A Scriptural-Spiritual Lens for Resolve in 2022 - Part Eighteen

Introduction

Matthew 6:9–10 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

PRAY

Colossians 4:2–6 ESV

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 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— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

We resolve to intercede for others

At the same time - While you are coming before God continually, alertly and with gratitude, Paul is asking the Colossians to accomplish something else in the kingdom. Why is this special assignment? What is this imperative from the Lord?

Pray also for us - Make request on our behalf. Here the Apostle is pleading with the church you make intercession for him and the rest of the missionary Apostolic band. What is intercession?

A pleading with one party on behalf of another, usually with a view to obtaining help for that other. In the Bible, intercession normally is in the form of prayer on behalf of another.

We resolve to ask for God’s truth to spread

That God may open to us a door for the word - When we are praying to the God of the Scriptures, we are revealing our trust in who he is. Think about this for a moment. Paul asks the Colossians to pray for God to do something regarding the advancement of the truth. This the a man that was highly educated as a Pharisees. He was of the 1%. He possessed a righteousness that was unmatched as he declares in the letter to the Philippian church, but he was met by one who possessed true power. Jesus, the eternal God, the revelation of God in the flesh. He now does not trust in his power, wisdom, eloquence, or anything in himself.

He calls the church to ask God to throw open a door to announce the message or create an opportunity for him to communicate the word. Paul and Luke both used this language about the advancement of the gospel through him.

1 Corinthians 16:5–9 ESV

5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Acts 14:24–28 ESV

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

Paul knew by conviction of the truth only God has the power to accomplish this massive task.

R.C.H. Lenski comments in this regard:

The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians, to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus, and to Philemon Additional Features of the Christian Life

God opens the door by his providence. Many fail to note this and try to open doors for themselves. When we are spreading the gospel we must follow God’s providential indications as to where we ought to work. Louis Harms tried to send his missionaries to the Gallas, but the door was shut, God had another place open. Paul could not enter Bithynia (Acts 16:7); God opened the door into Europe, into Macedonia. Again, not until after Paul had preached in Europe did God open the door in Ephesus and in the Roman province of Asia. The Word and the work are his. Paul is not asking that a certain door be opened but for the opening of “a door” wherever God may have one. We need not puzzle about Paul’s meaning. He is thinking of the time when in all probability he will be released (Philemon 22). Then, he hopes, God will have a door open for him and for his assistants that will lead them into new, fruitful mission work.

We resolve to plead for Jesus to be proclaimed

To declare the mystery of Christ - Paul desires the door for the word to be open so that he can proclaim to those listening the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants to preach the good news of Jesus Messiah, the chosen one of God. He longs to proclaim the which had new previously been revealed about the promised Christ and the redemption of his people.

Colossians 1:24–2:5 ESV

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We resolve to request that affliction not hinder the ministry

On account of which I am in prison - The necessity of this message being preached is exhibited in the risks Paul was willing to take in order to communicate the truth of Jesus Christ. The responsibility and privilege to declare this message was important enough to him to suffer for its advancement. One always learns that the wonderful, good news communicate is not alway met with the proper response. Many will hate the message and reject it as well as the messenger who brought it to them. In the face of these realities, the Apostle presses forward to see the gospel of Jesus Christ communicated to the known world.

1 Corinthians 9:15–16 ESV

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

We resolve to beg that the Gospel be made plain

That I may make it clear - In addition to asking God for an open door for the gospel, Paul asks that they interceded with God on his behalf. What more does he desire? He wants to the ability to speak clearly, which carries the idea of being understood correctly. He wants his communication of Jesus to obvious or visible in the perception of his hearers. He did not want the gospel to be hidden, obscured, or covered. He wanted to speak the truth of the word plainly.

Paul was ultimately concerned on his part with a clear, plain and simple declaration of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ and his ability to save sinners.

2 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV

1 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. 5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.

We resolve to implore that ministers be faithful

Which is how I ought to speak - He considered plainness and clarity an absolute necessity. He describes this need to be clearly understood as a duty, a must, or a requirement. He was certainly that he had the responsibility to make certain that he was communicating the gospel in all of its purity and correctly.

Acts 20:24–27 ESV

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Motivations to Intercede

It is a command from God.

It is fellowship with God.

It is like Christ to intercede.

It honors God because in it we express our dependence on him.

It is a means through which God accomplishes his purposes in us and through us.

Practical Implications

We should be discerning about opportunities to share the gospel.

We should be prayerful as we speak the word of God.

We should labor to make the gospel plain and clear.

We should be helpful to those who are set apart to gospel ministry.

What will we do?

When was the last time you prayed in this manner?

How are you going to discipline yourself to obey your heavenly Father?

What can you do to encourage others in intercessory prayer?