Untitled Sermon

Intro

Praying for people using NT prayers on cards

idea from “A Praying Life” by Paul Miller.

These verses are the ones I use for my oldest son and his family.

Prayer is foundational

Paul did “not cease to pray” meaning that in everything else he did, he was always praying as well.

What he heard from Epaphras was GOOD! (“your love in the Spirit”) and yet did not lead to less prayer but MORE prayer.

Do we value prayer as a ministry as much as we should? as Paul did?

What Paul prayed

There is one key request and everything else flows out of it.

“asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

Key to the whole prayer. What does it mean?

Key is to look at the context. Everything that follows shows what results from being filled with the knowledge of his will, so that sheds light on what it means.

“So as to....” Knowing his will results in “walking in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.”

Four participles which DESCRIBE this “manner worthy… which pleases”

Bearing fruit in every good work, Increasing in the knowledge of God, Being strengthened... for endurance and patience, Giving thanks for our deliverance and redemption.