Pray for Open Doors (Colossians 4:2–4)

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it, with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ on account of which I am imprisoned, that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
– Colossians 4:2–4

So, on one hand, this is a general exhortation to pray, to continue steadfastly in prayer, for these believers to devote themselves to prayer, to be watchful in prayer. This is exactly what Jesus taught his disciples, to be watchful in prayer, to be thankful in prayer, to continue in prayer.

We should be devoted to praying for the spread of the gospel around the world.

But then, Paul specifically asks that the church would pray for him, and those who he’s working with, to get the gospel to new places, that God would open up doors for the word, for them to declare the mystery of Christ, which is the reason why Paul was in prison, but that he would make the word, the gospel, clear, as he ought to speak.

So, when I read Colossians 4:2–4 I’m, on one hand, obviously exhorted and encouraged, convicted even, to make sure that I’m devoting myself to prayer, that we are continuing steadfastly in prayer, but then specifically, these verses provoke us, compel us to pray for those who are working for the spread of the gospel in places where it’s not gone, or places where it’s hard to get to, even places where people are being imprisoned for sharing the gospel, that God would open up doors for the word, for declaration of the mystery of Christ, that the people working in those places would make it clear.

Colossians 4:2–4 Prays For Missionaries To Spread His Word

So I want to lead us to pray specifically for workers around the world. Think missionaries, who have moved to other places in the world for the spread of the gospel, to people who have never heard the gospel. We want to pray that God would open up doors for the word to go to them. And pray that God would give them clarity to speak the word to those people, even in the midst of challenges.

So let’s pray for that. Let’s intercede right now, for people who are working for the spread of the gospel to new places, and new people, where the gospel’s not yet gone. God, we praise you for the work you have done. Just like you did in Paul and others, to send them out from local churches for the spread of the gospel to new places, for the planting of churches in new places. We pray for people we know and people around the world who you have called out. Those who are sharing the gospel in new places. Those who are taking the gospel to people who’ve never heard it before. God, we pray that today, today you would open up doors for the word through them.

This Verse Prays That Unreached People Receive The Gospel

Please open up doors for the gospel, the mystery of Christ, to spread through them. And pray that they would walk through those doors. We pray for their boldness. Pray for clarity of the gospel in their mouths. We pray that you would cause the gospel to advance to new places and new people today. God, we pray for unreached people in the world. People who have little to no knowledge of the gospel. And men and women who are working right now to get the gospel to them. Then, please open doors for the gospel to go to them. Please give our brothers and sisters who are doing this work boldness and clarity to share the gospel.

And we pray that many people would hear the gospel today, even for the first time. Not just hear it, but God, may they believe it. May people turn to Christ today. And may churches be planted today. May doors be opened today for the spread of your gospel and your glory. In places in the world where your gospel and glory have not yet gone. God, we pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.