Pray For Self, Servants & Souls

Big question for you tonight, how is your prayer life? But even more importantly how is your prayer life when it comes to self, how is it for raising up servants, and for lost souls?

A couple of years ago the Tri-County began a program called praying daily for Self, Servants and Souls, but it never really got off the ground, and like a lot of other things it never really gained traction. And I know why. It was because most of us lack a real prayer life. Our prayers are typically centered around self, but in a bad way.

We are praying for self centered things we want or things we think we need. When we should be praying for the Lord to make Himself more known to us.

Did you know that scripture speaks to this. If you brought your Bible with you tonight please open it to Ephesians 3:14-21. Again that is Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus chapter 3:14-21. Here is what we see.

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

To be certain I could have picked other scripture about praying for ones self. However the theme of this passage is that we are being subservient to God, that we seek his strength through God the Spirit.

Then there is that part in verse 18 that talks about dimensions. So what is Paul trying to convey here? Think of it this way, Paul is encouraging Christians to be rooted and grounded in love and to understand, together with all the saints, the vast dimensions of Christ’s love. The “breadth, and length, and depth, and height” are metaphorical terms that represent the multi-dimensional aspect of Christ’s love, suggesting it encompasses every aspect of life and is unlimited in scope and magnitude.

And then on into verse 19 he continues that we would be filled with the fullness of God. And there it is, don’t be afraid to pray for God to fill you with His fullness. Not only is that His love for you, but it is God the Spirit, that will lead you to be the person that God created you to be.

Next is to pray for Servants.

Many times complaints will arise in a church, because it seems like just a few people do most of the work. I wonder how many of you have heard of the 20/80 principle? It is where twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work. Brothers and sisters that is never a good thing.

On the back of your card, you see a place where you can write in names for servants. Maybe you need to write in your own name, if that is the case then do so. But also think of the people who are serving and those who could be serving and write in those names, and then pray for them daily.

I know you know this, but it bears repeating. Serving is Biblical. And the greatest example of this is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You may recall how I recently spoke of time when Jesus washed His disciples feet.

Listen to me now, in all actuality this would have been seen as demeaning in the days of Jesus. But as only Jesus does, he shows how we are to be different, that we are to be a servant.

Now take your Bible and turn to Matthew 25: 40-45. I know you know this scripture and why Jesus does not specifically use the word serve or servant, it is what He is saying. Let’s read it together:

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’