Aug 12, 2022 Praying John 15 – Words of Grace – August 12, 2022
When your prayers are tired and flat, or non-existent, pick up your Bible and read.
The average Christian “prayer request” is about a situation of need or concern. That means when we don’t feel a need or have a big concern, we don’t often pray.
But when we read the Bible, we see one prayer request after another. Every page of the Bible stimulates vision, hope, and longing for what is written to become reality in our lives, our church, and the world.
That’s the way I have read John 15 this week, as a prayer request. I put it before you this weekend for your prayers.
Here are three prayer requests for your life and for Grace Community Church:
Pray for people to abide in Christ. Jesus said there are two kinds of people (John 15:2). Those who are around him for a while but don’t remain with him because they are not of faith; and those who are born again, believe in him, and remain.
With so many Christian congregations and so much Christian influence in our city, there are many people who are around the things of the Christian faith but who are not actually “in Christ.” Among us each week at Grace are people listening and considering, but not yet converted to Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can make a heart new and connect a person to Christ by faith. Let’s pray for this work of the Spirit.
Pray for fruit in our lives as we abide in Christ. Jesus said Christians bear much fruit (John 15:5). The person in Christ will show evidence of his life in them. There will be change.
The congregation that is filled with Spirit-filled Christians will bear fruit. We can bear the relational fruit that is shared among Christians who love each other and are seeking Christ together.
Again, only the Holy Spirit can do this work. He brings forth the evidence of the life of Christ in a person. We submit to his convicting, correcting, and empowering work in our lives and congregation. For this we pray.
Pray for the glory of God through us in our city. Jesus said the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit and prove to be his disciples (John 15:8). It will not be our abilities or self-righteousness that glorifies God. These things will glorify us, and that glory will fade like flowers. God is glorified by the life of his Son being seen in Christians. Christ in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1).
If someone asks if you have a prayer request this weekend, tell them it’s John 15. Ask them to pray with you for people to abide in Christ, for fruit-bearing in your life and our congregation, and for God to be glorified among us.
See you Sunday.
-Scott