyway, then when Dan Barker said in "Losing Faith" that if the answer to prayers are merely what God's will is all along, then why pray?

We believe that prayer has the ability to change things. Prayer has the power to move the hand of God in the direction of and for the comfort and help of His people. And while we don't live in the age of miracles, we understand that we’re not living in a day and age where God's going to raise the dead or put the lame person's arm back together, that happened in the First century. We do believe God intercedes in human affairs. Ambrose Pierce said it this way, ‘In the devil's dictionary he defines prayer as to ask that the laws of the universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner confessed unworthy.’ We're speaking on behalf of God. God through His word speaks to us.

As we think about prayer, when we pray we’re asking God to intercede, to do something on the behalf of His children. And to make sure that as God's children, we are indeed striving to do His will and put first things first. So when we pray for somebody to get well, what are we asking? Are we asking God to just let things naturally work out the way the going to? No, we're asking God to intervene through means, providential means, through the means that He is more than able to use.

We’re asking God to help in this matter. It is different from miracles in that miracles were designed to specifically confirm the word. That word has been confirmed today. We know that God's word, the Bible, is true but prayer and the working of God in Providence, is different in that God through His own means and time whatever that may be. I don't have to

know, to realize, and understand and believe in the power of prayer whatever that may be. I know that God is more than able to work and to help in times like those.

As we think about the idea of prayer, let's also realize that God does answer all prayers that are heard, and we say it this way for a purpose. The Bible does teach that God does not hear certain prayers. I want you to; for example, look with me in Psalm 66:18. The Bible teaches that someone who's living in sin, God does not hear their prayer. The Scripture says, ‘if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.’ Now watch verse 19, ‘but certainly,’ David said ‘God has heard me, He has attended to the voice of my prayer.’ Is it the case that everybody who prays God hears? Not necessarily. The Bible teaches if ‘we regard iniquity in our heart,’ what's that mean? If I know I've got sin in my life, I'm living in sin, and I'm blatantly ignoring the will of God in doing what I want instead of what the will of God wants me to do, the psalmist clearly said if ‘I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.’

God does not acknowledge; God does not bless the prayer of someone who's living in sin. But to those whom God does hear their prayers David said Psalm 66:19, “I know He's heard my prayer.” To those who are trying to walk in the light, 1 John 1:7, God answers their prayers. God does not ignore the prayers He hears. The Bible pictures God as attentive to our needs, as listening to our prayers, and as ready to help those who are his children. Let me give an example 1 Peter 3 pictures God beautifully listening to and ready to help those who pray to Him. Listen to 1 Peter 3:12 the Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,” watch this now “His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” What's the picture of God? His eyes are open. He's attentive. His ear’s, they’re ready to hear their prayers.

When we think of God, God's a God who's ready to hear, who's ready to help in time of need. This is what we find again in 1 Peter 5:7. The Bible word there is 'to hurl', literally took to the cast to throw, “cast all your cares anxieties upon Him.” Why? Listen to this beautiful wordage, “He cares for you.” What's the result of God caring for you? I can cast my cares upon Him. He cares for me. The anxieties, the troubles, the difficulties we have, we can know and have confidence in the fact that God hears and that He is willing to answer those prayers and help His people who are in need.

When we think about prayer that God answers, you know there's been a lot of damage done with the old country music song that Garth Brooks sang: "Unanswered Prayers". ‘I thank God for unanswered prayers.’ You know for the child of God that's really not correct language. Here’s what I mean by that, when we say ‘unanswered prayer’ likely what we mean is, I prayed and the outcome was not what I wanted. But friend that doesn't mean God didn't answer the prayer. If I asked, if I seek, if I pray to God, and whatever it is I may be praying, just because the end result is not what I thought it ought to be doesn't mean God didn't answer.

Let me illustrate. The answer to prayer can come in several forms. Let's say that we're praying for somebody who's sick, and we’re asking God to heal that person, and God hears our prayers. Friend whether we like it or not the answer may at times be no. It may not be in that person's best interest. It may not be for their spiritual outcome. It may not be best for the longevity of their life for that person to get well. Although God heard our prayer, God knew what was best in His infinite wisdom. His answer and He did answer it, may be no. And you know that's the hard part. Sometimes I've got to realize my will may not be God's will. This is why Jesus prayed, “Not my will but thine be done.” Did God hear His prayer? Sure did! God answer that prayer in the immediate sense which Jesus wanted it answered. Then ‘if it's possible Father, let this cup pass from Me.’ What was the answer? No, it's not possible. Jesus knew that in the moment that he saw and felt the struggle and the difficulty and temptation. God heard His prayer, but God's will interceded and overcame at that time.

And then there may be another answer, the answer may be ‘not right now.’ Not just, ‘no’, but ‘not right now in my own time, in my own way.’ The timing of working things out for the furtherment of His kingdom, for the betterment of His children, and for the overall purpose of salvation is dependent upon God's time not ours. And so we may pray, and God may say the time's not right. ‘Not right now’ may at times be the answer.

Sometimes when we pray, it may be that things need to work out differently than what we realize. Then sometimes, the answer maybe yes, and we can positively identify certain times when that happens. That's why we say God answered my prayer.

Friend if we're walking in the light and we’re a child of God, God answers our prayer every time. But the answer may not always be what we

want it to be. When I look at my own life, when you look at yours, can't we really see times when we're glad that God was in control of that? Let me illustrate. Let's say that a man prays to take a different job, whatever that job may be. He prays to God and the answer is no to that job. As life passes, as years pass some other door opens up and it works out for his betterment, the betterment of his family, the betterment of the kingdom, and the end result that person looks at that scenario; and he looks back and said how thankful to God I am that God knew better than I did. That other job may not have really been what he needed, may not have helped him develop spiritually, and may not have been best for his family, best for the church.

When we pray, let's have the attitude, ‘not my will but thine be done.’ Let's realize just because God doesn't say yes, doesn't mean He doesn't answer. And thank God that God doesn't answer everything we want the way we want, because sometimes we don't always see things God's way.

What do we know about prayer? Friend we know positively that prayer is a very valuable asset for the child of God. Jesus used prayer multiple times throughout His ministry to praise God, to ask for help, to overcome the struggles in the garden, and to honor the Almighty plan that God had set forth.

But then we also see prayer like in the lives of Paul and Peter when they prayed in time of difficulty. We can to gain strength from prayer to overcome and be victorious in this life. We’re not just praying that things are going to naturally work out the way they are. We’re asking God to help, and we’re prefacing that with the Lord's will.

Friend ultimately as 1 Peter 3:12 says, “The eyes of the Lord, they're on the righteous. His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” One thing we've certainly seen today is that God does not hear the prayer of those who are living in sin. His face is against those doing evil. ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.’ Friend that alone ought to encourage and motivate one to make sure he is in a right relationship with God, so that he can access and have the power of prayer.

We ask you today, are you a child of God? Are you sure that you're in a relationship with God knowing that God is able to hear your prayer? Friend if you've never obeyed the gospel, more than anything God loves you and wants you to become His child. And we do as well.

The Scripture says God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2:4. The Bible says that ‘the Lord's not slow concerning His promises as some men count slowness, but He is long-suffering toward us not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ Friend, ‘God so loved you and He so loved me that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

Do you really believe that Jesus is God's son? Do you believe it enough that you're willing to repent of things in your life that are not according to the will of God, turn from sin, and turn to God? Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish,” Luke 13:3. Would you confess the beautiful name of Jesus as the son of God and Savior of the world? The Bible says in Romans 10:10, “With the heart, with the mind one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Having heard God's word, believed in Jesus, repented of your sin, and confessed His beautiful name; would you be immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins? In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, when they realized they'd killed their Messiah they were lost in sin. They cried out, ‘Men and brethren what shall we do?’ Here is the answer, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.’

Have you obeyed the gospel? If not friend, then God does not hear your prayer, if one's regarding iniquity in his heart. But He can, and you can become a child of God. You can have access to one of the greatest powers all the world, the power of prayer that has the power to overcome. If you're not a child of God, friend we urge you become one today. And if we are, let's utilize prayer. It truly has powerful results.

Study Questions for: “Prayer: Lesson 1”

1. According to James 5:16, what overcomes much?

2. What does Jesus tell me to do in Luke 18:1?

3. How shall we pray according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17?

4. In Matthew 26:53, what did Jesus have the ability to do?

5. According to Hebrews 2:16-18, what can we find to help in time of need?

6. According to Matthew 6:9, who did Jesus teach them to pray to?

7. In Isaiah 38:5, who heard the prayer?

8. According to James 5:13, who should we pray for?

9. What shall we do with our trouble according to 1 Peter 5:7? Why?

10. According to Psalm 66:18, whose prayer does God not hear?

God said, “You shall be holy for I am holy,” Leviticus 11:44.

Welcome to our study of living messages of the Old Testament. In this series we're looking at various books in the Old Testament with an eye toward the practical. How does the book of Genesis, or Exodus, or Leviticus impact my life today? What can it do to help me live more faithful to God? Ultimately we're looking at it with an eye toward seeing Christ. Where is Christ and does that give us any view toward the New Testament?

The keyword to the book of Leviticus is the word holy or holiness. This occurs some 87 times in the book. God is teaching His people the law through the covenant, through sacrifice, and how they can be holy. The problem is God is holy and His people are sinful or unclean- which occurs 194 times in the book of Leviticus. How can we bridge the gap? How can we bring sinful man together with a holy and pure God? God's answer is through the word atonement which occurs 45 times in the book of Leviticus. Something must make a sacrifice and atonement. Its lifeblood must be shaded so that the gap between God and man can be bridged.

Now the key verse which we initially begin with is Leviticus 11:44-45. I want you to notice what God says to the people. God says ‘For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves and you shall be holy for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth for I'm the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God you shall therefore be holy for I am holy.’

God is teaching Israel how to live correctly and how to live a life that honors God. He is teaching them how to live a life of holiness. The heathen people around them for many years have been involved in ungodliness, sexual immorality, prosecuting, and idolatry of all kind. God is here teaching His people to come out of that and be pure. Key phrase God says 21 times: ‘I am the Lord your God.’ He is emphasizing to His people that if they trust in Him, follow Him, and if they don't look to the idols around the nations- God can be there. God can lead them toward that ultimate promise land.

Now as we think about keys in the book Leviticus, the key chapter I would suggest is Leviticus chapter 16. That great chapter of the Day of Atonement, that day in Israel's history, when that Lamb is offered and sacrifices offered for the sins of the people. It takes the sins of the camp upon itself. It gives its life on their behalf. It is known to the Hebrews as Yom Kippur. It's that great day when Israel sins were sent away. Friends, that suggest to us that not only did Israel have a day of atonement, but we as Christians have that great day as well-that day when Jesus made His sacrifice on the cross, that day when the gospel is preached, and the day when a person obeys the gospel and his life is made right with God.

Now the name Leviticus simply means ‘pertaining to the Levites.’ These are instructions for God's priest on things they must do during sacrifice, during worship, laws of cleanliness so that they can be a pure and holy people.

