Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Jesus frequently got alone with the Father. This was an especially important time, because he would be choosing the 12 Apostles who would be responsible for the kingdom after Jesus was gone. What does this say to us about the importance of prayer?

When you are trying to make an important decision, what steps do you follow? Is prayer one of them? Is it the first step you take, or your last resort? Now there's nothing wrong with setting goals, reasoning things out, seeking guidance from godly people, and certainly you should seek guidance from the Word. But the first priority should always be communicating with your heavenly Father about the concern.

But, you might say, doesn't "God helps those who help themselves?" To the best of my knowledge, there is no Bible verse that promotes that idea. We are partners in ministry with God, that is, after we've been born again and received our recreated human spirits. But even then, we are unable to "help ourselves" - we do nothing without God's help. This would place our wills - what we think we need to do for ourselves - before God's will for us. No, the Bible doesn't teach "God helps those who help themselves". God helps those who yield to His will.

But, isn't God too busy to care about my petty concerns? I mean, shouldn't I take care of the "little things" and not bug God about them? Do you agree/disagree with the last question?

Cher - God helps all who asks in the name of the Son
OlePappy - I disagree
Spidey - agree
Cowgirl† - Just as he is no respecter of persons he is also no respecter of our concerns he helps even the little things. God wants us to go to him for everything.
Mari - I believe nothing is too small nor too big for us to turn to him
Athie - The little foxes spoils the vines so we need to pray about all things

Isn't this a marvelous promise? Don't worry, but bring every need, every concern, every problem, everything that touches your life to God in prayer. And God's unfathomable peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Cowgirl† - 1peter 5:7 cast all your care on Him for he cares for us.....

What does God's peace guard you from?

Cowgirl† - the attack of the enemy..... Fear anxiety, torment from satan.... etc...
jazz - it guards me from the enemy and the evils of this world

This is another confirmation that God is concerned with ALL of our needs, not just the ones we think are "big". How does He meet these needs? According to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus - an inexhaustible supply.

jazz - sometimes it seems too small though … I guess because I feel they are not so important

Is your God BIG enough to be concerned about ALL your needs, and mine, and everyone else's? If not, maybe you need to get better aquainted with Him!

Be like a little child. What do children do? Every time they have the slightest problem, who do they go to? Their parents, who kiss the "boo boo", and the child is content once again. Bring all your "boo boo's" to your heavenly Father, who delights in meeting your needs. Hallelujah!

Is any need too small to take care of for YOUR child? Or someone you really love? Isn't God more loving than you? Why would He think any need too small to take care of for YOU, the child of His heart?

Cowgirl† - My God loves me even when I mess up!! Praise him....
ThunderQueen - I gather from this scripture we should make sure all our important decision's are grounded in prayer, for that is what Jesus did

It is AWESOME how much God loves us. Right TQ, that's the main point. But also we are to take EVERYTHING to God in prayer. Even the small things are important to God --

jazz - I know that but I guess when we get in a rut Satan likes to tell us those little things aren't important to Him

Ah, jazz you see why he's doing that now, don't ya? Just tell satan to shut up, God is your daddy and everything that touches your life is important to GOD.

jazz - I know and I do trust Him, He has been so wonderful to me and blessed me with so much but it gets shaky sometimes

What is a disciple?

Mari - followers
ThunderQueen - disciples means or translates learners
Athie - A disciple is also a missionary/

Right Mari. A disciple is a learner, one who disciplines and dedicates himself to a teacher with the goal of becoming like the teacher. What is an apostle?

leen - An Apostle is one that is sent.
Cowgirl† - he teaches others to go out and start their own ministry. Raises up evangelist and missionaries....etc....

Right leen. An apostle is one sent out with a special commission and with authority. There were 24 apostles mentioned in the New Testament including Jesus, one of which, Junias, was a woman.

So we see that Jesus first called the apostles to be disciples and THEN commissioned them to a higher call. This is typical of how God works. First he calls us into fellowship with him through the Lord Jesus Christ and we become disciplined and dedicated to becoming like Jesus. THEN we are called into our ministry - whatever it may be. There are no "shortcuts to glory" here.

Many people make the mistake of trying to launch themselves into the kingdom in a blaze of glory. They want the "higher" places before they have been trained for them. God ALWAYS disciples us at a lower level before He places us in any position of authority. Otherwise we are not fit to take care of His sheep.

Look at David, who was first a shepherd, and then hunted as a criminal by King Saul, before God allowed him to be king. Moses was raised in the pharaoh's household, but put in his 40 years on the "backside of the desert" before he was ready to lead God's people. Joseph served as a slave and was imprisoned 10 years before he became second in command in Egypt. Jesus Himself spent 30 years as an unknown carpenter in an obscure village before He began His ministry.

So out of His followers, Jesus spent all night in prayer to select just twelve. A night is 12 hours, did He spent an hour in prayer about each one? We aren't told that, but He certainly took His time in seeking God's will about it.

ThunderQueen - Jesus selected 12 ordinary men with a mixture of backgrounds to be his disciples. Today God calls ordinary people together to build His church, teach salvation's message

Of the twelve chosen, eleven continued on with Jesus to become the pillars of the church along with another chosen after Jesus' ascension, Matthias. Tradition and history tells us that eleven of the final twelve were martyrs for the faith, and that John died in exile on Patmos. So God saw something precious in these twelve men, that He communicated during that night of prayer, something that led Him to trust them to carry out the redemptive plan on earth after Jesus left.

Notice that after spending all night in prayer, Jesus still chose Judas! Jesus loved Judas. He was given a position of honor. He had all the rights and privileges of the other 11. He was even trusted with their purse - he was their treasurer. Yet somehow he missed the grace of God! So we shouldn't be surprised when men God has chosen fall. We should grieve and try to restore them to salvation and grace, but if Judas could betray the Master when he walked and talked with Him everyday, how much more can it happen today?

ThunderQueen - Many people today turn away from Christ, others pretend to follow, going to church for status, approval of friends or family,or business contacts.But there is only 2 real responses to Jesus either you accept him or reject Him

Many people in the ministry today have their "judases", people who once were part of the ministry, who now have not only left it, but actively oppose the ministry and try to sow discord into that ministry. These people are extremely difficult to love and pray for, and cause a lot of harm to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The saddest part is that while they are nursing offenses and sowing discord, they are not developing godly character in themselves and can ultimately be lost if they do not come to a realization of their disobedience.

The primary characteristic of a judas is an offended spirit. For whatever reason, these people have taken an offense at leadership and have allowed a root of bitterness to spring up within them.

The reason for the offense can be real or imagined - their gifts were not appreciated, they did not like how the leaders did things, they were rebuked for behavior and resented it instead of seeking change - the list goes on and on. The important thing is that the offended person did not forgive and become reconciled to that ministry. The offended person chose instead to become a spiritual "vagabond" - wandering here and there seeking that PERFECT church or ministry where he/she would be appreciated and no controversy exists.

An EXCELLENT book on this topic, that I HIGHLY recommend for EVERYONE to read is "The Bait of Satan" by John Bevere.

prodigal son - Woe to those who cause on of these little ones to stumble

Why did Judas become offended at Jesus? We are not told directly, but apparently he did not believe that Jesus was being the Messiah that Judas expected, and he either betrayed Jesus to get rid of Him or to force Him to show His hand.

This crowd came to hear him and be healed. This is the formula for getting healed - hear the Word first, and then receive it. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Notice that some diseases are caused by evil spirits and some are not, but ALL were healed because of the power coming from Jesus. This power is still available to us today through faith in Him.

