INTRODUCTION

1. Prayer is a precious privilege

2. Prayer speaks of Access to God

3. Praise is Gratitude expressed naturally

4. Prayer allows us to bring our Petitions to God

 

AN APOSTOLIC PRAYER

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,

and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have redemption ]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14

1. Prayer with reference to the Mind

a) For knowledge of God and His will

b) For wisdom and spiritual understanding

2. Prayer with reference to our Faith and Life

a) To walk worthy of the Lord

b) To be fully pleasing Him

c) To be Fruitful in every good work

d) To increase in the knowledge of God

3. Prayer with reference to our needs

a) Strengthened with all might

b) According to God’s glorious power

c) For all Patience and Longsuffering with Joy

4. Prayer involves the Giving of thanks to God the Father

a) He has qualified us to become partakers of a great inheritance

b) We have an inheritance reserved for the saints

c) We have been delivered from sin and Satan

d) We have full redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ

 

A THORN IN THE FLESH

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations,

a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses,

for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

1. Protection from being “exalted above measure”

a) Pride

b) Self

2. A thorn in the flesh

a) Spiritual attack

b) Perhaps a chronic problem

3. Seeking God in prayer

a) Praying for the thorn to be removed

b) Earnest seeking of God in prayer

4. God’s response

a) “My grace is sufficient for you”

b) “My strength is made perfect in weakness”

5. An appropriate response

a) Glad acceptance

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

i) Gladness in infirmities

ii) Finding the power of the Lord

b) Profound pleasure

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions,

in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

c) A deep Paradox

i) When we are weak

ii) We will find strength

 

OUR ENCOURAGEMENT THIS EASTER

1. To recognize our weaknesses

2. To return to God for strength

3. To rejoice in God’s Paradox of giving Strength