Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak (NKJV).
After Paul has encouraged us to make everything we do in word and deed be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, with thanksgiving to God the Father through Christ. He instructed us in proper family and in work ethics in Colossians 3:17 through 4:1. He now turns our attention to prayer. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Verse 2). This admonition indicates that the Colossian believers were a praying church body, as Paul says, continue. Prayer is a vital life source to every believer, although many have not discovered this essential truth. Prayer should be as natural as breathing is for every son and daughter of God. It should not need to be planned but happen routinely throughout the day. Many pray when there is an emergency of some kind. Many pray for individual situations such as before eating or praying on special occasions. We have certain times of prayer in church services. Prayer is always good, but it may not be the vigilant kind of prayer of which Paul is speaking.
The kind of prayer that Paul is addressing is spontaneous prayer. It is a prayer that flows from a life of prayer. That is a life that has a close, daily fellowship with our Lord. A prayer life that prays as Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6. It is a prayer life that knows the Father well. It is a prayer life that connects with heaven continually. A prayer life that reverences God’s name at all times. Prayer from a person who is not presumptuous, but is grateful to the Lord for all that He has provided for His own.
These Colossians received what Paul had taught in 1:13-14 and learned to apply the truths of his teachings. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” Is this your mindset every day and throughout the day? I am delivered from the power of darkness. This is my mindset, delivered and living right now in the kingdom of Christ. “I have” present “redemption.” I have been purchased by Christ through His blood. I am His! I stand forgiven. I am not condemned. I am not guilty. I am clean and washed before the Lord. These are great and powerful confessions we should be professing throughout our days. This should be the state of our minds by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to be vigilant? As an adjective it means to be keenly watchful to detect danger; wary: a vigilant sentry, ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful. So this posture is part of our prayer life. We are on the alert for danger, our own, and danger for others as well. Prayer has a protective aspect to it that gives us a hedge of protection for our lives. Many times we are safe because of prayer. Deliverance is another benefit of a vigilant prayer life. You become more aware of spiritual activity, both demonic assignments against your life and angelic protection.
Another dimension of vigilant prayer is a more significant activity of the gifts of the Spirit. Gifts, such as the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom. Vigilant prayer releases higher levels of faith, even the “gift of faith.” Watchful prayer stirs up the prophetic gift. We are able to discern God’s will easier or see His direction in life. Vigilant prayer releases power in the gifts of healing and even miracles. One last thing I will mention about vigilant prayer. Many have asked for or are seeking the “gift of tongues” and have discovered that during seasons of prayer and worship, they began to speak with a new language. That new language is a prayer language that assists them in seeking the Lord. Every prayer should be made with thanksgiving. Prayer should really be surrounded by praise, worship, and heaps of thankfulness.
In verse 3, Paul encourages prayer for himself and his apostolic team. He is precise regarding the prayer need. “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.” Well, this scripture is loaded with understanding for us to consider and even pray about. Let’s unpack Paul’s request of the Colossian saints to pray for him.
Even the most anointed of God’s servants need the prayers of the saints. When you see or know an anointed individual moving in one of the fivefold ministry gifts of Ephesians 4:11, they need our prayers. We must understand that we are all a part of Christ’s kingdom of priests. We are members of His body, which are joined together by the Spirit. Those who are called to one of the fivefold ministry offices need the prayers of God’s people. We have been trained to think and act as individuals. But biblically, we must think corporately, that is, as one body joined together with the Lord who is our head.
Prayer is the key for doors to be opened. It is not by luck or by accident; it is by the Holy Spirit’s work which is released by the prayers of the saints. This is an amazing thing that the Lord has designed. He moves as a result of His people’s prayers made up of petition, supplication, and requests. It is God’s word, but He wants us to seek Him for the opening of doors for preaching and teaching about Christ.
In the case of Paul’s request for prayers for open doors, he is specific about the word he is mandated to release. It is so he can “speak the mystery of Christ.” He presently is in jail and chained, so he is asking for the prayers of the saints that he might be released in order to continue his mission of preaching the good news of the gospel.
Let’s take a little time to talk about the “mystery of Christ.” The message the apostles carried was a message of mystery. Only by God’s revelation could the mystery be revealed and understood for faith to operate and bring the regenerating life of Christ to both Jews and Gentiles.
There are at least ten mysteries concerning Christ that the apostles taught and laid out as the foundation for faith and growth in the Lord. Here are the ten mysteries found in the New Testament:
- The mystery of Godliness; 2. The mystery of the Gospel; 3. The Mystery of Christ Regeneration; 4. The mystery of His will; 5.The mystery of the indwelling Christ; 6. The mystery of iniquity or lawlessness; 7 The mystery of Christ and His church; 8. The mystery of the restoration of Israel; 9 The mystery of Babylon; 10 The mystery of change
In verse 4, Paul states, “that I may make manifest, as I ought to speak.” The prison was holding him back. Those chains were restricting Paul. He knew his calling; he knew he had to speak to Nero about Christ eventually. There were so many people to reach, so many had not yet heard. He was imploring God’s people to pray for him.
Are you praying regularly for your pastor? Are you praying vigilantly for missionary’s you know? Are you praying for the evangelists? What about the prophets to hear from heaven and to envision God’s people. Today we should be praying for an apostolic reformation that brings the Lord’s church back to the foundation laid by those original apostles of the Lamb. It was a foundation that included the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. A foundation that enables the church to be one and fulfill Christ’s mandate to His church to disciple the nations before His glorious return.