Praying Together

 

1 Timothy 2:1-8 gives very important instruction on the priority of prayer in the church:

Prayer: What

This is, first and foremost - a call to prayer. 

Petitions - this is about praying for needs. 

Prayers - this is the basic word for prayer and its focus: God. Prayer is an act of worship 

Requests - Coming alongside - having empathy for the one we are praying for.

Thanksgivings - pray with gratitude. We have the great joy and privilege to be the able to approach the King of the universe.

Prayer: Who

The emphasis here is: all men. 

With an intentional focus on evangelistic prayer.

all men is to be the focus of our prayers. The ones to whom the gospel should be proclaimed.

Prayer: Why

Here’s why we should want freedom: for our evangelistic efforts. 

Remember Show and Tell

Show them what the gospel looks like

what a life radically transformed is

Tell them how they can have that too. 

When we pursue godliness and dignity, We promote and foster, Tranquil and quiet lives so that we have greater freedom and opportunities for sharing our message of hope with others.

Practical Prayer Principle: 

Prayer Catalyzes Love

No greater way to foster a genuine, right love and care for someone than to pray for them.

As you pray for someone, your heart will turn toward them.

Richard Baxter - puritan pastor:

Let your heart yearn for your ungodly neighbors. Alas, there is but a step between them and death and hell. Many hundred diseases are waiting, ready to seize on them and if they die unregenerate, they will be lost forever. Have you hearts of rock that cannot pity men in such a case as this? Do you not care who is damned as long as you are saved? If so, you have sufficient cause to pity yourselves, for it is a frame of spirit utterly inconsistent with grace… Do you live close by them? Or, do you meet them in the streets or work with them or travel with them or sit and talk with them and say nothing to them of their souls? If their houses were on fire you would run and help them. Will you not help them where their souls are almost at the fire of hell?

We need to see those we encounter in our lives as Bound for Hell if they die without Christ

And all of this is the starting point for us to be:

A fired up church, 

Radically obedient to a 

Passionate pursuit of

knowing God and

making Him known

Pursuing Passionate Prayer

1. Prioritize Prayer

Take every opportunity that you have to join

in prayer. 

2. Engage

Don’t zone out - focus - tune in. 

3. Think and Look Back

Be a prayer historian. Track your prayers and 

their answers. 

4. Be a Catalyst

Always be ready to pray.

Ask others how you can pray for them this 

week. Then follow up next week.

Pray through the membership directory using 

Colossians 1:9-14 as a prayer guide

There’s probably no better way to foster  unity in our church than to pray for one  another this way. It will knit our hearts together in love.

Let’s re-commit ourselves to praying for one another, praying for the lost, and for those in authority. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob