DN Praying for Believers 1/22/2008

DRAWING NEAR

January 22

Praying for Believers


"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord
Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints,
do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers" (Eph. 1:15-16).


Your love for other Christians is as much a mark of true faith as
your love for God.

The Ephesian Christians demonstrated two important characteristics of
genuine Christian faith: faith in the Lord Jesus and love for fellow
believers.

"Faith in the Lord Jesus" implies both an affirmation of Christ's
deity and submission to His sovereignty. Because He is God, He is the
Sovereign Lord, so we must obey what He commands (John 14:15; 1 John
2:3-6).

Your "love for all the saints" is as much a mark of true faith as
your love for God. John said, "The one who says he is in the light
and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now" (1 John 2:9).
In that passage "light" is a metaphor for righteousness and truth,
and "darkness" is a metaphor for sin and error. It is sinful and
erroneous to claim you love God if you have no love for other
believers. Those who love God will love fellow believers as well.

If you love others, you will pray for them and praise God for their
spiritual progress--as Paul did for the Ephesians--and they will do
the same for you. That's a wonderful dynamic within the Body of
Christ, and one that you must diligently pursue.


Suggestions for Prayer:

1. If you haven't done so already, start a prayer list of individuals
for whom you will pray each day. List their names and some specific
requests. Record answers to your prayers as you see God moving in
their lives. 2. Remember to thank God for their spiritual progress as
well as praying for their needs. Let them know you are praying for
them. That could be a source of great encouragement for them. 3. If
you are at odds with another believer, seek to reconcile immediately
(Matt. 5:23-24) so your witness will be strong and the Lord's name
won't suffer reproach.

For Further Study:

Read Philippians 1:9-11 and Colossians 1:9-14

1. What requests and concerns did Paul express in his prayers? 2. Do
your prayers reflect Paul's priorities? If not, what adjustments must
you make to have a more biblical pattern of prayer?

Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.

All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org

~~~


John 14:15 (NKJV)
15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

1 John 2:3-6
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is
a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in
him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He
walked.

1 John 2:9
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness
until now.

Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember
that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in
knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may
be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus
Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Colossians 1:9-14
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.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.

In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.

If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.

You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:

http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/

and

http://www.gty.org.uk/

You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx



NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.

In Christ,



Peter

Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@xxxxxxxxxx

STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/

There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
.

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