If you will, to Colossians, Colossians chapter one, we're going to be focused on verses 9 through 14.
! This is a tremendous prayer that we see recorded in Scripture that Paul has written.
Have you ever come across Scriptures at times when you're reading through the Bible that just grab your attention?
They just kind of stand off the page to you and for some reason just kind of captivate you.
Maybe it's a moment in time, maybe a place you are in your life.
Maybe it's something you've been praying and seeking for direction or guidance.
And there's a Scripture that God uses just to speak to you through that passage.
Well, for some time I've been really interested in the prayers of Scripture and especially in the New Testament.
And not to discount the prayers of Jesus or John, but Paul, the prayers of Paul really get my attention.
And Paul has a tremendous pastoral heart that we see throughout his letters.
And often we see Scriptures that he has written where he is praying not for himself as much as for those that are in the churches where he has started.
And he has moved on to plant another church somewhere.
But he continues to pray for the spiritual growth of those that he's left behind.
But he's left in the hands of someone else to pastor.
However, in this passage in Colossians, the believers here are someone Paul has actually never even met.
He did not start the church here in Colossae.
He has actually only heard about the believers here.
He's heard of their faith in the Lord.
He's heard of their love for Christ and for one another.
And he's only heard of their hope in Christ.
But he still has that pastoral hunger and heart for them and their continued spiritual growth and walking with the Lord.
And so he records this letter to them.
And he records this prayer that he says he continues to pray without ending.
He has not stopped praying for them.
If you ever wonder how to pray for your loved ones,
you ever wonder how to pray for a spouse or a child, a grandchild,
or maybe even yourself, sometimes you don't even know how to pray for yourself in your spiritual journey
and your walk with the Lord.
And you wonder, I don't even know how to pray other than God be with me, God help me.
So many times our prayer lives are, God do this for me, or God help me with this, or God do that.
But this is an amazing passage here where we look right into the heart of Paul
and that pastoral heart of his where he gives us a glimpse there to show us how we can pray for ourselves,
maybe a spouse, maybe a child or a grandchild or other loved ones in our lives.
So let's look together at the scriptures here at Colossians chapter 1 verses 9 through 14.
And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you,
asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him,
bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience with joy,
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
You know, as I said, have you ever wondered just how to pray for a loved one?
Pray for a child.
Pray for a grandchild.
Or pray for your church family.
Pray for your pastors.
This is a tremendous passage of scripture here, a prayer of Paul of where to begin
and to where to incorporate or adopt this prayer into your own prayer life
to pray for your loved ones.
So let's begin to dissect this a little bit.
One of the weaknesses of being an associate pastor and only getting to pinch hit occasionally
is I don't have enough time to really dive into this and dissect it to the full extent.
I need multiple weeks to really deal with this.
So we're going to only be able to hit some of the highlights of this,
but I'm going to do my best.
And I would encourage you to go home and read this and study this
and really learn more than what we'll be able to do today.
Because again, this is an amazing passage and it will take your prayer life to a new level
when you're praying for others.
But let's look again at verse 9.
That you would be filled with the knowledge of his will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
If that's all you prayed for your loved ones,
that is powerful.
That is powerful.
Do you just sit there and soak that in for a moment?
Pray.
Maybe you add the name of who you're praying for right now.
Your spouse, your children, your grandchildren.
I wish you'd pray it for me.
That Jeff would be filled with the knowledge of God's will
in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
This isn't just a head knowledge.
It's not about reading the Bible and just accumulating facts.
It's not about being able to just quote scripture
and knowing all the ins and outs of when a letter was written
or when it was dated and the history behind the letter.
It's not about all of that.
The word filled means to be completely controlled by something.
To be saturated.
Paul wants them to be so full of the knowledge of God's will
that it shapes how they think.
He wants them to be so saturated with understanding of God's will
that it changes the way they speak and how they live.
Too many Christians today settle for knowing about God
and not knowing God.
We know facts about God, but we don't know God.
Do you realize when you sit down,
and I might get to preaching here in a second,
but Brian's got me trapped in here where he's got me caged in,
so I may not get to walk as much as I like.
