FOR THIS REASON ALSO SINCE THE
DAY WE HEARD OF IT: Dia touto kai hemeis kai hemeis, aph es hemeras ekousamen
(1PAAI):
In the introductory section of Spurgeon's sermon
(Colossians 1:9-10 Spiritual
Knowledge: It's Practical Results)
the prince of preachers observes that...
Paul felt encouraged by what he saw in the Colossian believers to pray
to God to enrich them yet farther. It should be our desire that our
best brethren should be better, and that those who are most like Jesus
should be still more completely conformed to his image. We cannot more
wisely show our love to our friends than by first acknowledging the
grace, which is in them, and then by praying that God may give them
more. Paul, as with an eagle eye, surveyed the church at Colosse,
which he loved so well, and he noted that it was somewhat lacking in
knowledge. The Colossian brotherhood differed considerably from the
church at Corinth, which abounded in talent, and was enriched with all
knowledge. The Colossians had fewer gifted brethren among them who
could act as teachers, and, though this was no fault of theirs, it
impoverished them in the matter of knowledge, and as Paul would not
have them come behind in any desirable attainment, he therefore prayed
for them that they might be filled with knowledge in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding.
If you read this epistle through, you will observe that Paul
frequently alludes to knowledge and wisdom. To the point in which he
judged the church to be deficient he turned his prayerful attention.
He would not have them ignorant. He knew that spiritual ignorance is
the constant source of error, instability, and sorrow; and therefore
he desired that they might be soundly taught in the things of God. Not
that they were destitute of saving knowledge already, for he says in
the sixth verse that they “knew the grace of God in truth,” and that
they had brought forth fruits meet for salvation; but saving
knowledge, though it be the most essential attainment, is not the only
knowledge which a Christian should seek after. He longs to be useful
as well as to be safe. Being himself delivered out of darkness he
strives to bring others into the marvelous light of grace.
Paul would have his brethren thoroughly furnished for sacred service,
knowing the will of the Lord themselves, and able to teach others. He
desired for them that they might possess comforting knowledge,
strengthening knowledge, edifying knowledge, sanctifying knowledge,
directing knowledge; so that they might be ready for all the trials,
duties, and labors of life...
My first subject is The Great Value Of Intercessory Prayer; for
as soon as Paul felt his heart burning with love to the saints at
Colosse, and had heard of the work of the Spirit among them, he began
to show his love by lifting up his heart in prayer for them. He did
that for them which he knew would bless them.
Notice, that intercessory prayer is a very important part of the
work of Christians for one another.
We are not sent into the world to live unto ourselves, but we are
members of one body, and each member is expected to contribute to the
health and the comfort of the whole. It is true we cannot all preach,
but we can all pray; we cannot all distribute alms from our substance,
but we can all offer prayer from our hearts. In temporal things we may
not be able to enrich the church for lack of substance; but if we fail
to bless the church by our prayers it will be for lack of grace.
Whatever you fail in, dearly beloved---and I pray that you may in
nothing come behind---yet do not fail in prayer for all the saints,
that every blessing may abound towards them.
Intercessory prayer is to be esteemed as an invaluable proof of
love, and as the creator of more love. The man who will truly pray
for me will certainly forgive me readily if I offend him; he will
relieve me if I am in necessity; and he will be prepared to assist me
if I am engaged in a service too hard for me. Give us your earnest
prayers, and we know that we live in your hearts. How sweet it is to
be permitted thus to manifest our love to one another! When our hand
is palsied we can still pray; when our eye grows dim we can see to
pray; when by sickness we are altogether laid aside we can still pray;
and when we meet with cases in which we are unable to help, and yet
are moved with sympathy for a brother, our sympathy can always find
one open channel, for we can pray, and by prayer call in the aid of
one whose help is effectual. Therefore, by your love to your Lord, and
to all those who are in him, I beseech you abound in intercessory
prayer, as the apostle did.
Intercessory prayer, again, is most valuable, because it is an
infallible means of obtaining the blessings, which we desire for our
friends. It is not in vain that we ask, for it is written,
“Everyone that asketh receiveth.” It is not in vain that we
intercede for others, for the Lord delights to answer such petitions.
