Someone is Praying for You
I. Examples of Prayer
-The Fact of Prayer
Colossians 1:3 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
-The Frequency of Prayer
Colossians 1:9 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you
Ephesians 1:15-16 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
-The Fervency of Prayer
Colossians 4:12 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
-Epaphras had a burden for the Colossian Christians that caused him to labor fervently in prayer for them. We will look in just a moment at James 5, that tells us that fervent prayer gets results.
-The Feelings of Prayer
Philippians 1:4-5 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
-The Faith of Prayer
Luke 22:31-32 31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." It was not that Jesus had faith in Peter, I believe He knew Peter would make it because He was praying for him.
-When we pray we should believe that God will respond on our behalf. In Acts 12:5-17, the church was praying for Peter, but they were completely surprised when God answered their prayer and Peter was released. [Read]
-These are some examples of prayer for one another. Now let’s look at some of the ways we can pray for one another.
II. Pray for Those in the Ministry (pastors, teachers, evangelists, missionaries)
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
2 Thessalonians 3:2 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
Colossians 4:3-4 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:19-20 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
1 Thessalonians 5:25 25 Brothers, pray for us.
-Prayer will change people, and it will change situations. Ministers are certainly not always right. They have flaws and often make mistakes. Pray that God will use them in spite of themselves. Pray for protection around them and their families.
TS: Now, even though there is overlap here, let’s look at how we can pray for fellow believers.
III. Pray for Fellow Believers
A. That their faith will remain strong and not fail (Lk. 22:32)
B. Life for a sinning Christian. 1 John 5:16 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life.
C. Watch for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 18 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 saints.
D. Confess and pray for one another. James 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
E. Pray for the Sick. James 5:14-15 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
F. That they will know God’s will. Colossians 1:9 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
G. That they may have a walk worthy of the Lord. Colossians 1:10 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
H. Strength - Colossians 1:11 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
I. To know the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, 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.
-We could go on and on, but this should give us plenty to pray about for now.
Close: Folks, we need to cover one another with prayer. How else will we make it, unless we are lifting up one another to the Lord, believing that He will make the difference in us and in those around us? We also should pray for people who don’t know Christ yet, but will come to believe in Christ as a result of our prayers. Jesus did this. John 17:20 20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”
-Someone is praying for you! Jesus is praying for your strength and protection. The Holy Spirit is interceding for you when you do not know how to pray. Other believers are praying for you and standing with you. The more we pray, the more we will see God at work in our lives and in our community. Let’s spend a few minutes praying tonight for the things God puts on our hearts. [Gather in a circle?]
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