NEW COVENANT PRAYING

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Familiarity of the Lord’s Prayer
2. Reading Scripture Through the Lens of Paul
3. The First Pauline Prayer in Ephesians 1
4. The Second Pauline Prayer in Ephesians 3
5. The Power Source of God’s Love
6. Personalizing the Pauline Prayers
7. Experiencing Revelation Through the Holy Spirit
8. Pastor Lenny’s Prayer Practice
9. The Three Simple Steps of New Covenant Living
10. Closing Encouragement

Introduction: The Familiarity of the Lord’s Prayer

Pastor Leonard begins the teaching by asking a question he often asks when visiting churches. He asks how many people can recite the Lord’s Prayer. Almost everyone raises their hand because the prayer is so widely known in Christian culture.

The prayer he refers to is Matthew 6:9-10: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

While many believers can recite this prayer from memory, Pastor Leonard points out that New Covenant believers have access to other powerful prayers that often receive less attention—specifically, the prayers written by the Apostle Paul.

Reading Scripture Through the Lens of Paul

Pastor Leonard explains that when reading the Bible, believers must learn to read through the correct lens. One of the most important lenses for New Covenant believers is the perspective given through the writings of the Apostle Paul.

He describes a foundational framework for interpreting Scripture: the truths of “I am, I can, and I have.” These reflect the completed work of Christ and the believer’s identity in Him. If a verse appears to contradict those truths, he encourages believers to examine the translation or context carefully.

This approach helps believers understand that the New Covenant is not about striving to obtain what God has not yet given, but discovering and living from what Christ has already accomplished.

The First Pauline Prayer in Ephesians 1

Pastor Leonard highlights the first Pauline prayer found in Ephesians chapter 1. Before the prayer itself appears, Paul establishes a foundational truth.

Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

According to Pastor Leonard, this verse establishes that believers already possess every spiritual blessing in Christ. Later in the chapter, Paul prays for believers to experience wisdom, revelation, and understanding.

Ephesians 1:17-19: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”

Pastor Leonard explains that Paul is not asking God to give believers something they do not already possess. Instead, the prayer asks that what is already within believers be revealed and brought forth. He emphasizes the phrase about “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” This represents a spiritual awakening in which believers begin to see themselves as God sees them.

Through this prayer, believers come to know:

• The hope of their calling

• The riches of their inheritance

• The exceeding greatness of God’s power already working in them

The Second Pauline Prayer in Ephesians 3

Pastor Leonard then turns to the second Pauline prayer found in Ephesians chapter 3.

Ephesians 3:14-21: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

He emphasizes that Paul bows his knees before God for a specific purpose: that believers would come to understand and experience the love of Christ. This prayer is centered on strengthening believers in their inner being and helping them comprehend the vast dimensions of God’s love.

The Power Source of God’s Love

Pastor Leonard explains that the central theme of Paul’s prayer is being “rooted and grounded in love.”

This love is not merely an emotional experience but the very power source of God’s work in a believer’s life. According to Pastor Leonard, every miracle, breakthrough, and transformation flows from understanding and resting in God’s love. He highlights the portion of the prayer that speaks about knowing the love of Christ, which passes knowledge. This means that the love of Christ is beyond intellectual understanding. It must be experienced spiritually and personally.
When believers grow in the awareness of God’s love, they become more deeply connected to the power of God operating within them.

Personalizing the Pauline Prayers

Pastor Lori shares that when she first began reading the Pauline prayers, the Holy Spirit would often stop her after just a few verses because the meaning was so powerful. She explains that she personalizes the prayers and reads them as if they are written directly to her.

Instead of seeing the letter as something written only to the ancient church at Ephesus, she sees it as God’s personal message to her life. This personal approach transforms the prayer into an intimate conversation with God rather than a distant theological text.

Experiencing Revelation Through the Holy Spirit

Pastor Lori describes how the Holy Spirit reveals deeper meanings within the prayer as believers meditate on it. She emphasizes the phrase about the “unlimited riches of his glory” and reflects on how the love and power of Christ dwell within believers.

As believers meditate on the prayer, they begin to realize that Christ lives within them and that His life becomes their life. This leads to a deeper relationship with God where believers experience His presence, guidance, and love in a personal and transformative way.

Pastor Lenny’s Prayer Practice

Pastor Leonard explains how he practices prayer in his own life. When he begins praying each day, he starts with thanksgiving and praise, focusing on how much God loves him.

He explains that every day the roots of his understanding of God’s love grow deeper and deeper. This conviction—that God loves him—is an immovable foundation in his life. Only after grounding himself in this love does he begin praying for others. He believes that understanding God’s love is the foundation that releases miracles and transformation.

The Three Simple Steps of New Covenant Living

Pastor Leonard summarizes the message of Paul’s prayer into three simple truths.

First, believers have already received God’s love. When they receive Jesus Christ, Christ dwells within them, and they become the temple of God.
Second, believers are called to rest in that love. Being “rooted and grounded in love” means living from the assurance that God already loves and accepts them.
Third, believers can walk in that love. As they live from the power source of God’s love, they experience transformation, miracles, and spiritual growth.

This leads to the promise Paul declares: Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto him that can do exceeding  abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

According to Pastor Leonard, the power Paul refers to is the love of God operating within believers.

Closing Encouragement

Pastors Leonard and Lori conclude by encouraging believers to spend time meditating on the Pauline prayers in Ephesians. They encourage readers to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the depth of God’s love through these scriptures.

They remind believers that the blessings of God already belong to them because Jesus paid for them through His finished work.

We hope this article blessed you and helped you understand the power of New Covenant praying. If this teaching encouraged you, please share it with others so that more people can discover the depth of God’s love and the power available to them in Christ.