PAUL’S PLEA ON PRAYER AND HIS PLEA FOR PRAYER

(Colossians 4:2-4)

by: Sis. Andrea Ortega

 

Much has been said and written on the topic of prayer.  Books, articles and other forms of literature about prayer abound. But more than information, what is more of weightier value is its application. In Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, he appealed to them (and to us) 2 things regarding prayer:  First was his plea on the church’s attitude on prayer and finally was hisplea for prayer

 

1)    Paul’s Plea on the Church’s Attitude on Prayer

 

 

Colossians 4:2 -  Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful                                                                                                               

 

So how should we pray? What should be the proper attitude towards it?  Should we take it lightly, viewing prayer just as something we do and recite before eating our meals, upon waking up or just before going to bed?  Is it something we do only during Monday midweek service or on selected sporadic occasions during the week or whenever it is convenient for us?  There are 3 attitudes that Paul exhorted that we should have towards prayer:

 

a)    Have an attitude of devotion/ persistence/ earnestness - The believer as an individual, and the church as a corporate body are called to be strong, committed, dedicated, steadfast, passionate, persevering, and zealous for prayer and in prayer.  To devote one’s self to prayer involves allocation of one’s time and resources.  How we spend our time and the things or activities that we constantly are involved in speaks a lot of where our devotion lies.  Let’s examine our prayer life.  Can we say that it mirrors the above descriptions?  If not, then to what are we devoting our lives…is it in pursuit of temporal things or those that would have an impact on eternity?  The call and the instruction to devote one’s self and continue earnestly in prayer is also exhorted in Rom. 12:12; 1 Thes. 5:17; Acts 6:4; Acts 2:12

 

b)    Have an attitude of watchfulness/ vigilance - When we speak of vigilance, the image that first comes to mind is that of a soldier wide-wake and alert, always on-call 24/7, ready anytime to fight and ward off any foe, who will not retreat in the face of danger because he had purposed to keep watch and be on the guard at all times. “Keeping alert or vigilant” in the original Greek is “gregoreu”which means to keep awake, refrain from sleep, and to remain alert, watchful and ready to meet danger or emergency. It means to be quick to perceive and act; being on the lookout.  The idea of “alert” stresses readiness or promptness in meeting danger and seizing opportunity. When we understand that prayer is more than just talking to God and presenting our requests to him but it is also a mighty weapon against the enemy of our souls- Satan and his plans and schemes to wreak havoc and destruction in our lives, we will be more watchful and vigilant in it. John Piper in his book, The Pleasure of God: Meditations on God’s delight in Being God, he writes that “Prayer is a wartime Walkie-Talkie, Not a Domestic Intercom. Prayer is the walkie-talkie on the battlefield of the world. It calls on God for courage (Eph.  6:19). It calls in for troop deployment and target location (Acts 13:1; 2:3). It calls in for protection and air cover (Matt. 6:13; Luke 21:36). It calls in for firepower to blast open a way for the Word (Col. 4:3). It calls in for the miracle of healing for the wounded soldiers (James 5:16). It calls in for supplies for the forces (Matt. 6:11; Phils. 4:6). And it calls in for needed reinforcements (Matt. 9:38). This is the place of prayer—on the battlefield of the world. It is a wartime walkie-talkie for spiritual warfare, not a domestic intercom to increase the comforts of the saints. And one of the reasons it malfunctions in the hands of so many Christian soldiers is that they have gone AWOL. “Let’s make use and maximize prayer.  We are called to be in a state of “high alert”, ready to pray anywhere, anytime, for any need and any one.

 

c)    Have an attitude of thanksgiving - Praying with thanksgiving signifies faith.  When we have a thankful heart and our confession is full of it, this helps us to stay vigilant in it in it and reminds us of who God is and what He can do. Philippians 4:6 instructs us:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

 

2)    Paul’s Plea for Prayer

 

Colossians 4:3-4

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

 

What kind of prayer requests did a great man of faith like Paul asks his prayer supporters?  Top and foremost in his prayer request list is that in order for the gospel to reach the unreached, we need to pray for:

a)    God to open doors & opportunities to share the Gospel

b)    Correct and clear proclamation of the Gospel

 

Opportunities for the good news of Jesus Christ to be shared are God-given and not forcibly created by man.  And prayer is the key for those doors to be opened.  Let’s continue to be steadfast in praying for more divine appointments and opportunities.  We should not forget also to include in our prayers and intercede that an accurate and correct gospel will be preached. 

