Being Thankful--Especially in Prayer

Through out the year and especially at Thankgiving--

May the Lord help each of us be always thankful to Him--Jesus for our blessings--and to bless others through praying for them.

A Prayer for Veterans

Father,

Help us to be thankful for all those who have served our country in the military.  We lift up our veterans to you as many need your help today…asking for your help, protection, and wisdom for all who are actively serving in our military. 

Help us to remember them throughout the year with sustaining prayer.   Those in need of a job, others with serious problems from injuries, or post traumatic syndrome—we also seek your help for their families to understand what their veteran spouse/parent is going through and went through. 

Help us to honor, encourage, and support them.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

©2013 Lewis Turner

 

A Function of God's Family which Relates to Prayer

A Function of God’s Family Which Relates to Prayer

A Study of the Words ‘Plead’ and ‘Cause’ in Psalms 119:154

“Plead my cause, and deliver me...”

Written by Lewis Turner, Wheatland Ministries

The use of the words ‘Plead’ and ‘Cause’ in Psalms 119:154 are significant in that they speak of a function that the Psalmist asked the Lord to do for him.  An examination of the words above and related scriptures will help us further understand a significant function which relate to intercession and agreement.

To start this study, we will be closely looking at the Hebrew spelling of the two words, Plead and Cause, and deriving possible meanings of the words from the Hebrew letters used in the spelling.  Hebrew letters do have a meaning for each letter.  The Hebrew spelling for both words ‘plead’ and ‘cause’ in Psalms 119 verse 154 shows that the spelling appears to be the same. Looking at the Hebrew letters for these words we have:  רִיב‎.  An examination of the meanings of the letters of Hebrew for ‘Plead’ and ‘Cause’ reveals some interesting observations.  The first letter, Reish רִ, in the word refers to the Head/most important Person.  The 2^nd letter, Yud י, in the word, means a deed done. The 3^rd letter in the word רִיב‎ is the letter Bet ב.  Its meaning implies a house.   (The meanings of the letters are listed in the reference A below)  Putting all this together, you might conclude that the word could mean:  the work done of the House of the Head/Highest Person.   Other meanings derived from the letters are possible, but in the context of this verse, this definition seems to be the best. 

Examining the meaning that we have developed of רִיב‎ —using the meaning of the letters, we find that they refer to the work of the House of the Head/Highest Person.  The Head/Highest person referred to in the context of the verse is the Lord.  Speaking of a House of the Head/Highest Person also seems to refer a family.  Looking further at the definition, we find that it speaks of the work done of the house.  This work may be what the Psalmist desired of the Lord when he asked the Lord to ‘plead his cause’.  A work of this nature could be considered a function of the House of our Lord.  

Let’s look this concept further.   In Psalms 119: 154, I believe the Psalmist was referring to the Lord, whom he directed his words in seeking help.   This seeking of the Lord’s help, reminds us of  Romans 8:26-27 and 34, where we find that both the Holy Spirit of God making intercession for us according to the Will of God and in verse 34 we also find that the Lord Jesus making intercession for us.  The word for Intercession in Hebrew is  פָּגַע‎,  which in the context of making intercession, and using the meanings of the Hebrew letters to help define the word, we have the following possible definition—To  speak, lifting up, of the desire of the righteous. (see Reference B below).  The statement in Romans 8:26-27 and 34 is a powerful statement.  Considering that and looking back to the verse in Psalms 119:154, the work of pleading one’s cause especially when it is a righteous cause, is a function of God’s family.  Both the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus make intercession for us. 

The principle of the desire of the Righteous is also seen in I John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to His Will, he heareth us :”  When we pray and ask for something in accordance with God’s Will, God hears us.  The Bible is God’s Word revealed to us and represents His Will.  When Christ was on earth, He provided a way that we could be right with God.  Bringing this together, a function of God’s family is to pray pleading our cause and focus on what the Will of the Righteous One is.

At this point since both the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus are making intercession for us, we should also consider the scripture Matthew 18:19 which speaks of two being in agreement.  When both the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus make intercession for us, they are in agreement.  That verse says that what two ask in agreement, it is done.   They both intercede according to God’s Holy Word, and because what they ask in intercession for us in agreement, it is done!  That is an important fact to learn and remember.

Their example of pleading for us should encourage us to join together; seek what God wants; learn his word; use His Word in prayer; and pray with others who have their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. When we do this we are functioning as part of the family of the House of God.    

Reflection questions: 

The example we have in the document above should encourage us to join together with others in prayer.  What attitudes hold us back?

Many Intercessors pray alone, and there were times when Christ rose up early and prayed alone.  Is then there a case to pray with other?  Consider the study above and respond to this question:  should intercessors also seek time of prayer with others?  What about others?

What can happen if we pray together and in agreement with God’s Word?

