Paul prayed about his churches, and he also prayed for his churches. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Paul had a desire to visit Rome and to help the Christians there. For Paul, the Christian experience was essentially (and unceasingly) an act of prayer. Paul’s prayers are tremendously encouraging and informative. However, 2 Timothy begins with the more familiar pattern: “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers” (1:3). D.A. Here is one pastor Paul … They could pray for themselves, of course, but it would really help them to know that their leader was praying for them, too, even though he was far away. Regarding the members in Corinth, Paul also expressed thanks in his prayers: “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. Pastoral Prayer by Paul Meeks # 27 Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. Paul sets an interesting example for us today. Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to You this morning in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (verses 4-6). Paul was not the only leader who prayed for his people. Perhaps a question for us today would be this: If we were dealing with a church full of problems, would we express our thanks to God for the grace given to the church in Christ Jesus? 1:4). There are some prayers in 1 Timothy, and some exhortations to pray, but not quite like the previous epistles. Let’s pray for our members, and let’s let them know we are praying for them. Perhaps a question for us today would be this: If we were dealing with a church full of problems, would we express our thanks to God for the grace given to the church in Christ Jesus? And it was not just the prayer — it was Paul’s telling them that he prayed. I’m thankful that he did this in public. One result of sharing the faith, Paul says, is that we can grow in understanding the blessings Christ has brought to us. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Small group leaders should pray for their people. 1:8-12). i. Paul told his people that he prayed for them continually. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”, And in 2 Thess. Paul prayed about his churches, and he also prayed for his churches. If we are mindful of how great the task is, and how small our own abilities are, we’ll find it easy to ask for help from the great Shepherd of our souls. May the power of Jesus Christ continually fill with joy, grace, peace … Let’s pray for our members, and let’s let them know we are praying for them. 4:6). Slide 1 of 12. Those redeemed and hence overwhelmed by the sovereign grace of the “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” intentionally and purposefully pour out their lives as a perpetual act of thanksgiving, ever conscious of dependence on an omnipresent and omnipotent God, as they are motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul’s prayers are not empty platitudes or vague generalities — they are specific and based in theological truth. 1:4). Let’s go to the next epistle in the canon: “I thank my God every time I remember you. We have a desire, and we have a need. Can I learn something from Paul’s example here? God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. It sends a message that prayer is a worthwhile activity, and it encourages members to pray for one another in greater detail, to be more mindful of one another’s needs. Prayer was important to Paul. Can I learn something from Paul’s example here? God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray … Prayer is part of each Christian’s life, and it is part of the spiritual health of the church. Your Word tells us that if we ask anything in his name, we know that … What a marvelous prayer! Part of the normal format for a Greek letter was the thanksgiving section, and most of Paul’s letters have this. Paul’s example helps us see one of the ways in which a spiritual leader serves his people. Paul was not the only leader who prayed for his people. Paul begins with praise in verse 3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”. [I ask] God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and … Paul's Habits Of Prayer These are revealed almost unconsciously. 1:3-4: “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. If so, says pastor and author, Ray Pritchard , the ancient prayers of the Apostle Paul can help you. Paul is very open with the fact that he prays for his people, and he is open with some details of those prayers. He forgives us so that we might forgive those who sin against us. If you’d like to study this subject more…, Discipleship, Spiritual Growth, and Christian Living. Sermon by Ian Reed on Philippians 1:9-11 St Mary's Community Church, 22/11/2020 https://www.facebook.com/StMarysCommunityChurch richtoller@gmail.com We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”, And in 2 Thess. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (verses 17-19). It helped bind them together. Would we begin our message to such a church by praising the grace of God? Although Paul did not know the people he was writing to, he began his comments to them by saying that he was praying for them. Note the plural here — Paul and Timothy were praying together, in prison (cf. Often it is just a prayer of thanks; sometimes it is also a request. Prayer: Paul’s Pastoral Prayers Prayer is an essential part of our relationship with God. We don’t pray to show off or to be seen or heard by people — we pray to speak to God. People tend to go to one of two extremes when it comes to the subject of prayer. We can read about them. (W.B. Paul is very open with the fact that he prays for his people, and he is open with some details of those prayers. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. He did not pray to show off, but he was not ashamed of his prayers, either. He didn’t let it stop him. We have a request, and we should therefore bring it to God in prayer (Phil. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (verses 4-6). As time went on and I paid attention to what Paul prays for, my own prayers … Various verses remind members to pray for the leaders of the church. It has been called one of the tools of Christian growth and one of the spiritual disciplines. Amen. That alone reshaped how I pray. He mentions his thankfulness for what God had done in the readers: “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (verses 15-16). Although most of this article is based on the prayers of Paul, a good foundation is laid in the Old Testament: In 1 Samuel 12:23, Samuel told the Israelites, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” It would be a sin for a leader to neglect praying for his people. … What a marvelous prayer 1 Timothy, and Christian Living s pastoral prayers prayer is an essential part our. 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