Unraveling The Mystery of God's Will!

Does God’s plan for your life strike you as mysterious? Do you refer to God’s will as something that needs to be found, that is, “I’m trying to find God’s will for me”? Well, you will be pleased to know that discovering God’s specific plan concerning a certain opportunity is not as difficult as we sometimes think it is. I do not mean to imply that it is always simple to know what God wants us to do in every instance, but sometimes and even many times it is quite simple. If you view God’s will as too mysterious to know or as hidden somewhere and you cannot find it, then I have good news. God’s will has actually been unraveled for us in many respects in the Bible. That is correct! God even spells it out at times using terms like “this is the will of God.” Consider the following observations for unraveling God's plan for you.

God’s Word Spells out His Will for Us through Specific Mandates.

Our tendency to misread God’s plan can be significantly reduced by “understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). God’s will can be known and understood by us!  Ephesians 5:17,  says, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding [connecting concepts together in the mind] what the will of the Lord is.” Understanding is like collecting the pieces of a puzzle and putting them together. The mind must grasp concepts and see the proper relationship between them. Correlating and comparing Scripture well is central to this exercise. Obviously this requires serious thinking on our part—we must exercise our mental muscles while we trust the Lord to teach us His Word.

“Understanding” implies placing biblical precepts together with practical applications and usage. This involves mentally comprehending ideas in order to govern oneself according to God’s pleasure and will. In doing so we transfer the biblical idea into our modern context for application. By following this prescription, we can largely reduce misunderstandings, misconceptions, misapplications, and general misreading of God’s will! Again this demands discipline and exertion of mental energy in conjunction with a hardy dependence upon the Spirit of Grace. 

God’s Plan for our lives is not hidden, incomprehensible, nor mysterious. In fact God desires for His people to be well informed and actuating His will daily. But it may require engaging all our mental powers to arrive at what the Lord wants to achieve through us. God still teaches His children His Word very readily, but we must assume the spiritual posture of patient humility and receptivity before Him. So then, to guard against misconceptions related to God’s will, gain a practical awareness of specific Bible statements related to God’s will and their workable implications. Please note thoughtfully what the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 1:9-10, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Note This Prayer for the Knowledge of God’s Will (Col. 1:9).

Paul’s primary request was that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will. There are two key words, “filled” and “knowledge” to consider. “Filled” refers to a filling out to completeness, and “knowledge” suggests a full, deep understanding. This is not an inner impression or feeling, but a deep and thorough knowledge of the will of God that is finally and completely revealed in the Word of God (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:17; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:4; 1 Pet. 2:13, 15; 4:19). An open Bible, a willingness to study and think, and an attitude of humble dependence upon the Holy Spirit will lead to such fullness and knowledge!

·                    Such knowledge of God’s will does not come from a fleshly mind (which “puffs up,” 1 Cor. 8:1), but the Holy Spirit enlightens a believer’s inner person (1 Cor. 2:5-6, 13), with the Word of God.

·                    “Wisdom” is, practical know-how which comes from God (James 1:5; 3:15), and it is also the ability to accumulate and organize principles from Scripture. Actually wisdom applies knowledge in the best ways.

·                    “Spiritual Understanding” speaks of clear analysis and decision-making while applying spiritual knowledge to various problems—the application of Bible principles to daily living. Understanding sees what agrees and what conflicts with God’s will. God’s will, revealed in the Bible, is made known to Believers by the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry. Like Paul, we too must pray to be filled with the knowledge of God's plan for the day.

Note This Purpose for the Knowledge of God’s Will (Col. 1:10).

Why did the Apostle Paul want the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will? [1:10] Was it so they might become mighty preachers or sensational teachers? Was it so they might attract large followings to themselves, as the Gnostics sought to do?

·                    No, the true purpose of spiritual wisdom and understanding is to enable Christians to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him. Here we have a very important lesson on the subject of guidance. God does not reveal His will to us in order to satisfy our curiosity, make us appear more astute, nor to impress other Christians with our 'knowledge'. Neither is it intended to cater to our ambition or to massage our pride. Rather the Lord shows us His will for our lives in order that we might please Him in all that we do. (McDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary)

Exercise: the following are some precepts directly form the New Testament outlining specific requirements for all Believers.

What does the Bible say about God’s will for us?

