PRAYERS OF PAUL: PART 1

Years ago I put together a semester's study for our Sunday school class on the above subject. Two lessons from that semester are found in the posts on “Paul: a Man of Prayer” in which Paul's prayers in the Book of Acts are discussed and “Paul and Prayer: Greetings.” Something very enlightening (at least to me) came out of that series of lessons. When Paul prays, he almost always gives the reason behind his requests – the SO-THAT's. I have found that it is a pattern that is almost never followed by Christians today, at least in oral prayers. So you may want to consider adding that dimension to your private prayers. For one thing, it will help clarify your thoughts as to the ultimate reasons behind your requests. In the examples below, the tip-off word or phrase introducing Paul's reason for the prayer is given in all caps.

To start with, Paul gives us one general consideration behind all prayers to God in Philippians 4:6-7:

“Do not have any worry about anything, but let God know your requests through prayer and supplication including thanksgiving. AND God's peace, which is above our understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

The following examples from Paul all concern Paul's prayers of blessings on other believers:

Romans 15:5-6: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement let you live in harmony with one another and in agreement with Christ Jesus SO THAT all together you can glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one united voice.”

Philippians 1:9-11: “And I pray that your love may increase more and more accompanied by knowledge and proper discernment SO THAT your may approve excellent things and may be pure and blameless when Christ appears again, filled with all the fruits of righteousness which come from Jesus Christ and resulting in the glorification and praise of God.”

Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras...greets you and always remembers you earnestly in his prayers THAT you may stand mature and in full assurance of all God's will.”

Ephesians 1:16-19: “I don't stop giving thanks for you and praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and reveal ever more knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, THAT you may know the future hope to which he has called you, that is, the riches of his glorious inheritance prepared for believers, and also the immeasurable greatness of God's power working in us believers.”

Ephesians 3:14-19 is a much more elaborate and unusual example of the So-That principle in that (a) Paul actually outlines his reason first in 2:11-22 rather than at the end of the prayer, (b) starts his prayer in 3:1 but then interrupts it for the next twelve verses, only to resume it again in 3:14, and (c) the prayer itself constitutes on long sentence in the Greek. Summarizing the whole thought, because God has broken down the divide between Jewish and Gentile believers, Paul prays for them all to grow spiritually and with knowledge of God.

Colossians 1:9-11 can actually be viewed as two prayers, each with a given rationale. Verses 9-10 contain Paul's prayer for the church that they might be filled with knowledge of God's will TO lead a life worthy of the Lord and bear fruit. Verse 11 then petitions God that they might be strengthened with all power “FOR all endurance and joyful patience."

I Corinthians 1:4-8: "I always give thanks to God for you because of God's grace which was given you through Christ Jesus that you were en him in every way with all speech and all knowledge...SO THAT you are not lacking in any spiritual gift..."