Paul: His Life and His Teachings The Prayers of Paul
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No.18 Paul: His Life and Teachings - The Prayers of Paul (Part 1)
No.19 Paul: His Life and Teachings - The Prayers of Paul (Part 2)
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What we will study now are the different prayers that the Paul offered on behalf of the believers he was writing to. These prayers will also serve as items of prayers that we ought to be offering for one another. The contents of these prayers are not what we normally pray for others today. Let us start with Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (Eph.3:14- 21). The context of the phrase, “For this reason,” is Paul teaching the Ephesians that there is One Body of Christ comprised of Jews and Gentiles. There are no more walls of hostility or division – all believers are accepted in the beloved. This means there is now no room for prejudice, bigotry and “class-identification” of believers. Notice how Paul knelt before the Father when he was praying for these things. Instead of being proud, he knelt in humble prayers for the believers in Ephesus. Paul also mentioned that His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its names from Him (God the Father). We are named after, and therefore carrying the name of our Heavenly Father.
Paul continued praying that God will strengthen the Ephesians with power through His Spirit that dwells in them. Prayer for strength does not mean that they don’t have any strength but rather that they will increase in strength. This is in answer to what most of us feel, that is, we need more strength. Paul prayed that Christ may dwell comfortably in their hearts through faith. Christ dwelling comfortably in us is what John depicts when Christ comes into a person and dines with him (Rev. 3:20). And likewise, when Jesus said, “We will come to him and make Our abode with him,” pertaining to a believer who loves God and keeps His word (Jn.14:23). Those who understand the love of God will be able to see His love on all occasions of life. They will have the power to comprehend the length, the depth, the height … of the love of Christ; and know such love that surpasses knowledge. This is an encouragement for us to move to the level of the spirit wherein we know (by revelation) that which is beyond and surpasses (head) knowledge.
The ultimate or the end goal of this prayer is so that they can be filled with God with the measure that God wants. This means that at that point the Ephesians were not yet living in the fullness of God that He wants them to walk in. The assurance of this prayer is that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. This is according to His power that is at work within us. On the other hand, Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians is a one-sentence prayer found in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13. The prayer starts with, “May the Lord direct our way to you,” which means that Paul was praying for another visit to Thessalonica. The context of this is that Paul had attempted to visit earlier but was unable to. For Paul, it is because Satan had done everything possible for him not to make it to Thessalonica again. We can say that Paul made some unsuccessful attempt to go back but could not. So, what Paul is asking is for God to make their next meeting possible.
This prayer reveals something to us about how Paul thinks. He is not despairing of what he could do himself, thus, leaving all to God. His efforts and God’s directions are two sides of the same coin. He neither sits and waits for God to transport him nor does he believe that his journeys are his own planning and achievement alone. When Paul thinks of his visit, he is thinking of his purpose, which is to complete what is lacking in their faith (v.10). For the Lord to cause believers to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people; just as what Paul pursues as he ministers. This is a powerful prayer for them to exceed who they are right now. Paul wants them to realize who God wants them to be, according to what he also sees in them. This is Paul praying for the realization of their potential. He wants their love to increase or to grow. This is the purpose of Paul’s visit, and this is what God’s love is about - to bring good to those whom He loves; and not in order to achieve some good for Himself. He is already perfect. He loves in order to bring good to those whom He loves. Praise be to God!