Join in My Struggle

Greeting to every one of you in JESUS precious name.

I hope you are ready to receive everything that the LORD has for you. This is a new month, a new week and a new day. Every time we come in the presence of God, and we are aware of His love, protection and favour over our lives, it has to draw us to a place of worship and thankfulness; a place where we don’t take His presence for granted. We have to thank God for placing prayer warriors around us; we should thank God for placing people who will support us emotionally, physically or financially.

Paul would travel all around the world back in his days and he needed people who would support him. The church in Rome was one of his strong supporters. They supported him by praying for him, supporting him financially and providing everything for him so that his journey would be made easy.

In Romans 15:30, Paul is persuading and requesting the church, not in his own name or because he is a good missionary or pastor. This request is not in his own authority but he urges the church in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a cord that binds all of us. It is not the cord of religion, ethnicity, nations or language. If there is one reason as to why we can pray for someone else or receive prayer from someone else, it is the name of LORD JESUS. Jesus said whatever you ask for in my name, it will be done for you. When you stand before the Father in my name, you will not be refused. In that same name, apostle Paul is urging the church to pray for him. He is saying, “I want you all to join in my struggle.” Any prayer that is not willing to endure or partake in the pain of the person we are praying for is not a real prayer. Paul is saying, “Will you join in my struggle by praying for me.” Apostle Paul then gives a reason as to why they should pray for him. He said first is love. Do this out of your love for me. Another thing he said is if you don’t love somebody then don’t pray for them; it’s not gonna be of any use. If you love somebody and if you love them from the love of the Lord and if it is the name of Jesus Christ that binds the two of you, then when you pray, that prayer carries value in heaven. If you do not have love and compassion for people and then if you pray then that prayer is empty words

Jesus knew that His Father would answer all His prayers because Jesus was filled with love and compassion for all the people he would pray for. When we pray in love our prayer is guaranteed to be answered.

The third point that Apostle Paul is telling us is that this love is given to us by the Holy Spirit. This point is very important for us to take note of and also to meditate on. Any love that is not birthed by the Holy Spirit, any burden that is not laid by the Holy Spirit, any direction or instruction that is not coming from the Holy Spirit, then, it is not a good ground for us to stand on and intercede and pray. If we need to be successful as prayer warriors then we need to listen to the Holy Spirit for His guidance and instruction. See what the Father is doing, be sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit and then flow along with that. If I am not listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and if I am going in a completely different direction then our prayers are soulish prayers; it’s not Spirit-filled prayers. Responding to the gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit and then praying prayers are gonna bring pleasure, smile and joy to the heart and mind of God.