Empowered Through Intercessory Prayer: A Call to Action

Devotional

Day 1: Intercessory Prayer as a Shared Spiritual Duty

Intercessory prayer is a vital practice within the church community, where every member is called to pray for one another, not just the pastor. This shared responsibility strengthens the community and reflects true Christian love. By engaging in intercessory prayer, believers demonstrate their commitment to supporting each other in their spiritual journeys. It is a powerful expression of love and unity, reminding us that we are all part of the body of Christ, working together to uplift and encourage one another. [33:47]

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your church community can you commit to praying for this week, and how can you make this a regular practice in your life?

Day 2: Prayer as a Weapon in Spiritual Warfare

Prayer is a powerful weapon in spiritual battles, capable of bringing about changes that wouldn't occur otherwise. It is essential to pray for each other, especially in times of struggle, as it fortifies us against the challenges we face. By lifting each other up in prayer, we engage in spiritual warfare together, supporting one another in overcoming obstacles and growing in faith. This practice not only strengthens individual believers but also fortifies the entire church community. [45:15]

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific struggle you or someone you know is facing. How can you use prayer as a tool to support them in this spiritual battle today?

Day 3: Finding Joy in Serving Others

Focusing solely on our own problems can lead to a lack of love, joy, and peace. By turning our attention to the needs of others, we can find fulfillment and joy in our Christian walk. This shift in focus helps us to avoid self-absorption and instead embrace a life of service and compassion. As we pray for others and seek to meet their needs, we experience the joy and peace that come from living out our faith in a tangible way. [37:36]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve someone else today, and how can you incorporate this act of service into your prayer life?

Day 4: Supporting Gospel Preachers Through Prayer

Those who preach the gospel face unique challenges and need our prayers for boldness and strength. Our support through prayer can empower them to stand firm in their mission, despite the obstacles they encounter. By praying for those who share the gospel, we participate in their ministry and contribute to the spread of God's word. This practice not only supports the preachers but also strengthens our own faith as we witness the power of prayer in action. [54:02]

"Pray also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a pastor or missionary you know. How can you specifically pray for their boldness and strength in sharing the gospel this week?

Day 5: Remembering Missionaries and the Persecuted

We must remember those who are serving in difficult and faraway places. Our prayers can provide them with the strength and encouragement they need to continue their work. By committing to pray for missionaries and the persecuted, we stand in solidarity with them, acknowledging the sacrifices they make for the sake of the gospel. This practice not only supports those on the front lines but also deepens our own understanding of the global church and the challenges it faces. [46:07]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison." (Colossians 4:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate regular prayer for missionaries and the persecuted church into your daily routine, and what specific needs can you lift up to God today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, I emphasized the importance of intercessory prayer within the church community. It's easy to become consumed with our own problems and forget the needs of others, but we are called to look beyond ourselves and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is not just the responsibility of the pastor but of every member of the church. We are all in this spiritual battle together, and one of the greatest expressions of love we can offer is to pray for one another.

Paul's letters remind us that he often sought prayers from the churches he wrote to, not because he was weak, but because he understood the power of prayer. He knew that prayer could bring about changes that wouldn't happen otherwise. This is a call to action for us to be diligent in praying for each other, for our missionaries, and for those who are struggling, whether they are near or far.

We must also be aware of the dangers of becoming self-absorbed, which can lead to a lack of love, joy, and peace in our lives. By focusing on others and their needs, we can find a path to joy and fulfillment. This is a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles; others are facing battles too, and our prayers can make a significant difference in their lives.

Furthermore, we need to pray for boldness and strength for those who preach the gospel. They face unique challenges and attacks, and our prayers can support them in their mission. As a church, we should commit to praying for one another, recognizing that our prayers are a powerful tool in the hands of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Intercessory Prayer as a Community Responsibility: Every member of the church is called to pray for one another, not just the pastor. This shared responsibility strengthens the community and reflects true Christian love. [33:47]
2. The Power of Prayer in Spiritual Warfare: Prayer is a powerful weapon in spiritual battles. It can bring about changes that wouldn't occur otherwise, emphasizing the importance of praying for each other, especially in times of struggle. [45:15]
3. Avoiding Self-Absorption: Focusing solely on our own problems can lead to a lack of love, joy, and peace. By turning our attention to the needs of others, we can find fulfillment and joy in our Christian walk. [37:36]
4. Praying for Boldness in Preaching: Those who preach the gospel face unique challenges and need our prayers for boldness and strength. Our support through prayer can empower them to stand firm in their mission. [54:02]
5. Commitment to Pray for Missionaries and the Persecuted: We must remember those who are serving in difficult and faraway places. Our prayers can provide them with the strength and encouragement they need to continue their work. [46:07]
** [46:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:32] - The Call to Consider Others
[32:11] - Finding Weaknesses and Praying
[32:31] - Shared Responsibility in Prayer
[33:47] - Loving the Brethren Through Prayer
[34:13] - The Battle We Face Together
[35:14] - Assurance and Intercessory Prayer
[37:36] - Path to Joy and Peace
[39:14] - Understanding Each Other's Struggles
[41:25] - The Need for Intercessors
[42:14] - Paul's Request for Prayer
[43:18] - The Misconception of Hyper-Calvinism
[45:15] - The Impact of Prayer
[46:07] - Remembering Missionaries
[54:02] - Praying for Boldness in Preaching

