OUR GOAL IN THESE LESSONS IS TO TEACH US ALL SOME NEW SHORT PRAYERS TO USE AS THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES. THEY ARE POWERFUL INDEED. THESE MAKE GOOD "QUICK" PRAYERS WHEN LIFE GETS SO BUSY!

Completed June 14, 2007

LESSON 1:

The 51st Psalm uses the word "spirit" three times, each in short prayerful sentences.

Here they are.

"O God, renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

The verb "renew" is "chadash" and means "to repair" or even "to rebuild." Then "right," spelled "kun," means "firm or erect or stable." This is a prayer for faithfulness! Lord, don't let me fail again!

"Take not thy holy spirit from me." Psalm 51:11

The verb "take" or "laqach" means "to seize or fetch or lay hold of" something. The Holy Spirit here is clearly identified too! Today in this Age of Grace the Holy Spirit does not leave a child of God, but fellowship sure can be broken! This is, I believe, a prayer to live in constant communion with the Holy Spirit of God. And, yes, that's a Bible term. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." 2nd Corinthians 13:14

"Uphold me with thy free spirit." Psalm 51:12

The verb "uphold," in Hebrew "samak," means "to support or to sustain!" It can also carry the idea of "leaning" on something, to "prop" it firmly into place! And the adjective "free" or "nadiyb" means "willing or generous!" Voluntary or magnanimous too! "Lord, keep from me a bitter selfish attitude!" Or maybe even better; "Lord, let me not grieve Thy Spirit. Let Him sustain me gladly and willingly and joyfully, never grudgingly!"

Yes, these may yet be prayed in the twenty-first century!

And what powerful little petitions they are!

They surely were powerful in David's life as he repented from sin!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

King David once prayed, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation." This request was directed to God after David had sinned so egregiously with Bathsheba.

Those words alone, taken from Psalm 51:12, form a beautiful short prayer!

The verb "restore" is spelled "shub" in Hebrew and is a basic word meaning "to turn, to return, or to turn back." The noun "joy" is derived from a verb that means "to be bright," therefore "to be cheerful!" And "salvation," pronounced yeh'-sha, is the Old Testament equivalent for the Name Jesus! He is our Saviour!

Another similar short prayer, still prayed by David and still in the same chapter, says: "Make me to hear joy and gladness." Psalm 51:8

"Make to hear," a form of "shama," means to hear with understanding, to hear intelligently, to hear with perception. And "joy" here is again "sason," that word for "brightness," a kind of cheerfulness that shows on one's face we assume. Then "gladness" translates "simchah," meaning gaiety or happiness or mirth.

Who would have ever thought of praying this?

But David realized that once he had sinned, remaining unrepentant for about a year it appears, he had lost the "joy" of his relationship with God!

He wanted it back!

And how does one achieve such a goal?

Confess your sins!

Pray the prayer!

God is a Giver of Joy!

The New Testament even talks about "full joy!"

And this I can guarantee you. Such "joy" is a by-product or a side-effect of having the Holy Spirit in your life!

He brings with Him ... "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance!" That's according to Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. Do you see that second trait on the list?

Let's pray this prayer ... like some of the medications say ... "as needed!"

God will hear and answer!

"Make me to hear joy and gladness."

                                                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

It's one of the most unselfish prayers ever addressed to God!

Yet we know it's Biblical, absolutely in the very center of God's Perfect Will.

"Father, glorify Thy Son." John 17:1

The fact that Jesus first prayed it diminishes its Glory not one bit! Our Saviour is asking this in the Name of The Father and in fulfillment of His ultimate Program.

Likely nothing brings the Father greater pleasure than His Son being praised!

The verb "glorify" is spelled "doxazo" and means "to praise, honor or exalt" Someone!

Jesus also taught us to pray for the Father's Honor and Reputation. "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." Then continues the rest of the Lord's Prayer or the Model Prayer in Matthew chapter six.

The verb "hallowed" translates "hagaizo," to recognize as "holy" or "venerable" or even to be "set apart," to be "different" in a good sense, "sanctified!"

Next time you're riding up the road and your mind wanders a bit, put it to work alongside your heart and spirit!

Pray!

"Father, glorify The Son!"

That prayer, sir or sister, will be answered!

The day is coming, after our Lord returns to earth, when we shall see it happen!

And that's not even counting what's going on right now in Heaven! "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever." Revelation 5:11-14

Lord, me too!