 

The urgency and the importance that we include these prayer points in our prayer times cannot be undermined.  Paul kept on reminding churches to do so as in Ephesians 6:19: 

 

 

Ephesians 6:19 - Pray also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the Gospel.

 

And also in 2 Thessalonians 3:1:

 

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1 - Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified

 

These prayer requests are not only for the churches in Colossae, Ephesus or Thessalonica, it’s also for us.

 

Conclusion:

 

Not only has God made the accomplishment of his global purposes of salvation hang on the preaching of the Word; he has also made the success of the preaching of the Word hang on prayer. God's goal to be glorified in a world full of worshippers from every people and tongue and tribe and nation will not succeed without the powerful proclamation of the gospel by people like you and me. And that gospel will not be proclaimed in power to all the nations without the persevering, earnest, global, faith-filled prayers of God's people. This is the awesome place of prayer in the purposes of God for the world. They won't happen without prayer. (From: Prayer: The Work Of Missions by John Piper).

 

If we trace and analyze revival movements, breakthroughs in missions, and other spiritual awakening, we can see one single denominator – fervent and persistent prayer.  People have labored and toiled in their knees, crying out to God to intervene and tapping on His power and resources by means of faith-filled intercession. Just to cite an example, Hudson Taylor was before all else a man of prayer. He lived in the conscious presence of the Lord; constant communion with God had become to him as necessary and natural as breathing.  The China Inland Mission, which he founded, was born in prayer, and prayer has ever since been its vital breath.  (from: The Vital Force of Missionary Intercession by Robert Hall Glover).The Moravian movement which launched hundreds of missionaries was marked by prayer, having a prayer chain that spanned 100 years!

 

Time is short.  There are still millions of people who still have to hear the love of God and the good news of Jesus Christ.  Not all of us may have the opportunity to proclaim it to them, but we can all pray!  1 Peter 4: 7 says

 

1 Peter 4: 7 - But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers

 

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE IN THE AREA OF PRAYER

(Jeremiah 33:3)

 

Jer 33:1-9 (NKJV)

1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lordwho formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): 3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' 4 "For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah, which have been pulled down to fortify against the siege mounds and the sword: 5 'They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but only to fill their places with the dead bodies of men whom I will slay in My anger and My fury, all for whose wickedness I have hidden My face from this city. 6 Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 7 And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first. 8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. 9 Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.'

 

My family and I would like to congratulate Sis. Susan Balucas and the WIN – Al Ain Ladies Ministries a joyful 17 th anniversary.  May the Lord continue to call forth more Women of Influence in the area of prayer not only for our church but also for the Body of Christ and for the world as well.  God bless you and reward you for your steadfast prayers done in His Name!

 

        

Prayer can never be overemphasized. We need more of it.  We as His children are always lacking in it. God does not do anything but only in answer to prayer.  He wants us to cooperate with His divine plan for mankind by uniting with His Spirit in prayer. God moves when we move in faithful prayer.  The world is always wondering why God seems to be silent and unconcern with the world’s problems. Actually, the church of Christ is the one who is silent and unconcern when we do not pray. God chooses only to move and will not move until we move by faith when we call upon His name. 

 

Jeremiah was in prison when God said unto him, “'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' (Jeremiah 33:3). Judah and Israel was at war with the Chaldeans. We sometimes think of praying only in fair weather times.  We attend prayer meetings only when we feel like going.  God will show great and mighty things when we pray in times of trouble. God allows problems so we would learn to pray.  Have you ever noticed that God did not set Jeremiah free or cause the captivity of Judah and Israel to return until they call unto Him?  The promise of healing, revealing, returning, rebuilding, forgiving, rejoicing and providing will only come to us if we pray. The reason why we don’t know what God is doing for us is simply because we never ask Him.

 

Jeremiah 33:3 (NJKV) 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

 May prayer and desire for all believers that they understand that God is waiting for all of us to pray. We always wait for men or women to tell us what is happening around whereas the Lord is always at the ready to answer and reveal great things that we fail to see with our natural eyes.  Do not worry nor fear because the Lord is always at work to save His people. Prayer opens our blind eyes so we could see the provision that God has already provided. It is already there for the taking. The question is: Are we willing to ask for it?

 

Matt 7:7-8 (NKJV)

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

 

Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough get on their knees praying in the Name of Jesus. For all the ladies in the congregation out there, be women of influence and begin influencing the world with God’s power and love.