When you sit down with the word of God,
you're not just reading it to gain factual information.
Do you realize you're sitting down with God?
You're sitting down, spending time,
fellowshipping with God to know him,
to fellowship with him, interacting with him,
allowing him to speak to you,
not just gaining factual information and knowledge,
but we are to sit down with him
and let the word saturate us,
let it fill us, let it impact us,
and that just doesn't happen by us reading it quickly.
It's great to have a reading plan,
but don't just have a reading plan
so that you can read it quickly and check it off
and move on about your day.
Read through the scriptures slowly.
Set aside time that you can slowly move through the scriptures
and let that speak to you.
Hebrews says the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any double-edged sword.
Allow the word of God to come alive in you.
Allow it to saturate your inner being
and speak to you.
Don't just read it and say,
okay, it's checked off and move about your day.
Let it saturate you and change the way you think.
Change the way you speak.
Change the way you live.
And you know what?
Spiritual wisdom isn't going to be something
that just falls in your lap.
Spiritual wisdom isn't going to be something
that just pops in your head one day.
You know, obviously it begins with the Holy Spirit
opening our eyes
and the Holy Spirit giving us that spiritual wisdom.
But you know what?
It really begins with us wanting spiritual wisdom.
It begins by you wanting that.
Do you want spiritual wisdom?
If you do,
then that means we set aside time
to spend with God
and we seek God.
The scriptures tell us continuously,
seek wisdom.
Pursue it like a man would seek treasure.
I'll never forget my New Testament professor in seminary.
He asked us,
do you hunger for God
the way a hungry man hungers for food?
Let me challenge you.
Go three days without eating food at all
and tell me how hungry you are for food.
And then ask yourself,
are you that hungry for God?
Are we that hungry for God today in our lives?
If we are,
we're going to set time aside
to seek God,
to pursue God,
to spend time in His Word
and to slowly process it
and let it saturate us
and impact the way we think,
the way we speak,
the way we live.
It's going to impact our relationships
that we spend
and it's going to change the way we live.
It's going to change our priorities
in life.
And having this type of knowledge
and understanding
leads to a worthy walk
with the Lord.
He then transitions into chapter,
or verse 10,
but I want to go back
and read verse 9
to show you
how He transitions
into verse 10.
Look with me,
if you will,
verse 9 and 10.
So,
asking that you may be filled
with the knowledge of His will
in all spiritual wisdom
and understanding.
Now,
catch this
in starting with verse 10.
So,
as to,
so when you have
that type of spiritual wisdom
and understanding,
so as to walk
in a manner
worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing to Him.
When it says,
so as to walk
in a manner
worthy,
pleasing to Him,
it's talking about
the way you live.
When you have
that type of knowledge
and spiritual wisdom
and understanding,
then you will live
in such a way
that will bring,
bring honor and glory
to the Lord.
It will be a life
that reflects
the character of God
within you.
You can't sit down
and spend time
with God
in His Word
and let the Word
of God
saturate your being
without it changing
who you are
and molding
and shaping you
in more and more
like the life
of Jesus Christ.
And it means
our conduct,
our priorities,
our thinking,
everything is changed.
Romans 12, 1 and 2
says,
present your bodies
as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable
to God
which is your
spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed
to this world
but be transformed
by the renewal
of your mind.
You know,
when we're seeking
the Lord,
when we're pursuing God,
when we're
in the Word of God,
we won't be conformed
to this world
but we will be
transformed
by the renewing
of our mind
through the Word
of God.
And it'll change
our choices,
it'll change
our priorities,
it'll change
our relationships,
it'll change us.
We will be set apart
and different
from the world
and when you live
your life in the world,
people will be able
to look at you
and see a difference.
Some people are going
to think you're weird
and crazy,
that's okay
because they're going
to know
that you're weird
and crazy
and different
and you're changed
because of Jesus Christ.
And Paul gives us
a couple examples here
that reflect
a Christian life
that is being lived
in a worthy manner
that pleases the Lord.
He says,
bearing fruit
in every good work.
You know,
fruit is a common metaphor
for the visible results
of an inward
spiritual life.
