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October 18, 2009

Colossians 4:7-18

Colossal Prayer

 

How would you describe your prayer life?

 Would you dare give it the adjective “Colossal”?

  Maybe you figure your prayer life is like the following video clip.

   We can feel intimidated when it comes to prayer.

      That is so sad.

       Why should we feel intimidated when we speak to our Heavenly Father?

        Is God the One who intimidates us?

         Do you think that messing our words up bothers Him?

            Do you think He is critiquing our vocabulary?

             What a privilege to come to Him in prayer.

              And we blow it, not by saying things all wrong.

               We blow it by not saying anything at all.

How would you like to have a colossal prayer life?

 Paul doesn’t give us the steps to experiencing a colossal prayer life.

  It was not his intention to lay out the recipe for colossal prayer.

   He was simply writing this letter to encourage the believers that they had the

   power to be like Christ.

      And that they could be like Christ even in their prayer life.

       This is a bonus in his letter.

        He is coming near to the conclusion.

         He has just about finished giving them the instructions on how to experience

         the power to be like Christ.

            Now he is telling us about his friends.

             He is anxious to introduce them and even to send them.

              He knew his ministry was coming to a close.

               He would never write to them again.

                  They would never see him again.

                   But there were other people who would care for them.

                    He was sending Tychicus and Mark to them.

                     And he wanted especially to remind them of Epaphras.

                        They knew him.

                         He was a servant of Jesus.

                          He was part of the Colossal work of Jesus in their midst.

                           And he prayed for them.

                              He always, earnestly prayed for them.

That is the mark of Colossal Prayer.

 Colossal Prayer is never for ourselves.

  It is always for others.

   That is an essential quality of Colossal Prayer.

      I spend way too much time praying about my own situation.

       I ask God to help me get through the challenge.

        I ask God to provide when I am missing something I think I should have.

         I pray that God would solve my problems.

            Colossal Prayer is never about me.

             It is about others.

And Colossal Prayer is never short sighted.

 It isn’t focusing in on the things of this world alone.

  It isn’t about worldly comforts and earthly things.

   Colossal Prayer has its focus on eternity and bringing people to Jesus.

      It is about growing in Christlikeness.

       It is praying that those we love will be fully mature in Christ Jesus.

        It is the desire to see others be the best that they can be in Jesus.

         To be living completely for Jesus.

            I need people to pray for me like that.

             And so do you!

              We need people who believe in us and encourage us in our faith.

               People who spur us on in our spiritual lives.

                  People who refuse to let us coast and scrape by.

I know what it is like to just scrape by.

 There were some years in high school where I just scraped by.

  I needed someone who wanted to see me be complete.

   There have been moments in my spiritual life where I have scraped by.

      Is that a life that is pleasing to God?

       I might not have survived those times without colossal prayers.

        Someone was earnestly praying for me.

         They wanted to see me stand firm, to be complete.

            They went to the mat for me, they wrestled with God for me.

             They asked God to make me strong and perfect or mature.

              Who have you prayed for like that lately?

               Not just praying for their salvation but their spiritual growth?

                  Colossal prayer doesn’t focus on the comforts of life.

                   It focuses on being complete in Jesus.

And then Colossal prayer seeks God’s will be done in others.

 We all need to know God’s will.

  What is God’s will for you?

   When we struggle to know His will we need colossal prayer.

      We need the assurance of being in God’s will.

       God has a general will which is the same for all people.

        His will is that all come to repentance, forsake their sin and believe in God.

         His will is that we be sanctified.

            This is the will of God even your sanctification.  (1 Thes. 4:3)

             But then God has a specific will for your life.

              Who we date and eventually marry, where we work.

               For every choice we face God has a will.

                  Colossal Prayer recognizes that truth and holds others up.

That is the hard work of prayer.

 For whom have you prayed fervently?

  When did you last wrestle in prayer for someone’s spiritual journey?

   When is the last time you prayed, “Cast your every care on the One who gave you life, lay your burdens down at His feet, open up your heart to the living Word of God”?

      God truly is love.

       He is here, He is near us.

        He is calling us to trust Him more.

         You can be a Colossal Pray-er.

            It isn’t a matter of saying the right words or phrases.

             It is being motivated in your prayers for others.

              Pray for their spiritual growth and maturity.

               And pray that they will have confidence in knowing God’s will!

                  Who can you pray for that will encourage them?

                   That is the work of every disciple of Jesus.

 

Song – He Is Here