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Welcome to my site.  The main feature of rickcowan.com are free online and printable Bible studies which I originally prepared for Calvary Baptist Church in Windsor, Ontario. The studies can be found quickly by using the Categories drop-down menu to the left. Feel free to copy and distribute these studies for your own personal or ministry use. Many of them are available in PDF format, formatted to fit on 1 double sided sheet of paper.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

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Are you afraid to die? In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul gives us 4 factors that should cause us to face death with confidence.  Download the MP3 below to hear what these 4 factors are. The following link will take you to Windows SkyDrive where you can download the message for free, with no log in required.

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Explore what the Bible says about "tongues".

Text: Acts 2, 10, 19 & 1 Corinthians 12-14

Speaker: Rick Cowan

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Find below the first in our new series for new believers…

Now That You Are a Christian Bible Study (PDF)

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Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also ______________________________________________.

There is a new life to live

This lesson marks the beginning of a new series of Bible studies entitled Learning to Live the New Life. According to Romans 6:4 we as Christians are called to walk in newness of life. Unfortunately, within modern Christianity it may be safe to say that the majority of Christians are living defeated lives. Their Christian walk is characterized by repeated attempts at pleasing God followed by repeated failures at doing so. Is this what God has intended for the Christian? Absolutely not!

The idea of a victorious Christian life for some is simply an abstract and distant concept. But God’s desire is that we walk daily in his Spirit and experience daily triumph over this world. God’s plan for the Christian is a life of abounding victory over sin. This is, in essence what is meant by walking in newness of life. For the remainder of this study we will be looking at Romans 6 where we will learn about this new life and how to live it.

The Sacrificial Provision for the New Life

Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; ______________ hath no more ___________________________________. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he _____________________________.

A new life, apart from sin, and for the glory of God, has been provided for us by the death of Jesus Christ. When we say that Jesus died as our subsitute, we are not simply saying that he died in our place, but that we identify with his death. His death on the cross was as if we also died on the cross. God now accepts his death as if it were our death. Before Paul told the Romans about the new life in Christ, he started by explaining this difficult concept.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized ________________________?

The word baptized here means to be united and identified with. This same idea is used in 1 Cor 10:2 where it is spoken of in regard to the children of Israel and Moses.

1 Cor 10:2 And were all ________________ unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

The Bible says that the men and women of Israel were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and the sea. This has reference to God`s miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The children of Israel followed Moses and watched as God used him to perform powerful miracles to aide in their escape. From this time forth Moses and Israel were united forever. The events surrounding the escape from Egypt left an indellible imprint on all of Israel and has been spoken of for generations ever since.

The history of Israel cannot be spoken of without mention of this man Moses. Israel`s very identity as a nation is tied directly to Moses and the way in which God used him on their behalf. This is the context of 1 Cor 10:2. Israel and Moses became one, never to be separated again.

This illustration can help us to better understand our relationship to Jesus Christ. Look again at Romans 6:3

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Just like the indivisible relationship that was developed between Moses and Israel, we have a new relationship with Jesus Christ that cannot be divided. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we identified with his sacrifice on the cross, we were baptized into his death. The event of our salvation forever changed who we are and the course of our life. His death became our death, and as we will see in a moment, his life became our life. We are now absolutely tied to Christ, never to be separated again. This is what it means to be baptized into Jesus Christ.

This concept is repeated in • Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been ________________________________ have put on Christ.

Although this concept may be hard to grasp, it is very important in understanding the new life which we have in Christ. It is not simply a vague or abstract concept, but it is a real, practical truth that has clear impact on our daily lives.

The Spiritual Power of the New Life

When Jesus died on the cross for us, he freed us from the penalty of sin. Sin no longer has a legal claim to our lives. We are no longer captive to sin, but we are at liberty to live a life free from sin.

• Rom 6:7. Q. What is he that is dead?______________________________.

• Rom 6:6. Q. What is destroyed as a result of our death with Christ?

Q. What should we not do since we have been crucified with Christ?

When Jesus died for us he severed our ties to sin. Within each and everyone of us is a drive and a desire to indulge the flesh and to sin against God. This sinful nature is what was handed down to us from Adam. Before Christ saved us, we were held captive to this sinful nature and could not please God. When we, by faith, accepted Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins, this sinful nature lost it’s dominion and control over us.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have ______________________________: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

In order to fully understand the new life that we have in Christ, we must not stop here. Jesus did more for us than simply severing our ties to sin. Although the old sinful nature still remains within us, we have been given a new nature and the ability to choose between the two.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his _________________________:

Being baptized into Christ not only means that we identify with his death, but that we also identify with his resurrection. By his death he paid the penalty of sin, but by his resurrection he neutralized the power of sin by giving us the Holy Spirit.

Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he _____________________ once: but in that he liveth, he _____________________________.

After the Lord died on the cross and rose from the grave, he ascended to God the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within all believers. Through the Holy Spirit God has provided for us a new nature, contrary to our old sin nature. Now we are not only free from the old sin nature, but we are free to choose to live in the Spirit, or as Romans 6:10 says, to “live unto God”.

The Christian who continually struggles with sin in their lives, is not captive to sin, but has willingly yielded to sin and has failed to yield to the Spirit. With the above knowledge, consider again Rom 6:4.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The Surrendered Practice of the New Life

When Paul taught the Romans this important truth, he did not stop at simply stating the facts. He encouraged the Church at Rome to take these truths and apply them practically to their lives.

