Joy in Praying for Others
Joy in Praying for Others
What is the greatest gift you can give the one or ones you love? It is definitely not gold and silver because they can’t take those with them when they die. The greatest gift we can give each other and yes to even our enemies is the gift of prayer. I am thinking of my friend and neighbor 85 year old Mr. J who recently had quadruple by-pass heart surgery. He is recovering and I pray that Christ will dwell richly in his heart. He expresses fears of the unknown and please join to pray for him. Only Christ can fill the void in his heart and take away his fears.
Joy comes from giving of ourselves in prayer for others. The joy comes when we realize who we are praying to and what He is able to do. Paul has the greatest affection for the Philippians as we will see in this Epistle. He prays for the Philippians:
“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.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus”. Phil 1:3-8
1. Paul prays knowing that God will surely answer just as Jesus assured us to ask.
2. He prays knowing that he cannot do much for them except to pray. “ 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Phil 4:6. Your joy and peace are tied to the God of our prayers.
3. He prays with thanksgiving knowing that God is now in total control. When you stop and see the “good work” God has started and will finish in others, you will give thanks to God. Can you see?
4. You pray with joy when you realize that other believers are partners in spreading this gospel of salvation. There is nothing nobler than the gospel that saves a sinner, making him or her at peace with God. Let’s pray and see how we can partner with those who sincerely love the gospel and not those who are seeking to fill their own bellies.
5. You and I can pray for others even when we are in chains (all kinds of difficulties) and defending the gospel. Paul was in chains and it did not stop him from thinking of others.
6. We can pray especially for believers because we share the same grace of God with each other. Our source and doer is God. God is working on our behalf for His glory.
7. We are to pray for all not just our favorite friends and church clique. The body of Christ needs prayers without exception. Paul says “my prayers for all of you”. Don’t run down the weak brother/sister with your mouth; pray for him or her please.
Who are you burdened to pray for today? Pray for them. We will get into the specifics of Paul’s prayer next week so we know what to pray for others. May be your joy level is low because you have not been praying for others. Are you spending too much time consumed by your own needs and not thanking God for others? Fill up your joy tank by your continual thanksgiving for others. I thank God today for you who will perfect all that concerns you till Christ comes. Stand in the gap for others with joy. Amen.
What is the greatest gift you can give the one or ones you love? It is definitely not gold and silver because they can’t take those with them when they die. The greatest gift we can give each other and yes to even our enemies is the gift of prayer. I am thinking of my friend and neighbor 85 year old Mr. J who recently had quadruple by-pass heart surgery. He is recovering and I pray that Christ will dwell richly in his heart. He expresses fears of the unknown and please join to pray for him. Only Christ can fill the void in his heart and take away his fears.
Joy comes from giving of ourselves in prayer for others. The joy comes when we realize who we are praying to and what He is able to do. Paul has the greatest affection for the Philippians as we will see in this Epistle. He prays for the Philippians:
“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.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus”. Phil 1:3-8
1. Paul prays knowing that God will surely answer just as Jesus assured us to ask.
2. He prays knowing that he cannot do much for them except to pray. “ 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Phil 4:6. Your joy and peace are tied to the God of our prayers.
3. He prays with thanksgiving knowing that God is now in total control. When you stop and see the “good work” God has started and will finish in others, you will give thanks to God. Can you see?
4. You pray with joy when you realize that other believers are partners in spreading this gospel of salvation. There is nothing nobler than the gospel that saves a sinner, making him or her at peace with God. Let’s pray and see how we can partner with those who sincerely love the gospel and not those who are seeking to fill their own bellies.
5. You and I can pray for others even when we are in chains (all kinds of difficulties) and defending the gospel. Paul was in chains and it did not stop him from thinking of others.
6. We can pray especially for believers because we share the same grace of God with each other. Our source and doer is God. God is working on our behalf for His glory.
7. We are to pray for all not just our favorite friends and church clique. The body of Christ needs prayers without exception. Paul says “my prayers for all of you”. Don’t run down the weak brother/sister with your mouth; pray for him or her please.
Who are you burdened to pray for today? Pray for them. We will get into the specifics of Paul’s prayer next week so we know what to pray for others. May be your joy level is low because you have not been praying for others. Are you spending too much time consumed by your own needs and not thanking God for others? Fill up your joy tank by your continual thanksgiving for others. I thank God today for you who will perfect all that concerns you till Christ comes. Stand in the gap for others with joy. Amen.
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