1.    God Wills that We Be Saved (2Pet. 3:9; 1Tim. 2:4).

2.    God Wills that We Be Spirit-Filled (Eph. 5:15-18).

3.    God Wills that We Be Thankful in Everything (1Thess. 5:18).

4.    God Wills that We are set apart from sin and unto His purposes (1Thess. 4:3-5).

5.    God Wills that We Be Submissive to Legitimate Authority (1Pet. 2:13-15).

6.    God Wills that We Suffer for Christ’s Sake (1Pet. 4:12-16, 19).

7.    God Wills that We Glorify Him with all our Opportunities (1Pet. 4:16; 1Cor. 6:20; 10:31).

The Lord Jesus epitomized all of these mandates and is the supreme example for all aspects of God’s will (see John 4:4; 5:19, 30; 1 Pet. 4:1, 2). Honestly if we truly lived this way in the energy of the Holy Spirit, there would be little else to consider or to decide upon with regard to God’s plan. Also bear in mind that God does afford us a measure of latitude and freedom regarding decision making on small inconsequential matters. There are times and instances when He in His sovereignty literally leaves the choice with us. You see, if a person is genuinely Spirit-filled and submissive to Christ's authority over their entire being, there is no design to behave in sinful ways

In conclusion, Ephesians 5:15, counsels us to "See then that ye walk circumspectly [exactly, precisely, diligently, accurately], not as fools, but as wise,   (Also see Col. 4:5). That is, walk or proceed with clear direction from God. Live each day knowing exactly what God expects and with confidence in the type of life He prescribes. Once you know what He requires, proceed with precise adherence and compliance. Walk circumspectly before your Lord. Much like a person walking a tightrope across the Grand Canyon proceeds with preciseness and accuracy; let us walk with exactitude in the plan of God for us. Again He has disclosed His will in His Word there is no reason to be mystified regarding His plan.

Yes, there will still be times when we need to make a decision and we will feel uncertain about how to proceed. This is no indication that God has failed to direct. It may mean we need to dig some in the Word and pray far more for wisdom from God. It may also mean we need to connect spiritual principles one with another like the pieces of a puzzle in order to discern God’s plan in a particular matter. I am afraid God has been blamed far too often for hiding His will when the key to knowing it is a matter of research on our part.

The Lord never intended for His will to be mysterious or confusing. He does not hide it and taunt us as we try to find it or figure it out. God’s will is not hidden nor is it lost! Through the Word, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and prayer we can understand exactly what God’s will is and make decisions in the light of it. In doing so, we limit and reduce our vulnerability to deceptions related to His plan for our lives. God not only want us to know His will but to execute it daily with precision and accuracy to His glory!

Beware of Religious Charlatans!

A Profile of Religious Charlatans

2 Peter 2:1-3

Subject: False Teachers and Preachers

Theme: be on guard against the attack of false teachers and preachers because their message will hinder growth in grace. Acquaint yourself with their motives and methods in order to detect them, and be assured God will execute full judgment upon these rebel deceivers (Matt. 7:13-29).

Relevance:  we Believers protect ourselves and our love ones when we heed Peter’s warnings about false preachers and teachers. It is incumbent upon each of us to learn how to discern truth for ourselves, and teach it to others correctly and accurately. God reveals in this passage that false preachers and teachers will themselves meet destruction, and others will be destroyed by them. But as Christians we can wage spiritual warfare more effectively if we know our spiritual enemies, the techniques heretics use, and the end result of their deception. Be assured God's desire for us to be discerning and armed against religious lies is well founded and gravely needed in a time when specific truths are being watered down or outright denied. 

Introduction:

As long as we live in a fallen world, counterfeiting will exist. There will always be someone who, for personal gain, will use an imitation of the real to lure others to something of no value. Banks deal with this problem every day and train their tellers to be alert to the possibility that some of the paper currency they are handed may not be authentic. Their first line of defense is to know the real. They work with and handle the real every day until the feel and appearance of the authentic is deeply ingrained in their minds. When a counterfeit bill passes through their hands, an alarm goes off in their minds. Then they examine specific areas of the bill which will prove the true identity of a counterfeit (Source Unknown).