There's a New Testament companion to the book of Leviticus and would be the book of Hebrews. Hebrews makes many images or types directly out of Leviticus. The sacrifice he talks about purity and holiness much. To understand the New Testament you need to know the Old Testament better.

God is pure and holy. God cannot lie, Hebrews 6:18. God is above sin and above reproach, Habakkuk 1:13. ‘God's of pure eyes than to behold evil.’ He cannot look upon wickedness, and yet man is sinful. We have all sinned, Romans 3:23. ‘There is none righteous. No not one.’ The Bible teaches in Romans 3:10, as result of our sin and God's holiness, there's that separation. Isaiah 59:1-2 God is separated from us. We're separated from God. The Leviticus answers this- how does a sinful man

approach holy God? The answer is through sacrifice.

I want you look at the words of Leviticus 17:11 and notice that blood is key and essential in dealing with the sin problem. God says in Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” What is it that covers sin? What is it that atonement stands in the place and bears the guilt and the brunt? It's the blood. It's that life that is shed- whether it is a lamb, whether be a goat, whether be to turtledoves- something gave it’s life so that that gap, that bridge, could be made between God.

Friend there's a beautiful passage in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews that teaches us the same idea with a view toward the blood of Christ. Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Jesus made that that ultimate sacrifice that ‘once for all’ sacrifice so that that man could be brought back to God and there would be no more need for daily sacrifices as you see in the book of Leviticus.

Now there are many laws given in the book Leviticus. You have laws of sacrifice- chapters 1 through 6. There are various levels given to the priests specifically for them in chapter 6 through 10. There are laws on purity and what the people can do to keep themselves pure- chapters 11 through 22. There are laws about the feast in the special days- chapter 23 through 25. There are various special laws given to the people-chapters 26 and 27. We remember the book Leviticus is God's laws on sacrifice and purity and how to be holy.

Let's make some practical application. What are the living messages of Leviticus? A person picks up Leviticus, and reads about the sacrifices. They read about the laws and sometimes get bogged down. They may ask- how does that apply to me? What's that got to do with my life?

Leviticus is one of the most practical books in the Old Testament. Number one- we learn from Leviticus chapters one through five there is a need for a sin substitute. Trespass offering, grain offering- you have all kind of various offerings, sin offering, and in all these offerings in each something is giving its life. Something stands in the place of something else. There is the absolute necessity for a sin substitute for God and man

to be right. Now here's the important thing though- what about all those lambs? What about all those goats? What about all those bulls that were offered? Did they really fill the gap?

Listen to the words of Hebrews 10:3-4. The Scripture says, “But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year, for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sin.” What did God command? It was all predicated upon the blood of Christ. Hebrews 9:15-17 teaches us that it was in keeping with the law of God at that time, but could it really take away sin? God said it's not possible. What is possible? What can take away sin? Hebrews 10:12 tells us the answer to that. The Scripture says, “But this man Jesus after He'd offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down at the right hand of God.” What happens if you commit some sin and you have to make a sacrifice and the very next day you do that again? You have got to go to the field and start all over again. Is that the way it is today? Thank God we live in the age of Christianity where there is that once for all sacrifice for sin.

Now does that mean we want to sin and live it up? Surely not! “How shall grace abound if we continue in sin?” It won't. Romans 6:1 teaches us we need to do our best to live a life free of sin. Friends we live in the age where that one sacrifice has been made for sin. When Jesus gave His life He became a ransom for sin, Galatians 1:4. He became our redemption, Ephesians 1:7. He became are our hope, our mercy, and our grace that is seen in His great offering. There is that great need for a sin substitute and ultimately that comes in Jesus Christ.

Another living message from the book Leviticus is found Leviticus 10:1-2 and emphasizes the need for proper worship. God wants me and God wants you to worship as He's directed-not as we feel or we think or not based on what's popular or what everybody else is doing. We learn the very powerful lesson about that in Leviticus 10:1-2. The Bible says, “Then the sons of Aaron each took his censer put fire in it put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord,” notice this, “which He had not commanded them.” Fire went out from the Lord and devoured them. They died. Some may say what does it matter- to God it was a big thing. God said they offered ‘a strange’ some versions will say ‘unauthorized fire’ listen now ‘which He had not commanded them.’ What did they do? They altered God's law. They did something God did not ask for.

Friends when we worship God, we need to make sure and be very careful that we only do what God asked us to do. God doesn't want a circus. God doesn't want to a rock band on the stage. God doesn't want us to do things are not authorized.

Think about some of the acts of worship. For example- the Lord's Supper, what does God want us to do? “On the first day the week they came together to break bread,” Acts 20:7. Every week that has a first day. Christians assembled on that day, and they remembered the Lord's death. What does God want us to do this? He wants to do it on Christmas and Easter only? That’s not what you find New Testament. Does He want us to do it once, maybe two of three times? No that is not what you find the New Testament. What does He want us to do? Should we do it with something other than grape juice and for the vine and unleavened bread? No, God wants us to use the elements He chose. God wants us to do it when He chose. What about something like preaching? Can we change preaching to maybe acting? God chose the foolishness of preaching to save those were lost, 1 Corinthians 1:21. God wants us to preach the word, 2 Timothy 4:2 and to speak as the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4:11.

What about maybe when it comes to music or singing? Does it really matter if we pick a guitar, beat on drums, or play a piano? Here's what God said, “Sing and make melody in your heart.” God wants us to use the instrument of the heart. When God specified how, He told us the exact instrument- that eliminates all else. 1 Corinthians 14:15, to sing with the spirit and the understanding. God expects us to do exactly what He says in worship.

Another very practical lesson comes from the Day of Atonement in Leviticus chapter 16. That great day when the offering for the camp of Israel was made, when the sins are placed on the animal, that animal is sent out into the wilderness to bear the sin. John 19:34 the Bible tells us that the soldier took his sword and be pierced the side of Jesus and out came blood and water. Look at the offering that is made. Zachariah 13:1 comments that a fountain for sin and for cleansing was opened in Jerusalem. When was that? When Jesus died on the cross. When is the Day of Atonement for Christians? It began on the cross when Jesus gave His life as that ultimate sacrifice. It culminated in the preaching of the gospel in Acts chapter 2 when they cried out ‘men and brethren what shall we do?’ The answer was ‘repent and be baptized for the remission of your

sins.’ They received that atonement. The blood of Jesus was applied to their spirit. Any person who obeys the gospel from that time forward, the sacrifice of Jesus has great effect for them as well.

Now the book Leviticus also deals with laws on purity, morality, and how to live a pure and moral life. One of the things that Leviticus speaks very candidly and very plainly about is the subject of homosexuality. We live in a world where people refer to as an alternate lifestyle. ‘Don't pick on that that's an alternate lifestyle.’ You can't say anything about two men if they want to live together or two women if they want to live together. If we say anything against that people have the idea that we're being mean or unkind. How does God handle this today? “Is there any word from the Lord?” Jeremiah 37:17. What has God said? What did He say in Leviticus about homosexuality? And what does He say today on that same subject?

It's so sad that for a TV show to make it, it has got have homosexuals on it. The more it’s promoted, the more people seem to like it. Why is that? That shows the state that we've come to in our society and how godless we are. Let's notice what God says on this sin. The Bible says in Leviticus 18:22 and in Leviticus 20:13 that it is a sin against God deserving of death. Notice these two scriptures. God says Leviticus 18:22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.’ 20:13, ‘If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.’ When God says it's an abomination that's the fury, the red-hot fury of God that's how much God hates homosexuality. Not only that, God says if they're caught doing that, they’re deserving of death. It is a crime against God. It's a crime against marriage. Friend it is immoral and ungodly.

Someone might say: ‘Today we're living under the age of grace and isn't God going to allow people to live anyway they want to as long as they love Him?’ Friend that's a false ideology! Romans 1:26-27 could not be clearer that's homosexuality is still a sin against God. Look at these words. Romans 1:26-27 says, ‘For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.’ He says in Romans 1:26, ‘For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature, likewise also the means leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.’

Notice how God describes it. It is a ‘vile passion.’ It is ‘against nature.’ It's ‘unnatural.’ It is something deserving of punishment. God could not be clearer about homosexuality.

In the New Testament homosexuality is just as strongly condemned. In fact 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says that such people ‘will not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Homosexuals and lesbians will not inherit the kingdom. If a person lives in that lifestyle and dies in it- without repenting and getting right with God- the Scripture says they won't go to heaven. That's what God says in His word verbatim. It is a sin. It is something we need to speak out against.

Another lesson that we learn from the book Leviticus is that one must respect father and mother. Leviticus 19:3 and Leviticus 20:9 teach children to respect and to reverence their father and mother. We need today to have that same respect for parents. ‘Parents bring up your children nurture and admonition.’ ‘Children obey your parents for this is right.’ There needs to be that respect and obedience for father and mother. Just as we respect God as our Father, so children must obey and respect the parent. Young people listen carefully; you don't need to talk back your parents. You don't need to rebel against them. You don't need to say things against mom and dad around your friends. God wants you to respect and honor and obey your parents. Failure to do that is a failure to obey Him.

Then we also learn the penalty for adultery found in the book Leviticus. Leviticus 20:10: ‘If two people are caught in the act of adultery they are to be put to death.’ Adultery, meaning a relationship with another outside of the marriage bond, who are cheating or having a relationship with someone. It is against the will of God. It is in that class that we mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 part of those people who will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will not go to heaven. Adultery is a sin against the God of heaven and one must do his very best to stay away from that.

Another practical living message from Leviticus is the separation that we find for God's priests. In Leviticus 22:2 God says to Moses and Aaron ‘I want the priest to separate themselves from the holy things so that they can be used solely dedicated to My servants.’ As I think about this separation that Aaron that Moses that the Levites had to go through, it made them unique. It made them special in many ways. How true it is today the Christians are that separated, unique, and special people of God!

Look at the words of 1 Peter 2:9. The Bible says, “But you are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, a holy nation His own special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” We’re God's chosen, special, royal priesthood and thus, our lives must be lives of separation from this old world. Paul said in Romans 12:1, “I beg you by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service, and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

When I think about the book of Leviticus, I'm also reminded of the need for us to give God our best. Leviticus 22:20 God wanted the first fruits. God wanted the best from His people as an offering to heal. How we today need to give our God the best! God doesn't want anything but first place in our life. God wants the best of everything. He deserves the best of everything that we have. The words of Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Seek first- not second, not third, not last. God wants to be first in our life.

Now one last practical lesson that I want us to notice and it's a very practical one for us today- in the Bible sorcery mediums all those kinds of things are condemned by God. Look in Leviticus 19:31. God says, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits. Do not seek after them to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” God has all the answers. God is the only guide, and He's the only direction that we need. Men and women today still need to avoid palm readers and fortunetellers and opening up the paper to see what your astrological zodiac sign. Christians have all the direction we need in the Bible. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me.”

The book Leviticus teaches us Jesus and the sacrifice He made. The application is Jesus and the sacrifice He made is the permanent way to be brought back to God.

Has that substitute of the blood of Christ been applied to your spirit? If not, won't you become a Christian? Won't you hear the word of God Romans 10:17? Won't you believe that Jesus is that that sin offering John 8:24? Would you repent of your sins Luke 13:3? Would you make that

great confession ‘I believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God’ Romans 10:10? Would you be baptized in water for the forgiveness of your sins Acts 2:38?

