Colossians 4:3 - Prayer Power!

Col.4:3; Prayer Power!

Col 4:3 (NIV)  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door 
for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for 
which I am in chains.  

The "mystery of Christ" is Christ's Good News of salvation, the 
gospel. The whole focus of Paul's life was to tell others about Christ, 
explaining and preaching this wonderful mystery. [Life Application SB] 

One of Paul's strengths was his awareness of his need for 
prayer. When we feel we are capable of going it on our own, we are in 
serious spiritual danger. [Victor Bible Reader's Companion] 

The way of life that Paul sketched is supernatural. Thus Paul 
emphasized the role of prayer. We are to depend on the Lord ourselves, and 
encourage others to focus their lives on God. [Victor Teacher's 
Commentary] 

Paul asks their prayers for himself. We must note carefully 
exactly what it is for which Paul asks. He asks their prayer not so much 
for himself as for his work. There were many things for which Paul 
might have asked them to pray--release from prison, a successful 
outcome to his coming trial, a little rest and peace at the last. But he 
asks them to pray only that there may be given to him strength and 
opportunity to do the work which God had sent him into the world to do. When 
we pray for ourselves and for others, we should not ask release 
from any task, but rather strength to complete the task which has 
been given us to do. Prayer should always be for power and seldom for 
release; for not release but conquest must be the keynote of the 
Christian life. [Barclay Commentary] 

It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ 
is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing 
examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open 
the Bible before we read, "Then began men to call upon the name of 
the Lord;" and just as we are about to close the volume, the "Amen" 
of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful. 
Here we find a wrestling Jacob--there a Daniel who prayed three times 
a day--and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On 
the mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have 
multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, 
but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain 
that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be 
conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he 
knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until 
we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want nothing? 
Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask 
of God? Then, may the Lord's mercy show thee thy misery! A 
prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the 
believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the 
dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, 
the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a 
child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father's face, and live in thy 
Father's love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, 
and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener 
into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an 
example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the 
glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, "Continue in 
prayer." Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon