PRAYING FOR OTHERS!

PRAYING FOR OTHERS!

Eph 3:14-21

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

          Paul’s final words to the Ephesians suggests a form for praying for our friends. After rehearsing his testimony and his troubles, Paul goes on to explain how he prays for others.

          He prayed for spiritual strength. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the life is evidence of salvation. Once we are saved we are immediately thrust into a spiritual conflict. Our human strength and abilities will not be sufficient against a spiritual foe. Paul reminds us that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal; not human or physical” (2 Cor. 10:4). When you pray for your friends, pray for their spiritual strength.

          He focused on the inner man. I am thinking of a friend now who seethes with anger and frustration. Paul understood that, not only is this warfare a spiritual one, it takes place within the inner man. The battle field is our mind and our emotions. Peter referred to it as “the hidden man of the heart” (1 Peter 3:4). We have now learned that many of our illnesses are due to improper thinking. We are not just ill, we are mentally ill. So, when you pray for your friends, pray for peace within their inner man.

          Paul also prayed for their understanding. He wanted the Ephesians to understand God. He wanted them to comprehend the incomprehensible; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. Since “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17), he wanted them to read and study their Bible. I find it interesting that, after forty years as a pastor, the two things I still recommend most is Bible study and prayer yet those two things are most neglected.

          Paul prayed that they might understand and experience “the power of God that works in us.” God never rests in His quest to make us conform to the image of His Son. He is always chipping away the rough edges and sanding until the surface is smooth. Often this process is painful to the subject but the product is worth the pain. So, when you pray for your friends, pray that they will experience the power of God in their lives.

          Paul prayed that the Ephesians might glorify God in the church. “Glory in the church” is how he put it. When you pray for your friends, pray that they might be both useful and satisfied in their church. Too few people understand or experience a mutually satisfying church relationship.

Heb 13:20-21

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Dear Lord, today I pray for my friends. I pray that they might know you and experience your power. Give them not only their daily bread but their daily portion of your Spirit. AMEN