Reference A: 

Note:  The development of a meaning of words using the meanings of the Hebrew letters in the words is not a private interpretation, but one derived from the context of the verse and other related scriptures. 

Psalms 119:153-160; looking the words ‘Plead’ and ‘Cause’ in verse 154.

Resh, Reish  ר 

ר   Resh, Reish - what comes first, capstone, head, highest, first, top, beginning, (2b) The literal meaning of the Reish is "first", "Head" and the symbolic meaning is "first" "person", the "most important", "highest" or the "highest/first person".(1a)    R

Psalm 119:153-160 (KJV)
^119:153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead (the work done of the house of the most important person) my cause (the most important work done of the house of the most important person), and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. 
¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

154 Plead ‏רִיב‎ rîb reeb Hebrew Strong’s Number 7378

ר   Resh, Reish – what comes first, capstone, head, highest, first, top, beginning, (2b) The literal meaning of the Reish is "first", "Head" and the symbolic meaning is "first" "person", the "most important", "highest" or the "highest/first person".(1a)    R

י    Yud - deed done, to make, power, might- Work, worship (2b) In the ancient Hebrew word pictures, the yod was drawn as a "hand" complete with the arm above the elbow. It symbolized work done - (1a)    JI

ב  Bet, Beyt -house, It's literal meaning is House or tent. In the ancient Hebrew, it was drawn as the floor plan of a primitive house, and thus it's symbolic meaning is an household, in or into. (1a), family (2b)  B

Possible Letter Meaning of Plead : 154 Plead ‏רִיב‎ rîb reeb Hebrew Strong’s Number 7378:  Capstone/most important person, work/deed done, house:  the work done of the house of the most important person—note in Romans 8:28 & 34, the Holy Spirit and Jesus make intercession for us—the work of His house is to plead our cause.
154 Cause ‏רִיב‎ rîb reeb Hebrew Strong’s Number 7379

ר   Resh, Reish – what comes first, capstone, head, highest, first, top, beginning, (2b) The literal meaning of the Reish is "first", "Head" and the symbolic meaning is "first" "person", the "most important", "highest" or the "highest/first person".(1a)    R

י    Yud - deed done, to make, power, might- Work, worship (2b) In the ancient Hebrew word pictures, the yod was drawn as a "hand" complete with the arm above the elbow. It symbolized work done - (1a)    JI

ב  Bet, Beyt -house, It's literal meaning is House or tent. In the ancient Hebrew, it was drawn as the floor plan of a primitive house, and thus its symbolic meaning is a household, in or into. (1a), family (2b)  B

Possible Letter Meaning of Cause: 154 Cause ‏רִיב‎ rîb reeb Hebrew Strong’s Number 7378: the most important work done of the house of the most important person

Reference B:

Note:  The development of a meaning of words using the meanings of the Hebrew letters in the words is not a private interpretation, but one derived from the context of the verse and other related scriptures. 

Interceded/Intercession

Gen 23:8 ‏פָּגַע‎ pāgaʿ paw-gah' Hebrew Strong’s Number 6293

פֶּ   Pey - Pe - mouth, speak, word, to speak, to open, It's literal meaning is mouth and it's symbolic meaning is "to open", "speak", "word", "the beginning" (like a river). In the ancient picture Hebrew, the letter Pey was drawn according to the meaning, in this case, a mouth.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 (1a) P

גִּ    Gimel – to lift up, It's literal meaning is a camel, to lift up. Its symbolic meaning is kindness, to nourish, or pride, to be lifted up. (1a) gather, walk (2b)

CG

צִ    Tzade harvest, desire, just, righteous—In ancient Hebrew this letter was drawn like a hook. In Hebrew, to "want" or "desire" is Ra-tsah and the word picture tells us that desire is when a person is "hooked". Another significant word is the Hebrew word for Righteousness, Tse-dek and the word picture tells us that you are righteous when your hook is the door you follow. See John 10:7, 9 (1a) Journey, chase, hunt

Possible Letter Meaning of Intercede: פָּגַע‎ pāgaʿ paw-gah' Hebrew Strong’s Number 6293:  To speak lifting up the desire of the righteous.

Additional References: 

(1a) Yarah  Ministries   http://webpages.charter.net/yarahministries/alphabet.html

(2b) Hebrew28_alphabet chart  http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/28_chart.html

©2013 Lewis Turner

 

Friendship Guide

The following guide is offered to help in building relationships with others where we can have the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ.  Developing relationships takes an effort that should be motivated by the love of Jesus for us and others.  The guide provides some helpful thoughts that may help in building relationships.

Friendship Guide

 

1.  Identify what people would say about the relationship with you have with someone.  Why would they say this?

 

2.  How have you been a friend to others?  Take time to list ways you have      shown friendship:

 

            3.  How can you become a better friend?

            Consider:

·         Could you learn to “be a good listener”?