Since the inception of the Christian Age, spiritual counterfeits have appeared—false teachers who pass their teachings or lifestyle off as the real thing. In chapter 1, Peter urges us to abound in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, remembering the apostles’ teaching and staying true to the sure Word of Scripture. Now, he challenges us to be alert, and unwavering in this day of deceptions. We must be alert to the presence of false teachers.  First, let us consider the Description of False Teachers.

Message:

I.                   The False Teachers Motives and Methods Were Exposed by Peter ( 2 Peter 2:1-3). Peter opens this section by declaring that false teachers are bound to appear but will ultimately be condemned by God.

A.     They Were Anticipated (2:1).

                                                1.      False Teachers Were Predicted (2:1—“there shall be false teachers”).  At the close of chapter 1 Peter referred to the prophets of the OT as men who spoke, not by their own will, but as moved by the Holy Spirit. Now he mentions that in addition to the true prophets in the OT period, there were also false prophets. And just as there will be bona fide teachers in the Christian era, there will be false teachers as well.

                                                2.      These False Teachers Take a Place Inside The Churches (2:1)-“false teachers among you.”

i.        They pose as ministers of the gospel. This is what makes the peril so great. If they came right out and said they were atheists or agnostics, people would be on guard. But they are masters of deception.

ii.      They carry the Bible and use orthodox expressions —though using them to mean something entirely different. The president of a liberal theological seminary acknowledged the strategy as follows: Churches often change convictions without formally renouncing views to which they were previously committed, and their theologians usually find ways of preserving continuity with the past through re-interpretations (MacDonald & Farstad).

                                                3.      They Have Brought Worldly Ideas and Values into the Churches.  When the Edict of Milan was passed in a. d. 313 the church was then free to move into the world, legally and openly propagating its doctrines. But at the same time, the world also began to move into the church, diluting its message for the next 1,200 years until the Reformation broke forth on the scene. But it is obvious from 2 Peter 2 that the world was already in the church well before the time of Constantine. Believers in all ages must be constantly on guard against its attack. –Walvoord: The Bible Knowledge Commentary

                                                4.      Where Are These False Teachers Found Today? They reside in every Christian and so-called Christian denomination! The offense of some is greater than others, the deviations from the Scriptures differ in degrees, and the level of deception is not identical for each group. Still errors and misconceptions have infected every Christian movement or organization to some degree. While some movements are purer than others, Christians must cling to the Word of God as the standard of truth and measure everything else by it.

                                                5.      Stay Alert and Arm yourself with the Truth! Since false teachers were anticipated and active in the Christian world, we must be on guard against their attacks and faithfully wage a spiritual warfare against them (Eph. 4:11-16; 6:10-20). We must arm ourselves with the Word of God and become so familiar with the truth, that lies and false teaching are immediately obvious.  We should also be in a Bible-Believing and Bible-Preaching church as much as possible to further learn, grow, and protect ourselves and family from false teachers and their messages.  Lastly, we must learn and live the Word so effectively that we can fight the lies by teaching and arming others against the attacks of false teachers.

B.     They Are Deceptive (2:1).

                                                1.      Verse 1 Summarizes The Methods Of The False Teachers: (1) they appear among the people as members of the church; (2) they work secretly, under cover of hypocrisy, pretending to be what they are not; (3) they bring in their false teachings alongside the true doctrine, and then replace the truth with their lies; (4) their lives deny what their lips teach. In other words, “heresy” is not simply false doctrine; it is false living based on false doctrine. “Wolves in sheep’s clothing” is the way our Lord pictured them (Matt. 7:15; and see 2 Cor. 4:1–2; 11:13). –Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament

i.        W. A. Criswell describes the false teacher as follows: ... a suave, affable, personable, scholarly man who claims to be the friend of Christ. He preaches in the pulpit, he writes learned books, he publishes articles in the religious magazines. He attacks Christianity from within. He makes the church and the school a lodging place for every unclean and hateful bird. He leavens the meal with the doctrine of the Sadducees.

ii.      Jesus warned that deceivers would increase as the end of the age approached. Peter predicted and Jude declared their presence in the early churches. Even more now than then, false teachers mingle themselves within true Christianity. Like Satan, the false teachers come as angels of light. Peter and Jude help us spot these apostates by unveiling their: (1) destructive heresies, (2) depraved, immoral character, and (3) dangerous deceptions.

