Prayers for God’s People: Strength to Love

Intro

Congrats to the search team and to Pastor Andrew and his family!

the Profile

the Process

the Pastor

Strength and Love are not opposites. I think that some people think of strength as power and love as a wimpy emotion.

The Scriptures don’t see them that way at all.

We are strongest when we give away what we have.

God will supply what we need so that we have excess to give away to others.

God answers prayer when we partner with him.

prayer is not getting God to do what you think needs to be done. It is listening as well as talking. It is hearing him speak to you of ways that you can partner with him and his amazing plans for you and others.

John 15:7 NIV

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 NIV

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

they will know you are Christians by your ________.

doctrine?

worship playlist?

list of do’s and don’ts?

branchline window sticker?

How will they know? How will they long for Christ?

because of your love.

1. Love one another... and everyone else

1 Thessalonians 4:9 NIV

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

2 Peter 1:7 NLT

7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

brotherly affection is love for one another. But there is a higher love. Love for everyone.

Jesus asked what good is it if we love each other. Even the pagans do that. But the real demonstration of the love of God within us is when we love those outside our normal relationships.

I’ve come to personalize this in a more practical way. I find it too theoretical to say that I love everyone. Because, honestly, everyone doesn’t come to my door or across my path. I’ve taken this phrase and made it love and anyone. Because that means that anyone who comes across my path should be someone who gets my love.

2. Be strengthened to live pure lives

It’s mid-winter. And I know how you feel, because I feel that way too. We’ve had enough below zero days. We’ve had enough snow. We’ve had enough of covid and being trapped indoors again.

We are running out of hope, endurance, and strength. But may I encourage you? March is only a little more than 5 weeks away. We can make it!!

But in times of bone-wearying seasons, we need some extra help from the Lord.

Matthew 11:28–29 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

A look at how God gave Strength to the Hebrews after the Exodus. 4 chapters from the Old Testament. Whew? Can we really do that? Of course we can.

A. Obey His Commands (Ex. 15:26)

Narrative: 3-days after the crossing of the red sea, they became thirsty.

Filthy water was all they could find.

Moses threw a piece of wood into the water and it was fit to drink.

Exodus 15:26 NIV

He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Psalm 119:52 NIV

I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.

Psalm 119:92–93 NIV

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

B. Pay Attention to your Physical Needs. (Ex. 16)

Exodus 16:11–12 NIV

The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”

We need regular diet and exercise. If we live indoors without exercise, we’ll diminish our capacity to fight off COVID-19 and other diseases.

C. Honor the Sabbath (Ex 16)

Exodus 16:27–30 NIV

Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” So the people rested on the seventh day.

Learn to rest and take a deep breath.

Isaiah 58:13–14 NIV

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

D. Develop People Around You (Ex 17)

Exodus 17:8–15 NIV

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.

Q: Who are those on your left and right side who can come alongside and encourage, lift you, and help you succeed?

In the darkness of isolated minds problems grow more ominous. Faithful friends open the windows of your soul and flood your inner rooms with light and air.

E. Let Others Share in the Work (Ex 18)

(Learn from your in-laws)

Exodus 18:15–23 NIV

Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Pastors don’t do the work of ministry…they prepare others to do it.

Ephesians 4:11–12 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Conclusion

Obedience

Physical needs

Sabbath Rest

Develop Friendships

Share the Work