Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Prayer Focus: Petition that God would sanctify us so we would be blameless at the coming of Christ

Prayer Focus: Praise that God will sanctify us!

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13:


Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 

Prayer Focus: Petition that God would direct us to others and others to us.

Prayer Focus: Petition that God would cause our love to abound for brethren and all so that our hearts would be blameless at the coming of Christ.

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (Colossians 4:3)

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Colossians 4:3:

praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;

Prayer Focus: Petition that God would create opportunities and hearers for the mystery that is Christ.

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (Colossians 1:9-11) - How does understanding of Christ's revelation affect prayer?

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Colossians 1:9-11:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,

Prayer Focus:  Petition to God that He would fill us with a deep and abiding understanding of Christ's revelation so we may: please Him, increase in the knowledge of God, and grow in strength for endurance and patience with joy.    

We ask God to fill you represents the passive “asking that you be filled”; the active is used in order to make God explicit, as the one who does the filling. Other ways may be sought to express the idea of “fill”: compare TNT “you may be completely certain”; Brc “have complete insight”; NEB “you may receive from him … for full insight.”

Bratcher, R. G., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on Paul's letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. Helps for translators; UBS handbook series (15). New York: United Bible Societies.

Paul has given thanks that the Colossians have truly understood (epegnōte) God’s grace; now he correspondingly prays that they may be filled with the knowledge (epignōsin) of his will. What Paul has in mind is not some particular or special direction for one’s life (as we often use the phrase “God’s will”), but a deep and abiding understanding of the revelation of Christ and all that he means for the universe (vv. 15–20) and for the Colossians (vv. 21–23).52

Moo, D. J. (2008). The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. The Pillar New Testament commentary (93). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.

Paul adds, in accordance with his glorious might. “In accordance with” is stronger than “of” or “by.” When the multimillionaire gives “of” his wealth to some good cause he may be giving very little; but when he donates “in accordance with” his riches, the amount will be substantial. The Holy Spirit gives not only “of” but “in accordance with.”

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 6: New Testament commentary : Exposition of Colossians and Philemon. New Testament Commentary (58–59). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Verse 11 describes the extent and purpose of God’s empowerment of the believer. First, the strengthening comes with all power. The word “all” (Gk. pas) has a variety of nuances. Here it signifies a “marker of the highest degree”: “complete,” “unlimited” power.70 The word power is closely related to the word “strengthen” (dynamis and dynamoō, respectively): we might paraphrase “strengthened by God with the greatest strength imaginable.”

Moo, D. J. (2008). The letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. The Pillar New Testament commentary (97). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.

Learning how to pray from the Apostles prayers (Phil 1:9) - with thoughts from John Calvin and Boice

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Philippians 1:9:

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 

Prayer Focus: Petition to God that our love would both increase according to our measure of knowledge and be discerning so that we are both blameless and fruitful 

Calvin writes in his Philippians commentary, "For the true attainments of Christians are when they make progress in knowledge, and understanding, and afterwards in love. Accordingly the particle in, according to the idiom of the Hebrew tongue, is taken here to mean with, as I have also rendered it, unless perhaps one should prefer to explain it as meaning by, so as to denote the instrument or formal cause. For, the greater proficiency we make in knowledge, so much the more ought our love to increase. The meaning in that case would be, “That your love may increase according to the measure of knowledge.”All knowledge, means what is full and complete — not a knowledge of all things."

Boice writes in his Philippians commentary, "The first thing that Paul says the Christian needs is abounding love. “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best” (vv. 9–10). The Christian must be filled with Christ’s love.

This must be a love according to knowledge. The word used here is a special word (epignosis) that refers to advanced spiritual knowledge. In the New Testament the word is applied only to spiritual things—to the knowledge of God, religious knowledge, spiritual knowledge, and doctrinal knowledge. It is a knowledge that comes to the Christian through a study of God’s Word.

The love that is behind good works must also be discerning. This word has reference to the understanding given by the Holy Spirit. Just as the Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, so the Holy Spirit enables us to discern how love should operate.

Finally, the love with which the Christian should be filled must be discriminating. Paul says that we are to discern what is best. The word translated “discern” in classical Greek refers to testing something or someone. It is the technical word for testing money to determine whether or not it is counterfeit. It occurs in a political context for the testing of a candidate for office. Herodotus uses the word for the testing of oxen by Egyptian priests to see whether they are fit for sacrifice (Histories, II, 38). This is the word used by Paul when he says that Christians are to be renewed by the Holy Spirit so that they may “test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2).