I also glorify Thy dear Son Jesus!

Yes, pray that and see what kind of pleasure and joy and peace and contentment and gentleness flood your soul!

Amen!

                                                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Lord was so tender with his Disciples. One day in an encounter with Peter Jesus said: "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31-32

Notice especially the words "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."

This is one of Jesus' petitions!

I suggest to you that it is still appropriate today!

"That thy faith fail not," when prayed, translates into something like this. "Lord, I pray for my friend _________. He (or she) is going through such a hard time. Be with him. Strengthen his faith. In fact, Lord, I pray that his faith will not fail during these days. Don't let him quit! Be especially dear to him I ask."

"That his faith fail not!"

The verb "fail" is spelled "ekleipo" in Greek. Its mail stem, "leipo," means "to leave" or "to slacken" or even "to be absent!" The prefix "ek" merely strengthens that root emphasis. It's a prayer not only that Peter's faith not crumble, but that it won't even weaken!

Such praying is lofty and mature!

Jesus did not ask for Peter's bank account to grow! Or several new sets of clothes for travel and preaching! Or a lake home!

He prayed for Peter spiritually!

Use this prayer today, pray it diligently for that loved one who is going through hard times.

Job said this about his ordeal. "But He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." The "He" here is Almighty God! The faith expressed her is precious!

Job's faith did not fail him, even after ten funerals and several financial disasters and untold physical suffering! Even after days of blistering attacks from three "friends" as well!

If Jesus prayed this ... why can't we?

Today's Lesson may be the best thing that's happened to your friend in  months! I mean the friend for whom you are about to pray!

"Lord, that his faith fail not."

Amen!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

King Asa was fighting a wicked enemy. Judah was vastly outnumbered by the Ethiopians. Therefore the context of his short prayer is one of battle, a militant situation.

The prayer must be legitimate!

It is used again and again in Scripture!

A Gentile woman whose daughter was demon possessed one day asked: "Lord, help me." Matthew 15:25

That verb "help" is "boetheo" and just means "to bring aid." In older days, "to succour." It carries the idea of relieving someone. In it also see "theo," the Greek verb "to run!" That opening syllable, "boe," is from a verb that means "to shout," usually for assistance! "Lord, I'm crying loudly! Run and help me!"

King Asa of Judah many years ago also prayed it. "Help us, O LORD our God." He was facing a terrible enemy at war! "Help" as used here in 2nd Chronicles 14:11 means "to protect or support!" It's root verb, "azar," actually means "to surround!" Encircle us, O Lord!

Then Jabez prayed it too! "Lord, that Thine hand might be with me." This is part of 1st Chronicles 4:10. God's "Hand" often represents His great Strength!

But Nehemiah might be best known for these words. "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." Here in Nehemiah 6:9 a different verb for "strengthen" is used however. "Chazaq" means "to fasten upon" something! To literally "seize" it! It suggests battle is raging and one needs aid in overcoming the enemy!

And let this be added. God answered this prayer for each of the petitioners! He granted their requests for help! He healed the Gentile lady's daughter! He defeated the Ethiopians for King Asa, a million men being in that enemy army! God also bestowed His helping Hand to Jabez, blessing him indeed and enlarging his coast and keeping him from evil! And everyone knows that Nehemiah finished the job, in grand fashion too!

Four people, one prayer!

Let's add ourselves to the list!

After all, as the old song says: "What He's done for others, He will do for you!" It is no secret what God can do.

"Lord, help us too!"

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The prayer for today is short, but it's context must be established as well. We must see it in its Bible setting.

Here's the petition Amos prayed: "O Lord God, cease." Amos 7:5

God was judging Israel, severely!

The Prophet begged the Almighty to stay His mighty hand!

And God complied!

The prayer was answered!

Let me give you the Amos example in full. The Text is printed in blue, the prayer in red. "Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD." Amos 7:1-3

Then the Holy Spirit supplies us another example, immediately!

"Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part. Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD." Amos 7:4-6

Two prayers really, both short!

"Lord, forgive!"

And "Lord, cease!"

I've chosen the second one for today's study, partly because Jesus prays a more majestic "forgive them" prayer from the Cross! You will remember. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

By the way, when it comes to this idea of prescribing some course of action for Almighty God, be careful!

Our first prayer in that area should be: "Thy Will be done," prayed by Jesus in Gethsemane. Or, excerpted from the Model Prayer, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

But this truth is in the Bible too: "Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me." Isaiah 45:11

All Bible Truth is balanced. These two thoughts must be also.

