The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled "Love Where You Are." You are invited to watch, listen and worship with us here.
Wherever we live and work, God has placed us there. We are to take the message of Jesus to dark places. How do we do this?
How to Love Where You Are
1. Be present.
Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. - Jim Elliot
Let's not be preoccupied or distant. Be ready for whatever God wants you to do wherver you are right now.
As born again believers, we have the power of the Holy Spirit.
Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” - John 16:17
When Jesus went up, the Holy Spirit came down.
2. Be prayerful.
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. - Acts 1:14Jesus' brothers were now praying with Him. Until now, they had not been followers of Jesus. Are you praying for a family member or several family members and friends who do not know Jesus? Don't give up on them.
Don't make prayer hard. Prayer is a conversation with God. When we pray, difficult situations become miracle stories, hearts are softened, and lives are changed.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. - James 5:16
Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work. - Oswald Chambers
When we pray, God opens doors of opportunities.
*Pray for your enemies. Pray for those who are hard to love.
A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,If you keep praying for people you don't like, you might learn to like them.
And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him. - Proverbs 12:14
Unkind people need your kindness the most. - Rick Warren
*Pray for your "My 5" list. Pray about 5 people with whom you can share Jesus. Pray for those people every day. Develop deeper relationships with them. Share the gospel of Jesus with them.
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. - Acts 16:14The Holy Spirit opened Lydia's heart to hear the gospel. Your lost family members and friends need to find their identity in Christ.
*Pray for your neighbors. Get to know your neighbors. If we are going to love our neighbors , we need to know them.
*Pray for the people in your workplaces and your school campuses. How many people do you work with or go to classes with would go to Hell if they died today? God has placed you where you are to reach them. Never neglect the mission field that you go to every day. Be Jesus to those who don't know Him.
*Pray for the hurting. These are the people all around you. These are people in tense relationships, dealing with illnesses, working through financial difficulties, raising prodigal children, etc. If you constantly speak to broken hearts, you will never lack an audience.
Everywhere you are, there are people who are hurting. Use your influence, your voice, and your resources to love where you are and bring others into a relationship with Jesus.
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Read all other posts in the Love Where You Live series here.
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