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Prayer, Faith, and Peace

Prayer, Faith, and Peace. Class 12. Do Not Waver. James 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. ..

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Prayer, Faith, and Peace

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  1. Prayer, Faith, and Peace Class 12

  2. Do Not Waver James 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. .. I saw that if we do not feel immediate answers to our prayers, we should hold fast our faith, not allowing distrust to come in, for that will separate us from God. If our faith wavers, we shall receive nothing from Him. Our confidence in God should be strong… {1T 121.1}

  3. Prayer and Faith Are Partners • Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must understand…Prayer is a necessity; for it is the life of the soul. {Ed 257,8}

  4. What Weakens Faith? • Cherishingsecret sin… Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: • Studying the Bible without prayer… Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given. {SC 90} (See also 1 Cor. 2:14) • Neglecting to pray…Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality…{GW 255}

  5. What Weakens Faith? - 2 • Telling our troubles to others… Ps 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. When perplexities arise, and difficulties confront you, look not for help to humanity. Trust all with God. The practice of telling our difficulties to others only makes us weak, and brings no strength to them. It lays upon them the burden of our spiritual infirmities, which they cannot relieve. {COL 146}

  6. Strengthening Faith - 1 • Study God’s word and pray for the light of the Holy Spirit… faith must be kept in constant exercise through the diligent, persevering study of the word. {FE 433} • Claiming God’s promises in little and big matters…1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. We should go to Jesus and tell Him all our needs. We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should take it to the Lord in prayer. {5T 200}

  7. Strengthening Faith - 2 • Talk and act with invincible faith…By looking at appearances and complaining when difficulties and pressure come, you give evidence of a sickly, enfeebled faith. Talk and act as if your faith was invincible. The Lord is rich in resources; He owns the world. Look heavenward …{COL 147} It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and strengthened as we give them utterance. {MH 251}

  8. Strengthening Faith - 3 • Speak encouraging words…Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Speak of your blessings and prayer answers Ps 145:2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

  9. Strengthening Faith - 4 • Work for the salvation of others… If you will go to work as Christ designs that His disciples shall, and win souls for Him, you will feel the need of a deeper experience and a greater knowledge in divine things, and will hunger and thirst after righteousness. You will plead with God, and your faith will be strengthened, and your soul will drink deeper drafts at the well of salvation. Encountering opposition and trials will drive you to the Bible and prayer. You will grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, and will develop a rich experience. {SC 80.1}

  10. The Peace of Jesus Christ never murmured, never uttered discontent, displeasure, or resentment. He was never disheartened, discouraged, ruffled, or fretted. He was patient, calm, and self-possessed under the most exciting and trying circumstances. All His works were performed with a quiet dignity and ease, whatever commotion was around Him. Applause did not elate Him. He feared not the threats of His enemies. He moved amid the world of excitement, of violence and crime, as the sun moves above the clouds.

  11. How Do We Have That Peace?Rule 1 • Always Rejoice in the Lord Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

  12. Human passions and commotions and trials were beneath Him. He sailed like the sun above them all. Yet He was not indifferent to the woes of men. His heart was ever touched with the sufferings and necessities of His brethren, as though He Himself was the one afflicted. He had a calm inward joy, a peace which was serene. His will was ever swallowed up in the will of His Father. Not My will but Thine be done, was heard from His pale and quivering lips.--Letter 51a, Sept. 11, 1874, to Edson and Emma White. {TDG 263.3}

  13. Rule 2 for Having Jesus’ Peace Be gentle, moderate, patient. Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. • From Strong’s Concordance: • 1933 epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace'); • from 1909 and 1503; appropriate, i.e. (by implication) mild:

  14. God’s Peace Comes to Those Who Fulfill the Conditions Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Peace and rest will come to you as you bring your will into subjection to the will of Christ. Then the love of Christ will rule in the heart, bringing into captivity to the Saviour the secret springs of action. The hasty, easily roused temper will be soothed and subdued by the oil of Christ's grace. The sense of sins forgiven will bring that peace that passeth all understanding. {MYP 73}

  15. Faith Is Bigger Than Understanding • John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. • We must offer men something better than that which they possess, even the peace of Christ, which passeth all understanding... Show them how infinitely superior to the fleeting joys and pleasures of the world is the imperishable glory of heaven. {MH 157}

  16. Reaching God’s Ideal Brings Peace • Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: • We can reveal the likeness of our divine Lord. We can know the science of spiritual life. We can honor our Maker. . . . Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children. He wants our minds to be clear, our tempers sweet, our love unbounding. Then the peace that passeth knowledge will flow from us to bless all with whom we come in contact. The atmosphere surrounding our souls will be refreshing. . . . {SD 348}

  17. Give God Your Plans • Each morning consecrate yourselves and your children to God for that day. Make no calculation for months or years; these are not yours. One brief day is given you.. Lay all your plans before God, to be carried out or given up, as His providence shall indicate. Accept His plans instead of your own, even though their acceptance requires the abandonment of cherished projects. Thus the life will be molded more and more after the divine example; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. {7T 44}

  18. How to Maintain Peace-Think on Positive Blessings Phil. 4:8, 9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. • 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. • It is a law of the mind that it gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is trained to dwell. {PP 596}

  19. And If We Don’t? • It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. {GC 555} • It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and strengthened as we give them utterance. {MH 251}

  20. Look Away from the Circumstances • It is not wise to look to ourselves and study our emotions. If we do this, the enemy will present difficulties and temptations that weaken faith and destroy courage. Closely to study our emotions and give way to our feelings is to entertain doubt and entangle ourselves in perplexity. We are to look away from self to Jesus. {MH 249}

  21. What More Can We Doto Maintain Our Peace? Live up to all the light you have. • Wherever His word is obeyed with a sincere heart, there Christ abides. {DA 442] Religion is not merely an emotion, a feeling. It is a principle which is interwoven with all the daily duties and transactions of life. Nothing will be entertained, no business engaged in, which will prevent the accompaniment of this principle. {2T 506}

  22. Know Jesus Is In Charge of the Future Recognize that life may give you danger or losses. • John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. • Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

  23. God Has Made Provision for Every Difficulty • It is not the will of God that His people should be weighed down with care. But our Lord does not deceive us. He does not say to us, "Do not fear; there are no dangers in your path." He knows there are trials and dangers, and He deals with us plainly. He does not propose to take His people out of a world of sin and evil, but He points them to a never-failing refuge. {SC 122}

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