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1 Corinthians 11:23-26 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Joke: Once there were three old sisters who lived together. One sister got up to go to bed and half way up the stairs she stopped and asked, "Was I going up or was I coming down?" One sister replied with a hint of aggravation, "You were going up to bed." A second sister headed into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. Once in the kitchen she hollered back to her sister who was still down stairs, "What did I come in here for?" The sister responded again but this time a little more annoyed than the last, "You went in to make yourself a sandwich!” "I’m so glad I am not as forgetful as the both of you are," she said as she knocked on the wood of the end table. Then she got up, walked over to the door, and said "Who is it?" Many time’s we forget to remember don’t we? Another Joke: Maybe you heard about a guy named John who had a really horrible memory. One day John ran into a friend whom he had not seen in a long time. He greeted him & said, “Bill, do you remember what a bad memory I had?” Bill answered, “Yes, I certainly do.” “Well, it’s not bad any more. I went to a seminar that taught us how to remember things. It was a great seminar, & now I have a wonderful memory.” Bill answered, “That’s great! What was the name of the seminar?” “Well,” John said, “wait a minute, my wife went with me. I’ll ask her.” He turned & saw his wife nearby. Then he turned back to Bill & said, “What’s the name of that flower with a long stem & thorns & a red bloom?” “Do you mean a rose?” Bill answered, “Yeah, thanks,” John said, “Hey, Rose, what’s the name of that seminar we attended?” Memorial Day is a day that we set aside to remember the price that was paid for our Freedom here in the United States. It has been set aside for those men and women who have given their lives for this country. It’s a day for us to remember the price that these men and women paid for our freedom. They died for our country so that we can have the freedom to live, freedom to make our own decisions, and freedom to worship. But tomorrow as we celebrate Memorial Day. Let’s remember more than just those soldiers. This is Memorial Day weekend. There will be many memorial services and events held around our country to commemorate the men and women who gave their lives to gain and protect our freedom. We should never forget the price they paid. I want to build off… of this idea to speak of another sacrifice. In addition to remembering their sacrifice I want to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made to gain our freedom. In addition to memorializing our military we want to memorialize our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let it also be a reminder of what Jesus did for us. Let it be a reminder to us of the cost of freedom for our Christian life. If you are free from sin today, it’s because a Man named Jesus… became one of us and gave His life so we could have ours spared. If you are saved today you owe it to your Lord to give Him glory and praise for what He did for you. Don’t take for granted the great salvation that we have today! Jesus’ life here on this earth serves as a memory to us of how much God loved us and that memory of the life of Jesus does 3 things. 1: HIS LIFE REMINDS US OF THE PAST. This Memorial Day you and I need to remember what Jesus did for us over 2000 years ago. He left His home in heaven to come and live on this earth, just so He could suffer and die a cruel death on the cross so that you and I could have eternal life. So, you and I could have a way to get into heaven. Because without Him there is no other way into the gates of Heaven. This Memorial Day should remind us what Jesus did for us in the past, which was dying in our place. He took upon Himself our punishment. It’s a shame how some of us act today when it comes to God. For some of us we act like God is dead. We often live as though He’s not worth praising or worth living for. This is one of the main reasons why the lost have no need for our God. Take the Israelites for example, remember what God had done for them by delivering them from the Egyptians. However, later on, the Israelites had forgotten what God had done for them and they began to live as if God was dead. The Israelites began to live as the gentiles and when they began to forget how great their God was and what He had done for them they began serving false gods. Often just as we do. Many of us have begun to live like the world and for the world and we have forgotten what Jesus Christ did for us. Every time we come to church to worship or read our Bible or pray we need to remember how lost we were and how the Lord saved us and if we do that then it won’t be so hard to praise Him and to live for Him!!! 2: HIS LIFE REMINDS US OF THE REWARD OF THE PRESENT. If Jesus had not done what He did in the past we would have no present. Without Jesus dying on the cross over 2000 years ago there would be no salvation for you & I today. There would be no forgiveness of sin for you & I today. Without any past there would be no present. John 15:13-14 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. Church when we begin to look back on what Jesus did for us, how Jesus died to set us free, it’s then that we begin to gain courage and faith to trust Him for today’s needs. Now listen to me it’s now time that this church begins to believe again that we serve the same God as Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Peter, James, Paul and John and just as God led, guided and directed them in their days He will do the same for