'Abundance' (Day 4) We Praise God

Psalm 66, Isaiah 41:9-20, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Hebrews 8:10-12, 2 Corinthians 1:20

·         Where does the glory of God’s name come from?

·         Can you describe glorious praise in a few words?

·         How is God’s power a part of our place of abundance?

·         What has God done for His people in the past? What do you think it means that God “rules forever by His power, His eyes watch the nations”? How does this affect your trust in the Lord’s place of abundance for you?

 

Finish this statement: Since God turned the sea into dry land for the children of Israel, I know He can _______________________________for me.

·         How does vocalizing God’s praise enrich our experience of God’s abundance?

Our most important abundance comes from the sacrificial death and resurrections of Jesus. Without that, we would not have access to God through prayer. Without that, we would have no forgiveness or heavenly reward. Without that, the meaning of anything else we consider as ‘abundance’ becomes flat and meaningless.

“Shout with joy to God, all the earth!”

Abundance (Day 3) Hezekiah’s Praise

Read, 2 Kings 19:15-19, Psalm 66

Think about your praise ‘habits’ and mark the following statements true or fuels.

·         Those around me have to wear ear plugs.

·         I usually praise God only for the really big blessings.

·         God’s praise shines in my smile and sings in my heart.

·         I’m afraid to tell of the wonderful things God is doing.

·         Sometimes when I hear the word praise, I think, what for?

·         My praise does not show the magnitude of joy in my heart.

Hezekiah’s Prayer, 2 Kings 18:5-7, Gods response v 20-23a & 27-36 (read, Ps. 66:1-4)

What benefits are there to praising God with friends? With the whole congregations? With “all the earth”.
·         Can you share a time when God’s actions on your behalf prompted you to ask other to join you in praising God?

·         Why is it important for us to recall God’s acts of deliverance for His church today?

·         What happens to our spiritual life when we ignore or refuse to see the awesome things God does for His people? What happens to our praise? What can bring us back “on track”?

 

 Hezekiah considers God’s recue of His people a personal deliverance as well. In the remaining verses of Psalm 66, he gives his personal response to God. Read verses 13-20. What is Hezekiah looking forward to? What does he want to do?

When has someone you know gone through “fire and water” and been brought by God “to a place of abundance”?

“Let the sound of His praise be heard!”

  

'Abundance' (Day 2) Hannah Gives Back to God

          Finish the following sentences and share (if you’d like) for responses:

·         If I had a million dollars;

o   I would feel...

o   I would use it to…

  If I had one year of free time…

Read, 1 Samuel 1:11 & 1:21-28

·         What did Hannah do with the abundance she received from God?

·         What have you requested of the Lord lately?

·         How has He answered your prayers and what was your response?

Read, 1 Samuel 2:1-10

·         Does this surprise you that Hannah rejoiced as she gave Samuel back to the Lord?

·         What was the source of her joy?

Satan also likes to tempt us to believe that we have worked hard, been good, and in general have earned and deserve the abundance we have. How does modern society help foster this belief? What can this belief do to our willingness to share our abundance with others?

Read, Romans 3:10-18

·         What do we really deserve from God?

Read, Psalm 103:8-13

·         What does God give us instead? Why?

Again we see how our abundance is completely God’s doing, Again we see that our God is worthy to be praised. Our God deserves glorious praise. What are the similarities between Hannah’s prayer of praise and psalm 66?

 

'Abundance' (Day 1) Lydia’s Abundance Act 16, Psalm 66

Let us seek to recognize the many places of God’s abundance in our lives.

 

·         How would you describe abundance?

·         Mark your level of abundance in each area below from;

        GREAT ABUNDANCE to BARLEY ENOUPH

o   Material Possessions ~ Physical Health & Strength ~ Free Time ~ Talents

After reading Act 16 what do we learn about what kind of person Lydia was and what part did Paul have in helping Lydia?

What is your relationship with God? Do you just know about Him? Are you intimately acquainted with His Son, Jesus? Would you like to know Him better? What would help you do that? What part do other people have in helping you fill that need? Or, what part can you have in helping others get to know Jesus better?

·         Psalm 66:5, what did God do for all?

·         Why does God give us opportunities to share? God gave Lydia an abundance that would last eternity by opening her heart to the Gospel message. He also gave her willing eagerness to share the abundance of material possessions.

Like Lydia, we need the abundant forgiving Love of Christ before we have any strength or willingness to use other areas of abundance to serve the Lord. The good news is that God does not wait for us to come to Him or to become perfect in sharing our possessions, time, or talents. He comes to us; brings us to repentance for our selfish hoarding of His abundance; forgives us completely for the sake of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection; and makes us new!

'ABUNDANCE'

week 2 at a glance

 

Day 1   Lydia’s Abundance      Act 16, Psalm 66

Day 2   Hannah Gives Back to God     1 Samuel 1&2, Romans 3:10-13, Psalm 103:8-13

Day 3   Hezekiah’s Praise        2 Kings 19:15-19, Psalm 66

Day 4   We Praise God                        Psalm 66, Isaiah 41:9-20, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Hebrews 8:10-12, 2 Corinthians 1:20

'Emptiness'

As children of God, we use Psalms 63 to express our own emptiness to God honestly and openly.

We praise God for all He has done and all that He will do, being confident that He does care for us and will fill us with His Love.

Day 1     David’s Dry and Weary Time;  Read, Psalm 63 and  2 Samuel 15

Day 2     Naomi’s Times Emptiness;   read, Ruth

Day 3     Hannah, Remembered by God;  Read,  1Samuel 1:1-18 & 1 Samuel 1:19-28 and 2:18-21

Day 4           The Empty Soul Filled with God’s Love;  Take a deeper Look at Psalms 63

Day 5     The True Source of Fulfillment                      Ephesians 3:16-21

Praise and thank God in prayer and song for His deep love for you.

Pray also that God will help you to be faithful in worship and the study of His Word. 

For a in-depth study on 'Emptiness' this week please scroll down starting with Day 1. Answer the question in your journal, search His Word, and share if you feel led to.

Day 5 The True Source of Fulfillment

            How has Psalm 63 and the other scriptures we have read in this Bible study helped you            realize God as the source of all peace, hope, security, love and contentment?

·         Knowing that God is the true source of fulfillment and that He fills us though intimate fellowship with Him, why is it so important that we feed our faith through regular worship, prayer, Bible study and participation in the Lord’s Supper?

·         Psalm 63:11 reads, “But the king will rejoice in God all who swear by God’s name will praise Him.” When God has filled your emptiness, what has been your response? How do you rejoice in God? How do you praise Him?

·         Enjoy a time in fellowship with God right now as you read Ephesians 3:16-21

 

 How has this study helped you “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” for you?

Praise and thank God in prayer and song for His deep love for you.

Pray also that God will help you to be faithful in worship and the study of His Word.