Rom 6:11 Likewise _____________ ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The word reckon here means to “behave as if it were so”. We are not only to understand the truth, but to live as if it is actually true! Paul goes on to show how reckoning this truth would affect their lives.

Rom 6:12 _______________ sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

We are no longer servants of sin, if we obey it we are obeying it by choice and not compulsion. If sin reigns in our lives it is not because it has stormed the throne by force but because we have let it reign!

In September 22, 1862 , Abraham Lincoln issued a presidential order that all slaves under the Confederacy be freed from slavery. This was the law of the land and it applied to all slaves. There were some slaves who heard this proclamation and immediately took advantage of their new found freedom. There may have been others that remained in slavery because they did not hear about the proclamation, but more tragically, there may even have been those who heard the proclamation, but fearing freedom chose rather to remain under their oppressive masters. For the second group simply educating them about their freedom may have set them free, but for the last group there remained nothing that could be done except for they themselves to live like they were free and to walk away from their slave holders.

Some Christians today, like the church at Rome simply need to know that they are free from sin and have the ability to choose the Spirit rather than the flesh. But there are others who know about the free life in Christ but choose rather to remain in sin. The only remedy for this sad state, is for these Christian to turn from sin and to yield to the Spirit. They know the facts, but must reckon it to be so.

• Rom 6:16. Q. Who’s servants are we?

Q. What two masters can we choose between?

The fact is, that every Christian will yield to something. Either they will yield to the flesh or they will yield to the Spirit. There is no neutrality in this matter. One must yield, and he now has the freedom to choose what to yield to.

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness __________________: but yield yourselves _____________, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

All of the above is illustrated nicely in the following verse:

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

In this single verse we see 1) that the Christian still faces temptation, 2) that God always provides a way to escape temptation, and 3) it is up to us to choose whether to indulge in the temptation or to take the escape! We escape temptation when we yield to the conviction of the Spirit instead of yielding to our own lusts.

As we live this new life there are two essential tools that are absolutely necessary for us to succeed. The word of God and prayer must be a part of our daily lives or else we are bound to yield to sin. When we read God’s word with a yielded spirit and speak to him daily and continually in prayer we are well on our way to walking in newness of life and being filled with the Spirit of God. When these tools are forgotten we will undoubtedly drift from God and submit ourselves once again to the influence of sin.

Conclusion

We died with Christ, therefore our sin nature has lost the ability to keep us captive. We have also risen with Christ and have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. To live the new life is to continually yield to the Spirit of God.

Yielding to the Spirit and thus walking in newness of life, manifests itself in many different ways. Throughout the rest of this series we will deal specifically with practical areas of life and will examine how yielding to the Spirit in those circumstances will help us to live the new life!

Review

1. According to Romans 6:4, how does God want us to live?

2. How has God made it possible for us to live this new life?

3. What are the two natures that are within the Christian?

4. What are we able to choose regarding the two natures? (Rom 6:13)

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Last week we learned that our Lord Jesus Christ has provided a new life for us to live. His death on the cross and victory over sin broke sins legal claim on our lives, we can now choose to turn from sin and to yield to the Holy Spirit whom he has given us. This new ability does not mean that we will be free from the influence of sin, but that we can choose to reject it’s influence and to obey Christ. This conflict between sin and the Spirit is a continual battle in the life of the Christian, but it is a battle that can be consistently won by walking daily with the Lord.

This week we are going to consider this idea of developing a daily quiet time with the Lord. Every Christian who desires to have victory over his flesh, and to walk in a way which pleases God everyday, must seek to develop a daily time of prayer and Bible reading with the Lord. Let’s look now at some practical ideas regarding what a daily quiet time is, and how to have it.

When Should I Have My Personal Quiet Time with the Lord?

Psalms 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the ____________________, O LORD; in the ________________ will I direct my _____________ unto thee, and will look up.

• Mark 1:35. Q. When does this verse indicate that Jesus prayed?

The best time for the Christian to spend a daily quiet time with the Lord is in the morning. There are some practical reasons for this. First, when you meet the Lord in the morning, you are not yet burdened with the affairs of your daily life; Secondly, spending time in God’s word and in prayer early in the morning gives you strength and wisdom to face the burdens of the day; thirdly, oftentimes when we begin our day it is difficult to slow down and make time to spend with the Lord; Fourth, we must spend time in prayer in the morning if we want to ask God for our daily provision; and Lastly, spending time with the Lord in the morning helps us to have the right attitude and perspectives throughout our day.

• Matt 6:11, 6:13. Q. What two things did Jesus tell us we should ask God in these verses?

These are both things that we must ask for as we prepare for our day. It would be silly to ask God to provide for our daily needs and to lead us not into temptation after our day is already done!

We should spend a quality time of prayer and Bible reading in the morning. This is not time that you will find but time that we must make. Think for a moment about how you could arrange your schedule so that you could spend at least 30 minutes of quality time with the Lord in the morning. This may mean going to bed sooner or setting the alarm earlier. This is not easy at first, it is a definite lifestyle change.

This is your devotional or quiet time, pick a time that is practical and that you can be consistent with. The things of this world and Satan himself will seek to keep you from maintaining this time – so protect it!

Write below what time you think you can set aside for the Lord:

______________________________________________

How Do I Prepare for This Quiet Time?

In preparation for your time of Bible and Prayer, you should attempt to be physically ready, morally ready, and mentally ready.

