Why do we sometimes feel God doesn’t hear our prayers? How to pray in a manner that we can be assured of answers at all times?
Overview
- What the Bible says
- God is incomparable
- Created in God’s image
- Discussion
- Memory Verse
What the bible says
God is the supreme creator.
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1
God is incomparable
- So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. Gen 1:27
What the bible says
God calls the stars by name
- Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:25,26
God is all powerful
- 17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jer 32:17
What the bible says
God is the only God
- For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other”. Isaiah 45:18
- 24 God…does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 …he made all the nations..and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 …that they would seek him and find him Acts 17:24-27
What the bible says
God is the source of all things
- Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. Rom 11:33-36
God is worthy of all honour
- “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created
and have their being.” Revelation 4:11
Memory Verse
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. Gen 1:27
God is incomparable
There are times we question God.
Scientist cannot create even a single living cell. Just suppose he does create one – something like an amoeba. To what extent can the amoeba understand the scientist?
Why God is incomparable
| Sl No | Man | God |
| 1 | Treats God small though He is big | Treats us big though we are small |
| 2 | Needs raw material to create | Creates out of nothing |
| 3 | Creates clones | Creates original, unique things |
| 4. | Makes things which are temporary – does not last | Makes things which are eternal – lasts |
| 5. | Struggles to reach nearest object (eg moon) | Created entire galaxy and calls each star by name |
| 6. | Cannot give life | Source of life |
| 7. | Very limited knowledge | Omniscient (knows everything) |
| 8. | Can only be in one place at one time | Omnipresent (can be everywhere at the same time) |
| 9. | Can only do what God enables us to do | Omnipotent (All powerful) |
| 10. | Completely God dependent | Completely self- dependent |
| 11. | Owe everything to God | Owes no one anything |
Created in God’s image
In what ways are we created in God’s image?
- We have a will
- We have a conscience
- We are capable of higher emotions like love, sacrifice, etc.
- We have a spirit which can live beyond death.
Get into 4 groups each enacting one scenario below [1]:
Self awareness – stand apart, observe your thoughts and actions.
- Rosa broke up with her boyfriend and gets angry with mom. She thinks – why am I doing this?
- Her dog never thinks – after the dog next door left – I am chasing all the neighbourhood cats.
Imagination – “whatever is true , lovely honourable – think on these things”. Phil 4:8
- Rosa is imagining the applause she will get with her solo tomorrow.
- Her dog never thinks – One day I will make Lassie look like chopped liver.
Conscience –
- Rosa’s friend walks up and says –“I heard about you and Eric,..” Rosa resists reacting because she knows she is new, and says “It’s been tough – how are things with you”
- Her dog is relieving himself in the neighbours lawn – no moral conscience
Willpower – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
- Rosa’s mom yells – where have you been … Rosa resists reacting and says just went out for a walk
- The dog sees the paperboy and chases him – cannot control his instincts.
Discussion
Discuss and answer in your own words.
- If God created everything perfect, how did man sin?
- How did the devil get created? (Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28, 11-19)
- Why does God not remove sin and suffering in the world? (2 Peter 3:9)
References
- 7 habits of highly effective teens by Sean Covey
- Most material taken from Navigators’ LOAD (life of a disciple) series
- Presentation made by Swati Griffin Salins