                                                2.      While Professing To Be Ministers Of Righteousness, They Secretly Bring In Soul-Destroying Heresies Alongside True Bible Doctrine (2:1). It is a deliberately deceptive mixture of the false and the true. Primarily, they peddle a system of denials. Here are some of the denials which can be found among certain modern groups:

i.         They deny the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, and His death as a Substitute for sinners. They are especially vehement in their denial of the value of His shed blood. They deny His bodily resurrection, eternal punishment, salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the reality of miracles in the Bible.

ii.       Other false teachings common today are:

a.       The Kenosis theory—the heresy that Christ emptied Himself of the attributes of deity. This means that He could sin, make mistakes, etc.

b.       The “God is dead” fantasy, evolution, universal salvation, purgatory, prayers for the dead, etc (MacDonald & Farstad).

iii.      The ultimate sin of false teachers is that they even deny the Master who bought them (2Pet. 2:1). While they may say nice things about Jesus, refer to His “divinity,” His lofty ethics, His superb example, they fail to confess Him as God and as unique Savior.

a.       Nels Ferré wrote, “Jesus never was or became God. ... To call Jesus God is to substitute an idol for Incarnation.”

b.       Methodist Bishop Gerald Kennedy agreed: I am frank to confess that the statement (that Christ is God) does not please me and it seems far from satisfactory. I would much prefer to have it say that God was in Christ, for I believe that the testimony of the New Testament taken as a whole is against the doctrine of the deity of Jesus, although I think it bears overwhelming witness to the divinity of Jesus (MacDonald & Farstad).

                                                3.      Their Greatest Offense is their Denial of the Lord Jesus Christ (2:1)—“even denying the Lord that bought them.”  In this and in many other ways, false teachers deny the Lord who bought them. Here we should pause to remind ourselves that while these false teachers to whom Peter refers had been bought by the Lord, they had never been redeemed. The NT distinguishes between purchase and redemption. All are purchased but not all are redeemed. Redemption applies only to those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, availing themselves of the value of His shed blood (1 Pet. 1:18, 19).

i.         In Matthew 13:44 the Lord Jesus is pictured as a man who sold all He had to buy a field. In verse 38 of that same chapter, the field is distinctly said to be the world. So by His death on the cross, the Lord bought the world and all who are in it. But He did not redeem the whole world. While His work was sufficient for the redemption of all mankind, it is only effective for those who repent, believe, and accept Him (MacDonald & Farstad).

ii.       The fact that these false teachers were never truly born again is indicated by their destiny. They bring upon themselves swift destruction. Their doom is eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

C.     They Are Quite Effective (2:2).

                                                1.      Peter Predicts That They Will Attract A Large Following (2:2). They do this by scuttling the biblical standards of morality and encouraging the indulgence of the flesh. Here are two examples:

i.         Anglican Bishop John A. T. Robinson wrote: ... nothing can of itself always be labeled as “wrong.” One cannot, for instance, start from the position “sex relations before marriage” or “divorce” are wrong or sinful in themselves. They may be in 99 cases or even 100 cases out of 100, but they are not intrinsically so, for the only intrinsic evil is lack of love.

ii.       In the book Called to Responsible Freedom, published by the National Council of Churches, young people are counseled: In the personal, individual sense, then, what justifies and sanctifies sexuality is not the external marital status of the people before the law but rather what they feel toward each other in their hearts. Measured in such a way, holding hands can be very wrong indeed while intimate sex-play can be right and good (Believers' Bible Commentary).

iii.      Remember large crowds and huge membership does not automatically equal God’s approval or activity upon a movement.

                                                2.      As A Result Of This Type Of Behavior, Taught And Practiced By False Teachers, The Way Of Truth Is Maligned (2:2)—“the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”  

i.         Unbelievers develop a deep contempt for real Christianity because of the teachings, influence of these false teachers and their followers.

ii.       These false teachers claimed that knowledge was superior to practice, so they argued that it did not matter how Christians behaved, as grace could forgive every sin, no matter how great. The Bible consistently denounces this idea (Rom. 6:1-4; 1Jn. 3:3-10). Peter sorrows that the immorality of so-called-Christian groups will bring the true faith into disrepute.

iii.      But, God's justice for anyone leading another astray will be swiftly meted out.

D.     They Are Greedy Manipulators (3: 3).

                                                1.      Their Motives. These false teachers are covetous and greedy, both in the sexual and financial realms (2:3). They have chosen the ministry as a lucrative profession. Their great aim is to build up a large following and thus to increase their income.