Be Physically Ready

Q. Why do you think it might not be a good idea to kneel and pray immediately after you get out of bed?

This time that we give to the Lord should not only be early but it should be our best time. If you find yourself dozing back off to sleep when you kneel to pray than perhaps your best time is after you shower and have breakfast, but before you begin your daily routine.

Be Morally Ready

When we approach the Lord in the morning we must be morally ready. That is, we must ensure that there is no unconfessed sin in our lives.

• Ps 66:18. Q. What did the psalmist say would happen if he was harbouring sin in his life (regarding inquity in his heart)?

• Matt 5:23,24. Q. What did Jesus say one must do if he wants to offer a gift to God but has unresolved conflicts in his life?

Before we come to the Lord we must cleanse our heart from unconfessed sin. God has promised that if we confess our sins he is faithful to forgive them. If we wake in the morning with sin that must be confessed, we can claim the promise found in 1 John 1:9, and continue with our quiet time, knowing that God has heard our confession and has forgiven our sin.

Write out 1 John 1:9: ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Be Mentally Ready

When we sit to read our Bibles and to pray during this daily quiet time, we must ensure that our minds are clear from things which will distract us from the Lord. We must take time before we open our Bible and before we pray to stop and to consider what we are about to do. This quiet time is your time to fellowship with your Saviour, it is only right that you put out of your mind anything that may distract you from the Lord. Psalms 46:10 says Be still, and know that I am God. Take a moment and just sit, considering the Lord. Prepare your mind to receive truths from His word.

Where Should I Have my Daily Quiet Time?

• Matt 6:6. Q. Where did Jesus say we should pray?

The word closet found here does not mean a clothes closet like we have in our homes, but literally means a secluded place. We must find a place that is apart from the distractions of the home. Jesus prayed on a mountain, in a garden, and in the wilderness.

Luke 5:16 And he __________________ himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

The key here is not the location of our quiet time, but the fact that we are separate from distraction. Write below the place that you believe you can have your quiet time with the Lord.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________________________________

How Do I Go About Having This Quiet Time?

We now know that we should decide to spend time with the Lord early in the morning with a cleansed heart and mind, and that we should do it apart from distraction, but how do we actually go about this quiet time?

After we have come to our secluded place, we should examine our heart and determine whether or not we have any unconfessed sin in our lives. This sin may not be obvious but may manifest itself in the form of a bad attitude or bitterness towards someone else, this sin must be confessed before you continue.

Read God’s Word

Once we have confessed any known sin, we should begin by reading God’s word. Here are a few things to keep in mind while reading His word.

1. Read it Attentively

Do not let your mind wander while you read. If you finish a paragraph or a chapter and find that you have allowed yourself to be distracted start over and read it again until you understand the passage.

2. Read it Expectantly

Psalms 119:18 says Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. This ought to be our prayer when we open God’s word. Expect to receive something from God in his word. Keep a pen in hand and a notepad near by, be ready to right down new truths that God shows you.

3. Read it Obediently

• James 1:21. Q. How did James tell us to receive God’s word?

When we read the Bible we should read it with a ready heart and be willing to submit to the new truths that God has shown us. We should be ready to change areas of our lives or personalities that God shows us are sinful. To receive his word with meekness means that we are submitting ourselves to the word. We are allowing it to judge us, and not making ourselves the judge over it.

• Ps 119:34. Q. What did the Psalmist say he would do if God gave him understanding from His law?

This should be our prayer too!

4. Read it Personally

Although the Bible was not all written directly to you it is all intended for you. We should read every book and passage of the Bible as if God has a message intended for us personally.
This quiet time is your personal time with God. This is a time for you to receive wisdom, guidance, instruction, encouragement, reproof and correction from His word. This particular time should not be your time to look for your next sermon idea or lesson idea. You are not reading to find something for someone else, but for you personally. The truths that you find may lead to a sermon or lesson, or some point of encouragment for a fellow Christian, but this is not your main purpose.

5. Read it Qualitatively

This special time that you are spending with the Lord is not the time to race through a Bible reading schedule. It may be a good idea to keep your Bible reading schedule separate from your quiet time. You may find yourself reading a small portion of scripture many times. This is a time where you are concerned more with the quality of your Bible reading than the quantity.

6. Read it Proportionally

It is a good idea to consistently read from the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs. Psalms provide great encouragement, and Proverbs instruct us in wisdom. Try to read God’s word proportionally by reading a balance of Old Testament books and New Testament books.

Pray to the Lord

Now that you have spent some time in the word of God, you are ready to pray. Perhaps you have learned new truths you wish to thank God for, or perhaps you need to ask forgiveness for sin that God has revealed in your life through his word.

We will spend more time on Prayer in a later lesson, but regarding our personal quiet time, here are some good ideas:

1. Pray Out Loud: Praying out loud tends to help you stay focused on what you are praying for and prevents your mind from wandering. Praying out loud may also help you to learn to pray in front of others.

2. Pray Naturally: Remember that you are praying to your Heavenly Father. You can ask and tell him anything. Do not be concerned with praying a “flowery” prayer. You are not praying as a ritual, you are participating in a relationship with your Heavenly Dad!

3. Pray Until You are Done: Do not drag out your prayer time. God is not impressed with the amount of time that we spend in prayer if it is not sincere prayer. Pray about the burdens and desires on your heart and pray for others. On the other hand, do not rush your prayer time. Be willing to kneel in silence as God brings things to mind that he wants you to pray for.

