BILL’S BLOG ENTRY #29

From “Discipleship and Discipline” by William H. Hicks, copyright March, 2005:

“Paul emphasizes the importance of intercessory prayer to the discipling process in Ephesians 6. In verse 18 – 19, he writes, “With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,…”

It is clear that disciples should pray for those who spread the gospel. There is the clear, emphatic affirmation that prayer is not easy. Most of us think nothing of falling on our knees before God and praying- until we get there! When Paul says that we should “be on the alert with all perseverance”, it becomes apparent that prayer can be a battle and being “on your knees” becomes a “theater of operations”- a military term which describes the field of battle, of major conflict.”

About THE DISCIPLE

William H. “Bill” Hicks is a graduate of Wesleyan University, BA, Religion, 1971 who also holds a Masters in Public Health Degree (MPH) from the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health (1973). Bill also has studied at the Dallas Theological Seminary. He grew up in Harlem, New York City, USA during the 1950s and 1960s, graduating from high school before attending Mount Hermon Preparatory School and undergraduate school in Connecticut. He has spent most of his professional life in the public health arena, while being constantly in ministry. He received his license to preach the Gospel at Oklahoma City, OK in 1971. He has written extensively on Christian topics. He enjoys life in Chattanooga, TN with former District Public Defender Ardena Garth Hicks, his wife of 30 years. They have two daughters, Rachel (BA, University of Memphis magna cum laude, 2014) and Sarah (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, Global Scholar, University of Tulsa, 2017).

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