"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. "
John 17 : 16-17
The entire chapter is about Jesus's prayer for his disciples and us. Do take the time to read it. A lot of us are familiar with the term , "standing in the gap", "stand in the breach". We use that term in the context of prayer. It comes from Ezekiel 22: 30 , "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."
For some of us our prayers consist of immediate needs for ourselves , a few general lines and thats it .
Why is praying for others so important ? Lets look at this context for today, as to why do we need to even pray for the body of Christ and members in the body ? Even of the local church that you and I attend.
Ephesians 3: 14- 21 , " For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Paul wrote this letter in prison. And there he is bowing down his knees for the churches in Ephesus that they be strengthened , that Christ will reign supreme , that they be rooted and grounded... that they may be filled with all the fullness of God.. !
Such awesome prayers we see Christ praying, we see Paul praying...
Now lets quickly turn our Bibles to 1 Corinthians 12 : 26 , "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together"
How does that happen ? How can our hearts truly be moved that way ? When we are on our knees praying for one another. Prayer changes first the one who is praying. It grows us closer to Him and our hearts grow in compassion.
Oh if we are found praying for one another why wont their hurts, suffering be our ours and when they are honoured how joyful will our hearts be to rejoice. We have been praying for them daily. Its personal.
We have tasted and seen His goodness, His bride is His church. In our business of the day, may we not forsake the key criticality of praying for one another in our daily quiet times. May we be found bowing down our knees for the local assembly of body of Christ that He has so graciously placed us in.
God Bless
John 17 : 16-17
The entire chapter is about Jesus's prayer for his disciples and us. Do take the time to read it. A lot of us are familiar with the term , "standing in the gap", "stand in the breach". We use that term in the context of prayer. It comes from Ezekiel 22: 30 , "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none."
For some of us our prayers consist of immediate needs for ourselves , a few general lines and thats it .
Why is praying for others so important ? Lets look at this context for today, as to why do we need to even pray for the body of Christ and members in the body ? Even of the local church that you and I attend.
Ephesians 3: 14- 21 , " For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Paul wrote this letter in prison. And there he is bowing down his knees for the churches in Ephesus that they be strengthened , that Christ will reign supreme , that they be rooted and grounded... that they may be filled with all the fullness of God.. !
Such awesome prayers we see Christ praying, we see Paul praying...
Now lets quickly turn our Bibles to 1 Corinthians 12 : 26 , "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together"
How does that happen ? How can our hearts truly be moved that way ? When we are on our knees praying for one another. Prayer changes first the one who is praying. It grows us closer to Him and our hearts grow in compassion.
Oh if we are found praying for one another why wont their hurts, suffering be our ours and when they are honoured how joyful will our hearts be to rejoice. We have been praying for them daily. Its personal.
We have tasted and seen His goodness, His bride is His church. In our business of the day, may we not forsake the key criticality of praying for one another in our daily quiet times. May we be found bowing down our knees for the local assembly of body of Christ that He has so graciously placed us in.
God Bless
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