Praying with the Apostle Paul

((music playing)) Lord, I thank you for your word and I thank you for what you're going to show us. And God's people said, "Amen." Okay, let's go. Okay, Dan, take your Bible, take your microphone. I'm going to start with uh Ephesians 3 to begin with, and we're going to start slowly because I can't rush you into this.

There's a lot of information. Ephesians 3, beginning at verse one, please. For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given to me to you word, how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote a four in few words, whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles. >> Now we are going to see today the mysteries of Christ.

Lift your hands and ask him for it. Come on. >> We are going to see his mysteries here. So, I'll I'll let you finish in just a second, but let's go to Acts in just a moment and and we will go back to Ephesians. I want you to look at the ferveny the ferveny of uh Paul the apostles life and the apostles themselves when it comes to prayer how they viewed prayer and I think it's time that we view the same about prayer. >> Amen. >> So read Acts 6:4, but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. >> So the book of Acts tells us again and again that the apostles and the early church prayed.

We don't have one prayer that any of the apostles recorded. We do know that the majority of the prayers recorded came from Paul and Paul was called the apostle to the Gentiles. Now, this is a very intriguing and interesting statement because the Jews uh and this is most likely why we don't have any record of Peter writing his prayers or or or James because as the apostle to the Jews Jews.

The Jews were already people of prayer. They understood the importance of praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Paul on the other hand became the apostle of the Gentiles who knew nothing about prayer who never did pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were hiddenistic and worshiped idols.

So, a lot of theologians believe that the reason Paul wrote his prayers down, he was showing them those Gentiles who never knew how to pray. Here's how you pray. While Peter didn't have to do that, James did not have to do that because the Jews did know how to pray. >> Wow. >> Yeah.

So um the only one mentioned like I said who went to paradise to heaven was Paul. The Lord acknowledged him as a man of prayer when he said in Acts 9:11 behold he prayth. And Paul says something amazing to us. And in that we begin looking at those mysteries.

Let's go to Philippians 4:6 because I want you to begin understanding something he says to us that is very well known and accepted. But no one pays attention to a word in there and that is found and I'd like to read Philippians 4:6. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. >> Okay, let's stop.

No one pays attention to the word with thanksgiving. First we have to express gratitude for God's mercies, God's favor in granting us into the entrance into his presence for hearing our prayer with thanksgiving means that. So it says with thanksgiving. What does with thanksgiving means? It means we express gratitude for what?

His mercy, his favor. That he's granting us the favor to enter in, enter into his very presence. We express gratitude not only for his mercies and favor but also for the fact he will hear our prayer. And that's what the word thanksgiving means. It also goes beyond just thanksgiving.

That word thanksgiving also expresses our hearts must be drawn out to the giver. drawn out so that our soul will fall before him in worship and adoration. And that word thanksgiving also shows us that in that word we see our unworthiness >> because why would we say thank you?

We we we see that we are not worthy as sinners. And not only unworthiness and sinfulness, but we also begin to see his love and holiness. And we got to remember that Isaiah 6:2 says, "Even the saraphims could not look upon his face. >> Who are we then?" >> They covered their face when they stood before God.

So he's a holy God. Amen. >> And I think the reason a lot of prayer is not answered is no one thinks about with thanksgiving with expressing gratitude. Thank you Lord for allowing me in. Thank you Lord for showing me favor. Thank you Lord for listening to me.

Thank you Lord that I can come into your presence. Thank you Lord that you will listen to me. And now my soul is drawn towards you, the giver. My soul will fall before you in worship, in adoration, and I'm not worthy. I'm a sinner, but because of your love and holiness, you allow me to come and >> ask.

And this is what the church is missing today. Because if you read the prayers of Paul, he always points to that one thing. How unworthy we are to enter in. What was Daniel doing when he prayed? Confessing his sin and the sins of his people. >> How did Moses pray?

Read those words. Read read those prayers in the Old Testament. They were expressing gratitude, awe, shame and confusion belongs to us. He said in Daniel and how did Ezra pray? How did Nehemiah pray? Same. Read their prayers. When they prayed, they came with this with unworthiness. They confessed their sins and worthlessness. and said, "Lord, we are we are we we have failed you miserably.

We've sinned against you." Even though they themselves, like a Daniel, think about the fact that he was a righteous man, but he said he was confessing his sin and the sin of his of his people, >> God's people. That's what that word means. So prayer before we get into it, prayer includes confession of sin, petitions of our needs, but also the homage of our hearts, to the giver himself, to the Lord God Almighty.