Maybe the prime Bible example of God's Will and man's intercession coinciding is found in Ezekiel 36:33-38. "Thus saith the Lord GOD; in the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD." Amazing, this is absolutely amazing!

God just said, "I will do this anyway. I am determined!"

Then God said, "Yet I want My people to ask me to do so, diligently in prayer!"

Back to today's "short" prayer, although that's the only thing that's short about this Lesson, isn't it?

"O Lord God, cease."

Both major Names for God are used here: Jehovah and Elohim.

The verb "cease" is spelled "chadal" and means "leave off." Or "end" or just "rest" or "forbear," but most often it's translated "cease" as in our Text here. "To bring to an end!"

And the sweet thing is this: God did so!

Here's a quick parallel prayer too.

Habakkuk prayed this, in a "judgment" context too.  "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."

Maybe this "cessation" occurred because of this principle as taught by Jesus in Matthew 24:22. "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

"Lord, cease."

Thy chastening is heavy and the Lesson is learned!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

This was one of Paul's strongest desires, a passion you might even call it!

He specifically asked that it might be prayed on his behalf.

Whenever Paul preached, and that was often, he longed ... "That the Word of the Lord might be glorified." 2nd Thessalonians 3:1

"Logos Kurios," the Word of the Lord, is an expression that distinctly refers to the Bible, the Scriptures themselves!

And the verb here, "may be glorified" translates "doxazo" as a subjunctive mood, present tense, passive voice action word. The subjunctive shows desire or preference, not always an assured outcome!

But Paul wants it so, the Bible "praised and honored and exalted" as he preached!

No glory for Paul please!

Moe than once he expressed the following sentiment: "But God forbid that I should glory ...." Galatians 6:14

But the preached Word?

Yes!

In case someone worries about that thought, the Bible being "glorified," perhaps being elevated too highly, rest easy please! Based on Psalm 138:2, your fears are baseless. "For thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name."

Amen!

We can pray this too!

"Lord, Sunday when my Preacher next expounds Thy Word, let It be glorified and honored as never before! In Jesus' dear Name, Amen"

You then will have prayed the very words of God ... back to Himself!

Get ready!

Barring any hindrances, an answer will be on the way!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The prayer for today is different!

Yet it could be prayed right now in a number of different contexts.

These words originally fell from the lips of King David of Israel. He was fleeing for his very life, Absalom his rebel son usurping the throne!

Absalom had summoned David's once loyal and trusted counselor, Ahithophel, to help subvert the old King's reign.

A wise strategist, Ahithophel could be dangerous, even deadly to the retreating Monarch.

Here's the Bile record: "And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." 2nd Samuel 15:31

Yes, David prayed: "O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

This wise man's name means, of all things, "my brother is foolish!" Yet he had this reputation, well-deserved apparently: "And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom." 2nd Samuel 16:23

No wonder David now wanted this skilled administrator to be confused!

"Lord, turn his advice into shame!"

To "turn into foolishness" translates "sakal," meaning "to make silly!" Its root stem means "to be fat," but here in an intellectual and diagnostic sense! The piel imperative form of this verb is dramatic and intense, emotional even!

The word "counsel" merely means "advice" and is spelled "etzsah." Its root means one's "plans, purposes or consultations."

And did the Lord answer that prayer?

Yes, and just two chapters of Scripture later!

"And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father." 2nd Samuel 17:23

I would think his counseling anyone is just about over now! He's dead!

But, Preacher Bagwell, how can we pray that?

Pray it against the ungodly worshippers of evolution who are destroying the faith of every young person they can find!

Lord, publicly and finally prove evolution to be the lie it really is! Confuse its adherents!

Pray it against the baby-killers of the land, abortionists and those who support them! The very idea that a young mother-to-be can be duped into killing that little unborn boy or girl in her womb, the government not only calling such an action legal, but in many cases even paying for the crime!

Pray it against those who are opposing your Pastor at Church!

Pray it against apostate liberal politicians!

Pray it against the media who love to traffic in lies!

Pray it now against those who hate your Country, who are plotting this very minute to kill millions!

"O LORD, I pray thee, turn their counsel into foolishness."

Pray it against those who would mislead your children or Grandchildren!

Pray it against atheism and it peons!

It's a valid prayer today!

Talk about spiritual warfare!

