“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” – Acts 6:4
LIGHT FOR NOW: The scriptures emphatically speak of steadfastness and diligence in prayers. The believer must thus adhere to this as the scriptures instructs.
The Bible has this to say in Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”. The words “continually” and “steadfastly (in Acts 6:4 and Acts 2:42) are same word in Greek etymology – that word speaks of diligence, to keep at something; to be constant. Prayer is thus constant for a believer. For prayers to be constant for believers, then it is a necessity and not an option. Jesus in Matthew 21:13 say “My house shall be called the house of prayer”. This statement by Jesus makes prayer a necessity. What of the epistle? Does the epistle have overwhelming instructions for us to pray, thus making prayer a necessity? Let’s see for ourselves. In Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, Paul admonishes “be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to unto God” – that is an admonishment to prayer!!!
In James 1:5, the bible echoes “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not and it shall be given him” – the asking here will be done by prayers or in prayers. So, this is another instruction to pray. In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, he says “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer” (Romans 12:12) – Again there is another instruction to pray here. Recall the word “continually” and “stedfastly” used in Acts 6:4 and Acts 2:42, that’s the same word rendered here in Romans 12:12 as “continuing instant” – they’re all the same Greek word “proskartereo”. For this Greek word to appear emphatically with regards to prayers, it thus shows that the attitude a believer must put on in prayers is that of diligence and steadfastness. It is not something he does when he likes, but something he is given to. In Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, he says “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” – Again, this is an instruction to pray. Also, the word “continue” is the same Greek word we saw used earlier in three texts. With the body of scriptures, we’ve seen in the epistles, it is thus in the affirmative that prayer is a necessity. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: You’ve been instructed to pray, pray!
CONFESSION: I declare that I am given to the lifestyle of prayer as a believer, in Jesus Name, Amen.
For More Light; get the message, “The Potency of Prayer” by Dr. John Linus
QUOTE: Prayer is constant for every believer in Christ.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 