Pastor Ralph Posted April 8, 2010 Report Share Posted April 8, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickledilly Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Paul asked the Colossian believers to pray for the outreach of the gospel through him and his ministry team. He was praying for occasions to personally share the gospel with people, certainly with the implied request that their hearts would be open and ready for the message. An "open door" would be the opportunity and favorable circumstances that God is using for His glory, maybe like a door opened from heaven to allow a particular flow of blessings for a specific purpose at a specific time. Paul was asking for a flow of people to be sent his way just for the specific purpose of telling them about the revealed mystery of the hope of eternal life available to everyone in Christ. Every person we meet brings a different mix of background, customs, habits, mindsets, beliefs, goals, baggage, understanding of God. Paul never lost sight of this fact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masika Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an "open door." Why does he ask for prayer in communicating the gospel? Isn't he an "old hand" at this? Why does he need help? Paul asked for prayer that he could proclaim the Good News about Christ clearly, and we can request prayer to do the same. No matter what approach to evangelism we use, whether emphasizing life-style and example or whether building relationships, we should never obscure the message of the Good News Open door here means that Paul to get opportunity to preach to others who have not herd the Gospel, since he was in jail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marloes Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickledilly Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Thank you so much, Marloes, for the reminders of the varied ways the gospel is being presented around the world. We certainly do need to pray for God to protect and bless those efforts, right along with the ones every single believer is called to make right where we live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Paul DiMino Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Paul asks us to pray for the mission team,success of the mission,an open door for the message to be received,and clarity of the message to be received in the hearts and minds of those to whom it is given.Revelation 3:8 gives me goosebumps ! Can mere words,spoken by a flawed mortal, change subatomic structure, or the relationships of macro-cosmic forces ?...Did God speak creation into existence ? Where is this "open door" ? In our hearts ? The hearts and minds of the people we're trying to reach ? The nature of reality itself ?... "With God all things are possible !" It could be,that when we pray this prayer,we are asking God to give this person to Jesus, or, we may be asking for a sign, that He has. Anything that wonderful, must come from God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iam4-1god Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elwood C O'Dell Posted June 5, 2010 Report Share Posted June 5, 2010 Paul asks the Colossian believers will pray that God will open up opportunities for them to share the Word and help them to do it with clarity. To pray for an open door is to ask God for the opportunities to share the Word with others. I feel Paul asked for prayer in communicating the gospel so others would fully understand what He is sharing. Paul realizes he can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Posted June 6, 2010 Report Share Posted June 6, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an "open door."? Why does he ask for prayer in communicating the gospel? Isn't he an "old hand" at this? Why does he need help? Paul asks the Colossian believers to pray for him, and for his co-workers. By asking God to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sylverd Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrD Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 THat opportunities for evangelism will be made more available and that he, as well as those working with him would take full advantage of those opportunities. . . It doesn't matter how long we may have been involved in preaching, teaching, or evangelizing - or how much success we may have had - we still need God's involvement to remain successful. . . Without Chtist's involvement there is no possibility for success when working for the Lord. . . Psalms 127:1 (NRSV) [b]1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. [/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foofee's Nana Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? He asks that the Colossian believers pray for his ministry. He wants a door to be opened to proclaim the gospel and that he will be able to do it clearly. What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbisu Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion of Grace Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 Paul asks the Colossians to pray for him and to pray that God may open doors for his message, so he could proclaim the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel that he was in prison for. To pray for an open door meant to pray for opportunities for him to have a means to share the Gospel with anyone. He asks for prayer to communicate this Gospel because he knew in and of himself, he couldn't do it according to individual needs. Paul was a very humble person who knew everything he had, said or did was in Christ. It wasn't him plus God....it was Christ in him. He knew his weakness as a human and asked in humbleness for prayer to always be in submission to God and trusting in Him to do what was right in proclaiming the Gospel. He knew anything less than that was prone to error. He was an old hand at everything and instead of sprouting arrogance in all he "knew" as so many do, he grew in humbleness recognizing his weaknesses. He knew without