us if we just seek and trust Him. Our God isn’t some weakling that can’t come through for us. He is the I Am, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior, Author and finisher of our faith, the chief cornerstone, the almighty, the everlasting Father, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Anchor and last but not least the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God will now and always come through for us if you and I will just seek and trust Him. The reason so many of us live so defeated in the present, the here and now, is because we fail to remember the past. In our passage of scripture this ceremony, the Lord’s Supper, was set aside by God himself to remind us of how AWESOME our God is and How much God loved us (John 3:16) and that if He had to, He would do it all over again today!! John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. In my opinion there are too many “Just In Case Christians” in our churches today. They go to church just in case the preacher is right, so they will have something to tell God one day when they stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Listen…. it’s a privilege and an honor for you and I to worship and praise and serve our God and the day that it becomes a job and burden is the day you will look for a god whom you will serve. ( Idols, career, money, luxury, self, so on) DON’T SERVE HIM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO! SERVE HIM BECAUSE YOU LONG TO BECAUSE YOU WANT TO. Because you have felt Gods love for you. Because of what Jesus has done for us in the past it makes our present, the here and now worth the LIVING. 3: HIS LIFE REMINDS US OF HIS PROMISES. In the story Nehemiah Chapter 9 Nehemiah is praying about the work of rebuilding the wall and how they are under attack. In his prayer he retells the story to the Lord of how He took them out of Egypt for a purpose. Then he closes his prayer by saying that You (GOD) did that then and I know you will come through for us now because you gave us a covenant. In other words, God had given them a promise. Just as Nehemiah remembered that His God kept His word we too can believe the same. God doesn’t break a promise. Church, need I remind you that Jesus didn’t just go through all that suffering nor did He die on the cross to save us, just to leave us to fend for ourselves for the rest of our lives!! The death and resurrection of Jesus was His promise to us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. The death and resurrection of Jesus promised us that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Here is an everlasting promise… Matthew 28:19-20 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. If you have been saved, forgiven, drawn to the Son…then this promise is for you as well! And the list of promises keeps going and going and because God has made so many promises, we often need a memorial to remind us of those promises that God has made. (And this is where I will have to remind you, encourage you to read your Bibles. If you don’t, then how will you know Gods promises for you!) That memorial is this book right here called The Bible. When you pray and read your Bible let it be a reminder to you of what your God did for you as well as what God can and will continue to do for you. Let it be a reminder to you of all the promises that God made for His children. Don’t take HIS PAIN FOR GRANTED. SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOU HAVE, WITH ALL YOUR HEART. HE IS WORTH SERVING ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL HE HAS DONE FOR YOU!! In Closing: Our country’s soldiers died that we might have a life of freedom, and Jesus died that we might have life eternal. In the story of the Passover, the blood of a lamb was marked on the doorposts and this caused the destroyer to pass over the households that were marked, thus granting them life. This represented the cross of Jesus Christ upon which the very Lamb of God would give his own life that we might live forever in God’s kingdom. Our soldiers died for our country’s freedom, and Jesus died for our spiritual freedom for he said in… John 8:36 Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. And then in… John 10:10 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Jesus paid for our spiritual freedom and gave us a crown in heaven when he died on the cross. There is no freedom without the shedding of blood. We should never forget our many soldiers who died for our freedom here in America, and most importantly we must never forget our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave his own life on a cross that we may have eternal life. Let Us Pray…
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2 Timothy 1:5-7 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. This afternoon, as we celebrate this special Sunday called Mother’s Day, I hope that we can all rejoice and be glad. Whether your mom is alive or passed on, during the few minutes of this message remember and let those past and or present memories help put a smile to your face. So, who and what is a mother. Listen to what some children have put together… An eight year old child named Mary wrote her mom a note for Mother’s Day, it read, ”Dear Mother, here is the box of candy I bought you for Mother’s Day. IT IS VERY GOOD CANDY. I KNOW, BECAUSE I ALREADY had 3 ILL.