The Book of Colossians Pt. 50 An Imperative For Praying

We are coming to the close of Paul's letter to the church at Colosse. He includes some final instructions and has a lengthy list of greetings for believers in different places.

A command to pray continually. 

Colossians 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 

There are several important imperatives given to believers in these texts.

First, we encounter an imperative for prayer. We are to continue in prayer, which connects to believers praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). 

This means praying without distractions, keeping our minds filled with scripture so that our prayers may be shaped and helped by the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

All might, power, and life come from God. His creatures are continually dependent upon Him for all these things. 

Pray for strength from Jesus Christ the Lord. 

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

We can do all things that God has appointed for us to do if we are strengthened by the Lord Jesus Christ. 

If we do not come boldly to the throne of grace to find grace to help, then we will not be able to complete the work He has for us to do (Hebrews 4:12-16).

Pray for our needs to be supplied by Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God promised to supply all our needs through our earnest, persevering prayer, but he who prays little, has little supplied.

God has super abundant riches for us in Christ. They are more than enough to supply any need that you or I will ever have. 

But we must pray for His help, confident in His promises and knowing He will send the aid and help, that is best for us. 

Second, we are to watch in the same. This means being on guard against indolence in our prayer life. 

This means making sure we pray in accord with God's will and not according to our corrupt will or fleshly lusts. 

Prayer begins with confession and then becomes effective. 

James 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Our prayers should always begin with the confession of our sins. We have the certainty that whoever confesses and forsakes their sin, will be cleansed and restored with God. 

We will not prosper if we cover our sins. 

Proverbs 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 

A believer is made righteous in Christ and we are daily made right by confessing and forsaking our sins. This is God's gracious provision for us in this life. We will always find mercy at His throne. 

We must be ready to pray with the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man, because this prevails at the throne of grace (James 5:16).

God's instruction to pray is given to husbands, wives, children, slaves and masters. Without prayer, it is not possible for us to live according to the will of God that Paul communicated for each person. 

Third, we are to express our thanksgiving to God in our prayers. This means always being grateful to God, because He called us to such a great salvation, and afforded us abundant means and opportunities to glorify Him.

Thanksgiving is a solemn acknowledgement of mercies we receive from God when He cleanses us from sin. 

It is a joyous expression of our heart, from knowing the Father through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is a happy, blessed worship of God for who He is and for all that He does for us. 

Praying for the gospel of Christ to advance in the world. 

Colossians 4:3,4  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4)  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 

Paul gave the Colossians a very specific prayer request. He asked that believers pray for God to open doors for Paul to preach Christ and share the gospel. 

Remember, Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote this letter. He was asking for opportunities to tell anyone who would listen, about faith in Jesus Christ. 

He was asking that believer pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance upon the apostle, that he might say what God wanted him to say. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Prayer is something that we may tend to overlook. Yet, this is God's mighty tool for believers to use. 

There are so many reasons to pray that we could not possibly list them all here. What we do know is that God commands us to pray, and that He provided many examples of prayers, for us to have as a pattern for own prayers. 

Pray without ceasing. Continue in prayer. Enter into your closet to pray. Avoid vain repetition when you pray. 

Pray that the Father's name be hallowed in all things. Pray for the Lord to send out workers into the fields to bring in the harvest. 

Watch and pray to avoid falling into temptation. Pray for your enemies. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help us when we pray with His intercession on our behalf.  

Pray with the Spirit. Pray that we do no evil. Pray that our love abounds. Pray for those who preach and teach the word. Pray that the word of God freely goes forth to do its mighty work. Pray when we are ill. Pray for one another.

These phrases are taken right from verses in the New Testament and you can easily find them by searching the word "pray."

This is what God wants His children to be active in. Praying continuously, for all things, seeking that God be glorified in all things. May we start praying this way now.

Bob