We hope today that as we study the book Leviticus each one of us will be encouraged to be holy as our God is holy.

Study Questions for:

“Living Messages of the Old Testament: Lesson 3”

1. According to Leviticus 11:44, why should we be holy?

2. What is the key word in Leviticus?

3. According to Isiah 59:1-2, what separates us from God?

4. According to Leviticus 17:11, what makes atonement for the soul?

5. According to Hebrews 9:22, what must there be for forgiveness of sins?

6. What could not take away sins according to Hebrews 10:3-4?

7. What can take away sins according to Hebrews 10:12?

8. What happened when they didn’t follow God’s command in Leviticus 10:1-2?

9. What does Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13 say of homosexuality?

10. According to Romans 12:1, how should we live?

The Scripture says “Test the spirits to see whether they are of God for many false prophets have gone out into the world,” 1 John 4:1.

Welcome to our study of Islam. Today we’re going to be looking at the prophet Mohammed.

Was Mohammed a prophet of God or a religious imposter? Islam stands or falls on whether or not Mohammed was really a prophet of God. Remember it is Mohammed who claimed that the angel Gabriel gave him the Quran. It is Mohammed who claimed that God told him to go and preach these lessons. Muslims across the world believe that Mohammed is the greatest of all profits. Does the evidence from Islam itself support that Mohammed is a prophet?

The sources in which we’re going be using today are the Quran itself. The Saheeh Al-Bukhari, the Saheeh Muslim which are considered the most reliable Hadeeth that is accurate recounts of Mohammed's life. Then we’ll be looking at the Sunni Muslim scholar who’s the most well-known Shahad. Then we will also use several other biographies, collections of various Hadeeths, and then finally we will use a prominent historical scholar in Islam al-Jabari.

As we examine the evidence today, we’re not using Christian or Jewish sources. We’re using Muslim sources. We’re going to people they trust, to their own alleged holy book, and to the accurate accounts of the life of Mohammed – so that as we examine the evidence, we won’t look at it in a bias way as a Christian or Jew looking at it, but rather as someone

who's examining their own documents

Now here's what God says. In Deuteronomy 18:20 God said, “But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, that prophet shall die.” In fact God goes on to say, “you don't have to worry about his message, what he says if it doesn't come to pass, don't let his message bother you. He's not a prophet of God.”

We want to examine, did Mohammed's prophecies and messages and is his life according to what he taught in the Quran? As we examine these things, we also want to know what Mohammed himself said. In al Jabari chapter 6 verse 111 Mohammed said, ‘I have fabricated things against God which have imputed to him words which he has not spoken.

Now friend from the outset that raises some suspicion. ‘I fabricated things.’ The word fabricated means lied. In some of their own sources Mohammed at times will ‘Well I made that up. That may not have really been what God said. Maybe Satan said that.’ That alone raises some suspicion.

Let's think then about Mohammed's life. Let's think about what proofs we could look at. There are really two strong proofs. We’re first recognized to show that Mohammed is not really a prophet of God. I want you to realize that one time Mohammed actually claims and admits he spoke in the name of false God's.

The second proof as we think about Mohammed, he's also a false prophet. He did not really live up to what he said. Can I know that Mohammed spoke in the name of false gods? One of the most critical and greatest proofs to show that Mohammed is not a prophet of the God of the Bible is the satanic verses.

Now listen carefully, we learn about the Satanic verses not from Christian or Jewish sources but from early Muslim writings. Accounts of the satanic verses are given in a number of early sources including the Abuna Shaykh and al Jabari. All these Muslim sources many of those whom we really are not familiar with, as far as their names and how to give them accurately, these sources admit the Satanic verses do exist.

Now as you think about these verses in Saheeh Al-Bukhari which is the most trusted and recognize Hadeeth, the account of the life of Mohammed, he gives an indirect confirmation himself of this event. Beyond this certain verses of the Quran, chapter 17 and chapter 22 were revealed in response to Mohammed's embarrassing lapse into polytheism. Their most recognize hadeeth gives proof of it and Mohammed had to actually go back and put some verses in the Quran to kind of gloss over the mistakes that he made. These verses, the background of them is, when Mohammed supposedly saw how his tribe turned their backs on him and was grieved to see them shunning the message, he brought to them from God he longed his soul that something would come to him. He wanted a message from God which would reconcile this tribe. And so with love for his tribe and his eagerness for their welfare, it would have delighted him if some of their difficulty which they made for him could've been kind of smooth out or glossed over. And thus, he debated within himself and desired that something would really happen. And so out of a desire to reconcile these tribes, these verses come. Recorded in al Jabari the verses say, ‘Have you thought upon Allah and al Uzzah and Manatt the third and the other Satan cast on his tongue because of his inner debate and what he desired to bring to the people the words. These are the highflying cranes verily their intercession is accepted with approval. The polytheists were delighted that Mohammed had at last approved of their gods. To return this kindness they prostrated themselves because of the reference to the gods which they have heard as that there was some as there was no one in the mosque who a believer, or unbeliever who do not prostrate himself.’

And so the background is this, Mohammed has been reconciled with his tribe because he's earnestly wanting and really in a tear between the two. He wants to be reconciled to his tribe, yet he wants these people to receive the message of God. The only thing is his tribe is polytheists, and thus what does Mohammed do to kind of gloss things over? He puts their gods in, verses in the Quran. The birds, the highflying cranes, those were gods of his tribe. And he says in the Quran, ‘it's okay for you to prostrate yourself to these birds.’ Mohammed's friendly relations with the polytheists however were short-lived or where he soon will learn that this verse, the verses he just came up with, praising pagan idols came not from God but from Satan. Saddened to recognize his treachery against Allah, Mohammed lamented ‘I have fabricated things against God which have imputed to him words which he has not spoken.’ Yet Gabriel went on supposedly to comfort Mohammed, informing him that all prophets fall for

Satan's tricks from time to time.

I want you not only realize that this is not only confirmed by history, not only confirmed by the hadeeths, their accurate trends accurate collections of Mohammed's life- the Quran itself confirms that this happened. In the Quran chapter 22 verse 55 listen to what it says. ‘And we did not sin before you any possible or prophet but when he desired, that is the Satan, made a suggestion respecting his desire but Allah annuls what Satan cast then does Allah establish his communication as Allah is knowing and wise.’ Basically Mohammed has to go back and correct this. He says ‘no apostles or profits before, that one verse that I let in, Satan is actually the author of that.’

I want you listen real carefully, at one point Satan inspired Mohammed. That message from Satan actually worked its way into the Quran and the Quran and Mohammed himself actually admit that he fabricated things that God did not say. It's clear that the prophet of Islam on at least one occasion delivered a message that did not come from God. It's also clear that Mohammed on at least one occasion spoke in the name of false God. Here's the question I would ask. The implication is very simple. The Scriptures teach that a prophet who speaks something presumptuously, he's not God's prophet.

Mohammed spoke presumptuously; therefore, he's not a prophet of God. Failing to observe these limits- it's not permitted. God cannot allow that. It's not right. Mohammed spoke on behalf of false gods; therefore, he's not a prophet of God. Because Satan, he says, inspired him and he spoke on behalf of Satan- whose prophet is he? Friend he is a prophet of the devil. He is not a prophet of Almighty God.

Here's another implication. The Scriptures teach that a prophet speaks something presumptuously is not God's prophet. Failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or allowed teaches that one is presumptuous. Think about this. Mohammed was actually inspired by Satan. What can I know from that? He's not God's prophet.

Here's what I would ask. If at one time Mohammed said something that was not true, then I can know he's not a prophet of God. And if at least on one occasion Mohammed in the Quran was inspired by Satan, how many other times? How do I know what is from God and wants from

Satan? How do I know what might be questionable? If he did it once, and if it one time he spoke some that wasn't true, then you can cast all of it out. It is proof positive Mohammed was not a prophet of God. He was a religious imposter and his messages are not messages that the Christian has to worry about.

How do we label Mohammed? Mohammed like many in the Old Testament and like many in the days of Jesus is a false prophet. Jesus warned us of these kinds of teachers. He said, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Mohammed fits that.

Now there are also four Muslim proves that Muslims will claim that Mohammed is a prophet. We will examine these to show that even their own proofs don't add up. They will claim that certain supernatural events relative to his life point to him as a prophet or priest. They will say that Mohammed's status as the illiterate creator of the Quran shows that he's not a prophet. They will then allege that Mohammed's prophecies point to his status as a prophet. We have already seen some of those weren’t true. They will say Mohammed's miracles point to his status as a prophet.

They say there are certain supernatural events around his life. Allegedly at three years old, two Angels took out Mohammed's heart cleaned with ice water and put it back. A Christian monk saw a cloud protecting Mohammed and marks on his body, and thus he said Mohammed was a prophet. There is a monk in Mecca that affirmed his status. Then of course they will say the Revelation of Gabriel at Koran at Mount Hijra. What about these supernatural events? Who knows whether they really happened or not? How do you really know if at the age of three two Angels took out his heart and cleaned it with ice water? How do you really know a monk saw this or these events occurred? All of this is so suspect. There's nothing really that you can say definitely happened. There is nothing to prove that he is a prophet of God.

What about his status as illiterate creator of the Quran? Muslims claim that Mohammed was illiterate. If that's true, then the writing of the Quran may have indeed been a great miracle. Was he really illiterate? The proof text that we use is in the Quran. Chapter 7 verse 157 reads, ‘Those who follow the apostle the unlettered prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own Scriptures in the law and the gospel for he commands them what

is just and forbids them what is evil. He allows them as lawful what is good.’ They will say this word ‘unlettered’ actually means illiterate. The only problem is there are multiple other meanings of this Arabic word. It could be just simply Gentile prophet. It could mean prophet of the common people. It could mean a prophet without Scripture. The last and least likely is illiterate prophet. The evidence does not support Mohammed being illiterate. In fact Mohammed we know was a great writer. The hadeeth of the Ben Shahad alludes to this fact when he said ‘The prophet may Allah bless him on Thursday thereupon he, Habas began to weep and say ‘Woe be to this Thursday one of those the illness of the prophet may Allah bless him became severe he said the prophet said bring an ink pot and something paper a papyrus to write on.’ Listen now, ‘he said I shall write for you a document that you will never be misguided.’

Wait a minute! I thought he was illiterate! Yet Mohammed himself said, ‘I'm going to write you a great document’? Supernatural events don't hold up. His illiterate status of the Quran does not hold up.

What about some of Mohammed's miracles? We will go back and talk about his prophecies. But about his alleged miracles? Muslims claim that Mohammed performed miracles and this is further proof that he is a prophet of God. What are these miracles? In the Quran chapter 17 verses 90 through 94, ‘And they say we will by no means believe you until you cause a fountain to gush forth the Earth for us or you should have a garden of palms and grapes in the midst of which you should cause rivers to flow forth gushing out or you should cause the heaven to come down upon us in pieces as you think or bring Allah and angels face-to-face with us or you should have a house of gold or you shall ascend to heaven or we will not believe in you until you bring down a book which we may read. Saying glory be to my Lord and I am but a mortal apostle and nothing prevented the people from believing when the guidance came to them except they said what has Allah raised up to be an immortal? To be an apostle?’