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Ephesians 6:18-20
James 4:2-3
1 John 3:14

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Observation Questions:

According to the sermon, what is the shared responsibility of every church member regarding prayer? How does this reflect true Christian love? [33:47]
What does the sermon suggest about the power of prayer in spiritual warfare? How does this relate to the changes that might not occur otherwise? [45:15]
How does the sermon describe the dangers of self-absorption, and what impact does it have on love, joy, and peace in a believer's life? [37:36]
What specific request does Paul make in Ephesians 6:19-20, and why is it significant in the context of the sermon? [54:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon interpret Paul's request for prayer in Ephesians 6:19-20? What does this reveal about the importance of intercessory prayer in the early church? [42:28]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that focusing on others' needs can lead to personal joy and fulfillment? How does this align with the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23? [37:36]
How does the sermon address the misconception of hyper-Calvinism in relation to prayer? What is the danger of downplaying the necessity of prayer? [43:18]
What role does the sermon suggest prayer plays in supporting those who preach the gospel, and why is this support crucial? [54:02]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current prayer life. How often do you pray for others in your church community, and what steps can you take to make intercessory prayer a regular practice? [33:47]
Identify a missionary or someone in a persecuted area that you can commit to praying for regularly. How can you stay informed about their needs to pray more effectively? [46:07]
Consider a time when you were self-absorbed with your own problems. How did it affect your relationships and spiritual well-being? What practical steps can you take to shift your focus towards others? [37:36]
Think about a preacher or church leader you know. How can you specifically pray for their boldness and strength in preaching the gospel? What encouragement can you offer them this week? [54:02]
Reflect on a personal struggle you are currently facing. How might praying for others who are experiencing similar challenges bring you peace and perspective? [37:36]
How can you create a habit of praying for those who lack assurance in their faith? What specific prayers can you offer for their spiritual growth and confidence in Christ? [48:18]
Identify one person in your church who might be struggling silently. How can you reach out to them this week to offer support and prayer? [40:07]

Sermon Clips

We are all in this spiritual battle together, and one of the greatest expressions of love we can offer is to pray for one another. Paul's letters remind us that he often sought prayers from the churches he wrote to, not because he was weak, but because he understood the power of prayer. [00:31:32]

One of the things we want to be finding out in each other's lives is where the weaknesses are, where the battles are, and how can we be praying. We want to just pray. One of the things I want you to recognize here, but look very carefully at verse 18. [00:32:11]

Brethren, do you recognize this is one of the greatest ways we read in First John? True Christians, you love the brethren. One of the greatest ways you can love the brethren is by praying for them. If you're not praying for the brethren, you can talk about love, but it's pretty sparse if that's not a reality there. [00:33:47]

The reality is that we're all in this thing together. And by the way, you know, one of the things some churches, they can barely be thinking, you know, a pastor that needs to do that. Well, let me tell you something, that very pastor that you may think needs to be doing all these different things. [00:34:13]

You know what can happen? You go to a prayer meeting, you hear that. Well, you may think about praying it for it that night, but there you are, and you've got your own problems. You've got your own life. And so what happens? Well, you forget about the person. [00:35:14]

But you know, and this goes for everybody, that one of the paths to joy and peace in the Christian life is really pouring out your life in love. Those all go. That's like, that's a fruit that has different colors and shades, love, joy, peace. [00:37:36]

The truth is, do you know the struggles I have? No, we could talk about them, and we should be talking to each other about that. But the reality is, you don't really know the struggles that I have because you haven't been in my shoes, and I don't really know exactly the ones that you have. [00:39:14]

God give this church intercessors. We need people who pray for each other. Listen, if you come across people and that you find out that they're struggling to even pray and maintain a prayer life, that's troublesome and problematic. [00:41:25]

Paul greatly desires that these Ephesian Christians would remember him, and there's only one reason why. Now, listen, I did a series years back on hyper-Calvinism, and I see it everywhere. Reformed circles are full of practical hyper-Calvinists. They'll never admit it, but they are. [00:42:14]

Ask and you will receive. When James 4 says that you do not have because you do not ask, that doesn't mean you would have that thing anyway, even if you didn't ask, because God's sovereign. That it doesn't mean that. He has this plan, and he's going to do what he's going to do regardless of whether you pray. [00:45:15]

God help us to remember the missionaries in faraway places. You know, we can get to where we feel pretty lonely right here, but you know, when you're a missionary out there on the front lines, you can, I hear this, you can feel like people have forgotten you. [00:46:07]

Pray that the preachers would have boldness and power and truth. Pray, here it is, make supplication for all the saints. And I just leave you with this, as much as you do this to one of the least of Christ's people, you do it unto him. [00:54:02]

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