[1] For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3
Paul in Chapter two of his letter to the Colossians describes his prayer life for the church as a “great struggle.” It seems that his intercession on their behalf was a battle, a physical, emotional, agonising war that challenged his concentration, time and devotion to them. He did not find praying for them easy.
Paul encouraged the Christians in Rome to join him in his “struggle” by praying to God on his behalf.
[30] I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
Romans 15:30
It seems that Paul wasn’t the only one struggling in prayer for the church in Colossae.
[12] Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
Colossians 4:12
But with what and with whom does one “struggle” in prayer? Is it the distractions of the world that fill our time? Is it our minds that tell us negative things like, “prayer is a waste of time?” Is it the evil one who also fills our heads with negative thoughts about prayer? Is it our own weaknesses, laziness, and apathetic attitude to prayer? Could it possibly be God himself with whom we struggle? Before we answer these questions let’s set the context a little.
What makes Paul’s statement even more stunning is that he had never even met the people for whom he prayed with such struggles. They “have not seen me face to face,” says Paul, yet I intercede on their behalf unceasingly. Amazing! Remember that it was Epaphras, not Paul, who brought the gospel to Colossae. But no amount of geographical distance or relational unknowns seems to hinder Paul’s prayers for these saints.
This ought forever to put to rest the excuse some use for not praying for others: “I don’t know them,” “they don’t know me,” “I don’t know their situation.” Does God really hear such prayers?” Yes, he does!
It helps, does it not, to know that you are not the only one who struggles in prayer.
David Brainerd (1718-1747), missionary to the North American Indians who, for a season, lived in the home of Jonathan Edwards frequently wrote in his diary of “wrestling” with God in prayer. The entry for Monday April 19th 1742 reads in part, “God enabled me so to agonise in prayer, that I was quite wet with sweat, though in the shade, and the wind cool. My soul was drawn out very much for the world; I grasped for multitudes of souls” The next day, Brainerd wrote: “I think my soul was never so drawn out in intercession for others as it has been this night. Had a most fervent wrestle with the Lord tonight for my enemies” Again Brainerd writes: “I was enabled to cry to God with a child-like spirit, and to continue instant in prayer for some time. Was much enlarged in the sweet duty of intercession. Was enabled to remember great numbers of dear friends and precious souls, as well as Christ’s ministers. Continued in this frame, afraid of every idle thought, till I dropped asleep.”
You can see two things, this struggling in prayer cost him but also this struggling in prayer seems to be achieving most wonderful things in heavenly places.
Joseph Alleine (1634-16 68), pastor and theologian was repeatedly imprisoned for preaching the gospel. His wife once wrote of him: “At the time of his health he did rise constantly at or before four of the clock, and would be much troubled if he heard smiths or other craftsmen at their trades before he was at communion with God; saying to me after, ‘How this noise shames me. Does not my Master deserve more than theirs?'”
That challenges me significantly, and those who err on the side of Grace will tell me Grace not law Nigel. Yet this was not duty but “communion” or relationship with his master.
Martin Luther certainly knew how to “struggle” in prayer on behalf of other believers. Of his struggles in prayer on behalf of his friend and colleague Philip Melancthon he wrote, “This time I besought the Almighty with great vigor. I attacked him with his own weapons, quoting from Scripture all the promises I could remember, that prayers should be granted, and said that he must grant my prayer, if I was henceforth to put my faith in his promises.”
Martin Luther seeing prayer as being the offence.
James H. Thornwell ( 1812 –1862) Presbyterian Pastor and theologian, a contemporary of Charles Hodge wrote: “ We pray; but what is there of agony in our prayers? Who wrestles with God? Whose soul is burdened with the weight of a perishing world? Or who takes an hour from his sleep or foregoes a single meal in order that he may plead the cause of millions upon millions that know not God? And are such prayers sacrifices? Are they more than breath? And can there be any wonder that mere breath should not move the Lord of hosts?”
You may not agree with James’ view on slavery but on prayer James believed prayer “moves the Lord of hosts.”
However the function of prayer is not to bend God’s will to ours, or to wrench from him what he is reluctant to give. We must never believe ourselves capable of overpowering the Creator or forcing his hand with our persuasive, loud, persistent or emotional praying.
C. E. B. Cranfield in his commentary on Romans says that, “to entertain any notion of trying to exert pressure upon God to compel him to do that which he himself does not will to do or of mobilising one’s fellow-Christians with a view to constraining him by a combination of forces is to lapse into paganism.”
That being said Nigel, when was the last time you had “a most fervent wrestle with the Lord” on behalf of those you know and love, not to mention those who have not seen you “face to face?“ Lord energise me and my friends in the struggle to pray, empower us to agonise in our intercession, and stir us to strive without ceasing in prayer for one another Amen.
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