As you conclude your personal time with the Lord remember that this is just the beginning of your walk with the Lord. Remain in a constant state of prayer throughout the day. You should be able to whisper a prayer to the Lord at anytime. Throughout your day take moments to reflect on the things you read in his word and meditate on them. If you do not develop a real, daily quiet time with the Lord, you will not succeed in living the new life that God has intended for his children. Make the decision today to spend daily time with the Lord in Bible reading and prayer!

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This weeks study will serve as a continuation of last weeks “How to Develop a Daily Quiet Time”. Last week we dealt briefly with the two main elements of our daily quiet time – Bible reading and prayer. Now we will look a little deeper into this subject: How to Approach the Word of God.

The Word of God is an essential element to Christian growth. For this reason it is often compared figuratively to food.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, _______________________________.

Without the basic nourishment of milk, a newborn baby cannot grow or survive. His very existence is dependent on his supply of milk. This is how God has chosen to illustrate the Christian’s utter dependence on the Bible.

Matthew 4:4 But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man ________________________ by bread alone, but by _________________ that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

• Job 23:12. Q. How did Job ”esteem” the words of God?

The Christian’s spiritual well being rests on his intake of the Word of God. If we desire His word, and if we are dependent on his word, than it only makes sense that we will spend time in His word on a daily basis. It is unlikely that real Christian growth will take place apart from the daily reading of God’s word. We must read his word daily, and we must approach it with the right heart. For the remainder of this study we will look at how to properly approach the word of God during our daily quiet time.

• Read James 1:21-25, where we see God’s instructions on how to receive His word.

First, we must approach the word of God with a repentant spirit. Notice the first part of verse 21,

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all ­­­­­_____________ and superfluity of __________________,

Before we open our Bibles to read we must ensure that there is no unconfessed sin in our lives. The superfluity of naughtiness spoken of here refers to the excess sinful tendencies that we have carried over from our old life. Many folks do not grow while reading the Bible because they do not approach it with a clean heart. We must search our hearts and confess any known sin before we open God’s word. One can develop a habit or routine of Bible reading without truly desiring God to speak to them through his word. If your desire is for God to speak to you, than you must approach his word with a pure heart.

Next, once we have confessed any known sin, we must approach the word of God with a receptive spirit.

Q. How does James 1:21 say we should receive God`s word?

To receive God’s word with meekness means to read it as if we are submitted to it. It is one thing to read the Bible as a literary work much like any other book, but it is quite different to read it and to receive it with meekness. To receive His word with meekness means that we are not standing in judgment of what we read, but we are standing ready to be judged by what we read!

The growing Christian reads God’s word with a desire for it to change them. He is looking for new truths to learn, new commands to obey, new promises to claim and for sins to confess.

• Eph 5:25,26. Q. How does Christ desire to cleanse his church?

• Psalms 119:9. Q. How can the young man cleanse his way?

The power of God’s word to clean our minds and our lives rests entirely on our willingness to submit to it. When we take this approach to God’s word it is unlikely that we will walk away from his word the same as we were when we came to it. This was the way in which the Psalmist approached God’s word in • Psalm 119:34.

Q. What did this man ask God to give Him?_______________________

Q. What did this man say he would do with this understanding?

Our daily Bible reading should not become ritualistic. We are not reading his Word to meet a quota, we are reading it with a willing heart, sincerely seeking God’s will for our lives.

Thirdly we are to approach God’s word with a responsive spirit.

James 1:22 But be ye ______________________________, and not _______________________, deceiving your own selves.

Q. What has the person who reads God’s word but does not obey, done to themselves?

How many Christian’s are going through the motions of Bible reading, skimming and skipping through God’s word without the intention of obeying it? If these Christians believe they are pleasing God, or are growing Christians, they are simply deceiving themselves.

• Matt 7:26. Q. How did Jesus describe the man that hears his word but does not obey it?

• Luke 11:28. Q. Who did Jesus say was blessed?

Have you ever felt that God did not seem real to you? Or that he was distant from you? Jesus gave us a promise regarding his presence, it is found in • John 14:21.

Q. Who did Jesus say loves Him? _________________________________.

Q. What two things did Jesus promise he would do for the man that keeps his commandments?

Our love for Christ is displayed by our obedience to His word. When we obey Him he promised that he would manifest himself to us. Obedience is the key to experiencing the presence of God, and daily Bible reading is the key to learning how he would like us to obey!

Lastly, we must approach God’s word with a reflective spirit.

• James 1:23-25. Q. What did James compare the Bible to in verse23?

Have you ever woken up late and had to rush out the door? Perhaps you took a quick glance in the mirror before you left your house, only to later discover you missed a spot shaving, or as a lady, your makeup was smudged? James here is using the illustration of two men looking into the mirror of God’s word. One glances quickly and goes his way, not considering what he saw. The other takes a good hard look and changes those things that don’t quite look right.

When we read God’s word, we not only learn who God is, but we also learn who we are. The Bible describes human nature perfectly, and it’s not a pretty picture! A serious reading of the Bible will reveal things about ourselves that we never saw before. We will learn how sinful we really are and how holy God is. Many of our faults and failures will be exposed. It is for this reason that many folks avoid the word of God. If they take the time to look into the mirror, they may see something they do not like. This new knowledge may obligate them to change something they are not willing to change or to face realities they are trying to deny.

But it is not only these folks who avoid the mirror of God’s word, there are others who will not take a long hard look because they think they are OK and really don’t need improvement. They are prideful, and self-sufficient, believing they don’t need God to face the demands of the day. These are they that seek God when trouble comes, but avoid Him when things are good.

