Notice that these requests pertain to their liberty: that they would be free from the bonds of Satan—to hear and receive the gospel.
First request: that the Holy Spirit would prepare the soil of their heart for the seed of the gospel.
Preparation is so important. As the farmer prepares the soil (as he turns the ground over with the plow, runs the disc and the rake over the ground, and fertilizes and waters the soil so that the seed he plants will germinate) so must the Holy Spirit prepare the heart of the lost soul to receive the seed of the gospel. For the Word of God will not be heard, will not penetrate a heart that is hard and callused by sin. Therefore, let us pray for the Holy Spirit to begin that process of preparing the soil of hearts, especially of those you plan…
This is our thirty-ninth study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.
John 12:17-19
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Observations
The common people were amazed at Jesus’ miracles and wanted to meet Him. In contrast, the Pharisees wanted to kill Him. They were so discouraged that Jesus was taking away their popularity.
Application
Beware if those who are discouraged at people who are doing good things. For some of our leaders, it matters not what good they do. It only matters to them whether they are profiting from it.
Three absolute essentials for witnessing are these: guidance, faith, and to keep a close relationship with God.
For guidance in witnessing. As we go out, boldly, into the world to witness, we need guidance. Many (including myself) have witnessed boldly but have miserably failed because they lacked guidance.
In this regard, I urge you fellow believers to make Christ Lord in your heart, and pray that He would prepare your heart to witness—that He would make you willing and able to witness (1 Pet. 3:15); also, that He would fill you with knowledge and discernment, and that you would be so full of the love and compassion of Christ that others would see it and give glory to God (Matt. 5:16).
Secondly, with your heart more prepared, pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to those He wants you to witness to—to those He has prepared…
This is our thirty-sixth study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.
John 9:39-41
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Observations
In these verses I think a better translation of verse 39 is… “so that the blind will see and those who think they see will become blind.” (will be humbled). Of course, the Pharisees were offended by this because they believed that they could see (understand) the Scriptures just fine; but they were spiritually blind.
When Jesus said to them, “If you were blind you would not be guilty of sin,” He meant that if they were physically blind and could not read the Scriptures, they would not be guilty, because they would have an excuse; but they were guilty because they were fully capable of reading and understanding the Scriptures. They had no excuse.
Application
If you can read and have a good understanding mind, you should do all we you to obey His word. And be always listening to Him for more insight.
This is our thirty-fifth study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.
John 8:12-19
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
Observations
The Pharisees had no idea who Jesus was. They were not listening to Him. They only wanted to trap Him. I’m sure that when Jesus spoke of His Father, they quickly dismissed it. And when they said, where is your father, they had no interest in what He would say to them.
Application
The Pharisees never believed that He was the light of the world. It is up to us to believe that, and that if we follow Him we will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
This is our thirty-fourth study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.
John 8:3-11
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Observations
The Pharisees knew that Jesus was merciful to such women, and so they tried to trap Him into doing something contrary to the law. But Jesus turned the tables on them. He appealed to their conscience, to their own sin. He got them to look at their own sin. Suddenly, they had no interest in condemning her.
Application
Jesus here by taking away her witnesses automatically frees her from the law (since the law says that in order to condemn someone there must be at least two witnesses). He forgives her and sets her on a new life without sin.
Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” This verse suggests three levels of intensity in prayer: asking, seeking, and knocking.
The first level,asking, is where prayer begins. Anyone can ask—even a small child. In fact, children tend to ask for things in prayer more than adults. But God wants us all to ask, and often. Jesus told His disciples to ask for things in prayer so that their joy would be full—that is, so that they would receive joy in seeing God answer their prayers (Jn. 16:24). Likewise, the book of James (Ja. 4:2-3) suggests that we ask for things whenever we desire them, as long as our requests are according to His will.
A second level of earnestness is seeking. According to Wesley Duewel, “[This level] searches to…
This is our thirty-second study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.
Luke 19:38-40
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Observations
When Jesus’ followers were praising Him as they came to Jerusalem, the Pharisees were offended. They didn’t think He deserved praise because they didn’t think He was the Messiah. But Jesus rightly did not stop their praise. He instead referred to the Psalms, saying that even the stones will praise Him (see Ps 96:11 and 98:7-9).
Application
Those that don’t believe will naturally be offended when believers praise Him. But all those who truly believe will be joyful and join the praises.
This is an adaption of a blog I did three years ago, however the ideas are timeless. Happy New year.
Eight Ways To Develop Earnest Prayer for 2022
Ask God for it. If you prayed that your prayers would be more earnest, do you think God would grant your request? Think about it… Of course, He would! Because that kind of prayer will always be according to His will. It’s a prayer that won’t be refused.
Have a regular prayer time. Be faithful to God in your prayer times. And most importantly, have one regular prayer time and stick with it. The loyalty you show the Lord in your showing up at appointed times for prayer will surely pay off. He will reward you for your loyalty by stirring up in your mind desires that burn for righteousness and for the conversion of lost souls. He will give you His own earnest heart.
Keep a listening ear for any prayer assignments God is giving you. If you feel a burden to pray for someone, make that your responsibility. Cling to it and cherish it. Pray every chance you get over that burden. You will find that as you pray more frequently for a need, your love for God and for others will grow, and so will your earnestness.
Commit yourself to evangelism and discipleship. If you pour out your heart to serve the ones you are teaching, don’t be surprised when God gives you a deep, heart-felt affection for them—so much so, that your prayers for them will burn with fervency.
Position yourself for earnest prayer. If you really want to pray with earnestness, get on your knees in readiness before the Lord. Wait on Him there, and believe that He will send fire from heaven to burn in your heart the desires of His heart. Even if you don’t feel a burden to pray for anything in particular, or even if you don’t feel like praying at all, it is a faithful and loyal act for you to remain on your knees before the Lord—and He will surely reward your prayer efforts.
Fast. Fasting is a sure way to develop your earnestness. By letting go of your natural desire for food, God will tune your spirit to His Spirit, and fill your soul with deep, earnest prayer.
Don’t neglect fellowship. Be involved with others in groups, and individually, always endeavoring to build friendships. As you develop a love for others you will pray more earnestly for them.
Abide in the Word. As you treasure His words in your heart and seek to obey Him, you will grow to love Him, and He will show His love to you. He will give you His own heart of earnestness.
Stephen Nielsen 