Showcasing Your Christian Faith-Part II

                        SHOWCASING YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH- PART II

            A young father in a supermarket was pushing a shopping cart with his little son, who was strapped in the front. The little boy was fussing, irritable, and crying. The other shoppers gave the pair a wide berth because the child would pull cans off the shelf and throw them out of the cart. The father seemed to be very calm; as he continued down each aisle, he murmured gently: "Easy now, Donald. Keep calm, Donald. Steady, boy. It's all right, Donald."

            A mother passing by was greatly impressed by this young father's caring attitude. She said, "You certainly know how to talk to an upset child—quietly and gently." And then, bending down to the little boy, she said, "What seems to be the trouble, Donald?"

"Oh no," said the father. "He's Henry. I'm Donald."

            It was a father's struggle for Patience, but he was working on it. How many identify with this father? We all lose Patience on certain occasions, especially with children. It could be detrimental when we don't exercise restraint and calmness during those moments.           

            Last week, we learned that Christian life consists of rightly relating with God, ourselves, and one another in the Church and the World. The Apostle Paul addressed certain prejudices of Jewish believers against the Gentile believers in the Ephesian Church. He urged the Ephesian believers not to be passive recipients of God's blessings but to actively live a life worthy of the calling they have received. In other words, to Showcase their Christian Faith.

            The verb showcasing means to exhibit or display. It is to show the best qualities or parts of something. As Christians, what are we called to showcase to the world? We are called to show the world the beautiful virtues of Christ, not just by words but through a lifestyle. In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul listed five Christian virtues we are to exhibit to the world: Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Bearing with one another in Love, and Keeping the Unity of the Spirit. We saw Humility and Gentleness last week. Let's work on the remaining three virtues. 

            Vs.1-3, "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another (showing forbearance) (continuous or repeated action) in love."

Forbearance: a delay of punishment, tolerability, long-suffering, forgiveness, etc.

1. You showcase your Christian faith through Patience.

            In this passage, two pairs of Christian virtues are mentioned. Humility and Gentleness. Patience and bearing with one another or forbearance as they go together hand in hand.

We have heard this cliché: Patience is the mother of all virtues. Why is it regarded so highly?          Perhaps because of what Patience involves. Patience (or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. It may involve perseverance in the face of delay. Tolerance of provocation without responding with disrespect or anger. Forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. It involves waiting for a long time without getting irritated or bored. In the scriptures, Patience is placed next to Love. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit; hence, it is highly regarded and required for all God's children to walk in Patience.

            Patience is one of the attributes of God. Passing before Moses after the Golden Calf incident, God proclaimed his name, saying, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." Ex 34:6. The Psalmist declared, "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast Love and faithfulness." Psalms 86:15

            The apostle Paul describes God as kind, forbearing, and patient (Romans 2:4). The apostle Peter also referred to God's Patience regarding the second coming of Jesus: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

            These are just a few instances of God being described as patient. When Scripture describes God as patient, it means He endures humanity's flaws, does not quickly get angry, and holds back judgment to make room for repentance. Let's not take His Patience for granted. Let's repent of our sins and turn to God, begging his mercy so we may receive his forgiveness.

            Paul, writing to Romans, explains how Christians can showcase Patience. "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12. It is challenging to remain hopeful and patient during trials and tribulations. We will reap God's blessings when we remain patient. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

            Think of all the times we have sinned against God and grieved the Holy Spirit, yet God has not consumed us because He is patient. As God has been patient with us, we don't want to be quick to judge or punish others; instead, let us exercise restraint and forbearance.

            Here are a few examples of Biblical characters that were impatient. Abraham & Sarah were impatient about their promised child. As a result, we are having to deal with the sons of Ishmael(Muslims) today. Genesis 15-16. Israelites were so impatient when Moses did not appear for 40 days that they pressured Aron to make a Golden Calf. Genesis 32

            What happened afterward was devastating; that set the whole motion for idolatry by breaking the first two commandments. As a result, all those who left Egypt initially could not enter the promised land. Idolatry still could disqualify us from entering into Heaven.