- Eight-year-old Carol also wrote her mom a note on Mother’s Day it read, "DEAR MOTHER, HERE ARE 2 ASPIRINS. HAVE A HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY." Or how about this one from 6 year old Johnny and his 4 year old sister Suzy. Suzy presented their mom with a Mother’s Day present; a small, spindly house plant. While it wasn’t the finest looking specimen, they had bought it with their own money and Mom was thrilled. She hugged and kissed her children and told them she loved them for thinking of her. Johnny said, "There was some other flowers we wanted to buy for you, Mom, but we didn’t have enough money." "Yeah," said sister Suzy, "they had a real nice bunch of flowers at the shop that we were going to buy." "But I love this plant," said the happy mother. "I know, Mom," said Johnny, "but these flowers would have been perfect for you. They were in a wreath and they had a ribbon that said ’REST IN PEACE’ on it AND YOU know you are always asking for a little peace so you can rest. Where would we be without Mothers? Today is Mother’s Day, the day we set aside to honor and celebrate our mothers. I want to take this opportunity today to say, “Thanks You Mom” to all the mothers here. We’re going to look at a few key passages, beginning with 2 Tim. 1:5-7. This passage doesn’t say a lot about mothers, but what it says is powerful. Paul is writing to Timothy and he mentions Timothy’s mother and grandmother. “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” Before we look at this verse, we need to see what led up to this verse. We don’t know exactly how this all began, but we can take an educated guess. Lois and Eunice, being Jews, apparently had taught Timothy the Scriptures from birth. 2 Timothy 3:15 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. These 2 mothers had prepared the ground for Timothy’s conversion from infancy. This is especially significant when you realize Timothy’s father was a Gentile and an unbeliever. (If you remember our Bible Study.) Lois and Eunice both realized the importance of raising Timothy in a godly home. It’s quite possible that Lois and Eunice came to Christ through Paul’s preaching. Apparently, they led Timothy to Christ shortly after, because his faith is mentioned in… Acts 16:1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. Timothy was still a new believer, but he was already making a mark for the Gospel because of his mother’s and grandmother’s commitment to nurturing him in the faith. Paul sees for himself the strong believer that Timothy has become. “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you”. Timothy didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. Paul is PERSUADED (convinced) that Timothy’s faith is real, due to his mother’s and grandmother’s influence in his life. Timothy’s faith and ministry that influenced countless people for Christ began with 2 committed mothers. We all have been influenced by our mothers, some in more ways than others. Some of you who are mothers can see the influence you have had on your children. •How many of your children have come to Christ as a result of your faithfulness to the Lord? •How many of your children have become successful because of your influence? •How many of your children have you to thank for their wellbeing? Exodus 20:12 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. We all need to say, “Thank You Mom”…. “Thank You Mom”, for teaching the truth to your children. Thank you for teaching your children, not just by words, but also by example. Not just by correction and rebuke, but by love and patience. Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. “Thank You Mom”, for helping us know Jesus. Thanks for instilling in us, a sincere faith, for raising us as God’s own children. “Thank You Mom”, Always being there. “Thank You Mom”, for being the best cheerleader, our biggest advocate, our best friend. Proverbs 31:27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. When the world seems to falls apart and our dreams are crushed, there’s always one person we know will always be in our corner. “Thank You Mom”, for never giving up. Thanks for overlooking our many faults, for being infinitely patient with us, for focusing not only on the present, but seeing the potential in us. Jesus’ mother never gave up on Him. She didn’t understand Him all the time. Even in His darkest hour, when most of His family and friends had deserted Him, she was there… John 19:25 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. A godly mother is one who will never give up on her child. “Thank You Mom”, for doing your best to keep us on the right path. Thanks for guiding us and correcting us as needed, for picking us up when we stumble. “Thank You Mom”, For setting the example of how to live, for showing us how to live, how to get our priorities straight. Thanks for being a model of grace and integrity and Christlikeness. Proverbs 31:28-31 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. We can’t thank our mothers enough for what they’ve done for us, how they’ve sacrificed for us, how they have inspired us to be all that we can be. That having been said, there are probably some here who might disagree with me. •Maybe your mother didn’t teach you the truth, maybe she didn’t help you find Jesus. •Maybe she wasn’t always there for you. •Maybe she wasn’t the example of Christ she should have been. If your mother isn’t the ideal mother to you, you can still thank her for giving you life, for helping you to become the person you are today (whether directly or indirectly). And maybe you can still let her know that her greatest desire for you has been accomplished. I haven’t met a mother yet who didn’t want her son or daughter to grow up and be successful, to be somebody. If you know Jesus, if you’re a member of His family, then you are somebody special, you are God’s very own child, and there’s no greater “success” in all the