![]() Paul's authority, ministry and preaching were under attack when he wrote to the church in Galatia. Nevertheless he wrote to them with grace about grace. "I pray over you a release of the blessings of God's undeserved kindness and total well-being that flows from our Father-God and from the Lord Jesus" (Gal 1:3-4 TPT). Paul always begins and ends his letters with a benediction, not a criticism. Even though the letter was written for correction and clarification of their belief and practice, he blessed them again at the end, saying, "Finally my beloved ones - may the wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, be flowing in your spirit. So shall it be!" (Gal 6:18 TPT). In the opening benediction, Paul describes God's kindness as "undeserved". It is a theme of this letter - grace and salvation are unearned by human actions. Paul wishes the Galatians "total well-being" even though he is taking them to task. Paul sets the example for us that just because we disagree with someone we are not free to wish them ill, or to pray that God "strike them down" for their disbelief or heresy. No, we are to bless them, praying for an in-pouring of God's grace and that they be well in body, mind and spirit. For Reflection: Is this how we pray for those with whom we disagree? #Paul #Prayer #St.Paul #Grace
0 Comments
![]() We may know more about the apostle Paul's prayer life than any other New Testament person's simply because his letters contain prayers for the various recipients. In this series we will examine some of these recorded prayers to mine them for the power they demonstrated. "So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power" (Ephesians 3:15-16 TPT). He begins, "So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father". Did his prayer time include a type of transport to the throne room of God where he could kneel in awe in the actual divine presence? Or was it in his mind's eye that he experienced the sensation of being in God's presence? Did he physically kneel beside his bed or in his prayer corner? Maybe he knelt to pray as he was dictating the letter? This last option seems less likely to me. I've always pictured Paul pacing the room as he dictates his letters, sometimes getting caught up in the presence of and knowledge of God, sometimes aggrieved by the situations he is addressing. Based on 2 Corinthians 12:1-6 it certainly seems possible that he may be indicating he had a supernatural vision or ecstatic experience. In whatever way he "went", he approached the Father, the Source, the Top Guy. He felt confident that he could go to the Father and be heard. Paul is not a thief in the night trying to sneak in through the back door. He went straight to the CEO, no middle managers or supervisors for him. He went to the Father as any son would ordinarily do. Paul knows who he is and whom to approach with his request. He's confident. And what is his prayer request for the group in Ephesus? In this case it is not for the Father to give something new; it is for God to let them see what they already have been given; i.e., the Father's glory and favor and the unlimited riches that they represent. God's glory and favor in us are unlimited riches. I believe the next few sentences help us to understand what Paul means by glory and favor: the "life of Christ", the "resting place of his love", the "love of Christ", "endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding". These are the things that Paul prays will be unveiled within us. They are already within us. But perhaps they need to be unveiled so that we can see them. Do we see these riches in our life? If not, we can ask God to unveil his glory and favor in us. We can participate in and benefit from Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus. #St.Paul #Paul #Prayer #Ephesians |
AliceI started this website and blog on May 1, 2012. I am a Catholic who has been in ministry for many years. I first developed what I would call a close relationship with Jesus in the early 1970s. Ever since then I have been praying with people for healing and other needs. It is because I have seen so many of these prayers answered that I am so bold as to offer to pray for you individually through this website and phone line. Archives
July 2021
Categories
All
|