Here the people saying ‘Show us a miracle. Why don't you do a sign? We will believe if you can actually do these things.’ In fact in the Quran chapter 2 verse 118 Mohammed said they said, ‘Why does the sign not come to us?’ Chapter 6 verse 38, ‘Why has no sign been sent down upon him Mohammed from his Lord?’ Chapter 13 verse seven, ‘Why has a sign not been sent down upon him from the Lord you are only they said a warner.’ And so, what do we know about Mohammed's miracles? He just

didn't perform any. There's no account of it and recollection of it. The late Sunni scholar Mohammed Hassad admitted in the message of the Quran that he didn’t perform any miracles. ‘The highly elliptic sentence has a fundamental bearing on the purple the Koran as in many places the Quran stresses the fact,’ listen, ‘but the prophet Mohammed despite his being the last and greatest of God's apostles,’ listen now, ‘was not empowered to perform miracles.’ He just didn't perform miracles. It's just not in there that he did.

And so we think about the Quran, we think about all the things that are there and we ask was Mohammed really a prophet of God? Is he one who truly lived by his own teaching? Let’s take just a moment to think about Mohammed's teaching and some of the things that he taught. Let's see if his life really adds up to that.

Concerning violence, you know the Bible says in Deuteronomy 18 that if a prophet doesn't say the right thing and live and do right, he's not a prophet of God. What about Mohammed? What did he say concerning violence? In the Koran chapter 5 in verse 28 Mohammed said, ‘even if you stretch out your hand against me to kill me, I shall not stretch out my hand against you to kill you. I fear Allah the Lord of the worlds.’ Did Mohammed live up to that idea? Did he abstain from violence? Nott at all! Mohammed is known to of murdered many people. Allah’s messenger said, ‘who is willing to kill Kadeem Ashura who has hurt Allah and his apostle?’ And one of Mohammed's messenger said, ‘I'll do it.’ And Mohammed said, ‘Go and kill him.’ Over and over again you will find examples of multiple people that Mohammed killed.

Now let's think about the number of wives that the Quran allows. In the Quran chapter 4 verse 3 here's what it says, ‘If you fear,’ talking to the people of Islam, ‘if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, 2, 3, or 4 but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them then only one or a captive that your right hand possesses that will be more suitable to prevent you from doing justice.’ And so besides the fact that God says you could deal with two or three or four wisely, which I don't know any man that could do that and keep himself right. Mohammed allowed them up to four, God supposedly allowed them up to four women at one time. Did Mohammed follow that? How many wives did Mohammed have? Mohammed had multiple wives. The list goes on and on up to 11 various wives. I thought

God only said four? Mohammed had 11. Mohammed himself didn't even keep what the Quran says concerning that.

Mohammed lived in many ways as a man who did not follow up to the teaching and to all that he said. In fact I want to relate to you one of the most disturbing stories about Mohammed. Friend I think this will stress to you, of all the evidence we will give, from the satanic verses to his failure to keep the Koran himself. I believe this is the strongest prove that Mohammed was not a good, godly man.

Let me relate the story to you. The prophet, this is concerning the marriage to his last wives, ‘The prophet engages me when I was a girl of six years. We went to Medina and stay at the home of an individual.’ Then she says, ’Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew again and my mother came to me while I was playing in the swing with some of my girlfriends. She called me. I went to her not knowing what she wanted me to do. She calls me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house.’ History further records she states, ‘I was breathless then, and when my breathing became all right she took some water rub my face and head with it then she took me in the house. There in the house, I saw some women who said best wishes and Allah’s blessing and good luck. Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me for marriage. Unexpectedly Allah’s apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over him. And at that time, I was a girl of nine years of age.’

Now I want you think about this for just a moment. Six years old- she is engaged to Mohamed. At the age of nine years old- a nine year old girl marries a 40+-year-old man. ‘Kadjar died three years before the prophet departed to Medina. He stayed there for two years, and so he married Aisha when she was a girl of six years age.’ Now listen to this, this is their own and most trusted source says, ‘Mohammed consumed the marriage to Aisha when she was nine years old.’ Further record reports ‘the prophet married her when she was six years old. He consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. And then she remained with him for nine years.’ Again these are trusted sources. They don't even begin to deny this.

Stop and think about it. A 40 year old man becomes married to a six-year-old girl. He consummates the marriage to her at nine years of age. Friend we know what type of label to put on Mohammed. It's not profit. It's pedophile. Mohammed by our standards today and no doubt by the

standards of God would be labeled as a pedophile. Think about what he did to this little girl. Sahee Muslim records this, ‘Aisha reported that Allah’s apostle married her when she was seven years old. And she was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine.’ Now listen to this, ‘and her dolls were with her. And when he died she was 18 years old.’

You just stop and think about this. You ask yourself, is this prophet of God? Aisha this little seven-year-old girl is taken to be the wife of a 40+-year-old prophet. When he takes her as his wife he says, ‘oh you bring your baby dolls with you.’

Friend I want you to think, is that someone who would be considered as a prophet of God? Is that someone you like to follow his example? Mohammed was not a prophet. The evidence doesn't add up. The satanic verse that shows he was, at least at one time, inspired by Satan. Supposedly God said about Mohammed in chapter 33 verse 21 of the Koran, ‘surely in the messenger of God you have a good example.’ Friend I ask you this, does a 50-year-old man consummating a marriage to a nine-year-old girl appear to be a godly example for you to follow? It doesn't to me. In fact it's proof positive along with all the other evidence that Mohammed was not a prophet of God. He is not trustworthy. Time will not allow us to show you the many things he said in the Koran and then did the exact opposite in his life. Mohammed did not live up to what he taught. The evidence shows that he was not right with Almighty God. He had many things in his life which prove him not to be the right person.

Now let me just give you one other example. Concerning adultery Mohammed’s the son Zylen had a wife by the name of Zyene. Mohammed looked upon this woman, and he thought he'd like to have her. And yet Muslim law permitted that to be the case. What often is the case when a man wants something and he claims to be a prophet of God but his messages go against it? Well as was the case with Joseph Smith, new scripture seems to arrive! Here's what it said in the Quran chapter 33 verse 37 it says, ‘when you said to him whom Allah had shown favoring whom you shown a favor keep your wife to yourself and be careful of your duty to Allah and you consider it in your should that Allah will bring the life and you feared men and Allah had a greater right that you should fear him. But when Zyene had accomplished his want of her, we gave her to you his wife so that there should be no difficulty for the believers in respect to the wives of their adopted sons when they have accompanied their want of him and

Allah’s command shall be performed.’ What’s all that say? In the Koran it said you can't marry your adopted son’s wife. Mohammed wanted to have her, and so ‘boom’ out of heaven a new Revelation arrives. ‘It's okay for Mohammed to have this when his adopted son is done with her.’ Friend is that really the kind of message God would give? Absolutely not!

What can I know about Mohammed? He was not a trustworthy man. He is one who told multiple lies. He did multiple things contrary to the Koran itself.

But more importantly, these are the two main proofs. At one time he was inspired by Satan. He fabricated things that God did not tell him to. He had to go back and later correct it. If he did it once, how can I ever trust it? And a 50-year-old man consummating a marriage to a nine-year-old girl? That's not a prophet. That's a pedophile.

Do I need to be concerned about the message of the Koran? Absolutely not! Mohammed was not a prophet of God, and therefore I don't have to worry about his message.

I need to put my trust in God and the Bible

Study Questions for: “Islam: Lesson 2”

1. Why should the spirits be tested according to 1 John 4:1?

2. According to Deuteronomy 18:20, what does God say of a prophet saying things He did not command?

3. What animal does God compare a false prophet to>

4. Is there any account or recollection of any miracles that Mohammed performed?

5. Did Mohammed keep the commandments he taught?

6. What are at least 3 proofs that Mohammed is not a profit of God?

To the elders of the Lord's church in Ephesus the apostle Paul said, “So now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified,” Acts 20:32.

What are some of the most uplifting and encouraging verses in all of Scripture? Stay tuned as we look to those verses that encourage us today from the word of God.

The Bible is full of encouraging verses, verses that challenge us, verses that motivate us, and verses that build us up to ever live more faithful to Almighty God.

Today we want to talk about some of those verses that really encourage and uplift every child of God. When you read your Bible and when you walk away being uplifted, what are some of the verses that do exactly that?

We want to begin today with one the most beautiful verses I think in all of Scripture, Psalm 103:10. Would you notice this verse with me? Notice Psalm 103:10 the Bible says of God, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.” When we think about

uplifting verses, you'd be hard-pressed to find one greater than this.

Who is the God that I serve and the God that you serve? What's God really like? Friend the Bible says of God, ‘God did not deal with us according to our sin. God is not willing if at all possible through His Son to punish us according to our iniquities.’ What does that verse teach me? It teaches that we didn't get what we deserve for sin. God is a merciful and loving and forgiving God, who is able through Christ's sacrifice, to forgive and overlook the sins of men. You see my friend this is so encouraging, because of what sin has the power to do. “The wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23. “The soul that sins shall surely die,” Ezekiel 18:4. “The Lord's ear's not heavy that He cannot hear His arm's not shortened that He cannot save,” Isaiah said, “but your sins and your iniquities have separated you from your God.”

Friend this is something that all of us need to hear, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I'm encouraged. I’m motivated to serve God, because God is willing to forgive our sins. I didn't get what I deserved for my sin and nor did you, if you've obeyed the gospel. You see, forgiveness is one of the beautiful ideas of Scripture. God is seen as ready to forgive, Psalm 86:5. The Bible teaches that that God is a God that is not only able to forgive but to forget. Hebrews 8:13 God said verses 12-13, “I'll be merciful to their sin their lawless deeds I'll remember no more.” And like Micah said in Micah 7:18-19, God is pictured as though it were casting all our sin into the depths of the sea.

Now you think about the practical encouragement from this. The things I've done in my life and the things you've done in your life that are wrong and we all know what those are the things I've said that are wrong, the actions I've committed that were contrary to the will of God, the things that we're now ashamed of, the God we serve has completely forgiven us of those sins.

But friend, let's realize that forgiveness comes at a huge price. Jesus said in Matthew 26:28 as He instituted the Lord's Supper, “This is my blood of the new covenant shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Peter said it this way in 1 Peter 2:24 the Bible says of Christ, “He, Himself bore our sins in His own body upon the tree that we having died to sin might live for righteousness by whose stripes we are healed.”

And friend, let's realize the time at which God does forgive sin as well. Acts 2 when they for heard for the very first time the good news about Jesus, the Bible says, “When they realized they'd killed their Messiah they were cut to the heart. They cried out, ‘Men and brethren what shall we do?’” Here is the Clarion voice of God, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin.” Isn't it encouraging knowing I don't have to worry about my past life? Look at it this way, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says this, “If anyone is in Christ,” that's a Christian, “if anyone's in Christ he is a new creation.” Now notice this, “old things are passed away behold all has become new.”

