I left off speaking about how we are to be bearers of – fruit of – spirit, its our Lords desire that we develop – fruit of – Spirit in our lives and that those fruits grow bountifully

each day it should be our desire because of our love for – Lord, that – joy, peace, meekness, temperance, and all – other fruits are becoming a part of our character & people around us are seeing that we are different because of our relationship with Jesus Christ

Jn. 15, – Lord is speaking to believers and in vs:12 he tells us to love one another, however, – only way we can ever love other believers is by us first loving – Lord

how many of you have ever attended a church and you never felt any Christian love at all?

Or you attended a church where there was tension, gossip, tearing each other or – pastor down?

Lets be clear, – Holy Spirit is not at work in those kind of churches

you can have bible teaching going on and there will still be those who are rejecting Gods commandment to love each other

people talk about loving other believers, but to love as God loves us, is to put love on a very high plane, that many are not achieving today,  only – Holy Spirit can produce that kind of love in our hearts & if we are not being cleansed by – Word of God, we will not love each other

vs;13

We can absolutely know if – Spirit of God is producing – love of God in our hearts, he has a test for us

Vs;14

The Christian life is not a hit or miss proposition, to truly be a child of God whose Spirit is working in our hearts, we have to be actively following his instructions, and his instructions are absolutely clear, if you follow his instructions, you will bear fruit, and – love of God will flow out of our hearts

he laid his life down for us & he asks us to do one simple thing, Obey Him which proves our love for him

Lets get right down to it, if you love someone, you will do whatever you can for them, be it your spouse, child or God, if you don’t love them, you won’t lift a finger for them

vs; 15-16

Jesus calls us his friends when we follow his instructions, he opens his heart up to us and we can know him as he reveals himself to us

a true friend is someone we can go to and tell them anything and they’ll understand and give us help and encouragement

and thats what Jesus does, he chose us, he went to – cross so that he could have a relationship with us

how many times have you & I gotten so discouraged that all we could do is go and pour our hearts out to – Lord?

Yrs & yrs ago there was a preacher who had been a converted chicken thief, he loved to steal chickens

one night after preaching he was walking home when he heard some chickens – temptation was overpowering to go & steal a chicken, but he stopped & poured out his heart to God and said “Lord your property is in danger, and I’m not talking about them chickens!!”

its a wonderful thing that Jesus calls us his friends and we can call upon him anytime with any need, remember its – Lords desire that we produce fruit & we can’t do that if we’re not walking each day with – Lord

Vs17

Jesus really wants to drive this home into our hearts, its one of – most important things about – Christian life, we are commanded to love each other

If – Lord saw – need to re-emphasize this commandment, then why do Christians pay such little attention to it?

Because as a free society, we have become accustomed to not obey anyone who gives us commandments

Sad fact is; there are many who say their a Christian, but they have no love in their heart for Jesus Christ

Why is this so important to – Lord, why does he want us to have such a deep personal love for himself & for other believers?

Vs: 18-19

Because he knows there is another relationship that we have to deal with and we’re going to need – love of other believers

what happens when you get saved? When you become a child of God?

• world (unsaved) are going to hate you

if – word of God is true, then how can someone who says they are saved, have someone who is unsaved as their best friend?

How can someone who says their saved, marry someone who is not?

Bible says that we are not to be unequally yoked, – saved & unsaved cannot be connected in any personal way except when we testify to them about – gospel

For someone who is saved to be having a relationship with someone who is unsaved

Theres at least 3 things that can be taking place:

1. - saved person is in rebellion & has hardened their heart so severely against – voice of God that they continue in their relationship with – unsaved

2. they have justified themselves by saying their doing – work of – Lord by befriending them in order to win them to Christ,

   which would still be disobedience to Gods Word, we are not to be unequally yoked

3. they were never really saved

We sometimes wonder how can someone who says they are saved marry an unsaved person and be completely happy and stay married, in all probability, they were never saved to begin with

Jesus said – unsaved will hate you, because they hated him first, you will never be accepted by – unsaved

What about these preachers on TV who are so popular with – world?

