Love your brothers and sisters part 4
Hebrews 13: 20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep [d]through the blood of the eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, by doing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Well, we continue today with our series of messages about love. And last week we started with one part of the definition of love for brothers and sisters in Christ; praying for one another. And last time I told you that praying for one another is more than just praying about physical needs like illness, traveling mercies, or finding a job.
I told you I found 13 things we can pray for. The first 6 were...
6. Pray for One Another
1. Pray for Physical Healing and Physical Needs, 2. Pray for Victory Over Sin and Spiritual Temptation, 3. Pray for Spiritual Wisdom and Knowledge, 4. Pray for Spiritual Strength and Endurance, 5. Pray for Growth in Love, 6. Pray for Faith and Spiritual Maturity
And I had just completed the sermon last week by listing the last 7 things that we can pray for each other. Well, in business meeting, somebody asked if I was going to go over the remaining 7 this week. And I said that I had not intended to. And a couple people looked at me like “what do you mean you are not going to finish the last 7 things.” And since I rarely get anyone asking me for more of a particular sermon, I decided that this week I had better finish the last 7 points.
So, by popular demand, we are going to complete our list of things that we can pray for our fellow believers. I know that 7 is a lot of points, so what I am going to do is to share a relevant and poignant Scripture for each point and then lead in an example prayer for each.
I think that it is an obvious truth that we as believers are to be praying for each other. It is emphasized throughout the New Testament. As we start today, let me give you a few quotes about prayer from some notable figures in Christian history.
"Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness."
— Martin Luther
"God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it."
— John Wesley
"Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence."
— Charles H. Spurgeon
Well, before we begin, let’s go to the Lord in prayer.
prayer
7. Pray for Fruitfulness
Colossians 1: 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the [k]full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [l]to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and [m]multiplying in the [n]full knowledge of God;
Well, the next thing that you can pray for your fellow believers is fruitfulness. Pray that they will be spiritually fruitful. And if you want to know what fruitfulness looks like, look at these verses that we just read. Paul says that he prays for the church at Colossae about three things; that they will have the full knowledge and understanding of God’s will so that they live like they should live, “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” and lastly so they can bear fruit.
Let’s look at that passage in a little more detail. You are praying for fruitfulness for your Church neighbor. But that fruitfulness comes in three parts.
Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9–10 reveals that true spiritual fruitfulness begins with being filled with the full knowledge of God's revealed will through spiritual wisdom and understanding. He is praying that they have spiritual knowledge and understanding of God’s will. Isn’t that a great prayer? How many of us have said at some time in our lives that we just wanted to know God’s will and to understand the why behind God’s will. And it doesn’t end there. We often find ourselves in times of our lives where we want to know God’s will in one particular area of our lives. But he is praying that they have “full knowledge” of His will in “all” knowledge. He is praying that you have all knowledge of His will, in every aspect of your life. That is what Paul is praying for this church.
But it does not end with knowledge alone. It then goes on to say that he wants the knowledge for them so that they can “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and please Him in all respects. And pleasing Him in everything leads to “bearing fruit in every good work” not just some good works, every good work. The purpose of this knowledge is fruitfulness—a life that increasingly pleases the Lord in every area. That fruitfulness is expressed by obedient living, Christlike character, and good works that reflect God's transforming power.
Now look at this cycle. Paul is praying that they increase in knowledge in every area of God’s will so they can please Him in everything and increase in every good work, then look at the last phrase. “and [m]multiplying in the [n]full knowledge of God.” Paul started by praying for you to have the knowledge, so you can please God, so that you are fruitful and so you can multiply in more knowledge. It starts with knowledge that leads to fruitfulness that leads to more knowledge that leads to more fruitfullness.
As believers faithfully walk in obedience and bear fruit, they also grow in the knowledge of God, creating a continual cycle of spiritual growth: deeper knowledge leads to greater obedience, greater obedience produces more spiritual fruit, and a fruitful life results in an ever-deepening knowledge of God. Thus, Paul presents fruitfulness not merely as outward activity, but as a life that pleases God, bears lasting spiritual fruit, and continually multiplies in the knowledge of Him. That’s his prayer for the church at Colossae and that is what we can pray for each other.
What to Pray Heavenly Father,
Thank You for calling us to bear fruit for Your glory. I pray that You would make my brothers and sisters fruitful in every good work. Fill them with Your Spirit and empower them to serve You faithfully.
Open doors for ministry and give them opportunities to share the gospel with love and boldness. May their words and actions point others to Christ and bring glory to Your name.
Lord, make them fruitful in every good work and use them mightily for Your kingdom. May their lives bear lasting fruit that honors You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
What’s the next thing you can pray for fellow Christians?
8. Pray for Unity Among Believers
Philippians 2:1-4 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any [a]affection and compassion, 2 fulfill my joy, that you think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, thinking on one purpose, 3 doing nothing [b]from [c]selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, 4 not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Here’s a prayer you can pray. Paul's appeal in Philippians 2:1–4 is a heartfelt plea for unity within the body of Christ, and notice what that unity is grounded in. “If” there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any [a]affection and compassion. Now he uses the word “if” here, not to express doubt, but as a way of reminding the church about the shared blessings believers already possess through Christ, His love, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and God's compassion. It could be written, “if you all have Christ’s encouragement, and you do, if you all have His consolation of love, and you do, if you all have the fellowship of the Spirit and the affection and compassion of God, and you do, then you should all naturally, or I should say supernaturally be united.