                                                2.      Their Manipulations (3:3). They exploit people with false words—“feigned words.”

i.        Darby said, “The devil is never more satanic than when he carries a Bible.” So these men, with Bible in hand, pose as ministers of righteousness, give out well-known evangelical hymns, and use scriptural expressions. But all this is camouflage for heretical teachings and corrupt morals (Believers' Bible Commentary).

ii.      They make false plastic or fabricated statements, literally making up whatever suits the ears of the hearer (1Thes. 2:5) to manipulate them for gain. They make merchandise of believers; that is they exploit you for commercial or money-making schemes for themselves.  If they cannot beg the money out of your purse or pocket they will try to manipulate it out!  They will use charity pleas, and place impoverished children from distant lands on the TV screen and plead with you to give to their cause. The problem with too many of these is that they use most of the donations for something else, and the needy and hungry little children remain hungry and unclothed!

                                                3.      Their Judgment (3:3).  An awful condemnation awaits these religious fifth-columnists. Their judgment has not been idle; it has been arming itself for the slaughter. Their destruction has not been nodding its head in sleep; it has been wide awake, ready to pounce like a panther. –MacDonald: Believer's Bible Commentary

E.     They are Nothing Like the Lord Jesus Christ!  Jesus was warning the people of His day to be on the lookout for gifted leaders who would take advantage of them and lead them astray. They would be men who looked good on the outside but were corrupt on the inside. They would perform well (Matt. 7:13-27).

                                                1.      To put it bluntly, too great preachers and teachers are not necessarily great Christians. The same goes for famous gospel singers and best-selling Christian writers.… Praise the Lord for all those who are true to Jesus Christ and the Word of God, but such Believers are among the few. 

                                                2.      The best picture of what a Spirit-filled man looks like is Christ. His life was characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, and so on in the midst of a world characterized by just the opposite of those things. He was certainly no wimp. He stood up to His detractors when it was appropriate. But He knew when to be silent as well. He had the courage and wit to take on the intellectuals of His day on their turf according to their terms. He spoke with authority. People, especially children, were attracted to Him. Even sinners loved to be with Him. He was a very secure man. There was nothing pretentious or intimidating about Him. He didn’t need those props. And at the end of His life He tackled the toughest account of all—death. And He won! – C. Stanley: The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life

Please consider carefully and prayerfully what I have recorded, restated, adapted, quoted, incorporated, recited, and included in this lesson/article. I have quoted many other works in this article on purpose to demonstrate that this is not merely my opinion on these matters. Most importantly I have slavishly held to the text of God’s holy Word. The concern is real and the spiritual danger is serious. Please consider what is stated here with a sincere heart. I pray that Christ Jesus will give tremendous light by His Spirit of grace. 

You Can Make It Through The Storm!

You Can Make It Through The Storm!

Storms are a necessary part of life in a broken world, but we do not face them alone! Often God does not guide us around the stormy seas…He much rather guide and transform us through them. It is one among many ways we may experience His supernatural power and sense His holy Presence. As we depend upon His all-sufficient grace to sail through our storms, He is honored and glorified; we provide living advertisements of God’s ability to sustain us through our storms. Our testimonies will be used of the Lord to strengthen the faith of others in God’s wonderful grace. Notice Paul’s testimony, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Concerning the heart of this great passage, MacDonald quipped, “Notice that God says, My grace IS sufficient for you. We don’t have to ask Him to make His grace sufficient. It already IS!” –MacDonald, W. (1995).

Lowery further explains,

Rather than removing the problem God gave him grace in it. This grace is sufficient (…i.e., adequate in the sense of providing contentment). …God’s grace transformed Paul’s perspective. Experiences in his ministry he would naturally abhor, he could welcome supernaturally because the evidence of Christ’s power in the midst of them brought glory to Him, not Paul. When Paul came to the end of himself, Christ alone was seen. When he was weak, then Christ, by His strength, could make Paul spiritually strong. –Lowery, D. K. (1985).

Since you are in a storm presently or will be in one shortly, take heart dear ‘Christian sailor,’ Christ’s grace is sufficient for you and me. Therefore draw strength from His grace and sail on.

