Colossians 1: 9-12
While in Zimbabwe I spent more time in Prayer and Fasting
During the 3 weeks there we saw God do some wonderful things
People ‘came’ to Christ
People were touched by the Holy Spirit
People were blessed by the preaching of the Word
If prayer is so important – then how should we pray?
V9a ‘…we have not stopped praying for you…’
We need to pray without ceasing, pray in your own language, pray in other tongues, pray while you are working, pray while you are eating, pray while you are sleeping
V9b ‘…asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will…’
When you pray this way, the people you are praying for will be changed forever
How are they changed?
1/ V10a ‘…that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way…’
Zimbabwe: Many people there were living to please God
James 2: 5 ‘God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith’
In the ‘West’: The more we get, the more we want
Instead of living self centred lives, we live God centred lives
2/ V10b ‘…bearing fruit in every good work…’
As you live to please God, whatever you do for the glory of God will be successful
Zimbabwe: God gave us great success
3 boreholes instead of 2, great ministry in the Churches
3/ V10c‘…growing in the knowledge of God…’
Testimony: This is my 31st year ‘in the Lord’
I’m not sitting back saying, ‘Yep, I’m the man’!
As the years have gone by, I have an even greater desire to grow as a Christian
Reading ‘The Atonement’ Gordon H. Clark
4/ V11a ‘…strengthened with all power…so that you may have great endurance and patience…’
Testimony: This is my 31st year ‘in the Lord’
God wants me to be patient and endure for another 31 years!
5/ V11b ‘…giving joyful thanks to the Father…’
With how things are in the World today there is a lot you could be sad and depressed about
But when we look to the Lord, there is a lot to give joyful thanks about!
This is how prayer changes us and those whom we pray for
So, why should we pray?
= We belong to God – not to this World
Colossians 1:12-14 ‘He has made you able to have what he has promised to give all His holy people, who live in the light. God made us free from the power of darkness. And He brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son. The Son paid the price to make us free. In Him we have forgiveness of our sins’.
Remember this: Our Life in this world is so short
Zimbabwe average Life expectancy is about 40 years
Here, it’s double that (80), but there is no guarantee you will live longer than today!
Commit your remaining years in this world to the Lord and pray – you belong to Him and will give an account to Him for the Life He has given you
revdotdavid 