II Corinthians 2:14

II Corinthians 1:11

“Helping Together by Prayer”

2 Corinthians 1:11 says, “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.”

If you follow Christ Jesus you will always have consolation and comfort. One very important way in which there is consolation and comfort is through the Written Word of God. Another way there is consolation and comfort is through Prayer. There are 3 things that should define Christian fellowship: preaching, prayer and praise.

Prayer brings unity between believers. A unity through truth is comfort and consolation and a unity through simplicity and godly sincerity. Prayer is talking to Jesus Christ and thanking God for His wonderful works. 2 Corinthians 1:11 says, “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.”

The best way for a Christian to help a preacher is to pray for that preacher. The Apostle Paul recognized that in his ministry he could not have accomplished what he did without the help of other Christians. 2 Corinthians 1:11 says, “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.”

The Apostle Paul was not married. His help meet was the church. Most preachers will have a wife as their help meet. The best way you can be a help meet to any Christian is to pray for them. Prayer does not require money. Prayer does not require resources. Prayer does not even require education or strength or ability. Prayer simply takes a little faith in Jesus Christ. If you are never certain what to pray then open up a Bible and pray the Words that are in it to God. “Helping together by prayer.”

In 2 Corinthians 1:11-14 there is a phrase that is very important to notice, it is the phrase: “in simplicity and godly sincerity.” Prayer to God should be through Christ in simplicity and godly sincerity. When you pray to Christ it is no different than the first time you came to Christ in your sins and asked to be saved. It should be, “in simplicity and godly sincerity.” It should be in full confidence knowing that God listens to your prayers because of Jesus. You can pray to Jesus. You can pray to God the Father through Christ. Either way you are praying to Christ. I John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

2 Corinthians 1:12 says, “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.” To have a clear conscience is very important in doing the work of God. A Christian’s conscience is kept through the Spirit of God and the Word of God. It can never become reprobate. Even sexual persecution such as sodomy cannot destroy a Christian’s conscience. More than ever in this world, in these last days of the age of grace, a clear conscience is a testimony to those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. Prayer to Christ and a clear conscience is done through simplicity and godly sincerity. Keep your sins confessed to Christ. I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The phrase, “in simplicity and godly sincerity,” is a very important phrase to think about. The world is forgetting what honesty is because the world is turning away from Christ and the gospel. What does simplicity and godly sincerity mean? Consider these two verses in the Bible as an explanation:

Colossians 3:22, “not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” 2 Corinthians 2:17 says, “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” Prayer should be in sincerity and godly simplicity. Comfort and consolation will always come in simplicity and godly sincerity. In simplicity and godly sincerity there is a clear conscience. This is why true joy and rejoicing is found in truth. Honesty means: simplicity and godly sincerity. Anything else is a lie.

Helping by prayer. How much a person can accomplish for Christ through prayer. Just think of what is accomplished in a person’s life when they turn form their sins to Jesus. That is the prayer of salvation. One prayer: a prayer of simplicity and godly sincerity when a person turns from their sins to Jesus. Don’t stop praying to Christ after you pray to him for salvation. Make sure your life becomes a life of prayer. As the poet Tennyson said make sure your, “eyes are homes of silent prayer.”

2 Corinthians 1:11-12 says, “Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

For a Christian it always comes down to the grace of God. It is of faith that it might be of grace. We are saved by grace through faith and not of works. The work of God in this world is the work of grace. No man hath seen God at anytime. But we can see the grace of God. We can see the glory of His grace. We will never see the glory that Moses saw in the burning bush or when He hid in the cleft of the rock. However in this age of grace for grace we can see the glory of his grace through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:13-14 says, “For we write none other things unto you, that what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end. As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the LORD Jesus.”

A Christian, especially a preacher’s work, should be the gospel of Jesus Christ and the building up of the believers in the promises of God. This was Paul’s work and this was also the Apostle Paul’s joy. This is the way to see the glory of His grace. The praise of His glory and the glory of His grace: the praise of the glory of His grace.

The word acknowledge can be explained by what Jesus said in Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

What needs to be acknowledged is the truth of the Word of God: helping together by prayer. Every Christian needs prayer to be able to do their part in the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus can deliver from so great death as eternal death because Jesus is God and Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus died for your sins. Grace is what God gives freely. Salvation is a free gift from God. It is of grace and not of works. Turn from your sins to Jesus in prayer.

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