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Honoured Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: US
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Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
Pursue God
"Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." - 2 Timothy 2:14-26
Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for the Bible. Lord, we ask that as Your Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, we would be quick to confess and turn away from it and instead turn to You. We welcome the Holy Spirit's work in us and take to heart these instructions that say not to have anything to do with foolish arguments because they produce quarrels. Lord Jesus, we ask You to bring unity to families, churches, the United States and the world. Lord Jesus, thank You for hearing us. We call out to You to work and have Your way in our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.
As we examine 2 Timothy 2:14-26, we see the Apostle Paul providing Timothy and all Christ-followers with direction to cultivate a passionate heart for God so that the sharing of our faith in Jesus is effective.
These verses encourage us to call out to the Lord to guide our hearts to be fixed upon Him so we might be attentive to live out our faith. Look now at a few essential points from this passage of Scripture:
Avoid Quarreling: Paul warns us to avoid unnecessary quarrels and disputes about words, which lead to ungodliness. These can be like a virus, spreading through communities and weakening the foundation of our beliefs. Lord Jesus, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You, so we might be effective in sharing the gospel. May our lives exemplify You in all we do. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Be a Vessel of Honor: Paul encourages us to turn away from evil to become vessels of honor, ready for God's use, purged of sin, and cleansed for His purposes. Heavenly Father, may Your Holy Spirit turn us from our sinful ways so we are set free to be used by You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Pursue Righteousness, Faith, Love, and Peace: Paul instructs us to flee youthful passions and prize these virtues with those who call on the Lord. Heavenly Father, may we seek You first as we pursue these virtues so that our lives will glorify You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
As you invite the Holy Spirit to cultivate a passion in your heart for God, let me encourage you with the following applications:
Commit Your Speech: Ask the Lord to help you avoid arguments that would hinder you from sharing the gospel and demonstrating the love of Christ to others.
Commit to Spiritual and Personal Growth: Spend time reading the Bible daily and praying so that you can stand firm on the solid foundation of God's truth in a world filled with changing ideas.
Commit to Holiness: Strive for personal holiness and purity. Turn from wickedness by seeking God's change in your heart and mind. I urge you to commit to being a vessel of honor.
Commit to Sharing the Story of God's Love: Ask the Lord to help you be intentional in sharing the love of Christ in your daily life and leading others to cultivate a passion for God.
Heavenly Father, as Your people, we ask You to help us carry out these principles so our lives shine Your love on others. May we live free of nitpicking and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace daily so we might see many others come to Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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