Righteous Living: United in Prayer

The Power of Intercession

Bible Passage: Romans 15:30–33

Intro:

(5 Minutes)

Welcome, everyone, as we delve into a vital aspect of our Christian lives: the power of intercessory prayer. Today, we'll focus on Romans 15:30-33, where the Apostle Paul not only underscores the importance of praying with purpose but also invites us to unite in spirit to support each other through prayer.

Through the lens of Christ's example, we will explore how our prayers can overflow with joy, foster sanctification, promote unity, and affirm our purpose on earth. Understanding that even Jesus has prayed for us is a humbling reminder of the divine love and constant support we have.

Let us open our hearts to the lessons within these passages and embrace the privilege of following in the prayerful footsteps of Christ.

1. Praying with Purpose

Romans 15:30

(10 minutes)

Application Part of Romans

Urge- call upon you; appeal- to pray together of me!

Unifying work, takes a work of the spirit.

Coaching my sons team to work together….

This is common theme through the new testament church unity… have you ever wondered why? Well they should do that… rather I would have us see this morning that Paul is not appealing becuase it is what they should do but rather what Christ has done that calls us to humility.

He appeals by two things.

Jesus.

Jesus is the example of praying with purpose

How did Christ pray for others?

John 17:13–26

Prayed for our overflowing- impact

“13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

2. Prayed for our sanctification- trust and obedience

15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

3. Prayed for the disruption of division- unity

20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

4. Prayed for our time on earth and eternity- Purpose

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.””

Jesus pray for us lasts all time!

You have been prayed for by Jesus.

You and I needed to know this morning.

If we are His we are have an continue to be prayed for!

"In our journey to deepen our prayer lives, let’s take a cue from Jesus, who prayed with clear purpose. When Jesus prayed for joy, sanctification, unity, and our eternal purpose, He showed us how prayer can shape our lives

Love of the spirit.

The unifying work….

Kindling love for one another.

How amazing it is that God calls complete opposition to unity!

Can this sit in for a moment today?

Can we be mindful of this… you will be offended by it, when we loose sight of the work of God.

No that any should parish…

Myself and you are still in the sanctifying work

Do you love each other, beyond pleasantries

Becuase of Jesus and becuase the spirit is leading you to care about more than your self to strive

strive- fight on the same side

Remeber Jew and Gentile

Unity through the work of Christ

Bearing with the weaker believer.

to God.

Why do we need to pray to God?

It is elementary for some of us but not maybe for others.

What has Romans taught us is the reason we pray to God

He is sovereign.

He can be known

Keep praying in order to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

Highlights:

In our journey to deepen our prayer lives, let’s take a cue from Jesus, who prayed with clear purpose. When Jesus prayed for joy, sanctification, unity, and our eternal purpose, He showed us how prayer can shape our lives. So, let’s simplify our approach: aim to pray intentionally, focusing on one key aspect at a time. For example, this week, choose to pray specifically for unity within your community, just as Jesus did. Let’s learn to make each prayer a purposeful conversation with God, aligning us more closely to His will.

Today, will you take time to ask someone in this room before you leave how you can be praying for them. I want to give you how you can be praying for my family. I ask that you pray for me to have such courage as is called for me as your pastor.

Transition:

Having established the importance of intentional prayer, we naturally move to the specific dimensions of these prayers—our petitions for protection. Just as Jesus demonstrated purposeful praying, Paul shows us how to bring our deepest needs before God.

2. Petitions for Protection

Romans 15:31

(10 minutes)

Paul provides how they can pray. Paul gets personal

External

Prayer life was proclaiming his theology

Rescued-

2 Corinthians 1:10 “10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,”

What does it mean to be rescued by God?

Psalm 140:1–5 “1 Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men 2 Who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars. 3 They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah. 4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men Who have purposed to trip up my feet. 5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set snares for me. Selah.”

It takes honesty, humility, and desperation

Awareness. 1

It means that our only hope in the midst of this world if God’s rescue, We need to pray this prayer and be active in faith.

Let us not mix this with trial and tribulation; act of evil vs trial and tribulation

It wasn't there prayers that would rescue him, it is what God does.

Yet they were attentive to the present need, praying what the believed.

It makes its way forwards into the present, rescuing people from the state of sin, and rescuing God’s people from trouble and persecution. ‘Salvation’ is a present reality as well as a future hope.

N. T. Wright

Those who are disobedient

Why were they disobedient?

Romans 2:8 “8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.”

What can disobedience lead to?

Anything!

Internal

Service is proved acceptable the saints

Serving the needs of the people spiritually and physically

gift from the churches and Paul’s pastoral encouragement

Is this about serving to see that others can deem it acceptable or is the acceptable action on obedience to God?

