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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll discover that a godly leader must be a person of prayer, learning from Paul’s example how to pray faithfully for others and ourselves.

Key Verse

Romans 1:9: For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

Introduction

Paul is one of the characters in the Bible that we know a lot about. He wrote half the New Testament. He’s a major character in Acts. He is perhaps the greatest model of a Christian leader in the Bible.

He was a Spirit-filled man who preached the Word with power. He understood the love and grace of Christ. He served others night and day. He was steadfast and faithful in his work for God.

In one of his earliest letters, Paul described the qualities of his life and work. But he wasn’t boasting. He was teaching the Thessalonians what true Christian service is all about. Paul’s life is like a textbook on ministry. He demonstrated boldness (verse 2), sincerity (verses 3-5), humility (verse 6), gentleness (verses 6-7), intensity (verse 8), consistency (verse 9), and holiness (verse 10). These are just some of the things that Paul showed us through his example.

We could devote a complete lesson to each of these points. Instead, we’re going to focus on another quality of Paul’s life that we see in the very next verse:

1 Thessalonians 2:13: For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Paul was a man of prayer. He was constantly praying for the churches. Paul understood that this is one of the ways we serve the Body of Christ:

2 Corinthians 11:28: Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

In this lesson, we’ll focus on three important truths from Paul’s life of prayer:

• We need to know who we’re praying to
• We need to know how to pray for others
• We need to know when to pray for ourselves

Who We’re Praying To

We humble ourselves before God when we pray. We acknowledge that we need Him. This is why prayer is an act of worship.

Paul knew who he was praying to. What do Paul’s prayers reveal about God?

First, Paul knew that God is powerful. He understood that the God he approached in prayer has unlimited power to work in our lives and circumstances:

Ephesians 1:19: And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.

Ephesians 3:20: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Colossians 1:11: Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.

Second, Paul knew that God has an eternal purpose for our lives. God is not working randomly in our circumstances—He has a clear plan and purpose for each of His children:

Ephesians 1:18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

Philippians 1:11: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Colossians 1:12: Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

1 Thessalonians 3:13: So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Third, Paul knew that God desires to bless us when we call on Him. Our heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to His children who come to Him in prayer:

Ephesians 1:18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

Ephesians 3:16: That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.

We can pray with confidence when we know these things about God. (Notebook Moment: How does understanding God’s power, purpose, and desire to bless us change the way you approach Him in prayer?)

How to Pray for Others

We serve others when we pray for them. Paul’s prayers show us his heart for God’s people. Paul constantly reminded the churches that he was praying for them.

Paul was very specific in what he prayed for. Prayerfully read through the following prayers of Paul and look for the themes that are repeated:

Ephesians 1:15-19: Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.

Ephesians 3:14-19: For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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

Colossians 1:9-12: 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; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13: Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Paul wanted to see these Christians grow spiritually in five specific ways:

• He prayed that their love would abound toward one another
• He prayed that their knowledge of Christ would grow and deepen
• He prayed that they would live holy and blameless lives
• He prayed that their lives would be fruitful and abundant
• He prayed that they would be strengthened in the Holy Spirit

Paul showed the great love he had for the Body of Christ through his prayers. Do we pray this way for our brothers and sisters? Do we have a strong desire to see them grow spiritually? (Notebook Moment: Which of these five areas would you most like to see God develop in your own life? How could you begin praying these same requests for someone else?)

When to Pray for Ourselves

It’s not wrong to pray for ourselves. All the great men of the Bible brought their needs to the Lord. Many of the Psalms are David’s prayers for himself. But it is wrong to focus our prayers only on our wants and desires.

Paul knew when to pray for himself. He prayed for his needs in ministry. He asked other Christians to join him in prayer for his needs:

Romans 15:30-32: Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2: Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

Paul also prayed for his physical protection. He prayed to be delivered from trials:

2 Corinthians 1:10-11: Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

Paul requested prayer for strength and boldness in ministry. Paul shows great humility in these requests:

Ephesians 6:18-20: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Colossians 4:2-4: Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Paul’s most personal prayer was for deliverance from an intense trial:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10: 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. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 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. 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.

Paul did not receive the answer he was seeking. But God spoke to him clearly. Paul was brought to a deeper understanding of God’s grace as he prayed. (Notebook Moment: Have you ever experienced God saying “no” to one of your prayers? How did that experience help you understand God’s grace and wisdom more clearly?)

Conclusion

There’s one more thing that Paul knew about prayer. He knew how often to pray:

Romans 1:9: For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

1 Thessalonians 1:2: We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.

1 Thessalonians 3:10: Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith.

Paul worked night and day to proclaim the Gospel and build up the church. But he was never too busy to pray. Even as he wrote his final letter, as he awaited certain execution in Rome, Paul was still praying:

2 Timothy 1:3: I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day.

Are we following Paul’s example? Do we make prayer a consistent part of our lives? Like Paul, we serve a powerful God who has eternal purposes for our lives and desires to bless us. Like Paul, we should be regularly praying for other believers to grow in love, knowledge, holiness, fruitfulness, and spiritual strength. And like Paul, we can bring our own needs to God, especially our needs for boldness and effectiveness in serving Him.

Prayer was not something Paul did when he had extra time. Prayer was woven into the fabric of his life and ministry. May God help us to follow his example and become people of faithful, consistent prayer.

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