It is true that you can perform your duties at work or at home without spending time in God’s word, but it is also true that you cannot perform your duties at work or at home while pleasing God if you are not doing so while submitted to Him and his Word.

• John 15:5. Q. What did Jesus say we could do without Him?

Q. What did Jesus say he that abides in him would bring forth?

The point here is that we cannot grow, bring forth spiritual fruit, or please God, without his presence in our lives. If our concern is simply to make it through our day, we may succeed without a sincere time in God’s word. But if our desire is to live for Him, to please Him, and to grow more like Him, than we must read his word daily with the right spirit.

Conclusion

An essential part to Christian growth is the proper reading of God’s word. It must become a daily part of our lives. In James 1:21, James called the Bible the engrafted word, that is, the word is to become engrafted into our lives, it should become an inseparable part of who we are, ultimately changing the type of fruit that we bear.

This process of engrafting his word does not stop with our daily Bible reading, but it continues as we meditate and memorize throughout the day. To meditate means to contemplate, to think on or to ruminate. It is taking a portion of scripture and turning it over and over in our minds, seeking to better understand it’s truths. When we get up from our daily quiet time we should take some truth with us and think on it throughout the day. Memorization is taking a portion of scripture and attempting to commit it to memory. Psalm 119:11 indicates that memorizing scripture helps to keep us from sin.

Try this week to make the word of God an integral part of your day!

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This study includes a Powerpoint file which is required to fill in some blanks.  Download it by clicking the green button above.

In this week’s study we are going to look at some very practical and basic facts regarding the word of God. We have already established that the New Life cannot be lived successfully without a daily quiet time with the Lord. This quiet time features a sincere time of Bible reading and prayer. This week we are going to learn some things that will help us to better understand the Bible during this quiet time.

We must Accept it’s Authority
Before we begin to read or study the word of God we must first acknowledge that it is authoritative in all areas of life.

• 2 Peter 1:20-21. Q. How did scripture not come to us?

Q. How were holy men given the words of scripture to write?

• 2 Tim 3:16. Q. How was all scripture given?

Q. What is all scripture profitable for? _____________, _________________

_______________, __________________________.

All scripture has been given to us by God, through men. This is what is meant by inspiration. God supernaturally provided the words of scripture to be written and he used men to physically pen them down. Although there is much historical, archaelogical, and scientific evidence to prove the authority and divine authorship of the Bible it must ultimately be accepted by faith.

• John 17:17. Q. How did Jesus refer to the words of God?_____________.

Luke 4:4. Q. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by ____________________.

• Mt 12:3,5; 19:4; 22:31; Mark 12:10,26; Luke 6:3. Q. There is a phrase that Jesus repeats in each of these verses, what does this phrase tell you about His view of Scripture?

Jesus himself taught that every word of Scripture was essential for our growth. We can trust that when we read the Bible we are reading the very words of God. We are not reading the Bible to pick and choose portions that appeal to us. But we are reading it in meekness (James 1:21), submitted to it’s authority.

We Must Study It’s Structure

The Structure of the Old Testament

Next, from a very practical standpoint, in order to understand the Bible we must first look at it’s structure.

Use the Table of Contents in your Bible to fill in the following blanks.

1. The Bible is one book made up of _____ smaller books.

2. These smaller books are divided into ______ major sections.

3. These major sections are called the Old and New ___________________

4. There are _____ books in the Old Testament and _______ in the New.

The word testament can be thought of as a promise or covenant. Therefore the first division of scripture deals with God’s initial covenant with mankind, and the second division deals with his new covenant with mankind. The birth of Jesus Christ was the climax of the of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament.

The Bible is not entirely in chronological order, but it is rather divided into sections based on the type of literature found in each book. Within the Old Testament we find books of History, Poetry and Prophecy. See the chart on page five to get an idea of how the Old Testament books relate to each other chronologically.

The Old Testament – 39 Books

A Short History of Israel

When you hear news reports today referring to the nation of Israel in the middle east, you should think immediately of the Old Testament scriptures. For it is in the Old Testament that we find the birth of Israel as a nation. Below is a very basic history of Israel.

God first made a covenant with a man named Abraham (Gen 15:18), God confirmed this covenant to Abraham’s son Isaac (Gen 17:19), and to his grandson Jacob (Gen 28:13-16), whose name God later changed to Israel. Jacob and his twelve sons became captive in Egypt where they and their families reproduced for over 400 years. When God sent Moses to deliver the descendants of Jacob out of this slavery in Egypt they were quite possibly numbered at over two million people. After their escape from slavery in Egypt, God delivered the law to Moses, by which he commanded the children of Israel to govern themselves. It was at this point that the children of Israel emerged as the nation of Israel.

The law which God gave to Israel was intended to teach Israel that they could not in fact please God by their own effort. The law taught them that they were utterly sinful and that God was ultimately holy. This lesson was necessary in order for Israel to realize their need for a saviour. God promised the nation of Israel that one day he would send this saviour, who would redeem them, once and for all from sin. (Gen 49:10,Isa 9:7,Mic 5:2,Isa 7:14). God’s promise to Israel was fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.

The Old Testament deals primarily with the nation of Israel but it was written for all people of all generations. Through it we learn who God is, what he requires of man, and how we might be saved.

• Romans 15:4. Q. What purpose do you think the Old Testament scriptures serve for us today?

