How to Pray for Other Believers — Part 5

Prayer — Such a mysterious habit for the believer in Jesus. Maybe you don’t struggle with the discipline of prayer, but I do. I often treat prayer as a last resort, when I’ve run out of humanly-produced options, when I’m helpless and can’t solve my own problems. It’s like I have God on speed dial and His only number is 9-1-1. What a poor view of prayer!

And how often — when I do pray — are my prayers for me and mine? What about others? I’m slowly learning that God expects and invites me to intercede for others, to put their needs ahead of my own, to bring them before the throne of God and to earnestly pray for them.

I’ve recently been challenged by Colossians 1 and Paul’s prayer for those believers. Here’s what we read:

How to Pray for Other Believers (Col. 1:9-14)

We’ve noticed two parts of my outline of this challenging text:

I. The Commitment to Pray for Others (v. 9)

We’ve seen that Paul’s praying for these Colossians is not described as something he started to do, but as something he would not stop doing. And we asked, for whom are you continually praying?

We’ve also seen —

II. The Primary Purpose in Praying for Others (vv. 9-10)

Paul writes: “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives . . .”

Our prayers are to be for the critical issue of others knowing God’s will and growing in the wisdom and understanding the Spirit gives.

Let’s continue our study and notice —

III. The Specifics of What We Should Pray for Others (vv. 10-14).

How easy it is for us to pray for each other’s health, job, family, choice of college, etc. So what makes Paul’s list as he intercedes for these believers? He prays —

A. That They Would Live a Life Worthy of the Lord (v. 10)

B. To please Him in every way (v. 10).

Let’s notice a third request Paul makes for these believers —

C. Bearing fruit in every good work (v. 10).

We are to be fruit-bearers! We are not simply decorative trees that take up space! We are to bear fruit. We are not to live for ourselves but are to look for opportunities to be fruitful in the works that we do. Our faith is not solely verbal. We are commissioned to do good works (Eph. 2:8-10).

What good work can you choose to do today that will bear fruit?

 

How to Pray for Other Believers — Part 4

Prayer — Such a mysterious habit for the believer in Jesus. Maybe you don’t struggle with the discipline of prayer, but I do. I often treat prayer as a last resort, when I’ve run out of humanly-produced options, when I’m helpless and can’t solve my own problems. It’s like I have God on speed dial and His only number is 9-1-1. What a poor view of prayer!

And how often — when I do pray — are my prayers for me and mine? What about others? I’m slowly learning that God expects and invites me to intercede for others, to put their needs ahead of my own, to bring them before the throne of God and to earnestly pray for them.

I’ve recently been challenged by Colossians 1 and Paul’s prayer for those believers. Here’s what we read:

How to Pray for Other Believers (Col. 1:9-14)

We’ve noticed two parts of my outline of this challenging text:

I. The Commitment to Pray for Others (v. 9)

We’ve seen that Paul’s praying for these Colossians is not described as something he started to do, but as something he would not stop doing. And we asked, for whom are you continually praying?

We’ve also seen —

II. The Primary Purpose in Praying for Others (vv. 9-10)

Paul writes: “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives . . .”

Our prayers are to be for the critical issue of others knowing God’s will and growing in the wisdom and understanding the Spirit gives.

Let’s continue our study and notice —

III. The Specifics of What We Should Pray for Others (vv. 10-14).

How easy it is for us to pray for each other’s health, job, family, choice of college, etc. So what makes Paul’s list as he intercedes for these believers? He prays —

A. That They Would Live a Life Worthy of the Lord (v. 10)

Let’s notice the second specific of Paul’s prayer. It is that —

B. To please Him in every way (v. 10).

Wow! What a request! The Christian life is far more than doing the right things or thinking the right thoughts. It is asking, everyday, “Am I pleasing the Lord?”

As grandparents of seven, we try to encourage our grandchildren to be “please and thank you” people. But Paul’s request goes way beyond being polite and grateful. This one question — “Am I pleasing the Lord?” — is huge and is guaranteed to recalibrate our choices and priorities every moment we ask it!

For whom should you pray today that they will seek to please the Lord in every way?

 

How to Pray for Other Believers — Part 3

Prayer — Such a mysterious habit for the believer in Jesus. Maybe you don’t struggle with the discipline of prayer, but I do. I often treat prayer as a last resort, when I’ve run out of humanly-produced options, when I’m helpless and can’t solve my own problems. It’s like I have God on speed dial and His only number is 9-1-1. What a poor view of prayer!