God....he was nothing. He knew His righteousness was as dirty rags and he knew his wisdom paled in comparison to God's wisdom. He was like Christ in that he was submitted to the Father's leading. Not his own or in what others thought or did or wanted to do....but in submission to God. He asked others for prayer to stay focused in that and for leading in proclaiming the Gospel clearly as he desired to do. All is Christ. All is Christ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delivered Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? Paul was asking for prayer for himself as well as others, so that we would be alert to those opportunities that would come our way, and that doors would still be opened to him, he knew his work was not finished, the world must hear the mysteries of the Messiah and who he is, that He is the image of the invisible God, and that redemption and forgiveness is given through His blood, uniting the Jew and the Gentile together. What does it mean to pray for an "open door?" There was no open door for Paul while he was in jail in Rome. Paul still felt the urgency that the mystery, the good news would be spoken, that doors, opportunities, would be opened. Paul was telling us the importance of our being alert in our prayer life was that we would be alert to those opportunities, those doors that God opens to us, so that we can spread the good news, while there is still time. There will be a day when God will shut the door and no one will be able to open it, so pray to be alert. Why does he ask for prayer in communicating the gospel? Isn't he an "old hand" at this? Why does he need help? It would be a sad day for any of us, if we felt we came to the stage where we did not need the prayers of others and that we have arrived, we are all in need of being filled daily with Gods Spirit, so that we will remain bold in our testimony, not just that of speaking words, but that of being a living testimony, offering ourselves up to God the Father as a living, breathing, testimony of what the Messiah has done for us, and will do for others too. The flesh is weak, but we will find strength through God, this is why we are to be alert and persistent in our prayer life, understanding the importance of praying for each other, praying that we will be bold to speak and live the word, looking for an open door even when testing comes our way as it did for Paul We are the same as Paul, we all need to pray for boldness to be strong in our walk with the Lord, so that when those doors are opened up to us, our lives will reveal to the world, what we are saying is true. Paul will in a few short years be killed for his testimony of boldly going through the open door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking His Face Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bower Posted June 7, 2010 Report Share Posted June 7, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexandria Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanie123 Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Paul prays that God would give an open door of opportunity for him to preach Gods message even while he is in chains. That God will allow people to cross your path that you can witness to. Paul needed pray because we can only do so much on our own but until the holy spirit steps in and guides us and leads us even when we think we got it or we know what we are doing, we don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD GARY Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? What does it mean to pray for an Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janel Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Q2 Paul's prayer request from the Colossian believers are for God to provide them with opportunities to speak the Word and help them proclaim the Word with clarity. Open door means an opportunity for Paul to be able to proclaim the message so that his ministry will be effective and be able to speak with clarity and that the message will be communicated. Every evangelist needs prayers support. Even though Paul is an old hand at this he still needs the support of the communities to intercede for him so that his ministry may be more effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charisbarak Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 He wants prayer for open doors & a clear message. Open doors are prepared for in prayer & the Holy Spirit works to provide a way to touch certain people's hearts. Sure, he has done it many times, but each time is different--a different person & different needs. He needs the Holy Spirit's leading there too. It is a battle we are in & only the Holy Spirit and our prayers break through. That's why this verse is especially important for us to pray for our missionaries on the field!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Q2. (Colossians 4:3-4) What prayer request does Paul ask of the Colossian believers? He asks them to pray for God to provide an opportunity for him to proclaim Christ What does it mean to pray for an open door. He is asking for an opportunity. Why does he ask for prayer in communicating the gospel? Isnt he an old hand at this? Why does he need help? Without God our efforts are hopeless and this applies to all Christians without exception, including Paul. Paul clearly recognises this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda bass Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 The prayer request that Paul asks of the Colossian believers is not just for himself,but his whole ministry team. He asks for prayer that eventho he is in chains,the gospel will still go forth. Praying for an "open door" means that we are asking for an opportunity or a chance to share the gospel with others. Paul asks for help in communicating the gospel because he wants to be sure those he witnesses to will be able to understand the gospel message. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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