 

·         Could you consider joining him/her in some activities, but being careful not to compromise your faith?  Examples of activities might be sharing your hobbies, or personal interests, or just being ready to offer help in projects they are doing.  Be careful not to talk too much about yourself.   Take time to take an interest in him/her!  Here is a guide that we will call a friendship guide

 

4.  What are some possible common interests between you and the other person? Take time to review the following list of ideas to help build friendships.  Consider:

·         Their likes

·         Their dislikes

·         Their hobbies

·         Their goals

·         Their dreams

·         Their fears

·         Their hurts

·         Their joys

·         Their struggles

·         Common Interests

 

5.  Are you willing to be vulnerable and share your personal responses or feelings and opinions?  To be free to do so will open yourself to being vulnerable.  In some cases, if you are not willing to listen to different opinions it could hinder building a relationship.  However, if you are willing to listen, that can be a form of being humble which lets people know you are a real person.

           

 6.  Can you “be sensitive” to them in your approach, avoiding judgment?

 

7.  Can you “be faithful” to follow-up, being true to your word and commitments?

 

8.  Are you willing to take time and not rush a friendship?  It may take several years.

 

             9.  Are you willing to find ways to encourage them?

 

           10.  Will you avoid gossip at all times?

 

Further notes on developing relationships:

• Relationships are built over time
• Do not jump to a spiritual encounter, prematurely-Ask the Lord to guide you.
• Ask them if they would appreciate your to praying for them, and if they would allow you to follow-up on your prayer for them.  If there has been an answer to prayer, they would probably be eager to share what has happened. 
• Consider taking reasonable prayer requests to the Lord, for them.  ---Unreasonable requests sometimes come up.  Don’t pray for unscriptural ones—when such a request occurs, consider asking the Lord how to discern and pray for the real need.

• Remember, it is important that we allow the Spirit of God to work in the other person.
•  Developing friendships involves listening to the Lord and His Holy Spirit

• Allow the Holy Spirit to work, as you pray for God’s wisdom and direction.
• The Lord can provide others who will pray for us, and who will also keep us accountable in developing relationships.
• As a relationship develops, the Lord will show you how you can find ways to minister to his/her spiritual needs.  The Lord can also help you to encourage them to meet other Christians in events they enjoy.

 

Finally, as the Holy Spirit of God works in a person’s heart, be responsive to his/her requests.

• Answer questions clearly and compassionately
• Encourage and introduce them to other Christians
• Be clear when presenting the Gospel

 

An important concept to remember from this lesson is that joining together in prayer for others provides the opportunity to bring God’s help to them—giving the opportunity to develop relationships with others, and also helps in building relationships with people who are not a part of the group, who may not know the Lord.  It also gives the opportunity to share Jesus with others.

 

Reflections:

  

The reflection exercise for this lesson is an exercise of what we have learned to-date in the course.  It is intended to encourage you to practice some of the principles we have learned which relate to prayer and building relationship.  It is possible that not everyone may be able to bring a group together to pray.  If that is so and there is a group already praying, consider joining that group, then answers some of the questions in the reflection.   

  

The exercise is a practicum to bring people together in prayer and observe how they respond to group praying.  It may take some time to pull your observations together about praying together.  Your observations should relate back to what we have learned.  Those of you who are pastors and are a part of the class, it would be good to hear from your point of view.  Those who are not pastors, your reflective comments are also very important.  To help lay-students get started, perhaps they could ask their pastor if he/she would welcome your bringing people together for a prayer group.  If they do, that too is an excellent opportunity to learn and observe.  Sharing those observations with others on Pray.Network, could encourage someone else in the class. Maybe you will observe some other issues about prayer in a group that you would like to share for discussion – that too would be helpful.

 

Here are some possible ways to bring people together for prayer—consider praying for an event that your church is having, for example: Vacation Bible School, or a special function event, or a church activity. --that would help us grow in praying together.

 

With the help of God’s Holy Spirit, both pastors and lay students in the course, together, can offer their reflections and comments to the class  for discussion.  Doing this, would benefit all in the course, and it will help us have a deeper understanding of praying together.   During the exercise, we will continue with our lessons, covering the following: praying in groups; prayer circles; looking at the power of a praying church; and developing a prayer-culture in the church. 

 

If you are actually able to do this exercise, in one form or another, I pray that the Lord will make it a meaningful exercise.  For those who cannot do the exercise, please work on the reflections below, and draw from you past experiences in answering.

 

Exercise Reflection: 

• How can we encourage prayer to move from inward self-focus to outward focus on others, but not forgetting the inward-personal need?

• What have you observed about the action of prayer helping to build relationships?

• If you could identify critical elements in “encouraging prayer with others”, what are they?  Why do you think they are important?

• Ask your prayer group to discuss what factors they consider important that encourages others “to belong” to a prayer group.  -- Have the elements they have identified helped them to reach out to others, who are not in their prayer group? 

