Sunday Recap 2-19-12

Morning: The sermon, "Got Spiritual Milk?" focused on 1 Peter 2:1-3. Peter reminds his readers of two basic truths, by pointing them back to the preceding context with the word therefore. Those truths are we have been purified by obeying the truth and we have been born again, of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.  Because of these realities, we must put off all forms of malice (ill will), all deceit (trickery and falsehood), our hypocrisies (pretenses), envy (petty jealousy), and all forms of evil speaking (lying, slander, gossip, insinuation, blasphemy, etc.).

As followers of Christ, we are to crave the word of God in the same way that a baby craves milk. The craving is driven by two realities: we need the Word to grow, and we desire the "milk," because it has caused us to taste the goodness of God. If we tasted (experienced) the goodness of God, than we will want to know him better. Feeding on the Word of God is the only way we will be able to experience that.

Evening: We looked at "Prayer Partners," tonight. In Colossians 4:2-6, Paul encourages his readers to pray. Prayer is not only a vital part of one's personal walk with Christ, it is an instrumental part of participating in the spiritual work of others.

Paul calls us to devote ourselves to prayer. Devotions carries with it the idea of spending time, energy, and resources on something. We are to spend our time and such on the work of prayer, and we are to pray with watchfulness in gratitude.

We are to pray for those who proclaim the gospel. We should pray for them to have opportunities to share the message of Christ. We should also pray that they share with clarity. As we pray for them, we need to be careful.

Paul warns against letting our lives get in the way of our prayers. We should make sure we don't undo our praying with our action. Paul encourages us to look out for divine appointments, and urges us to take advantage of every opportunity. We also need to prepare as we wait. That way, when we have the opportunity to share with the lost our conversations will be seasoned with salt.

Keeping Paul command in mind, let us pray.