Hebrews 10:24-25

Negatively, not:

For entertainment

For the praise of men

Positively:

To prove my love for and gratitude to the Lord

It makes me stronger.

I want the church to grow both numerically and spiritually.

I want to be a good example.

I need God.

Judges 4:6-23 - God works through Jael to kill Sisera.

Jesus is present.

I want to put Christ and His kingdom first. (Matthew 6:33

In short, because I am a Christian.

Romans 1:16 - The gospel is God’s power to save. In the first eleven chapters, five points are elaborated on:

All have sinned.

Man is powerless to save himself.

God made a way for man to be saved (Romans 5:8 by sending Jesus.

The condition for justification through Jesus is faith.

Salvation is for both Jew and Gentile.

In Romans 12-13, he discusses how Christians should live.

Romans 12:1-8 - the proper view of self

Romans 12:3 - Don’t think too highly of self.

Romans 12:4 - We are all part of the same body.

Romans 12:9-16 - proper love for one another

Romans 12:9 - Do not be hypocrits. Abhor evil.

Romans 12:11 - Don’t be slothful in service to God.

Romans 12:16 - Don’t be prideful and high-minded.

Romans 12:17-21

Romans 12:18 - If possible, live peacably with all men.

Romans 12:19 - Do not take revenge.

Romans 12:20 - Do good to those who do you evil.

Romans 13:1-7 - the Christian and civil powers

Romans 13:1 - Civil authorities are established by God, so we must respect them.

Romans 13:3 - Governments should not be a reason for fear if we are doing good.

Romans 13:4 - Capital punishment is authorized by God.

Romans 13:6 - Taxes authorized by God.

Romans 13:7 - Honor is due to the offices of civil authorities even if the man occupying the office is not honorable.

Romans 13:8 - This is not a condemnation on buying things on credit. The universal debt is love for each other.

Romans 13:9-14 - The power view toward desires of the flesh.

Romans 13:14. We are to make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.

Isaiah 44:9-20 - The danger of idolatry.

Then

Creation’s creation

Idols are a second order creation, not even as high as us.

Faulty testimony (Acts 19:35-36

Worshipped (Isaiah 44:17

Endorsed lifestyle (I Corinthians 10:7

Idol worship endorsed the lifestyle the Israelites wanted to live.

Sacrificed goods (Isaiah 46:6

Sacrificed children (II Kings 10:3

Sought for deliverance (Isaiah 44:17

All gods the same (II Kings 18:33-35

Now

Work of our hands (I timothy 6:17

False advertisement (I Timothy 6:9

Distracted worship (Matthew 6:24

Self-justifying lifestyle (II timothy 4:3-4

Indebtedness (Romans 13:8

Lifestyle abortions

Trusting riches (Matthew 16:9

Failed riches (Matthew 24:45

I Peter 1:22-23

Romans 12:12

We figure, “God already knows all of this.”

Matthew 6:8 - This is true. God is omniscient.

God tells us to.

It’s not about the giving of information, but about the giving of our heart. Prayer is a sincere expression of our love and need for Him. Matthew 6:6-8

We get tired of praying for the same old thing.

Ephesians 6:18-20 - Better awareness of what we can pray for and what we really need can help us pray sincerely.

Philippians 1:3-5 - Like Paul, we have many people to be thankful for.

Things we can include in our prayers:

Adoration (praise) - Matthew 6:9

Confession - Luke 18:13

Thanks - Colossians 4:2

Supplication (petition) - I Timothy 2:1-2

Luke 18:1-8 - Don’t lose heart. Keep praying!