Scripture Readings:

1. 2 Chronicles 34:27:  “Because you humbled yourself before Me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you declares the Lord.”

2. 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

3. James 4:10:  “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

4. James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

5. 1 Peter 5:6: “Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”

Discussion Points:

-  What are central themes of the Bible? (grace, love, righteousness, etc.). Humility is a central theme of the Bible.

-  Our level of humility should be in line with someone that is about to approach their master, Lord and Creator. 

-  We should not casually approach God in prayer like we would anyone else.

-  Today’s society tries to portray Jesus as a buddy. 

§   Do any bumper stickers or t-shirts come to mind? (i.e., Jesus is my co-pilot, etc.)

§   Jesus is a friend, but He is our God first (Similar to the way we would treat a parent that’s also a friend).

§   We lessen our relationship with our God when we treat Him as we would other friends.

-  We should conduct a “soul search” before praying to make sure that we are approaching God with the correct level of humbleness.

-  Getting on your knees before you pray is one way of creating humbleness.  In the early 1900’s it was common for people to kneel when they got called on to pray.  Today, when people get called on to pray what do they do? They stand.  It is important for us to get back to the lost habit of approaching God with humbleness. 

 -  When we approach God with a humble spirit, it allows God to exalt us. 

-   Example: Luke 18:10-14. This story of the tax collector illustrates how much God opposes the proud and how we gives grace to the humble. 

Point of Lesson:  God stated “because” you have humbled yourself “I have heard you.”  He also stated “If” my people will humble themselves then “I will hear from heaven.”  The Bible shows us that there is a direct connection between approaching God with a humble spirit and His willingness to hear our prayers.  It is important to make sure before we pray that our level of humbleness is in line with someone who is about to approach their God.

Past Prayer That Worked:  In the 5th lesson, we will cover a "Past Prayer That Worked" from the Bible that illustrates this rule. This past prayer is the prayer of the leper and is found in Matthew 8:2.  This week, review the prayer of the leper and see if you can find out how the leper complied with this forgotten rule.