Learn To Pray as Paul Prayed: How DID Paul Pray?

How Should We Pray? How Did Paul Pray?

Read Ephesians 3:1, 14-21
(With 1^st Timothy 2:1-4; Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 4:11-17, 6:19; Ezekiel 34)

Introduction:

We frequently say, “Prayer is simply talking to God!” And that is true, as far as it goes, but maybe “talking with God” is a little deeper than just “talking to one another.” Even when we are just talking with one another, we extend certain courtesies. In their absence, we see certain negative things. For instance: utter self-centeredness in other people offends us. Arrogance offends us. Guess what? Such things offend God, too!

Have you ever noticed that your prayers begin to sound like a child’s letter to Santa Claus? Full of “gimmes”, and not a lot of depth? Or maybe, sometimes, you have the feeling that God might not be listening—or that you are somehow “not getting past the ceiling,” so to speak?

New Testament Prayer

So how should we pray? The Disciples asked Jesus that question, and they received a model prayer that we recite together every week, though I am convinced that was not the intent—it was simply a model to be used, and a principle to apply. But, today; we are reading the book of Ephesians. Paul makes several prayers there, so we should examine the kinds of things he prayed for.

Paul was speaking by the Holy Spirit when he wrote this letter—he didn’t have any unconfessed sin, so he didn’t begin there. But I remember Psalm 66:18, which says that God won’t hear me when there is sin between me and Him. Along with 1^st John 1:9, that tells me that confession is a good place for me to begin.

So, I begin there. If I examine my heart and nothing currently stands between me and the Lord, then I can move on…but I begin there, anyway. I keep in mind the acronym, “C.A.S.T.”—Confession, Adoration, Supplication, and Thanksgiving; Those things ought to be in our prayers; so, I don’t want to leave any of them out. (The word “cast” is taken from 1^st Peter 5:7, where we are told to “Cast all our cares upon Him…”)

Praise is part of Adoration—Worship—so I haven’t forgotten that, either. The problem is that if I do not remember this format, I tend to drop anchor in “Supplication”, and forget that The Lord is worthy of so much more than being treated like a heavenly vending machine. And please don’t forget to say Thank You! That is good manners, even when dealing with other humans.

So… let’s take a look at what Paul prays for:

Prayer for Unbelievers

How did he suggest we pray for unbelievers? 1^st Timothy 2:1-4 states that prayer is to be made for all men (all people), especially those in authority. This is partly so that they will make decisions that allow the Church a quiet and peaceful life; and partly because God desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. So, one thing we can always pray for unbelievers is that they will be saved.

God has already stated that this is His desire. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world…He didn’t do it for fun…He did it because he loved the people of the whole world, and He still desires that they be saved. You can at least pray for their salvation, and that you can be used to reach them. In that regard, it seems appropriate to pray that God will make us usable in His service. He uses clean vessels…not fancy ones, or specially gifted ones, but clean ones that are yielded to His will—committed to obedience. Give that some thought: “Am I usable for God?”

Prayer for Believers

Ephesians chapter 3 is divided into two major parts. We will touch on one of them today: the part where Paul prays for us. (Ironically, verse one begins a statement about prayer, based on all that went before, in chapter 2…but the second verse begins a parenthetic explanation that takes up twelve verses…which we will address at a later time.) In verse one, Paul says, “For this cause…” (Because of at least the previous four facts from chapter 2) he prays for certain things.

The Facts:

That you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but rather
Fellow citizens with the saints (in fact, he has already stated that you, yourself ARE a saint—called to be separated unto the service of God), and you are
Part of a growing body of believers that collectively form a habitation of God—a Temple, specifically, and because
You are part of what is making it grow;

He then prays certain things…but we have to skip all the way down to verses 14-21 to see what he prays, because of the parenthetical remarks in the intervening 12 verses. In verses 14-21, he lists

Seven Specific Things:

He prays that God would grant that you be strengthened inwardly, spiritually, by the Power of God, via the Holy Spirit (Did you know that you can fight against God and fail to see this blessing in your life? Jacob did…until God broke him, to bring him into submission to Himself. You don’t want that—choose to submit to God early.) …so that
Christ may dwell in your heart (katoikeo—“to settle in—make himself at home!” Yes, if you are a believer, He already “lives there,” in the Person of the Holy Spirit (if you have received Him as your Savior.) But is he comfortable with how you are treating Him? Can’t you choose daily to make him feel at home?) That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith (believing God, responding to Him, day by day), so that
You, being “rooted and grounded” in Love (Those are botanical terms—“rooted”—”grounded:” In Psalm 1, the believer is likened to a tree, planted by rivers of water, and bearing fruit in its season, his leaf never withering, because he was meditating in God’s Word, day and night) He prays this for you, so that you may
Be able to comprehend (katalambano—“completely receive”—really grasp) with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height. (Of what?….and why four dimensions? Is it because we need to know the length to which God has gone to save us, the breadth of his salvation, and the height to which He will take us…as well as the depths from which he has saved us? Do you fully grasp all those things? Spend some time meditating on those ideas, and read what God has to say about each of them!)
And to know (ginosko— to be personally familiar with—experientially knowing—not just knowing about) the (agapé) Love of Christ, so that you may be
Filled with all the fullness (pleroma—utter completeness of fullness) of God, so
That God would receive glory through the Church, by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, forever.

So: speaking of the Church, how should we pray for the Church?

Seven-fold Prayer for the Church

When Paul prays for, or perhaps just speaks about the Church, it seems that he is simply stating what is God’s will for the Church as a whole: (Read Ephesians 4:11-15) He states that God gave gifted individuals to the Church at large, who were to accomplish one central thing:

The equipping of the believers for
The work of the ministry; (the believers are to do the work of the ministry…which is)
Building up the Body of Christ (for how long?)
Until we ALL come into the
- unity of the faith, and the
- knowledge of the son of God,Unto a perfect man (completion of the church?),
- Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, with the result;
That we be no more children (Grow up!) so that we will not be
- Tossed and driven back and forth by every stray breeze of doctrine. (Why is it that the Church is easy prey to every charlatan huckster on TV, but is nearly immune to the Word of God, plainly taught, and the quiet urging of the Holy Spirit?)
But (instead) that the Church will speak the truth in Love, (sound preaching and teaching) and
That the Church will grow up into Christ.

Prayer for One’s Self

It is OK to pray for yourself, too! What did Paul pray for himself? We can see some very human things: He prayed for relief for himself and/or those around him (and sometimes was denied, as it was not in keeping with God’s will). Yes, God answers prayer—but He reserves the right to answer according to His own will and His own timetable.

Sometimes we have to wait. Paul evidently prayed for healing for Epaphroditus, (Philippians chapter two) who was extremely sick, and who nearly died. Epaphroditus eventually did get well, but not through “miraculous healing,” as far as we can tell; he just finally “turned the corner” and got well. And, Paul gave thanks for God’s Mercy in that case. You see, ultimately ALL healing is from God.

And sometimes He simply says, “No, my child.” Paul prayed for healing, in the circumstances that produced 2^nd Corinthians 12 (about the “thorn in the flesh”) and God flatly refused him: God told him to “soldier on” by God’s Grace. So, what else did Paul pray for himself?

Paul’s Prayer

He asked for prayer by others, for himself, that he would be used of God,

That utterance would be given him,
That he would open his mouth boldly, to
Make known the mystery of the Gospel. (Ephesians 6:19)

If God has called you to leadership (of any sort) then you should read and meditate on Ezekiel 34, where God states the job description of shepherds. Furthermore, even if you do not think He is calling you that way, you need to read that chapter, because that is also where he says how believers are not to treat each other—and that He judges those who mistreat other believers.

Each of us can pray as individuals, for understanding of God’s Word. We can pray that God would change our hearts and that He would make us usable in His service. Probably we should also confess our unwilling hearts, and ask that He will cleanse us and fill us with His love: both for Himself and for others.

We can give thanks for all the ways that He already meets our needs, instead of always demanding more and more. As a matter of worship, we can give praises and thanks for His perfect character, His perfect wisdom, and His eternal Love and Grace. We can glorify Him for the beauty of the Creation, and the incredible variety around us. Obviously, we can also glorify Him for His unimaginable power, by which he rules the Universe. And, we can Worship Him as our Creator, Savior, and King. Again, we can pray for one another, in a sincere heart of love. We can give thanks for answered prayer.

Collectively, we can pray that God will grant us a collective understanding of His Word. Together, we can give thanks for the answers He gives us from His Word. He tells us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make our requests known to God. And the result will be that the Peace of God, that passes understanding, will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-9

Concluson

Do you already pray this way? Good!

But, if not, then perhaps you need to reconsider what Prayer means. Yes, it is talking to God; but just remember who God is: Remember His Holiness and His Authority: Prayer is not “just like talking to any other person.” Consider how God would have you focus your attention and desires, and then, “Pray without ceasing.”

Lord Jesus, draw us to Prayer. Draw us to Focus on Your holiness and love, and to pray with clean hearts, asking for Grace according to Your will.

Approach God on His Terms: How Did Paul Pray?