The unselfish devotion which pleads as eagerly for others as for
itself is so pleasing to the Lord that he puts great honor upon it. If
we desire any blessing for our friends our best course is to pray:
even if we would have them to be filled with knowledge in all wisdom
our safest course is to pray that it may be so. Of course, we must not
forget to instruct them and to aid them in their own studies as far as
lieth in our power, for every honest prayer supposes the use of all
proper means; but the instruction which we offer will be of no service
unless we first bring down the blessing of God upon it, that thereby
our friends may be made willing to learn, and may receive the truth
not as the word of man, but as from the Lord himself. None but
spiritual teaching will nourish spiritual life. The Holy Ghost must
teach divine truth to the heart, or it will never be truly known.
Whatsoever thou wisely desirest for thy friend go about to get it for
him, but hasten first to the throne of grace. If thou wouldst have thy
friend converted, if thou wouldst have him strengthened, if thou
wouldst have him taught of God, if thou wouldst have him quickened to
a nobler life, and elevated to a higher consecration, do him this
great service-take his case before the Lord in prayer; and in so doing
thou hast gone the wisest way to work to enrich him.
IMMEDIATE PRAYER
Note, brethren, for I am keeping to my text closely, that such
intercessory prayer will be all the more valuable if it is our
immediate resort.
The apostle says,
“Since the day we heard it, we do not cease to pray for you.”
He began to pray at once. Whenever you perceive the work of the Spirit
in any heart, pray at once, that the holy change may proceed with
power. Whenever you discover any lack in a brother begin on the day
you hear of it to pray that his lack may be supplied. There should be
no delaying of prayer.
“He gives twice who gives quickly” is a human proverb, but I believe
that when we pray speedily we shall often find that God in answering
quickly gives us a double blessing.
Usually he shall win worldly riches who is the most diligent in the
pursuit of them, and assuredly he shall be richest towards God who is
most diligent in supplication. Linger not a minute, speed thee to the
mercy-seat. Now is the accepted time; the Lord waits to be gracious to
thee. The Lord indicates to thee what thy prayer shall be by the news,
which thou hast just heard of thy friend; therefore, bring his case at
once before the throne of grace. Divine providence has brought the
needful subject for prayer under thy notice; therefore, this day begin
to pray about it.
INCESSANT PRAYER
Our prayers will be all the more valuable if they are incessant as
well as immediate. “We cease not,” said Paul, “to pray for you
since the day we heard it.” “Oh,” says one, “was Paul always
praying for the Colossians from the day he heard of their welfare? It
may have been months and years; did he never cease to pray?” I
answer, he was always praying for them in the sense which he explains:
he adds, “and to desire.” Now, desire is the essence of prayer; in
fact, desire is the kernel of prayer, and the vocal expressions, which
we call by the name of prayer are often but its shell; inward desire
is the life, the heart, the reality of prayer. Though you cannot
always be speaking in prayer, you can always be desiring in prayer.
The miser is always desiring riches, though he is not always talking
about his gold and silver; and the man who loves his fellow-men, and
desires their profit, is really always praying for their benefit,
though he is not always lifting up his voice in supplication. “Since
the day we heard it,” saith Paul, “we do not cease to pray for
you.” The act of prayer is blessed, the habit of prayer is more
blessed, but the spirit of prayer is the most blessed of all; and it
is this that we can continue for months and years. The act of prayer
must, from force of circumstances, be sometimes stayed; but the habit
of prayer should be fixed and unvarying; and the spirit of prayer,
which is fervent desire, should be perpetual and abiding. We can
hardly realize the value to the church and to the world of that
intercessory prayer which ceases not day nor night, but without fail
ascends before the Lord from the whole company of the faithful, as the
incense ascended from the altar.
INTENSE PRAYER
Dear friends, our intercessory prayer will be all the more precious
if it is an intense expression unto God. I suppose that by the use
of the word “desire” here, the apostle not only explains how he
continued to pray, but in what manner he prayed-with “desire.”
Remember how our Lord puts it- “with desire have I desired to eat
this passover with you before I suffer.” I wish we could always say
“with desire have I desired in prayer. I did not repeat a merely
complimentary benediction upon my friends, but I pleaded for them as
for my life; I importuned with God; I offered an effectual inwrought
prayer, which rose from the depths of my heart to the heights of
heaven, and obtained an audience with God.” Fervency is a great
essential for victorious prayer. God grant us to be importunate, for
then we shall be invincible.
INTIMATE UNION PRAYER
One more observation, and I have done with this. Intercessory prayer
is increased in value when it is not from one person alone, but is
offered in intimate union with other saints. Paul says, “We
also,” not “I only,” but “He also, since the day we heard
it, cease not.” If two of you agree as touching anything concerning
the kingdom, you have the blessing secured to you by a special promise
of God. Remember how Abraham prayed for the cities of the plain, but
succeeded not until Lot also added his supplication for Zoar. Then the
little city was spared. I compare Abraham’s intercession to a ton
weight of prayer, and poor Lot’s I can hardly reckon to have been more
than half an ounce, but still that half-ounce turned the scale.
