Who's In Charge Here? A Series on Authority
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Dear Jesus, I thank you for those in leadership at New Life. I come to you this day to ask that you would give them the grace to serve you with honor. May the way they lead please your heart, just as the way that I follow please you. Help us all to live in the grace that you have provided us through the cross. May we live in the power of the Holy Spirit at all times. Help the leaders at New Life to make godly decisions, give them the wisdom and discernment that they need. Thank you for the body of Christ, and help it to function they way you designed it to. I love you and thank you for all that you have done for me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Bible Verses
Hebrews 13:17-19
Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.
Reflecting on God's Word
What does the author of Hebrews ask his listeners to do in verse 18?
What specific thing does he want them to pray about? Why?
What does his request tell you about his desire as a spiritual leader?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
When the author says "our conscience is clear" (verse 18), what is he saying? How does this relate to his prayer request?
What is the author's special prayer request in verse 19? What does this tell you about his shepherd's heart?
What is the author's view of prayer? Why?
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
Is it hard for me to find time to pray?
Do I pray at all for the leaders at New Life? Why or why not?
Do my prayers really matter before God? Why did the author of Hebrews seem to think so?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
Can I think of a time and a place today in which I can pray for the leaders at New Life?
How can I take the prayer request found in verse 18 and pray it for my spiritual leaders?
Thoughts
Prayer is the key to spiritual victory. Yet so many times we fail to pray because we get so busy with life. We think that we can handle the situation on our own. But prayer helps us to recognize that we cannot do things alone -- we need God's help. In Hebrews 13:18-19 we see the author's willingness to ask for prayer as he is in spiritual authority. This reveals to us where his strength came from -- from God alone. Those who are in spiritual authority at church need our prayers. They are human beings and they need the Lord's strength. If the author of Hebrews needed prayer from his listeners, so the leadership of New Life need the prayers of the congregation.
The author asks specifically for the grace to live honorably in everything and the ability to maintain a clear conscience in doing so. What an amazing request, for it reveals his heart. He wants to be pure so that others can follow. The leaders, elders, and pastors at New Life need our prayers so that they can be the godly examples and live honorably before God and us. Prayer makes the difference. It is impossible for anyone to live pure before the Lord without the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace that He provides. As all of us move on into another year we need to spend time in prayer asking for grace to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Take time this day to pray for those in leadership at New Life that they may be godly in character and in conduct and live in the power of the Holy Spirit.