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That I may Proclaim Clearly

That I may Proclaim Clearly

Words of Faith 11-26-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Colossians 4:2

[3] And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.   [4] Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

 

      It may seem a bit strange to hear Paul call upon the Colossian believers to pray for him in ministry.  After all, this is THE Apostle Paul.  He seems like such a giant in Christian history and Biblical theology.  The Lord gave a huge portion of the New Testament Word of God through Paul.  He was clearly a prophet of God and the greatest missionary of all time.  What could the prayers of believers in this small town accomplish for such a spiritual giant?

       That is where we go wrong sometimes.  We sometimes assume that because God is accomplishing a great work through a particular person that this means they are somehow “above it all,” and not in need of prayer.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The reality is that those God is using in large ways with high visibility probably need more prayer than anyone!  The enemy is certainly likely to target them.

        It is interesting what Paul asked for in prayer.  While in prison, he might have asked the church to pray for his release or for a “not guilty” verdict in his upcoming trial, or for a peaceful end to his life. But this is not what he requested.  Instead, Paul requested prayer for his ministry while in prison.

        Paul wanted the believers praying that God would give him opportunities for witnessing—for sharing the mystery of salvation in Christ. Even in prison, Paul saw his circumstance simply as a different ministry opportunity.  More than anything, he sought for an open door for the message of Christ to the guards or whomever God might desire to hear. He requested prayer for clarity in the message of Christ as he proclaimed it.

       There is a strong reminder here that we are to pray for those in ministry.  We need to be intercessors for God's ministers and missionaries.  We are to uphold those who carry the Gospel into prisons and institutions, hospitals, and college campuses.  We are to lift up those who teach and preach the Gospel as well as those who do ministries of mercy and healing.  

       Is there a minister or missionary, chaplain, counselor, pastor, or teacher that God has put on your heart to pray for today?  Lift them before the throne of grace.  Pray for an open door for the message of the Gospel of grace.  Pray for opportunities to proclaim the mystery of Christ.  Pray for clear proclamation of the Gospel.  

       This Sunday is Easter.  More people will attend worship services on this day than any other this year.  Pray for the pastors and preachers who stand before congregations of believers and seekers that they may proclaim clearly the Gospel of Christ.

 

        Father God, may You be glorified in all that we say and do.  I lift before You those who minister the Gospel of grace.  Especially in this weekend that is so confused by culture, may the Gospel of salvation be proclaimed clearly.  In Jesus’ Name. 

 

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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