GOING BEYOND ORDINARY: Level up your prayer and worship!

Key Verse: Romans 15: 30-33

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my
struggle by praying to God for me.31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that
the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I
may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with
you all. Amen.

Who is Apostle Paul?

 Paul is actually Saul. He was born into a Jewish family in the city of Tarsus.
 Paul was trained in the best schools led by the well-known and respected Pharisee Gamaliel.
(Galatians 1:13-14)
 Saul had a great dedication in eradicating those believing in the teaching of Jesus (Acts 8:1-3)
 During his trip to Damascus, Saul’s life changed from being the great persecutor to great
messenger of the gospel.
 He also writes no less than fourteen books (epistles) of the Bible (the most of any author), trains
other evangelists and gospel preachers like John Mark and Timothy, and endures a total of more
than five years in prison.

1. Be a fighter: Fight and strive for your prayer life

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me
in my struggle by praying to God for me. (Romans 15:30) NIV
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that
ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me (Romans 15:30) KJV

 “strive” means to contend in an athletic contest, to wrestle, to struggle, to fight. (Col 4:12)
 Strive means = being all-out
 The Greek word strive together is sunagonizomai literally meaning “agonize together”. The same
root word for agony is used
 The Greek word agony is used also the anguished prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane,
when Jesus asked His disciples to agonize with him in prayer. In the same way, Paul maximize
what Jesus said in his disciple that the battle is not against the flesh but of spirit.
 Naranasan mo na bang mapagod at nakipagwrestle sa prayer life mo?
 Do you wrestle in prayer or you give in to your flesh?
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to
the ground.

2. Be an all-out follower: Pray for the will of God not yours. (verse 31-32)
 Did you know that there are corrupt prayers?
  Paul knew the dangers that awaits him in Jerusalem. (Acts 21:27-28; Acts 22) But as you can
see, there is an all-out surrender in his attitude. He courageously fights for the cause of
advancing the kingdom of God. Just like Jesus, who knew that the hour was about to come.

Matthew 22:41-43
41
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if
you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel
from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

3. Be lost in prayer: Lose yourself in prayer and worship

 The fruit of the holy spirit was mentioned in the passage. Love, joy, and peace.
 You can only experience the fullness of Christ if you lose yourself to Him.

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live
by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
 From Paul’s background, he is very knowledgeable and equipped as a Pharisee. But when
he decided to follow Jesus. His one desire is to die for him, cling to the holy spirit, and to
advance His kingdom.
 Ikaw kelan ka ba na inlove sa Holy Spirit? Do you experience the Holy Spirit while you pray?
 Do you want to experience the HOLY SPIRIT? The answer for this is surrender yourself to
God. How? Surrender all your passion and desires. Desires His will and presence only. Let
your heart be an empty room for the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit will surely fill you.
 In our lives seek him only: His cause, His ways and His will. Dapat handa kang mapuno sa
banal na espiritu at mamatay para kay Jesus (Phil 1:21)

What will happen if we strive, be an all-out follower, and lose ourselves in prayer?

1. Your faith will be tested greatly. But God will deliver you. (Acts 21:36; Acts 22:22); Paul’s deliverance
is in Chapter 21-23
2. Your life will turn other’s life upside-down (Acts 21:19-20). God will not just deliver you from your
persecutor, but you will become the cause of change for them.
3. You will complete your calling with joy (the call to advance the gospel) Philippians 1:12. In his letter
to Romans, he really longed to be with them. God answered Him not on Paul’s way but on God’s
way.
 At the end, after everything you’ve done in advancing and working in the furtherance of the
gospel. God will surely encourage you and make your life complete not lacking everything.
Acts 21:19-20
14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we
came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled
as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul
thanked God and was encouraged.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Do you want to take your prayer and worship beyond ordinary? Then, BE A FIGHTER, BE A
FOLLOWER, LOSE YOURSELF IN PRAYER. 

Glory to God! May His Name be lifted forever.