Romans 12:1 “1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Eternal as Pail was presenting himself as a living sacrifice.

Wanted to be in Rome but was obedient… delivering the gift from the churches.

Living- active

Go back to week on of this series and glean from it.

Highlights:

"Prayer for protection is both personal and powerful. Paul invited personal prayers for rescue, highlighting his trust in God amid challenges. To simplify this, focus on three things: honesty, humility, and specific needs. Whether it’s protection from personal struggles or external threats, be specific in your petitions. Remember, it’s not our words that save us, but our reliance on God’s strength. As you pray, let faith guide your words, trusting that God’s provision is both timely and sufficient."

Transition:

While praying for protection highlights our dependence on God’s strength in trials, it leads us to an equally profound aspect of prayer—the pursuit of joyful peace. Let’s see how such peace is not just a byproduct, but a promise we claim through our persistent prayers.

3. Joyful Peace through Prayer

Romans 15:32–33

(10 Minutes)

Joy- Paul desired to see them. He needed to accomplish what he was doing and then he would come see the church in Rome

Will of God- if God wills it- should be in our vocabulary when we talk about our lives and desires

Theology on display

James 4:15 “15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.””

It is good to not ignore this, faith is surrendering to the will of God.

To know that nothing happens in God’s world apart from God’s will may frighten the godless, but it stabilizes the saints.

J. I. Packer

Refreshing rest- they played an important role

Paul faced great labors and anxieties, there was time for him to find rest and be refitted

The rest is not laziness.. it is obedience to provision from God

Hebrews 4:10–11 “10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”

Learn a little from this

Paul was human

Yes he was a man of God

the work puts a toil on his life

May I be vulnerable?

"I currently am in a season in my life when I feel overwhelmed by the pastoring of this fellowship in a good sense. I feel exhausted at times and there is a lack of joy certainly in areas of my life In an attempt to find reprieve, I had to receive some biblical instruction and learning, I need to take more time with the father. -Please pray for me becuase this is lacking far more than ever.

Can i ask where you need to be vulnerable this morning when we read a text like this.

This is what is so good about going through the bible verse by verse. Paul needed rest from the life of ministry.

There is a need for rest

“Come unto me, and I will give you rest.” The rest He offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend.

A. W. Tozer

Receive what God has given for us in times of rest

Theology- fellowship with Him

1 Chronicles 16:8–12 “8 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 12 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,”

Honesty in times of rest

1 John 1:6 “6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;”

Eagerness

Some of us are like why is Paul so eager…

Time with one another-

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 “9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”

For the early Christians koinonia was not the frilly ‘fellowship’ of church-sponsored bi-weekly outings. It was not tea, biscuits and sophisticated small talk in the Fellowship Hall after the sermon. It was an unconditional sharing of their lives with the other members of Christ’s body.

Ronald J. Sider

refreshing and going

there is still work for Paul

In times of rest God is honest on who we are.

God of peace is with us!

There could have been things to fret about if it wasn't for the God of peace and His will

Highlights:

"Finding peace through prayer begins with a simple surrender: acknowledging God’s will in our lives. It’s as easy as incorporating 'if God wills' into our vocabulary. This reflection reframes our understanding of rest—not as laziness, but as divine obedience. Think of rest as God’s way of refreshing our souls, much like recharging a battery. Dedicate time this week to truly rest, trusting that in these moments, God is restoring you. Embrace this rest as His gift, a chance to find peace and joyful renewal, knowing He is with you."

Closing

(5 Minutes)

As we conclude today’s message, I’d like us to take a moment to reflect on the practical steps we can take, inspired by our journey through Romans 15:30-33.

Application:

1. let us pray with purpose.

Just as Jesus modeled intentional prayer, let us also strive to pray with clear intentions for ourselves and others. We have the example of Jesus praying for joy, sanctification, unity, and eternal purpose. Let our prayers be purposeful, knowing it is both a privilege and a necessity that aligns us more closely with God’s will and deepens our relationship with Him.

2. present petitions for protection with honesty and humility,

acknowledging our dependence on God. Understand that it is His strength that delivers us from external and internal challenges. When we pray, let us do so with specific intentions, knowing that God’s rescue is grounded in His sovereignty and care for us.

3. seek joyful peace through prayer

by incorporating the surrender of “if God wills” into our daily vocabulary. This reflects our trust in His perfect plan. Let us value rest as God’s provision, embracing it as a form of obedient refreshment rather than laziness. In these times of rest, we can find rejuvenation in His peace and deepen our fellowship with Him.

As we apply these truths to our lives, may we experience the fullness and richness of a prayer life rooted in purpose, protection, and peace. Amen.