How to pray for believers to set them on F.I.R.E.
/I have never been too fond a pre-written repetitious prayer. I become a Christ-follower at churches where you simply pray from your heart. However, I love the two written prayers of the Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians. They are so, so powerful. And there is much we can learn from what Paul prayed for those who had come to Christ and that he pastored for about 3 years! I preached a sermon called... How to pray for believers to set them on F.I.R.E. based on Ephesians chapter 1 and 3. Join me in praying for a Christ-follower to be on F.I.R.E.
1) F = Filled with the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the SPIRIT of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Ephesians 3:16, 19bI pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his SPIRIT IN YOUR INNER BEING, ... FILLED to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 6:18 And pray IN THE SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
2) I = Increasing in the Knowledge of God
Ephesians 1:17-18 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may KNOW HIM BETTER. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may KNOW the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
Ephesians 3:19 and to KNOW this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
3) R = Revolutionized by God's Love
Ephesians 3:17b ...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in LOVE, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the LOVE of Christ, 19 and to know this LOVE that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
4) E = Empowered for Incredible Works
Ephesians 1:19-20a ... and his incomparably great POWER for us who believe. That POWER is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do GOOD WORKS, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 3:16a, 20 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with POWER through his Spirit in your inner being, ... Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his POWER that is at WORK within us,
Ephesians 6:19-20 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
The two written prayers that Paul offers for the Ephesians and the prayer request that he asks for himself overlap greatly. While the words may be different, the focus is the same. We need the (1) filling of the Holy Spirit IN ORDER THAT we can (2) increase in knowing God better and (3) be revolutionized by his love so that (4) we can have power to do the incredible works God has prepared in advance for us to do.
Heavenly Father, I pray for the believers reading this blog entry. I pray that you would fill them with your Spirit even at this moment. Remove any barriers of carnality so that the Spirit may have complete control over their life. As they are filled with your Spirit, please blow their mind at how amazing you are as they get to know you better. And of course the most mind-blowing thing about you is how that in all of your supreme greatness you can still love us in spite of supreme rebellious sinfulness. Open their eyes to your amazing love and let it rock their world. And Lord I pray that you would strengthen them with supernatural power to amazingly great things in this world for your glory! I believe according to Ephesians 2:10 that you prepare in advance works for us to do. Help us not grow weary in well doing. Help us not work in our own human strength but with the strength you supply through your Holy Spirit. I pray in Jesus name that you would keep our love for you from growing cold and allow us to remain on F.I.R.E. until we see you face to face. By the authority and power of the name of Jesus the Messiah I pray these things, Amen.