1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ____________________: and they are written for our _________________, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

So although the Old Testament was not written to us, it is definitely for us. According to the verses above, the record of God’s dealings with Israel serve for our learning, comfort, hope, admonition, and example.

It is through the Old Testament that we learn of man’s fall and his need for a redeemer. The common theme throughout the Bible, starting in it’s first book, is that man is in need of a saviour and that he cannot save himself. Without the Old Testament it would be difficult to understand why it was necessary for Jesus to die on the cross. All of God’s interactions with Israel throughout the Old Testament – the giving of the law, the institution of sacrifices, the building of the tabernacle and so on, were his way of preparing mankind to accept his Son as Lord and Saviour (John 5:39, Luke 24:25-27). It is this common theme that ties the sixty-six books of scripture together to form one consistent and cohesive larger book.

The book of Genesis – The Foundation of a Christian Worldview

The relevance of the Old Testament to the Christian cannot be overestimated. In fact, it is in the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis that we find the foundation for the Christian’s entire worldview.

View the Powerpoint presentation entitled “How to Understand the Word of God” (available here) and fill in the blanks below. Each heading and it’s sub points represent a major aspect of the Christian worldview. Think of how these aspects of the Christian worldview ought to change the way that we answer many of life’s questions.

1. ___________________________ Gen______
2. ___________________________ (The Fall of Man) Gen ______
3. ___________________________ (The Flood) Gen ______
4. ___________________________ (The Tower of Babel/Nations)
5. ___________________________
6. ___________________________
7. __________________________ (The New Heaven and New Earth)

A proper understanding of the word of God is essential if we are to have a proper view of who God is, who we are, how to obtain salvation, how to live in obedience to God and how to respond to the issues of life.

May this short introduction to the word of God serve as a help to you as you begin to read and study the Bible on a daily basis!

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This study is only available for download and not online viewing. The provided Powerpoint file will give you the information you need to complete the PDF Bible study.

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In this series of Bible studies we have been learning what it means to live the new life. According to Romans 6:4 all Christians are to be walking in newness of life. What does this mean? And How is it practically applied?

When Jesus died for us on the cross and overcame sin by the resurrection from the dead, he made it possible for all people to be freed from the bondage of their own nature to sin. When someone comes to a place where they understand the gospel message and accept Christ as he is – as the Son of God and the Saviour of the World, they are then liberated from their sin nature and given the ability to please God. To please God is to live in obedience to His word, and to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s influence in their lives. When a Christian submits himself to the word of God and surrenders himself to the Spirit of God, he is beginning to walk in newness of life.

Although walking in newness of life is made possible by a spiritual transaction, it is made practical by real life decisions that we make, and character qualities that we develop. We have learned so far that in order to walk in newness of life we must have a Daily Quiet Time, and this quiet time must feature both a time of Bible reading and a time of Prayer. We have already looked at How to Approach the Word of God (Lesson #3) and How to Understand the Word of God (#4,5), but today we are going to look at the other aspect of this quiet time – Prayer.

Every Christian has been given the privilege of prayer. We are able to approach God the Father in prayer through Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many Christians do not believe that God answers prayer – this is evident by their lack of prayer!

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in ________________ thing by _____________ and supplication with thanksgiving let your ____________________ be made known unto ______________.

We are told as Christians to take everything to God in prayer. The words be careful for nothing, literally mean “don’t be worried” by anything.

• Matt 6:11. Q. What did Jesus tell us to pray for? __________________.

• 1 Thess 5:17. Q. How often should we pray?___________________.

These verses and many others show us that it ought to be part of our daily lifestyle to pray. Not simply a time of prayer before we go about our day, but continually making our requests known unto God. The Christian’s prayer life should be characterized by a definite time of prayer in the morning and a deliberate spirit of prayer throughout the day.

Our prayer life should not simply be a quick chat with God in the morning, that begins and ends in our daily quiet time. No. To have a successful prayer life means to begin a conversation with God in our daily quiet time and to end the conversation when we pillow our heads at night. We can whisper prayers to God throughout our entire day.

This is the thought that Paul was teaching the Romans when he wrote • Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing _______________________________;

Now let’s look at how we’re to pray. First We Must Pray in the name of Jesus.

John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask _____________________, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing _________________________, I will do it.

Have you ever wondered why many folks end their prayers by speaking the words “in Jesus name, Amen” ? For many it is simply a habit or tradition that they have picked by hearing others pray. For others it is heartfelt acknowledgement that their prayer has the authority and approval of Jesus himself!

Praying in the name of Jesus means that we are bringing our requests to God, not because we are worthy or deserve answers to prayer, but because Jesus is worthy. We do not have the authority to approach God in prayer, but Jesus Christ does.

• Matt 28:18. Q. What has been given to Jesus?_____________________.

The word power here means authority. Jesus has been given all authority, and through the privilege of prayer, he has given us the authority to approach God in his name.

Now the question might arise “If I am bringing my requests to God, how can this approaching God on Jesus’ behalf and not on my own behalf?” The answer to this question is found in the second aspect of praying in Jesus’ name – His approval.

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are praying for those things that Jesus also desires and approves of. A good question to ask before we bring a request to God is “Is this something that Jesus would approve of?”. If the answer is yes than we can approach God with the authority of Christ and boldly expect an answer to our prayers. Many folks make a mockery of prayer by praying for things which would not honour God, and which Jesus would not approve of, and ending their prayer by saying “in Jesus name”!

