Colossians 1:9-14; Philippians 1:9–11; Ephesians 1:15–19

Recurrent Thought

Disciple Makers are called to Pray for their Disciples

One of the greatest responsibilities of a spiritual leader is not only to teach disciples, but to pray rightly for them. Our Prayers are indicative of our times. Our age demands the pursuit of individualized and personalized security only. We usually pray for our circumstances, our health, or our success, only. Our prayers are deeply self-centered. We call it self-care. The Scriptures however, show us how to pray deeper prayers that focuses on spiritual growth, holiness, endurance, happiness, peace for others. Today, we take a moment in appreciating the task of praying for Disciples. A Disciple is a person who is Following Jesus, being changed by Jesus and on mission with Jesus. Every disciple of Jesus, at whatever stage of development they are, they are also called to make other disciples.

We have lots of scriptures that reveal how to do it and what to pray for. Jesus is a great example in how he prayed for His Disciples.  

In this message we use the example of Paul from the book of Colossians in how he prayed for his disciples (1:9–14). We have two other Prayers inserted here for comparison (Philippians 1:9–11; Ephesians 1:15–19). The Purpose for this teaching trains us in what to pray for our disciples and it also challenges us to have passion for it.  

Although this message does not go into the How of Prayer, I want to note a few thoughts about it.

• Notice the Length of Prayer commitment: from the time they knew each other.
• Notice the Regularity of Prayer: Paul stated that they did not cease to pray for them.
• Notice the Result Orientation of Prayer: The Prayer wanted to see the disciples matured

We have Four Prayer Points that we bring to the Lord on behalf of our Disciples 

1. Pray for them to Acquire Adequate Spiritual Knowledge (1:9)
   • Central to the identity of a disciple is the trait of learning. This by necessity demands that they receive new knowledge to replace the old scripts lodged in their mental frameworks
   • One major task for a discipler is to pray that their disciples get essential and adequate knowledge.
   • Paul uses the word “filled”, meaning complete, controlled, dominated. The Greek word epígnōsis speaks of full, deep, personal knowledge, not surface information.
   • Disciples must receive superior knowledge to replace beggarly knowledge of the past life
   • Knowledge here is not intellectual pride, but wisdom applied to daily living.
   • Do not pray that your disciples know more but pray that they live what they know.
   • True discipleship begins when knowledge of God’s will produce a life that pleases God.
2. Pray for their Fruitfulness (1:1-10)
   • God’s design is that every believer must produce Fruit.
   • There is a conjunction “so as to,” This implies there has to be a result to the knowledge we receive.
   • This is in essence is “Practicing Obedience.” What becomes of the Word of the Lord we response?”
   • The Revelation that come to disciples must be responded to.  It is like using a map. It is useless if never followed.
   • Let us know for a fact that Spiritual Knowledge without obedience is spiritual disobedience.
   • The results of our obedience to the Word of the Lord include the following
     • A life (walk) worthy of the Lord,
     • A life that fully pleases Him:
     • A Life that bears fruit in every good work
     • A Life that is ever increasing in the knowledge of God
   • My task is to Pray for a fruit bearing disciple. The goal of knowledge is a worthy walk—a life that reflects the Lord.
   • Interestingly, Paul does not pray for comfort, but for transformation. He does not pray for ease, but for fruitfulness.
   • As a Disciple-maker I have to be concerned when the people I am discipling are not growing and are not bearing fruits
3. Pray for their Spiritual Strength (1:11)
   • The Holy Spirit is the giver of Power, strength and authority. It is essential for every disciple to be baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit.
   • In this text, the Strength that is being emphasized is the one to provide endurance
   • A discipler should understand that their disciples will face challenges and difficulties of all kinds
   • Therefore, what we pray for the Disciples is for them to have strength to overcome challenges of life, and power to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ
   • We pray for them to have power not to escape trials, but to endure them with joy (1:11)
   • Notice that this power is God’s glorious power
   • Notice how the text connects God’s glorious power to patience and longsuffering and not to miracles. This is countercultural
   • Word Study
     • Patience implies capacity to in difficult circumstance
     • Longsuffering means to have restraint with difficult people
   • Christian walk is not all power encounter. Many times is enduring under difficult situations. Therefore, True strength is not an emotional excitement, but spiritual perseverance with joy.
   • Disciples must grow strength for endurance (Isaiah 40:31).
   • Although it may not be popular, we must accept that the character of Joy in trials produces maturity (James 1:2–4)
   • A tree that survives storms does so not because the wind stops, but because its roots are deep.
4. Pray for their Growth in Gratitude (1:12-14) 
   • As Disciple Makers we have to pray for our disciples to have good and great attitudes. Right attitudes help us to ascend to great heights in Christ.
   • One attitude to pray for ourselves and our disciples is that of GRATITUDE.
   • Gratitude is to have a thankful attitude in life and expressing when good has been given to us
   • Basic to developing this attitude is understating its Foundation: It is rooted in their Salvation
   • A grateful disciple understands what God has already done in salvation.
   • Paul lists four salvation truths for which disciples should be grateful for!
     • We are Qualified: God made us fit, not ourselves
     • We are Delivered: He rescued us from the power of darkness
     • We are Translated:  He moved us into Christ’s kingdom
     • We are Redeemed – We are Forgiven through Christ’s blood
   • Gratitude flows from assurance, not from circumstances. Gratitude is entrenched in what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.
   • The Disciple must never forget his benefits, and count the Blessings of the Lord like the Psalmist did in Psalm 103:1–5
   • The Salvation of we enjoy is by Grace and therefore, the attitude we must exhibit is gratitude (Ephesians 2:4–7)
   • Disciples must be positive in their perception to life. A prisoner freed does not complain about the weather but rejoices in their freedom.
   • A disciple with an attitude of Gratitude grows into a positive person

Conclusion

We clearly see that effective prayer shapes mature disciples. If we change how we pray, we will change how people grow.

Discussion

Share the Texts among the members of your cell to read the following scriptures:

Mark 1:35; Luke 11:1-4; John 17; Romans 1:9-10; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:15; Philip 1:9-11; Col. 1:9-12; Col. 2:1; 1 Thess. 1:2-3; 1 Thess. 4:9b; 2 Thess. 1:11-12; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 6

• In general, how much is Jesus and Paul praying for their disciples?
• How much am I praying for those whom I am discipling?
• Suggest one reason why we don’t pray like Paul for our disciples?

A Confession of a Disciple Maker

• God has called me to be a Disciple Maker
• God has given me the power to make disciples
• God increasingly teaches me how to make disciples
• Therefore, I am growing confident as a Disciple Maker