Colossians 1:9-12 - Prayer for the Colossians

Summation & Diagnosis

Let us pray.

I invite you to turn your attention to Colossians 1:9-14 this morning. I am very excited about this passage. A few weeks ago, we looked at Psalm 19. We’ve all asked this question, “Why doesn’t God just speak to me?!?!” In times of despair, frustration, tragedy, and loss - God, why don’t you just speak to me! David gave us the answer to how does God speak to His creation. He speaks through creation and He speaks through His Word.

Do you ever ask this question - God, how can I live a life that pleases You? How can I actually live in a manner worthy of Your glory? Not theoretically or in the abstract, but practically living for You fully submitted to Your rule and reign. I don’t want to live a life that is based upon the world. I don’t want to live a life under the thumb of the enemy. I don’t want to live a life with the chains of sin around my throat. And I don’t want to live a life based upon my own desires. As James 1:13-14 states:

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

As Christians, our ultimate desire is to please our Great Lord. So, how do we actually live for the glory of God in the here and now? Here is why I am excited about this passage today - Paul gives the Colossians three ways in which they can live that type of life. Here is the beauty of doctrine and theology. Theology is meant to move us to doxology - where we praise God with our whole being. As Romans 12:1-2 states:

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

As J.I. Packer once said - QUOTE - , “If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both.” - END QUOTE. As our consciences are quickened and our hearts softened by the work of the Holy Spirit, we then live a life fully to the glory of God.

Here, Paul moves from a report of thanksgiving, in Colossians 1:3-8, to an affectionate prayer for this church in verses 9-12. Paul’s and Timothy’s (authors) hearts have been moved by the report from Epaphras (church planter and pastor at Colossae). So much so, they have constantly kept this church in their prayers. Paul, though he has not met this church, deeply loves them and cares for their relationship with God.

The Word Read

So let us look at Colossians 1:9-12. It is vitally important that you see the text with me not simply hear it - for in the Word of God we see the glory of God which drives us to God-glorifying, Christ-magnifying, and Spirit-driven worship. So, let us open our Bibles to Colossians 1:9-12. Hear the Word of the Lord:

9 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 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 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; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Behold, brothers and sisters, this is Word of the Lord.

Colossians 1:9-10a - Exegesis

Let us begin by turning our attention to Colossians 1:9-10a where we will see Paul’s and Timothy’s prayer for the Colossians:

9 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 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him:

Paul and Timothy have kept the Colossians in their prayers since they heard the report from Epaphras. The report given to them by Epaphras was by-and-large very positive. In response, their hearts were set to pray for them and they prayed continually for them. Their prayers were not governed by whatever they thought in the moment. Paul and Timothy had a specific prayer they prayed.

In this prayer they ask that the Colossians may be filled. May be filled is a divine passive verb revealing that neither Paul, Timothy, Epaphras, or the Colossians can make this prayer a reality. They cannot fill themselves with the knowledge of God’s will on their own. God is the one who will fill this church with the knowledge of His will. This prayer is for them to know the fullest/complete knowledge of God’s will.

And this will is not the will God has for their lives as individuals or as a congregation. God’s will is the work that He has done through Christ Jesus in redeeming a people to Himself. The prayer is not, God show them the unique plan You have for each person’s life in the church or show them the vision/mission statement you desire them to have for the next 10 years. This prayer is for them to know the redemptive will of the Father through the revelation of Christ Jesus!

Paul/Timothy pray that the Colossians know His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. They desire for the Colossians to have all wisdom and understanding, which alone comes from the Spirit, so they can discern truth and then make good/proper decisions. The Colossians were navigating the first century world. They needed wisdom and understanding from the Holy Spirit to live in the cultural/religious maze of the first century.

Why do Paul and Timothy prayer for this church to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding? 1:10 gives the answer - So they would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him. They want the Colossians to know the redemptive plan of God so they will live a life that pleases Him.

We hear this often - live a life that pleases God, but what does this really mean? In this verse, this means to act and behave in a way that is consistent with being a faithful saint in total obedience to God and the Gospel, not living as a sinner who belongs to the dominion of darkness.

Colossians 1:9-10a - Conscience

How are the Colossians able to live this way? God has filled them, totally/completely filled them, with the knowledge of His redemptive will in Christ Jesus, in all wisdom and understanding given by the Holy Spirit which gives them the ability to discern how to live as faithful saints, totally obedient/surrendered to God. Herein lies, the heart desire of the elect. We desire this. We desire to live fully to God each and every day. Yet, it is hard. This was difficult for the Colossians, but it was also difficult in the past.

Adam and Eve were supposed to live their lives submitted to the rule and reign of God, yet they didn’t. Rebellion occurred and the world was thrown into brokenness. The Israelites were called to this same type of living in the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-7:

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Moses summoned the Israelites together for a Word from the Lord. They gathered together and received this as part of the Lord’s words. Yet, sinfulness plague the Israelites throughout the course of the Old Testament. Covenant people called to live a covenant life, yet instead their hearts wandered time and time again.

