The Importance of Praying for Others

~ 1 Timothy 2:1-5 NLT

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity — the man Christ Jesus. 

1. Because God commanded us.

And that’s always reason enough. God rewards those who take Him at His word and trust Him enough to follow His plan.

2. Because praying for others moves our focus to others.

Many of the emotional problems we experience (not all, but many) are the result of too much focus on self. Adopting a ministry of praying for others moves our focus outside of our own issues to the issues of others. In fact, Paul wanted it to be a priority… “first of all…”

3. Because praying for others effectively changes things.

A key phrase in this passage is “so that.” Pray for people in authority so that we may lead a peaceful life. In other words, history is shaped by prayer and by unseen, supernatural forces responding to God’s instructions in response to our praying.

4. Because God wants everyone saved.

And His chief, chosen way of enlarging the kingdom is by our prayers. He wants everyone in His family, and prayer opens the door for that to happen.

5. Because Jesus prays for you.

Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.

~ Luke 22:31-32 NLT

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

~ Hebrews 7:25 NLT

Outrageous Part 4 Audio & Outline

Outrageous Grace Pt 4

Galatians 2:3 (NCV)

1. HOW PERFECTIONISM HARMS

• IT DEFEATS MY INITIATIVE

Eccl. 11:4 (LB)

• IT DAMAGES MY RELATIONSHIPS

Prov. 17:9 (LB)

•IT DESTROYS MY HAPPINESS

Eccl. 7:16 (NNAS)

II. HOW TO R.E.L.A.X. IN GOD'S GRACE

1. REALIZE Nobody’s Perfect

Ps. 119:96 (LB)

2. ENJOY God’s Unconditional Love

1 John 3:1 (LB) / Romans 8:31 (NIV)

3. LET GOD Handle Things

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) / Prov. 14:30 (LB)

4. ACT In Faith, not Fear

Eph. 2:8 (NIV) / Col. 2:6 (NIV)

5. EXCHANGE My Perfectionism for God’s Peace

Matt. 11:28-29 (Mes) / Heb. 12:15 (NCV)

Outrageous Part 3 Audio & Outline

Outrageous Part 3

Romans 5:15-20 The Message

Outrageous – Excessive, wildly exaggerated or improbable. exceeding the limits of what is usual, Being beyond all reason; extravagant, extraordinary, or immoderate

Spiritual Frustration we face when not understanding GRACE

(Romans 7:15 NLT) “I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.”

  •  It distorts your view of God.

  •  You feel increasingly hopeless & frustrated

  • You become discouraged & defensive.

  • You have no joy or happiness.

  • You begin to lose your life. 


     (Romans 6:12-14 NLT) “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God... Sin is no longer your master... Instead, you live under the freedom of Godʼs grace.”

1. Outrageous Grace gives your credit for something you didn’t do

                  

James 2:10 (NIV) – For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Romans 3:21-30  / I John 4:10 / Romans 4:17-19 / I Corinthians 1:30 

2. Outrageous that we can have PEACE with God

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:17 / Romans 8:1-4

Because of GRACE, God is not holding anything against anyone!

2 Corinthians 5:19

Outrageous Part 2 audio & outline

Outrageous Grace Part 2

Text: Psalms 145:8 - The Lord is gracious and compassionate,  slow to anger and rich in love.

Quid Pro Quo (Latin) = Something for SomethingMeans something for something –something received or given in return for something else. We humans learn quickly that we must WORK for what we get in our world. We earn wages for services we render. Quid Pro Quo. We earn acceptance and approval by deeds we perform. Quid Pro Quo. People like and love us if we help them, serve them, and make them feel or look good. Quid Pro Quo

Grace is the opposite of Quid Pro Quo. God is Grace. He gives and loves, without guarantee or prior evidence of any return on his investment.

1.  Outrageous Grace is completely unearned and undeserved. It’s not ours to earn, it’s God’s to give.

2.  Outrageous Grace is that God chose to clean up what we messed up

1.    Ephesians 2:7-9 NIV - in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.

2.    "Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God -- all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying for our sins -- making us friends of God." Rom. 5:11 (LB)

 Romans 11:6 NIV - 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

3. Outrageous Grace simply put: The bad get the best

a.    Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

b. I John 4:10 - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice (Payment) for our sins

c. The Call of Salvation is not “Come and get right so God will love you and bless you” The Call of Salvation is Come! You Are Loved! God loves imperfect people, moral misfits, and burned out believers!

a.    Old Hebrew term – to stoop, to bend, condescending favor. The late Bible Scholar Donald Barnhouse said it best, “Love that goes upward is worship, love that does outward is affection, love that stoops is grace”.

Grace – By U2

Grace

She takes the blame

She covers the shame

Removes the stain

It could be her name

Grace

It's a name for a girl

It's also a thought that changed the world

And when she walks on the street

You can hear the strings

Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk

Not on a ramp or on chalk

She's got the time to talk

She travels outside of karma

She travels outside of karma

When she goes to work

You can hear her strings

Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace, she carries a world on her hips

No champagne flute for her lips

No twirls or skips between her fingertips

She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt

What once was friction

What left a mark

No longer stings

Because grace makes beauty

Out of ugly things

Grace makes beauty out of ugly things