#pray4oneanother – herbcotton.org

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 14:10 (NLT)

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 45:6-7 (NLT)

6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.

7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Job 40:1-5 (NLT)

1 Then the LORD said to Job,

2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

3 Then Job replied to the LORD,

4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.

5 I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”

The Gospel Message:

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Observation:

What is your motivation for serving the Lord? The Apostle Paul had a lofty goal. He aimed to please the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:9 (ESV)

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

In our selected passage for today, Paul states two spiritual motivations that drove Him to serve the Lord and His people. One was the power of the gospel, and the second was the commission of the Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You that we don’t have to serve You in our human strength because You have given us the gift of the Holy Spirit of God to provide us with the power for service. Father, we are so thankful for all of the members of the Body of Christ who faithfully serve You.

Romans 8:9 (NLT)

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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How Huge Are Your Burdens?

Introduction:

Does God ever allow us to experience burdens that are too heavy for us to bear? If so, how do you handle them?

Text:

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (ESV)

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Observation:

The Apostle Paul had an experience of having an affliction that was beyond his ability to handle.

2 Corinthians 1:8 (ESV)

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Paul did not give-up or worry about his affliction. Notice that Paul did not trust his feelings. Rather, he trusted in His God.

2 Corinthians 1:9-10 (ESV)

9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Additionally, Paul had friends who knew his God, and they prayed for him. God works for His children when we pray for one another.

2 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV)

11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Conclusion:

2 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)

10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful that in this dark and dangerous world that even though we are sometimes faced with burdens too large for us to bear; we have a God who loves and cares for His children.

Father, I pray that all who know You will not hesitate to cast our burdens upon You because there is no one who cares for us more than You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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Why We Need One Another?

Text:

Philippians 2:4 (HCSB)

4 Everyone should look out not ?only? for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Observation:

Why should you, who are Christ followers, look out for the interest of one another?

The Apostle Paul answers that question for the recipients of his letter, and for us today.

Philippians 2:5-9 (HCSB)

5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,

8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,

What are some ways that we can provide help for one another? As I think about what I can do I am informed and inspired by this encouragement from the Word.

Galatians 6:1-2 (HCSB)

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.

2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:5 (HCSB)

5 For each person will have to carry his own load.

Would you be willing to make it your aim today to look out for the interest of another person that the Lord brings into your pathway?

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, I ask that You would tune our hearts to love others in the same manner that You have loved us.

Father, lead me to some soul today, and love that soul through me. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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The Importance of Accepting and Forgiving One Another

Text:

Colossians 3:12-13 (HCSB)

12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also ?forgive?.

Observation:

In this series we have looked at these occurrences of one another in the Bible.

Pray for one another
Love one another
Accept one another
Forgive one another

If we are going to obey the new commandment that Jesus gives; to love one another, then we will have to learn how to forgive one another. Notice that the failure to forgive one another is a hinderance in getting our prayers answered.

Matthew 6:14-15 (HCSB)

14 “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.

15 But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.

God has done His part; He has forgiven you. How are you doing in your part; considering what the Apostle says in this portion of our focal passage.

Colossians 3:12 (NLT)

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for loving and forgiving us. Father, I ask that You bend our will until we are willing to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience as we, with the strength that You provide, show more love, acceptance, and forgiveness of one another.

Father, I pray a blessing over the hearers and doers of Your most holy and divine Word. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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The Power of Praying for One Another

Text:

Colossians 1:9-14 (HCSB)

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing ?to Him?, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.

11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.

14 We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.

Observation:

Today’s focal passage is a prayer for others. All that the Apostle Paul knew about these people was what he heard about them from their pastor.

What a wonderful thing it is to have other people that don’t even know you personally to care about you enough to pray for you.

Notice the content of Paul’s prayer. It is a prayer for the spiritual growth for the recipients of this letter.

Colossians 1:2 (HCSB)

2 To the saints in Christ at Colossae, ?who are? faithful brothers. Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Paul wrote this to the church at Ephesus about the topic of prayer.

Ephesians 6:18-19 (HCSB)

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful for the privilege we have to pray and the power of prayer. Father, I am so thankful that You are a God who hears and answers the prayers of Your people.

Father, I ask that You would stir our hearts to be more devoted to prayer, and to praying for the spiritual growth of one another. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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