“The Shepherd’s Crook” March 23, 2014 Sherwin Christian Church PO Box 123 6155 NW Sandpiper Lane Columbus, Kansas 66725 “In Touch” by Charles Stanley “A Life-Changing Prayer” Scripture: Colossians 1:7-14 I. Introduction: How do you respond when people ask you to pray for them? Do you know how to lift them up before the Lord? In the first chapter of Colossians, the apostle Paul has given us a powerful model for intercession. We can have confidence that God will answer this life-changing biblical prayer. II. Message A. Power: The prayer in Colossians 1:7-14 has the power to rescue someone from all kinds of difficulty, hardship, and destruction. One couple shared that they began praying it years ago for their small children. Today, all their children and grandchildren walk in the ways of the Lord. B. Content: Ask God that the person would . . . 1. “Be filled with the knowledge of His will” (v. 9). Every believer needs to know the Lord’s specific plans for his or her life. As a parent, give your children freedom to follow their heavenly Father’s best for their lives. 2. “In all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (v. 9). Ask God to help them walk in a manner worthy of Christ’s name. As believers, our conversation, character, and conduct should reveal obedience to God. 3. “Bearing fruit in every good work” (v. 10). Christians should have an eternal influence on our world. As we obey God, He makes our lives fruitful. 4. “Increasing in the knowledge of God” (v. 10). A believer should grow closer and closer to the Lord over time. On a practical level, that means we should study the Bible, apply what we learn, and observe what happens when we obey or disobey God. 5. “Strengthened with all power” (v. 11). Pray that the other person will experience the power of God in his or her daily life. The Lord loves it when we realize our helplessness and cry out for His supernatural strength. 6. “Joyously giving thanks to the Father” (vv. 11-12). This request has to do with the person’s attitude. God wants us to meet life with thankfulness, trusting Him in the midst of hardship. He brings good out of suffering and deepens our character. C. Results: Praying biblically yields fruit. While Dr. Stanley was on an In Touch cruise, he met a godly 11-year-old who prayed one of the most powerful scriptural prayers he had ever heard from a child. Because her parents cultivated an atmosphere that encouraged her to seek the Lord, she’s already making an impact. III. Conclusion: Colossians 1 gives us a model that we can pray for anyone, no matter how young or old a person is. Commit yourself to intercede consistently for others, and believe that God will work in their lives. Copyright 2014 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only. “Up Words” by Max Lucado “An Advocate” Not all guilt is bad. God uses appropriate doses of guilt to awaken us to sin! God’s guilt brings enough regret to change us! Satan’s guilt, on the other hand, brings enough regret to enslave us. Don’t let Satan lock his shackles on you! Colossians 3:3 reminds us, “your life is hidden with Christ in God.” When God looks at you, he sees Jesus first. In the Chinese language the word for “righteousness” is a combination of two characters, the figure of a lamb and a person. The lamb is on top, covering the person. Whenever God looks down at you, this is what he sees: The perfect Lamb of God covering you. So, do you trust your Advocate, Jesus, or do you trust your Accuser—Satan? Give no heed to Satan’s voice! You have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous! (I John 2:1). From GRACE “Notable Quotes” “Become a worry-slapper. Treat frets like mosquitoes. Do you procrastinate when a bloodsucking bug lights on your skin? Ill take care of it in a moment. Of course you dont! You give the critter the slap it deserves. Be equally decisive with anxiety”. (Max Lucado) “I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Lets face it, friends make life a lot more fun”. (Charles R. Swindoll) “Prayer is life’s greatest time saver”. (Charles Stanley)
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 17:21:29 +0000
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