                                                                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The days in which we live are filled with ever-increasing hatred toward God. Hatred that is expressed!

Within the past year several atheistic books have appeared on various "best-seller" lists; books that not only deny God's existence, but denigrate His precious Name as well!

Two Bible passages mention the "haters" of God! The Psalmist does. "The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto Him." That's Psalm 81:15. Then Paul, listing some of the rebels and reprobates at the bottom of the moral scale, mentions in Romans1:30 "haters of God" too.

In Psalm 2 war is declared by mankind against Almighty God! "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His Anointed, saying, let us break Their bands asunder, and cast away Their cords from us." Psalm 2:1-3

Therefore, here's a short prayer that each of us can use every day. Moses did! It appears that he uttered it each time the Cloud of Glory moved, leading the Jews on another day's march through the desert wilderness.

"And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." Numbers 10:34-35

Did you see it?

"Lord, let Thine enemies be scattered."

Really there are two prayers there: "Rise up, Lord" qualifies as well!

We may come back to that second one tomorrow!

To "let scatter" translates "putzs," which means "to be dispersed, to be spread abroad" and even in some instances "to be shattered!"

Surprisingly, "putzs" is found 64 times in the Old Testament!

God knows how to scatter people too. He did so at the Tower of Babel according to Genesis 11:8. "So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city."

In Job 11:18 "putzs" means "to drive" someone to his feet!

God "scatters" his clouds across the heavens, especially on stormy days, says Job 37:11. Next, in Job 38:24, our Lord is "scattering" His wind!

Job is amazed and quite "taken" by storms! But do remember, "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said ...." Job 38:1 and Job 40:6 both use this exact expression.

And the noun "enemies" is derived from a basic Hebrew verb stem, "ayab," meaning "to hate!"

God-haters do not need to be teaching in Universities and sitting on Court Benches and voting in Congress!

Not according to Moses!

Or David for that matter, who wrote in Psalm 101: "A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight." Also, "That I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD." There would be no atheists in his government!

Well, most who read these pages live in a so-called democracy, giving some freedom of religion. This is a good thing.

None of us likely has any legislative or judicial authority ... but we can pray!

Excuse me, think I'll go pray it now!

"Scatter Thine enemies, O Lord."

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Lord forgives!

Not only did he forgive us as sinners, needing to be saved ... He still does so as Believers in Christ!

Practically, I mean.

1st John 1:9 promises so. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

But I wanted to find a prayer, a word-for-word plea for God's forgiveness, that could be used yet today. There are several in Scripture.

"Forgive us our debts," taught to us by Jesus in Matthew 6:12, is an example.

But the one I've prayerfully chosen is recorded in Psalm 51:2. "Cleanse me from my sin." So prayed the repentant David!

The noun "sin," one of several synonyms for wrongdoing used in Psalm 51, is spelled "chattah" and means "to miss" or "to forfeit" or "to be lacking!" This concept of sin is quite similar to the New Testament word "hamartia." Both imply "missing the mark." But missing it in this sense. To miss God's best for you! To miss seeing and experiencing God's Glory and Grace! Ultimately, to miss Heaven itself! To miss Jesus!

To forfeit all those good things!

God's desire to keep us from  sin has nothing to do with deprivation! He is not trying to keep us from "fun" or enjoyment!

Rather, sin is the thing that's depriving us! It is causing me "to miss" God's very best for my life!

Deadly sin!

"Cleanse me from my sin."

To "cleanse" means "to be made bright or pure or uncontaminated!" Unadulterated! Clear! Clean!

Since we know God longs to answer such prayers, what's our hold-up?

Pray it daily!

As a Preacher used to say, "keep short sin-accounts with God!" Do not let those things mount up!

Daily seek His forgiveness!

Oh, another good "forgive me" prayer is nestled right next to the one we've just studied, in Psalm 51 I mean. "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity"

Amen!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Lord will answer this one!

I'll guarantee you that!

"Thy Kingdom come." Matthew 6:10

Who is to say that we have to pray all the Lord's Prayer at once?

The "red light" might not be long enough to do that. Your attention span might not be able to comprehend it all, at that given minute anyway.

It can be prayed in pieces.

I realize there's an order to it, a beautiful symmetry!

But still, Jesus IS coming again and to pray for that grand Event is just fine!

"Thy Kingdom come" will be reality, but after the Rapture!

So praying these three words is also beseeching the Lord to come get us!

