1 Timothy 2:1-3; Matthew 5:43-45
FATHER, HELP THEM TOO Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication
Introduction Concluding series Connecting with God We ve been looking at How to Pray We started with beginning prayer with a time of adoring God This helps put everything else in right perspective Then, we focused on the confession of our sins
Introduction Next, focused on giving thanks to God for freedom from the guilt/power of sin Then, we turned our focus to prayers of supplication, also called prayers of petition - when we come to God and ask Him for something We began with the need to pray for ourselves
Introduction Then, we introduced the reason for praying for others we need each other The Lord s Supper reminded us that Jesus died for all of us All of us were sinners and all of us still struggle So, we really do need each other to encourage and build up
Introduction Next, we looked at how we can effectively pray for others Knowing that others face the same struggles we do Others face the same attacks we do Others have the same desires we do It gives us a starting point with how to pray for them
1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be
1 Timothy 2:1-4 saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Introduction Last week, we looked at the mandate to pray for those in authority This is not an option for believers Understand all authority comes from God We can trust God s sovereignty Today, we will look at the even them We are called to pray for our enemies
Yes, pray for your enemies
Introduction How easy is this? Struggle for most Hard to pray for someone who hurts you, especially if done on purpose We would rather fulfill this by praying according to His Word in ways we deem more acceptable to us like
Psalm 3:7 "Rise up, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek."
Psalm 139:19-22 "O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil! Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD! And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies."
Introduction This makes more sense to us We might even be able to get on board with the idea of praying for our enemies if God will get em or smack em for us However, Jesus says it this way See Matthew 5
Matthew 5:43-45 You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for
Matthew 5:43-45 He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Why pray for our enemies? Therefore or First of all indicate the priority of prayers for all men including our enemies It is a command from God Therefore, it is not optional Jesus modeled it on the cross
Luke 23:44 Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.
Blessings of praying for our enemies It is beneficial to us Unforgiveness and a judgmental spirit hurts us more than it hurts them Really is the root of bitterness Keeps us from experiencing the forgiveness of God for our lives Jesus said it this way
Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Blessings of praying for our enemies It is beneficial to them Sometimes when people hurt others, they don t know how to rectify it Pride Past hurts Rationalization We trust the sovereignty of God to do what is best for them
Blessings of praying for our enemies It is beneficial to them God is able to touch their hearts in ways you and I can t He may bring someone else along to get their attention (i.e. Nathan and David) He may use other circumstances to help them realize how they hurt you Your prayers/actions may convict them
Romans 12:19-20 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.
Blessings of praying for our enemies It is beneficial to them If you do these things with the motivation to get them back, then it is neither good for you or them Praying, loving, and doing good is to help lead them to God in repentance so they can experience His forgiveness God knows what is best and will do it
Blessings of praying for our enemies It is beneficial to all of us that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence When we do what is right before God, it affects our relationships with others When others do what is right before God, it affects their relationships with others (including us)
For us Jesus calls us to love, serve and pray for others in the same way He has us This calling is for our relationships to ALL men believers, authorities, enemies Doing this, our trust in the sovereignty and grace of God will only grow We will better understand how God has dealt with each of us
For us How about you? Is there someone you need to pray for today? Is there someone you need to do good to today? Is there someone you need to show love to today? It is God s will to do this
Remember