 

God bless us all today and forever more!  Ps Edward, Sis. Marlene, David John and Sally Joy

HOW TO LIVE VICTORIOUSLY AS A CHRISTIAN

Galatians 5:1-26

 

I’m Bro. Ezekiel Panela, I am 17 years old (in the Lord!) having accepted Jesus as my personal Lord & Savior. I thank God that I was raised up in a family of believers, my mother was a Christian (Rebecca), and my father (Romeo) was a Catholic. My father became a Born Again Christian just because of my mother. I have two brothers and I’m the eldest, Redentor & Nathanael the youngest.

 

I Praise God that He gave me this family. I grew up in Sunday school. I remember my mom becoming my Sunday school teacher also. We are attending Church of Christ (Evangelical Church) in the Philippines. We were attending in Manila before but when my parents got a house in Laguna they established a church there. I remember when I was in High school our House was the Church until 2006. Every Friday It became a House of worship. We needed to wake up early just to arrange the house, put some chairs and arrange everything. It was not easy back then; sometimes it was really a burden. I didn’t have a choice but to attend the Church Service.

 

Being a Christian & having a family of believers does not exempt you to sin, still going through trials and difficulties in life. Our family gone through trials like my parents almost got separated, gone through financial difficulties & many more. In 2006 God led me to come to the UAE. God provided me a job, and started a family here. I got married & God gave us a daughter. It seemed like smooth sailing but we still went through trials and difficulties in life. We were not exempted. We know that God allows trials in life for our benefit. God has a purpose in everything happening in our life if we walk in obedience to Him.

 

But praise be to God because He is in control of everything, My father now is one of the elders of the Church, my youngest brother is also one of the Youth Leaders and my mother leads the Ladies Ministry, and it is because of the Grace of God.  Just trust & obey Him and He will make our path straight. Remember God gives us the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, helper & guide. By walking in the Spirit we will have the victory in Christ Jesus.

 

The most pressing question in the early Churches was addressed in this letter to the Galatians from Apostle Paul. What is required for the people to be saved? And how do new believers, especially non-Jewish believers relate to Jewish Laws. Remember that most of the first followers of Jesus and the early leaders of the Church were Jewish and claim Jesus as their Messiah. As believers in Christ they struggled with dual identity, their Jewish heritage were pulling them to continue to be strict followers of the Mosaic Law, but their new found faith in Christ invited them to Liberty base on the principle of love, they wondered how Gentiles or non-Jewish believers could be part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul wrote that any promise of salvation that also requires human effort is no salvation at all. Notice as you read, how any belief system in the world that requires effort from its followers for salvation denies the finished work of Christ’s death and resurrection. Such system of belief try to improve the character of its adherence, but only the transforming power of the Holy Spirit can makes us better than we are.

 

1.      Stand Firm in the Liberty of the Gospel and renounced all law keeping.

 

Gal 5:1-3 (NKJV)

 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

 

Christ delivered us from the curse that the law pronounces on the sinner who has been striving unsuccessfully to achieve his own righteousness but who has now embraced Christ and the salvation granted to him by grace.

 

If you want God's favor, there are two ways to relate to him. You can relate to him as an heir, or you can relate to him as a slave. The difference is that a slave tries to become acceptable to his master by presenting him valuable service; but the heir trusts that the inheritance of his father is his by virtue of a will that was drawn up without his earning it at all. A slave is never quite sure he has done enough to please his master and win an honorable standing in the house. A son rests in the standing he has by virtue of his birth and the covenant his father made in his will to bless his children. (Example: The Prodigal Son)

 

Gal 4:4-7 (NKJV)

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

Paul reminds the Christians that through Christ God has adopted them into the freedom of a child. They don't have to work to get into the family.

 

Yoke of bondage (slavery): any action whatever, performed in a religious way and in order for a man's acceptance with God, and to obtain his favour, and according to his observance of which he judges of his state, and speaks peace and comfort to himself, or the reverse, is a yoke of bondage. (-John Hills Exposition of the Bible)

 

Paul had no objection to circumcision itself (cf. Act_16:1-3; Php_3:5). But he objected to the notion that it had some spiritual benefit or merit with God and was a prerequisite or necessary component of salvation. Circumcision had meaning in Israel when it was a physical symbol of a cleansed heart and served as a reminder of God's covenant of salvation promise (Gen_17:9-10). (MacArthur Bible Commentary) It is sign of their submission to the law of Moses. (from Old Testament).

 

Remember we are sinners before (under the Law) (we are not pure), but when Christ comes we become pure. (We submit to Christ)The atoning sacrifice of Christ cannot benefit anyone who trusts in law and ceremony for salvation.