A second encouraging verse that we find in Scripture takes us all way back to the time of David found in Psalm 23. I want you to notice the beautiful words of this Psalm that give us so much encouragement beginning in verse 1 the psalmist said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His namesake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Why? “For You are with me Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil my cup runs over surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

You know just reading words like that from the mouth of God bring each of us a sense of strength to know that God is the good shepherd. That just as a good shepherd He's going to feed, He's going to protect, and He's going to take care of His own gives us such hope and comfort. This is why the psalmist said, ‘Since the Lord is my shepherd, I don't have to want. I don't have to worry. I don't have to be eaten up with anxiety. I don't have to a fuss over what's going to happen in this life.’ The Bible says, “Cast all your cares on the Lord, and cast all your anxieties on the Lord, He cares for you. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication let your request be made known to God,” 1 Peter 5:7 and Philippians 4:6-8.

God is also seen in this passage as the one who can lead us, maybe even through some of the most difficult times in life. Listen again to these words “Yea,” psalmist says, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow

of death, I'll fear no evil.” Why? I don't have to walk it alone. You're with me. “Your rod and your staff they do comfort me,” during the dark times of life whether it be sickness, whether be a crisis, whether it be even a time of death, I'm so encouraged by knowing God's there with me. That God is there to help me that I'm not alone, that I can trust in the Lord with all my heart, Proverbs 3:5. That just as the Hebrew writer said, “The Lord has said ‘I'll never leave you nor forsake you.’” And thus for the child of God, he doesn't have to go through those difficult times alone. God goes with him. God helps him during those times, and we take great strength and encouragement by knowing that. And for the child of God that valley of the shadow of death is not the worst thing that could happen. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. ‘Yes,’ says the spirit that they may rest from their labors their works do follow them,” Revelation 14:13. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

And so just like with the idea forgiveness in Psalm 103:10, we take strength in knowing the good shepherd will always take care of us. He'll always walk beside us, and if we remain true to Him, we can dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

A third encouraging passage that we think about in Scripture is one that brings each one of us hope and encourages us to live faithfully to the Lord. In Psalm 46:1 the psalmist teaches us that God is our source of help. Would you notice these words with me listen to Psalm 46:1. The psalmist said, “God is our refuge and strength,” now notice this, “a very present help in trouble.” Did you ever feel like you need strength? You ever feel like you need help in this life? You ever feel like that maybe Satan's got you down, and you just can hardly get up? That life throws you a curveball and sometimes you just feel like throwing in the towel?

Let's realize God is our help. Hebrews 2:16-18 say, “We can come boldly to God that He's able to aid those who are in any kind of trouble. And we can come boldly to the throne of grace that we might find grace and mercy to help in time of need.” I have not been left without help nor have you. Who is that help? God is our help. He's our refuge.

You know when we think of a refuge, you think of a place where you can go to escape from something. You think about a place of safety. You think of maybe in the cities of refuge in the Old Testament where if

somebody had committed some crime against another person, if they could make it to that city of refuge all would be okay. They could rest easy. They could breathe a sigh of relief; all that burden could be lifted from their shoulders. God is that city of refuge. God is that safe haven in my life and yours. He is that source of strength. Remember Philippians 4:13? When you think about God and Christ being our strength, you can't help but think of this verse. The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

And then friend, let's realize God is a present help. The Bible says in Psalm 46:1 that “He is a very present help in trouble.” I understand the distance and time that separates and things like unto that nature that separate us from God, but do we not realize that God is able to help us? That He is able through His word, through the example of Jesus, through the power of prayer, through the encouragement of other Christians to help us in our time of trouble? Providentially God is able to aid those who need His help. And thus, what an encouraging passage this is!

Another passage that would be at the top of that list is found in 1 Peter 5:7. The context of this is Christians having to do battle against Satan, 1 Peter 5:8. Christians needing to resist him, ‘steadfast in the faith,’ 1 Peter 5:9. In the midst of that great battle and striving to resist sin and Satan, listen to what Peter says notice these words, “Casting all your care upon Him, He cares for you.” The King James Version says, “Casting all your anxiety upon Him, He cares for you.” Literally the Greek idea is to ‘hurl,’ to ‘throw’ it at God, to let God help you with the anxieties, and the cares that we have. And so again, we find the idea that when I struggle with things, I don't know how to deal with, when life gets me tied up in knots, when I do have anxiety and problems that arise, what do I do with those problems? Give them to God. “Cast all your cares upon Him.” God is more than able to bear the load, to bear the burden, and to help me with that difficulty. “He's able to aid those who need help,” Hebrews 2:16-18.

But then just as much as knowing that God is able to help which Psalm 46:1 teaches as well, I believe this verse expresses something so beautiful in the last part. Look at 1 Peter 5:7 again. “Cast all your cares upon Him.” Why? “He cares for you.”

Friend people need to know, God's people need to know, all mankind

needs to know, listen to this very carefully: The God of heaven cares for you. The God of heaven loves you. The God of heaven has a special place in His heart for me and you. That's the kind of God that we serve, a loving caring benevolent merciful God, that's why we can ‘cast.’ You know it's really a play on words ‘Cast your cares on Him. He cares for you.’ God, in essence, is saying since ‘I care for you so much, since I have worry over you, let me help you with the desires and cares that you have in this life.’

Friend just to know that the God who spoke and this world came into existence, just to know that the God who sent His own Son to this world cares for me, gives me great strength and encouragement every day to live faithfully to the Lord. You see, I know God cares for me and you, because when Jesus illustrated our need and God knowing our need one of the passages that He used says that ‘God knows the very number of hairs on our head.’ Now you think about the detail, the intricacy, the minute detail of knowing every hair on every person's head. Is that a figure of speech to show just how much God cares? Absolutely! But friend you think about the nature of that idea, and then realize just how valuable I am and you are to God.

There's another passage I believe that gives us great hope and encouragement. And I want to direct your attention to Hebrews 13. I believe this to be right up at the top of my favorite verses in the Bible. Hebrews 13:5-6 teaches about the ever present love of God. The Bible says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness. Be content with such things as you have for He Himself has said,” listen to what God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you, so we may boldly say ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Why should I live a life without covetousness? Why should I not have to worry about, ‘Well Joe over here's got this, and I'd like to have it. I really want it.’ Why do I have to not worry about that? Why do I need to be content with what I have? Because God has said, ‘I'll never leave you nor forsake you. Therefore you can say now this is in contrast to what others might have. What is it that you have that is greater than anything anybody else can have? I don't have to covet somebody's house. I don't have to covet somebody's car. I don't have to covet somebody's bank account. Why not? Because you possess and I possess something far greater than anybody else could ever have. The Lord has said, “I'll never leave you nor forsake you so that you may boldly say.” Here's what you possess: ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What

can man do to me?” What could you possess greater than the Lord as your helper? Friend there's nothing in all the world! And thus, the idea that God will never leave us.

You know one of the things that often happens in this life is that sadly sometimes friends or family or loved ones who are close to us choose to go down another path. And at times, they do abandon us. And that's difficult and that hurts and that's something that we all look toward with sadness. What's different about God? ‘I'll never,’ God says, listen to these encouraging words, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ God will never ever abandon His children. He'll never leave them. He'll never forsake them. They'll never be left out to dry on their own. God's going to take care of them. Friend in view of that, that's why we can say with great joy and contentment: The Lord's my helper! No need for me to fear! What can man do to me? If God is for us who can be against us? If God's on our side, “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us,” and gives us the hope and encouragement that we desperately need in this life.

Now I want to mention two or three other passages that also bring us great encouragement in this life and one of those is found in 2 Corinthians 8:9. I believe this is one of the most beautiful passages about the motivating, encouraging love of Christ. Listen to this verse.2 Corinthians 8:9 the Bible says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor that you through His poverty might be made rich.”

You just stop and think about all that. It said in that verse the grace of Christ, talking about His unmerited favor that which He did which was not demanded, which He did not have to do, which He selflessly did anyway. What is that grace? “Though He was rich yet for your sakes, He became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich.” Let's translate that and translate that into language that we can understand. Jesus was in the very place I'm striving every day to go: Heaven. “Out of the ivory palace,” these palaces the psalmist said, “He came into a world of sin and sorrow.” And in this place, He left Heaven and lived among sinners. They laughed at Him. They mocked Him. They said ‘He's Beelzebub,’ the chief of the demons. They eventually took Him and nailed Him to a cruel Roman cross and there crucified Him as a common criminal. “That we through His poverty might be made rich,” by what Jesus did, by the life that He lived, by

the good that He went around doing, I can ultimately one day live in that place called Heaven.

Can you see just how much Jesus loves you? Can you see just how much He wants you to be His child and to live with Him forever in Heaven? He wants it so much. He left Heaven, came to this earth, lived as a poor man, and gave up His own life so that one day I can live with Him.

Friend I'll assure you, no one has ever loved you and no one's ever loved me the way Jesus loves us that it motivates and encourages more than you can ever begin to imagine.

Another verse that encourages Christians so much is found in Psalm 116:15. And this passage teaches us that that last day, that final day when the curtain falls and I breathe my last, not a bad thing for a child of God. Notice the words of Psalm 116:15 the Scripture says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

We ask you this today, how does Heaven, I’m not talking about how we view it, how does heaven view when one of God's children dies? Listen to that again “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Why is that? That person who's a child of God no longer has to fight that fight. That person no longer has to face the temptation, no longer has to face the struggle, and ultimately they have been rewarded with the crown of life. In fighting the good fight, in finishing the faith, they've received the crown of life, and Heaven, and in the presence of God they can be for all eternity.

Do we realize that that thing that bothers us probably as much as anything else that day that we have no clue when this going to come, but we can see that it is surely approaching swiftly, doesn't have to be a dark, dreary day. You know the world looks at death as a dark, dreary, sad, sorrowful day that to be more than looked at in great darkness. Not God and for the Christian! We don't have to look at it that way either. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. ‘Yes’ says the spirit that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.”

Does death have to be a bad thing for a child of God? Do we have to look at that as a dark and dreary day? Of course not! As Christians we get a second chance in Christ.

Now I want to mention to you a couple of other verses that go hand-in-hand the first is 1 Timothy 2:4. Here's what we learn of God, we learn about God's universal love and desire for all men to be saved. The Bible says in this verse, “Who desires, of God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” What's so encouraging about the God we serve? Friend the God of the Bible is not a prejudiced God. The God of the Bible does not have some of the prejudice that men do today based on maybe common economic status, based on job, based on skin color, based on other factors, no God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Of course the Bible teaches that that can be possible for every person, if they will submit to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God wants every one of His children ‘to be faithful unto death so that they can receive the crown of life,’ Revelation 2:10.

Friend as we think today about some of these encouraging verses that uplift us so much from the Bible, I want to ask you a serious question: Do these verses really impact your life, because you're a child of God and because you know you're right with Him?

If not, then friend the strength these verses provide is not yet yours. But it can be. Are you willing to become a Christian? Are you willing to submit your life to the will of God?

You don't want to miss out on the great promises, the precious blessings, the wonderful encouragement we've talked about today. But if you're not God's child, if you're not a Christian, then sadly you are missing out on the wonderful blessings of being a child of God.

What does one have to do to become a child of God?