And here's something else we miss. Jesus said in Luke 11, "When you pray, say father." And many don't say that anymore. Oh God. No. No. Father. The spirit doesn't cry, oh God, out of you. He He cries father. Anyone who says, "Oh, God has just shown the Holy Ghost is not praying.

You're praying. >> Oh yeah, you got that. Cuz when the spirit prays, Romans 8:15, he says, "Father," Galatians 4:6, "father," Jesus said, "Father," dear God, I feel the anointing just saying it. >> Luke 11:1 and2, he said, "When you pray, say, Father." The Holy Ghost says, "Father," Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6, he's our heavenly father.

Now, we got to look just real quickly at some of the prayers of Paul. Can we do that now? >> Okay, let's begin with Ephesians 1. Now, I'm going to take you back to Ephesians 3, but let's go to Ephesians 1. Let's look at verse 16- 23 and read them slowly because these are prayers that should become our prayer.

Now, >> cease not to give thanks for you. >> Yeah. Now, here's Paul praying, giving thanks for the church, >> making Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. He's giving thanks to the church in Ephesus. But wait a minute. He He's giving thanks for those who are reading his letter, and that's you.

So put yourself now in that verse >> as he reads and continues. >> Cease not to give thanks for you. You >> make it. >> Wait. >> You Dan, you Randy, you Ruth and you and you and you and all of you that making mention of you in my prayers. >> Do you believe that the saints pray for us in heaven now?

Of course they do. >> It's in Revelation. >> Keep going. >> That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory. >> Ah, he's called the father. Notice how many times in when when you read the Bible now, how many times Paul calls him the father of glory, the father of mercies. >> Notice how many times when you read your Bible, okay? that the father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom.

Okay, now stop. Lift your hands. Say, father, >> father, >> please give me >> please give me >> the spirit of wisdom. >> The spirit of wisdom. >> Now keep reading. >> And revelation in the knowledge of him. >> Wait, lift your hands. and the revelation >> and the revelation >> in the knowledge of Jesus. >> The knowledge of Jesus. >> Now you just prayed what he just wrote. >> Keep going. >> The eyes of your understanding being enlightened. >> Stop.

Lift your hands and say, "Lord, >> Lord, >> Father, >> Father, >> let my eyes >> Let my eyes >> be enlightened. >> Enlightened." >> Keep reading. >> That ye may know what is the hope of his calling. Stop. Lift your hands. Say, "Father, >> Father, >> that I may know >> that I may know >> the hope of your calling." >> The hope of your calling. >> You feel it, don't you? >> Yeah. >> Amen. >> Keep reading. >> And what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. >> Stop.

Lift your hands. Say, "And I want to know." >> And I want to know >> the riches >> the riches >> of your glory >> of your glory. your inheritance >> your inheritance >> in my life >> in my life. >> Keep reading. >> And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to >> stop?

Father >> Father, >> I want to know. >> I want to know >> the exceeding >> riches >> riches >> of your power >> of your power >> in my life. >> Keep reading. [snorts] according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ >> when he raised him from the dead. >> He raised him from the dead. >> Lift your hands.

Say, "Father, >> Father, >> according to your power >> according to your power >> that raised Jesus >> that raised Jesus >> from the dead. >> from the dead." >> Now, you just prayed that prayer. And all of you, you're crying. Rand is crying. I was crying. Why?

It's my prayer now. >> It's my prayer. >> Yeah. >> How about Philippians chapter 1? Well, let wait. Let's let's go to Ephesians 3 16- 21 [snorts] that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man. >> No.

Lift lift your hands. Say, "Father, >> Father, >> grant me >> grant me >> by your riches >> by your riches >> that I may be strengthened >> in the inner man >> in the inner man >> by your Holy Spirit. >> By your Holy Spirit." >> Keep reading. >> That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. >> Stop.

Lift your hand. Say, "That Christ >> That Christ >> may dwell >> may dwell >> in my heart >> in my heart >> by faith." >> by faith. >> Keep going. Keep reading. that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints.

Stop. Say, "Father, >> Father, >> Father, >> plant me, >> plant me, >> ground me, >> ground me >> in your love." >> In your love, >> Keep reading. That you may what? >> What is the bre that you may be able to comprehend >> with all saints? with all saints. >> What is the >> What is the breadth >> and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ? >> Stop. >> Lift your hands.

