Break #69
WRITTEN STUDY NOTES
(How about a short break from within our Nehemiah series... I will
get back to Nehemiah soon)
"Praying for You"
What Should That Mean?
When someone asks you
to pray for them - or that you ask others to pray for you, what does /
should that mean?
-
Do they mean that they
want to 'outnumber' God with the number of prayer requests so that He changes
His mind?
-
Do they mean that want
you to help "flood the throne with prayers" so God will give them
the grace they are begging for?
-
Do they mean that they
want someone they think might be 'closer to God' than they are to
pray for them because their prayers don't seem to getting through to God?
I have to say, and believe
strongly myself, that so many of the newer 'Paul following sincere Christians'
still base their prayer knowledge and prayer life on their old denominational
/ non-denominational denominational past teachings along with their inner
feelings - as a result, they feel like God is not listening / hearing their
prayers. They eventually wonder what they must be doing in their
daily life that would be 'hindering' their prayers, etc. Many still
wonder 'Where is God?' in their lives!
Many 'sincere Christians'
are also frustrated with their prayer life because they just won't / can't
get rid of their pentecostal 'spirit-led,' Holy Spiritual flowings, etc.
They want to pray over the phone with you - they want to have those long
prayer sessions - they would rather pray over a situation and then expecting
the Holy Spirit to step into their lives and prevent them from thinking
the wrong thoughts, doing the wrongs things, learning the wrong stuff,
etc. other than just using their own Bible studied knowlege, understanding
and wisdom to walk circumspectly through their day!
So,
with that said, some of you now may ask how I can say something that sounds
so 'mean,' 'unlvoing' and 'judgmental'?
My answer:
-
Because I am in the hard
financial, family, personal challenges situations today because I based
my early Christian years falling for the "live right - pray right -
do right - born-again - church going - active in the local church instead
of my own family" lifestyle.
-
I just prayed and then
figured God would just make things work by His blessings of finances, health,
daily needs, etc.
-
I was one of those 'irritating'
Christians who would just wait and 'let God do it for me.'
-
I figured He would just
be 'my pilot' while I would sit back and let Him fly my plane for
me.
-
I figured it would be
His 'footprints in the sand carrying me' instead of me getting onto
the beach myself and actually following His teachings as my RISEN Saviour.
-
I figured if I would use
my music knowlege and talent to worship Him in my performance, expecting
Him to return His thanks to me with His blessings of good job, successful
family, being loved by many, supported by His blessings daily.
-
I figured if God has anything
to say to me, He would say it through that Spirit-led preacher / pastor
who has been to Bible Institute / Seminary and certainly loves us all...
Afterall, he was of the anointed that I wasn't supposed to touch with my
complaints or challenging questions, etc.
-
I figured that reading
the entire Bible over and over would show God that I am scholarly and again;
of course, expecting His blessings on my family financially, in employment,
in the lives of my own children and wife, etc.
Boy was I wrong - and
now I see why!
That, my friends, is
why I abhor (Romans 12:9) today's Christian
religion, demoninations (all of them, including the so-called Bible Believer
denomination along with the grace believers crowd), the design of the local
church today and especially the pastors in the pulpits and on youtube,
etc. teaching and preaching the wrong gospel, making mockery of the truth,
being deceived and deceiving others with their bible instituted professor
and self created false teachings.
I don't just 'love
them' and buddy with them in a lovingly way as 'we are all brothers...'.
No, I abhor them and all that - and I truly don't believe many are brothers,
etc. It is the pope who says "We all have the same God but we
just seek Him differently!" Personally, I would tend to agree
with him but only in this way... the god who they all have is the god of
this world - Satan himself; NOT God the Creator, etc. and those who
think they have the risen Saviour as their Saviour, then they should be
turning the HIS TEACHINGS since He died and rose again. Otherwise,
they are putting forth another Jesus... Just ask Paul what that means!
Anyway
- enough of that 'introduction' - Let's now look to Paul for how he prayed
for others so he can give us some direction on how we could pray for others
that we care about - and especially those who are seeking a life based
on the teachings of the risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through a King
James Bible (that which is perfect has come) rightly divided by looking
to Paul ONLY for our daily application of knowledge and understanding of
the Risen Saviour!
Here are a few verses on which
you could medite!
(I have underlined what I believe will serve the purpose of this study
as I point out some specific within that verse)
Romans 1:9: For
God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son,
that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
I Thessalonians 1:2:
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you
in our prayers;
Romans 15:30:
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for
the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers
to God for me;
Ephesians 1:16: Cease
not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Philippians 1:4:
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Philippians 1:9:
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge
and in all judgment;
Philippians 4:6:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Colossians 1:3:
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying
always for you,
Colossians 1:9:
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;
Colossians 4:12:
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always
labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.
I Thessalonians 3:10:
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and
might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
II Thessalonians 1:11:
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you
worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his
goodness, and the work of faith with power:
II Thessalonians 3:1:
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free
course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
Of course there are more verses on
this subject, but these are enough for now - at least from me. Feel
free to find more - and send them to me in email AND in your own prayers
and support to and for me!
M Paulson
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