Bible Ballistics: Prayer? January 19, 2014 Vol.3 No.10
It’s been a long week, a week of trials, sorrow, grief and pain, but at the same time a week when God has made Himself real and powerful in my own heart. One of those times when through the clouds, God came near. I’d like to do something a bit different today. I’d like us to look at two of Paul’s prayers for his ‘believing’ friends in two churches, the Churches at Ephesus and Colossae. I’d like to just emphasize the flow of these prayers and walk through them with minimal commentary. Please hear Paul’s heart and mine for YOU and me.
Ephesians 3:16-21, “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.”
That Christ may ‘dwell’ (be at home in our hearts) in us by faith. That we may be: rooted, grounded, comprehending of God’s abundant provision to and for us. That we might KNOW the unsurpassed LOVE of God IN Christ Jesus, and be empowered to be a ‘glory in the church (HIS church) BY Christ Jesus’. Forever!!! AMEN-so be it- this is my prayer for each of us!!!
Colossians 1:9-17, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that
ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will
in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord
unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power,
unto all patience
and longsuffering
with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of
the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from
the power of darkness,
and hath translated us
into the kingdom
of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption
through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created,
that are in heaven,
and that are in earth,
visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones,
or dominions,
or principalities,
or powers:
all things were created
by him,
and for him:
17 And he is before all things,
and by him all things consist.”
My prayer also—that we will be: filled, obedient, walking worthy, being fruitful, strengthened by HIM, patient, longsuffering (putting up with it), joyful and grateful. That we are saved, delivered, translated and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, which ‘forgives’ and ‘cleanses’ us for His use and glory. All this from the creator of all things. Amen and Amen. May these things speak to you as they have to me?
Bible Ballistics 