In the Epistles, Paul often mentioned he was praying for those he wrote to, and mentioned what he was actually praying.
We should be praying these exact same things in our day! This is because they reveal to us what exactly is The Will of God For His Church. How can we pray anything less that the will of God when we pray from the Word of God?
We pray Biblical prayers for the Christian Church, that is on behalf of the people of God. We can pray these for any grouping of the saints, the children, the sheep of His pasture, those in the household of faith.
Epaphras was always laboring earnestly for fellow believers and we should, too!
These prayers are direct from Scripture, therefore we can be assured they are perfectly The Will Of God For His Church.
To begin, read the passage as written, then begin to apply that request to the Father in Jesus Name to any specific group of Christ followers. This should primarily be for your own fellowship (like Epaphras did) but then a church down the street, across town, in another state, etc. These requests apply for any pastor, teacher, evangelist, elder, etc or for any para-church ministry and for any gathering or event across the land, even around the globe. Remember, where two or three are gathered…and pray this for them.
Lets begin with the prayer found in Colossians 4:12 where Paul refers to Epaphras - who was a member of their own congregation, and mentions what he was praying for on their behalf.
Epaphras was praying fervently that his church members would be mature and stand firm in all the will of God.
Some versions say stand perfect and complete, others strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God, or may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
This goes far far beyond the bless and be with prayers! God’s desire for us is to be perfect and follow His will. THIS is what we also can be praying for. If the church across the land in our day were to be this, can you imagine what glory the Lord would receive, what good news would spread across the land, how many lost souls might come to repent and believe?
Pray For The People Of God From The Word Of God
Here are four passages we are praying from this week (one passage per day):
Colossians 4:12
1 Thessalonians 3:12
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Will you join me in praying these verses, and ask one person to join you?
Coming soon will be the Prayer Podcast - a short recording of intercession you can pray along with and use as a starter for your own praying. Stay Tuned!
Grace and peace to you.