His authority gives us the boldness to approach God in prayer, while his approval gives us the boldness to expect answers to our prayer.

1 John 5:14,15 And this is the ________________________ that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing ______________________, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Praying in Jesus’ name is the same as praying according to his will. Both indicate that God approves of those things for which we are praying. God has given us his word so that we can discover his will. The student of scripture will learn what God desires of him and for him, and will know how to pray according to the will of God.

What are some things we can be assured Jesus would approve of?

Secondly, We must Pray in the Spirit

Eph 6:18 _________________________ with all prayer and supplication _______________________, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Many times in the New Testament, the Christian is told to walk in the Spirit (Rom 8:1,4; Gal 5:16,25). To walk in the Spirit means to be continually submitted to the will of God as the Holy Spirit makes it known to us. Whether it be our actions, thoughts, words, or emotions, all are to be subject to God’s leading and for his pleasure.

We cannot pray in the Spirit as Eph 6:18 instructs us to do if we are not already walking in the Spirit. A consistent obedience in our daily lives is needed if we are to expect answers from God when we pray. The Holy Spirit has an important role to play in our prayer lives, therefore we must ensure that He is neither grieved nor quenched (Eph 4:30, 1 Th 5:19) by ungodly attitudes or actions in our daily life.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, ___________________________________ on your most holy faith, praying ______________________,

Jude has made a clear connection between encouraging ourselves spiritually (building up yourselves in the faith) and praying in the Holy Ghost (Spirit). The way to have confidence in our prayers is to live daily for God and to continually encourage ourselves in spiritual things.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also _______________ our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit actually helps us to pray. There will be many times in your prayer life when you do not feel that you know how to pray or what to pray for. The Holy Spirit of God helps the obedient Christian by giving him the words to speak or by making intercession on his behalf before God.

The disobedient or half-hearted Christian should not have confidence that his prayers will be answered. The Holy Spirit is an integral part of the Christian’s prayer life and can only be effective to the extent that we obey Him!

Thirdly, We must Pray with a Clear Conscience. If we are to pray and to expect answers to our prayers, then we must ensure that our relationships with others are in good standing.

We Must have a Clear Conscience Toward our Spouse

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life;_________________________________________.

Did you know that there is a direct connection between an effective prayer life and a healthy marriage? When a marriage relationship is allowed to deteriorate, it is unlikely that a husband and wife will pray together. The offering of their prayers and answers to their prayers are both hindered.

According to 1 Pet 3:7, a husband and wife who pray together are ones who recognize and fulfill their biblical roles. When a husband fails to dwell with his wife according to knowledge, to honour her as the weaker vessel, and to recognize her as a fellow-heir of salvation, his marriage will suffer and his spiritual life will be hindered. It is also safe to say then, that a wife who rejects her husband’s spiritual leadership and her natural role as the weaker vessel will effectively hinder her and her husband’s spiritual lives as well.

A healthy, Biblical marriage will create an environment for spiritual intimacy and ultimately, answered prayer!

We Must have a Clear Conscience Toward Fellow Christians

Mark 11:25,26 And when ye stand _____________, ______________, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Another key to answered prayer, is a right relationship with fellow believers. According to Mark 11:25,26, we should not expect to receive answers to prayer, or even forgiveness from God if we are harbouring any bitterness toward others (have ought against any). Why should God forgive us if we are unwilling to forgive others?

Mark 11:25,26 says we should forgive if we have ought against any, Matt 5:23, 24 gives us instruction for when our brother hath ought against us. Both of these verses speak of damaged relationships between Christians. Our prayers are hindered when we allow ourselves to be bitter toward others, and when we fail to repair relationships that we may have damaged through offences.

Lastly, We must Pray in Faith

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, ___________________, ye shall receive.

James 1:6.7 But let him ask in ____________, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

• James 5:15. Q. What type of prayer saves the sick? ________________.

Faith is simply believing God. His word is filled with prayer promises. When we read his word and come across these promises we can claim them in prayer and seek answers from God with confidence. The more we pray, the more answers we receive and the easier it becomes to believe by faith that he will answer again! The Christian who consistently obeys God in his daily life, reads God’s word to discover his will, maintains right relationships with his brethren and spouse and who prays in faith can be confident that God will hear and answer his prayers.

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So far in this series we have learned that in order to grow as a Christian we must have a daily time of Bible Reading and a daily time of Prayer. These two elements are absolutely necessary if a Christian desires to live a life of spiritual progress. We can think of Bible reading and Prayer as tools for spiritual victory, God has given these things to us to help us become more and more like Jesus Christ. Today we are going to learn that God has not only given us the tools for victory but he has also given us the power to successfully utilize these tools!

Like a vehicle without gasoline, so is the Christian life without the working of the Holy Spirit. It is His Spirit within us that gives us the necessary power to use his tools. Our Bible reading and Prayer time, in fact, all of our Christian life, is vain if it is not done by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Acts 1:8. Q. What were the disciples to receive?___________________.

Q. What did this power follow after? ______________________________.

You can push a car that has no fuel in it. You may even reach your destination. But you are not using your vehicle in the way in which it was meant to be used and you will be pretty wore out when you get there! The Christian who tries to please God by his own efforts, and does not live a life entirely surrendered to the power of the Holy Spirit, is like that man who is pushing his car instead of riding in it. To this man the Christian life seems difficult, monotonous, and exhausting. He becomes ”wore out” in the service to God quickly, and will quit the moment he reaches a big hill! This is not how Jesus intended the Christian life to be.