So Lord >> Lord >> ground me >> that I may know >> that I may know >> the depth >> the depth >> the height >> the height >> of your love >> the love of Jesus. >> Jesus. >> Now when you begin doing that it's going to change your life.

It's changing some of you already. >> You see the power of this. >> Now, let's go to Philippians 1. And then he of course he finishes by saying that passeth knowledge you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Wait, why don't you read that so we can pray that too? and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that she might be filled with all the fullness of God. >> Okay, stop.

Lift. Lift your hand. Say, "Father, >> Father, >> that I might know >> that I might know >> the love of Jesus." >> The love of Jesus >> and be filled >> and be filled >> with your fullness >> with your fullness >> in Jesus name. >> in Jesus name. >> Now, how about Philippians?

Hey, we just started [laughter] and some of us are crying already. We just started. Philippians chapter 1 verse 9 to 11. Look what he prays there. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment, that ye may approve things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. >> Now, you need to pray that when you get home. >> Yeah. >> How about Colossians 1:10? >> These are prayers of Paul. the powerful that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work. >> Okay, lift lift your hands.

Say, Father, >> Father, >> I want to walk >> I want to walk >> in all pleasing >> in all pleasing >> before you >> before you >> and be fruitful >> and be fruitful >> unto every good work >> unto every good work. Keep going now. >> Yeah. >> And increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might according to his glorious power [snorts] unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. >> Now think think about what what will happen to your prayer life if you start praying the prayers of Paul for yourself. >> It'll it'll it'll change you in a in in less than a week.

It >> really would. >> Yeah. How about how about uh go go to 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and we need to pray that prayer cuz we all need it. And the very God of peace sanctify you holy. And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body >> be preserved >> be preserved blameless >> blameless >> unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. >> Now that's a great prayer.

Lift your hand say father >> Father >> in Jesus name. In Jesus name, >> preserve my spirit. >> Preserve my spirit >> and soul >> and soul >> and body >> and body >> blameless >> unto the day >> until the day >> of Jesus Christ your son. >> Your son. >> How many feel it here?

Yeah. Now, now we we come to the most important prayer and probably the most important two verses in the whole New Testament. Hebrews 13. This is so marvelous. Okay. Now, you you're going to read verse 20 and 21. Uh can can I tell you verse 20 is so full of power.

Look at all this please all of you. This is just verse 20 >> and I'm not even done yet. >> This is all on verse 20. It's that powerful. So let's begin now. The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ. to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen. >> Now, now I'm not going to have you pray this till you understand it. This is this is so powerful. I'm going to have you lift your hands to heaven. Lift your hands to heaven and ask God to help you understand it. God is about to take you into a place you've never been to. >> Thank you, Lord.

You're about to enter into the uncarchable riches of his son Jesus. >> Tomorrow, Pastor Benny shares this teaching on the prayer of the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 13:20-21. >> Don't miss this lifechanging message. I'm asking many of you to become partners with our ministry because you know when when when we go around the world I am focused on one thing now souls winning the lost preaching the gospel bringing souls to the cross of Jesus you know I've been in the healing ministry for over 50 years but my focus today my heart is burning to see souls born again even though I focused on that in the in the crusades in the past there is a greater much greater deep desire now and also to help the persecuted in in Africa and around the world.

Uh my heart was torn up tremendously. When I was in Uganda and again in Zimbabwe and had pastors come from South Sudan, Aratria, Congo and other countries, I was so moved, so deeply moved by what they told me what's happening in those nations. So let's stand together. Let's get the gospel to Africa and the world together.

And I'm asking you to just let God lead you. Let God speak to you. I'm praying many of you of you will become partners. If not, just give a one-time gift or as God leads you. And I have a nice gift for you on our website. You can get uh if you go to our website.

And of course, there's also the offer of the month. But thank you for giving. Thank you for loving. The coming of the Lord is so soon. Let's not disappoint him. Let's do our best for him because the glory belongs to him. Jesus. Jesus. Our precious Jesus. And to him be all the praise.

I'll see you again tomorrow. Much love. >> These are the last days. If you are a Christian, you must stay alert. And if you do not know Jesus as your savior, now is the time ((music playing)) to receive him and understand Bible prophecy. The prophecy pack will open both your natural and spiritual eyes to recognize not only what is happening, but why it is happening.

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