Introduction

A – This prayer was for other believers.

       1 – Why should we intercede for other believers?

            a – Because Jesus intercedes for us.

                 (ROM 8:34)  “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the  One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

(HEB 7:25) “Therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.”

             b – Because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

                   (ROM 8:26-27)  “In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness,because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

   B – This intercession was made on a continuing basis.

          1 – Paul made unceasing intercession for the Colossian Believers.

               a – This refers to a habitual and purposeful intercession on their behalf.

               b – It was Paul’s practice to continually engage in intercessory prayer for fellow believers.

1.   He prayed for the Roman believers

(Rom 1:9-10) “For God, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about His Son, is my witness that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers…”

2.  He prayed for the Corinthian believers (I Cor. 1:4-8).

3.  He prayed for the Ephesian believers (Eph. 1:15-23).

4.  He prayed for the Philippian believers (Phil. 1:3-11).

5.  He prayed for the Thessalonican believers (I Thess. 1:2-10).

6.  He prayed for Timothy, and Philemon

 (2 Tim. 1:3-7 ) “I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.”

(Philemon 4-7) “I mention you in my prayers…that your participation in the faith may become effective…”

   C – How can we intercede more effectively for fellow believers?

          1 – In this text, Paul helps us by sharing some requests we can make for one another that will definitely get results.

I –  FILLED WITH KNOWLEDGE (v. 9).

      A – Of the will of God.

             1 – Pray that He will give them an insatiable desire to search out the will of God for their lives.

                  a – Create a hunger for the Word of God.

(Mt 5:6)  Blessed are those who hunger thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.”

                  b – Completely tuned–in to the Holy Spirit.

                     1– Any man who truly seeks the will of God will find it.

                          (Matt. 7:7). “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

    B – How to apply His knowledge.*

         1 – Pray that God will give wisdom in applying what God reveals through the ministries of the Word and the Holy Spirit.

             (2 Tim. 3:16-17) “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

(Jn 16:13) “ When the Spirit of truth comes,He will guide you into all the truth.”

             a – Specific daily direction in application of the revealed will of God.

  C – Having spiritual understanding.

             1 – Pray that God will open their spiritual eyes, ears, and sensitivity to fully understand all things from the spiritual, rather than from the physical man.

                  a – This is how Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers

                      (Eph. 1:15-23). “This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the  glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength. He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens— far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.

II – FOLLOWING IN A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD (v. 10).

     A – Fully pleasing to God.

            1 – Pray that the Lord’s perfect will be performed completely in their life.

                  a – Enoch’s life pleased God because he daily walked with God

(Heb. 11:5) “By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took  him away. For prior to his transformation he was approved, having pleased God.”

(Gen. 5:21-25).  “Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. And after the birth of Methuselah, Enoch walked  with God 300 years and fathered sons and daughters. So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not there, because God took him.”

      B – Fruitful in all good works.

             1 – Pray that their life will be one that bears fruit:

                  a – The fruit of the Spirit

(Gal. 5:22-26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,  gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. We must not become connceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

                  b – The fruit of righteousness

(Heb. 12:11)  “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the  fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

                  c – The fruit of Spiritual reproduction.

                         1.  Others won to Christ

(Acts 1:8) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

     C – Forever growing in the grace and knowledge of God.

            1 – Pray that they will continue to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ.

                 a – Growth in understanding of the Grace of God.

                       1.  This will result in a life that is totally committed to Christ and His Church.

                        a) It is impossible for a person to fully understand what Christ has done for him and remain uncommitted.

                 b – Growth in knowledge of Christ.

                       1.  This means growth in intimacy with Christ.

                            a.  Daily sharing deeply with Him.           

III – FORTIFIED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (v.11).

      A – Strengthened by His power.

             1 – Pray that they will cease to walk in their own strength; and walk in the  power of Christ.

                (I  COR 2:4-5) “My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit  and power, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom  but on God’s power.”

       B – Staying faithful in the midst of the trial of life.

              1 – Pray that they will seek His strength, and will live in that strength in the midst of trials.

                   a – The early Apostles and Christians sought the strength of God during fiery trials.

  (Acts 4:23-24) “After they were released, they went to their own fellowship and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices to God Unanimously…”

    C – Serving joyfully in all situations.

         1 – Pray that they will find joy in their service to Jesus.

                a- It is God’s will that they be filled with joy.

                  (Jn 15:11)  “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

                b – Hymn – “Serve the Lord with Gladness”

CONCLUSION: