“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil. 2:13 NIV)

God works through people to get things done

He used Moses to deliver the Hebrew children from bondage. He used Noah to deliver His people and creatures from the great flood. He used Esther to save the Jewish people from destruction. And many more examples throughout the Bible.

The great commission

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20 NIV)

Be doers for God

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22-25 ESV)

Yes, this means you!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 ESV)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Col. 1:29 ESV)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Col. 3:23 NIV)

“God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" — Hudson Taylor

 "Here is the deal: God can't because you won't! God will move when you move!" - Dr. Steve Mason

"When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses!! Moses!” And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’” (Ex. 3:4 NIV)

God was in it

The world is filled with bushes of all kinds, but this one stood out from the others because God was in it. The burning bush continued to be on fire without being consumed by the flames. (Ex. 3:2).

Are you on fire for God?

When God is in a human life, that person can become “on fire for God”, so to speak.

God is looking for anyone willing to commit to Him

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (3 Chron. 16:9 NIV)

“For God does not show favoritism.” (Rom. 2:11 NIV)

“Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” (Acts 10:34 NIV).

“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Share with God's people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.” (Rom. 12:11-13 NIRV)

“Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.” - Charles Wesley

 "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.” (1 Tim. 2:1-2 NIV)

People behaving badly

It has been discouraging to watch the televised riots these days and observe the vitriol coming from unhappy people of political opinion behaving badly. A follower of Christ, however, should not be a party to this kind of behavior, and stirring up conflict, but should instead pray for the leadership, no matter who they are. “A perverse person stirs up conflict.” (Prov. 16:28 NIV)

How should followers of Christ behave?

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 NIV)

Show respect to everyone even if you disagree with them

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17 NIV)

Seek peace by praying to the Lord for it

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)

God can change hearts

“In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.” (Prov. 21:1 NIV)

“He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.” (Job 12:24-25 NIV)

“To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees." - Billy Graham

 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8 NIV)

 What is love?

• God is love - “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16 NIV)

• Attributes of love - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13:4-5 NIV)

The greatest love

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1 NIV)

Therefore….

•  Bear with one another in love - “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph. 4:2 NIV)
•  Love others because He loves you - “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NIV)
•  Be established in love - “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.” (Eph. 3:16-17 NIV)
•  Be devoted in love -  “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Rom. 12:10 NIV)

 What they said about God’s love

“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not” – C.S. Lewis

“The nature of God’s love is unchangeable. Ours alternates all to readily. If it is our habit to love God with our own affection we shall turn cold towards Him whenever we are unhappy.” – Watchman Nee

“When the time comes for you to die, you need not be afraid, because death cannot separate you from God’s love.” – Charles Spurgeon

 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NIV)

The above verse about praying according to God’s will. How do you do that? You look into God’s Word to find out what it says about the will of God. There are many passages of scripture on that topic. Here are just a few.

God’s will is for you to be thankful

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18 ESV)

God’s will is for you to be pure

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” (1 Thess. 4:3 ESV)

God's will is for you to be doing good

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:15 ESV)

God's will is for you to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)

God’s will is for you to walk wisely and to make the best use of the time

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” (Eph. 5:15-19 ESV)

God’s will is that all people will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:3-4 ESV)

 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44 NIV)

No exceptions

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12 ESV)

Jesus was hated first

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 25:18 ESV)

Rejoice that you share Christ's sufferings

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14 ESV)

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day." - Abraham Lincoln

 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 NIV)

“Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'” (John 6:35 ESV)

How to please God

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Heb. 11:6 ESV)

There’s joy and peace in believing

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 25:13 ESV)

 "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matt. 21:22 ESV)

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:11 NIV)

Pray humbly

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 NIV)

Check your motives

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3 NIV)

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jer. 29:12 NIV)

Pray at all times for all things

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13 NIV)

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden." - Corrie Ten Boom

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:26 NIV)

It is wonderful that we can talk to God who chooses to hear us!

We are made righteous because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:9). And, because of it, we can approach God boldly through the thing called prayer. (Heb. 4:16)

Prayer is having a conversation with God

“The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” (Prob. 15:29 NIV)

“The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.” (Prob. 15:8 NIV)

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16 NIV)

 "Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference." - Max Lucado