Feeling God's Presence

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with Christian love. All of God's people here send you their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

Intro:  2 Corinthians 13:11   Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be you. 

• Be Joyful
  • • Psalm 89:15   Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord. 
    • Psalm 51:10-12   Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 
    • Psalm 28:7   The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 
    • Philippians 4:4   Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice!
• Grow to Maturity
  • • Colossians 1:10   Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 
    • Colossians 2:7   Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 
    • Luke 8:14   The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 
• Encourage Each Other
  • • Hebrews 10:25   And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:11   So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 
    • Ephesians 4:29   Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 
• Live in Harmony
  • • Psalm 133:1-3   How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. 
    • Romans 12:16   Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
    • Romans 14:19   So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. 
    • Colossians 3:14   Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

Conclusion:   2 Corinthians 13:11   Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.