October 31, 2008

Pray for the Believers

“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as [it has] also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as [it is] also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [Him], being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Colossians 1:3-12 NKJV)

Paul heard of the Colossians faith and love for the saints and knew the grace of God had fallen on them. Notice he knew of God’s grace because of their love for the saints. They had exhibited evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

He also had confidence in them because of the message they heard. They heard a true Gospel message, a message that proclaimed a hope in heaven while forsaking the promises of this world. This is the message that was bringing forth fruit in them and the entire world.

With such a glorious testimony, a person might think, “they’re doing well,” and turn his attention on others. However, Paul teaches us a marvelous lesson as he continued his letter. He says he does not cease to pray for them.

Believers are too quick to leave their gardens unattended. A garden needs constant care or it will become overrun with weeds. Christians need intercession and accountability.

Paul knew this well and so he prayed constantly for the Colossian believers. He prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of the Father’s will; he prayed for their spiritual understanding; and he prayed that they would walk worthy of the Lord.

What did that mean to Paul? It meant that they would be fruitful, growing Christians. It meant that they would be Christians who were students of the Word, Christians who were longsuffering looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of the faith.

Listen, believers, pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul, once he heard of the Colossians’ faith, did not cease to pray for them. Once a seed is planted in good soil, it still needs constant care even more so in the beginning.

If you have become discouraged with the testimony of your fellow believers, it is not time to complain but to pray. Maybe if believers would follow Paul’s example there would be a manifest presence of God in the church. There certainly won’t be if believers don’t pray.