SUNDAY January 19, 2025

Praying for Open Doors

...meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:3-4

Paul asked the Colossians to pray for an open door so that he could give words of proclamation––to preach the Gospel message. He specifically asked that they would pray for God to give him clarity of speech. He needed the right words to speak so the Gospel of Christ would be clearly understood. Notice, even though Paul was chained, the Gospel had free course. His chains did not stop the Apostle from fulfilling his ministry.

Paul knew the spiritual weapon of prayer was essential in helping him to speak with boldness and clarity:

...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:18-20).

Paul kept himself in the Word of God, in the love of God, and on his knees before the throne of God. This is exactly what we need to do. Prayer will open the door for us to share the Gospel with lost souls. Prayer places us on the front lines of a spiritual battle as we pray for believers in Christ and for pastors whose lives are on the line for the Gospel.

God has called me to pray for churches, our congregation, the staff and leadership, along with my family, friends and neighbors. Listen, when we are united in prayer, God is at work. I would ask that we would all pray together for open doors for the Gospel to be preached in Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8).

I have had the privilege of preaching the Gospel on every continent in most of the countries of the world, and I have found that when I present the simple message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with authority, quoting from the very Word of God – He takes that message and drives it supernaturally into the human heart.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!