Bible Studies

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This a continuation from a previous article, so I would advice you to go to start from part one if you have not done so.

Let us look at some examples of praying and listening to God.

Jehosephat
• Jehosephat gives us an example of what true prayer should be like. In 2Chro20: When threatened by his enemies, he called a fast and prayed with the whole nation of Judah. He led the prayer himself. But notice, after speaking to God, he waited to hear from God and he was not disappointed. God spoke to him in a prophecy, encouraging him and directing him as to what to do. He followed God’s instruction and had a mighty victory over his foes.

1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'
10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "
18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.


David
David, a man after God’s own heart also shows us what prayer should be like. In Psalm5:3 he says, ‘Early in the morning I will direct my prayer to you and wait in expectation.
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
2 Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.Ps5:1-3
When you wait in expectation you will not be disappointed.


• Also when David faced the Amalekites, he sought the face of the Lord saying, ‘Shall I pursue them?’ and God answered him.
8And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 1Sam 30:8

• On another occasion, when the Philistine was came against David, he enquired of the Lord again and God told him not to pursue but to wait until he heard a sound on the mulberry tree.
22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines2Sam.5:22-24.


Abraham
• In Gen 15 we see a dialogue between Abraham and God. God tells him, ‘I am your shield and exceeding great reward….’ And Abraham complains that God had not given him an heir and God confirms His covenant to Abraham.
1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? Gen.15:1-2

• In Gen 13 Abraham had a dispute with his nephew, Lot, and there was a parting of way and God comes soon after to reassure Abraham and show him the promised Land.
14And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Gen.13:14-16

The Disciples
• The disciples prayed and worshipped the Lord in Acts 13:1-2, the Holy Spirit spoke, them giving directions:
1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts13:1-2

So when you worship, expect to hear from the Lord. Worship leaders should be sensitive and make room for this. They should also be encouraged to let the Holy Spirit use them to bring words of comfort and to the congregation. God can use anyone – not just the Pastor. Remember, He had used a donkey before. All he needs is availability- not ability.

God still speaks. He has not changed. He said I am the Lord, I change not (Mal3:6) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). And to day he says to you and to me;
My child, pay attention to my word listen closely to what I say
… 20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.
. Prov4:20-22

(see my article Craving and Having Divine Direction.)
May your prayer life be revolutionized.
There are prayers of worship, praise, thanksgiving, adoration, dedication which are not a shopping list. Learn to pray these prayers more often. Occasionally go to God, not with a shopping list but just to lavish praise on Him for who He is and what He has done, doing and about to do and say your amen at the end of it. Think of His character- his abundant goodness, integrity, unfailing love, superfluous grace, unlimited power, unparalleled sovereignty, bounteous mercy, extraordinary patience, ever- presence,
Omniscience etc etc Let these be the springboard of your praise, worship thanks and adoration.

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