Nearly all of the Tribulation must also transpire too ... before Jesus rides that white horse of victory back to earth! Revelation 19:11

And the devil will be bound for that glorious Kingdom Age according to Revelation 20:2.

To pray it, "Thy Kingdom come," is to ask God to enforce His Plan of Prophecy in His good time, according to His perfect Will.

With this prayer "arrow" in one's spiritual "quiver," he or she will never lack for a petition to loft heavenward!

I delightfully await His Kingship, His ruling over all the earth, an earth that has ignored Him for so long!

Lions and lambs peacefully coexisting!

Wars no more!

Jesus on the Throne!

Jerusalem, the center of the world!

And we, ever being with the Lord, shall rule and reign with Him!

Again, "Thy Kingdom come," dear Lord.

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

This should perhaps have been one of the first prayers we studied! It is certainly practical!

Abraham's servant, unnamed in Genesis 24, prays these words while on a critically important assignment for his Master. He was sent to procure a wife for Isaac, Abraham's true Son.

As he neared the Mesopotamian city of Nahor, the right place, he made his camels to kneel down by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. And then he prayed: "O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day." Genesis 24:12

See it?

"Send me good speed this day."

Lord, prosper my journey!

"Send good speed," the verbal unit in Hebrew, is spelled "qarah." It means "to light upon," or "to bring something about." Or maybe this is better, "to cause to happen," occasionally it's "to befall," then later "to meet with someone for a definite purpose!"

Here's an enlightening use of "qarah," one of its thirty-three in Scripture. Isaac is asking Jacob, he thinks, how that venison meal was so quickly prepared! His answer, using the highlighted word "brought" or "qarah," is here recorded for you: "And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me." Genesis 27:20 records Esau's answer!

The assumption is that if God sends it, it's good!

If He "drops by," things go well!

His Presence radiates Glory!

But look, even the pronoun "me" is emphasized with its own vocabulary word in the Text.  And "paniym" literally means one's "face." Here metaphorically it is something like this: Send the answer right here "in front of me" dear Lord, please.

The adverbial information is supplied by "this day." In Hebrew the noun for day is spelled "yom" and is derived from a verb that means "to be hot!"

Eliezer is asking for an answer to his prayer that very day! For the Servant's name see Genesis 15:2.

So this is a short prayer, a quick one, and carries with it a great deal of faith!

But, Preacher Bagwell, can we pray that now?

Yes!

"Dear Lord, Send me good speed this day."

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

One single petition that Jabez used is on my mind.

"Enlarge my coast, Lord." 1st Chronicles 4:10

Literally this prayer would be effective for a man whose family had outgrown his house. Or a Church with no more parking area. Or a farmer needing more land.

But spiritually how might it be applied?

The verb "enlarge" is "rabah," used 226 times in the Bible. It means anything from "multiply" to "increase, make more, make great, make long, make exceedingly, make in abundance."

The first time it appears in Scripture, Genesis 1:22, "rabah" is translated "multiply," twice! "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth."

The noun "coast" is "gebul" and means one's border or territory. In the King James Bible "gebul" is rendered in the following ways: "landmark, space, quarters or limits!"

Spiritually, this petition might include knowing MORE of God's Word!

Or having a DEEPER prayer life!

Or seeing an INCREASE in souls saved down at the Church!

Or a GREATER level of godliness at home!

Or a SWEETER spirit in one's heart!

Or a BETTER Church attendance record!

It's short and it's powerful!

"Enlarge my coast, Lord."

And the great thing about is ... God answered that prayer! "And God granted him that which he requested." 1st Chronicles 4:10

Pray it when appropriate!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The prayer simply asks: "Lord, teach us to pray."

It is found in Luke 11:1.

This was asked of Jesus, not as He preached or ate or slept, but as He was praying!

The Saviour's prayer life so impacted HIs followers that they were infected with interest! They wanted to learn to pray! "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." I sincerely wonder which Disciple that was?

The verb "teach" translates "didasko" which is derived from "dao" in Greek, meaning "to learn."

"Lord, teach us to pray."

The verb "pray" is spelled "proseuchomai." It means "to express a desire or wish" (euchomai) plus a little prefix (pros) meaning "forward or toward," literally "near one's face!"

Prayer here by grammatical definition means going into God's very Presence and making known your needs or desires or feelings!

There's  a different prayer word for "asking for things," at least usually so. That word is "deesis" and primarily means one's "needs."

