REALLIFE
STUDY GROUP
“Intercession
Makes The Difference!”
ICEBREAKER: What is your favorite winter sport, hobby or
thing to do to pass the time away?
DEFINITIONS: Intercession: Hebrew “Paga” meaning:
1. Prayer that hits the mark.
2. An encounter, to meet with or to make physical contact.
·
Proverbs 17:12 Better to meet (paga) a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool in his folly.
·
Psalms 85:10 Love and faithfulness meet together (paga), righteousness and peace kiss each other.
3. To push against, to strike, hit, attack, or rush at someone
with hostility or violence.
·
2 Samuel 1:15 “Go strike (paga) him down!” So he struck him down, and he died.
4. To entreat, intercede for help, lay
upon or burden.
·
Isaiah 53:12 For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession
(paga) for
the transgressor.
·
Isaiah 64:5 You come to the help of (paga) those who gladly do right,
who remember your ways.
5.
To reach, or as far as, to
touch, in descriptions of dividing up territory. Paga
praying presses the righteous boundaries of God.
·
Genesis 28:11 When he reached (paga) a certain
place, he stopped for the night.
·
Joshua 17:10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the
north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached (paga) the sea…
6. To border upon, to cause to fall upon, to lay upon, or to urge
a desired request by petitions
·
Jeremiah 7:16 So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea
or petition for them; do not plead (paga) with me for I will not listen to you.
·
Job 21:15 Who is the Almighty, that
we should serve him? What would we gain
by praying (paga)
to him?
TEXT: 1 Samuel 25:1-42
STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:
1.
What
is one of your favorite Bible promise to hold on to, stand on and proclaim or
decree over your life and others?
2.
Identify
a person in the following categories that you might feel led to pray for:
a.
Athlete__________________________
b.
Politician_________________________
c.
Doctor
or Nurse_________________________
d.
Teacher__________________________
e.
Businessman
or woman_____________________________
f.
Actor__________________________
g.
Musician______________________________
h.
Author______________________________
i.
Pastor
or Evangelist_____________________________
j.
Friend
or Family member___________________________
3.
According
to 1 Sam 25:17, Nabal is considered a wicked man
because no one can talk to him or give him counsel or correction. Tell us in what area of your life has it been
the most difficult to receive counsel and why.
4.
Read
James 5:16 Describe your prayer life:
a.
Red
Hot
b.
When
its hot, its really hot and when its not, its not
c.
Lukewarm
d.
Lets
just say its winter all year right now
e.
Its
hot some days and freezing other days
f.
_____________________________________________
5.
Read
Ephesians 6:18. When it speaks of all
prayer or all kinds of prayer, see if you can list some types of prayer.
a.
Pr_______________
b.
W_______________
c.
P________________
d.
Th_______________
e.
S________________
f.
I_________________
g.
C________________
h.
_________________
6.
When
Abigail hears that David and his men are coming what does she do and why is
this dangerous for her and what is the reward of her actions?
7.
Last
week Rebecca’s family asks if she can wait 10 days. This week exactly 10 days
after Abigail’s act of kindness and intercession for her husband Nabal and their servants her life changes dramatically and
she is set free from a mean husband and becomes David’s wife. Do you think the number 10 is significant in
these two stories and why?
8.
Sometimes
prayer or intercession (paga in the Hebrew) means to
have an intimate encounter and some times it means to strike or attack your enemy.
What have your prayer times been like lately?
9.
What
is your greatest need for prayer right now?