            If only King Saul patiently waited for prophet Samuel to arrive and offer the sacrifice, things would have been different. Instead, he was impatient. He took things into his own hands and began to offer the sacrifice. As a result, God rejected him as the King of Israel. I Samuel: 13.

            Our impatience can hurt us and, at times, hurt others, as in the case of Amnon and Tamar in II Samuel 13. These stories were recorded to teach us not to be impatient. Think about how often you have been impatient and had to clean up the mess. If you are impatient, ask God to forgive you and produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which contains Patience. Another way we can grow in Patience is by bearing with one another in Love.

II. You showcase your Christian faith by bearing with one another in Love.

            Paul reminds the Ephesian believers that they were called to walk in humility and gentleness combined with Patience. Then, he gives them a practical opportunity to see how those three virtues could work out, bearing with one another or showing forbearance to one another (NASB) in Love. Other words for forbearance are Patience, endurance, and long-suffering.

            What is forbearance? It is Refraining from enforcing something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due. In the Bible, forbearance usually refers to a godly character trait. To forbear is to abstain or hold back; forbearance is akin to Patience and self-control.

            Col 3:12–13: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and Patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." ESV. In NLT, it reads, "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you." Are we making room for each other's faults or judging them quickly?

            God refrains from bringing what is due to us each time because he loves us. Jeremiah said, "You are long-suffering—do not take me away; Jer 15:15. We are warned not to "show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and Patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4. As God shows forbearance towards us sinners, we too are called to show forbearance to one another in Love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Showcasing Your Christian Faith- Part I

                                          SHOWCASING YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH- PART I

            In our series on A Pathway to Christian Living, we have been studying the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesian believers. We have divided this letter into three sections: Our position in Christ Ch (1:1-3:21). We looked at how God chose us from the foundation of this world and adopted us into His family through Christ Jesus our Lord. He raised us with Christ and seated us in the heavenly realms (2:6).

            We discovered that Christ had reconciled both Jews and Gentiles and made them one in God’s big family by breaking down the wall of hostility that existed between these two groups. So, we can approach our heavenly father through faith with freedom and confidence. We learned that prayer strengthens our inner being and lets us experience God’s deep love for us.

            All this is God’s doing for us, and we can do nothing to earn salvation except to trust and rest in His redemptive work completely. It doesn’t mean we have nothing else to do except wait for Christ to return to the earth and take us to heaven. While we await His return, we have work to do. That’s what the following chapters talk about. It is Our Life in the World (Ch 4:1-6:9).

            Our Christian living consists of maintaining the right relationships. They are our relationship with God, ourselves, one another in the body of Christ (the Church), and the world. Today, we will learn how we relate with our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. What qualities will we exhibit when we fellowship with our fellow believers? What helps us to maintain healthy and meaningful relationships in the Church and the world? Ephesians 4:1-6

            Paul addressed the prejudice of many Jewish believers against the Gentile believers in the Church. They thought the Gentile believers should not call themselves followers of the Messiah unless they were first circumcised and obedient to the law of Moses. Jews considered themselves as superior to the Gentiles. However, Paul taught them that they should view the Gentile believers as their brothers in Christ, as members of God’s family on an equal footing.

            The truth we must grasp is that Jesus transcends all our cultural barriers and prejudices. The Apostle  Paul called out to the Ephesian believers not just to sit idle in their position of being seated with Christ in the heavenly places but to live in the world a life worthy of the calling they have received. In contemporary language, Paul might say, Showcase Your Christian Faith.

            The verb showcasing means to exhibit or display. It is to show the best qualities or parts of something. When we showcase our Christian faith, we fully view our core inner christian virtues of love, mercy, humility, Patience, gentleness, and forgiveness for the word to see. Paul shows four ways to showcase your Christian faith in Ephesians 4:1-6.   