Paul goes on and asks the Philippians to "complete my joy" by being united in their thinking, their love and their purpose. Now we could spend a lot of time here, if we had the time. But these are the three keys to unity in the church; thinking, love, and purpose.
First, he is praying that they be united in their thinking. This goes back to our coming together around the same understanding of Scripture. This comes down to everyone being diligent in their study of the Word and seeking God. Now, because of our limits, and because our knowledge is never going to be complete in this world, we will have differences. That’s why he not only prays for unity of mind, but also unity of love or charity. We may not agree on everything, but we should agree to be kind and gracious to each other. And then finally, he prays for unity of purpose. Even if we don’t think exactly the same, if we have love for each other, and we all have the same purpose, to please God, live right, and reach the world, then we can have a unified focus in the world.
He concludes his thought by saying,
3 doing nothing [b]from [c]selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, 4 not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
What to Pray
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for making us one through Jesus Christ. I pray that You would unite my brothers and sisters in truth and love. Help us to stand together in sound doctrine and to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Where there is conflict, bring reconciliation. Where there is pride, cultivate humility. Teach us to love, forgive, and submit to one another as we seek to honor You.
Father, make us one as You and the Son are one. May our unity be a powerful witness that brings glory to Your name.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
What’s the next thing that we can pray?
9. Pray for Protection from Evil and False Teaching
We should be praying for our brothers and sisters that they be protected from evil and false teaching. In the world we live in today, there seems to be a proliferation of varieties of evil, and false teaching. And we need to remember something about that. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) That means that he comes at us with what appears to be good, and right, and wholesome.
We don’t have the time today to list all the “good things” that Satan uses to disguise his message. But know that Satan uses the same vocabulary as the Church does. He talks about God, Jesus, Salvation, Grace, Blessings, the Holy Spirit, church, worship, and all of the rest of it. But he shades the meanings so that they are a mixture of truth and error. That’s why Paul says this.
2 Thessalonians 3:2-3 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the word of the Lord will [a]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from [b]perverse and evil men, for not all have [c]faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen and guard you [d]from the evil one.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:2–3, Paul asks the church to pray for protection from evil, both for those proclaiming the gospel and for believers who face spiritual opposition. He specifically requests prayer that he and his companions would be delivered from "perverse and evil men," recognizing that not everyone accepts the faith and that unbelief often expresses itself through hostility to the gospel. These "evil men" were not merely difficult people but active opponents who sought to hinder the spread of God's Word, illustrating the constant threat of persecution and false influences against the church.
Yet Paul immediately shifts the focus from human opposition to God's faithfulness, assuring believers that "the Lord is faithful" and will strengthen and guard them from the Evil One—a reference many commentators understand as Satan himself, the ultimate source behind deception and opposition. This promise includes God's protection from spiritual attack, perseverance in the faith, and stability against false teaching and temptation. Paul's prayer reminds believers that while the church will always encounter evil and deception, God faithfully protects His people by strengthening them to remain steadfast in the truth and guarding them from the schemes of the enemy.
What to Pray
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being our refuge and strength. I pray that You would protect my brothers and sisters from the attacks of Satan and guard them from every form of deception. Give them discernment to recognize false teaching and the wisdom to hold firmly to Your truth.
Strengthen Your church to stand faithfully against the schemes of the enemy. Keep our hearts and minds fixed on Christ, and preserve us in faith until the day He returns.
Keep them from the evil one and protect them from every false doctrine. May Your truth guard and guide them each day.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
What else do we pray for our fellow Christians?
10. Pray for Boldness in Witnessing
Ephesians 6:19-20 18 praying at all times [g]with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 as well as on my behalf, that [h]words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel— 20 for which I am an ambassador in [i]chains—so that [j]in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
In Ephesians 6:18–20, Paul asks believers to pray continually for all the saints and then makes a deeply personal request: that God would give him the right words and the boldness to proclaim the gospel fearlessly.
If there’s anything we need today in the American church it is boldness.
And Although Paul was imprisoned as "an ambassador in chains," Paul does not ask for release, comfort, or easier circumstances. Instead, his greatest concern is having divine enablement to faithfully and courageously proclaim the "mystery of the gospel." His request for "utterance" reflects dependence on the Holy Spirit to provide the right message, while his repeated emphasis on speaking "with boldness" highlights his desire to preach openly, clearly, and without fear despite the threat of persecution. Paul's prayer demonstrates that courage in gospel proclamation is not merely a natural personality trait but a gift God grants through prayer. Even one of Christianity's greatest apostles recognized his need for God's strength and for the prayers of fellow believers so that he might faithfully declare Christ "as I ought to speak." His example reminds the church that boldness is essential to fulfilling the Great Commission and should be a continual prayer for all who share the gospel.
What to Pray
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for calling us to be witnesses for Christ. I pray that You would fill my brothers and sisters with courage to share the gospel wherever You lead them. Open doors for ministry and give them wisdom to speak Your truth with clarity, grace, and love.
Strengthen them to remain faithful to Christ, even in the face of opposition or fear. Let their lives and words boldly point others to the hope found in Jesus.
Grant them boldness to proclaim Christ without fear. May Your Spirit empower them to speak with confidence and faithfulness for Your glory.
In Jesus' name, Amen.