First of all, a Christians popularity is an indication of how they are representing Christ to – world

I don’t believe a Christian can be popular with – unsaved

2^nd no Christian has a right to be more popular than Jesus, if someone is, then they are probably guilty of compromising with – world

The world will love you, if your a part of – world, but they will hate you if you love Jesus, because – world hates him

this is difficult especially for young people who want to be popular & for Christian parents to push their kids to be popular may be guilty of sin

Kids need to be told if your a child of God, you will not be popular, you will be hated for being a child of God

This is a tough area especially for Moms who will run their kids everywhere to be involved with some worldly activity because they want their kids not to be different from others

fact is, if their saved, their already different, and as a Christian, we should embrace that, we are to be in – world but not of it

Just look at a few things that – unsaved have said about Christians

FARRAKHAN’S WILD NEW CLAIMS: JESUS WAS A BLACK MUSLIM & ELIJAH WOULD BE THE ‘N***ER AT THE DOOR’ (PLUS THE BIBLE WAS WRONG ABOUT CAIN!)

 Atheist put up a sign that says Jesus is a myth

ATHEISTS OFFER $1,500 REWARD AFTER ‘JESUS CHRIST IS A MYTH’ SIGN REPORTEDLY STOLEN FROM IL PARK

ATHEISTS POST ‘NOBODY DIED FOR Your sins in Il. sign

Gr. Rapids, Sign Gay christians? Yes its possible

Christians responsible for racial hatred in America,

Christians are homophobic, women hating mindless robots

And we could go on & on of all – despicable things that are being said about us today

If – world hates us, then why is there so much hatred and problems with-in – church?

Unfortunately, we have a lot of people attending churches who are not saved and so if – pastor and – other believers who are standing on – truth of Gods Word, you will see ungodly things take place with-in churches because of those who are unsaved

20-22

theres many today who think their greater than Jesus, they think they have all – answers to solve everyones problems, they would not ever bow before God and seek his wisdom

we’re not greater than our Lord, we are to keep giving out – Word of God and if your faithful to – Lord, you will experience persecution

those who persecute you have 2 problems

1. they don’t know – Father
2. they don’t want their sins revealed

   Jesus turned on – light of – gospel on – hearts of sinful man & when someone turns on a light something happens

what do rats, cockroaches, & snakes do when you turn on a light?

They take off, they don’t want to be seen

sinful man does – same thing, they don’t want their sin seen, thats why they hate Jesus and those who are his children

vs;23

this is an important verse, because if you listen to most people today, almost everyone loves God

we have to get this in our heads, – world don’t hate their IDEA of God, some vague or allusive kind of god out yonder

but they do indeed hate Jesus & since Jesus and God his Father are one, they hate – God of Abraham, Jacob and Issac, our God

If you want to know if someone is saved? Just ask them about their relationship & attitude toward Jesus

24-25

its been said, that God created – world in his image and today, man is creating God in their image, thats – kind of God – world wants, a false god who is running – universe in a way that agrees with their ideas

a god that blesses homosexuality, shacking up together in sin, perversion and immorality, is their kind of god

but – true God they hate without a cause, God has never done anything against man, except provide a way to heaven  but – way he provides is what they hate and reject

26-27

• HS bears witness of Christ, & if – Lord Jesus is real to you, its because of – HS work in your heart

I have nothing but love for – Lord Jesus which is proof of – work and witness of Gods Spirit

and we all have people around us that we’re concerned for and pray for that – HS will continue to move in their hearts with conviction

so that they too can fall in love with – one and only true God

 

 

Have you ever gone on a walk with someone and they begin to tell you things that you didn’t know? And as you walk along you begin to learn some new truths?

Disciples had many opportunities to walk with – Lord while he taught them new truths & one of those times was in – valley of Kidron just on – west side of Mt. Of Olives

as they walked through a vineyard – Lord used it as a way to teach new truths about him and his father & it was strange using a vine to speak about relationships

Jn 15:1

word true = genuine & – lord begins by saying he’s – genuine vine – real deal

today it seems like we question everything, we almost have to see it or touch it before we will believe it because there has been so much counterfeit

now why would he tell his disciples that he is – real vine?

