Pauls powerful prayer

[briareos]

This verse really blessed me, it's a prayer that Paul prayed for his beloved people. I believe we should pray this for ourselves and for each other.

Ephesians 1.17-19
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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

A prayer that asked God to give us wisdom and revelation, revelation into the unknown, unheard things of God, the will of God. That we know him better! Not only that we know him better but that our calling be revealed to us and that we would come to know just how great and mighty God can be in our lives.

When serving the Lord becomes a real priority in our lives, when we really began to try to take up our cross to follow him we suddenly really want to hear his voice, to know his will, to see his power and miracles and to know the calling he has for us and the steps we should take. I remember when I first believed, my christian life seemed to be ok. Now that I am trying to be a servant to the Lord, a blessing to the kingdom, to see souls saved and please the Lord I desperatly need to hear his voice and know his will and I need his power in my life, I really need it becuase I am trying to do things for God that I cannot do on my own. This prayer is powerful and I pray it for myself, I hope it blesses you too and that you not only make it to heaven but you that serve the Lord, somewhere anywhere, find something to do for the kingdom, and take as many souls with you as you can, let's all get to work for God!

 

[stormdancer0]

I think I remember you saying at one time you were an atheist. I think it is a tremendous advantage in some ways to come to Christ a little later in life. I was brought up Christian, but the definition of "Christian" for my family was someone who went to church and had prayed and been baptized. Living for Christ was for pastors and little old ladies.

I became a servant of Christ less than five years ago. I am amazed at the difference, and I see things with eyes newly opened. As a pastor now, I am able to bring people back to God, people who grew up in Spirit filled churches and who see it all as "old hat." I never want a Spirit-filled service to be average for me. I am still jarred a little when I hear tongues being spoken, or prophecy being given, and I NEVER want that to change. My heart always skips a beat, and I love it.

I appreciate that what is happening is not natural, but supernatural. I think my lack of experience reminds people that hey, this is God acting. We should be amazed.

 

[briareos]

I think I remember you saying at one time you were an atheist. I think it is a tremendous advantage in some ways to come to Christ a little later in life. I was brought up Christian, but the definition of "Christian" for my family was someone who went to church and had prayed and been baptized. Living for Christ was for pastors and little old ladies.

I became a servant of Christ less than five years ago. I am amazed at the difference, and I see things with eyes newly opened. As a pastor now, I am able to bring people back to God, people who grew up in Spirit filled churches and who see it all as "old hat." I never want a Spirit-filled service to be average for me. I am still jarred a little when I hear tongues being spoken, or prophecy being given, and I NEVER want that to change. My heart always skips a beat, and I love it.

I appreciate that what is happening is not natural, but supernatural. I think my lack of experience reminds people that hey, this is God acting. We should be amazed.

well I grew up Christian too, I just lost my way for a few years as an Atheist. While I still believe many of the things I grew up believing my time as an Atheist does offer me some new perspective, yet I will never credit my time of backsliding and being lost to any goodness in me, no way. I am glad that God is doing much in you! Awesome! I believe in the things you spoke of as well and thank God for them. I am reminded of how Paul said our lives are to be lives of Faith, our lives are supposed to be mighty and spirit filled, Praise God!

 

[Terene]

Beloved brother briareos, amen, apostle Paul's prayers are indeed good and we can also pray likewise for our brethren.

Amen to what you have said as well! I too have experienced this marvelous change in me as I slowly learn to deny myself and take up my cross to follow Him. I was previously completely dull in knowing Him and His presence, but now I do began to see Him in my life in ways I never do! Hallelujah!

But I also want to exhort you and the brethren here that we actually ought to live by faith, and not by sight, or by revelations, or by any supernatural things we see today. I do believe that while God's wisdom and His knowledge cannot be contained in any book, but yet I believe the Scriptures already contain all the Word of God that we need to know as we walk this earth. Meanwhile, God's revelations came little by little from the time of Adam to this present time, and in no way was God's revelations revealed unto His people in huge chunks or in entirety right from the beginning. So let's walk rather by the revelations that are already given to us for the strengthening of our faith and hold onto our faith steadfastly so that we don't wander away from it while trying to seek greater revelations from God too high for us to grasp at this present moment.

Also, I must not neglect to warn and remind you all that we must really test all things and not believe in every spirit. We do know about the warnings from the Lord that there will be false miracles and supernatural things in the last days which will be wrought by satan's servants to deceive the children of God and the world (who are already deceived). I do believe we are already in the last days and such deception will only increase and not decrease as satan knows his time is short. It is important that we don't let our hearts and minds become seduced by those false works and wander away from our faith into the doctrines of demons.

So I must say that holding onto our faith and constantly reminding ourselves of what the Lord has taught us regarding this true faith should be our constant labor as we battle the spiritual forces of darkness. Remember that the Lord has said:

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign (Matthew 16:4)

It is by the seeking of signs and miraculous works that this world will ultimately be deceived by the antichrist, who will deceive those who do not love the truth by the exact things they seek: signs and miracles. We, who are born of God should heed this warning and not become deceived like the world will. Let us hold onto this faith, which compels us to obey God and flee from all wickedness and evil, so that we will truly be found blameless and holy when the Lord comes in His glory to receive us!

 

[briareos]

Terene,

Well I don't disagree with your note on the capability of the scripture but I do beleive the presence of scripture in no way changes our great need to hear from him. Far from it. The Lord is our counseler and we should hear from him, my desire for revelation is by no means a lack of reverance of dependence on Gods scripture. By no means.

