Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Series: Part 4b
Five Prayers of the Apostle Paul
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Tonight we continue our series on prayer.
We find several examples in the bible of people who prayed to God, Godly prayers, prayers that not only moved the hand of God and changed the lives of people in those days, but prayers which continue to move our hearts and change our lives today.
In the book of Acts alone we see church leaders and congregations alike praying to commission people, heal sicknesses and diseases, to receive boldness, salvation, direction, protection, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and even raise people from the dead. Prayer is very much a part of the believer’s daily responsibilities of life.
At least 30 times in the 28 chapters of Acts mention is made of prayer being the key factor.
You see:
Prayer is not the spiritual spice we sprinkle over our life to give it a God flavor … rather prayer is the key ingredient through which we find the receipt for life.
It is in the book of Acts that we find such testimonies as:
Acts 2:42 ¶ And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 3:1 ¶ Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Their problem that day began with prayer and ended with prayer …
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 6:4 "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
It is in Acts that we find one of the things which moved the hand of God on behalf of Saul of Tarsus …
Acts 9:11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.”
Acts 12:5 ¶ Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
Acts 12:12 says that many were gathered together that night at the house of Mary, John Mark’s mother, in order to pray for Peter.
Acts 16:25 ¶ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
So you see, prayer was the standard set by the early church and the bible testifies that prayer works.
Last week we began looking at what I call the five prayers of Paul. We only had time to go over the first two on my list:
I. Prayer One - Ephesians 1:16-20
II. Prayer Two - Ephesians 3:14-19
Tonight let me go over the other three and we will see that Paul prayed even at times when he was not in danger, trouble or need.
III. Prayer Three - Philippians 1:9-11
Philippians 1 NKJV
9 ¶ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
IV. Prayer Four - Colossians 1:9-12
Colossians 1 NKJV
9 ¶ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
12 ¶ giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Continued faith confession:
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
V. Prayer Five - 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
2 Thessalonians 1 NKJV
11 ¶ Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
Sideline Note: Paul also mentions giving thanks for the believers in the church of Thessalonica in the beginning of this letter in brief.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other (NKJV)
