2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” Colossians 4:2–4 (ESV)
The reading, studying and application of God’s Word, corporate along with individual worship, communion or fellowship with fellow believers and the sharing of the gospel to the lost are indispensable disciplines and responsibilities for each believer in Christ. Along with these is the discipline and practice of prayer. Since God speaks to the believer through His inerrant Word, then the believer speaks to God through the privilege of prayer.
“Oh! divine Redeemer, out of whose inexhaustible fullness I would daily draw a rich supply of grace into my needy soul, be pleased to impart unto me an undivided heart; that to please You, may be my greatest happiness, and to promote Your glory my highest honor. Preserve me from false motives, from a double mind, and a divided heart. Keep me entirely to Yourself, and enable me to crucify every lust, which would tempt my heart from You. Enable me by Your grace to walk in one uniform path of holy, childlike obedience. When tempted to turn aside to the right hand or to the left, may I keep steadily Your way, until brought before Your throne, I see Your face, behold Your smile, and fall in ecstasy at Your feet, lost in wonder, love, and praise.” — Thomas Reade, “On the Blessedness of a New Heart”
The Apostle Paul was not only concerned for the Thessalonians’ personal prayer of continua steadfastness, watchfulness and thanksgiving. He was also concerned these believers in Christ would be praying for him, Silas and Timothy.
Paul’s prayer request was as all prayers should be; specific and God honoring. Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray so “that God may open to us a door for the word,” Prayer is not to be a passive posture of good thoughts. God directs us to make our requests appeals to Him. Missionary and author Elizabeth Elliot writes, “Things happen which would not happen without prayer. Let us not forget that.”
John Calvin writes, “He does not say this by way of pretense, but because, being conscious to himself of his own necessity, he was earnestly desirous to be aided by their prayers, and was fully persuaded that they would be of advantage to them. Who then, in the present day, would dare to despise the intercessions of brethren, which Paul openly declares himself to stand in need of? And, unquestionably, it is not in vain that the Lord has appointed this exercise of love between us — that we pray for each other. Not only, therefore, ought each of us to pray for his brethren, but we ought also, on our part, diligently to seek help from the prayers of others, as often as occasion requires.”
Paul used a familiar biblical metaphor regarding the spread of the gospel. He requested his fellow believers specifically pray for an open door for the word. Door (θύραν; thyran) refers to an opening and entrance. It is a means of approach or access. In this context, Paul desired an opening and entrance for the gospel or the word of God. He knew prayers to this end by the Thessalonians would prove indispensable.
The phrase “to declare the mystery of Christ” refers to the gospel. Paul mentioned this in Col. 1:26-27 and 2:1-3. It is a euphemism Paul also used in his letter to the Ephesians. “For this reason, I Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:1–6 (ESV)
Paul’s preaching the gospel was the reason for him being in a Roman prison (Acts 28:1-31). However, even while incarcerated for preaching he desires to continue to herald the word of God clarity and a commitment to the truth.
“The following story is about Duncan Campbell, a minister of the United Free Church of Scotland. He was a personal friend of Wesley Duewel and told him many stories of God’s amazing guidance during the late 1950s and ’60s in the Hebrides (the islands just west of Scotland) where Campbell was serving.”
“On the Monday after Easter in 1952, Duncan was seated on the platform after speaking to the Faith Mission Convention in Bangor, Northern Ireland, when he sensed the inner voice say to him, “Berneray!” (That is a small island in the Hebrides.) Duncan bowed his head and prayed silently. Again came the name “Berneray.” He prayed on, and the name came a third time.”
“So Campbell turned to the chairman and whispered, “Brother, you will need to excuse me. The Holy Spirit has just told me that I am to go to Berneray.” The chairman objected mildly, “You are the speaker tomorrow.” But nothing could stop him. He knew the Spirit had spoken.”
“He reminded Wesley Duewel, who was telling this story, “I had never been to Berneray, had never known anyone from there, and had never received a letter from anyone there.”
“He went to the hotel and packed his two suitcases and contacted the airport. There were no connections with Berneray because it was too small and out of the way. So he caught the first flight to the nearest island.”
“When he got there he went down to the coast and asked how to get to Berneray. The answer from a fisherman was that there is no usual commercial way, but that he would take him for such and such an amount. It was almost the exact amount Campbell had in his pocket.”
“When they got to Berneray the fisherman returned and left Campbell alone on the shore. He climbed the bluff and found himself on the edge of a plowed field and a farmer not far away. He said, “Please go to the nearest pastor and tell him Duncan Campbell has arrived.” The farmer responded, “We don’t have a minister for the church now.” “Do you have elders?” Campbell asked. “Yes.” “All right, go to the nearest elder and tell him, Duncan Campbell has arrived.”
“The farmer looked at him quizzically, then started off across the field as Campbell rested on his suitcases. After a while the farmer returned and said, “The elder was expecting you. He has a place ready for you. He has announced the meetings begin at nine o’clock tonight.”
“While Campbell had been ministering in the convention at Bangor three days earlier, this elder had spent the day praying in his barn for God to send revival to the island. God gave him the promise in Hosea 14:5: “I will be as the dew unto Israel.” He claimed it in faith. His wife in the house heard him praying in the barn, “Lord, I don’t know where he is, but You know, and with You all things are possible. You send him to the island.” He knew in his heart that God was going to send Duncan Campbell, who had been used in mighty revival in other parts of Scotland, to Berneray. He was so sure that he would be there in three days that he made all the arrangements to use the local church and had announced the services.”
“Wesley Duewel goes on to say that great revival came to the island of Berneray and a great door for the Word was opened that no man could shut because God opened it. He draws out this lesson: “When God has people who prevail in prayer, and people who know how to recognize the voice of the Spirit and obey without question, there is no limit to what God can do.”
(Story taken in part verbatim from Let God Guide You Daily by Wesley Duewel, Zondervan, 1988, pp. 117–119.)
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.
Soli deo Gloria!
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