And how often — when I do pray — are my prayers for me and mine? What about others? I’m slowly learning that God expects and invites me to intercede for others, to put their needs ahead of my own, to bring them before the throne of God and to earnestly pray for them.

I’ve recently been challenged by Colossians 1 and Paul’s prayer for those believers. Here’s what we read:

How to Pray for Other Believers (Col. 1:9-14)

We’ve noticed two parts of my outline of this challenging text:

I. The Commitment to Pray for Others (v. 9)

We’ve seen that Paul’s praying for these Colossians is not described as something he started to do, but as something he would not stop doing. And we asked, for whom are you continually praying?

We’ve also seen —

II. The Primary Purpose in Praying for Others (vv. 9-10)

Paul writes: “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives . . .”

Our prayers are to be for the critical issue of others knowing God’s will and growing in the wisdom and understanding the Spirit gives.

Let’s continue our study and notice —

III. The Specifics of What We Should Pray for Others (vv. 10-14).

How easy it is for us to pray for each other’s health, job, family, choice of college, etc. So what makes Paul’s list as he intercedes for these believers? He prays —

A. That They Would Live a Life Worthy of the Lord (v. 10)

Can any of us do that? Really? It must be possible if Paul invested time in praying precisely for that need for these Colossian believers. But what does it mean to “live a life worthy of the Lord”?

To do anything worthy of another means that we are meeting their expectations, their best desires for us. Of course we are not worthy in and of ourselves, but we have hundreds of choices every day to honor Him and make Him proud of us. I’m reminded of a great story about worthiness. The late Dr. Howard Hendricks, beloved Dallas Seminary professor, asked a student to open the seminary class in prayer. The student prayed, “Lord, we know that we are worthless servants and . . .” Dr. Hendricks interrupted the student and said, “We are not worthless, son. We are unworthy. You may now finish your prayer.”

Are you and I living a life worthy of the Lord? How can we tell? (Comments welcome below)

 

How Should I Pray for . . . Others? (A Study of Colossians 1:9-14) Part 5

One of the disciplines of my life is also one of my most enjoyable luxuries.  I get up every morning about 5 or 5:30 am.  Yes, that means I go to bed about 9 or 9:30 pm at night.  But that quiet time in the morning is precious to me.  I get to spend some solid time with the Lord . . . and a cup of coffee.

What I especially appreciate is that I can work slowly and progressively on preaching and teaching assignments that are coming up.  So, for example, while I’m here in Myanmar, I get to preach to the students at South East Bible College on this topic of praying for others.  Working on my daily blog helps me think through this topic and gradually develop the material I pray will be useful to them.  I deeply appreciate your reading my blog and praying for me as I spend time in God’s Word.

Our text is Colossians 1 and Paul’s meaty prayer.  Let’s look at that passage one more time:

We’re suggesting the following outline:

I. Paul’s Strategic Commitment to Pray for Others (v. 9)

Then we notice —

II. Paul’s Specific Content in His Praying for Others (vv. 9-12)

We’ve seen Paul’s first request (of the seven we will consider) for these believers and it is that they would be —

A. Filled with a Knowledge of His Will (v. 9)

Let’s notice his second request for them.  It is that they would —

B.  Live a Life Worthy of the Lord (v. 10)

What does it mean to “live a life worthy of the Lord”?  Negatively, it means we don’t live in such a way that the Lord would be ashamed of us or embarrassed by our conduct.  We strive to lead godly, Christ-focused, intentional lives before Him.  We don’t let life simply pass us by or slip through our fingers.  We look at each day as another opportunity to nudge people toward the Kingdom of God, to be salt and light in our tasteless and dark world, to personally rejoice in our salvation.  We refuse to let our hours and days just tumble down the hourglass of time without our consciously choosing to use that time for Him.  We “find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10) — and we get to it!  Positively, we want the Lord to be proud of us.  That’s a bit — it seems to me — of what it means to “live a life worthy of the Lord.”

There’s a great story about the late Howard Hendricks, esteemed professor emeritus of Dallas Theological Seminary.  He asked a student to open the class in prayer and the student prayed, “Lord, we know that we are worthless creatures and . . .”  Dr. Hendricks interrupted the student’s prayer and said, “Son, the word you want is ‘unworthy.’  We are not ‘worthless.’  You may now finish your prayer.”

Pray for someone else today that they would live a life worthy of the Lord!  And ask the Lord to help you do the same.  (to be continued)