You know,
the imagery here
is obviously
an agricultural metaphor.
When a plant
is healthy
and well nourished,
it's obviously
going to produce fruit.
Likewise,
you know,
a believer
who is rooted
in Christ
and filled
with the Spirit
will naturally
produce good works
that reflects
the character
of Christ
within our lives.
You know,
Jesus stated
in John 15, 5,
I am the vine
and you are the branches.
If a man remains
in me
and I in him,
he will bear
much fruit.
If we are spending
time with God,
if we are remaining
in him,
allowing his word
to remain in us,
we will bear fruit.
This isn't just
the fruit of the Spirit
because the fruit
of the Holy Spirit
will produce
the fruit of the Spirit
within us,
but then our lives
will produce fruit
for the kingdom
of God.
There's many
different ways
that scriptures
define fruit
and that's one
of those things
we don't have time
to talk about today,
but it says
in every good work
we will produce fruit
in every good work.
This phrase means
fruitfulness
should not be limited
just to one area
of our life,
not just here at church
and then we go out
and live a different way,
completely different,
but it touches
every part of our lives,
whether you're at work,
whether you're at school,
whether you're
in your recreational time
or your community,
wherever,
whatever you're doing,
that you will produce fruit
for the kingdom of God
in every component
and every aspect
of your life.
You can't compartmentalize
your life
and only have
certain aspects of it
that are being lived out
for the Lord
and then you live
a different way
in a different time.
Every component
of your life
will produce fruit
for the kingdom of God
in all that you do.
And then verse 11,
being strengthened
with all power
according to
His glorious might,
for all endurance
and patience
with joy.
You know,
this is one of the most
practical parts
of the prayer here
because most of us,
really every one of us,
all believers,
we're going to face
seasons of hardship,
we're going to face
seasons of discouragement
and fatigue,
loneliness,
temptation,
seasons of busyness
when we're running
on empty
and we feel like
giving up
and quitting.
We just don't know
if we can keep going.
And Paul doesn't pray
for the believers
at Colossae
that they would have
all those difficulties
removed.
What does he pray for?
He prays for them
to have endurance
to continue.
He also prays
for them
to have patience.
Now,
patience here,
we often think
of patience
as putting up
with other people.
That may or may not
be what he means here.
Patience
probably
is more like
patience
to wait upon
God
to unfold
His plan
and His will
and accomplish
what He's doing
in your life.
Because sometimes
we have to wait
for God
to answer prayers.
We have to wait
for God
to accomplish
what He's doing
through us.
We have to be patient
and trust
that God's will
is best.
But have endurance
to run the race
and finish the race.
Now,
I know this next one
is speaking to me.
Maybe you too,
amen?
with what?
It sounds like
a joyful group
here today.
With
joy.
With joy.
You know,
all of us,
every one of us
can grit our teeth
and bear it.
I'm waiting for Jesus
to come back
and I'm gonna like it.
But He's saying
do it with joy.
The kind of joy
that Paul and Silas
had when they were
whipped and beaten
and thrown in jail
and they sang praises
to God,
thank you that we
were worthy.
Thank you that we
were worthy
to suffer.
Now,
is that natural?
That isn't about
circumstances.
Our lives are not
gonna always be
hunky-dory,
good and wonderful.
We're gonna go
through hard times.
We're gonna go
through suffering.
We're gonna go
through difficulties.
You know why?
Sometimes God puts us
through those things.
Sometimes God puts us
through them to get rid
of sin in our life.
Sometimes He's
building character.
Sometimes He's
preparing us
for future work.
But He's saying
do it with joy.
That joy
can only come
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
living within us.
What's one of the
fruits of the Spirit?
Love,
peace,
joy.
as we walk
with the Lord,
as we spend time
in the Word,
as we get our eyes
off this world
and keep our eyes
on the Lord.
Every time I go
through periods
in my life
when I'm discouraged,
I'm depressed,
or I'm struggling,
I notice that I've
neglected my time
with the Lord.
Every time.
Without exception.
But when we're
getting up
or staying up late,
whenever your time
is to spend time
with the Lord,
turn the TV off.