The Photo for this posting was originally shared by:

Olga Leontieva originally shared to Amazing Loving Earth (Autumn Rose) (Our Beautiful Nature (Landscape/Animals)):

 By Inspirations in life

Don't Give Up!

 Don’t Give Up!

Quitting is a natural response to intimidating challenges. Giving up, walking out, throwing in the towel, and checking out are automatic reactions for too many of God's people when faced with hardnesses. Our Lord understands this weakness and inclination; He prescribes that we take courage instead. In effect God says, 'When you must walk through floodwaters and fires, I will see you through them all….trust Me', says our Lord God. Notice His exact words to ancient Israel as they faced a tumultuous future, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:2). Though the Lord indicated Israel would faces some serious challenges in the days ahead, He sought to assure them of His love, presence, and protective hand. He did not promise the hardness will not touch them and He did not promise to take away all of their cares and concerns. He did promise that He would be with them every step of the journey. Acknowledging the truth that He is truly with us when life hurts is key to surviving the fires and floods of life. Take careful note of MacDonald’s strengthening comments,

In tones of tender love, Jehovah assures His people that they need not … fear, because He who created, formed, redeemed, and called them will be with them in the flood and fire. The Holy One of Israel gives Egypt as their ransom, a promise that was fulfilled after the return of the Jews from captivity. –MacDonald, W. (1995).

Beloved, our great God knows YOU, and He fully understands exactly where you are. He has not lost you in the floodwaters or the fiery trials! Though life presently hurts beyond your ability to express, our Lord is not oblivious, nor has He ceased to care deeply. Remember, He created you with a definite purpose in mind, He redeemed you making you His very own—dislodging you from any obligations to sin, He has graciously provided for you and sustained you, and He has been diligent to protect you from all dangers—both seen and unseen. Therefore, in these perplexing times refuse to be overwhelmed with fears! Deny the devil a victory by declining the indulgence of doubts. Do not give up or in because you are weary and tired! Don't quit because you feel abandoned and alone. Why? You can continue because you are not alone! Yes, you may feel alone, but you are not actually alone! Our Lord said, "I will be with thee". Again the God who cannot lie said, “I will be with thee” (Isa. 42:3). Therefore He is indeed with you through the fires and the floods! Mark yourself by pure wisdom because you consciously chose to trust this promise from an honest God! Believe Him now. Don’t give up because you are afraid, weary, gun-shy, or feel alone!

Praying for Others I

Praying for Others I

1 Tim. 2:1-8

Prayer is designed to be a relationship building tool; one way of involvement with others in a most meaningful exercise. Praying for others allows us to transport their needs and interests to the throne of God. Such intercessory prayer will positively affect the lives of the people we faithfully pray for, and our very own hearts and attitudes will be gracefully influenced, adjusted, and corrected as well. Through the exercise of intercessory prayer, we will also experience the peace, and quietness God promised.   

We Live in a World That Is Grossly Preoccupied with Special and Unique Interests. On the national and international levels, various special interest groups push for public acceptance of their particular agenda (Wiersbe). The same attitudes are prevalent on the local level where again the typical individual cares about their lane, stuff, project, or benefit. The “what’s in it for me” mind-set is at epidemic levels with the frightful potential of infecting every aspect of our society. This unfavorably translates into people’s concerns for their life, their families, their jobs, their hobbies, and perhaps their favorite sports team. Unfortunately, even Christians are so caught up in their local church they have no vision for planting new ones. Other Believers are exclusively focused on a singular department or area of ministry within their church (Wiersbe). These folks never give the others a second thought!

The Lord Wants Us to Have a General, but Sincere Concern for the Interests of Fellow Christians. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philip. 2:4). Yes, this is part of good stewardship over areas and obligations committed to us, but Paul cautions us. We are warned to refrain from viewing our personal activities and ministries as our only focal point in life. Becoming too narrowly preoccupied with our own things can cause conflicts and other relational problems (James 4:1-3). Instead, God desires for us to have a serious and caring involvement in some of the interests of others. One way this transpires is by taking our eyes off ourselves and our concerns far more frequently. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy encouraging him and the church at Ephesus to do just this very thing through the ministry of prayer. How can we start a personal prayer ministry focused on others?