            Vs.1-2, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” Pause and reflect on what Paul is saying! He is urging us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we have been called. That walking landed Paul in prison. When we decide to walk as Christians in this world, we, too, might end up in prison, but it is worth it. Paul encourages us to showcase four Christ-like qualities in these verses.

 

1. You showcase your Christian faith through humility.

            Vs. 2. “Be completely humble and gentle.” These Christ-like core values are countercultural during Paul’s time and even more so in our times. Let’s talk about them one by one—first, humility. The dictionary definition of humility is a modest or low view of one’s own importance. Our culture admires proud people who show confidence in their ability and put others down. It looks down on or disregards the humble, saying they are weak and incompetent. But the scriptures teach us differently.

            We learned in James, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble grace to the humble.” (James 4:6). God will exalt the humble (Lk 18:14). If you want to see humility and learn to walk in humility, look Jesus our savior.

            Philippians 2:5-11, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

            And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” If Jesus Christ, the son of God, humbled himself, how about us?

            As the world perceives, meekness is not a weakness. It is the strength of God’s people. James 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Do you want to grow in wisdom and God to care for you? Be humble. (Prov 11:2, Isaiah 66:2). God doesn’t require much from you. Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

            In this world, people boast and brag about what they have and can do. But God’s children are called to walk on the narrow path of the cross and the crucified, which will lead to heaven. Living humbly before God, the Creator and the Ruler of all things, will prepare you to live joyfully under God’s mighty hand, providing all you need and sustaining you in times of trouble.

 

2. You showcase your Christian faith through gentleness.

            We showcase our Christian faith by being completely humble and gentle. Humility and gentleness go hand in hand. Humble people are often gentle; gentleness helps us to walk and remain humble. We don’t frequently see humble and gentle people; they are rare, but when we do find them, it is refreshing to be around them, and we would be wise to learn from them.

            What is the opposite of Gentleness? Rudeness, disrespectfulness, aggressiveness, brutality, crudeness, vulgarity, etc. Gentleness is defined in the dictionary as “the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered, softness.” Over two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul predicted that there would be difficult times in the end times.

            II Tim 3:1-5, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

            Are we seeing these kinds of people these days? What does that indicate? Given the Lord’s imminent return, how will we live as Christians? First of all, as Paul would say, we would have nothing to do with such arrogant and rude people. Col 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” The scriptures talk a lot about gentleness:

            “Let your gentleness be evident to all, (Phi 4:5). Titus 3:2, “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Pro 15:1. “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Pro 15:4. There is so much conflict in this world. Dealing gently with others brings peace, demonstrating that we are followers of Christ. If you want to be completely humble and gentle, learn from Jesus, who is humble and gentle at heart. Matt 11:29.

            How are we to exhibit humility and gentleness? Stop bragging and boasting about your greatness. Instead, let someone else praise you. If you are given to anger, restrain yourself from speaking or acting rashly. We will look at the other two virtues of Patience and bearing one another in love next week. For now, let’s go out and be completely humble and gentle.

 

 

 

The Essentials of Prayer

                                                     THE ESSENTIALS OF PRAYER

 

            Is Praying a duty or a delight? J.I. Packer & Nystorm say it’s both an essential, expected practice as a follower of Christ and a privilege and joy. As Christians, we know the importance of Prayer, yet many neglect the call to pray and struggle to pray. John Charles Ryle, an Anglican Bishop of England, wrote a tract sold by thousands under the title “Do You Pray?” in 1852.

            Here is an excerpt:

            I ask… whether you pray because a habit of Prayer is one of the surest marks of a true        Christian. All the children of God on earth are alike in this respect. They pray from the moment there is any life and reality about their religion. Just as the first sign of life in an infant is the act of breathing, so the first act of men and women when they are born again  is praying. This is one of the common marks of all the elect of God. The devil has special wrath against us when he sees us on our knees. It is essential to your soul’s health to make praying a part of the business of every twenty-four hours of your life…Whatever else you make a business of, make a business of Prayer.[1] 

 

            Do you pray? How has your prayer life been this past month, week, or even today? If you are struggling to pray, how can you cultivate a prayer life that is consistent and delightful? Last week, we learned from Paul’s Prayer that only through Prayer may we experience God’s fullness in our lives. From our reading today, I will share three essentials of Prayer from King David’s Prayer in I Chronicles 29:10-20 which will help us develop and sustain an active prayer life.

