Sermon: The Inward Stroke: Requests - October 9, 2011
1. Have you participated in gymnastics in any form? Did you do summersaults or cartwheels as a child? Did you play on the rings in the playground or perhaps did you participate in gymnastics in a more organized fashion? Perhaps you have simply watched Olympic gymnastics and were particularly impressed with a particular gymnast or type of competition. What is your most vivid memory when you think of gymnastics?
2. The kind of prayer spoken about in this verse will be likened to work, to labor and to put forth the kind of effort that one would in a wrestling match or a gymnastics competition. When you think of these “high sweat activities” how would you gauge your “prayer sweat-o-meter” these days?
A. Cool as a cucumber.
B. Barely perspiring.
C. In a crisis I’m drenched, otherwise I stay pretty cool.
D. I have a mild prayer workout and get mildly warm every morning.
E. Whew! I’m working hard and I’m drenched.
3. Pastor Mike told us that “intercession is my response to the love of God for all people, especially those in His family.” Intercessory prayer is that intimate conversation with God that centers around the needs of others. One of the keys to unlocking the door to a deeper prayer life is getting beyond the surface needs with prayers that go something like, “please bless Matilda and bless Henry and please make my aunt’s second cousin’s toe to feel better, and oh yes, please bless my kitty and turtle and my dog because I think he has a cold. Amen.” Have you ever been at a church service or prayer meeting and the prayer of one of those well- meaning individuals made you want to laugh? Did you?
4. Those well meaning prayers are heard by God to be sure, for He looks on the heart. And the simple prayer of a child can hold more spiritual weight than a pontificating adult! A more powerful prayer life is not about being articulate, or sounding eloquent but it is about getting deeper. How do we REALLY pray for those we care about? What can we learn from this verse in Ephesians and someone named Epaphras and the way he prayed?
Read Colossians 4:12. What impresses you about Epaphras? How do you feel about someone who sincerely wrestles for you in prayer everyday? Are you “an Epaphras” for someone else? What have you learned about praying fervently for someone else? How did that prayer change you?
5. Commentator Kenneth Wuest tells us that the term “laboring fervently” (in regards to prayer) is in the Greek, agonizomai, which means “to contend in the gymnastic games, to content with adversaries…figuratively, to contend, struggle with difficulties and dangers antagonistic to the gospel.” Have you ever thought of prayer as work? If so, why is it work?
6. It’s accurate to say that Epaphras had a deep concern for this church that he had helped to establish. If you are a parent, or have known someone for a very long time, or you have helped to get something of spiritual value started, how much greater is your level of concern?
7. Open your Bible to Colossians 1:9-12. Study this section this week and use it as a prayer guide to wrestle in prayer for someone or some ministry for which you care deeply. Where is says “you” insert that person’s name or ministries name. For whom or for what are you going to pray this week?
