“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  - Mark 1:35 (NIV) 

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” –  Psalm 63:1 (KJV)

“My soul yearns for you in the night;  in the morning my spirit longs for you.” – Isaiah 26:9 (KJV) 

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Hebrews 10:19-22 - ”Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  

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For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. –  1 Corinthians 11:23-26

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“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)

“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” (Romans 3:25)

“We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” – (Hebrews 10:19)

One of the main doctrines the Lord has called us to emphasize is the redeeming power of the blood of Jesus Christ.  It is through the blood of Jesus that we receive salvation, forgiveness, and the internal operation of the Holy Spirit.   continue

Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…”

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Acts 13:2-3 - ”While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” - Acts 14:23

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“…And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” – Ephesians 6:18

“…For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them…” – Matthew 18:20

“…And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand….” – Revelation 8:2-4

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“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” Proverbs 26:2

We begin this lesson with an acknowledgment that the following teachings may contradict what some Charismatic and Pentecostal churches teach on this subject, particularly the subject of curses. We should proceed through this topic prayerfully, seeking the Lord’s guidance about what is right and true. continue

Malachi 3:10-12 - “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty.  “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

God’s people returned to the Promised Land after 70 years of captivity.  It was a difficult situation, because they needed to rebuild everything, including their homes.  They had to adjust to having more freedom than they did during the previous decades, and freedom means having to take personal responsibility for your own decisions.  In addition, they were very poor, struggling to survive.   continue