Jewish nation had been taught from – OT & everything they thought of was governed by those beliefs & they had been taught that their religion was – vine that rooted them in God

Is 5: 1-7

Now Jesus turns what they have been taught & believe upside down on its head

now they are not to believe that their nation is – genuine vine, their identification with their nation and with their Jewish religion is not – essential thing

now they are to be related to Jesus Christ, they are to be identified with him

today, as soon as you are in Christ after being saved, we are baptized by – Holy Spirit, we are then identified with Jesus Christ

We then are immersed in water, which is baptism to be identified with Christ publicly

when we get saved, we become a branch that must be joined with – vine, its where we get our nourishment, and as we grow, we produce fruit its God – Father who takes care of – branches

vs;2

every branch “in me” = those who are saved, either your in Christ & on your way to heaven, or your not and on your way to hell, you can’t drive in – median

some people believe these verses are speaking about salvation & it is if your unsaved, but these verses are also speaking to – saved, and they will teach that you can lose your salvation

but what is – topic that Jesus is discussing here? Fruit, bearing fruit

And those who are bearing fruit – Lord trims that branch so that you can produce more fruit or in simpler terms

if your faithfully working for – Lord and you see God blessing you, he will use you even more & you’ll bear even get more blessings

But if your doing nothing for – Lord he’ll take away your ability to bear any fruit

in other words, he’ll not use you to touch other peoples lives, or to even receive blessings from him in your own life

vs;6

well this sounds like you’ll lose your salvation, no, remember its talking about fruit bearing

what is – fruit that its speaking about, – fruit of – Spirit, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness & temperance

Do you ever wonder why you meet so many mean spirited, impatient snooty believers?

Because they bear no fruit, why don’t they?

Vs:7

they don’t abide in Christ, = they don’t have an obedient lifestyle to – Lord & their prayers go unanswered

sometimes a believer is so far away from – Lord that he is cast into – fire and burned = God brings chastisement into their life, physical problems & perhaps even death if they refuse to repent

vs;8

what really fires up God to really want to pour out his blessings on us is when we bear fruit

we get stagnant in our relationship with God and we sometimes forget how much he wants to be in our lives and bless us

we get so caught up in our families, or things of this world, that we take our eyes off of – Lord and we lose fellowship with – Lord

we also lose fellowship with our fellow believers and when these 2 things take place it effects a third thing

vs;11

if you have much fruit, of – Spirit, your going to know what it is to have joy in your life

but I want you to understand something extremely important, if you are bearing much fruit, does that mean you will never hit a rough spot in your life?

No, we have to remember, we are sinful beings, who have been forgivened but we will always have to deal with sin

But God does something for us, go back to vs:2

every branch that beareth fruit, he purges, purges = to cleanse

if your developing – fruit of – Spirit in your everyday life, sin still creeps up & so at times, God will take us through a time of cleansing

he will bring us into situations that will hurt us, or bring us suffering in order to teach us new truths about him and about ourselves

& if we will go through those times of cleansing and lean on – Lord that much more, we will produce even more fruit in our lives

but what we tend to do when we are being cleansed, we start to think that we’re being chastised, chastisement comes because of willful sin

we have to keep chastisement & cleansing in right perspective, cleansing comes when your bearing fruit & God wants more of you to produce even greater fruit

vs;3

purging is accomplished through – Word of God & through that cleansing your made a vessel of honor to – Lord

you’ve all heard of our modern day miracle workers that all turn out to be false

if you really want a modern day miracle in your life, right here it is, get into – Word of God & let it cleanse you to be able to bear much fruit

do you know who are – most dangerous people in todays church are?

Those who refuse to be cleansed by – Word of God

their like little active termites in – church walls, they chew on Gods people until theres no life in them, & then they crush – church

if you want a joy filled church? Then everyone of us need to be in Gods Word daily being cleansed, otherwise, – walls are going to come in

vs;4  abide in me = constant communion with Jesus

theres a story told by one of Spurgeons deacons who said he saw Spurgeon walking down – road one day & he stopped, took off his hat & prayed right there on – street

& so he asked him about it later that week & Spurgeon said, that a cloud had come between him & – Lord & he wanted to remove it immediately & he had stopped to confess his sinful thought

that is abiding in Christ

how do we abide in Christ?

