the prisoner’s prayer
January 19th, 2009 by Todd JohnsonTime to review, reflect, rewind, regurgitate Sunday’s message on Paul’s prayer for the philippians.
First, let’s not overlook the obvious. We NEED to be praying, and praying for one another much more than we are. I love the fact that Paul was as much a man of prayer as he was a man of the Word. I love it when somebody reminds me that they are praying for me, and I want to be returning the favor, so pray for me.
The definite subject of Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9-11 is love & life.
• Love that is abounding more and more
• Love that is informed (knowing)
• Love that is discerning
• Lives that are pure (sincere)
• Lives that will be found blameless
• Lives filled with the fruit of righteousness
Here’s the quote from John Stott that helped me put love and knowledge together:
“Knowledge is indispensable to Christian life & service.. knowledge is given us to be used, to lead us to higher worship, greater faith, deeper holiness, better service.”
So… any thoughts? I’d welcome them.
Pointing us to the Word to know God was good counsel.
“The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him.” ~Milton
When I think of prayer and of Paul’s encouragement by example, I am humbled by his prayer for us in Ephesians 3:14 – 21. It has all the elements John Stott touched upon. Ah!… to attain the power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge … that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”. (Whoa! or in the original – Selah!) It is His power working in us, in His Church, in Christ, forever and ever! Amen.
And now, to love my neighbor … I am praying for you and your family Todd. Prayer, the ultimate love language.
I pray for my family, friends, etc. just about every day. Sometimes I feel like I come with a grocery list.It seems to be the same prayer, salvation. healing, wisdom, grace, mercy,discernment. A couple of weeks ago you shared about obedience to the Lord. I was feeling discouraged about my prayer time and it touched me that I was to be obedient and He will do the rest. I do spend some time in the Word but I believe from what you said Sunday that my prayer life will draw me close to HIm as I know Him (knowledge) and my worship and service and prayer life will become deeper. I am reminded to pray without ceasing.
Two things struck me about Sunday’s message:
One is when you commented on the lack of knowledge of the Word in the world today; that if people truly knew the Word they could not help but to love God and what He has done for us. How true that is! Most (if not all) false religions and cults hinge on a lack of knowledge of the whole canon of Scripture. They base their “religion” on the misinterpretation of one scripture, even though the rest of the Bible teachings on that subject are in disagreement with their pet scripture. This, in turn, attracts people to that religion who do not know the Bible well enough to understand the fallacy of that particular cult or religion which attracts them.
The second was the nature of Paul’s prayer. I just finished a book called “Rees Howells – Intercessor.” Rees Howells was a giant of faith who came out of the Welch revival at the turn of the last century. Often called a prayer warrior, Howells instead referred to himself as an “intercessor.” A prayer warrior, he said (and I’m paraphrasing because I don’t have the book in front of me) is someone who prays for a variety of subjects, may only pray once about that subject, and often does not know the result of his or her prayer. An intercessor, on the other hand, prays for one specific subject , is well acquainted with the situation, and will “pray it through” until a result is obtained. Paul, then, was an intercessory prayer – he would pray for specific situation that were known to him as long as was necessary. I would desire that type of consistency and endurance in my prayers.
Many years ago, a friend asked me to pray for her, and I said, “Oh yes I will.” Then forgot about it. It happened again, and the Lord told me, I was not being faithful in my prayer life… so, from that day forward, whan anyone asks me to pray for them, I stop right then and pray with them. (if it is O.K. with them) I don’t agree with being a prayer warrior, or an intercessor. I am both, and I think we all can be. I pray for the unknowing and for things that I know that are to come. Unknowing: cancer, a troubled birth, etc. Knowing: the building of our church, our pastors,
etc. How can this author, Rees Howell separate the two.. I can’t, and you know what… I don’t want to.
Joyce: Of course I have a list of loved ones, friends, etc. that I pray for, but during my day, as different things or people come to mind, I just lift them up to the Lord. Not knowing there problems, which is O.K, the Lord knows. I just put them at His feet.
Some months ago, I was awakening out a sound sleep, with a friends name on my lips, that I went to school with, and not heard from, for over some 25 yrs. I asked the Lord, so what is this all about? I just prayed for her, and went back to sleep. A few weeks later, she calls me, from L.V. We talked for over an hour. I found out she is Morman, so I knew then why the Lord had me praying for her. So, since then I have shared Jesus with her. And, still praying. (the unknown)
You will come to a point in your life with prayer, that it will not be, Oh, I need to pray, or I forgot, etc. or which is the right way, etc. You will just do it. When driving, taking a shower, working in your yard, or taking care of your family.
I was told mamy years ago, when you are awakened during the night, and the Lord puts a person to your mind, you should pray for them. This has happened to my many times.
Well, enough already, as my mom use to say. Thanks for reading.
Blessings…
It struck me how in the same letter Paul writes ” work out your salvation with fear and trembling” and ends it ( although we are not there yet ) with ” Rejoice , I say rejoice”. I guess it’s all part of the package.
Frank – The balance is wonderful, isn’t it.
We are given joys that would lift us to heaven if not tempered with trials… and we are given trials that would sink us in the pit if not tempered with heavenly joys.
So get to work… and rejoice!!!
One of the things I love about the men that I get to pray with on Fridays is how faithfully many of them pray for you, Todd – and for the whole pastoral staff. It’s something I’m striving to be more faithful in.
I heard something a while back about praying for your pastor as you sit in church listening to the Word taught. Such an obvious prayer and yet something it had never occurred to me to do. Striving to become more faithful in that as well.
Chris… an my way to church, either Sun. or Wed. night. I always lift up in prayer, who ever it might be. Try doing that, it will become a habit, as we always think about who, what and why, as we drive to our church.. at least I do.
Hopes this helps.
Blessings…
OOPS… ON MY WAY TO CHURCH…:)
Thanks for the prayers Chris!!
I mean it.. thanks.
TW – that’s great advice! Thanks for sharing it.
In praying for our pastors, this could be helpful:
http://blog.t4g.org/2009/01/praying-for-your-pasto r.html