            We learned that God wants us to come to Him as little children. So often, we rush into his presence with our requests and needs and tell Him all that is bothering us. God is our loving heavenly father who delights in us, but at the same time, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Therefore, we approach Him with reverence and adoration.

            We have a problem in our times: we don’t honor our parents, respect elders, or obey authorities. We carry similar attitudes toward God. To know how the children of a royal family relate to the throne and how citizens respect their monarch, watch the T.V. series, The Crown.

            It depicts the dynamics of the royal family and how the children adored and admired the long-lasting monarch of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth. The first essential of Prayer is Praise. Let’s see what Praise is, why we Praise God, and how it impacts us in our prayers.

I. Praise Ushers us into God’s Presence!

            Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving go together. The scriptures often club them together. Multiple words in Hebrew and Greek are translated as “praise” in our English Bibles. In essence, to praise is to express adoration or approval. We praise the Lord for His traits, works, and character. Praise includes the acts of blessing, commending, honoring, thanking, celebrating, and rejoicing. We praise the Lord because He is worthy of all our Praise, adoration, and approval.

            God included the longest praise book in the Bible called the Psalms for a reason, as it gives us hundreds of reasons why Praise is essential and examples of how to give Praise to God. We praise God for who He is and His attributes. Consider the following scriptures: We praise Him for He is full of glory (Psalm 138:5). God is great and worthy of our Praise. (Psalm 145:3). God is wise and powerful (Dan 2:20). God is good (Ps 107:8). God is merciful and faithful (Ps 89:1). His name is majestic all over the world. Ps 8:1. We Praise Him for who He is but also for His wonderful works. He forgives sins (Ps 103:1-3). He bears our burdens (Ps 68:19) and heals broken hearts. (Ps147:3-5). He gives us our daily food. (Ps. 136:25), and much more.

            David began his royal service very young to give a background to our passage. Eventually, he became one of the most fabulous kings of Israel. He was in his final years before passing on the Kingdom to his son Solomon. He had one unfinished task: to gather resources for building a Temple for the Lord. He donated vast amounts of gold and silver from his treasury and encouraged his leaders to do the same. Seeing a great response from his leaders, in the presence of the whole assembly, David offered this Prayer, which began and closed with Praise.

            I Chro 29:10-12, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth, is yours. Yours, Lord, is the Kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”

            Later, we see Solomon offering his prayers with Praise at the time of the temple’s dedication. “He stood on the platform, knelt before the whole assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven.” II Chro 6:13. You may have noticed that I lift my hands when I praise during the worship or Prayer. It may look weird for some, but it is very scriptural. Here is why.

            Praise opens the doorway into the heavens and brings us into the presence of the Most High God. When we begin our prayers with Praise, they rise into God’s presence as an Insence, and lifting our hands in Prayer is like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:1-2. Paul urged, “Therefore, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” I Tim 2:8. When we lift our hands to heaven, we surrender ourselves to God, saying, “You are God of all I have, all I am, and all I want. So, don’t hesitate to lift your hands in Prayer. 

II. Thanksgiving recognizes all we have comes from God.

            After giving Praise to God, King David offers up thanksgiving. I Chron 29:13-16. By giving thanks, David recognized God is everything, and he and his people are unworthy of bringing anything to God. He remembered their humble state as strangers in God’s sight, and their days on earth were like a fleeting shadow without hope. He acknowledged that God had only given them whatever they provided for the temple. Thanksgiving makes us realize all we have comes from God. Giving some of it back to God is the right thing to do. Do not be ungrateful! Thank him for every small and big thing he has done and will do for you.