Vs;10

vs;14

we sing what a friend we have in Jesus & theres not a friend like – lowly Jesus

folks theres no such thing as a lowly Jesus, he’s our Savior who sits on – right hand of God in power & majesty

calling Jesus my friend is sentimental and really wrong, I cannot bring God down to my level

he has a right to call me his friend but only on one basis, if I keep his commandments, but this is what he says to me, he is not my friend, he is my God, my Lord, my redeemer

we are not on a one to one level like buddies

we don’t need all of this sentimental trash in todays church, what we need is some honest soul searching

are we doing what God commands us to do or not? Thats what we ought to be searching

there are pastors today, that will do every trick in – book at – end of every service to get people to – front of – church to cry and carry on to make it look like God is doing something great

I’ll never do that to any of you here ever, God working in our hearts takes honesty, & intelligent openness with God between your heart & him

vs; 9

abiding in Christ is a constant day to day relationship with him

many think they can go to church on Sunday and be all holy, fool everyone that their something their not and live like – devil – rest of – week

we cannot play at being a Christian, we have to live as a believer who wakes up each day and does their best to do what God would have them to do and live as God would have you live each day

vs;5

because we have free will, we can choose to break fellowship with God anytime we want by allowing sin into our lives and by stepping out of Gods will

but you’ll notice, God wants to bear much fruit in you, but you have to provide – soil for him to plow

if you want a heart of rock, then God will not be able to plow

if you want to have weedy soil. – fruit will not produce much

but one thing for sure, if we don’t provide God – good soil for him to farm in, you won’t be able to do anything for – Lord, its our choice each day

Lets go back to vs: 11,  did you know that God wants his children to have fun?

And if you put all of these verses together that we have covered, you begin to realize that if we will do what God has asked us to do, we will have joy in our lives

to be honest with you, these serious minded Christians who have no humor in their lives

and who walk around with a bible under their arms pointing out what everyone does wrong scare me to death

God says that a fruit bearing Christian will be joy filled, that means having fun, being able to laugh & clown around

Sal & I pick on each other & we laugh together and at each other

everytime we have gotten together as a church family, there has been a lot of laughter and good times

do you realize, that there are those who, if they were to come into this church and see how we act at times, would walk out in disgust?

All I can say is, they need some fruit Amen!!

vs; 15-16

God wants nothing more than to reveal himself to us, and he wants us to open up our hearts to him

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theres a sign that has made national news here in Grand Rapids Mi. that says “gay Christian? Yes”,  according to these folks, you can be gay and Christian. I guess if you say it over and over again, sooner or later you can believe what you say and legitimize it.

But no matter how many times you try to convince yourself that you can be,  just like Dorthy no matter how many times she kicked her heels together, she was still in Kansas and gays are still in sin and rebellion against Gods Word.

I can show you what scripture says, but it won’t convince them, I had a gay man give me a book by a certain Episcopal Bishop that rewrote Gods Word and legitimized homosexuality. It didn’t convince me either, sin is sin and the Word of God is still true.

Same as a man who is married and has an affair, he tries to legitimize it by blaming his wife who wouldn’t give him his needs or then says, God allowed men to have more than one wife in the bible. God said one man for one woman for one lifetime and those who sinned and had more than one wife, paid the consequences.

Of course another way to legitimize the sin of homosexuality is by saying everyone who disagrees are homophobic and then get some religion and some ungodly church to agree with you. Still doesn’t change what God said.

Religion will always take you AWAY from God, not to him, some church that rejects the Word of God and salvation through Christ and faith alone will always agree with sinful lifestyles.

True salvation that leads one to heaven is in Christ, who will change a person to be holy and be righteous (like Jesus) it will not allow you to continue in a lifestyle that is condemned. Same is true of drinking, cussing, adultery, living with someone outside of marriage, all of these lifestyles will stop, if that person is truly in Jesus Christ.

There is no other way to heaven except by  faith in Christ. Be a church person, be a religious person, and end up in hell.

The only way to avoid hell is to accept Jesus Christ, to leave a lifestyle of sin and live a life that honors our Lord

Lst Sun night we spoke about religion, and according to its definition, religion is man seeking to find God

but according to Ro. 3 there is not one person who will seek to find God, God has always sought after man,

and its has always been God who has convicted man for – need of a Savior which he provided through his Son

When you examine how religion in America came about you realize that it has changed greatly over – yrs because religion will always take you away from God, not to him so it changes continually

after – Jews rejected Christ, – early church began in homes, it was a simple beginnings of – church, simple faith, simple to believe and simple to follow and grace abounded with each other & – hand of God was on them

and this simple faith must have been how God really intended his church to live, because it spread like wild fire

but from – homes, church buildings were established yrs later, and then it began to deteriorate into religions

each religion found things in scripture that they built their doctrine around but sadly many were leaving Christ out & – gospel

Catholicism began but then – Lutherans came out of them when they rejected – Catholics teaching of how one gets to heaven & so they began their own religion

but then – Anabaptist came out of – Lutheran religion who had also detoured how how one gets to heaven, Lutherans taught that God only selects certain people for heaven & had rejected free will

from – Anabaptist – Baptist began because they had a beef with – Anabaptist

but then – Baptist became liberal in their teaching & so – fundamentalist came out of – Baptist & were extremely strict with many rules and regulations to – bible

they believe in a strict separation from – things of – world,

but do they live what they preach?

fundamentalist say they are – ones with – correct doctrine and teachings, but are they?

