Being Prayerful Series

Note to preachers

This sermon is a collecting of verses all about prayer. I used a power point presentation as I preached so the verses easily followed one another. On the power point I underlines where the words were in the plural to emphasise the community fellowship aspect of prayer. Underlining does not show up in sermoncentral ... so you will need to do your own work if that is what you want to do.

Message

Ephesians 3:20

In Fellowship Together – Being Prayerful

Let’s have a look at some of the prayers we find in the New Testament.

The one which is most well-known is the Lord’s prayer.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (Matthew 6:9-13)

Notice the regular use of plural language. our … we … us.

Looking at another prayer, this time part of one prayed by Jesus.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

Again, lots of plural language.

One more, this time written by Paul.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Plural language, along with an application to all of the kingdom citizens. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Not all the prayers in the Bible are in the plural. The Psalms, all of which can be used as prayer, are often in the singular.

I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? (Psalm 121:1)

Out of the depths I cry to you God. (Psalm 130:1)

The New Testament also has first person prayers.

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)

Prayers in Scripture are singular and plural. It is not an either/or … but a both/and.

As we see this we see that Scripture has a specific emphasis when it comes to prayer.

Being in fellowship means being prayerful … for one another.

When you see this emphasis and teaching in Scripture then the next question is, “What sorts of things do we pray for as a community and for one another”.

The answer to that question … is answered by Scripture.

In this particular instance just listening to Scripture is going to give us the heart of this message today.

Pray as a community for each other for the spiritual strength and capacity to walk faithfully on the daily journey with Jesus.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I pray 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 his holy people. (Ephesians 1:18)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12 - all plural)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18 - all plural)