Paul’s Prayer

INTRO

A. TWO AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THIS REQUEST.

1) The giftedness of Paul

2) The doctrine of Paul.

B. PAUL’S REQUEST FOR PRAYER (vv. 30-33).

Paul knew the power and importance of prayer. He frequently requested in his letters to the churches that they pray for him (cf. Eph. 6:18-19; Col. 4:2-3; 2 Thess. 3:1).

1) The exhortation to the Romans (v. 30). “I urge you.”

2) The motivations to pray (v. 30).

a) by the Lord Jesus Christ - cf. all that has been said so far in the latter about Christ.

b) by the love of the Spirit - the love that the Spirit has produced in our hearts.

3) The labor of prayer (v. 30). “to strive together with me”

sunagonizomai: to join with someone else in some severe effort — ‘to join fervently in, to join vigorously in,’ ‘to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf’ Ro 15:30.

Prayer is often a battle.

Encouragement of striving prayer:

4) The specific requests (vv. 31-32).

a) safety - FROM WHOM? The disobedient Jews. WHY?

b) service - Paul wanted his ministry to bring a blessing to the saints at Jerusalem.

c) joyful and refreshing fellowship with them –

(a) How do you refresh an apostle?

(b) “by the will of God” – Paul knew that his future was totally in the hands of God. This is not the revealed moral will of God which can be broken but God’s sovereign will.

C. PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE ROMANS (v. 33).

Benediction –

“Peace”

The word “amen” is a most remarkable word.

CONCLUSION