PT-1 "The Speech of Prayer" (Col. 4:2)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/31/2017 6:05 PM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  PT-1 The Speech of Prayer

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Colossians 4:2

            Message of the verses:  “2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

            John MacArthur begins this section with some wonderful words about prayer:  “It is fitting that Paul begins with prayer, because it is the most important speech the new man can utter.  Prayer is the strength of the believer’s fellowship with the Lord and the source of his power against Satan and his angels (cf. Eph. 6:18).  Through prayer, believers confess their sin, offer praise to God, call on their sympathetic High Priest (Heb. 4:15-16), and intercede for each other.  Prayer from a pure heart (Ps. 66:18) is to be directed to God (Matt. 6:9), consistent with the mind and will of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:18), in the name of Christ, and for the glory of the Father (John 14:13).”

            When we look at the first two words of this verse I can say that it is much stronger when one looks at the Greek language. “Devote yourselves” is from proskartereo, and this is a compound word which is made up of kartereo, and this means to be steadfast or it can mean to endure.  There is an added preposition which intensifies the meaning of this word.  MacArthur states “The verb means ‘to be courageously persistent,’ ‘to hold fast and not let go.’  Paul is calling strongly on believers to persist in prayer.  They are to ‘pray at all times (Eph. 6:18; cf. Luke 18:1), ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thess. 5:17), and be devoted to prayer (Rom. 12:12).  By so doing, they follow the example of Cornelius (Acts 10:2) and the apostles (Acts 6:4).”

            We looked at what praying without ceasing means in a former SD, and we quoted Dr. Warren Wiersbe who said that praying without ceasing is keeping the phone to heaven off the hook so you can use it when you need to use it.

            We will close this SD by looking at two parables that our Lord spoke illustrating the importance of persistent prayer:

“1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2  saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3 “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ’Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4 "For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ’Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5  yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’" 6  And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly (Luke 18:1-8a).”

“5  Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ’Friend, lend me three loaves; 6  for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7  and from inside he answers and says, ’Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8  "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened (Luke 11:5-10).”

5/31/2017 6:23 PM