Good Morning!
Last week we learned so much about Paul as a person. His was a life of incomparable affliction and suffering, and yet he was actually able to see the value of s suffering. How could anyone go through such drastic circumstances of being beaten, shipwrecked, impoverished and now imprisoned in a Roman jail while maintaining a vision for the bigger picture of the gospel venture? Well, this week in our Book of Ephesians Series found in Ephesians 3: 14-21, I think we get a glimpse of his secret. Paul is not only an excellent model for thriving under affliction; he is also a practical example of how to pray. In fact, communicating with our God is closely related to who we are IN CHRIST.
When we pray, we’re talking to our Dad. And we shouldn’t focus on the wording or format of our prayer, but concentrate on our relationship with our Father in heaven. Prayer can cause God to act, but oftentimes prayer is intended to change us. Praying also keeps us from grumbling and gossiping. From Paul’s prayer for his church, we learn that prayer is Personal, Relational, Asking, Yearning, Expecting, and Revealing. How nerdy is your pastor to make an acrostic? 😁
Join us for worship on Sunday morning at 11 AM for the premier of my message, ”IN CHRIST: I AM HEARD” right here: https://youtu.be/fQHWEaBRIrw
DON’T FORGET TO PRINT OUT YOUR STUDY GUIDE.
Blessings in IN CHRIST!
Pastor Eric
