Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

that if he does not see fit to remove them, he will enable his people to bear them so as to glorify him in them, and at last bring his people safe through them.

Paul for the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians xiii.-7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

Note. To do evil is a far worse thing than to suffer evil. Let us pray to be kept from both, and especially from doing evil.

EPHESIANS.

Paul for the Ephesians.

Ephesians i.-15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all princi

pality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; 22 and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Note. When we give thanks for what God has done for ourselves and others, we should, with holy reverence and boldness, ask him for yet more, out of his rich inexhaustible fulness. What an asking is here -that of Paul for the Ephesians!

Paul for the Ephesians.

Ephesians iii.-13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Note.-What a wonderful asking by the apostle we have here! That the Ephesians had already received

much was no reason for ceasing to ask, but rather a reason and encouragement to ask more; for the riches of salvation by Jesus Christ are inexhaustible.

PHILIPPIANS.

Paul for the Philippians.

Philippians i.-3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now: 6 being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent ; that ye may be sincere, and without offence, till the day of Christ; 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Note.-Ministers should have their believing people on their hearts in prayer, mingling thanksgiving for the past and present with much asking for farther and more abundant good.

The Philippians prayed for Paul.

Philippians i.-19 For I know that this shall turn

to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Note. The prayers of their believing people are highly valued by Christian ministers, and are the means of encouraging them, and obtaining for them strength and success in their work.

COLOSSIANS.

Paul for the Colossians.

Colossians i. -3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints; 5 for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; 6 which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in

the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Note.-Happy is the minister who can give such thanks regarding his people; and happy the people who have a minister who teaches them these things, and rejoices with thanksgiving over their reception of them!

1 THESSALONIANS.

Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians i.-2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

Note.-Apart from personal salvation, there is no cause of thankfulness to God more delightful than the piety and Christian graces of those to whom we are intimately related.

Paul prays for the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians iii.-9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself and our Father, and

« EdellinenJatka »