My first time to see the kids since we all went to the youth camp back in August...I have missed them! This week Denise taught session 3 of the current teaching entitled "A God Directed Life". The kids had really been inspired by the teachings at the camp and wanted to learn more about how to hear from God and how to serve Him.
Session 1 was "Knowing the God Who Speaks" and included why hearing God is important and exploring the attributes of God.
For homework each student was given an envelope containing a small amount of money. They were to pray about how to use the money and be prepared to report back during the next lesson two weeks later...
Session 2 is entitled "How Does God Speak and How Should I Respond?"...the study began with the reports from session 1 homework. Wow! The reports ranged from hearing from God in dreams, to sensing during an incident, to answered prayer...all the way to "I ate mine"...
Each response helped the kids learn about how God speaks as well as how to be faithful to respond to what He is saying. I could only imagine the thrill the kids felt when they actually heard from God and were able to share about it...
Today's lesson was entitled "Why Can't I Seem to Hear God?"...we explored 10 reasons...
God is testing us (Jesus was tested in the wilderness), God is teaching us (story of Lazarus being raised from the dead), we are in a spiritual battle (answer to Daniel's prayer delayed 21 days while the angel was doing spiritual battle)
Wrong priorities (Martha was distracted by many things), wrong understanding of God (we think He cannot be trusted), not knowing our identity in Christ (Jesus calls us friends)
Neglecting the Word of God (directs us, keeps us, renews our minds), unbelief (I believe, help my unbelief), undealt with sin (being hearers only and not do-ers of His Word), fear (perfect love casts out fear)
Good questions were raised; did Jesus make mistakes - even though He was
tempted, He never sinned...what did He use as a weapon against Satan in
the desert - the word of God...
Another question raised a discussion on choosing the best over the good. While it is good to read God's word every day...if we have made a commitment or promise to be somewhere but get caught up in reading His word and neglect our commitment, that is choosing what is good over what is better because we have failed to keep our word to another person and to God.
...the Word of God is our best weapon against the wiles of the enemy...that is one reason why it is important to read the Bible every day.
I am impressed with how eager the kids are to read out loud and I know they are growing in their relationship with the Lord.
The last time Denise was with the kids she had some dance instructors visit to teach the kids a dance routine and share a word of encouragement. She gave out the lesson for this week so the kids could read in advance...
We were so encouraged to discover that most of them had not only read the lesson, but had answered the questions and even completed the homework!
Here the kids are clapping for themselves...good job!
Since so many had done the lesson ahead of time, Denise asked if it would be helpful to receive the lessons in advance in the future...yep!
We talked about God's word being critical to block the hindrances to our ability to hear God's voice - she read several scripture passages she has written in her Bible...passages that have encouraged her through many challenges in her life...
After the lesson she asked the kids if there were any questions...Miriam, an excellent student, asked what the word "traits" means...the question on the handout was "List 3 to 5 character traits of God" which opened up a discussion about the importance of being very clear about who God is to help us hear His voice...thanks Miriam for being willing to ask!
Homework question: Which of the hindrances may be present in your life...many of the kids answered 'fear' so Denise asked how many saw that as a hindrance...
We ended the meeting in prayer...Evans, in the blue shirt, loves to lead us in prayer and I do believe he has the gift of prayer!
What a privilege it is for me to be even a small part of what God is doing in the lives of these precious young people!