In Luke 10, Jesus is asked a question by a lawyer - “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds by asking the lawyer what is in the Law. The lawyer responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “correct, do this and you will live.” What was the lawyer’s response? Not, yes, Lord. Not a plea for repentance/mercy. He sought to justify himself. “Who is my neighbor?” He asked. Instead of seeking to live a life pleasing to God, the lawyer responded in arrogance revealing his heart. But are we not the same as this lawyer? Don’t we respond to God like this at times? Instead of responding to a life fully given to God as a result of the great grace of God, we seek to justify our sins when we are not living for Him. Anger? Check. Lust? Check. Gluttony? Check. Pride? Check. Selfish ambition? Check. Jealousy? Check.

Colossians 1:9-10a - Use

But, here is where Paul’s prayer brings life to us this morning because the struggle is true of us today as well. Though we desire to live a life for God, we find ourselves stumbling through life giving into sin. We cannot live a life worthy of the glory of God on our own. It is impossible. However, we find encouragement here in these two verses and this should be our prayer each morning this week. God would you fill me, totally/completely, with the knowledge of Your redemptive will in Christ Jesus, that spans history and the globe, with all wisdom and understanding, that comes from Your Spirit alone, so I could discern how to live fully for Your glory today? God would you do that for me this morning? Would you fill me so I could navigate the complexity of the twenty-first century as You did for the Colossians in the first century? God will answer this prayer because in Isaiah 43:6-7 the Word says that His people were created for His glory. We are incapable on our own, so let us call out to the only One who can help us knowing it is His desire/delight to enable us to live fully for His glory! You are created to bring Him glory!

Colossians 1:10b-12 - Exegesis

In Colossians 10b-12, Paul gives three ways the Colossians walk in a worthy manner of the Lord:

10b bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Here are the three ways Paul prays for the Colossians to walk in a worthy manner of the Lord:

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

Notice that Paul’s desire for the Colossians is not just simply for them to have an intellectual knowledge of God, but for their lives to be lived for God. He prays that they walk or live for God fully. We know that this is more than a mere intellectual understanding of God because Paul, in the first part of verse 10, writes that they walk in a manner pleasing to God. The word “walking” is an Old Testament metaphor used to speak of living which is most clearly seen in Psalm 1:1-2:

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

How does one do this though? Here is where Paul writes three ways this walking can be accomplished. First, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. In Paul’s thanksgiving, he celebrates what God through the Gospel has already done in their lives. Now, he prays that the work could continue moving forward. Increasing in the knowledge of God does not mean an academic theological understanding of God, but an experiential knowing Him and the work of Christ Jesus. Thus knowledge and action are interconnected. Good works come as a result of true saving faith.

Second, the Colossians are being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. Being strengthened is passive revealing once again that God is the acting agent. He is the One who strengthens the Colossians. This is not a work of Paul, Timothy, Epaphras, or the church. God, and God alone, is the One who provides strength. To what degree are they to be strengthened? With all power or to with the greatest amount of strength imagined. And they need to be strengthened to this degree? 1) Because the life of the Christ-follower is difficult. We are in a constant war against the flesh, the enemy, and the world. 2) Because the Colossians were dealing with false teachers. They need the strength of the Holy Spirit to help them stay faithful to the Gospel and resist the destructive false teaching they face.

How will they be strengthened? According to God’s glorious might. Paul paints a huge view of God in this passage. God is grand. God is great. God is glorious. And it is according to God’s glorious might that the Colossians are strengthened. God is glorious and He is mighty. He rules over all with glorious power. He has acted mightily in history and no greater than at the cross and when the Father raised Christ from the dead. Listen to Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:15-23:

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Here is the glorious might of God the Father. He raised Jesus from the dead, placed Christ at His right hand far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name. This is the glorious might of the Father than strengthens the Colossians. The glory of God to become a reality for the Colossians giving them strength to live pleasing the Father was the prayer of Paul.

His prayer was for them to be strengthened with all power. How? According to the Father’s glorious might. For what reason or why did Paul pray for them to be strengthened by the Father? For all endurance and patience with joy. God would strengthen them and they would receive the endurance and patience to the highest degree. This type of God fortified endurance and patience would lead to joy. How amazing is that? How great is it that God strengthening them brought them a joy that they would not otherwise experience! Joy is a mark of the Christian life. Being a disciple means having a life full of joy regardless of circumstances. The Colossians who were enduring hardships with life and false teachers would not simply experience hardships and suffering, but great joy. Paul’s prayer for them to be strengthened would lead to a life full of joy!

