An Encouragement for Prayer
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[1] Title
Colossians 1:
Prayer
Team Sports: We are better together. “Sunday School Sisters” Playoff Run and Losing the Championship Game.
Have you ever considered church to be a team sport. More so, prayer as a team sport? I pray for you, you pray for me, we each pray for
We are better together: Have you ever grown tired of praying for someone or something?
Eben flow, yes, but Paul calls all Christians to a lifestyle of constant prayer.
[2-4]
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
[5] Title
Paul’s Chapter One Example (persistent, loving, pastoral)
Paul’s Chapter One Example (persistent, loving, pastoral)
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:9-
From example to: Continue Steadfastly in Prayer and Watchfulness
From example to: Continue Steadfastly in Prayer and Watchfulness
Devote ourselves to prayer and be alert in prayer.
Our persistence is an expression of our faith that God answers prayers.
Faith shouldn’t die if the answers come slow - the delay might be God’s way of working his will in our lives.
When you feel tired of praying, know that God is present and always listening, always answering - maybe not how you hoped, bu tin ways that he knows are best.
Jesus taught his disciples to ‘watch and pray’ so they would not fall into temptation
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Thanksgiving leavens prayer: So that it does not become merely about our own selfish desires.
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Pray for Other Christians
Pray for Other Christians
Be thankful for their faith and changed lives
Ask God to help them know his will
Ask God to give them spiritual wisdom and understanding
Ask God to help them to live to honor and please him
Ask God to give them strength for endurance and patience
Ask God to fill them with joy and thankfulness
Pray for the Gospel and the Leaders
Pray for the Gospel and the Leaders
Ephesians
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
“The Mysterious Plan” is Christ’s Good News of Salvation. The whole focus of Paul’s life was to tell others about Christ, explaining and preaching this wonderful mystery.
Paul asks for prayer that he could proclaim the Good News about Christ clearly, and we can request prayer to do the same.
No matter what approach we take to evangelism (lifestyle, relationships, teaching), we should never obscure the simple, pure message of the Good News.