I.                   Adopt a Ministry of Praying for Others (1Tim 2:1).

Look again at Paul’s counsel in 1 Tim 2:1, I exhort [strong urgent encouragement] therefore, that, first of all [main priority], supplications, prayers…. Immediately we are impressed with the “urgency” and “priority” placed on prayer in the Worship of the assembly, as many others have observed.

A.     Make Prayer a High Priority.

1.      Prayer Should Be A Top Priority In Our Lives And Ministries (2:1a).

a.                  Paul placed primary importance on prayer; thus he addressed this issue first of all.

b.                  1 Tim 2:1, I exhort [strong urgent encouragement] therefore, that, first of all [main priority], supplications [earnest pleadings for needs], prayers [general requests–public or private], intercessions [confident conversation with God and requests for others], and giving of thanks [pouring out growing measures of gratitude to God], be made for all men;

c.                   You must schedule a time to pray for others and discipline yourself to do it.

i.         Designate a time. It could be at mid-day or on odd days of the week in the mornings. Remember it takes 21 to 40 days to establish a habit. Schedule it in!

ii.       Getting Prayer Lists From Newspaper

Bruce Johnson tells a story revealing his grandmother’s prayer priorities. “My grandmother had prayed first thing in the morning ever since she was a girl. But recently she has been reading the newspaper first, so I asked if prayer had become less important to her.
“Oh, no,” she said, “I’m just looking to see what I should pray about.”—Bruce C. Johnson

iii.      Use a prayer list to remind yourself of prayer requests you have been given.

a.       Pray for your spouse and family (spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, vocationally, ministerially, and physically).

b.      Pray for your ministry for the Lord—fruitfulness, influence.

c.       Pray for work challenges and interests.

d.      Pray over your Church Prayer List & the Pastor, his family, and the Missionaries, their families, their work.

d.                  Priority Claim In Invitations

Someone asked Emily Post, “What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House and has a previous engagement?” She answered, “An invitation to lunch or dinner at the White House is a command, and automatically cancels any other engagement.” The Christian should have a daily engagement—with priority claim over everything—to meet the Lord in the secret place. —Good News Broadcaster 

2.      Prayer is to be a High Priority in The Public Worship of the Church—“First Of All”.

a.                  Paul began with what he considered most important: prayer. What too often comes last in a church’s priorities should actually come first. —Walvoord

b.                  It is sad to see how prayer has lost importance in many churches.  One pastor said, “If I announce a banquet, people will come out of the woodwork to attend. But if I announce a prayer meeting, I’m lucky if the ushers show up!” (Wiersbe)

c.                   The late Peter Deyneka, Sr., founder of the Slavic Gospel Association, often said: “Much prayer, much power! No prayer, no power!” (Wiersbe)

3.      Prayer Should Be Viewed as an Essential Duty of Every Believer.

a.                  Intercessory prayer is our duty; when Paul says “I exhort,” he speaks by Divine command.

b.                  The Holy Spirit works in the church through prayer and the Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 3:20-21). The church that prays will have power and will make a lasting impact for Christ.

4. Praying for Others Reveals a Believer’s Maturity and Convictions.

a.                  When we implore God on behalf of others, we recognize Him as the Source of power, authority, provisions, mercy and grace. The appeals we make to our Heavenly Father imply our conviction that He is the Preserver and the Supporter from whom all assistance originates.

b.                  But prayer for others is also an act of Christian charity. We cannot voluntarily exercise this duty except in the spirit of godly love.

B.     Recognize the Grand Scope of Prayer (2:1b).

Note the expansive scope of prayer—we can come to God with requests, needs, and desires for ourselves and for others.

1.      Make Supplications—this is “offering a request for a felt need” says, Wiersbe.

2.      Offer Prayers—all kinds of reverent approaches to God; this emphasizes the sacredness of prayer. (Wiersbe)

                                                a.      How Praying Hyde Prayed

Dr. Wilbur Chapman wrote to a friend: I have learned some great lessons concerning prayer. At one of our missions in England the audience was exceedingly small; but I received a note saying that an American missionary was going to pray for God’s blessing down on our work. He was known as Praying Hyde. Almost instantly the tide turned. The hall became packed, and at my first invitation fifty men accepted Christ as their Saviour. As we were leaving I said, “Mr. Hyde, I want you to pray for me.”He came to my room, turned the key in the door, and dropped on his knees, and waited five minutes without a single syllable coming from his lips. I could hear my own heart thumping, and his beating. I felt hot tears running down my face. I knew I was with God. Then, with upturned face, while the tears were streaming down, he said, “O God.” Then for five minutes at least he was still again; and then, when he knew that he was talking with God there came from the depths of his heart such petitions for me as I had never heard before. I rose from my knees to know what real prayer was. We believe that prayer is mighty and we believe it as we never did before. —Gospel Herald

