Sunday, March 22, 2015

Praying for God’s People

Praying for God’s People


God’s People need prayer. The body of Christ, the universal church, every blood bought saint of the Lord should be praying diligently for each other.  Our many needs can only be met through God’s provision. 


Pray for God’s People’s:


Presence
Sent by Christ to share His love and to shine as lights in this world.
  • John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
  • Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

Power
With Christ’s strength and stamina for the salvation of the lost in every place.
  • Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
  • Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Purity
Righteous through the blood of Christ, setting the standard for a God honoring life.
  • Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
  • 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Passion
Driven by selfless and sacrificial enthusiasm while living in reverence and awe of the Lord.
  • Proverbs 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
  • Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Piety
Steadfast servants of Christ and His body.
  • Psalm 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You.
  • 1 Corinthians 16:15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—

Purpose
Christ’s saints have specific responsibilities.
  • Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
  • James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Protection
False teaching, suffering and sin are all subservient to the sovereign Lord of the universe.
  • 2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
  • 2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Preaching
Prepared for any circumstance by sound schooling in the truths of God’s Word.
  • Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
  • 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Patience
Clinging to the surety of God’s Word, each test strengthening for the struggles and imperfect people encountered along the way.
  • Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
  • James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
  • Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Christians need prayer for:
  • Their Presence throughout the world
  • The Power of the Holy Spirit for salvation of the lost by the gospel of Christ
  • Purity of heart and lifestyle
  • Passion for and from Christ
  • Piety that comes from love for God and all people
  • The Purpose of making disciples, serving those in need, and remaining untainted by the sin of the world
  • The Lord’s Protection from false teaching, persecution and the enticements of the flesh, the world and the devil
  • Being convinced, cautioned and called up by the Preaching of humble, prepared and longsuffering pastors
  • Ongoing Patience to watch for the fulfillment of God’s promises, endure every problem and calmly deal with people (lost and saved alike).


Prayer

Father, Lord, Savior: please impress on the heart of each of Your saints to continually pray for the body of Christ. Your church fulfills many purposes that can only be accomplished by Your power in Your timing. May we diligently seek Your Will and submit to Your plan through prayer, Bible Study, sermons, devotions, lesson, Christ centered conversations, the leading of Your Spirit, observing Your work around us, serving others and dying to ourselves daily. I praise Your Holy name and pray in the name above all names, Jesus. Amen.