So here is Paul, and with him is youthful Timothy, who, compared with
Paul, is inconsiderable; yet. Paul’s prayer is all the more effectual
because Timothy’s prayer is joined with it. Our Lord sent out his
servants by two and two, and it is well when they come back to him in
prayer two and two.
I commend to you, brethren and sisters, the habit of frequent prayer
together. When a Christian friend drops in, his visit, will perhaps
end in mere talk unless you secure its spiritual profit by at least a
few minutes spent in united prayer.
I frequently during the day, when a friend comes in upon the Master’s
business, say, “Let us pray before you go,” and I always find the
request is welcomed. Such prayers do not occupy much time, and if they
did, it might be well spent; but such united supplications oil the
wheels of life’s heavy wain, and cause it to move with less of that
creaking which we too often hear.
“I alone” is certainly a good word in prayer; but “we
also” is a better one. Let us link hands and intercede for our
brethren and the whole church of God.
Thus have I expatiated upon the excellencies which increase the value
of intercessory prayer. Use much this heavenly art. It is effectual
for ten thousand ends. It turneth every way to bless the church.
Brethren, pray for us, pray for all saints, pray for all sinners, and
by so doing you will be the benefactors of your age. (See
the full text)
For
this reason
(dia touto) Young's translates this literally as "because of this". What
is "this"?
The context
refers to the favorable report Paul had received from Epaphras in the
previous verse.
Since the day Paul heard that report, he had been praying for the
Colossians. It may seem unnecessary to pray for those who are "doing
well". From my experience as a Sunday School leader, it is
interesting how much of the prayer time focuses on those who are struggling,
facing difficulties or fallen into sin or physical distress (and those
prayer are certainly to be encouraged). Paul,
however, knew that the knowledge that someone is growing in grace and
Christ-likeness should never lead one to stop praying for them.
Rather, it should encourage prayer that they would excel even more! The enemy reserves his
strongest opposition for those who have the most potential for
expanding God’s kingdom. Undoubtedly, another reason to pray for the
Colossians, is that they were still
relatively new
believers in the midst of insidious Gnostic heresies beginning
to creep into and corrupt the body.
WE HAVE
NOT CEASED TO PRAY FOR YOU: ou pauometha (1PPMI) huper humon proseuchomenoi (PMPMPN):
(Col
4:12
Eph 6:18,
1Sa 12:23
Acts 12:5
Php 1:4
1Th 1:3
5:17
2Th 1:11
2Ti 1:3-4
Philemon 1:4)
See Resources
Related to Prayer...
Gems on Prayer by C H Spurgeon
Prayer Resources: Multiple links:
Topical Bible Studies, books, music
Missionary:
Global Prayer Digest
Operation World
Praying for Your Missionaries:
Guide to specific daily prayers
Prayer for Deeper Understanding:
Wayne Barber
Prayer for Fullness: Wayne Barber's
exposition
Ephesians 3:14-21
Notes on the "Disciple's Prayer"
Matthew 6:9ff
Notes on praying for hope, joy,
peace
Romans 15:13
Notes on praying for enlightenment,
etc
Ephesians 1:18,
19,
20
Notes on praying for inner
strength
Ephesians 3:14,
15,
16,
17,
18
Notes
on praying when anxious
Philippians 4:6,
Philippians 4:7
Notes on prayer for loving
discernment
Philippians 1:9,
10,
11,
12
Notes on praying without ceasing
1Thessalonians 5:17
We
(plural) have not ceased to pray - Not that they literally were
praying every moment but that this was their habitual practice (prayer
to Paul was a "lifestyle") to lift up these requests for the saints at
Colossae (this is the idea of interceding for one another). Paul gave
the saints at Thessalonica the command to
Pray
(present
imperative
= command to do this continually) without ceasing
(see notes on
1 Thes 5:17,
cp notes on
Matthew 7:7),
something all believers are commanded to carry out and should be
motivated to gladly obey. Why pray (other than that it
is a command and God never commands what He does not enable - the
Spirit in us energizes our prayer)? Scripture records that out of
approximately 667 recorded prayers in the Bible, there are
about 454 recorded answers. God always answers of course but
the fact that such a high percentage of answers are recorded should
encourage us to pray without ceasing! Spurgeon had another
great reason to pray without ceasing observing that...
As you are tempted without
ceasing, so pray without ceasing (Cp note
Hebrews 2:18
where tempting is in the
present tense
indicating we are continually being tempted).
We all probably need to be a bit
more like the apostle James of whom Eusebius wrote that
his...
knees grew hard like a camel’s
because of his constant worship of God, kneeling and asking
forgiveness for the people.
Edward Payson said
Prayer is the first thing, the
second thing, the third thing necessary to minister. Pray, therefore,
my dear brother, pray, pray, pray.”
Spurgeon in his book
Power in Prayer notes that...
It may be a revealing exercise for
some of you to find out how often in Scripture you are told to pray.
You will be surprised to find how many times such words as these are
given: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee”
(Psalm 50:15). “Ye people, pour out your heart before Him” (Psalm
62:8). “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found; call ye upon Him
while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). “Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”
(see note
Matthew 7:7).
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38).
“Pray without ceasing” (see note
1Thessalonians 5:12).
“Come boldly unto the throne of grace” (see note
Hebrews 4:16).
“Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).
“Continue in prayer” (see notes
Colossians 4:2).
I need not multiply what I could not possibly exhaust.
There Is an Eye that Never
Sleeps
by James Cowden Wallace
There is an eye that never sleeps
Beneath the wing of night;
There is an ear that never shuts,
When sink the beams of light
There is an arm that never tires,
When human strength gives way.
There is a love that never fails,
When earthly loves decay.
But there’s a pow’r which man can
wield,
When mortal aid is vain,
That eye, that arm, that love to reach
That list’ning ear to gain.
That pow’r is prayer, which soars
on high,
Through Jesus, to the throne;
And moves the hand that moves the sky,
A blessing to bring down.
Unceasing
prayer refers more to prayer as an attitude and not
just to prayer as an activity. As such this type of
prayer serves as a good reflection of our "spiritual health" and of
our level of communion ("high, medium, low") with our Father.
Thomas Kelley wrote that...
There is a way of ordering our
mental life on more than one level at once. On one level we can be
thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of
external affairs. But deep within, behind the scenes, at a profounder
level, we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship, and a
gentle receptiveness to divine breathings. (Thomas Kelly, Testament
of Devotion New York: Harper, 1941)
In his famous book Pilgrim’s
Progress John Bunyan described prayer this way...
About the midst of this valley I
perceived the mouth of hell to be, and it stood also hard by the
wayside. Now thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the
flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and
hideous noises (things that cared not for Christian’s sword, as did
Apollyon before), that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake
himself to another weapon, called “All-Prayer.”
In the classic The Practice of the
Presence of God, Brother Lawrence explained "all-prayer"
this way...
The time of business does not
differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter
of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for
different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were
on my knees. (Would it be we would all be is such constant, clear
communion with the throne of grace!)
J N Darby has an interesting
note writing that...
If we had sufficient confidence in the interest which God takes in His
children, we should have greater boldness in asking God, according to
the intentions of His grace. We do not live enough by this grace, and
that is why our prayers are so constantly stamped with the sense of
want. We are often the Abraham of Genesis 15, who asks for himself,
saying to God: "What wilt thou give me?" But Paul shews himself here
the Abraham of Genesis 18, sitting before God, worshipping Him, and
making requests for others.
The ancient preacher Chrysostom
(his name means “golden-mouthed”) described the power of unceasing
prayer this way...
The potency of prayer has subdued
the strength of fire, it has bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy
to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons,
burst the chains of death, expanded the fates of heaven, assuaged
diseases, dispelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed
the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt.
There is (in it) an all-sufficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a
mine which is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven
unruffled by the storm. It is the root, the fountain, the mother of a
thousand blessings! (Ed: Beloved do I really believe this?
Better yet do I really believe what Jesus promises to those who ask,
seek and knock? My (and your) answer to this question will not be
evidenced by a simple "yes" or "no" but by the "calluses (or lack of)
on our knees" so to speak!)
Unceasing
prayer is not restricted to a set time, place or position of one's
body. The believer is not in a right place with God's Spirit if he
cannot pray anytime, anywhere. The Christian's life of righteousness
and his approach to relationships and responsibilities should be such
that he maintains a constant attitude of being in God's presence (cp
Brother Lawrence's "Practice of the Presence of God"). Such a person
will pray often and about many things, including requests, praise, and
thanksgiving.