In a recent study between – fundamentalist & – unsaved, there was hardly any

difference in – lifestyles of these two groups of people

divorce among fundamentalist is around 40% Unsaved 53%

those who watch R rated movies are about – same

those who watch x-rated some who claim to be fundamentalist say its a matter of personal preference

those who drink are about – same

so when you really get down to it, theres not much difference between those who claim to be fundamentalist and those who claim no faith at all

why is there very little separation between those who say they love Jesus and those who have no use for Jesus?

Perhaps we’ve forgotten why Jesus came, died & rose again

Lk 10: 38-42

you’ll remember – church began with us sitting at – feet of Jesus and learning about him just as Mary did in her home

what started in – home, will probably end back up in – home by – time, Jesus returns for his church

but at – feet of Jesus, they learned who he was, – Son of God

and today, we need to go back and be reminded of who Jesus is

Mk 15: 37-39

Question is: why would this centurion, a soldier who was in charge of – crucifixion of Jesus say this was – Son of God?

I believe this soldier became one of – first members of Gods family that day

according to history, Caesar had proclaimed himself as god, his Son Caesar Augustus was considered – son of god who took power about a year before Jesus’s death

Roman citizens believed & followed – religion of Caesar & we wonder how can people do this?

Just look around us, there are people in power today who have thousands who will follow them and do their bidding, blindly

& believe that they are – answer to all of their problems?

how many people followed Jim Jones to their death?

This soldier stood at – foot of – cross, in full agreement that Jesus was nothing more than a criminal who proclaimed himself to be God and was sentenced to die

& Caesar Augustus was – only god

But Jesus said something that he couldn’t believe and then did something that no man could ever do

he verbally spoke his spirit out of his body, his organs didn’t quit, ending his life

Jesus said I lay down my life, no man could do that, only God

At that moment – soldier knew that – god he had believed in, was false, and he realized something else

that he could sleep peacefully that night, knowing he didn’t kill Jesus, no man could have ever killed him

that day, a soldier who had – job of killing a common criminal, looked into his and met – Savior & his life was never – same

his body was laid into a tomb, but 3 days later, what Jesus spoke out of his earthly body, he reached down & picked it up again

& literally thousands of peoples lives were radically and forever changed as they accepted – risen from – dead Savior

Everytime I visit this story of – death, burial & resurrection of Christ it always amazes me of how many people left their religion and everything else to follow & worship Jesus

but why? What is it about Jesus that causes people to want to change?

Is. 6

why would people of – early church time be willing to go to their deaths as many did instead of renouncing their faith in Jesus Christ?

Did they have something that todays Christian seems to be missing?

Vs;1

I believe what they had back then and what we seem to be missing is, they had a correct view of Gods holiness, that we seem to be missing

Many of those people who received Christ as Savior after his resurrection, we’re probably some of – same ones that had called for his death

But when they finally put all of his miracles together and how he could rise – dead back to life, they realized someone who could do that could also raise himself from – dead, Jesus was God

What they understood was – same thing that soldier understood, God offered them and us salvation

why has todays Christian become so non-nonchalant about his salvation, so uncommitted to – church, not willing to die for their faith as – early Christians were?

Its because we no longer have a correct view of a Holy God sitting upon his throne

& its because we no longer have a correct view of what Gods Son did for us on that cross, he’s our Savior, but what did he save us from? SIN

and because we no longer have a correct view of ourselves, we’re sinners, through and through, but we think we’re good little people

John Bunyan realized one day what a great sinner he was & he had no righteousness of his own

he said God showed him what God saw when he looked at John Bunyan and he no longer confessed that he was a sinner, but that he was sin from his head to his toes

he wrestled with – problem of how could he ever stand in Gods presence even when his sins were forgivened

theres nothing good in me, theres no righteousness in me, nothing that is desirable about me for God to want

