2 Corinthians 1:11

2 Corinthians 1:11

Thoughts from Kimber Gilbert

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Slide

“if you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.”

2 Corinthians 1:11

QOP- Behind the Scenes
Slide

One of the things I love about Paul’s writings is that even though he was a prominent leader, speaker, and church planter, he never stopped asking for people to be praying for him. He never felt like he was above the intercessory prayers of others. He never thought he no longer needed them. In fact, as he continues in his life and his faith, it seems like he grows to appreciate and crave the prayers of others even more.

Slide

In today’s passage, Paul is asking for the church in Corinth to continue to pray for him and Timothy. He tells them in the previous verses that they faced affliction in Asia that was so intense that they even despaired of life.

Slide

David Garland states in his commentary, “we cannot know precisely what affliction Paul had in mind because he does not tell us. He only describes its severity. The string of superlatives conveys the intensity of his suffering. It was something that left his life hanging by a thread. Paul does not pass himself off as some kind of superhero immune to all adversity. He is keenly aware of his defects and weaknesses and confesses that he bordered on absolute despair”

Slide

Whatever the crisis is, Paul leans into prayer. Prayer from himself and his companions, but also prayer from others. He calls on others to lift him and Timothy in prayer, stating that God grants His favor on them “through the prayers of many.” This tells us how much Paul prized and honored corporate prayer. He believed in its power to move mountains and to bring about the favor of God in a situation.

Slide

Likewise, we see throughout the Scriptures a call to corporate prayer, a joining together of multiple hearts in one accord. This is the pattern of the early church. Whenever crisis hit, they went to prayer together. You don’t have to read far through the book of Acts to see the intensity of their prayer life as they lifted prayers to God in intercession for each other and for the church as a whole.

QOP- Make it Real
Slide

I am a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and people-pleaser. For decades of my life, I struggled to ask for prayer, feeling like if I truly opened up and admitted my need, others might look down on me, write me off, or judge me. I worried that if they really knew the depth of my need, they wouldn’t trust me to lead, or worse, they would reject me outright.

Slide

Over the years though, God has been teaching me that the best leaders are the ones who admit their need and lean into others for help. God didn’t make us to be everything to everyone. We all have amazing talents, gifts, and callings. But none of us in and of ourselves is enough. We need others and we need God. We were designed that way.

Slide

So, when we are struggling, God invites us to share with one another and He invites us to create safe places for others to share with us. Corporate intercessory prayer is such a beautiful thing when we engage in it the way God designed, apart from envy, fear, or judgement. When we all recognize our need for each other and our need for God, when we come into a place of prayer admitting our struggle, God moves in mighty ways.

Slide

And when we let down our pride enough to let others in, we invite them into a divine calling for every believer. See, God could do everything on His own. He doesn’t need us. But He wants us. He designed us to participate in His perfect work. He invites us to taste the divine by participating in His story. Corporate intercessory prayer is nothing less than that.

Slide

Paul understood this and leaned into it, not afraid to admit his need or his weakness. He shared his struggle so as to give God glory for His deliverance and also to invite others to continue to pray. He shares his load, knowing full well that he cannot carry it alone. He comes to them asking to be poured into when he is empty and worn out.

Slide

Friends, this is what true Christian community is supposed to look like. Believers opening up and asking for help. Believers leaning in and lifting each other up in prayer. There is something beautiful about when we let down our guard and lean into prayer. God moves not only in our circumstances, but in our hearts and in our communities.

QOP- End in Prayer
Slide

Father God,

Thank You for creating me to need You and need community. Thank You that You made a way for others to be a part of my story and for me to be a part of their story. Please help me not to let pride get in the way of that or steal my connection with other believers. Help me to lean into corporate prayer, being vulnerable enough to share my need and being open enough to create safe places for others to share their needs too.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen

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“if you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many.” 

2 Corinthians 1:11

Behind the Scenes

One of the things I love about Paul’s writings is that even though he was a prominent leader, speaker, and church planter, he never stopped asking for people to be praying for him. He never felt like he was above the intercessory prayers of others. He never thought he no longer needed them. In fact, as he continues in his life and his faith, it seems like he grows to appreciate and crave the prayers of others even more.  

In today’s passage, Paul is asking for the church in Corinth to continue to pray for him and Timothy. He tells them in the previous verses that they faced affliction in Asia that was so intense that they even despaired of life.  

David Garland states in his commentary, “we cannot know precisely what affliction Paul had in mind because he does not tell us. He only describes its severity. The string of superlatives conveys the intensity of his suffering. It was something that left his life hanging by a thread. Paul does not pass himself off as some kind of superhero immune to all adversity. He is keenly aware of his defects and weaknesses and confesses that he bordered on absolute despair” 

Whatever the crisis is, Paul leans into prayer. Prayer from himself and his companions, but also prayer from others. He calls on others to lift him and Timothy in prayer, stating that God grants His favor on them “through the prayers of many.” This tells us how much Paul prized and honored corporate prayer. He believed in its power to move mountains and to bring about the favor of God in a situation. 

Likewise, we see throughout the Scriptures a call to corporate prayer, a joining together of multiple hearts in one accord. This is the pattern of the early church. Whenever crisis hit, they went to prayer together. You don’t have to read far through the book of Acts to see the intensity of their prayer life as they lifted prayers to God in intercession for each other and for the church as a whole.  

Make It Real

I am a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and people-pleaser. For decades of my life, I struggled to ask for prayer, feeling like if I truly opened up and admitted my need, others might look down on me, write me off, or judge me. I worried that if they really knew the depth of my need, they wouldn’t trust me to lead, or worse, they would reject me outright. 

Over the years though, God has been teaching me that the best leaders are the ones who admit their need and lean into others for help. God didn’t make us to be everything to everyone. We all have amazing talents, gifts, and callings. But none of us in and of ourselves is enough. We need others and we need God. We were designed that way.  

So, when we are struggling, God invites us to share with one another and He invites us to create safe places for others to share with us. Corporate intercessory prayer is such a beautiful thing when we engage in it the way God designed, apart from envy, fear, or judgement. When we all recognize our need for each other and our need for God, when we come into a place of prayer admitting our struggle, God moves in mighty ways.  

And when we let down our pride enough to let others in, we invite them into a divine calling for every believer. See, God could do everything on His own. He doesn’t need us. But He wants us. He designed us to participate in His perfect work. He invites us to taste the divine by participating in His story. Corporate intercessory prayer is nothing less than that. 

Paul understood this and leaned into it, not afraid to admit his need or his weakness. He shared his struggle so as to give God glory for His deliverance and also to invite others to continue to pray. He shares his load, knowing full well that he cannot carry it alone. He comes to them asking to be poured into when he is empty and worn out.  

Friends, this is what true Christian community is supposed to look like. Believers opening up and asking for help. Believers leaning in and lifting each other up in prayer. There is something beautiful about when we let down our guard and lean into prayer. God moves not only in our circumstances, but in our hearts and in our communities. 

Crystal Garnett

Crystal Garnett

ACF Digital Discipleship Director and Church Planter

End in Prayer

Father God, 

Thank You for creating me to need You and need community. Thank You that You made a way for others to be a part of my story and for me to be a part of their story. Please help me not to let pride get in the way of that or steal my connection with other believers. Help me to lean into corporate prayer, being vulnerable enough to share my need and being open enough to create safe places for others to share their needs too.  

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen 

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