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Praying
Text: Colossians 4:2-4
Diligence in prayer
- Continue in prayer…
- Father’s house a house of prayer. The altar of incense in the tabernacle was the illustration of prayer. It was supposed to stay lit all day and night, everyday. And in that you see that prayer is like keeping a fire going. It must be tended to. There must be a constant supply of fuel.
- As the duty of the priest in the tabernacle so it is the duty of every child of God.
- 1 Samuel 12:23
- Acts 12:5
- Romans 1:9
- 2 Timothy 1:3
Defense in prayer
- …and watch in the same…
- Watch in prayer means prayer can be a defence. Use prayer as a watch. Use prayer as a lookout, like a security guard.
- Matthew 26:41 watch and pray so you don’t fall into temptation
- This implies prayerlessness invites temptation and sin.
- Luke 21:34-36
- You like prayer as a means of getting things. But prayer can be like hiring a security guard. This is important to the next point here. Paul wants prayer that a door would be open. Open door doesn’t mean temptation goes away. So prayer is also a means of overcoming temptation that stands by the open door.
Divine resources made available in prayer
- Prayer as a means of opening doors for the purpose of preaching the gospel
- An open door of utterance to preach Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 16:9 open door is not without adversity
- 2 Corinthians 2:12
- Prayer invites the resources of God in heaven. In prayer God gives man the privilege to direct him. The Father wants Jesus Christ to be made known to all. He uses preaching to do that because He’s given man a will and a choice to make his own decisions. So when a man’s will lines up with God’s plan, it gives God an opportunity to work.
- There are very few people who want to do the will of God. When the rare soul that wants to serve God decides to serve God they find there is much opposition to it.