You may have other observations--please feel free to share them.  When your project is complete, please share about it on pray.

 

SHARE IT -- WHILE IT IS FRESH!

   

If you have any questions, please ask!

©2014 Lewis Turner

Immanuel

Immanuel, עִמָּנוּאֵלEmmanuel, ‎        

(H6005 Strong's Number)

 

A close look at meanings of the letters of Immanuel utilizing both the Hebrew Alphabet and the Alphabet used in Abraham's time,  shows that the name Immanuel, which is often interpreted "God with us" has a wonderful significance for us.

The name speaks of the urging of the Strong Leader through mighty knowledge and insight (God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit) securing life.—The Strong Leader is Jesus Christ.

Christ came to earth for us through the mighty knowledge and insight of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit and secured life for us, by dying for us at Calvary.  It was the greatest action of love that has ever been seen.

Not only is God with us, but He has secured life for us through His Son, Jesus!

All He asks is for us to believe in Him. John 1:12 says “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

Now when you hear the name Immanuel, remember it speaks of why Christ came to earth.  He wants us to believe in Him, and when we do, truly God is with us.

©2012 Lewis Turner

Lessons on Praying for Children

Lessons on Prayer

for

Children

Assisting a Child’s Understanding

of the ‘Heart’

Written and Compiled by Lewis and Sylvia Turner

of

Wheatland Ministries

Walkersville, Md

www.Wheatlandministries.blogspot.com

Revised 8-2016

The lessons are designed for use in:

VBS

Children’s Church

Sunday School

Camps

©Lewis T Turner 2012
INTROCUCTION to Children and Prayer

Welcome to the Children and Prayer Course.  A challenge was presented to me a few years ago—and the challenge was to find a way to explain the spiritual heart in a way that children could understand.

To many children and adults, the heart is a physical organ that pumps blood.  This concept is sometimes referred to as a  “concrete” concept of the heart.

Understanding the spiritual heart is different and this course is designed to offer a way to help teachers, parents, and ministers to be able to explain the spiritual heart.  It also explains what it means to invite Jesus into one’s spiritual heart. 

This course booklet contains written lessons and there are also a podcast for every lesson that is available.  Some of the podcasts are presented as if the podcast is being used to teach children.  This type of presentation should be an example of ‘one way’ the concept of the lesson can be taught.

The lessons and podcasts follow the course document that is titled:  the ‘Heart’ that explains the heart using the Hebrew word for heart, going back to the time of Abraham.  The meaning of the word for heart is derived from those Hebrew Letters and the Letters used in the time of Abraham. 

You may wonder why we went back to Hebrew in explaining the heart.  We attempted to get back to the oldest meaning of the word heart in ta Biblical context.  Meanings of words have changed over the years, and sometimes there has been so much change that the meaning today is not close to the original meaning.  Therefore—with that understanding—let’s move forward with the course lessons.

The lessons focus on being thankful—especially as it relates to a home, that Jesus Cares for us, What Jesus wants of us and how prayer helps, That Jesus is our Friend, and provides basic instruction on helping Children invite Jesus into their spiritual heart or spiritual house. 

As you work each lesson, take time to write your own reflection thoughts, and work through the activities recommended for each lesson to help teach children to pray.

It should take about 10-15 minutes to present each lesson, especially when the children interact, which is encouraged.

May the Lord bless you in leading children to the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

For Teacher Training: 

• Teacher Training is always recommended even though the podcast do present the course material simply.

• In teacher training—it would be helpful to listen to each podcast and after each podcast, it is recommended that there be a discussion time let by a moderator. 

• The course uses the meanings of the letters for the Hebrew word for heart to help children (and adults too) to learn about their spiritual heart.  The course booklet contains both the lessons and the document on the Hebrew word for heart.

• Encourage prayer from the children.

• Teach what it means to invite Jesus into their heart—you may want to use the term your Spiritual House.  Don’t be afraid to give and invitation—especially to the older children.

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………        2

Lesson 1:  We Should Be Thankful………………………...        4

Lesson 2:  Jesus Cares About Us…………………………….        7

Lesson 3:  Our House, Our Spiritual House…………….       8

Lesson 4:  Prayer is Needed to Keep Us Clean…………     11

Lesson 5:  Jesus is Our Friend………………………………...     13

Supplemental Instruction:  Instructions for the Teacher ...    16

For Parents and Teachers…………………………………..    18

References………………………………………………………....    19

Supplemental Material: Hebrew Meaning of the

Word Heart……………………………………………………   20

 
Welcome to the Prayer for Children Course.  We will be covering teaching children how to pray and helping children to understand their spiritual heart.  We will also be showing ways we can pray for children.

Now starting with

Lesson 1

We Should Be Thankful

Matthew 6:9 (HCSB) (1)
 “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your Name be honored as Holy.”