Our word for prayer today, "proseuchomai,"  means communion and thanksgiving and adoration and worship as much as anything else! It is the Bible's most general word for speaking with God!

"Lord, teach us to pray."

Notice also that the Disciples did not ask to be taught "how" to pray!

Just, Lord teach us TO PRAY!

Why can't I pray that today?

Why can't you?

It does not take long to express these sweet words to the Lord!

No wonder Paul wrote in 1st Thessalonians 5:17 three wise words: "Pray without ceasing." This verse consists of only two words in Greek!

Powerful!

                                                                                    --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 16:

Yesterday afternoon the Lord laid this verse on my heart. It is indeed a short prayer! Recorded in Psalm 86:17, it requests: "Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me."

Now, just the short prayer: "Show me a token for good, Lord."

The verb "show" is actually "asah," one of the main Hebrew verbs for "doing or making or constructing or fashioning or producing or even accomplishing" something!

It is used, "asah" is, 2633 times in the Bible!

It is translated "shew" or "show" 43 of those times.

It's the first word of the verse in Hebrew, thereby carrying great weight grammatically. One could say it's nearly the most important word in the verse! Personally I would only evaluate "Lord" as more important.

The noun "token" is interesting. Spelled "oth," it means a "signal or sign or mark." Here are its "stats" in the King James Bible. It appears a total of 79 times. Of those it is translated "sign" or "signs" 60 times. Then it's "token" 14 times and "ensign" 2 times. But it is also "miracle" twice and "mark" once.

In Genesis 1:14 the sun and moon are God's "signs" in the heavens! Yet again in Genesis 4:15 God set a "mark" on Cain, lest anyone kill him! In Genesis 9:12-13 the rainbow is a "token" between God and man, a sign of Grace! Psalm 78:43 calls the plagues of Egypt "signs" wrought by God! This may be the greatest "sign" of all, Isaiah 7:14 prophesies of the coming Saviour and His "Virgin Birth!" In Hezekiah's day the sun went backwards ten degrees, a miracle of God labeled as a "sign" in Isaiah 38:7-8. In Jeremiah 44:29 God's chastening of His people is even considered a "sign!" And the Sabbath Day, the Lord's Day now, is a "sign" between God and His people too, according to Ezekiel 20:12,20.

And while a different word is used of course, Greek instead of Hebrew, "token" occurs in the New Testament four more times. Watch Paul close His second Thessalonian letter: "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write."

Then the adjective "good" in our verse: "Show me a token for good, Lord."

"Tob" means that which is pleasant and agreeable and excellent and appropriate and glad and even valuable! It means "good" in the widest sense!

Then do remember that the Name of God addressed here, "LORD," is Jehovah Himself!

This is God's saving Name, His relationship Name, His covenant Name!

If one is saved, washed in the Blood of the lamb, truly born-again ... then he or she certainly has been shown a token for good!

But others may follow!

And if you've not seen any lately, this may be why: "Ye have not, because ye ask not." James 4:2

Thank you, Lord!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

A trio of short prayers meet today's need!

"Lead us not into temptation," from Jesus' very lips, is recorded in Matthew 6:13. And its parallel, "Deliver us from evil," quickly follows!

And Jabez's "That thou wouldest keep me from evil," recorded in 1st Chronicles 4:10, says about the same thing.

God can protect us from sin!

"Lead," the opening verb in the Matthew Text, is spelled "eisphero" and means "to carry" something or someone "into" a situation. God, Who can "order our steps" day by day, can also keep us from evil! Also the noun "temptation" is not the usual word for "sin" in any way at all. "Peirasmos" means "to put to proof," or just "to test." The real idea of the word is "to pierce" all the way through a thing! One Preacher put it this way and it is helpful. The devil sends temptations to destroy us! The Lord allows trials to strengthen us! But IN THIS CONTEXT Jesus is obviously teaching us to ask the Lord to guide us around sinful moments!

The verb "deliver" is "ruomai" and means "to rescue!" And the word evil in this clause is definitely the one for sin, active malicious sin! "Poneros" is its spelling.

Then the Old Testament's "keep me from evil" translates "asah" in an unusual setting. It actually means "to do" or "to make" something! Lord, do not "construct" any unnecessarily and dangerously questionable situations for me today. It is literally a prayer for the Lord to build for you a day free from sin! And "evil" is "ra" and means violently active wickedness!