 

REMEMBER PAUL IS TALKING TO THE BELIEVERS OF GALATIA

 

Example: Ministry in Church (I don’t mean it is wrong), if we are doing this out of our own effort that sometimes we lifting up our self or try to compare you to others.  If we are thinking that God is please because we are sacrificing something to Him think again. Maybe we are been slave by what we are doing. You know what will be the results? You will get tired, if you are doing these things with no Joy in your Heart. It’s like becoming an obligation just to please God through your works, or by human effort.

 

The believer should desire to please God, not because he must please Him like a slave, but because he is a son and he wills to please his Father. He does what Godwants, not because he fears to do otherwise like an enemy, but because he wants to do it, for God is his friend. God is the One who loves him. He serves God, not because of pressure from without such as the Law, but because of a great principle within—even the life of Christ that is within him.(We serve God because we loveHim. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (Joh_14:15). -PNT Commentary)

 

2.     Maintain Justification in Grace and Obey the Truth

Gal 5:4-7 (NKJV)

You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Gal_2:16  (NIV)  know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

 

Falling from grace does not mean falling into some open sin or careless conduct, and by so doing forfeiting your salvation so that you have to be saved all over again. It has no reference to that at all. We are not justified by the law. If we are trying to be justified by the law the results is falling from grace.

 

SO HOW CAN WE  MAINTAIN JUSTIFICATION IN GRACE?

 

2.1   By Faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.

Christians already possess the imputed righteousness of Christ, but they still await the completed and perfected righteousness that is yet to come at glorification.

 

Rom 8:18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 

        2.2      Faith working through love.

Saving faith proves its genuine character by works of love. The person who lives by faith is internally motivated by love for God and Christ which supernaturally issues forth in reverent worship, genuine obedience, and self-sacrificing love for others.

 

Gal 5:7-13 (NKJV)

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

We should Obey the truth – The Gospel of Jesus Christ

A reference to believers' true way of living, including both their response to the true gospel in salvation Rom 6:17  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. and their consequent response to obey the Word of God in sanctification. Paul wrote more about salvation and sanctification being a matter of obedience.

 

Rom 1:5  Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

1Pe 1:22  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit ^[4] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

 

This persuasion. Salvation by works. God does not promote legalism. Any doctrine that claims His gracious work is insufficient to save is false . The legalistic influence of the Judaizers prevented the unsaved from responding in faith to the gospel of grace and true believers from living by faith (Mac Arthur Bible Commentaries)

 

Gal 1:6-7 (NKJV)

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

 

NOTE: All false teachers will incur strict and devastating eternal condemnation.

 

2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV)

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

 

Gal 5:13-15 (NKJV)

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

 

The freedom Christians have is not a base from which they can sin freely and without consequence. We should be  responsible Christians. Christian freedom is not for selfish fulfilment, but for serving others.

 

3.     Walk in the Spirit & Be Led by the Spirit

 

Gal 5:16 (NKJV)    I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

 

Walking in the Spirit means “not fulfilling the desires of the flesh” All believers have the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit

 

Rom 8:9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

 

As the personal power for living to please God. The form of the Greek verb translated "walk" indicates continuous action, or a habitual lifestyle. Walking also implies progress; as a believer submits to the Spirit's control—that is, responds in obedience to the simple commands of Scripture—he grows in his spiritual life .(MacArthur Bible Commentary)  Spirit & Flesh are contrary to one another

 

The flesh. This is not simply the physical body, but includes the mind, will, and emotions which are all subject to sin. It refers in general to our unredeemed humanness. (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

 

Contrary to one another. The flesh opposes the work of the Spirit and leads the believer toward sinful behavior he would not otherwise be compelled to do (Rom_7:14-25). (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

 

Gal 5:18 (NKJV)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 

Led by the Spirit … not under the law. These are mutually exclusive. Either you live by the power of the Holy Spirit which results in righteous behavior and spiritual attitudes or by the law which can only produce unrighteous behavior and attitudes . (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

The Spirit shaping us into the kinds of persons who can overcome and rise above the desires of the flesh.

 

No law. When a Christian walks by the Spirit and manifests His fruit, he needs no external law to produce the attitudes and behavior that please God (cf. Rom_8:4), nor does any law prohibit these distinctly Christian qualities. (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

 

Gal 5:19-26 (NKJV)

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

Bearing fruit is not by our effort (we cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit) but it is by the Spirit who enables us to bear these fruits. (That why it is written “Fruit of the Spirit” not fruit of the flesh.)

 

2Co 3:18  And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 

Conclusion:

Before I ended I want you to examine yourself & ask, am I living victoriously as a Christian? Am I living to please God as slave to Him?

 

Joh 14:26  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

 

1Co_15:57  (NKJV)  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.