world. “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER, SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG IN THE LAND THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING”. •We need to honor our mothers, even if they are somewhat imperfect. Maybe you’re a mother and you feel like a failure because you didn’t do those things as well as you should have. If you’re feeling guilty because you aren’t the perfect mother, you can relax because you’re in great company. The truth is, there is no perfect mother (or father for that matter). We all fall short, we all make mistakes. We all have regrets. •But you can still be the best mother you can be by continuing to teach your children the truth, by helping them find Jesus, grow into loving Him. By always being there for them no matter what, by never giving up on them, by keeping them on the right path, and by setting the example of Christ for them. Being a mother is one of the most important callings in the world. •It’s also one of the most demanding and carries the biggest consequences. A Quote: "When all is said, it is the mother, and the mother only, who is a better citizen than the soldier who fights for his country. The successful mother, the mother who does her part in rearing and training aright the boys and girls who are to be the men and women of the next generation, is of greater use to the community, and occupies, if she would realize it, a more honorable as well as important position than any man in it. The mother is the one supreme asset of the national life. She is more important, by far, than the successful statesman, or businessman, or artist, or scientist." (Theodore Roosevelt) Moms, your job is critical to the future of mankind. You are in many ways also a light of the world. Every step that you lead your children closer to Christ is a step in the right direction – and for that you are to be commended. Short Story: Susannah Wesley, who lived around 1700, was a great Christian mother. •She had 19 children, yet made a habit of spending at least 1 hour a week in religious instruction with each child and praying for them an hour every day. •Two of her sons were John and Charles Wesley. •Together, they brought revival to England and started the Methodist Church. •John Wesley rode over 250K miles on horseback and preached 40K sermons. •Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns! •Susannah Wesley had one goal – to bring her children to Jesus. What a legacy she left behind – and what a legacy each mother here can leave behind. Moms, do you realize the potential that you have in being an example of Christ to your children? Moms… have the potential of changing the world simply by instilling sincere faith in your children. Where would we be without mothers? “Thank You Mom.” In Conclusion: Short Story: Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God, “They tell me You’re sending me to earth soon. But how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" •Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you. “But here in Heaven, I just sing and smile. That’s enough for me to be happy.” •Your angel will sing for you and smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy. “And how am I going to be able to understand people if I don’t know the language that men talk?” •Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you to speak. “And what am I going to do when I want to talk to You?” •Your angel will place your hands together and teach you how to pray. “I’ve heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?” •Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life. “But I will always be sad because I won’t see You anymore.” •Your angel will always talk to you about Me and teach you the way for you to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you. After a long, silent pause, the child asked softly. “Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.” •That’s simple. You just call her “Mommy”. (Writer Unknown) “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” These two women recognized how critical their job was. They took the job of raising godly children seriously. They invested their time and energy into one young man. As a result, he became a key leader of the early church. As a result of their example, he fanned into the flame the gift of God. As a result of their commitment, the legacy of faith passed on for generations. I’m sure that Timothy recognized their efforts. I’m sure he said on many occasions, “Thank You Mom”. The Bottom Line: The greatest legacy a mother can pass on is a legacy of faith. For those who do, we especially say “Thank you”. Thank You Mom, for everything. We can never come close to giving Mom what she has earned, but we do have a small token of appreciation. (Have all the moms come forward) Colossians 1:9-12 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Today we will look at the importance of prayer…and praying for others. I know that whenever we have our meetings, that’s is always one request that I would make to all of you… “pray for one another”. Again, we may not know what is going on in each and every one of our lives, but there is never anything wrong when we pray for each other. Last Sunday, I was touched by the last song, the hymnal that we sang that brought about this message. The lyrics went like this…. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer Can we find a friend so faithful. Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Scriptures are clear, and full of believers who prayed for the safety, the faith, the well-being of their brothers and sisters. If anyone was going through some trials, challenges in life, they prayed. If anyone was sick, they prayed. If there was anyone in need, they prayed. And we know that our loving God hears the prayers of His children. Psalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” And again…. Psalm 91:15-16 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” And again… Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. Most importantly… James 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. So…prayer is very important to every believer. Every Christian can minister directly to the spiritual well-being of other believers without seeing or speaking to them. We can play a role in their spiritual growth, and even secure God's blessings for them. Intercessory prayer accomplishes amazing things and it’s within our grasp. “Please Pray For Me” Each of you in your inner person - your new person in Christ- should have a desire to pray for others. Jesus did. Jesus prayed for His disciples, and for every believer. So, with the heart of Christ in you, you should do the same. Others will need your prayers if they are going to be all Christ has for them to be. Paul prayed for believers who were marked by love that has its origin in the Spirit. Listen as verse 8 lead into verse 9, our opening verse. Colossians 1:8-9 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. The best that people can hope for in this life is to know God’s will and fulfill the purpose He has planned. We should ask God to reveal His will and empower them to fulfill it when we pray for others. We ask for them to be filled with the knowledge of His will. The second petition in the first part of verse 10 is that after they know God’s will they would choose to live out God’s will… Colossians 1:10 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. God desires us to live a life based on what He has done for us. Paul prayed that people would know God’s will, but he also understood that knowing God’s will did not guarantee doing God’s will. Living a life worthy of the Lord grows out of knowing God’s will. The reason he prayed that they would know God’s will is, so they would do God’s will or walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. He prayed that they would act on what they have learned. Only through action does a person fulfill the purpose God has for His children. Only as we act on God’s will can we please Him in greater ways. The ultimate goal of knowing God’s will and walking in a worthy manner, is to please the Lord. Our lives should not be guided by expectations from our self or others. We must be guided by the Lord, who redeemed us, called us and has been transforming us, so that we are worthy of His name, a name that is above every name. Don’t be trapped into a life of trying to please others, please the Lord. The people of Paul’s time valued the accumulation of knowledge but Paul points out knowledge in itself is useless - empty. To be worth anything it must lead to a changed life and right living. Thirdly, Pray For Productivity In Their Lives. What kind of life pleases the Lord? A life that continually bears fruit. Verse 10 continues, “Being fruitful in every good work.” To do good works without bearing any eternal fruit is tragic. So, he prayed they would bear spiritual fruit which is eternal. Paul wanted those he prayed for to be wise, but he also wanted them to use their knowledge. God wants us to learn more about Him and then put our belief into practice by helping others. Paul prayed that the people would lead productive lives. The life of an obedient Christian is fruitful. Our Creator designed us to be fruitful. Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will remain” or last. From last week’s message… John 15:16 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. The greatest fruit that a person’s life can bear has lasting value; usually that means actions with eternal consequences, such as salvation for unbelievers and Spirit empowered ministry to other members of the body of Christ. So, when you pray for others, pray that they would be productive, and that they would choose to bear fruit that is eternal. Fourthly, Pray For Them To Have A Growing Relationship With God. A Christian should not only bear eternal fruit, he should also attain spiritual growth which is the last request in verse 10. “increasing in the knowledge of God.” Most of what we learn about God will not be revealed to us until we know His will, live out His will, and begin bearing eternal fruit. God cannot really disclose Himself to us until we become obedient children. By living a life in sin, is the opposite of knowing or living in Gods will. Paul knew that everything hinges on the health and vitality of our relationship with our Creator. What rain and sunshine are to the nurture of plants, the knowledge of God is to the growth and maturing of spiritual life. Keep in mind, from our verse from James, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”. So, by ignoring the will of God, and living a life of sin is doing the exact opposite of a fruitful life. By living a life in sin, your praying to God, your praying for others, will God listen? Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. In another translation, “if I have kept sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”. So, you have a prayer request for yourself, but your living in sin, will that prayer be answered? Again, God cannot really disclose Himself to us until we become obedient children. A genuine knowledge of Christ reveals itself in a transformed life, a life that has been washed by His blood, a life that has been forgiven, a life that is obedient to His commands… A genuine knowledge of Christ reveals itself in a transformed character… Ephesians 4:1-1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And again… 1 Thessalonians 2:12 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. This is what Paul means, this was his prayer for every believer, when he said “do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”. We are talk in the way that we are called. Knowing the will of God, and by being obedient. By doing so, Spiritual fruits will remain, and prayers will be answered. Five, Pray For Power In each others life… Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. Paul prayed that the people would receive power. The power he was speaking of was of the Holy Spirit of God. This empowering is the only kind that is according to His glorious might. It is not given simply according to our need, but according to God’s supply, according to His glorious might. As Christians, each of us can be empowered by the Holy Spirit. If we are to do anything of value, we must have Him as the source of our power. Just like all the electrical things we have at home, we need a source of power. When it is unplugged, its worthless, and does nothing! We’re like that. Without the power from our Source, the Spirit of Christ, we’re not effective. We may be able to do some things on our own, but they have no eternal value. When we really understand this, we begin to see ourselves as we really are. We realize that we need and must depend on God. That’s why it’s important to ask God to give others His power as we pray for them. Without that power, they won’t be able to make a difference for Him. But with that power, they can show strength in the face of adversity, patience during trials, and endurance to finish the race God has laid out before them. And then, in the end, we can hope that God will tell the Christian brothers and sisters we prayed for, “well done good, and faithful servant”. Six, pray for others to have the right attitude. Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Paul was praying that they would have and maintain a positive, thankful, joyful attitude. Why pray for people’s attitude? Our attitude impacts nearly every aspect of our lives. It influences our behavior, our ability to learn, our contentment, and relationships - including our relationship with God. It affects each person’s life and Christian walk in a far greater way than you might think. As you pray for others to share in a joyful attitude, remember that joy is different from happiness. Joy is internal and based on Christ. Happiness is external and based on circumstances. Joy is eternal and linked to our salvation, where happiness is temporary and based on fleeting emotions. Pray that your Christian brothers and sisters find joy in their lives, and that as a result, they would be salt and light to those around them. As you spend an increasing amount of time praying for others, you will find that your attitude toward people improves. It becomes more positive and compassionate. Your prayer focus will also mature. You will find that where you once focused on receiving, your concern has shifted to being a blessing. As Jesus said… Acts 20:35 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” You want to be a blessing to others, pray for them, and see God answer your prayers, by seeing the prayer evident in their life. You will find that as your prayer changes others, and it also changes you. In Conclusion: Let’s close with an illustration. A gathering of friends at an English estate nearly turned to tragedy when one of the children strayed into deep water. The gardener heard the cries for help, plunged in, and RESCUED THE DROWNING CHILD. That youngster's name' was Winston Churchill. His grateful parents' asked the gardener what they could do to reward him. He hesitated, then said, "I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor." "We’ll see to it," Churchill's parents promised. Years later, while Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia. The country’s best physician was summoned. His name was Dr. Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered and developed penicillin. He was also the son of that gardener who had saved young Winston from drowning" Later Churchill remarked, "Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same person." Churchill's experience reminds us of our double indebtedness as Christians to God. First, His Son Jesus gave us the precious gift of salvation. Then, Jesus the Great Physician, offers to us the priceless gift of sanctification. Paul’s prayer was for the full enrichment of lives. All believers have the same basic needs. Paul’s pattern of prayer opens the door for God to meet them. As we pray for others to share in the inheritance of the saints their life changes. They begin to receive the greater gifts of God’s grace. They will become what they never could have without your prayers for them. They will learn more about God and put their beliefs into practice by helping others. As they do they will bear fruit and their attitude will change into one of continuous joyfulness and thankfulness. The Title of this message is, “Please Pray For Me”. The person right next to you, in front of you, or behind, may be shy or embarrassed to ask you for a prayer. But ill tell you this, they will never be mad at you for praying for them. You will be a blessing to them by your prayers, and you will be blessed by the Lord by seeing that prayer answered. Your faith will be stronger, your prayer life will be more powerful than ever. As Scripture told us “do not cease to pray”. |
AuthorPastor Richard Santos Archives
April 2020
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