Introduction

Good morning, family of faith. As we gather here today, I am reminded of the words of the great theologian, J.I. Packer, who once said, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." Today, we're here to do just that - to know God, to understand His purpose for us, and to connect with each other in His love.

We find ourselves standing on the threshold of a new year, a fresh slate, an uncharted territory. It's a time of reflection, of looking back at the year that was and looking forward to the year that will be. But more importantly, it's a time to look up, to remember that our lives are in the hands of a loving God, who has plans and a purpose for each one of us.

So, let's turn our hearts and minds to the wisdom of the Word. In the book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 18, the apostle Paul writes: "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."

Did you catch that? "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions." Not just in times of trouble, not just when we're feeling particularly spiritual, but on all occasions. And not just for ourselves, but for all the Lord’s people. This, dear friends, is our call to action. This is our participation in God's work.

And this participation is not a burden, but a privilege. It's not a duty, but a joy. It's not a chore, but a choice. This is our privilege of prayer.

And as we step into this new year, we do so with the promises of God. Promises of His presence, His power, His provision. Promises that no matter what the new year brings, we can face it with confidence, because we know that God is with us, that He is for us, and that He is working all things together for our good.

So, let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, for its wisdom and its guidance. We thank You for the privilege of prayer, for the opportunity to participate in Your work. As we step into this new year, we ask for Your presence, Your power, and Your provision. Help us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions, and to always keep on praying for all Your people. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, here we are, family of faith, ready to embrace this new year with open hearts, open minds, and open hands, ready to participate in God's work, to exercise our privilege of prayer, and to claim God's promises for the new year. Are we ready? Are we excited? Are we expectant? I believe we are, and I believe that God is going to do amazing things in and through us in the coming year.

Participation in God's Work

Paul urges us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. This is a heartfelt plea. It's an invitation to engage with God, to be part of what He's doing in the world. It's about being contributors, not just consumers. This participation is fixed on aligning ourselves with God's purposes, about getting in step with what He's doing. It's about joining God in His work of transforming lives, of mending broken hearts, of bringing hope to the hopeless. We ought to be God's hands and feet in the world.

Now, this requires commitment, serious commitment. The kind of commitment that demands every single part of your being. This might seem overwhelming, but it's worth it. It's worth it because it's what we were created for. It's worth it because it's how we experience the fullness of God's love.

Paul is calling us to a life of prayer. This isn't just any kind of prayer. It's prayer in the Spirit that is guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit in tune with God's heart.

Praying in the Holy Spirit is connecting with God on a deep, personal level. It's about opening our hearts to God, pouring out our hopes and fears, our joys and sorrows, our dreams and disappointments. It's about being honest with God, about being real with Him.

But prayer in the Spirit is also about listening to God. It's about quieting our hearts and minds, about tuning out the noise and distractions of the world, about focusing our attention on God. It's about being still and knowing that He is God. It's about hearing His voice, about discerning His will, about understanding His heart.

Paul also encourages us to pray on all occasions. This includes everyday outside of the Lord’s Day and special occasions. It's not just for when we're in trouble or when we need something. No, prayer is for all occasions. It's for the ordinary moments as well as the extraordinary ones.

This is what it looks like to live in a constant state of prayer. Prayer should be as natural to us as breathing. It should be our first response, not our last resort. It means that prayer is to be a way of life, not just an occasional activity.

Finally, Paul tells us to pray for all the Lord’s people. This is a needed reminder because our prayer life should be bigger than just ourselves. There are people around us that the Lord has ordained we should intercede for and lift up in prayer. Stand in the gap for them and plead their cause before God.

Praying for all the Lord’s people means that we're to have a global perspective in our prayers. It means that we're to pray for believers all over the world. Pray for the persecuted church, for the suffering church, for the struggling church.

Privilege of Prayer

As we continue to reflect on the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:18, we find ourselves drawn to the idea of prayer as a privilege ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO