Romans 15:30 (NKJV)
“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,”
Fellowship is good but beyond superficial fellowship is the need to pray for one another. Living in this world needs a lot of spiritual support. Serving Christ in this world needs a lot more spiritual support. Beyond the talk of fellowship is the spiritual effort needed to remember each other in prayer. Many Saints have fallen because they lacked prayer support. Many good ministers have stagnated because they had insufficient prayer back up. Many people may promise to pray but few people actually end up praying.
Paul knew the critical role of prayer and so he begged his brethren to pray for him. “Strive together with me in prayers,” means, “Join in my struggle by praying for me.” Paul understood that he was in a struggle and he couldn’t succeed alone. He didn’t just want people around him who shared with him emotionally or financially; he needed people who would fight the fight of faith with him, in the place of prayers. In the words of NLT, he says, “Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.” The communion of prayers must be motivated by love. We are called to labor for one another in prayer, and we do this because we love the brethren. Many are stuck, stranded and stifled because we don’t pray for them. Don’t just laugh and “fellowship;” join in their struggle for life and ministry – by being active prayer partners.
“Lord, one of my greatest needs are for those who would pray for me. Send me help O my God, in Jesus name. And likewise, burden me to constantly uplift my brethren in prayers, for just as I need prayer help, I know that they do too. Yes, keep us interceding for each other. In Jesus name. Amen.”
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