 

[Terene]

Terene,

Well I don't disagree with your note on the capability of the scripture but I do beleive the presence of scripture in no way changes our great need to hear from him. Far from it. The Lord is our counseler and we should hear from him, my desire for revelation is by no means a lack of reverance of dependence on Gods scripture. By no means.

Amen brother, I never said we don't need to hear from Him. What I mean is we need a firm ground of understanding of the Word given us to ensure that we are able to discern the voice of God from other strange voices which deceive us. Let us seek to gain understanding and wisdom to strengthen our faith and this will ultimately prepare us to hear from God in the vast ways He speaks to us.

 

[tturt]

Oh, I enjoy this prayer, also. It's interesting to me is that we have the fear of the Lord or we won't accept Yahweh's wisdom, understanding, knowledge, might, and counsel. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Prov 1:7. Other scriptures such as Job 28:28, Isa 11:2; Prov 9:10, Isa 33:6

So having the fear of the Lord is pivotal in that when we disregard what others think and do (including ourselves) and go with Yahweh's wants. Just as you said in the OP, it's listening to Him and obeying in order to do His will including what's in Scripture.

Though I don't know if there is a difference between "the spirit of wisdom" and "wisdom" as referred to also in Scripture. I'm not talking about wisdom gained from secular sources but Yahweh's wisdom.

Definitely agree that we need Yahweh's help in every step. He wants every part of us.

 

[briareos]

Terene,

I agree!

 

[briareos]

tturt,

Yes, I agree thanks for your input.

 

[tturt]

Guess I wonder sometimes how we can pray this for our sisters and brothers when we see so many threads that are against others? I often wonder what the motivation is.

We're so easily offended - sometimes all it takes is a preacher that smiles too much or one that moves too much delivering the message, a post that doesn't sit just right, etc. I know the list varies per person including myself. But when I compare this with Christians who are beaten or worse because they believe, I'm a wimp.

 

[wpage]

Paul was certainly the most prolific writer of the New Testament...

Thanks for sharing some of his work.

 

[briareos]

Guess I wonder sometimes how we can pray this for our sisters and brothers when we see so many threads that are against others? I often wonder what the motivation is.

We're so easily offended - sometimes all it takes is a preacher that smiles too much or one that moves too much delivering the message, a post that doesn't sit just right, etc. I know the list varies per person including myself. But when I compare this with Christians who are beaten or worse because they believe, I'm a wimp.

Yes, I am saddened at how so many people are willing to attack each other and accuse each other, I think its a general lack of humility and love, The Lord has been speaking to me about love lately and really, growing in Love is not easy, it's not easy at all.

 

[Emmy]

Dear briareos. I read in your profile that your favourite verse in the Bible is: 1) Corinthians, chapter 13. It is Paul`s description of Love, and that is what God wants from us: Selfless Love in all its entirety. Jesus also told us to believe as children do, if we want to enter God`s Kingdom: simple and easy to understand and digest. We are the only representatives God has in this Universe, we can think and reason. The verses from 4 - 8 are very down to Earth and easily understood, and they should be our first efforts to follow Jesus`s straightforward words to us. In Matthew Jesus tells a Lawyer: " the first and great Commandment is: Love thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like unto it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Then Jesus states: " On the two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Straightforward and easy to remember. Jesus told Nicodemus that he should " be born again", and the Bible keeps telling us that we must "Repent", to change our selfish and unloving character INTO: Loving God with all our beings, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. We know that God does not force us, we know that we have free will to choose to follow Jesus back to where we came from, or choose to go our on way. Jesus died that we might live, and Jesus is our Saviour and the Way, and Jesus reconciled us to God. Jesus has told us to: ", ask and ye will receive," and Jesus will also give us His Joy and His Love, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love,too. It is there for us to help us in Loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love our neighbour, ( all others, friends or not friends) as we love ourselves: verses 4-8. Paul`s words of Love. God will see our sincere efforts and He will approve and bless us, and God will know that we love Him: By following His Commands of LOVE. I say this with love, briareos. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Emmy]

Dear briareos. I say this humbly and with love, when Jesus gave us the two Commandments, on which hang all the Law and the Prophets, Jesus was giving us what He mostly wants from us, 1) love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. 2) Love our neighbour, ( all others, friends and not friends) as we love ourselves. We know that God is Love, He made us in His image, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. God does not want servants, and to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, means straightforward: loving followers who follow His Commandments to love. What does it all entail? The Bible keeps telling us to REPENT, to change our selfish and unloving character INTO: Loving God with all our beings, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. No angry or jealous deeds or words, treating all we know and all we meet as we would love to be treated: kindly and considerately, with friendly replies and helping hands where needed, good and loving advice, and to be able to see our faults and ask forgiveness. Jesus told Nicodemus: " You need to be born again," to become all loving and caring. Our Lord`s Commandments for us are easy to understand and easy to remember. All we say or do MUST be out of love for those around us, and God will see our sincere efforts and approve, and bless us with His love. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love. Jesus told us to "ask and receive," and then share our love with all around us. Men and women will treat us the same, because selfless and beneficial Love will grow and take over. We will stumble and fail, but we will ask God to forgive us, and God will forgive us as we will forgive others, and then we get up and try again, and again. We are the only representatives which God has in this world, and God is Love and God wants us to learn to love as God loves. I say this with love, briareos. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.