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Colossians,
Chapter Four, Lesson Three
PRAYING WITH EFFECTIVENESS Page
2
Praying with Effectiveness
INVESTIGATE
V.12 ** Our opening two verses for today will provide all four
characteristics of a godly prayerlife for us. But before we get to that,
what do we remember about this man Epaphras?
Epaphras was truly faithful servant of Christ!
He was most likely the founder of the church at Colossae and was probably
their current pastor. Having heard Paul preach in Ephesus, Epaphras
returned to his Lycus valley town of Colossae and spread the good news.
cf. Acts 19:8-10
** What is the first phrase that Paul uses while making reference to
Epaphras?
He is "one of your number". The bond of peace that is shared
by Christians is something for which we should all give thanks. Epaphras
was one of their elders, and as such needed to weave his life into theirs
to better shepherd the flock of God. cf. 1Peter 5:2
** Do you recall anyone from last week that was described with this same
phrase?
Onesimus - the "truly repentant sinner"! We are all one,
and all sinners, saved by God's grace.
** Let's look now at the first characteristic of a godly prayerlife -
The Prerequisite for Prayer.
What do you suppose it is?
1) The Prerequisite for Prayer - "...a bondslave of Jesus
Christ..." Before we can pray effectively, we must first belong
to Christ through faith and be living a godly life in response to the
authority of His word. cf. James 5:16, Psalm 66:18
** This godly man sends his greetings to those he dearly loves in Colossae.
After informing us of that fact, Paul now gives us the second characteristic
of a godly prayerlife - The Pattern for Prayer. What does it look
like?
2) The Pattern for Prayer - "...always laboring earnestly
for you in his prayers..."
Sadly, we know very little about this kind of prayer. The phrase laboring
earnestly is translated from agonizomai, from which our English word
agonize is derived.
cf. 1Corinthians 9:25, Rom.15:30, and Luke 22:44
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