Quit watching
Clemson trying
to lose football games
and South Carolina
giving up
massive leads
of football games.
Quit watching
that kind of stuff.
And spend time
with the Lord.
Spend time
with God.
Saturate your mind.
Saturate your heart.
Saturate your life
with Jesus Christ
and stay focused
on Him
and His will
for your lives.
What God
wants to do
with you.
What is it
that God
wants to do
in you?
What is God's
plan for your life?
If you're still
sitting here today
breathing,
God's got a plan
for you.
God's got a will
for your life
and we can do it
with joy
because Jesus said
I've come to give you
life and to give you
life more abundantly.
He doesn't want us
to grit our teeth
and just bear it.
He wants us
to get through
this life
with joy
and peace.
You may go
through hard times.
You may go
through some
suffering
and not every
moment is going
to be filled
with happiness
but when the Holy
Spirit lives
within us
we can have joy
and I'm going
to show you
why that's true.
Let's look at
verse 12
to 14.
Giving thanks
to the Father
who has qualified
you to share
in the inheritance
of the saints
in light.
He has delivered
us from the domain
of darkness
and transferred
us to the kingdom
of his beloved
son
in whom we have
redemption
the forgiveness
of sin.
Amen?
Paul ends
with thanksgiving
not because
it was easy
not because
life was easy
but because
salvation
is certain.
Folks
we've won.
Our destination
is certain.
We know
where we're
going to spend
eternity
if you've
given your
heart and life
to Jesus Christ.
So no matter
what you endure
no matter
what you go
through in this
life
no matter
what suffering
and hardship
and endurance
we face
we know
that we will
spend eternity
with Jesus Christ
and that should
fill our hearts
with joy
and peace
and happiness
endurance
and stamina
to get through
whatever we're
going to get
through every
day.
He says here
God has
qualified us
he's delivered
us
he's transferred
us
he's redeemed
us
and he's
forgiven us
through Jesus
God didn't
just improve
our lives
he adopted
us
into his
family
is that not
good news
God
transferred us
from being
an enemy
of God
living in
darkness
destined
for hell
nothing we
could do
about it
we couldn't
earn it
we couldn't
buy it
we couldn't
deserve it
we could
do nothing
about it
but Christ
qualified us
and the
father adopted
us through
Jesus Christ
into his
family
if you've
ever felt
unworthy
if you've
ever felt
unwanted
if you've
ever felt
like you
don't
belong
then remember
it is
God
who chose
you
it's God
who qualified
you
you didn't
earn salvation
you received
it
and gratitude
becomes the
natural response
of a
redeemed
heart
so what
do we
learn from
this
sermon
here
in
Colossians
what do
we learn
that we
can apply
in our
own
prayer
lives
we learn
that we
can pray
for spiritual
wisdom
of complete
knowledge
and understanding
of God's
will
we can pray
that for
ourselves
we can pray
it for our
loved ones
and others
we can pray
for God
to give us
complete wisdom
and understanding
we can pray
that God
enables us
to live a life
that's pleasing
to him
that we would
bear fruit
in every good
work
we can pray
for strength
to endure
with joy
and then we
can pray
with thanksgiving
for salvation
can you see
how that would
change
you begin
praying that
over your
loved ones
you begin
praying that
over your
own life
how that
can have
a radical
impact
upon your
spiritual
life
you know
I know
that
it's a
reminder
to me
to use
this
praying
over
my family
I have
some family
members
that I'm
not certain
are saved
I have
others
that are
not living
the way
I'd like
for them
to live
and then
others
that I
just pray
that for
that they
would continue
to grow
and mature
and develop
because none
of us
are where
we need
to be
and we
will never
get there
until
Christ
calls us
home
even Paul
said
that he
still was
growing
he still
was developing
and he
would never
get
to the
level
that God
wanted him
to be
as long
as we
contend
with this
flesh
and blood
so we
can
continue
to pray
for that
for all
of us
that we
continue
to grow
in him
I'm going
to ask
Brian to
come lead
us in a
closing
invitation
and you
respond
today
how the
Lord
is
leading
you
do