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)
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 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, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6)
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. (Matthew 19:13)
Pray as a community for each other in times of difficulty temptation and struggle.
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41 [= Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40, 46])
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26)
… this will take being vulnerable and seeking to be discerning.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
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. (Colossians 4:12)
… especially a prayer in the last days
Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. (1 Peter 4:7)
Pray as a community for each other for the reconciliation of broken relationships.
The pray takes place for those outside the kingdom community, as well as those with whom we walk alongside in the kingdom community.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:28)
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (Mark 11:25)
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. (1 John 5:16)
(take note that this is all in the singular but us to walk together for others)
Pray as a community for those who have been set apart for the ministry of the Gospel, and for the hardship of the ministry to be endured.
So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them (Paul and Barnabas) and sent them off. (Acts 13:3)
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (Acts 14:23)
Pray for us (Paul and Timothy), 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. (Colossians 4:3)
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)
Pray as a church community in fellowship together with each other.
(Context is that Paul is on the way to Jerusalem knowing he will face a trial. Paul is visiting churches on the way and is in Tyre).
When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. (Acts 21:5)
We have this beautiful picture of the church community praying together.
Pray as a community for the world in which we live as a church community.
1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Pray as a community for each other in the knowledge that prayer has a powerful impact.
Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20 [Amplified Bible])
Don’t have a limited expectation.
God works far above all that we dare to ask and think.
God achieves far beyond our desires, hopes and dreams.
So as a community in fellowship we should tap into the tremendous resources that God has made available to us. Praying fervently for all that we have seen is to be prayed for.
Pray as a community for each other knowing God hears all of us together.
This is the last time the word “prayer” appears in the Bible.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. (Revelation 8:3-4)
It is Revelation language – but the teaching is clear.
All of the prayers of all of God’s people …
These prayers all get to the throne of God.
He hears them all.
In fellowship together … let’s be prayerful.
Prayer
