Gospel Reading Plan: Luke 17-18
The example of Paul
Read: Romans 1:8-10, 1 Cor.
1:4-9, Eph. 1:15-23, Phil. 1:3-6
The apostle Paul communed with God in prayer regularly. Through his prayer life he received direction
from the Lord in establishing the New Testament church. This type of prayer is needed in the church
today but it costs much, it is death to self, the flesh and the world but it is
worth the cost. Prayer that costs nothing
gets nothing. Paul was predominately a
praying man. He went out on his first great missionary journey under the power
of fasting and prayer (Acts 13) and through this means he established each
church that he planted. Paul made
praying a habit, it was his lifeline. Prayer
made up the substance, the bone, the marrow and the very being of his religious
life. He knew that prayer was a great
factor in the advancement of God’s Kingdom on earth. He knew that we are dependent on prayer for
great triumphs of holiness over sin.
Paul knew that people who lived for God would pray and that people could
not live for God without prayer. So Paul
prayed much. He was in the habit of
praying. He fully knew the value of
prayer. He prayed for the Roman church
(Rom. 1:9-10), the Ephesian church (Eph. 1:16), the church in Thessalonica (1
Th. 1:2), the Philemon church (Phm. 1:4) and the list goes on. They could put him in prison and keep him
from preaching but they couldn’t keep him from praying. His prison cell became the place where he
prayed (Acts 16:25) and where he wrote letters to the churches, many of which
are part of the New Testament. Paul was
truly a brilliant example of a life and ministry fueled by prayer.
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
- What things can you learn about prayer from Paul’s prayers in today’s Scripture readings?
- Paul often prayed for the churches where he ministered. Ask the Lord to show you things that you can pray in your own ministry area. If you are not involved in ministry, ask the Lord to speak to you about getting involved in ministry at church.
- Thank the Lord for the power we have in prayer, that we can talk to Him, ask for things, pray for others, and anything else that He shows you.
