Living For Jesus
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Read Philippians 1:19-30
Continuing beyond Paul’s gratefulness despite the trials, we come to the core of his convictions: Living for Jesus.
He was not concerned with circumstances, only that Christ would be honored and glorified through his efforts.
The Positivity Of Prayer
The Positivity Of Prayer
In verses 19-20, Paul expressed his confidence that he would be delivered from his present state by their prayers and the Spirit.
Was his confidence misplaced?
We have all seen scenarios where praying for the well-being of someone else doesn’t end up the way we desired it.
No doubt, Paul believed as James wrote in his epistle:
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
We have also seen in the Old Testament examples of God’s people praying and His answering accordingly.
Hannah’s prayer for a son (1 Samuel 1:9-20)
Solomon’s prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3:3-9)
Elijah’s prayer for no rain and for fire from heaven (1 Kings 17 & 18; cf James 5:17)
Hezekiah’s prayer for life (2 Kings 20:1-6)
While we cannot determine which of prayers effectively “changes” God’s mind, we can know for sure that He is hearing and answering according to His perfect will.
It is for our good, the good of others, and God’s glory that prayer is answered
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
There is nothing more encouraging to those in ministry than to know that fellow believers are petitioning on their behalf before the throne of heaven.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
John MacArthur
The Word of God, the prayers of the saints, and the power of the Holy Spirit always work together for the benefit of the servants of God.
The Spirit of God is the source of our power and the producer of fruit in the life of the believer (Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-23).
Paul was banking on the fact that the Spirit would work in his life through the prayers of the people on his behalf.
Paul was not ashamed to suffer, or even die, as long as Christ was honored.
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