One day as John Bunyan was walking through a corn field asking God how could he love a sinner like him, he thought about – Apostle Paul who said he was – chief of all sinners & then – Lord gave him a verse

phil. 3:9 and be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of – law, but that which is through – faith of Christ, – righteousness which is of God by faith

you see, my goodness, my righteousness, is not mine, it is Christ who lives in me

That morning – soldier stood at – cross, he had nothing but sin to offer Christ, and on that day, Christ took it upon himself and gave that man his righteousness

Paul said, it is not I that lives, but Christ who lives through me

is 6:3

todays christians need to re-visit – throne of God and see him in that position

he went to – cross, but thats in – past, we have to move on & see him in his power & in his glory

and then, maybe todays christians could be delivered from their low living

it would also deliver many christians from their spiritual complacency if they could once again realize that they are sin, and Gods blood has covered them and forgivened them & has a place ready in heaven for them

we need to cry once again holy, holy, holy, is – Lord of Host

Christians talk about God as though they’re on – buddy system, & they can speak to him anyway they want and demand from him anything they please

let me remind us, we cannot rush into Gods presence, he doesn’t permit it

we can only come before him through Jesus Christ , & thats – only way he can be approached

you can never come into – Fathers presence because of who you are, you come into his presence because you are in Christ

And if your here this morning and you’ve never been saved by faith in Jesus Christ, don’t bother praying to God, he will not hear you

Jesus made it absolutely clear, that no man comes onto – Father, except through him

if your his child, you can come with boldness to – throne that is high & lifted up because of his grace which is given to us through Jesus

vs;5

Isaiah saw himself as he really was in Gods presence, and he said woe is me

whens – last time you went before God in prayer and you saw yourself as God sees you? Someone with unclean lips?

The problem in todays church is many don’t walk in – light of Gods Word, if we did, we would really see ourselves

but when we walk in – light, as he is in – light, we then have fellowship one with another and – blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin

do you ever wonder why people are so sporadic in their church attendance?

Because their not walking in – light, and its difficult for them to have fellowship with other believers

todays Easter, when we celebrate – resurrection of our Lord, but if we really don’t understand what it really means, then we’ve wasted – Lords time

vs;7

what did God do for us on that cross?

He purged our sin, he took it away

Christians need to get off their spiritual high-horse, and fall on our knees once again & cry Holy, Holy, Holy, is – Lord God Almighty

How should we pray?

In every church that we have been involved in, – one thing that we have always heard is, how important prayer is

And if your like me you have probably heard it taught of how we’re suppose to pray in almost every imaginable way & I’ve even questioned at times why should we pray?

If God already knows everything, and he already knows what I will do before I even know what I’ll do, why pray?& thats a legitimate question I think

But I always come back to – same thing as to why we pray, & its because I don’t know what he does, & I go to him to try to get his thoughts & his direction

& – other thing is, because he is our Father in heaven, he wants to communicate with us, because he loves us

& probably – most important reason why we pray is because he hears us

& so we spend time in prayer for many things that pertain to our everyday lives

Probably every saved parent prays for their children, for health, spiritual guidance, blessings, to get a clue and behave

just all sorts of things that involves their lives & we should be praying for them continually

& I suppose that theres even unsaved parents who pray for their children also

but have you really ever thought about that though?

When we who are saved pray for our kids, God hears our prayers & because he hears us, he answers us about our children, we are their advocate, their spokesman on their behalf

But when parents who are unsaved pray, – bible says he doesn’t hear them, their children have no advocate, no voice to God on their behalf

they do however have – convicting voice of the Holy Ghost as we all do

but its sad, that theres so many parents who lift up their voice to God but it goes nowhere

I Cor. 7: 12-14

these verses have confused many people, but if your a saved parent, your children have a better chance to be saved because of your voice before the Lord on their behalf

but what is – greatest prayer that you could pray for your children?

To do well financially, be able to get married, have a house & good health?

Or that they would live close to you, or perhaps far away (depending on – circumstances)

we all have unique & specific things we pray for regarding our kids and praying for them is certainly important

Prayer is what bonds you & – Lord together, it creates a supernatural intimacy for a common goal

& what is that Goal? That your children will get saved

I constantly & simply pray that my kids will be faithful to – Lord

If they will be faithful in everything, I know that no matter what comes their way, they’ll be able to go through it

Let me ask you a question: How should we really pray?