Friend it's not hard. The Bible teaches that to become a Christian I must first hear the word of God. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” Romans 10:17. After hearing the message about Jesus, I then must commit to it in believe in Him. Jesus said “Unless you believe that I'm He you'll surely perish in your sins,” John 8:24. Having believed

that Jesus is the Savior of the world, I've got to turn from a life of sin and repent. Luke 13:3 Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Having confessed the name of Jesus, Romans 10:10, I then must be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus said it so plainly in Mark 16:16. Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe shall be condemned.” Peter said “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.”

And so friend, if you're not a child of God we encourage you today become a Christian. Be encouraged every day to live faithful to Almighty God.

Study Questions for: “Motivational Lesson 11”

1. According to Acts 20:32, what is able to build us up and give us an inheritance?

2. How has God dealt with us according to Psalm 103:10?

3. What are the wages of sin according to Romans 6:23?

4. What does Ezekiel 18:4 say of the soul that sins?

5. What will God remember no more according to Hebrews 8:13?

6. According to Psalm 23, why should we not fear?

7. How shall we trust in the Lord according to Proverbs 3:5?

8. What can we find in God according to Psalm 46:1?

9. Why should we cast our cares upon Him according to 1 Peter 5:7?

10. According to Hebrews 13:5-6, how should we conduct ourselves? Why?

“But if you do not do so, take note you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sins will find you out,” Numbers 32:23.

Welcome to our study of living messages of the Old Testament. Today we're studying the book of numbers. As we look at these various books, we really have a threefold purpose. First want to familiarize ourselves with these books, note the key characters, and understand their meaning. Secondly, we want to look at them with an eye toward the practical. What does the book of Numbers say to us today? How does it help me to be more faithful to God? What can I look at in Numbers that will help me to overcome sin or struggles that I face? Then also in each of these books, we want to look at them with an eye toward Christ. Can we see Christ in the book of Numbers? What work is He doing here? What type can we find that sake type of Christ to come?

As you think about the book of Numbers, the keyword is ‘sojourned’ or ‘wanderings.’ Remember in the book of Exodus chapter 14 and chapter 17 the people began to complain. They said to God, ‘Have you brought us out of this wilderness to kill us?’ They had incessant murmuring and complaining. God allowed them to spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness of sin. This is that journey and that wandering.

The key verse will be Numbers 13:32-33. God is trying to get across to His people to help them understand a problem they're dealing. “They gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they spied out saying ‘the land for which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its

inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants, and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, so we were in their sight.’” What does God want His people to see in the book of Numbers? It's not about them. It is not about their size or about their strength. It's about God. If they will trust God no matter how big the enemy or no matter how great the trouble may be, God can deliver them. God has shown that. God delivered them completely out of the Egyptian army, through the 10 plagues, captured their army, and the Red Sea, and crush them and yet they still haven't fully learned to trust God.

In fact the key phrase to the book which occurs 13 times, God says ‘because you believe me not.’ It wasn't that they believe there was a god; it wasn't that they maybe didn't even understand that God could do those things- but practically and daily they weren't living in view of that belief. I don't have to doubt. I don't have to have a grasshopper complex. I can trust God, and I believe that through Him I can do all things, Philippians 4:13.

As we think about the book of Numbers, the key thing which the book of numbers expresses is that unbelief will keep one from entering the promise land.

Why are these people all from 20 years and up why they don't have to wonder and their bodies waste away in the wilderness? Because their and lack of trust in God was the sin. Their sin was they were going to wander and die in that wilderness. Such a practical lesson for us is that unbelief will also keep many of God's children out of that heavenly home.

We're not just talking about not believing in God, but living your life as though you don't believe in Him. We may go to worship. We may say we believe in God. We may even have a Bible in our home. Does our life prove that we believe in God? When difficult times come do we know God's going to take care of us? When we face issues or struggles, do we understand God's going to be there? Do we really trust God and live for Him each and every day? That's the powerful message numbers expresses to us.

The key application- beware of unbelief in your life and in mine. Notice the words of Hebrews 3:12-13. The Hebrew writer says, “Beware brethren lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief and departing from the living God, but exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Here's the application- don't let unbelief; don't let practical atheism keep you from entering heaven. These people believe in God. They'd seen His signs. They had seen His power. Had you asked the Israelite ‘Do you believe in God?’ It would've been a resounding ‘Yes.’ But were they living their life like there was a God? Absolutely not! Their murmuring and complaining are not following the guidance He gives them. In a mental sense, yes they believe in God. They acknowledge Him, but in everyday life, no they aren’t living like there is a God. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says each of us must ‘take heed lest we also fall.’ The application is powerful for Christians today.

A division or an outline of the book of numbers: Chapters 1 through 10 are preparations for Canaan land that are made at Sinai. There are some final preparations that must be made at Sinai. Then chapters 11 through 21 you have from Sinai to Moab the wanderings that they make. Then chapters 22 through 36 we have from Moab all the way to the very border of Canaan itself. There's a great distance that goes on during Numbers and much of that is aimless wanderings because of the people’s sins.

Now is Numbers a practical book, like many of the other books we've seen? Absolutely! One of the most powerful lessons that we learn is the vow of separation that is made in Numbers chapter 6: The Nazirite separating themselves from certain things- not cutting their hair, not drinking or eating wine or grape juice, things of that nature, not getting defiled with something unclean, and not touching anything that they shouldn't. The people who were going to choose that lifestyle had to make a vow, a solemn oath, that they were going to live a special life of separation from things of this world. They want to give themselves absolutely in service to God.

How is the Nazirite vow practical for us today? We're not making Nazirite vows- but have we not if we're children of God? Have we not promised and made an oath that will be separated from this world? Have we not said to God ‘I'm going to leave the things this world behind. I'm going to put my past behind me, and I'm going to give myself fully to you.’ Look at the words of Romans 12:1-2. Notice that's exactly what we must do. The Bible says, “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service and do not be conformed to this

world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Look at the language used. Christians are a living sacrifice. Unlike the dead sacrifices that gave their life in the book of Leviticus, we're a living sacrifice. Every day I've got to be reminded, I've made a vow. I've made a promise to God. I'm going to sacrifice my life for Him. If you're going to live for God, you have got to say to yourself every day ‘this old world and old life is no longer about me.’ Here's how Paul put it, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you whom you have from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit which are His.” Who I belong to? I'm not mine. Paul said in Galatians 2:20 “I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Life is no longer about me. I've got to ‘seek first the kingdom of God,’ Matthew 6:33. I need the attitude of Paul in Philippians 1:21 ‘for to me to live is Christ and to die that's only a gain.’ Remember we are a chosen people- all Royal, priesthood. We are God's own peculiar people, Titus 2:11-13. Like the Nazirite we made a vow. Let's fulfill that vow and be faithful to God.

Again the book of Numbers we see the peril of complaining. They did learn the lesson in the book of Exodus. Numbers chapter 11 and chapter 14 the process starts again. They began to complain about the food and began to complain about water. They began to complain about other things and ultimately their questioning God's integrity.

Now that's again a practical lesson as well, because in the Lord's church we have a lot of these people's kinfolks- a lot of complainers, a lot of grumble, or people who can't be made happy in any way shape or form. Friends we need to realize what Philippians 2:14 teaches us. We need to ‘do all things without murmuring and complaining.’ Listen, that doesn't say some things. That doesn't say what comes easy or what you like. That says ‘do all things without murmuring and complaining so that we can blameless as sons of God.’ If I'm going to be pure in God’s sight, complaining and murmuring is not what God wants me to do.

Now another passage that stands out to us is the passage in Numbers 13:32-33. You've got the 10 spies. Twelve spies have gone out and ten come back with a bad report. ‘Sure the land you sent us into it’s indeed a land flowing with milk and honey, but the people there are giants. We look like grasshoppers in our own sight. Surely we do in theirs.’ The problem the people had was that they had one might call a ‘grasshopper complex.’ They thought everybody was bigger, stronger, and was going to conquer them. They failed to factor in God. Sure without God's help without God in our lives things, what seems small everything would begin to look like a mountain. But friends we don't have to worry about those things, we don’t have to have a grasshopper complex. We have God on our side. Listen to the words of Philippians 4:13. The apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” How is it that we can overcome the giants in our life? How is it that we can walk away and still be victorious even when we live in a sinful world? He is how can we have the victory. ‘I can do all things through Christ.’ 1 John 4:4-5 says “He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world, thus our faith is our victory.” I can be victorious because I have God on my side. Christ is with us, and He's promised to help us. We can walk away victoriously if we put our trust in our hope in God.

A great character in the book of Numbers is the great man Caleb. Joshua and Caleb were the two spies who brought back a good report. They said, ‘It is a land and they have giants, but we can defeat them. Let's go in and conquer it.’ You've got to love Caleb. Caleb is a great man of God. He in essence says ‘I'm ready to go. Give me my mountain. I'm ready to overtake it.’ Become a Caleb. I want you notice verse 24. The Scripture says ‘Caleb has a different spirit in him and has followed me fully. I will bring into the land where he went and his descendants shall inherit it.’ Aged in years Caleb says ‘I'm just as strong now as ever. With God's help will do.’ God says ‘That's my man. That's the one I'm looking for. I'm going to bless him, and I'm going to bless his descendants because he didn’t let the mountain out shadow God. He didn’t let the giants keep them from seeing that God would work with him.’

We've got to realize that God will help us. God will take care of us. We've not been left alone. Hebrews 2:17-18 ‘He's able to come to the aid of those who suffer because He himself has been tempted.’ Jesus has gone through this life, and He knew the trials and struggles that we face,

Hebrews 4:15.

Another important message that we see in the book of Numbers is that Moses, that great servant of God, is not allowed to go into the Canaan land. Numbers 20:12 God said “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron ‘Because you did not believe me to hallow me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’” Why was Moses not allowed to go in? Moses wasn't permitted to go in because God said ‘Moses I want you to speak to the rock,’ and Moses got angry at the people's murmuring and got tired of their complaining. He took it out on the rock. He struck it. God said ‘No you've not hallowed me. You've not trusted me. You've not revered me in these people’s sight.’

Friend sin will always keep men and women from reaching that ultimate home, from reaching that Canaan land home, that heavenly home. Jesus taught in Luke 13:3-5, unless we repent, we will all likewise perish.

Think about men who were hindered by sin in the Bible. Think about David a great man of God. A man after God's own heart, and yet David committed murder in essence. He had Bathsheba's husband murdered. He committed adultery. He did heinous things. Think about Aiken. He lied and stole that Babylonian garment, that bar of gold hidden under his tent. Think about Saul. Saul had great potential, and yet he would not fully obey the will of God. Judas allowed greed to get his heart. Sin, like with men of old, will permit us from making it to heaven if we're not careful. Let's realize just how serious God is about sin. God is angry with the wicked every day, Psalm 7:11. God hates sin because what it does to his people and he does not want us to live in sin.

