Dear saints, let us pray that the saints would follow the pattern of the apostle in learning to travail in birth over their spiritual children until Christ is formed in them (Gal. 4:19). Paul told the Galatian believers that he was again travailing on their behalf. Travail refers to painful labor in childbirth. In this […]
Let us pray for the saints to foster the new believers as a nursing mother and as an exhorting father
Dear saints, let us pray that the saints would follow the apostle’s pattern to foster the new believers as a nursing mother cherishes her own children and as a father exhorts, consoles, and testifies to his own children (1 Thes. 2:6-8, 11). In verse 8 Paul continues, “Thus, yearning over you, we were well pleased […]
God’s Dealing with Jacob is a full picture of the Spirit’s Discipline and Transforming Work in us
It is such a mercy and a blessing for us as believers in Christ that God would deal with our natural disposition today through the Holy Spirit’s discipline and His transforming work so that Christ may be formed in us, grow in us, and bring us to maturity to make persons who bless others with […]
Let us pray for the saints to follow the apostle Paul’s pattern in boasting in those gained, perfected, and built up through him
Dear saints, let us pray that the saints would follow the pattern of the apostle Paul, who boasted in those who had been gained, perfected, and built up through him (2 Thes. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:16-17; 2 Cor. 9:2; 1:14). In 2 Thessalonians 1:3 and 4 Paul says, “We ought to thank God always concerning you, […]
Let us pray for the saints to consider their spiritual children as their hope, joy, crown, and glory
Dear saints, let us pray that the saints would follow the apostle’s pattern in considering the ones saved and nurtured by them as their hope, their joy, their crown of boasting, and their glory (1 Thes. 2:19-20 and note 20-1; Phil. 4:1). Here Paul seems to be saying, “You are our hope, our joy, and […]
Let us pray for the saints to have a burden, an interest, and a care for people in order to gain them
Dear saints, let us pray that the saints would have a burden, an interest, and a care for people in order to gain them as the Lord’s increase, and that the saints would bring this matter to the Lord and ask Him to infuse them with His heart for people (1 Thes. 2:1, 7-8; Phil. […]
Let us pray for the saints to learn to turn people from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God
Dear saints, let us pray that the saints would learn to preach the gospel as the apostle Paul did, turning people from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God that they might be transferred into the kingdom of God (Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12-13). Since warfare exists between the kingdoms of God […]