OlePappy - By His stripes we ARE healed

This passage of scripture is known as Luke's Sermon on the Plain. If it was delivered on a plateau, it was parallel to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount, but it is possible that Jesus taught the same material on more than one occasion. At any rate, what Jesus calls "blessings" most of us would consider curses: to be poor, hungry, persecuted, and insulted. Why did Jesus say these things and how do we put them into practice in our lives? I'm glad you asked that question, because tonight, I want you to be the teacher and tell me the answers!

Matthew adds in 5:13, "Blessed are the poor IN SPIRIT". What do you think this means? This is the very opposite of what we think, isn't it? We despise those that are lowly and afflicted, and strive not to get into those circumstances ourselves. Why would these sorts of people be given the kingdom of God, and those that are of high estate and satisfied in spirit be left out?

Cowgirl† - When your going through the fire , being cleaned up from the inside it is not always fun... your flesh doesn't like it . But when you go through these things the Lord says are blessings he says that because when you come out on the other side your cleaner and closer to him.. you are stronger....
prodigal son - It is easy to have faith in something when we have physical needs. The poor sick etc. can look to God and receive and have faith because they experience it first hand
prodigal son - If you don't have these needs then you are self reliant and don't look to God and rely on him
Jen - I guess that my goal is to be willing to give up everything I hold dear for Christ sake... because He is all I need.... I need to be willing to do without sometimes so He can be glorified??
Cowgirl† - Yes for he says the wealthy are getting there's now and we will get ours in heaven
jazz - I think because if ;you are rich in spirit you are depending on self and not him
Jen - OT... I think it means those who have been wounded in the spiritual sense... been hurt over and over... and Christ want THEM to know that they won't be hurt by Him??
Grace - Jesus is placing value on a humble spirit, on those who acknowledge a spiritual bankruptcy in and of themselves.
dawn - Jazz also I think you need to be broken at some point to be able to let God use you fully. If we are his child he will sooner or later bring us to that point of brokeness. But, I can truly say praise God for that point in my life even though it was hard I look back and I am so glad for that moment.

Good point PS, the self-reliant don't THINK they need God. Jen, that's a good point too! Many of the ones Jesus ministered to had been hurt by "religious" leaders and they were poor in spirit because of this!

Jen - Some of the most Godly people I know are poor... and don't have very much... they focus more on God than worldly possessions... we should take a note from that.. .those of us who have plenty

Spiritual bankruptcy, yes. Broken, so God can heal. Not focused on worldly possessions. Hey y'all are going great! Question for reflection: Do you see yourself as "poor" in spirit? Do you need and want more of God in your life? Are you seeking Him on a regular basis?

aquarius - people who want to learn about god will learn
leen - Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. It's good to be in total need of God, and to know it.
Jolly Green Giant - people who strive for what is good and turn against what is evil
jazz - I think it means those that always want more of him. We all need spiritual nourishment
prodigal son - Seek and you shall find OT.
Jen - in Matt 5:6... Christ is the form of righteousness... and if you hunger for it... you need it to live.. hungering for Christ's gift... for God??
leen - Apart from him we can do nothing.
Grace - This beatitude reflects true spiritual passion, a hunger to know God intimately.
Jolly Green Giant - I think it also means that though we may be suffering now, we won't always suffer, especially if we put out trust in God
Jen - As the deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after you... you alone are my hearts desire and I long to worship you..

Hunger and thirsting is the same as striving for - seeking - wanting more of Him - spiritual nourishment - hungering for Christ - all good answers.

kinzies'mom - If you walk with him, to him and for him and look for him he will fill you with what you need?
aquarius - you cant come down if you don't go up....if you don't hunger for knowledge of god you wont get any
leen - Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness know that they don't have it without the Lord. Not in and of themselves.

The Pharisees were not hungering after righteousness, they were satisfied that they were fulfilling God's expectations of them. They had full stomachs and the only mourning they were involved in was their rituals that did not come from the heart.

