Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Prayer for Proclamation
In Ephesians 6:18-20Ephesians 6:18-20
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
19 And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Paul closes his commands to stand firm and to put on the armor of God with a call to prayer. Much of what Paul includes in this call to prayer is surprising. It is causing me to rethink some of my ideas about prayer, especially as it relates to ministry.
We, first, would not expect Paul to call on us to pray as the way to advance in the spiritual battle. Prayer is important, of course. We would expect, however, for Paul to write something more about using the shield of faith or the sword of the Spirit. Instead, clothed with the full armor of God, we engage the battle by prayer. We often engage in activities other than prayer but for Paul, prayer is the activity.
We also do not expect Paul to have such a concern about praying for others. We must “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” We might expect Paul to command us to pray for ourselves, especially given that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (v. 12). Although he does not rule out prayer for ourselves in the spiritual battle, the main thrust of our praying must be for our fellow soldiers who are also engaged in the battle. As much as the spiritual armor is individually applied, we never fight the battle alone. We stand in the evil day only as our brothers and sisters in the faith stand and they stand through our prayers.
Paul is not finished challenging our expectations. If I were in jail as Paul was, I would pray that God might secure my release. I would want my freedom most of all. Also on the top of my prayer list would be safety and comfort while I was in jail. I would want the guard I was chained to be extremely generous and kind. “Please, Lord, if you would, provide adequate meals and a warm bed. Oh-and help me to be strong spiritually in this ordeal!”
Instead, Paul asks that when he proclaims the mystery of the Gospel (not if), that he would have the words to speak (utterance) and that he would do so boldly (used in verses 19 and 20). His priority, even in chains, is to proclaim the Gospel and to do so without intimidation. He had prayed for the Ephesians that they would understand and appropriate the Gospel. See Ephesians 1:15-23Ephesians 1:15-23
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
15 For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which [ye show] toward all the saints,
16 cease not to give thanks for you, making mention [of you] in my prayers;
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
18 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly [places],
21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
and Ephesians 3:14-19Ephesians 3:14-19
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
. As one who has understood and appropriated the Gospel, he asks them to pray that he might make its wonders known without fear.
Why would Paul make such a request for speech rather than for release? I think it is because he knows that he is an ambassador of the King of Kings. An ambassador must represent his king in the way the king sees fit. Paul’s king, Jesus, told him to proclaim the Gospel (Mat 28:18-20Mat 28:18-20
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
; Acts 9:1-19Acts 9:1-19
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
9
1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord.
11 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth;
12 and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
). Commitment to his job description as ambassador requires him to proclaim the Gospel. Prayer from others on his behalf will enable him to do so with clarity and conviction.
Are we ambassadors? 2 Corinthians 5:17-212 Corinthians 5:17-21
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.
18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.
21 Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
indicates we are. Will we be so convinced of our ambassadorship that our main prayer request will be courage and clarity in proclaiming the Gospel?