I want you to notice from Numbers 23:19-20. I want us to see not only God and His power and His miracles and the things He does want us to see the complete and powerful nature of God's word- look at what is said in Numbers 23:19. The Scripture says “God is not a man that He should lie nor a Son of Man that he should repent. Has He said and will He not do? Or has He spoken and will He not make good? Behold I have received a command to bless. He has blessed. I cannot reverse that.” God is not a man. He is not an ally. When God says something, you can be sure of it. You can take it to the bank. That's the way it's going to be.

Now friends, God has spoken His word and we must realize this word

is full and complete in its nature. Revelation 22:18-19 God says, “Do not add to do not take away lest I add to you the condemnations of this book, less I take away from you the blessings that are in.” God's word has everything God wanted to have. 1 Corinthians 4:6 we're not to go beyond that which is written. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for proof, and correction that the man of God may be complete.” There's the idea. Psalm 119:160 says “The entirety of your word is truth.” This book, just like the very voice of God, has everything we need. It's complete. I love the words of 2 Peter 1:3. “God has given to us through His divine knowledge all things pertaining to life and godliness.” We know how to live the best life. Jesus said in John 10:10 “I came that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly.” You will know how to be a godly person. It's right here. This book has everything you need to live a perfect life, to live a godly life, and get to heaven. Let's realize the power and nature of God's word.

Then notice this from Numbers. A highly practical lesson found in Numbers 32:23. Sin is inescapable. You will never outrun, you'll never out fly, and you cannot get away from your sins. No matter how deep you go, you can't run from the sin problem. Number 32:23 says “But if you do not do so then take note you have sinned against the Lord and be sure be sure your sin will find you out.” Can you hide sin from God?

Remember the famous couple who tried to hide their sin from God? In Acts chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira. “Did you sell the land for such and such?” ‘Oh yes we sold for that.’ They dropped dead on the spot. She comes in little while later, “Did you sell the land for such?” She said, ‘You bet we did.’ ‘There's those who carried your husband out and carry you out too.’ She dropped dead on the spot. They tried to lie to God.

We cannot we lie to God. God knows and God sees all things. Sin is inescapable. The all seeing, all knowing nature of God. Hebrews 4:12-14 teaches us that ‘all things are open and naked before the eyes of Him with whom we must give an account.’ There's no creature hidden from His site. God knows and sees all things. Proverbs 15:1, the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the good and the evil. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let's hear the conclusion the whole matter.” What's life all about? “Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.” Why? “For God bring every work into judgment including every secret thing whether good or evil.” God even knows the secret things the

things that you may have gotten away with. God knows! We need to be sure that if there are things that we've done that are sinful, we desperately need to make that right. It will come back to haunt you if you don't deal with it. Jesus said ‘There is a place called hell. It is a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched,” Mark 9:44 and people who don't repent of sin and think they're going to get away with it, that's where people go. They go to that place. Deal with sin before it's everlastingly too late.

Now let's think just a little differently now for just a moment and shift gears. Let's think about the third application and third idea we have in looking at these books. That is to see Christ in the book of Numbers. Can we see Christ in this wonderful book? You bet we can! Numbers 9:12 of the Lamb that was we offered not one of its bones was to be broken. Is there anything in the Scripture about Jesus bones not being broken? Look in John 19:33-36. The Scripture says, “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a speedier and immediately blood and water came out. And he who is seen as testified his testimony is true and he knows he's done a truth that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scriptures should be fulfilled. Not one of his bones shall be broken.” Jesus is that Passover lamb, 1 Corinthians 5:7, like the Lamb in Numbers 9:12 not one of His bones was broken. Numbers 19:3 the sacrifice was to be made outside the camp. Hebrews 13:12 Jesus was sacrificed outside the camp. What about that rock that followed Him in Numbers chapter 20? Remember 1 Corinthians 10:4 Jesus was that rock.

But then there's one specifically that I want us to think about. I want you to think for just a moment about that bronze serpent. The medical world today that bronze serpent set up in Numbers 21:6-10, you remember they began to complain so God sent fiery serpents in among them. The serpents begin to fight them, bite them, and people started to die. As they always did, they cried out to God. God makes a way of escape. He tells Moses ‘you build this bronze serpent this bronze snake and whoever gets bit wherever they are if they find the serpent look at it they'll be saved.’ And so there were steps they had to take. God made way of escape. Now what in the world does this have to do with Christ? Did you know that the Golden verse in the Bible John 3:16 which so many people miss use actually comes from the bronze serpent? 2 John 3:14-17 together the Scripture says, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him should not perish

but have eternal life. For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” What's the background? John 3:16 Prince a comes right out of Numbers 21 that bronze serpent- think about what they had to do. There's someone in the camp of Israel that gets bit by viper and they are going to die. They had to take things. They had to do to be saved- that's the context of John 3:16. “God so loved the world He gives all begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him,” not just believes but is willing to do whatever God says. That's the personal. When we talk about salvation, we talk about believing in Jesus. It's so much more than just mouthing words or having some facts appear. It's a 100 percent commitment. I'm going to do whatever Jesus says to be saved. John 2:5 ‘whatever He tells you do.”

What does Jesus tell us to do to be saved? Jesus tells us we've got to believe His word. The Scripture clearly teaches Jesus said, “Unless you believe that I'm He, you will surely die in your sins.” If I don't believe in Jesus as the Son of God, I can't be saved. Jesus tells us we've got to repent. “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus tells us we got to confess Him before men, Matthew 10:32-33. Jesus tells us to believe in Him we must be immersed in water for the forgiveness of our sins.

Jesus said it so plainly. “He that believes and is baptized will be saved.”

Friend have you fully trusted in God? Do you believe in God in the sense in which the Bible speaks of? Not just in appearance, but by following Him and living for Jesus Christ each and every day?

The people in the book of numbers suffered because of unbelief. Are you suffering because of unbelief? If so, won't you obey the gospel and make it right before it's everlastingly too late?

Study Questions for:

“Living Messages of the Old Testament: Lesson 4”

1. What is the key phrase in Numbers?

2. What does Philippians 4:13 tell us about the things we go thru?

3. What should we beware of according to Hebrews 3:12-13?

4. Why were they aimlessly wandering in Numbers?

5. Should we be separated from the world according to Romans 12:1-2?

6. What does Philippians 2:14 teach us about complaining?

7. According to Numbers 20:12, why didn’t Moses get to go into the land?

8. What does Luke 13:3-5 say about dealing with sin?

9. What does revelation 22:18-19 warn us about?

10. What does Psalm 119:160 say about the word of God?

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”

Welcome to our study of the Home, as God Would Have It. As we

think today about the home, we're thinking about preparation for marriage.

Too many times I think people have an attraction, maybe fall in love, and

they decide to get married. A lot of plans are made: there's planning the

wedding, there's deciding on the dress, there's deciding on the cake,

there's a lot of factors that go in deciding where they'll go on the

honeymoon. A lot of preparation is made for the wedding. But I wonder is

the same amount of preparation really given to make the marriage a

success?

When we think about preparation, preparation is a part of everyday

life. You have to make preparation in anything that you do. For example: if

a person is going to buy a home, a lot of preparations have got to be made

into that. If you're going to buy a car, you've got to decide the kind of car

you want, the color of car, the size of it, you've got to look for the best price,

you've got to factor in the insurance, and you've got to make a lot of

preparation to do that. For example: going on vacation, even something like

that, you've got to make preparation for. What would it be like if the father

came home one day and said, "All right everybody, get in the car. We're

going on vacation." No plans have been made, no bags have been packed

and everybody just heads out to the car. You get in the car and you drive

for a while and finally decide where you're going. You end up getting to a

motel, nobody's got clothes, and you aren't prepared. What kind of chaos

would it be if just one day you up and got in the car and decided to go on

vacation? Nobody would do that. Friend, like a vacation, like buying a car, like buying a home, preparation is absolutely essential for marriage to work.

Let me give you some biblical examples of that, in Matthew 25, you've got a great example of how preparation is essential for success. The story of the 10 virgins: five had gotten ready ahead of time. They had their oil in their lamp. It was trimmed. It was ready when the bridegroom came. They immediately went with him. The other five, when they saw him coming, they realized they weren't ready. They went to buy oil, the door was shut by the time they got back and they didn't get a chance to go. They missed out because of a lack of preparation. Luke 14:28 Jesus said, “which of you does not first sit down and count the cost?” Have we really counted the cost? Are you really prepared to enter into marriage? So in today's lesson for those who are thinking about marriage, we hope to give some biblical guidelines that will really help one's marriage to be successful in preparation for the marriage and longtime effect of that on each individual.

What's necessary to prepare for successful marriage? As we think about these essentials the first is, and this is such an important factor, today don't just focus on beauty alone. Friend there are so many people who are attracted in a physical sense to someone. Their whole marriage may be based on that attraction, that lust. If that's what the marriage is built on, that's the preparation that's made, there's going to be a lot of problems in that. Proverbs 31:30 says this: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing but a woman who fears the Lord she shall be praised.” While there's no doubt that there has to be that physical attraction, friend it should not be the major reason why you marry a person. Remember charm- that's deceitful. Everybody can put on a good face. Beauty is passing. What about 20-40 years down the road if the marriage is just based on that physical attraction, that lustful desire? What about when that fades? What about when that's not as strong as it used to be?

To really prepare for marriage, you've got to look beyond the physical attraction. You have to see: Am I compatible with this person? Spiritually do we have the same values in life? Are our goals the same? Beyond just ‘okay we like each other; we're attracted to each other,’ maybe there's even that sexual attraction, decides that what else is there that your marriage is based on? Are you marrying this person for reasons other than that? Because if-friend listen carefully- if you're not marrying based on other principles, if you haven't thought those out, you're in for a rude awakening.

There must be a physical attraction, but it cannot be that alone.

So the first preparation is don't just focus on beauty. Don't just focus on physical attraction alone. There's got to be more than that.

Secondly as a preparation for marriage, realize ahead of time marriage is permanent. Once you say I do, friend that settles the matter. That's it you must stay with that individual for life. I want you to hear the words of Paul in Romans 7:2 as he speaks about the permanency of marriage: “For the woman, who has a husband, is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if the husband dies she is released from the law of her husband. So then if while her husband lives she marries another man, she'll be called an adulteress, but if her husband dies she is free from the law so that she's no adulteress though she's married another man.” Paul makes those words; the Holy Spirit makes those words, very clear. A woman, or we can put in there, a man is bound by law as long as her husband lives.

Friend let's realize that marriage is a sobering, serious, and a lifelong decision. When you decide to marry somebody, you're making a decision that will last until death. Let those words sink in. The person that you're thinking about marrying is that the person you want to be with 20- 30- 50 years from now. If people are going to make marriage work, you've got to say to yourself, ‘Regardless of the trials, difficulties, and whatever happens this is for life -this is the person I'm going to spend life with no matter what.’ It is indeed a permanent decision.

When we think about preparation for marriage let's also realize this: One has to say to themselves ‘divorce is not a viable option.’ I think way too many times people find an attraction. They decide to get married because of that. They think according to society, and if it doesn't work out in the back of their mind they may think, ‘we could just get divorced later.’

Friend, that's not at all an option. The Bible says marriage is for life, Romans 7 verses 1 through 4. Is there a Scriptural reason for divorce? Absolutely! Jesus said in Matthew 19:9 that one could divorce for fornication. But realize this, that's a violent act. Malachi 2 verse 16 said, “God hates divorce because it covers one's body garments with violence.” “God hates divorce,” Luke 16:18, “whoever divorces his wife commits adultery and will cause her to commit adultery.” Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a

man shall leave his father and mother be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.”

What preparation do you need to make in your plans for successful marriage? Say to yourself ahead of time, ‘I'm going to marry this person. It's going to be for life, and divorce is not an option.’ I think that's the way that in generations of the past people looked at marriage. I think during the hard times and difficulty that's what made them stick together. No matter what, they didn't look at divorce as an option. It wasn't even something they would consider. When hard times came, when people had fights, and everybody has fights occasionally, when struggles arose that were maybe hard to deal, with they didn't say ‘you know, let's just go get a divorce.’ They realized ‘hey this is not an option.’ They thought about it that way. It made marriage last.

Another preparation for marriage, and this is such an important one, let's realize that as a preparation for marriage living together is not appropriate in God's sight. It is sinful. I want to direct your attention to Hebrews chapter 13 verse number 4. The Scripture records, “Marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

As we think about preparation for marriage, please realize that living together to see if it'll work, to try it out, that's sinful. That's not acceptable to God. I know in today's day and age that's what a lot of people are doing, and people will say ‘you know it'll save you from divorce later.’ What a minute now, if that's your thought you haven't really prepared for marriage to begin with. Friend living together is not the option. The Bible says ‘marriage is honorable’ that's a good thing. ‘The bed,’ indicative of representing the relationship sexual relation between husband and wife, ‘undefiled’ that's pure, that's holy, that's right.

What about two people living together before marriage? What about sexual actions before marriage? What about testing it out? That's not God's law. That's contrary to God's law. That’s sinful action. Friend you're only setting yourself up for failure, if you enter into it with that kind of attitude. There's going to be guilt. There's going to be a lot of problems that you create by living together. That's not preparation for marriage that is appropriate in God's sight.

Well what kind of preparation then is appropriate? Here's another preparation we want to give: Ask a whole lot of questions before you enter into marriage.

For example the first question you should ask about someone who you're looking at as a potential mate is: Are they a faithful Christian? You know I hear sometimes people say: ‘Are they a Christian?’ That's not what we're asking. We want to ask: Are they a faithful Christian? More than in name only more, than just filling a pew, more than just wearing a title- are they a faithful Christian?

Here's what we mean by that. Matthew chapter 6 verse 33 Jesus said “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Does the person who you are considering as a potential mate, that you'll spend the entirety of your life with, does that person seek first God's kingdom? Does that person love God and His church more than they love you? Paul said in Galatians 2 verse 20, “I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who, but Christ who lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” Has that person really 100% been crucified with Christ? Are they fully committed to God and His kingdom? We're not talking about just filling a pew. We're not talking about somebody who occasionally does some things that a Christian might do. We're talking about somebody who's faithful to the Lord in every way.

Friend I cannot tell you the number of times I've seen people marry even people in the world or marry people who were just Christians in name. They weren't committed to the cause and the struggles, the difficulties, and the divorce that sometimes occurs from that. And so number one: Are they a faithful Christian?

Secondly: Will they solve the problems of life together with me according to the Bible? Will this person let the Bible be the standard for our home, our marriage, and the decisions we make? There are a couple of passages that I often think of that are so fundamental to answering the questions that arise in the home God's way. Jeremiah 37 verse 17 an evil king asked, “Is there any word from the Lord?” And in Romans chapter 4 verse 3 Paul repeated that idea by saying, “What does the Scripture say?”

If you're to have a successful marriage, you've got to ask yourself: Will this person let the Bible be the guide when it comes to problems, when it comes to moral issues, when it comes to how we're going to raise children, when it comes to how we ought to live and dress, and act- will they let the Bible make the final decision, no matter what?

A third question then that ought to be asked is: Are they headed in the right direction spiritually? And by that we mean: is this a person who's growing and striving to be more and do more as a Christian every day? Paul said in Colossians 3 verses 1 through 3, “If then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above.” We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don't marry somebody who's stagnant or not growing. Look for somebody who wants to grow, somebody who will exalt the Lord with you, Psalm 34 verse 3, somebody who will strive to encourage and help and motivate everybody in the family to grow as they ought to grow concerning Christianity.

Fourth ask this question: What does this person believe about: values like God, the church, the Bible, salvation, immorality- does this person have the correct view of God? Do they recognize that Jesus built the church? There is but one church, that denominationalism is contrary to God's plan, and that we've got to strive to be faithful in the church? What do they believe about the Bible? Do they believe it's the final authority, that it's inspired of God, and that we cannot go against his teaching? What do they believe about salvation? Do they believe that one must be immersed for the remission of sins? Do they believe that one must repent of past lifestyle? What do they believe about those fundamental issues? What about morals? What do they believe about drinking and smoking, immorality and ungodliness, and carousing and dancing, and things of that nature?

Friend here's what we're trying to emphasize- if you marry somebody who has morals or beliefs that are different than what we find in Scripture, you're in for a hard marriage. And here's why- if you marry somebody who has a different belief that what the Scripture teaches about the church, you may be able to teach them, you may encourage them, friend they may not be encouraged; and they may actually discourage you in many ways if they have different views than you do about morals and children. Come into that relationship and you begin to teach your children one thing and they don't teach or teach them something different. Those children are getting opposing views on morality. You're again in for a hard situation concerning

that. Look for someone who holds the same biblical value that you do on fundamental issues.

Then ask this question: How important is worship to the individual I'm thinking about marrying? You see the Scripture teaches in Hebrews 10 verse 25 that we're not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The psalmist said in Psalm 122 verse 1, “I was glad when they said, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” How important is worship to the individual you're contemplating marrying? Do they attend just on Sunday morning for worship? Do they attend occasionally for Bible class? Do they come back on Sunday night and Wednesday night? Friend if they're not attending regularly- now don't lie to yourself and say they'll do it when we get married or maybe I can get them to do that. You might encourage them or they might have a change of heart. Friend if they're already in a habit and have a pattern established and you believe you ought to attend every service of the Lord's church as the Scripture teaches and they don't- they may drag you down or it may be an uphill battle the whole way. And so be very careful about who you choose to marry.

Then ask this question: How do they feel about bringing children into this marriage? Have you thought about children? Have you talked about it? Do they want to have children? What are their ideas on how we ought to raise children? How many children do you plan to have? Can you provide for them? Is there more that you need to do to prepare about raising them in a godly way? How do they feel about discipline? How do they feel about training those children? Will this individual be the godly leader to help our children be what God wants them to be?

Here's an important question to ask: How does this person handle money? You know one of the key reasons that people fight and that sometimes end up in divorce is over money. Let me illustrate it this way. Let's say that you've got a very frugal person and then you've got a person that is a real spender. How do you think those two people are going to get along when they get married? Well if one's a saver and one's a spender, how's that going to work when the check comes in and you got bills to pay? If one of the mates runs out and blows money on something, you can guarantee you're headed for a fight. So, have you talked about finances, how you're going to handle your money? Have you talked about giving as a priority with your finances concerning what you'll give and what your finances are?

Another question that ought to be asked about the individual you're contemplating marrying is: Does this person have a temper? Friend sometimes we see glimpses of something maybe while we're dating or in the preparation stage and we say ‘you know that was just really a freak thing that's not going to happen.’ Those glimpses cannot be overlooked and especially as it relates to one's temper. If you see somebody who has a temper, if you see them blow up and they're doing that now while they're on guard, while they have their guard up, what about after they get married and they let their guard down? I can assure you that temper is only going to get worse. If someone has a temper problem, an anger problem, they can't control that. What about after the honeymoon? What about after the newness wears off? What about when they get angry at you? Will they take it out on you? Very likely the case. And so, if somebody has a temper problem now don't say ‘I can correct that. He'll do better. It'll work out.’ You've got to solve those issues. Make another decision to better yourself in that area. That may even include not marrying that person. Friend in so doing, you'll save yourself a whole lot of heart ache.

Another question to be asked is: Does this individual have a good work ethic? Is he a hard worker? Is he lazy? If somebody is lazy now, how do you expect that individual to fulfill their role whether it is provider or whether it be keeper of the home? Laziness causes a lot of problems in the home. You've got one individual who works very hard and one that's lazy whether that is the husband or the wife. You've got people going in opposite directions. In marriage you've got to be going down the same direction. You need to be going down the same path. And so, will this person really be a good provider? Will, if it's the wife, will she be a good keeper of the home? Don't enter into a relationship with somebody who's lazy because that's going to create more problems in the marriage.

And then we give this final preparation. Friend realize the huge responsibility that is required of both parties in the marriage. Marriage is a serious responsibility. Genesis 2 verse 18, “And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help mate for him.’” We're designed, to help one another ultimately in many ways emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. We also help one another get to heaven.

Men, we encourage you in this area, ask yourself: Will the person I'm thinking about marrying, will this woman make a good helper? Will she be submissive to me in the Lord? Will she strive every day to help me and as we bring children into the relationship to get to heaven?

And women we ask you this question: The man that you're contemplating marrying; will he be a good leader in our home spiritually? Will he encourage me in the spiritual direction I need to go? Will he be a good encouragement to the children spiritually to help them grow in the Lord? Will he be a good leader as relates to us providing for the home and taking care of us and protecting us? Are those things that he'll do? Will the individual you're thinking about marrying, will they really keep their end of the bargain?

And so as we think about marriage, and as we think about the home, friend marriage is a wonderful-listen carefully-marriage done right, followed according to the teaching of God, is a wonderful plan that God set forth. It's a wonderful relationship. Two people striving to get to heaven, to help one another, and help their children get there. It is one of the greatest blessings God has given.

But just as well, people who don't prepare and just up and decide to get married without any forethought, can be one of the greatest heartaches and struggles in this life.

Can preparation be made after marriage to make it work? Yes, but it is indeed an uphill battle.

We want to encourage you today to think seriously before you get married. Ask the questions that we've set forth today. Look at these preparations that we've given. Don't just prepare for the wedding. Don't just say, what color dress? What's the cake going to look like? Who are the bridesmaids going to be? Friend all of that's fickle compared to the preparation that needs to go into marriage.

Are you really ready to marry this individual?

Will this person help me and will I help them get to heaven?

Friend our hope and prayer today is that each individual will look at these guidelines, put them to use, and really strive to have a godly marriage that will uplift one another and help you get to heaven.

Study Questions for: “Godly Homes: Lesson 5”

1. In Matthew 25, the story of the 10 virgins, what was the outcome for the prepared?

2. According to Matthew 25, what was the outcome for the 10 unprepared virgins?

3. What is Jesus asking that has been considered in Luke 14:28?

4. What is deceitful and passing according to Proverbs 31:30?

5. According to Proverbs 31:30, who shall be praised?

6. According to Jeremiah 37:17 and Romans 4:3, what fundamental question is asked?

7. What are we to seek according to Colossians 3:1-3?

8. According to Hebrews 10:25, what are we not to forsake?

9. What were they glad about in Psalm 122:1?

10. According to Psalm 34:3, we should look for someone who will do what with us?