You can hear the heart of Paul the pastor in these verses. A man who desperately desires this congregation to know the depths of God and living out a life that is given over to Him entirely. Like a great pastor, Paul directs the Colossians to give thanks to God the Father as the third way to live a life pleasing to the Lord. This thankfulness is not referring to an emotional state, but to worshipping the Father and confessing Him as the one true Lord. This is a call for them to remember the glorious/mighty acts of God which would cause them to submit to Him as their great deliverer. They would be reminded that they did not save themselves. They were dead sinners, BUT GOD THE FATHER! He made a way for them to be saved and He saved them. They would then be driven to worship and praise in both word and in lifestyle.

Why would they be driven to this type of praise? The second part of verse 12 gives us the answer - the Father has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Here is the great grace of the Father. They have not qualified themselves for salvation, God has qualified them from beginning to end. God has delivered them from sin and death to salvific life where they will receive their inheritance as saints! The goodness of God the Father radiates from the throne room to the elect in Colossae.

Colossians 1:10b-12 - Conscience

Almost 1,500 years prior to Paul writing this epistle, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. The Israelites were treated horribly. They were slaves with no standing. They were mistreated by an evil empire and an evil Pharaoh. In the midst of this, God fulfilled the promised He made with Abraham. God heard His covenant people as they cried out to Him. At this time, God raised up Moses to be their leader. He interceded on their behalf. He was a prophet called to lead Yahweh’s people out of Egypt, out of bondage, and out of slavery. God brought plagues upon the Egyptians and the Israelites were ultimately freed from slavery. They were given the Law where they would learn how to live a life pleasing to God. Furthermore, they were given the Promised Land as an inheritance.

Paul uses language here in Colossians 1 that draw us back to the Exodus. Why? Because the Colossians, and us today, are a part of a new exodus. We are not imprisoned by Pharaoh or the Egyptians, but we were once imprisoned by sin. Moses is not our mediator on behalf of God. No, in fact according to Hebrews 3 we have someone who is FAR GREATER THAN MOSES - JESUS! Jesus leads us through the wilderness to the eternal Promised Land. We are a part of this new Exodus where we wrestle against the flesh and false teachers, yet we have been strengthened by God leading us to have immeasurable joy. We, even as Gentiles, are the covenant people of God and He loves us.

Paul’s intricate writing reveals how we are called to live in a manner worthy of the Lord in this new, spiritual Exodus. How are we do this?

Bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God We are strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light

So how are we doing with this today? Are we bearing true fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God? Are we displaying a life of total endurance and patience with joy because the Father has strengthened us? And are we giving Father thanks because He has redeemed us from sin for Himself? If you are like me, you can think of ways you’re failing in one of these areas… or maybe all three. This failing is more than we cannot check a box this week. Remember, Paul writes these three items to reveal how to live a worthy life for the Lord. So ultimately, we are failing to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

Colossians 1:10b-12 - Use

I think there are many, many times when we feel this. We know we’ve fallen short of living a life that truly pleases God. We sin by commission or omission. We fail to spend time with Him. We feel the Spirit provoking us to action, but we choose idleness. And so, we often look in the mirror disappointed with our decisions. The Word and the Spirit pierce our hearts and leave us on our knees. Here is where the enemy and the flesh begin to attack our souls. You call yourself a child of God, but act like this? If people knew this about you, they’d surely turn their back on your hypocrisy? Lies, deception, and manipulation from an enemy who speaks only lies, deception, and manipulation.

However, what are we to do? We come to the throne of grace confessing sin, seeking forgiveness, knowing that He will forgive His children (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 1:9). We, as Paul writes, ask to be full of the knowledge of God’s redemptive will so we can walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. We ask for the Spirit of God to fill us knowing that we cannot live a righteous life on our own.

Then we ask God how we can bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God. God, how can know You? What needs to change in my life so I dedicate time to knowing who you are?

We also cry out, God would you strengthen me according to Your glorious might? Not according to my finite, weak, and flailing human power, but according to Your Almighty power so I could endure and have patience with joy? Would you create a joy filled heart? God, I know I’m overly critical always seeing the negative in myself and others, but would you replace that sin with a joy that comes from You alone?

Finally, we praise the Father because He has saved us. We are a part of the great new Exodus. He has saved us from the slavery of sin. He has given us Jesus as our great mediator. Jesus leads us through the wilderness as He led the Israelites in the wilderness. Christ leads us through great trials and tribulations that is the wilderness. As Revelation 7:17 says:

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

The Lamb is leading us home right now. He is guiding us through this barren wilderness to eternal springs of living water. Let us not grow faint here on earth. Let us not give up. Let us not be like the wilderness generation who saw the Lord as their great deliverer. They were delivered from their slavery, but they did not trust the Lord. Their faithlessness reverberates through Scripture. The Word screams - DON’T BE LIKE THEM. The springs of living water are near. Let us right now live a life fully pleasing to our great God who has saved us by the broken body and blood of Christ.