Of couse with all these prayers we need to remember what James taught us: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." James 1:13

Yet all three prayers are uttered from a heart of purity!

Pick one, as led of the Holy Spirit, and pray it every day!

"Lead us not into temptation."

"Deliver us from evil."

"Keep me from evil."

Amen!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The prayer of Moses about God's Glory is beautiful ... and short.

Here's part of Exodus 33:18, Moses pleading to God: "Show me Thy Glory."

The whole verse: "And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory."

The verb "show" is spelled "raah" and of course deals with sight, but in this sense: to gaze at something, to inspect it and admire it and consider it!

Then "Glory" is the Hebrew word "kabod," that which is "heavy!" But heaviness in a good sense is implied here. The word speaks of the validity and gravity and seriousness of God's Honor and Reputation and Splendor!

Now today, we we sweep the floor or drive the car or cook a meal ... we are not on some Mount with God as was Moses. But we can commune with the Almighty, broom in hand!

It's permissible, really expected, that we Believers who love the Lord are to long for His Presence! To crave His Peace and Power!

To want to see His Glory!

Pray it!

It's also a request for Jesus to come back again!

That's when we shall literally see It, Him, His Glory!

Here's David life passion: "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." Psalm 27:4

Lord, show us Thy Glory!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Preachers, this short prayer is especially for you. Although any Believer can certainly pray it.

It first flowed from the lips of Paul, perhaps with him reflecting on an Old Testament verse.

Technically the Apostle is in the process of asking his readers to pray for him, especially as he preached the Word of God!

"Finally, brethren, pray for us," he pleads in 2nd Thessalonians 3:1.

Pray what, Paul?

Here it comes, the short prayer.

O God, "that the word of the Lord may have free course."

Just that!

The expression "have free course," Paul's longing for the preached Word, is derived from the Greek verb "trecho." It actually means "to run!" And that's how it's translated in 19 of its 20 occurrences throughout the New Testament, "to run!"

But this once it is "have free course!"

Paul wants us to pray that when the Preacher steps to the pulpit ... the Word of God will be set free!

To run without hindrance through the congregation, from heart to heart the old-timers used to say!

Lord, remove any hindrances, any traps, any stumbling blocks the devil may have laid!

Let Thy Word have power and liberty today!

Again in 2nd Timothy 2:9 we are reminded by Paul that "the Word of God is not bound!" The Apostle may have been in jail, in fact he was, but the Word of God was free!

Throughout the Book of Acts, the Word increases and grows and multiplies and prevails and is published!

Even more vividly, Psalm 147:15 may have been Paul's "springboard" for this short prayer! "He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly."

Amen!

Lord, next time the Man of God preaches ... you pray!

"Lord, may Thy Word have free course today!"

Amen!

                                                                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Lately I've been trying to give you a "prayer idea" each day ... straight from the Word of God!

We know that it is Biblical to pray for it, wisdom!

Only God can truly give it, in its truest form!

James gives us Scriptural permission to seek it. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

But I wanted a Verse that actually revealed a man or woman in action ... praying exactly and precisely for Wisdom!

Well, I found it!

Solomon, praying in Second Chronicles 1:10 asks of God: "Give me now wisdom and knowledge."

Amazing!

Lord, you are the Source!

I need what Thou hast!

"Give me Thy wisdom and knowledge."

One way of determining the validity of a prayer is to trace its history. Was it answered of God?

Here is God's response, just two verses later. "Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee." Second Chronicles 1:12

If fact God said more, much more! "And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

Solomon got more than he asked!

But it all began with wisdom!

The verb "give" here is spelled "nathan" and just means "to bestow or grant or entrust!"

Wisdom, "chokmah," means something like this: "skill in godly living."

It does not deal with one's intelligence quotient, but one's pure heart!

Now "knowledge" may well involve the brain, the mind. "Madda" refers to one's thoughts, his or her consciousness.

Point is, live right (wisdom) and you will think right (knowledge) according to the Plan of God!

Today as you drive or sit or wait at a traffic light, and some of this we all will do, don't waste your time!

Pray!

It might have to be a short prayer, but pray!

And if it is only for ten seconds, that's sufficient for one prayer I know!

"Dear Lord, give me now wisdom and knowledge."

Amen!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 22:

The Disciples prayed it, earnestly too.

We have been studying the "short" prayers of Scripture!

It's another "short" prayer of Scripture!