'Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of

utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in

bonds' (Col. 4:3).

The same thought occurs here, but this time Paul is thinking of himself

and any possible failure on his part to make known the great Secret:

'For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer,

and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ' (Phil. 1:19).

Whether we take salvation to mean Paul's deliverance from prison or in

a much deeper sense, his salvation with age abiding glory (2 Tim. 2:10), is

not our concern at the moment.  It is clear that the suffering he was

undergoing in his Roman prison was for the Lord's gain and the furtherance of

the truth, and the prayers of the Philippian saints contributed a vital part

to this great end.

Whether this would have happened if the church at Philippi had not

constantly remembered the apostle in prayer, it is idle to speculate, but it

is quite evident that Paul took them as a factor to be reckoned with in the

outworking of the Lord's will for himself:

'But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your

prayers I shall be given unto you' (Philem. 22).

Here, quite obviously, the apostle is contemplating the possibility of

his being set free from prison and in a position to visit Philemon; and this

possibility is inextricably woven with Philemon's intercession for his

release.  If prayer makes no difference to the daily happenings in our lives,

why should Paul say, 'I trust that through, or, on account of (dia) your

prayers, I shall be given unto you'? (22).

'Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for

the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together (sunagonizomai) with me

in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that

do not believe in Judæa; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem

may be accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the

will of God, and may with you be refreshed' (Rom. 15:30 -32).

Here Paul asks prayer for four important things concerning himself and

mentions God's will regarding them.  If the fulfilment of this will was

automatic, there would be no need of such prayer, but it is evident that the

apostle did not so regard it, but rather that the petitions of the Church at

Rome could materially help forward the fulfilment of his desire.

We trust that careful consideration of these passages will impress upon

the mind of both writer and reader how vastly important our daily prayer -

life is and how it can very practically affect not only our own Christian

service but also the service of others.

From time to time we come across believers who are exercised about

their sphere of service and witness for the Lord.  They are rightly concerned

about these things.  It is not our province to direct the conscience of such,

but this we can say that here is a supreme ministry we can all engage in,

namely that of intercession.  It will cost us something in time and perhaps