"At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison - that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." - Colossians 4:3-4 ESV
"Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner." - Hebrews 13:18-19 ESV
"Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith." - 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 ESV
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Brothers, pray for us." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-25 ESV
We need this prayer support. We are complete in Him but still desire prayer. We see the need for it to fill up the empty places.
Notice it says pray for 'us' and not pray for 'me'. The only place recorded in the new testament that says that is a very questionable reference.
"Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'
But Peter said to him, 'May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.'
And Simon answered, 'Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.' " - Acts 8:18-24 ESV
This Simon was a 'sorcerer'. He leveraged influence for his own gain. He wanted the juice... to be plugged into the power. He was not functioning in faith at this time.
Here is a great passage that came up last night at Panera. My friend recently spoke on this subject.
"So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." - Exodus 17:10-12 ESV
Aaron was a the high priest and Hur was just an ordinary guy referenced just a couple more times in the scripture. This is his only recorded action. He ascended the mountain, moved a stone and held up one of Moses' hands.
Moses needed to keep the rod of authority above himself in order for there to be victory on the battlefield. Moses knew this and then found it out by experience also. The things is... Moses was not up to the task alone.
If the rod was above his head... victory. If it dropped to low... people died. Wow!
I love the dual method used.
They moved the rock to Moses. They didn't move Moses to the rock. Oh, that is what I want to do. I want to move the rock to people so they can rest. Even that is not a solitary task. A rock that is big enough to sit on is too heavy for me to move alone.
Then they supported Moses' hands but it was not just Moses they supported it was Israel's army and Joshua down on the battlefield also got that support.
Aaron was a professional prayer warrior and Hur was just a guy who likely worked a job but without them both Moses would not have had the strength needed in the struggle behind the battle.
Just me and Jesus is a majority a for sure but God has designed us to have other branches of that divine relationship for the battles we will face in this life. We will not have the strength to face them alone. God is glorified in our ability and our inability. He has a provision for both.
If God puts it on your heart today please pray for 'us'... we need strength for our hands to hold Jesus and His finished work above our heads.
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