At the start of the Lord’s Prayer—we find the giving of reverence, or respect and honor; we honor and respect God when we praise Him.  Praise is a way to be thankful.   Did you know God loves praise?  He loves a thankful heart and He wants to hear our praises to Him—when we pray; when we sing; and when we work and play.

When we pray, and give God praise, we are praying to Our Father in Heaven, who is God.  God likes it when we call Him “Our Father”.  He listens to us because He loves us, and children are very special to Him; Psalm 22:3 Basic Bible in English
“But you are holy, O you who are seated among the praises of Israel”.

He is interested in us, especially, when we show Him when we are thankful and giving praise to God, each day.

       

God loves praise very much and Something else happens when we praise God.  PS 22:3 says:  God sits among the praises we give to Him.  HE IS WITH US!  God loves to be among us when we praise Him—where-ever you are, singing praises to God at church, or at home, at school, and at play.

Helping children learn to give thanks to God is very important. 

Take time to study the activities in this lesson and use them to help children express thanks to God.

I would like to make a note here about thankfulness and the article with the lesson “Hebrew Meaning of the Word Heart”  Part I of that article has a focus that may help in teaching children to be thankful. Part I

You may want to compare the picture of the letter ‘Bet/Beth’ (above) to the house where you live.  You may have more rooms in your house than in a tent—but, both represent “a home”.  The people who live with us, are usually family—or—loved ones who are close to us.  These people (loved ones) live close to us--inside of our house, where we live.  Jesus wants to live with you, too!

Most children should be able to give thanks for their family and home.

The next lesson will be covering that Jesus Cares about us.

Children learn the most when they see what they are being taught practiced by others.

·      Activity: What are we thankful for?  I thank God for:_________________

·      Suggestion:  Shouldn’t we be thankful for our home?—Note to teacher:  Introducing thankfulness for our home is a good way of introducing the concept of the concept of the heart.  See Part I in “Hebrew Meaning of the Word Heart”.

Here are some other examples:

1.    (for) loving me and calling me “special”.

2.    (for) my family (or loved ones).

3.    (for) Giving me a house (a place to live) with my family.

4.    (for) Giving me some friends; most of all, for Jesus, Who wants to be my Friend—Who loves me.

Song:  Praise Him! Praise Him!

            Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children,

            God is love, God is love.

            Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children,

            God is love, God is love.

Lesson 2

Jesus Cares About Us

Did you know that Jesus cares about us?

We all have things we worry about.  The Apostle Peter tells us that we should give those worries to God.

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) (2) “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

God does care for us.  Still we have a tendency to worry. What does “worry” mean?  It is something that bothers you, a lot—and becomes a big problem, too difficult for you to solve by yourself.  Perhaps, you wish that you could get someone to help you, but you don’t know who you can tell and trust enough, who will not tell someone else.

Looking back to the verse we just quoted, I Peter 5:7, it tells us we can tell Jesus and give our worries to Him.  Jesus is someone you can trust:  Jesus cares for us—and loves all the children.  He will understand us and our problems.  He wants us to talk to Him about anything that concerns us; He will listen to us and He will help us, too.

Did you know that Jesus will help you? — Why not ask Him to help you?   PS 54:4 says God is my helper”. (KJV)

Lesson 3

Our House-our Spiritual House

You may want to compare the picture of the letter ‘Bet/Beth’ (above) to the house where you live.  You may have more rooms in your house than in a tent—but, both represent “a home”.  The people who live with us, are usually family—or—loved ones who are close to us.  These people (loved ones) live close to us--inside of our house, where we live.  Jesus wants to live with you, too!

Now let’s take a step further and look at a place where we may feel free to share.  Do you ever invite someone to come to your house?  Usually the person you ask to come to your house is a friend whom you trust and enjoy sharing a lot of items and concerns and worries with?  Have you ever thought that your body is like a house?  We each live inside of a house—called a “body”, which is where our spirit (or what makes us – ‘US’) lives.

God gave each one of us a body (which we can think of like a house); He put a special place inside us, called a ‘heart’, which is like an inner room of our body, where our spirit lives.  That room where what makes us, what makes us a unique special person—‘Us’ lives.  Let’s take an example that may help a child to understand this concept.  We also have a physical heart, inside us, too, which pumps the blood to our whole body; but now, we are talking about a spiritual-heart. That room where what makes us—‘Us’ lives.  Let’s look at an example that a child would understand.  As we grow, we often have worries that we want to tell to someone whom we can trust.  It may be a Dolly or a Teddy bear.  When we hold a Dolly (or a Teddy Bear, or even a pet) close to us, we are saying, “you are mine…; and, I am yours”.  When we invite Jesus into our spiritual heart, (the inner room of our body), we are asking Him to be a close and loving Friend, one whom we can tell about our worries, about and share about our problems, and also the good things.  To be able to do that is much like what we do when we hold our dolly or Teddy Bear, or pet—close to us, telling them personal things.  Having Jesus close to us is saying to Jesus, “I want you to be my Friend…and I want to be your friend, too.

