Some schools and seminaries I really like, and others not so much. But how did I respond to this question (my short answer to..): “I would like a degree in biblical studies. Why must I pay for this. The disciples did not. Jesus Christ gave this to them for free. Any place that makes people pay just to learn God’s word in the Bible.. I feel this is wrong.”
Good question, Bill (not his real name).
You and I can agree in prayer that God will teach you more. Yes, that he will teach you about his word, life and ministry. I pray God will bless you in this effort of prayerfully studying.
Jesus told us that His sheep hear his voice, so Jesus by His Spirit can be our teacher today as well. No charge. Degree teachers who must pay for those formal learning and degrees will charge you for your degrees if that’s what you want that. I had a great time in some Bible Colleges, but a few were dead and lead by dead teachers with teachers that seemed religious and dead too.
But.. God is the same. Jesus is the same and his mouth still works. He can teach us born again believers every day as we apply His word.. as we take time away from it all to pray, to listen, to follow and to learn from him.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” ~ Jesus, Matthew 11:28-29
“I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.” ~ Jesus, John 16:13
Amen, looking forward to that day and praying that we can make the most of our time here until we are there with our Lord.
Amen, the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!” (Isaiah 25: 8-9)
I just got back from a walk–it was kind of a prayer walk with my dog on a leash. What is prayer walking? Is it biblical to go on a prayer walk? I praise the Lord that He hears us when we call out to Him, no matter where we are.
Prayer walking is the practice of praying on location, a type of intercessory prayer that involves walking to or near a particular place while praying. Some people believe that being close to a location allows them to “pray nearer to pray clearer.” Prayer walks are taken by individuals, groups, and even whole churches. They can be as short as a block or as long as many miles. The idea is to use the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—to increase the intercessor’s understanding of prayer needs.
For example, if you walk through your neighborhood looking for things to pray about, you might come across a yard that is extremely untidy and rundown. This might prompt you to pray for the health, both physical and spiritual, of the residents inside. Some groups prayer walk around schools, prompting prayer for the teachers and students inside, for their safety and peace, and for the schemes of the devil in their school to be thwarted. Some people feel they can concentrate and direct their prayers more effectively by walking near the people and places they are praying for.
Prayer walking is a relatively new phenomenon, the origin of which is not clear. There is no biblical model for prayer walking, although since walking was the major mode of transportation in Bible times, clearly people must have walked and prayed at the same time. However, there is no direct command that prayer walking is something we should be doing. To believe that prayers offered in any setting, or while in any position, are more effective than those offered at another time or in another manner is not scriptural. In addition, while we may feel we need to be close to a location or situation to pray more clearly, our heavenly Father, who is everywhere at all times, knows exactly what needs are present and will respond to them in His own perfect will and timing. The fact that He allows us to be part of His plans through our prayers is for our benefit, not His.
We are commanded to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and since walking is something we do daily, surely part of praying without ceasing is praying while walking. God hears all prayers offered by those who abide in Christ (John 15:7), regardless of time, place, or position. At the same time, there certainly is no command against prayer walking, and anything that prompts us to pray is worthy of consideration. Blog