                                                b.      Reverence God in the Routine of Prayer. Though we offer prayers daily, we must insist on regarding it as a sacred exercise because we approach a mighty and awesome God! We can still come “boldly” yet respectfully unto the “throne of Grace” (Heb. 4:16).

3.      Practice Giving of thanks—this is definitely a part of worship in prayer.

                                                a.      But often we forget to give thanks. Naturally, we are unthankful; genuine gratitude must be cultivated under the Spirit’s training and through adherence to the Word.

                                                b.      Lesson From A Beggar

There was once a good king in Spain called Alfonso XII. Now it came to the ears of this king that the pages at his court forgot to ask God’s blessing on their daily meals, and he determined to rebuke them. He invited them to a banquet which they all attended. The table was spread with every kind of good thing, and the boys ate with evident relish; but none of them remembered to ask God’s blessing on the food.
During the feast a beggar entered, dirty and ill-clad. He seated himself at the royal table and ate and drank to his heart’s content. At first the pages were amazed, and they expected that the king would order him away. But Alfonso said never a word. When the beggar had finished he rose and left without a word of thanks. Then the boys could keep silence no longer. “What a despicably mean fellow!” they cried.
But the king silenced them, and in clear, calm tones he said, “Boys, bolder and more audacious than this beggar have you all been. Every day you sit down to a table supplied by the bounty of your Heavenly Father, yet you ask not His blessing nor express to Him your gratitude.”—James Hastings

                                                 c.      Insist that your prayers always include thanksgiving.

                                                d.      Read these brilliant passages on prayer and thankfulness to cultivate this value and deepen this conviction, (Eph. 1:15-16; Phil. 1:3-6; 4:6; Rom. 1:8-10).

                                                e.      Thank You Prayer Is Illegal

The Supreme Court in 1963 banned prayers in public schools. The following prayer by kindergarten children was declared illegal:We thank you for the flowers so sweet;We thank you for the food we eat;We thank you for the birds that sing;We thank you God for everything.George Washington’s final remarks to the nation in 1796 should be widely publicized. He said, “Of all the habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would men claim the tributes of patriotism who would work to destroy these great pillars of human happiness.” –Paul Lee Tan  

4.      Engage in Intercessions, which refers to “petitions.”

                                                a.      Intercessions describe appeals to God as our Superior for another person or group.

                                                b.      The basic meaning is “to draw near to a person and converse confidently with him.” (Wiersbe)

                                                                     i.            It suggests that we enjoy fellowship with God so that we may have confidence in Him as we pray.

                                                                   ii.            Nothing which equals the ability of intercessory prayer to dispel irritation, to excite compassion, to restrain envy and revenge, and to calm every kind of chaotic or destructive passion.

                                                 c.      The Bible clearly calls us to pray for others.

                                                                     i.            Ephes. 1:16, Ephes. 6:18-19; these passages advocate selfless involvement in the lives of others by means of prayer.

                                                                   ii.            Philip. 1:4, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

                                                d.      The Need for Diligent Intercessory Prayer is Great!

                                                                     i.            Since we live in a sinful world, which is separated from God, it is vital, for God’s righteous people to cry out to Him for the salvation of sinners who are racing at a brake-neck speed toward Hell.

                                                                   ii.            Since we live in a world of hurting people with weighty needs, we must excel and persevere in this ministry of intercession.

5.      A minister was praying at the bedside of a dying woman. "Wait a moment," she said, as he started to rise from his knees. "I want to pray for you." Very tenderly she prayed with her hands upon his head. "For ten years, ever since you became my pastor, I have offered that prayer for you every morning and night," she told him. The minister went away with tears in his eyes and a strange warmth in his heart. He had known that this woman was sweet-spirited and true, but he had never guessed that he had a place in her prayers day and night. "I wonder how many of my six hundred members pray for me," he asked himself. Let us remember others in our prayers even as we want others to remember us. (Source Unknown)