I. A prayer for what the church needs most
A. A church in the midst of trials
1. Persecution around the world
2. Trials promised
3. Personal trials and tribulations
B. What Paul does NOT pray for
1. deliverance from circumstances
2. a general “blessing” from God
3. a new program or political change
C. Instead, we need to be strengthened in the inner man
1. to be able to withstand adversity
2. for Christ to manifest Himself in a greater way
D. A confident prayer
1. for that which is spiritual – not material
2. for something specific – not general
3. that is REAL – not ‘cheery optimism’
II. The resource – the riches of His glory
A. more than out of His abundance – but after His capacity to give!
1. pray LARGE
2. pray for inner strength in proportion to all the riches you ALREADY possess
3. pray for POWER
III. The agent – the Holy Spirit
A. Power comes through the person of the Holy Spirit
B. The Spirit vs. the flesh
C. The Holy Spirit imparts courage and energy through the Word
IV. The sphere – the inner man
A. What is the inner man?
B. This is where temptation is fought
1. Romans 7:21-24
2. Romans 8:5-8, 13
3. Radically deal with remaining sin in the inner man!
C. Pray for inner strength for one another in order to deal with trials
D. Pray for this in order that we would be ready for all that Christ has for us!
