Prayer For All People

S. 1 Timothy 2:1-3

“… I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior…”

O. Paul urges, begs or pleads with his readers to pray for everyone; that is, to truly intercede for them-even those in positions of authority. God’s desire is that all people will be saved. The benefits of such prayer is not only then salvation for those that rule, but that there would then be provision of a good government.

Paul’s context was that the Roman government was oppressive to the Christian faith; yet he urges his readers to pray for the salvation of these leaders. While government is put in place by God (Romans 13) to keep people from just doing whatever they wanted to do (weather or not it hurt someone else)); there is no promise that Government will always be a “good government.” However praying for those in authority is the key to opening the door of salvation for these leaders which in turn is a key to having “good government.”

A. I will continue to pray/intercede each morning for people that I connect with. Further, I will ramp up my prayer efforts and continue to actively observe 21 days of prayer in August and January as well as remembering and interceding for those in position of authority.

P. Thank you Father for the instruction and encouragement to pray for all people. Give me wisdom, insight and a resolve to make this a priority each day. In Jesus’ name!

Enjoying the Freedom that We have IN Christ Jesus - April 1, 2019

S. 1 Corinthians 8:13 “So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live - for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.”

O. Paul was teaching about the freedom that believers have in Jesus Christ. However, Paul taught that believers need to exercise great care in how they enjoy their freedom. The situation that Paul was experiencing was that pagans (unbelievers) who once worshiped idols and offered various kinds of meat to these idols, were now coming to Christ but they did not know what to do about eating meat once offered to idols.

Paul teaches that if his eating meat causes one of these new believers to stumble, he will never eat meat again.

A. I will exercise care for those around me. If some I encounter have a problem with alcohol, I won’t drink a beer in front of them. If some have issues with politics, I will not share my political opinions with them. But what I will do, is do all I can to help others grow in their faith and walk with Jesus Christ.

P. Thank you Father for this word today. Give me strength and wisdom to live in the freedom you have given all of us and yet not cause others to stumble in their faith.

Open Doors or Closed Doors

S. Acts 16:6b - 7 “…because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the Province of Asia at that time…They headed north for the Province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.”

O. Paul and Silas tried to travel to two different locations but the Holy Spirit prevented them from doing so. Paul would shortly thereafter have a dream/vision to go to Macedonia where he would have tremendous ministry opportunities.

A. At times we may try something and the Lord does not “open the doors” or pave the way for us to do this. In these times, we must not quit but keep trying and as we continue to try other things, keep listening for the Lord to reveal His direction and to experience the doors He does open.

P. Thank you Father for desiring your children to have opportunities to serve and be fruitful. Help me to listen to your voice and to go where you clearly open the doors of serving for you… in Jesus’ name!