We can get so caught up in our religious rituals and traditions, and become so satisfied that we are fulfilling God's expectations of us, that we lose our hunger and thirst for God's presence, that we make righteousness - or right standing with God - a matter of fulfilling a few commandments, rather than continually seeking God's face. Hungering and thirsting after God, continually seeking HIM, not what He can do for you, is the key here I think.

ThunderQueen - In a nation where riches were seen as a sign of Gods favor, Jesus startled his hearer's by pronouncing a blessing on the hungry. In doing so he was in line with an ancient tradition. The Old Testament is filled with God's concern for the poor and the needy, 1 Sam2:5, Psalm 146:7, Isaiah 58:6,7 and Jesus own mother's prayer in Luke 1:53

Good point TQ, the Pharisees believed and taught that being poor was a sign that you had sinned and were out of God's favor. Jesus is saying just the opposite.

jazz - and made just a few people upset
aquarius - it is the hungry and thirsty that must trust in god
leen - Also those of us who hunger and thirst for righteousness are grieved by our own sins. Really grieved. Because it grieves the Holy Spirit.

Or to put it another way, social and economic standing have nothing to do with your standing in God's kingdom.

Have you ever been insulted for Jesus' sake? Were you able to leap for joy afterwards? Have you ever been hated or excluded because of your faith?

Jen - we don't want to be persecuted... we usually want easy sailing... but Christ's call calls for either faith in him or pure anger and hatred... Christ has conquered all of sin for us... we have nothing to fear in this world
prodigal son - Not to my face OT. Behind my back a few times though. Cant say I leaped for joy though
jazz - after I thought about it yes. Someone told me to remember 'Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.' sometimes the truth is not welcomed

I remember when I first got saved just wanting to float on flowery beds of ease. My first condemnation for being a Christian came as a big shock!

Jen - nope... most of the time... I shrink into my corner and not say what I believe if I know it will cause a ruckus... I have though lost many friends because of my belief in Christ... but it took me awhile to realize I've gained an even better friend :)
k - we have to surrender our flesh daily Gal 5:24 because these clay pots can get very emotional
Spidey - Jen, if you are going to believe in something, you should not back down....for ANY reason.

Now I pretty much get into the leaping part - realizing WHO is sending the persecution. Hey if I weren't irritating the devil, then why would people bother to come against me? And if I'm irritating the devil, I must be fulfilling my call and ministry! So that's something to rejoice about.

jazz - True OT when we aren't being persecuted by Satan then we must be doing something wrong if he's not trying to stop us
ThunderQueen - Persecution can be good-it takes our eyes off earthly rewards 2 strips away superficial belief 3 strengthens the faith of those who endure, our attitude through it serves as an example for others to follow.

And not only that, GREAT is my reward in heaven. I got an account up there that's growing and growing and growing.

Jolly Green Giant - does that mean that if everything seems to be going alright for us than we are doing something wrong or in sin?
ThunderQueen - The fact that we are being persecuted proves we have been faithful; faithless people would be unnoticed.

Not necessarily JGG... We all have seasons of peace and quiet - nothing wrong with that. But when you make a stand for the Gospel, sooner or later you will meet opposition.

prodigal son - I don't think so JGG I think God is protecting us and giving us a break

God allows circumstances, people and the devil to test us - primarily to see if our faith is real.

Jolly Green Giant - thanx OT, prodigal; I believe that prosecution can be good, but not every Christian has to be prosecuted to be a Christian

Not in the US, JGG, but EVERY one is persecuted some places, Pakistan for example.

Grace - Also, I think sometimes we might bring "persecution" on ourselves by obnoxious behavior. By being too pushy.
Spidey - Grace, I'll amen that one....lol
k - James said to count it joy when we faced trials sometimes trials force us to do what God has been nudging us to do
Jolly Green Giant - it's hard to balance being too pushy and not pushy enough; thanx OT, I'll think on that

That's true grace! Be sure you're not being persecuted because you are being rude, crude, or unloving!

