PAUL’S PRAYER REQUESTS
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: EVIDENCE
1. A scientist recently said that the “perfect earthquake” was going to strike the West Coast soon. The evidence to support his claim was shaky at best.
2. Someone threw a part of a brick through a man’s front window. The police couldn’t do anything though. They said there wasn’t enough concrete evidence.
B. THE PRAYERS OF PAUL
1. Paul prayed at least 5 prayers for believers. These prayers are extremely important because they were inspired by the Holy Spirit and capture the will of God for our transformation into the image of Christ.
2. The 5 scriptures are Eph. 1:17-19 3:16-19; Col. 1:9-12; Philippians 1:9-11; 2 Thess. 1:11-12 (all are printed after the conclusion).
3. In these prayers we discover the SIX MAIN AREAS of the development of our Christian life that God is chiefly concerned with.
4. 6 KEY CONCEPTS PAUL PRAYED FOR are:
I. EXPERIENTIAL FAITH FOR BELIEVERS
A. SCRIPTURES
1. [That God] “may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may KNOW HIM better” Eph. 1:17. Paul means “that you experience Jesus in a more profound & life-changing way.”
2. “His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell IN YOUR HEARTS by faith” Eph. 3:16-17.
B. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “KNOW GOD?”
1. The Greek word “ginosko” means there’s a relationship between the person knowing and the object known.
2. "Knowing" God is not just about acquiring knowledge about God; it’s experiencing God! Must I know all in order to ‘know” God? No! (Another Greek word, “Oida,” means "full knowledge.")
3. The IRS man may know everything about you, factually, but he would pass you, without recognition, on the street. But your dog, who knows little ‘about you’ would instantly recognize you on the street, because he/she “knows” you in relationship.
4. At the judgment seat, the point of separation between the saved and lost will be Jesus’ admission, “I never knew you” Mt. 7:23. No wonder Paul encourages us to get to know Jesus, experientially!
C. NOT JUST HEAD KNOWLEDGE, BUT HEART
1. God wants us to go further than just knowing ABOUT God, to having an experiential knowledge of God: to WALK with Him, to learn His WAYS, to learn His PERSONALITY, His VOICE, His LEADING. To know what He would, and would not do, and then to take that course.
2. To experience God takes boldness: we must wait on God, seek Him out, get to know the Creator (as revealed in His Word). We need to experience HIM.
II. THAT YOU GAIN SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
A. HOW PAUL PRAYED THIS FOR US
1. That “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know 1) the hope to which he has called you, 2) the riches of his glorious inheritance the saints, and 3) his incomparably great power...” Eph. 1:18-19.
2. “Fill you with the knowledge of His will” Col. 1:9.
3. “To GRASP how wide...etc. is the love of Christ” Eph 3:18
4. “...in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best” Phip. 1:9-10.
B. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NEEDED
1. It takes the Holy Spirit in your life to be able to comprehend spiritual truths. That’s why Jesus had to “open His disciple’s minds” so they could understand the Scriptures (Lk. 24:45), the Bible.
2. “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God...nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” 1 Cor. 2:14.
3. That’s why Paul spent a lot of time praying for spiritual knowledge to be imparted to new believers. The Lord Jesus said the key of Knowledge (Lk. 11:52) can open Heaven to us – provide a heavenly breakthrough.
4. We need to see with the spiritual eyes; to see this world from God’s perspective and to have the same priority system as God has.
III. THAT YOU ARE FULL/COMPLETE IN CHRIST
A. THE SCRIPTURES
1. “We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you...” Col. 1:9
2. “Filled to the measure of the fullness of God” Eph. 3:19
3. “Filled with the fruit” Phip. 1:11.
B. WHAT DOES THIS FILLING/ COMPLETION LOOK LIKE?
1. Christ, as the Head, fills the Church: “pleroma” (completion, Eph. 1:23). We humans are incomplete; we feel our weaknesses; we know some part of us is missing. That missing piece is Jesus! He alone can complete us. No accomplishments will do it; no other person will ever make our lives complete – only a relationship with God! “There’s a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person that only God can fill.”
2. ILLUS. Albert Pujols, the first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, a World Series champ, an eight-time All Star, 3X MVP, and in 2008 was considered the most feared hitter in Baseball. But he testified that only Jesus can satisfy his soul! So true!
3. Jesus furnished His church with many gifts (apostles, prophets, etc.) so that it can attain maturity and so resemble Jesus. That’s one reason we must be a part of a church, because we need other Christians to grow in Christ. We learn from them & are encouraged by them.
IV. THAT YOU BE GROWING, GETTING STRONGER
A. PAUL’S PRAYERS
1. Paul prayed in Col. 1:10-11, “And we pray this in order that you may...[be] growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might...”
