What's in your prayer closet?

Introduction:

C.S. Lewis is a familiar name to many adults and children. Two of his most popular books are The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity. Not quite as well known, but definitely worth reading is Lewis’ book - The Screwtape Letters. The tale of an imaginary exchange between Screwtape (senior devil) and his nephew Wormwood (an apprentice demon), giving Wormwood with advice on how to successfully tempt Christians.

In one exchange, Screwtape tells Wormwood that “The best thing, where it is possible, is to keep the patient (believer) from the serious intention of praying together.”

If we are honest, prayer is a spiritual habit that we all struggle with and yet it is paramount to the Christian Life.

This morning we are going to enter Paul’s prayer closet to discover three steps that will rejuvenate your prayer life and your church!

Colossians 1:9-14 - Pattern in many of Paul’s letters > moves from the giving of thanks to intercessory prayer.

1:9-10

Step 1: PRAY WITH PURPOSE

What is the goal of Paul’s prayer for the saints in Colossae?

1:9b “…asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will”

Present participle - complete, filling you with spiritual and holy affections

a) Requests & Petitions focus on spiritual maturity and magnifying God

What is a “knowledge of God’s will”? (An Increasing understanding of the Law and the Gospel)

1:9b “…through all spiritual wisdom and understanding”

Spiritual growth is a work of the Spirit, through the Scriptures, as the Spirit empowers the believer to respond in obedience.

1:28 (present everyone “perfect” in Christ)

Praying with a clear purpose enables one to ...

b) Persevere in prayer

1:9 “…since the day we heard about you” (5 yrs earlier during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus)

4:12 “…Epaphras / He is always wrestling in prayer for you” (wrestling - root word agony)

Are there prayer requests that you have stopped bring before God because you haven’t seen any results? Pray until you see an answer or the Lord changes your request.

Step 2: PRAY WITH PRECISION

Professions where precision, accuracy is a must.

(Machinist, Engineer, Surgeon....)

Pray calls for right doctrine and theological precision.

a) Prayer is a reflection of your Theology / understanding of Father, Son, & Holy Spirit

Letter of Colossians - high Christology / Christ-centered

1:10 “…live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him...”

live a life - walk, covers conduct and words

worthy - fitting, in keeping with your identity in Christ

b) Petitions & requests should be specific

4th Petition in the Lord’s Prayer: Give us this day our daily bread (necessary, needed)

Look closely at Paul’s intercessory list in vv.10-12.

1:10-12 - Four participles which point the reader to spiritual prayer points.

1:10 “bearing fruit in every good work” (continuous)

fruit - results, righteous works, transformation

1:10 “growing in the knowledge of God” (resulting from the continuous work of God in the believer)

growing = present passive (action performed on the subject)

knowledge - precise, complete (4x)

1:11 “…being strengthen” (passive - subject acted upon), equipped

Note the source / nature of the believer’s power

1:12a “…giving thanks to the Father...” (expression of gratitude, appreciation)

Illustration : After hearing someone in his church ramble on in pray. Spurgeon pulled the individual aside afterward asked, “So what was it is you are asking God to do in your prayer?

As we come to vv.12-14, you probably noticed a slight change in Paul’s prayer.. Attention shifts to reviewing what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

Bringing us to the third and final step:

III. PRAY WITH PASSION.

By passion I am referring to deep, sincere, and holy affections. (Not mere emotionalism)

Paul is compelled to pray not because he has to. but because of what Jesus Christ has done for him.

a) Prayer is a privilege of prayer unique to the Believer

{Language/ imagery straight out of the book of Exodus}

1:12 - “…who has qualified you to share in the inheritance”

1:13 “…For He has rescued...”

1:14 “…in whom we have redemption” (present active)

b) Prayer that honors God is marked by humility and joyfully obedience

HEB.4:14-16 {Two Intercessors: Christ / Holy Spirit}

Application:

“The Apostle’s Prayer” is a model prayer on how to pray for ourselves and others. It is reminder that prayer is not just something you do, but it is who you are as a Christian!

For the next four weeks commit to praying for each person in the church using Paul’s pray as a model. At the end of the four weeks, let me know what difference it has made in how you see yourself and others at NHCC !