PRAY FOR US
Tuesday – August 14, 2018, Elul 3, 5778
Welcome back to this wonderful faith building Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. The featured picture today is of the lighthouse at Pemaquid Point in Bristol Maine. A wonderfully beautiful location. Now, back to our Bible Study. First let’s look at our primary text reading it aloud therefore also putting it in our ears. Next, we need to decide that we are going to use our spiritual ears not just these natural ears and we are going to apply these Truths to our lives. We must never walk away from hearing the Word of God unchanged. At a minimum the hearing of the Word should confirm our knowledge, build our faith, and add to our commitment to do the Word of God in fullness.
Hebrews 13:17-20 (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Today I am moving into the eighteenth verse. The writer of this wonderful Book is asking the readers of that time to pray for him/her and those who are in their company. You will remember that when Jesus sent out the twelve and then the seventy they were sent out by twos. I do not know that being alone in ministry is a solid Bible model. Sometimes (commonly) the one called with us is our help meet (spouse). Personally I believe this is essential for our safety (spiritual, mental, and moral) and to keep us grounded so as not go into the ditch on either side of the road we walk. As we move forward let’s look at the eighteenth verse in The Living Bible translation.
Hebrews 13:18 (TLB)
18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to keep it that way.
Many lusts confront us each day that are divergent from the Word of God or the plan of God for us or others. The writer of Hebrews is earnestly asking the Hebrews of that time to pray for him/her. The focus of that prayer was to be that the clear conscience they now have would be maintained. I think this reference is specifically concerning the preaching/teaching of the gospel but has application in every area of life. We sometimes enter into deceptions or hide certain facts for seemingly good reason but is that really the will of God. Sometimes the truth is inconvenient even disconcerting for others and ourselves. Having a clear conscience and maintaining it must be the cry of our soul. The goal of this prayer request is noble in and of itself but the secondary goal is that the writer wants to return sooner rather than later.
Hebrews 13:19 (TLB)
19 I especially need your prayers right now so that I can come back to you sooner.
He/she has faith that with their prayers a way back will open up sooner than if they fail to pray. Of course, I think we all recognize that the failure of the Hebrews to pray reflects the presence of indifference on his/her return. Perhaps, that is true in our own lives regarding others praying for us or us praying for others. Are we earnest in our prayers for them and their return or only if it fits our agenda and schedule? As we look ahead to the twentieth verse we find the author is now praying for the readers of this potent Word of the Lord.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (TLB)
20 And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
21 equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow, until then I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 3:14-17 (KJV)
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,
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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