18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
Jesus ever lives to intercede for us, and because He does, we are saved to the uttermost, Hebrews 7:25. We are now one with Jesus, so we too ever live to intercede for others so that they may be saved to the uttermost, John 17:26. With these Truths in mind let’s study some examples of prayer’s in the Bible.
And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized]. Philippians 1:9-11
Through Christ we are empowered to pray for people to abound in the fullest measure of love. We pray that they are pure and blameless and without fault and pray that they are filled with righteousness. We pray that they are just like Jesus is.
May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-- To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3:16-21
Pray for people to have the same mighty power that Jesus has. Pray that love secures them and that they are filled with all of the fullness of God, just as Jesus is filled with the fullness of God. Pray that our Father will do more through them than they can ask for, believe for, or pray for. Pray for those that love and hate you. Pray for the saved and unsaved to have all of the power of Jesus. Pray lifting holy hands and pray with Thanksgiving.
Now here is a great Truth for us: even if we pray wrong, the Holy Spirit will take what we pray and turn it into what our Father’s will is, so that we will receive even if we asked for the wrong things.
So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. Romans 8:26
So pray away, because in Christ we always receive our Father’s perfect will. Father I ask that You cause us to always and every place to pray in the full and complete power of Your might.
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