Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 117

April 26;       Ephesians 6:19;        174/260;        ‘In This Together’

Ephesians 6:19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

In this verse, the Apostle Paul is coveting the prayers of the church in Ephesus.  In other letters from Paul, he asks the churches to pray for him (I Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1 and Hebrews 13:18).  Even though Paul was one of the greatest ministers that ever lived, he desperately desired the prayers of the churches.  As you read the Book of Acts, you realize how often the Jews desired to kill him.  The prayers of the church surely covered his protection.  When you read 2 Corinthians 11, as Paul shares the persecutions that he has experienced, we see the need he had for prayer for supernatural strength and again protection.  Paul, at the conclusion of sharing what he had been through in 2 Corinthians 11, tells us that he has constant concern for the churches he established.  That those churches would thrive and be safe from heretical teaching.  He would have wanted prayer for the well being of those churches.  Paul asked for prayer for the Lord to open many doors for him to minister the gospel.  In this verse he asked for prayer to help him boldly preach the Word of God.  The Lord had given Paul probably more revelation (mystery of the gospel) than anyone and he wanted to teach these profound truths boldly and accurately.  Though not mentioned specifically, Paul had to desire prayer from the churches that he would fulfill the will of the Lord for his ministry.  Paul was used incredibly by the Lord.  He was wise enough to know that he could not succeed without the prayers of others.