Jesus cares about you and you can share with Him, when you invite Jesus to be with you.

2 Notes to the teacher—

1.  This lesson ties into Part II of the “Hebrew Meaning of the Word Heart”.  (attached at the back of this book)

2.  As you share this training with children, an activity that may help them understand is to write a brief prayer asking Jesus to help.   Below are some examples.

Activities—write a short prayer:

·      Jesus, please help me to find someone to play with, today, who is kind and likes me.  Sometimes, no one wants to play with me, and that makes me feel “left out” and sad.  Help me not to worry.  Thank You, Jesus for understanding my needs.

·       Or—Jesus, my Mommy (or Daddy) has been very sick and I worry that something bad might happen to her (or him).  Please help my Mommy (or my Daddy) to get better, soon.  Thank You for being my good friend and caring for my family.

·      Or—Jesus, please help me do well in school.  I am worried how I will do on my test, today.  Please help me to remember the answers, to do well.  Thank You, Jesus.

              

Lesson 4

Prayer is Needed to Keep Us Clean

Welcome to the Children and Prayer Course, Lesson 3.  In the past two lessons we studied That we should be thankful and that Jesus cares for us.  We also learned that one of the letters in the Hebrew word for heart represented an inner chamber of a dwelling, tent, or house.  This letter Bet is shown below:

We have learned that we have a house, and periodically we need to clean the house, and whenever we go into a house, dust and dirt is carried in on our shoes, and periodically we need to clean the house and the inner room, which is where we live.  We do this through asking Jesus, through prayer, to help us, and He will.

Today’s lesson is focused that Prayer is needed to keep us clean.

The Bible says, we all have sinned (Rom 3:23)—What is sin?  When we do something wrong, we are sinning and it leaves bad stains- stains like those we get from grass or dirt that make our hands, shoes, and clothes dirty; That dirt gets carried into the house making it dirty.   When we do wrong, those stains from the sin hurt God; sin, which is doing something wrong, makes Him unhappy.  Sin can stop God from being able to help us. Psalms 66 verse 18 paraphrased says  “If I regard sin or wrong doing in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”.   It is important to tell God what we have done wrong and to ask Him to forgive us.  When Jesus forgives us, He makes us clean—inside our heart; and God can help us not to do the wrong things, again.  

Now let’s read 1 John 1:9 (GW) (3) “God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, He forgives them and cleanses us from everything we've done wrong.”

So—when you have done wrong, when you are naughty, ask Jesus for forgiveness, and to cleanse you, and help you make things right—so you can follow Him. 

When we invite Jesus to cleanse our heart, He will help clean your heart, because He loves you.  Jesus wants to be a part of your family too.   Jesus wants to be a very close friend to you—so you can say “I am Yours, and You, Jesus, are mine. That is what inviting Jesus into your heart is about.  Inviting Him to be a friend who will help you be clean, and make it possible to live with Him in heaven when you die. 

When he becomes part of your family, you also become part of God’s family.  God loves you very much, and wants to live close to you and for you to live close to Him.    Inviting Jesus into your heart is about being a part of God’s family who loves you very much.

In the next lesson we will learn that Jesus is our Friend.

Prayer activity.

Ask Jesus to help you to forgive others who have done bad things to you.  Maybe one of your classmates took something that was your’s.  Ask Jesus to help you not to be angry with (him or her).  Pray for that person and ask the Lord to help you to forgive them.

In the next lesson we will learn that Jesus is our Friend.

Activity:  Memorize I John 1:9 1 John 1:9 (GW) “God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we've done wrong.”

·      Note to teacher—This lesson ties into Part III of “Hebrew Meaning of the Word Heart”.

Lesson 5

Jesus is Our Friend

We have shared that we need to be thankful.  We learned that Jesus loves and cares for you.  We have learned that Jesus wants to help us be clean.  He wants to live with us in our inner house, which is our spiritual heart.

Today, we are learning that each day, we should talk with Jesus.  He is our Friend, someone who we can trust, and we need to learn how to talk to Jesus; to start, we talk to Him in the same way we talk to our own friends—about what is important to you.

Talking to God is actually what prayer is.  When we talk to Him, we call it ‘praying’.  Don’t be afraid to talk to Jesus; talk to Him like you would talk to others—your family and friends; your dollies and Teddy Bears; and pets.  Jesus wants you to talk (pray) to Him about what is important to you—about your thoughts and activities; about your problems and your happiness—anything you want to talk to Him about.  And when you pray, don’t forget to praise Him and give Him thanks!

         Did you know that Jesus calls us His friends?

John 15:14-15  “I have called you friends”(KJV)

We are very special friends of His; and He wants to be our Best Friend; He loves us and understands us better than anyone else.