Spidey - it is not a sin to be rich
jazz - Not make money your god for one
ThunderQueen - If you are trying to find fulfillment only through riches, wealth maybe the only reward you get and it does not last. We should not seek comfort now at the expense of eternal life
prodigal son - It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle that for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jolly Green Giant - don't be greedy--be willing to share
k - one can not serve both God and money.
Jen - Spidey... no but it is a sin to be greedy... and not being willing to help those how have nothing
Jolly Green Giant - I don't think it's a sin to be rich...Abraham was rich and he was one of the most godly of men...
ThunderQueen - you can be rich in many ways, money and wealth are not the only way
prodigal son - NO OT not a sin
alex - rich with Gods blessings no
ThunderQueen - rich in spirit, poor in worldly possessions

Or another way of putting it, MUST a Christian be poor? It's a very important question, seeing that America is one of the richest nations on earth, but how Christian are we? I guess what it boils down to - what is your attitude towards money and possessions?

jazz - I think it means poor in spirit and not full of self and pride totally dependent on God
alex - God wants us to prosper.........
Jolly Green Giant - It's not a sin to be rich--unless you place money above God
alex - never put anything before God though

Not so much what you have, but what you do with what you have - and who your God is.

Spidey - it is not a sin to be well fed and happy - it is not a sin to laugh
genesis - it is not a sin to laugh
Jen - no it isn't a sin to be fed and happy... but anything in excess is harmful...
jazz - I think anything we have we should use to glorify God who blessed us with it
Monnie - III John 2 Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prosperity.

Is it wrong to have friends and have everybody like you? If you are seeking for everyone to like you, and are conforming to their religious ideas to get along, are you a false prophet?

Luke 6:27-28 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Are you praying for those that have hurt you and turned against you? Are you showing love to someone who hates you, or are you returning blow for blow, hate for hate? Up until now, Jesus has been speaking of the worldly way of doing things - looking out for yourself, seeing that you are well fed, seeking riches and honor for me. NOW, he begins to show that Christians live by a different philosophy.

Turned any cheeks lately? Roman soldiers had the right in NT times to strike you if they were unhappy with you. Also they had the right to take your cloak or make you carry a burden for them for a mile without any compensation. What would behaving like this say to a soldier? How do you put this into operation in your every day life?

alex - Give the Word.......and never ask it to be returned

These are some of the hardest verses in the Bible to understand and put into action because they go against our "human nature", don't they?

Jen - OT... loving people who hate you and do all they can to hurt you shows them that there is something greater in you causing you not to strike back... usually makes them ask questions... if not externally... internally

What kind of nut would do that?The kind of nut that trusts God to take care of him in all things. God gave it to you once, didn't He? Would He not meet your needs again if you trusted Him again? This kind of total dependence on God is something that we Americans don't usually practice.

Jen - yes they go against human nature... all that is in me would like to return a hurt for a hurt... but that isn't what God calls us to do
k - The Word gives us regeneration and human are not naturally loving to there enemies

Did Jesus ever refuse to minister to a need? Did Jesus deliberately ignore those who had needs, or stay away from locales where the needy would be found? Did He exclude sinners and the sick from His social circle?

ThunderQueen - He even went amongst the leper's the lowest of the lowly's

That's the point sista k! In our natural selves we CAN NOT do any of this! But when we receive Jesus as savior, He recreates us from the inside out, puts His nature in us, and we CAN do what He says.

k - not AS they did to you but as you would have them do
Lauren - Everything is done in love....even correction.

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. What does this REALLY mean? How do you put this into practice at home? Do you yell at the kids/your parents/your spouse or roommate? Is that how you want to be treated?

Dawn - Sometimes we become so bitter that we don't allow God to direct our paths. We are not serving others we are serving God and we must be a servant.
Savior's Servant - Proverbs. 10:12-love covers over all wrongs

These are all very important questions that you all are asking. The bottom line is, ASK GOD WHAT TO DO.