Tuesday – August 2, 2016
Tuesday has come and time to pray for the governments at every level in the United States and for our neighbors to the north in Canada. This week I am highlighting the Province of Ontario.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (KJV)
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Above you have already found a picture of the Legislative Building located in Toronto, the capital of Ontario. Ontario is also the home to the Capital of Canada, Ottawa. I have also featured a map locating Ontario within Canada. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Now back to our study of Colossians.
Colossians 4:1-4 (KJV)
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
The Apostle Paul in this fourth chapter of Colossians is writing the valediction or parting words to the saints and faithful brethren at Colossae and Laodicea. In Colossians 4:2 Paul is asking the people to continue to pray for him, to watch, and maintain thanksgiving as they pray and as they watch. This word ‘watch’ is the same word Jesus used when He told the disciples to “watch and pray” just before He went to the Cross.
Matthew 26:41 (KJV)
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The word ‘watch’ in Colossians 4:2 and Matthew 26:41 is the same Greek word meaning to be vigilant. This is far more than a physical alertness but a spiritual alertness which is far more important. Our vigilance is to detect the devil’s plan for evil and to expunge the temptation for and any wickedness in our lives.
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The word ‘vigilant’ in the preceding verse is the same Greek word translated ‘watch’ in the other verses referenced. I hope that you all have noticed that this idea of giving thanks, or an attitude of thanksgiving at all times is a common and persistent theme throughout all of God’s Word. Think about it. To not be thankful is to believe that God is not able to help or for whatever reason is not going to help. We are able to give thanks in all things and for all things because we are more than conquerors and we reign in life by one Christ Jesus and every event is just another opportunity to show the goodness and the exceeding superiority of our God, our Heavenly Father. In our thanksgiving is the victory and the triumph!
The Apostle Paul goes on in the third and fourth verses to command those reading this Epistle to pray for him and those with him. He wanted the prayer especially focused on his having opportunities to share the gospel (good news). He wanted to share the “mystery of Christ”. Why didn’t he just say the mystery of Jesus, or the good news of salvation, or some other variation of this type, why the “mystery of Christ”? He wants to manifest, make known, or bring to light what had heretofore been hidden. That has to do with understanding the meaning of the word Christ. Christ can mean Messiah (Jesus), Anointed One (Jesus), and/or the Anointing (Holy Spirit). When sin entered the world the Holy Spirit for the most part had to leave and it would take a payment for that sin (the blood of Jesus) to allow the Holy Spirit back into the earth giving all men (people) access to God and the capacity to advance the original mandate of God. Jesus brought The Blessing back, got all authority back, and turned us loose again to finish what Adam really never started.
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
