Discover Prayer Part V
Walk in Love

(SHARP): NAS Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
Point of View: Faith is energized by love.
Action Step: Ask for God to fill you with His love.
Benefit: Your faith will become more effective.

Key Point 1: We are commanded to love.

Subpoint 1.1: NAU 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.  19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.  23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

Subpoint 1.2: NAU John 13: 34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Subpoint 1.3: The loving of others, that do not deserve it, convinces our own hearts that God could love us.  The result is our having confidence to ask God for what we need, want, and desire.  However, loving others must not be just words alone but rather with actions that are done without false pretense and conditions (i.e. no strings attached).

Key Point 2: Only God can supply this kind of love.

Subpoint 2.1: NAU 1 Timothy 1: 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Subpoint 2.2: NAU Romans 5: 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Subpoint 2.3: NAU Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Key Point 3: God’s love is manifested as compassion and is the key to great faith.
Subpoint 3.1: NAU Matthew 14:14 When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
Subpoint 3.2: NAU 1 Peter 3:7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Subpoint 3.3: NAS 1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Repeat Point of View and Action Step. Benefit: Joy will come from answered prayer.