            Thanksgiving is not an option but a command from God. To an extent, God had instituted it among the offerings. One of them is Thank Offering, Leviticus 7:11-12. There are three things that God never wants us to forget: “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

            What is troubling your spirit, soul, and body? I have good news for you. “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by Prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-7

III. When our prayers are mixed with faith, they please God.

             Our Praise brings us into the presence of God. Our thanksgiving makes us realize all that we have comes from God. For that to happen, we must mix faith with our prayers. When our prayers are filled with faith, they please God. Hebrews 11:6-7 says, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

            Scriptures are full of examples of men and women of faith who have seen God doing mighty works for them. Because of their faith, God is not ashamed to call Him their God. Hebrews 11:6. At the same time, God was displeased with many because of their unbelief. What was the reason why the early group from Egypt could not enter the promised land? It was because of their disobedience and unbelief. Hebrews 3:19. Even after seeing many miracles that Jesus performed, many during Jesus’ time, including his disciples, did not believe Him.

            How is your prayer life? How is your faith? You saw God answer many of your prayers and provide for your needs, yet do you remain unbelieving? Practice these three essentials of Prayer: Praise, Thanksgiving, and Faith, and see your prayer life radically transformed.

 

 

 

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[1] J.C. Ryle, A Call to Prayer (Laurel, Ms: Audubon Press, 1996).  Portions quoted are from pages 10-19

Life Changing Prayer

LIFE CHANGING PRAYER

            Many Christians approach Prayer as if they are going to a supermarket with a grocery list. This list consists of our wants and needs. Though the scriptures invite us to come into God's presence and present our requests with thanksgiving, Prayer is more than working through a grocery list of requests that we desire God to perform or answer the way we expect him to.

            Prayer is an invitation to get to know, worship, praise, and love the God of the universe and rule of all things more than asking him to do things for us. I learned to pray to God from a very young age. Over the years, I have grown in my prayer life. This is how I understood Prayer. 

            Prayer is the cry of a human heart so desperately in need of God. It is a recognition of God's awesome power and an expression of our helplessness. It is a plea for God's intervention

in our troubles and to flee into God's presence, where you can be safe and live peacefully.

            Prayer is an admission of who God is and what He can do to change our hearts and troubling situations for His Glory. Prayer is a humble adoration of a contrite and broken heart of the one who loves us eternally, forgives us continually, and blesses us abundantly.

            Here are a couple of quotes on the importance of Prayer. C.S Lewis observed his need for Prayer, "I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me."

            Timothy Keller realized that "Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life. We should not decide how to pray based on the experiences and feelings we want. Instead, we should do everything possible to behold our God as he is, and Prayer will follow."    The apostle Paul challenged the Corinthians, saying, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (I Cor 11:1). Walking in the footsteps of Jesus, Paul prayed one of such life-changing prayers for the Ephesian believers, leaving an example for us to follow. Eph 3:12-21.

            The Church of Ephesus was founded during Paul's second Missionary Journey, where he baptized twelve men. That was the beginning of the Ephesian Church. (Acts 19:7). He spent three years teaching them about Christ and christian living. At the time of writing Ephesians, Paul was imprisoned. Paul included his powerful transformative prayers in the epistles. He began his prayers in chapters one and three, saying, "For this Reason." We must ask for what reason?

I. What is the reason for Prayer?

            Every Christian is capable of Prayer. If you are capable of breathing, then you are capable of praying. Kenneth Haggin observes, "Prayer is our spiritual oxygen, and just as oxygen is vital to our natural life, so Prayer is vital to our spiritual life. We need to pray regularly and continually to live as God intended."[1] Realizing how essential Prayer is for God's children, God calls us to "pray continually" (I Thes 5:17). Prayer is not an option but a command. It is not just enough to pray on Sunday mornings or during our three meal times a day, but continually.

