Many of the things we hear today about PRAYER, have to do with the fact that prayer is a No! No!
For example, Carolyn Copeland gives us this story in the Christian Reader. - The daughter of our pastor was asked to give the closing prayer at her high school graduation. A Jewish student was asked to give the opening prayer. The principal asked our pastor's daughter if she would refrain from using the name of Christ in her prayer, "lest someone of other faiths be offended." She replied that she would be glad to omit Christ's name from her closing prayer, if the Jewish student would mention Christ's name in his opening prayer, "so that I and those of my faith not be offended." She was allowed to give her prayer as originally planned. (Vol. 33, no. 4.)
While we hear a great deal these days about that fact that we SHOULD NOT PRAY USING THE NAME OF CHRIST, BECAUSE IT MIGHT OFFEND SOMEONE, the Bible has a great deal to say about it.
For example, this passage of scripture covers-
I. OUR WALK WITH GOD
Look at Colossians 4:2-4. We read, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 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: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
Paul shows us several important things in these verses of scripture. First -
(A) PAUL TELLS US WHAT WE SHOULD DO
Notice, one of the first things that Paul tells us, is that the duty of every Christian is to pray.
But not only is he instructed to pray, the Bible says in verse 2, he is to “continue in prayer”.
The word “continue”, is the word “proskartereite”, which means to be constant, persevering, unwearied.
That is we are to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.
Illus: Have you ever met anyone that was a chain-smoker? That is, when they get through with one cigarette, they are reaching for another one to light off the old one. Throughout the day, they are constantly puffing on those cigarettes, between their coughing and sputtering.
This is what the Lord says we as a Christian should be doing, not smoking, but praying without ceasing. We should be chain-prayer warriors. That is, we are constantly praying throughout the day, talking to God the Father.
Isn’t it wonderful that we can talk with God the Father like this?
Illus: A lady in Columbia, South Carolina, who was raised in China, told her friend that she called her folks who still live in China. She went on to say that she talked to her mother for forty-five minutes, and the phone call cost her almost sixty dollars.
WHY WAS IT SO EXPENSIVE?
Because of the distance involved.
But isn’t it wonderful that we can talk with God the Father every day, and “Ma Bell” does not make one cent from us talking to God.
We can call upon God as often as we like, and talk with Him as long as we like.
We are to pray constantly. Throughout the day, regardless of where we might be, we are to constantly call upon God.
Illus: Many young Christians do not know this. They think that God does not hear them, unless they are on their knees and have their hands folded. They were taught to pray like this as a child. This is the only kind of praying they know anything about.
But it is not always convenient for us to pray like this.
God commands us to pray WITHOUT CEASING, and we can not spend all of our time on our knees, with our hands folded before us.
HOW CAN WE PRAY WITHOUT CEASING? There are some things we have to come to understand about Prayer, such as:
• Before our feet ever hit the floor in the morning, we can spend a few minutes with the Lord in prayer.
• While we men are shaving and getting ready, we can pray.
• While we are driving to work, we can pray.
• Between our chores at work, we can take a few minutes to pray.
• When we get home from work, we can pray.
The idea that God wants to instill in all of us, is that during the day, God wants us to stay in constant contact with Him.
Illus: There are people who spend time every day, wasting hours and hours of their lives, doing nothing more than day dreaming.
Illus: Tertullian, speaking about prayer said, “Prayer is the wall of faith: her arms and missiles against the foe who keeps watch over us on all sides. And, so never we walk unarmed.” (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. III). Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 9.
We need to learn how to capture these minutes, and spend them in prayer talking with the Lord.
(B) PAUL TELLS US HOW WE SHOULD PRAY
He instructs us to pray in three ways.
(1) Paul tells us we should PRAY CONSTANTLY
Look at verse 2 again, we read, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”
The word “watch”, is the word “”gregorountes”, which means stay awake, be alert, be active, concentrate.
In this age of television, most folks do not get enough of sleep. And because they do not get enough sleep, when they start to pray they get drowsy and fall asleep.
Illus: Remember in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples fell asleep, and the Lord rebuked them.
Have you ever fallen asleep while you were talking with someone, and you woke up and said, “I am sorry, I am so sleepy I can not stay awake”?