We sing some songs like: 

·      “Jesus Loves All the Children”

·      “Jesus Loves the Little Children”

·      “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”—because Jesus is truly our Friend.

When we invite Jesus to come and live inside us—where He has made us ‘us’, called the heart—He wants to be your best Friend and Savior.  He wants to live with you and be a true Friend and a best Friend to you.  All He is waiting for you to do, is to invite Him into your heart, now by saying a simple prayer—like this.   “Lord Jesus, I invite you into my heart today and ask you to be my Friend and Savior.  Thank You, Jesus, for forgiving my sins and calling me Your Friend.  Amen.”

·      Note to Teacher—This lesson fits in with Part IV of “Hebrew Meaning of the Word Heart”.

Activity—Sing one of the above songs suggested in this lesson and memorize John 15:14-15 (above)

Recap—

·      We shared that we need to be thankful.

·      We learned that Jesus cares for us and loves us.

·      We learned that Jesus wants in live in our inner house, our spiritual heart.

·      We learned that Jesus wants to help us be clean.

·      Prayer is talking with Jesus.  Each day we should talk with Jesus.  He is our friend, and we need to learn to talk with Him—a way to start is talk to Him much in the same way we talk to our own friends, about what is important to you.  Remember a friend is someone you can trust.

Prayers to consider: 

·      Jesus, You love me.  Thank You, for loving me.  I love You;  I love You because: ___________.

Examples:  1. (because) You love me and call me Your Friend.

                        2. (because) You listen to me whether I am happy or sad.

                        3. (because) You made me and care about           me.

        

·      Jesus, I get sad when a friend does something bad to me.  Please help me forgive him/her.  Please help me to love them like You do.  Please help me to be happy again.  Thank you, Jesus.

·      Jesus, today, I want to ask You to be my Friend.  I ask You (invite you) to forgive me for my sins-those things I have done wrong.  I want You to always be my Best Friend, and be close to me.  Today, I am inviting you to please come into my heart, my spiritual hear, my house.  Thank you, Jesus, for being my Savior and new Friend, today.

·      Dear Jesus, I have done wrong to______.  Please forgive me.  You said in the Bible, that if I confess my sin (tell you my sin), you would cleanse my heart from sin.  Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving me and making me clean again.  Please help me, not to sin.  Thank you, Jesus, for being my helper and Friend.

Supplemental Instruction

(Instructions For the Teacher)

These lessons have taught about the inner room in our being that we call the heart.  There are 2 letters in the Hebrew word for heart.  We have looked at one called Bet, now we now will be looking at the other letter which is the 1^st letter of the Hebrew word for heart-

Lamed ל 

Or as represented in an early Alphabet, used in the time of Abraham, this letter was written looking like a shepherd's staff.

 

The meaning of the letter is:  Go toward, learn, teach, urge forward (1a). 

The symbol representing the letter, represents a shepherd staff which is used in shepherding, to pulling or drawing a sheep from danger, or to draw or urge a sheep to the shepherd.  One analogy to the meaning of this letter might be our English word invitation, where we invite or urge people to our house to that inner/inside room of our house where we bring friends

—or in a spiritual context—inviting the Lord Jesus to the inner room of our being—our heart.

Putting the meaning of the two letters together for the Hebrew word for Heart, לֵב, gives us a possible meaning of the word heart, which is: “the urging to the inner room of our house”. Rephrased in a way that might help us understand we have—the invitation to come to the inner room of our house.

Understanding that concept as we teach the meaning of the word heart, it should encourage us to give the invitation for a child or friend or associate or an acquaintance or a relative—for them to invite Jesus into the inner room of their heart.  Do not be afraid to give them that invitation.   The step of asking others to invite Jesus into their heart is a difficult step for many people.    Remember that when we do give the invitation, we are not alone because God’s Holy Spirit is with us to help us. He will take what you have shared, and invite and urge the other person to turn to Christ, using the invitation you have presented.  We just need to be faithful in teaching and sharing God’s Word. 

As we apply and teach these concepts of the heart, may the Lord Jesus, encourage us to help others to understand what it means to invite Jesus into their heart, and to give them opportunity to invite Jesus into their spiritual heart.  May God bless all who teach and apply this word about the heart.

For Parents and Teachers,

Through the use of this course, our children have learned the following about Jesus.  We have learned that He is our Friend and Helper; and to learn how to pray to Jesus each day.  Also, this week, in VBS, the children have learned 4 concepts of prayer:

1.  To be thankful and Praise God and the Lord Jesus

2.  Jesus cares about us.

3.  Jesus wants to live with us in our spiritual heart, our inner house.

4.  Jesus wants to help us be clean.

5.  Jesus is our friend, and we can talk to Him as a friend. 

When we invite Jesus into our spiritual heart, He becomes our friend and helper.

*****

One more thought about these lessons—though this material is designed for teaching children, the concepts can help many “Grown-ups” too.  It is possible that many adults do not really understand their spiritual heart, and that Jesus wants to be our friend and care for us.  Perhaps the simplicity of these lessons will help them too. 