I know theres a lot of things we should be praying for, but what is – real heart of where our prayers should be directed

Ps 72

This is Davids last Psalm that he wrote while he was dying, & its directed to his son Solomon

through this prayer we learn some unique things about prayer

first of all, we learn something interesting about Davids character, we all know all of – sins that David committed when he was younger

But – longer David walked with – Lord, – Lord began to do something in Davids life as he got older

And he does – exact same thing in our lives if we will walk with – Lord faithfully throughout our lifetime

he begins to change our character to become more like Christ

As David got older – more he became a Godly man

Ps 72:1

there are so many things that David could have prayed about as he laid dying, like all of his accomplishments, his battles that he won, – land that he took, – wealth of his nation, or for those who he’s leaving

he could have prayed for himself, but instead of concentrating on himself

he prays that his son will have Gods wisdom & righteousness

David was concerned that his son might make some of – same sinful decisions as he had

we should be praying for – same thing, that we and our family will make good judgments and that we’ll become righteous, thats a lifetime goal

something else I want you to notice in this verse, in Davids younger years he was without a doubt a selfish person

but here, all that is behind him, – longer you walk with God – more unselfish you become

so when you & I are on our deathbed, we too can pray for others and for what we want in their lives

Think about that, in your last moments on earth, your investing in someone elses life, thats really whats at – heart of prayer, investing in others

Theres still even a bigger picture here than what we’ve looked at

David knew that he was a king in a long line of kings that would come after him but eventually it would lead to – King of Kings – Lord Jesus

& what David desires more than anything is that his son Solomon would mimic – kingship of – Messiah

every king regardless if they were Jewish or not is suppose to represent King Jesus

& they were suppose to rule – same way that Jesus would rule over nations

most kings of course have fallen short of that goal

there were some kings that did a good job like Hezakiah, Asa, & Jehoshaphat

But – fact is, – majority of kings as well as presidents have been corrupt in many different areas

Vs 2-4

part of investing in – lives of others is caring for lives of others, David prays that his son would care about his people

one thing no one could find fault with David was his care and love for his people

one of – greatest signs of a good leader, be it a king or a president is their deep care, love and concern for – welfare of its countries citizens, not just for those who agree with him, but for all citizens

David knew that if his son only cared about and loved himself and his own wealth & power, or for only certain groups of people then – people would suffer and sin would abound

it is a fact, when people suffer under a bad leader, those people will delve deeper into crime, immorality and rebellion

Something that parents quit praying for was that their kids would love and care about their nations citizens & look at – direction that other countries as well as our own country has moved

what is – only thing that will last? This world won’t, stocks don’t, IRA’s won’t last

vs 3 peace to – people

• only thing of value that last is people & we need to invest in them

Its just like marriage, how does a marriage last for a lifetime?

Its when both spouses invest their life into – life of – other & by both husband & wife committing themselves to – Lord

a committed couple who are committed to Christ brings peace not only to a family but to a nation

During WWII women were forced to go to work since – men were at war, but After WWII women enjoyed working and thats when – mass exodus from taking care of family & home began

It was never Gods original design for women to work jobs outside of – home while they had children

they were to care for them & raise them while – husband provided for – physical care, but both were responsible for – spiritual care

It was from this movement that – investment in family began to disintegrate and – fall of this nation & others began

David knew that if his Son didn’t invest into – nations people, keeping their families strong, their nation would be in danger of collapsing

because look at what he says in Vs: 12-14

Care about people, care about – needy, keep – nation strong

David then looked into – future & he envisioned an ultimate king who would rule over – earth with perfect justice, mercy and compassion

vs; 17-19

David probably had no idea of who – Messiah would be or when he would come but he certainly knew – value of prayer & he prays that his son Solomon would love – Messiah and live his life like – Messiah as an example to his nation

I can’t imagine what it would be like to live in a nation that loved – Lord and lived like him

when I was in Flint Monday I was listening to – news and they arrested a so called father of a 6 yr old girl who was brought to – hospital, she had 2 broken arms, bruises over her entire body & he then burned her

she survived until she reached – hospital & then died of her injuries

18-19

someday, – entire world will live for Jesus and these horrendous acts of violence and hatred against each other will end, all nations will be blessed because of – Lord Jesus & as that old hymn says what a day that will be

Vs20

this was – last thing that David prayed for and then he died & went to be with his Lord

David was a changed man from when he was younger

& we too can be changed to be more like Christ, if we will pray