Title: When I Pray
"When I Pray"
November 24, 2007 (Sat) Tel Aviv Joppa Church
Text: Ephesians 1:15-19
Many people respect the apostle Paul. It must be because he was a person of faith who tried to be like Jesus more than anyone else and gave everything he had for Jesus.
However, the apostle Paul remembers not only those he knew, but also those who had heard it indirectly, and whenever he prayed, he interceded by calling out their names.
Sometimes, there are people who have these prayer notes. I had seen Sister Er's prayer notes before. I saw that people's names and prayer topics were written in the prayer notebooks quite meticulously.
Make a prayer notebook like that too. Write down your prayer requests as well as those of those you know in a notebook, notebook, or diary, and use it in your prayers. Not only will the time for prayer increase, but you will experience that the scope and content of your prayers are much wider and deeper as your prayers are not limited to yourself, but are extended to prayers for others.
Today's text is an intercessory prayer for the Ephesian church members, some of whom are in the prayer notes of the apostle Paul. From the content of that prayer, we can learn what to pray for when we intercede.
So, what is the apostle Paul's first prayer for the Ephesians? It was a prayer of thanksgiving for their faith and love.
Verses 15-16, “For this reason I also heard your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, and when I prayed, I remembered and did not cease to give thanks for you.”
If you look at some people, there are some people who are almost genius at spotting the negatives, shortcomings, and weaknesses of others. Talking to these people makes me feel withdrawn and frustrated, as if I was standing in front of the proctor. It is difficult to properly relate and open up to people who only see the negative aspects or shortcomings of people.
These people can be said to be people who have not matured religiously or personally. As our faith matures and our personality matures, we tend to see people as positive things in them.
A person's strength is a window into that person's world. It is saying that when you see the strengths of that person, you can have fellowship with that person that can open your heart. That's why we should try to see each other's strengths. Don't just look at the bad, negative, or shortcomings of the other person, but try to see the good, the positive and the good. When that happens, each other's hearts open up and fellowship becomes possible.
No one can be good at all ten. Some make mistakes, some have shortcomings. But if you point out only the shortcomings, the person will not be good at what he was good at. You get discouraged and you get hurt.
But if you encourage and praise some of the things you do well, and pray that you will continue to do well, then you will really do it, and not only will you do well, but you will also do other things well.
This is a principle that is also proven in children's education. A child who has been pointed out about his or her shortcomings is likely to become a passive, self-confident, and critical person, but a child who has been praised will become a confident and positive person.
Seeing your strengths, encouraging, praising, and praying is itself the ability to change people in a positive way. Whenever I pray for you too, I am praying that the things you are good at, the positive aspects and strengths, may be made better by the grace and power of the Lord. And I see that prayer come true.
I hope that you too will be good at encouraging and praising. Also, I hope that you will become people who pray for those who are doing well.
The second thing the Apostle Paul prays for the Ephesians is to give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Verse 17. “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, has given you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know God.”
‘Spirit’ here means ‘Spirit’. That is, ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.