References:

(1)Holman Christian Standard Bible online at BibleGateway.com Scripture taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.”

(2) “Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. See http://www.tyndale.com/faq.asp?id=7.”

(3)“Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®. Copyright 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group. All rights reserved.” (http://www.godswordtranslation.org)

Supplemental Material:

Hebrew Meaning of the Word Heart

Strong’s number H3820

Hebrew Word: ‏לֵב‎

Transliteration: lēb

לֵ  Lamed: to teach, learn, go toward—represents the desire or aspiration to learn from the Teacher.(1)

ב  Beth: household, house of the Lord.  An earlier form of the early Alphabet, this letter was written as:   --which represents a nomadic tent or house.  As a person enters the house, he will come into a room.  The room shown in the illustration of “Beth”, is an inner chamber  (house or a tent).  It is similar to rooms in a house where we retreat to live.(1)

Note:  In this training, we are focusing on helping to explain the heart to very young children, and working to keep things simple at their level.  This training focuses only on the letter ‘Beth’ in the Hebrew Word for heart. 

Part I

You may want to compare the picture of the letter ‘Bet/Beth’ (above) to the house where you live.  You may have more rooms in your house than in a tent—but, both represent “a home”.  The people who live with us, are usually family—or—loved ones who are close to us.  These people (loved ones) live close to us--inside of our house, where we live.  Jesus wants to live with you, too!

Part II

Your body is like a house.  We each live inside of a house—called a “body”, which is where our spirit (what makes us – US) lives.

God gave each one of us a body (a house); He put a special place inside us, called a ‘heart’, which is like an inner room of our body, where our spirit lives.  We have a physical heart, inside us, too, which pumps the blood to our whole body; but now, we are talking about a spiritual-heart.   For example, when we hold a dolly (or a Teddy Bear, or a pet) close to us, we are saying, “you are mine…; and , I am yours”.  When we invite Jesus into our spiritual heart, (the inner room of our body), we are asking Him to be a close and loving Friend, one whom we can tell about our worries , about our problems, and good things too.  It is much what we may do when we hold like holding our dolly or Teddy Bear, or pet—close to us, telling them personal things.  Having Jesus close to us is saying to Jesus, “I want you to be my Friend…and I want to be your friend, too. 

Part III

When we invite Jesus into our heart to be close to us, we will want to learn from Him and how to live for Him.  When you ask Him into your heart, He will become part of your life and, in addition to your own family at home, you will become part of God’s family, too.    You will meet many of God’s family at church, which is God’s House.  Jesus loves you very much and really wants to live inside your spiritual heart, so you can live close to Him and He can be a very close Friend to you—so you can say, “I am Yours” and “You are mine” to love.

Part IV

When Jesus comes into your heart, He will always be your Savior and Best Friend, and you will always live with Him, forever.

Jesus loves you very much and is waiting for you to invite Him into your life—He wants to come to your house and be invited into your heart, (inside your body—and be a part of your life); are you ready to ask Him to come into your heart, today?

Part V

Lamed ל 

In the time of Abraham, this letter looked like a shepherd's staff.

The meaning of the letter is:  Go toward, learn, teach, urge forward (1a).  The symbol represents a shepherd staff which is used in shepherding, to pulling or drawing  a sheep from danger, or to draw or urge a sheep to the shepherd.  One analogy to the meaning of this letter might be our English word invitation, where we invite or urge people to our house to that inner/inside room of our house where we bring friends—or in a spiritual context—inviting the Lord Jesus to the inner room of our being—our heart.

Putting the meaning of the two letters together for the Hebrew word for Heart, לֵב, gives us a possible meaning of the word heart, which is: “the urging to the inner room of our house”. Rephrased  in a way that might help us understand we have:—the invitation to come to the inner room of our house.

Understanding that concept as we teach the meaning of the word heart, that teaching should include giving the invitation for a child or friend or associate or an acquaintance or a relative—for  them to invite Jesus into the inner room of their heart.  Do not be afraid to give them that invitation.   The step of asking others to invite Jesus into their heart is a difficult step for many people.    Remember that when we do give the invitation, we are not alone because God’s Holy Spirit is with us to help us. He will take what you have shared, and invite and urge the other person to turn to Christ, using the invitation you have presented.  We just need to be faithful in teaching and sharing God’s Word. 

As we apply and teach these concepts of the heart, may the Lord Jesus, encourage us to help others to understand what it means to invite Jesus into their heart, and to give them opportunity to invite Jesus into their spiritual heart.  May God bless all who teach and apply this word about the heart.

Ref:  Meanings of Hebrew letters:  Ref: Yarah Ministries: http:webpages.charter.net/yarahministries/alphabet.html

©2012 Lewis Turner

Cannot be reproduced without permission.