Wednesday 021225
Jesus, guide us tonight, as we search Your Word for answers that might help us with the questions that confront us each and every day.
Our lives are filled with so many unanswered questions that this world is unable to help us solve and answer them correctly.
It is only going to be with Your help and assistance, that will lead us in the direction You want us to go.
Give us the knowledge so we’ll recognize what You have put before our eyes, so we’ll be able to see what You are showing us.
We love You Jesus.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Romans 12:9; 1 Corinthians 13:4; John 13:34; Matthew 7:1-5; 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
We are going to continue down this maze that is in front of us. Just as we were concluding our last lesson, we began to touch on the following subject:
Is it wrong for us to say nothing if we are confronted by an act that we know is unaccepted by God.
This leaves the pages wide open for us.
Just think how many things you see in your average normal day that would fall into the category of being UNACCEPTED BY GOD.
We are told that we are to LOVE one another.
Romans 12:9 ‘…Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
1 Corinthians 13:4 ‘…Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
John 13:34 ‘…A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
We’re told we are not to judge one another for what they are doing.
Matthew 7
vs1 ‘…Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you…’
vs2 ‘…If you judge others, you will be judged the same way you judge them. God will treat you the same way you treat others…’
vs3 ‘…Why do you notice the small piece of dust that is in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood that is in your own…’
vs4 ‘…Why do you say to your friend, let me take that piece of dust out of your eye? Look at yourself first! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye…’
vs5 ‘…You are a hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to get the dust out of your friend’s eye…’ ERV (Easy-to-Read Version)
This has to be fitting, just for this situation. We have a loved one, a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a cousin, niece or nephew, it shouldn’t matter, a loved one, and we know they are doing something that God has not approved of, NOT something we disagree with, our church disagrees with or anything human.
God disagrees with.
Should we just sit back and keep quiet?
Should we change the word in the Bible so it will fit with what’s going on in front of us?
Should we turn our heads so we blindly cannot, see?
Should we confront the situation head on without worrying whether or not we damage our relationship?
NO to all of the above.
We should go to God in prayer and allow Him the Glory to solve the problem.
We’ve noticed the problem, but we also know we are unable to solve the problem … but our belief in God is enough to KNOW that He can handle the problem.
He is powerful enough to handle any problem that we ask Him to handle for us.
Is homosexuality wrong?
From last week we know that God has allowed this practice to continue because those individuals don’t show any respect to Him.
From this week we know we are to love one another.
We have been warned that we are not to judge someone if we think they are doing wrong.
We should go to God in prayer and ask that He would try and assist our loved one.
We should walk as close to the Word as we can. We shouldn’t flaunt the way we are or what we have attained because it can easily be taken away.
We should walk with the intention that someone might see us and consider our life, and our ways may be the correct choice for them.
We should allow God the ability to change someone’s heart.
Back in the early 70’s and 80’s there were protests at every abortion clinic throughout America.
Where in the Bible are we taught we should present ourselves like that?
Prayer is our only answer to solve such problems.
Do you know how many prayers are mentioned in the Bible (and how many were answered)?
1. There are 650 prayers listed in the Bible.
2. There are approximately 450 recorded answers to prayer in the Bible.
3. The first-time prayer is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 4:26.
4. The Bible records Jesus praying 25 different times during his earthly ministry.
5. In the Bible, Paul mentions prayer 41 times.
6. Although prayer can be done from any bodily position, the Bible lists five specific postures: Sitting, standing, kneeling, with one’s face to the ground, and with hands lifted up.
7. In Jesus model for how his disciples should pray, he provides five areas of focus: That God’s name be honored – the focus on his everlasting glory; that God’s kingdom come – the focus on his eternal will; that God’s provision is given – the focus on our present; that God’s forgiveness is granted – the focus on our past; that God’s deliverance will be provided – the focus on our future.
8. The Bible lists at least nine main types of prayer: prayer of faith, prayer of agreement, prayer of request, prayer of thanksgiving, prayer of worship, prayer of consecration, prayer of intercession, prayer of imprecation, and praying in the Spirit.
9. The word ‘Amen’ (which means ‘let it be,’ ‘so be it,’ ‘verily,’ ‘truly’) makes its first appearance in the Bible in Numbers 5:22. In that passage God commands it to be said by a person who is yielding to his examination.
When we pray for a loved one that is involved in homosexuality, we are seeking ‘intercessory prayer’ or ‘prayer of intersession.’
1 Timothy 2
vs1 ‘…So then, this is what I want to ask you first. Please pray for all people. Ask God to supply what they need. Ask God to help them. Thank God for what he does for everyone…’
vs2 ‘…Pray in that way for kings and for all rulers and people who have authority. Pray for God to help them, so that we may live our lives without trouble or danger. Then we can live in a good way that respects God and other people…’
vs3 ‘…It is good that we should pray like that. It makes God, our Saviour, happy…’
vs4 ‘…He wants to save all people. He wants everyone to know his message about what is true…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
Prayer is the easiest way for us to possibly conquer a problem that is too difficult for us alone to handle.
It’s not going to solve anything if we confront the problem head on. We will end up making enemies and if they’re family, family is family, we cannot just turn our backs on them.
A few weeks back I wrote a lesson on Christian music we can hear today on the radio.
My favorite song of all songs has to be ‘Talking to Jesus’ by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music.
Brandon Lake was blessed with the ability to sing a song about ‘Talking to Jesus.’ (PRAYING)
I remember I’d be at work, had my earbuds in and had the song on a constant play and over and over again all day, I listened to ‘Talking to Jesus.’
It is this communication that we have with God that keeps us in a relationship with Him constantly.
He is within us, and we too are also in Him. We are one.
I used to teach I’d keep Jesus on my shoulder so that if anything evil confronted me, He was right there ready to step in and defend me and then I heard that song ‘Talking to Jesus’ and it was so easy to keep Him always in front and in center as I listened to that song.
That’s what God is there for. We are one day going to praise and worship Him continuously and today, He is there to protect us from the evil that Satan thinks he can overtake us with but with Jesus there in front of everything, Satan knows better than to mess with my Savior, Jesus Christ.
I love all of you. Understand, there are going to be things that are going to happen in this world that we will be unable to answer.
But it is when we have Jesus with us, we are armed and ready for anything.
Keep your Bibles open and near enough so you can reach them at any time without much struggle. Download Bible apps onto your smartphones, on your tablets and computers. Keep Jesus with you at all times.
There are going to be questions that are going to arise, ALL the time but always remember, Jesus is there for you.
Depend on His strength to keep you safe all the time.
Keep your nose and your focus in the Word and allow God to take care of what is going on around you.
There is never an answer that cannot be answered when using your Bibles.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>