The Christian life must be motivated and informed by love. Without love we are only clanging symbols. But this was never intended to be a wishy-washy, undefined, sentimental love. It is the love of Christ. Hence, it must be a love governed by biblical principles and exercised with judgment."

Announcing an index of Puritan works and an index of Jonathan Edward's sermons

Beginning today, I added a small text block at the upper right of my blog that will offer up a couple of resources I created.  I find these immensely helpful and hope you will as well. 


Here is a resource I created to index Puritan works.  This is a supplement to Robert P. Martin's A Guide To The Puritans.


Here is a resource I created that indexes all of Jonathan Edward's sermons by scripture text.

How do you prayer for those with opportunities to share the gospel? Learning how to pray from the Apostles prayers (Ephesians 6:19)

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Ephesians 6:19:

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

Prayer Focus: Petition that God would give words and boldness to those in opportunities to share the gospel

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (Ephesians 3:20-21)

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Ephesians 3:20-21:

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Praise that there is no limit to what God can do by His Spirit within us

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (Ephesians 3:14-17) w/excerpts from Hendriksen and O'Brien's commentaries

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Ephesians 3:14-17:

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love

Prayer Attitude: We should be reverent when we pray (Eph 3:14).
Prayer Focus:  Petition that God's Spirit would exert a greater and greater controlling influence on our will.

Hendriksen writes in his New Testament Commentary, "This “inner man” is not that which is rational in man as contrasted with man’s lower appetites. Paul’s terminology is not that of Plato or of the Stoics. On the contrary, the “inner man” is the opposite of the “outer” (or: outward) man. Cf. II Cor. 4:16. The former is hidden from the public gaze. The latter is open to the public. It is in the hearts of believers that the principle of a new life has been implanted by the Holy Spirit. See on 3:17. What the writer is praying for is therefore this, that within these hearts such a controlling influence may be exerted that they may be strengthened more and more with Spirit-imparted power."

O'Brien writes in The Pillar New Testament Commentary, "It is the focal point at the centre of a persons life where the Spirit does his strengthening and renewing work. Indeed, the inner self stands in need of empowering given our struggle against sin (Rom. 7:22) and the need for daily renewal (2Cor. 4:6). When the outer person of the believer is wasting away, the inner person is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16)."

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (Ephesians 1:15-23)

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Ephesians 1:15-23:

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 

Prayer Focus:  Praise for the faith and acts of love we see in other Christians.
Prayer Focus:  Petition that we would receive a continually growing deeper understanding of the grandeur of the gospel and what it means for our lives.

Hendriksen writes in the New Testament Commentary, "Paul, then, asks that the addressed may receive a continually growing supply of wisdom and clear knowledge. Combine the two, and note that he is asking that the Ephesians be given deeper penetration into the meaning of the gospel and a clearer insight into the will of God for their lives, enabling them at all times to use the best means for the attainment of the highest goal, namely, the glory of God Triune."

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (Ephesians 1:3) w/thoughts from Calvin

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is Ephesians 1:3:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places

Prayer Focus: Praise that God has blessed us through Christ with every spiritual blessing.

Calvin writes in his commentary on Ephesians, "The word bless is here used in more than one sense, as referring to God, and as referring to men. I find in Scripture four different significations of this word. 1. We are said to bless God when we offer praise to him for his goodness. 2. God is said to bless us, when he crowns our undertakings with success, and, in the exercise of his goodness, bestows upon us happiness and prosperity; and the reason is, that our enjoyments depend entirely upon his pleasure. Our attention is here called to the singular efficacy which dwells in the very word of God, and which Paul expresses in beautiful language. 3. Men bless each other by prayer. 4. The priest’s blessing is not simply a prayer, but is likewise a testimony and pledge of the Divine blessing; for the priests received a commission to bless in the name of the Lord. Paul therefore blesses God, because he hath blessed us, that is, hath enriched us with all blessing and grace."

Learning to Pray from the Apostles Prayers (2 Corinthians 13:14)

As mentioned in my initial post for this series, I intend to blog through a number of New Testament texts where the Apostles are either praying or reflecting on their prayers. In noting how the Apostles prayed, it will help us to conform our prayers so that they are more biblical.

Today's text is 2 Corinthians 13:14:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

Prayer Focus: Petition that we would know Christ's grace, God's love, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.