            Why did God make Prayer mandatory? What is the reason for Prayer? Madame Guyon, an 18^th-century French Christian, in her little book, Experiencing God through Prayer, observes, "Prayer is nothing more than turning our heart toward God and receiving in turn His love." The reason for Prayer is God! He doesn't need our prayers for him to act and do His will. But we need Him, and without Him, we cannot live. One of the ways we reach Him is through Prayer.

            When the disciples came to Jesus and asked him to teach them how to pray? Jesus began praying, "Our Father in Heaven." Jesus wanted his disciples to know God as someone who is not very distant but as a loving heavenly father who delights when His children call on Him.  J. I Packer describes this beautiful relationship between God and his children in Prayer.

            "Knowing that God in heaven is our Father should "increase our wonder, joy, and sense of privilege at being his children and being given the 'hotline' of Prayer for communication with him." Though he is "Lord of the worlds … we always have his full attention whenever we call on him. Marvelous! But have we really taken it in?"

            Apostle Paul affirmed this father-son or father-daughter communication in Prayer in Eph. 3:12- 14. Every child of God everywhere derives their name from God, our heavenly Father. We are God's family. Therefore, as His children by faith, we run into God's presence with total freedom and confidence, knowing we will always have His attention. Hanging out with our heavenly Father in Prayer is one of our most exciting privileges as believers.

            What happens when you hang out with someone for hours, days, and years together? You will get to know them in-depth. You will know their likes and dislikes. If that person happens to be the one you love, your love will hopefully increase, and you will be changed for the better.   Similarly, when we spend more time with God in Prayer, we experience Him. We will be transformed inside out. Our sinful habits give way to God's pleasing habits. God's mission becomes our mission. Our love for Him and others will hopefully increase. The primary reason for Prayer is not to get things done by God but for Him to change us and transform us into the likeness of His son, Jesus Christ. Let's see how Paul's Prayer changes our lives for the better.

II. Life-Changing Prayer

            Paul's Prayer was not a grocery list of Prayers for material and physical wants and needs. It was aimed at a change of heart. Praying to God primarily affects us inwardly, but we also experience its impact externally. Praying to God accomplishes the following: Firstly, God might strengthen our inner man through the power of the Holy Spirit (Vs16). What does the term inner man, inner being, or inner self mean? We were created with spirit, soul, and body. Gen 1:27.

            The "outer man" is our physical body through which we experience the world. Our souls are the personality centers of our beings from which our minds, wills, and emotions operate. Our spirit is the inner man about which the Scriptures speak. Our spirits are where the Spirit of God communes with us. We know we are God's children because the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirits. Rom 8:16. God, through our Prayer, further affirms that we are indeed His children.

            Secondly, we will know Christ dwells in our hearts through our faith. (Vs. 17). Thirdly, we will be rooted and established in love. Fourthly, we may, together with other God's holy people, have the power to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep the love of Christ is.

            During this Valentine's season, people are searching for true love. Your boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse can not give you what you are looking for, but only God, when you ask Him, will fill you with his immeasurably rich and steadfast love and satisfy your soul.

            Fifthly, through Prayer, the greatest truth you need to know is that God loves you and fills you with His presence. What more would we ever want besides God's ever-abiding presence in our lives? We become one wholly fulfilled God's children when God lives in and with us. God is delighted when we address Him Abba Father. Madam Guyon encourages us to approach God as our Father, "Go to your place of Prayer not only to enjoy spiritual delights but simply to please the Father. God is greatly grieved at the lack of trust among His children. Yet He delights when we come to Him in simple, childlike confidence."[2] How do you relate to God today?

            Pray this life-changing Prayer regularly and see how your life will be changed. Paul closes his Prayer with this benediction in Vs. 20-21, "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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!

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[1] https://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=246:prayer-our-spiritual-oxygen&catid=47&Itemid=147#:~:text=Prayer%20is%20our%20spiritual%20oxygen,face%20trying%20circumstances%20in%20life.

[2] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeanne-Marie-Bouvier-de-La-Motte-Guyon