Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 40

Paul Exhorts the Believers in Colosse to Pray for him

Colossians 4:3-4 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. KJV

Paul knowing the power of prayer (even made from a sincere heart by the weakest saint) exhorts these Colossian believers to be mindful to include him and his fellow-workers with him (Timothy and others) in their prayers to our Heavenly Father saying these words, "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:" (Colossians 4:3) (KJV). Paul seized every opportunity to solicit the prayers of other believers, in order that he might maximize the Grace of God coming to him seeing that he was at this very time of writing this letter imprisoned by unbelievers for preaching or declaring the Gospel of the Grace of God to every lost sinner he encountered. Even though today we read these letters of Paul to the various Churches that are now Books in the New Testament, at the time he wrote these things to these believers, he did not know what would become of them in the future, for he expected there not to be much future left seeing that he expected our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to return even before his death.

So, with this mind set, Paul wanted prayers made for him and those with him that would give him more boldness, "That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." (Colossians 4:4) (KJV) (despite the constant threat of being killed all around him) to preach the truth no matter what he faced as he prayed with these words to the Ephesian believers, "And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel), For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly {and} courageously, as I ought to do." (Ephesians 6:19-20 (Amplified Bible). Note: "How ironic that 'Saul of Tarshis' riding down the Damascus Road had been responsible for imprisoning many Christians and even killing many, but now after his conversion to Christ Saul who is now the Apostle Paul is imprisoned himself for preaching the freedom that is found only in the Gospel and in Christ Jesus our Lord the Author of the Gospel."

Whether Paul is here petitioning them to pray for his release from prison that he would be able to continue his missionary evangelistic travels preaching the Gospel and teaching the Word of God or if he request earnestly their prayers that this very thing occurs through other believers who are free matters not, the only thing that is sure is that Paul wanted for himself and other Christians boldness, liberty, and freedom to declare the truth of the Gospel (Galatians 2:5) to overthrow all those false teachers who were free to spew out their filthy lies about salvation to unsuspecting souls. This was Paul's constant battle that of combating the false gospel being declared by the true Gospel and this is why he so wanted their prayers that God would open up for him and others with the truth doors or more specifically spiritual doors to give lost men and women the truth that God the Holy Spirit might do His work of regeneration as he declared to the Corinthian believers his battles with these words, "For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries." (1 Corinthians 16:9) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "The devil does not care about stopping the construction or building of large Cathedrals or Mega Churches with the finest craftsmanship and the most activities available such as basketball, baseball, soccer, movie theaters, game rooms, concert halls, etc., but what terrifies the devil and what he exercises all of his time trying to stop is any man or woman of God that will stand firm in declaring the 'truth of the Gospel', so that God the Holy Spirit will seal sinners as children of God eternally as Paul declared with these words to the Ephesian believers of this eternal seal, 'In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in {and} adhered to {and} relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption {and} our acquiring [complete] possession of it--to the praise of His glory.' (Ephesians 1:13-14) (Amplified Bible)."

Paul was one of these men that the devil spent all of his time trying to stop his declaration of the truth of the Gospel (without success of course), and this is why he entreated these Colossian believers to pray for him, for he declared to the Thessalonian believers this very same fact with these words written to them, "But since we were bereft, bereaved, grief-stricken of you, brethren, for a little while in person, [of course] not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great longing to see you face to face, Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered {and} impeded us." (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18) (Amplified Bible). I believe the Apostle Paul to be the author of the Book of Hebrews and in that letter at the time we find him entreating for prayers that he would be set free from his bonds that he would once again be with all the brothers and sisters 'in Christ' with these words written to them, "Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly {and} live a noble life, acting honorably {and} in complete honesty in all things. And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more earnestly, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner." (Hebrews 13:18-19) (Amplified Bible).

"We must pray more. Our lives cannot maintain the Godward attitude without prolonged seasons of communication with Him through the Word. This is so important that we must be ever on the watch against whatever might mar the life of devotion. Intercession will often unlock frost-bitten lips and make our souls glow. Withal praying also for us. If we are shut in and cannot perform active service, we can surely pray for those who are entrusted with the mystery of Christ; and let those who are called to active service be ready to step in when God opens the door. The limitations of life are no excuse for idleness." F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…