WHY DID YOU APOLOGIZE?
Because you knew that what you did was rude. And you knew that what you did made the person you were talking to feel unimportant.
This is why Paul stresses that as we talk with God in prayer, we are to be alert. This is not something God does for us, it is something we have to do for ourselves.
In Luke 18:1, we read, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
Paul tells us that when it comes to prayer, we should pray CONSTANTLY.
Illus: Did you know that when some folks play Bingo, they want to get as many Bingo cards as they can get? Why? Because they know the more cards they have to play with, the better chance they have of winning.
Illus: When some folks go deep sea fishing, they will get a rod and reel that has 8 or 10 hooks on one line. Why? Because they know that the more hooks they place on their line, the better chance they have of catching more fish.
Also, the more we pray, the more prayers we are going to get answered in our life each day.
But many HAVE NOT BECAUSE THEY ASK NOT.
The reason a lot of folks are not getting many blessings in this life, is because they pray so very little.
God said we are to PRAY CONSTANTLY. Also-
(2) PAUL TELLS US WE SHOULD PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING
WHY SHOULD WE PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING?
Because when God grants our prayers, we should be GRATEFUL.
In 1 Thess. 5:18, we read, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
As we ask God for more, we should be careful to THANK Him for what He has already done.
As we pray-
(3) PAUL TELLS US WE SHOULD PRAY FOR OTHERS
Many folks have the attitude in life, that the only person that is important is themselves.
Everything they do is for themselves.
This attitude of selfishness, can also be seen in the prayer lives of some Christians. Everything they pray is for themselves.
But Paul knew this was not right, and he instructed these Christians to PRAY FOR OTHERS.
Notice, in verses 3-4, he specifically told them that they need to pray for those in the ministry.
We read, “Withal praying 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. That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if all the time that people spend criticizing preachers, was instead spent praying for them?
In verses 2-4, Paul speaks with us about OUR WALK WITH GOD.
In verses 5-6, Paul speaks with us about-
II. OUR WALK WITH MEN
Look at verses 5-6. We read, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Notice, he says in verse 5, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are WITHOUT…”
Look at the word “without”. This refers to those who are unsaved.
And Paul says, that as Christians, there is a way we walk before the Lord, but also there is a way we walk before the LOST.
And the way we are to walk before the lost, is to walk in WISDOM.
And sometimes, this is what some Christians fail to do.
For example:
• Sometime churches will go through a difficult time, and there is a spiritual war going on in the church. But some of the Christians will go to their jobs, and in front of the LOST world, will begin to talk about the problems the church is facing. That is not very smart, because one day, when they invite people to come to church, the lost are going to remember all the things that you said were taking place in the church.
Illus: Some Christians remind us of these people who will go on national television talk shows, and discuss their family problems before a whole nation. Listen, their family problems should stay within the family, they do not need to pull out all the dirty laundry on national television.
• Sometimes Christian housewives do not use any wisdom. They want to win their lost husband to the Lord, but every time they come home from church, they are mad about something that took place at church. Listen, Christian wives like this never win their husband to the Lord. Why? Because the lost husband had enough of problems already, and he is not about to go to church and get some more.
But, every time she comes home and she is smiling from ear to ear, and she shows love to her lost husband, he might eventually get curious as to what is making this drastic change in her life, and want to come check it out for himself.
Notice, he says we are to walk in WISDOM, then he says, “Redeeming the time”. That is, take advantage of every moment to glorify the Lord Jesus, by walking in wisdom.
But as we speak to the Lost he says, “Let your speech always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Conclusion:
Cathy Fussel, (In Today’s Christian Woman, “Heart to Heart”) - I have found if I don't have my quiet time each morning, I tend to lose my temper over insignificant things. Recently, my son, Andrew, reminded me of the need for daily prayer. He had accidentally spilled his drink, and I went into a tirade. Andrew ended my harsh words, when he quietly asked, "Mom, did you forget to ask Jesus to help you be nice today?"
I. OUR WALK BEFORE GOD.
II. OUR WALK BEFORE MEN.
Note: You can hear Dr. Odell Belger preach some of his sermons on Youtube. Type these words Youtube Lykesland