2. In Eph. 3:16, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being...”
B. GROWTH IS NATURAL
1. We’re supposed to grow up into Christ, to become mature, which means "completing natural growth and development" or "attaining the final or desired state."
2. For the Christian, this means to move through all the various stages of spiritual development until we arrive at the final, desired state of being like Jesus.
3. Paul referred to some of the Corinthian Christians as "Babes" in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1-4).
4. Now I really love babies, but I don't want them to stay babies forever. If a baby doesn't grow up, that's abnormal and parents should be concerned. It's the same spiritually!
5. CHARACTERISTICS OF BABIES: self-centered, the world revolves around them. Fussy, cranky. They require a pacifier -- Special attention -- to keep them happy.
6. 5 PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
a. NO GROWTH: IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN
b. GROWTH COMES ONLY BY CONNECTION TO CHRIST. Jesus is the Vine, we the “branches.”
c. THE WORD OF GOD MAKES YOU GROW.
d. SPIRITUAL GROWTH REPELS US FROM WORLDLINESS. We should be repulsed from what is sinful and attracted to what is virtuous.
e. SPIRITUAL GROWTH ALWAYS CAUSES OUTREACH. If we’re growing, we’ll witness!
V. LIFESTYLE OF THE CHRISTIAN
A. PAUL’S PRAYERS FOR YOU
1. “that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work” Col. 1:10.
2. “that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith” 2 Thess. 1:11.
B. GOD HAS A MISSION FOR YOU
1. We’re NOT saved by our works or obedience, but God still has expectations for how we will live our lives.
2. God saved us for a purpose; we all have something we’re supposed to do. We all have a mission – there are people we can reach that no one else can.
C. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST
1. We’re supposed to be “lights” for those living in darkness; our lives should be lived so that people can clearly see a difference between us and the lost people around us.
2. We’re supposed to be like salt added to a bland meal. Jesus said if we lose our God-like saltiness, we won’t be any good for His kingdom.
VI. KNOW CHRIST’S LOVE & DEMONSTRATE IT
A. PAUL’S PRAYERS
1. “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” Eph. 3:17-19.
2. “that your love may abound more and more” Phip. 1:9.
B. WHY IS THE LOVE OF GOD SO IMPORTANT?
1. Because it will change your past, and redirect your future.
2. It will ease the pain of a broken heart, a shattered dream, and give you peace in your soul.
3. It will give you confidence that you’re of value, that you matter, and that you are accepted by the One who matters most.
4. People have a lot of ideas about what love is, but Paul spells it out; “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8. (Another verse says “enemies.”)
5. WE love people because there’s something valuable about them or we have an investment in them, but God loved us when HE had nothing to gain. GOD IS LOVE!
6. JESUS LOVED THE UNLOVABLE! Like Zacchaeus the Tax collector, Mary Magdalene the prostitute, Saul of Tarsus, and the Samaritan woman at the well. That means He loves YOU TOO!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: GOD CARES
1. One day a couple of church members were out distributing loaves of bread in a low-income housing complex. They came to an apartment where they heard arguing through the door, but they decided to knock anyway.
2. A man opened the door and asked what they wanted. One of the visitors said, "We don't want anything. We just wondered if you know anyone who could use some loaves of bread?"
3. "Why are you doing that?" the man asked. "Just to let people know that God loves them." "What did you just say?" the man asked. "We're just handing out loaves of bread to let people know that God loves them.”
4. The man stared and said, "I can't believe this. We just buried our three-week-old son yesterday, and now here you are at our door."
5. The visitors offered to pray with them, and the couple accepted their offer. As they were leaving, they heard the husband say to his wife, "See, honey? I told you God cares. We thought he wasn't paying attention to us, but he sent those people here to make sure we knew."
B. THE CALL
1. Having problems? God still loves you! Have you fallen into sin? “ “ “. Does no one else love you? GOD LOVES YOU, and He’s the only opinion that counts! Keep the faith!
2. [Bow your heads.] Is there anybody here who feels like you’re not lovable? You are the only person who has your finger prints because God thinks you’re special!
3. Anyone need forgiveness? Let’s PRAY.
SCRIPTURES OF PAUL’S PRAYERS
1. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know 1) the hope to which he has called you, 2) the riches of his glorious inheritance the saints, and 3) his incomparably great power for us who believe” Eph. 1:17-19. [All these verses are quoted from the NIV1984.]
2. 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. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” Col. 1:9-12.
3. 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 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” Eph. 3:16-19.
4. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” Phip. 1:9-11.
5. 11 “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” 2 Thess. 1:11-12.