• Matt 11:29,30. Q. What did Jesus say we would find if we took his yoke upon us? _______________________________.

Jesus said that his yoke is ______________ and his burden is ___________.

If the Christian life to you is burdensome and difficult then you have not really begun to live the Christian life! You have attempted to please God and to live for him in your own strength.

• John 15:5. Q. What did Jesus say we could do without him?

In order to experience spiritual success we must live the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit. This requires a complete surrender of our wills to His will. This is what Paul meant in Gal 2:20.

• Write Gal 2:20.

This is a key verse. It explains how the Christian life works. We die to ourselves and then offer our lives as a sacrifice to God. Our lives then exist for the purpose of performing His will and not our own. This important truth is repeated in Romans 12:1:

• Rom 12:1. Q. How are we to present our bodies to God?

Q. Giving our lives entirely to God as a sacrifice is our R_______________ S_________________.

All Christian success and spiritual victory rests on the foundation of the surrendered life. Jesus accepted no less than a complete surrender to him and a denial of self in order to be his disciple.

• Luke 14:26. Q. What did Jesus say we could not be if we did not “hate” our own life?

What do you think Jesus meant by “hating” your own life?

• Luke 9:23. Q. What did Jesus say one must do in order to follow him?

Q. How often?

When we make this absolute surrender of our wills and our lives to God, then His Holy Spirit (which came to dwell in us at salvation), can begin to work freely in our hearts and minds. He teaches us the things of God (John14:26), helps us to pray (Rom 8:26), gives us boldness and power to witness to others (Acts 1:8), comforts us in the midst of trials (John 16:33) and gives us peace (Php 4:7).

Opposition to the Spirit

The average Christian in today’s society does not experience the benefits of the Spirit listed above. Why not? Because the Holy Spirit faces much opposition in our lives. There are many things in our world around us which draw us away and cause us to live self-centered lives instead of Christ-centered lives.

• Gal 5:17 Q. What are the flesh and the Spirit toward one another?

Q. Because the flesh and Spirit are contrary to each other, what does it prevent us from doing?

When we got saved, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within us. As a result he made us spiritually alive. He made it possible for our relationship with God to be reconciled. Because of his presence in our lives, we can have fellowship with and pray to our Heavenly Father. This relationship however is often hindered by the fact that we still possess fleshly bodies and a soul (mind, will and emotions) which are susceptible to the corrupt things of this world. For this reason, we are often exhorted in the word of God to avoid developing affections for this world.

• 1 John 2:15 ___________________________ neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

• Gal 5:24. Q. What have those who are Christ’s done?

In order to live the Christian life the way God intended it to be lived, we must make a decision between self and Christ, between this world and the world to come, between the temporary and the eternal. When we make this whole-hearted, life-changing decision than we will begin to realize what the Christian life is all about. His Holy Spirit will begin to work abundantly within us and we can accomplish much for God.

Objective of the Spirit

• John 16:13,14. Q. v14. What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would do?

The objective or purpose of the Holy Spirit on earth is to glorify Jesus. He does this by working in the lives of Christians. First he does this by working in us.

• Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be ____________________________________________…

• Gal 4:19. Q. What did Paul desire would be formed in the Christians at Galatia?

The Spirit glorifies Christ by making us more and more like Christ. In a certain sense, all of the fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5, is simply the character qualities of Christ which are to be formed in us. The evidence (or fruit) of the Spirit’s working in us is that our lives reflect the life of Christ. This process of making us like Christ began when we got saved and will continue until we enter Heaven (Php 1:6). The extent to which our lives and character reflect that of Jesus is entirely dependent on the measure of obedience that we give to Him.

Next, the Holy Spirit not only glorifies Christ by working in us, but by working through us. We glorify Jesus when we tell others about Him and testify of what he has done for us. He is glorified when we are motivated by Christ-like character to love others the way that he would love them. These are outward affects of the Holy Spirit’s inward work.

Obedience to the Spirit

How do we practically apply these truths to our lives? Well, if you desire the Holy Spirit to work in your life, and to lead you into a victorious Christian life then you must ensure that you have a change of heart.

Matt 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

We turn from our sin and accept Christ in order to gain salvation, but we must also come out of the world and obey Christ in order to enjoy salvation. We must love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. This whole-hearted obedience is the foundation on which the rest of our Christian life rests. The blessings of Bible reading and Prayer only come when we have surrendered to His will and the Holy Spirit works freely within us.

In Ephesians chapter 4 we see a list of sins such as lying, anger, stealing, worthless conversations, bitterness and slander. This chapter encourages us to “put away” these things. Then in the midst of the chapter, in verse 30, we read this verse:

Eph 4:30 And ___________________ not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Trying to live the Christian life while still indulging in sin, selfishness and worldliness grieves the Holy Spirit and stunts our spiritual growth. Our hearts must be given entirely to the Lord. Next, in order to obey the Spirit we must also have a change in habit.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also _______________________.

Living with the Spirit means obeying the Spirit in our daily lives. Perhaps that means stopping bad habits that weaken our spiritual desires. Perhaps that means developing good habits that promote spiritual desires. These are the things we do to avoid grieving the Spirit, and to actively feed the Spirit.

Part of walking in newness of life is recognizing the role of the Spirit in our lives. He is here to come along side of us and to make us like Christ. He does not force us, but meets our desire with his power. Have you given your life wholly to the purposes of God? Nothing short of this will see the full potential of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life.

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