Thursday 11th April 2019 Prayer Devotion
Scripture Reading:- Romans 15:15-33
Topic:- Paul’s Teaching On Prayer [1]
Text:- Romans 15:30
Scripture teaches us about prayer in many different ways: statements of fact, commands, parables, and by providing the prayers of many great prayer warriors to learn from. One of those warriors is the Apostle Paul.
Paul included many prayers for others in his epistles. Only a few times does Paul ask for prayer for himself, but in those requests we are able to learn the heart of Paul and see how to best pray for those in ministry.
Why did Paul ask for prayer and what can we learn from his requests? There are six observations from the prayer requests of Paul:
1. Paul believed prayer to be powerful, effective, and necessary. Even though Paul was an Apostle and one of the greatest missionaries the world has ever seen, he knew his own weakness and utterly depended upon God. Paul knew that he could not on his own make his ministry effective or escape from those seeking to destroy him–so he asked the Church for prayer so God could intervene and do what he could not. This is why he often asked for prayer.
“I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.” See Philippians 1:19.
2. Paul knew that when we pray for someone in Ministry, we join them in Ministry. Paul sets up this prayer request with the strongest possible appeal. Paul appeals to our common Lord Jesus Christ and our common love which is the Spirit’s fruit, because he knows that those in the body of Christ should care for one another. When we pray for other believers in Ministry, we strive with them in God’s work. God uses our prayers to propel others to greater heights and effectiveness in Ministry, heights and effectiveness that would not be there without the prayers of faithful friends. See Romans 15:30.
3. Paul desired to serve the Church and fellowship with the Church. A love for his brothers and sisters in Christ emanated from the Apostle Paul who was the spiritual father of many. Several times Paul showed his deep desire for fellowship and time with those he ministered to. Paul held serving and fellow-shipping with the Church as a top priority.
Prayer Points:-
1. Oh Lord God, give me power and grace to pray and to pray through, in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. Oh Lord God, wake up the giant in me that pray, and never to be weary in prayer again, in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. Oh Lord God, help me to find grace on my knees, and to be a prayer warrior henceforth, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Have A Lovely Thursday!
