"Praying for Those Facing Challenges"
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Col 1:3-14
Introduction:
For most of us prayer does not come easily or naturally. As with any new relationship getting to know each other and sharing the our hurts and the desires of our heart takes time. As new born babes, we need to hear and know our Father’s voice. We need to milk of the word. In the beginning we needed someone to feed, but soon we learned to feed ourselves. And as we fed ourselves, we moved on from the milk to the meat of the word.
Not only do we take in and listen, we learn to interact with our Father as we read and pray. Although that conversation should grow and mature, the way that each us talks with our heavenly Father should be unique.
Prayer, unceasing informed prayer, is a spiritual discipline, the practice of which most of us readily confess we fall far short of what it should be. We wrestle with how to pray more effectively. The solution for some might be to schedule our prayer times and write out our prayers. The downside of that is spontaneity, and that prayers written for a specific place with a specific need weighing on our hearts soon pass their best before date and beg to be revised and refreshened.
That is not to say that on occasion we should not plan and write out our prayers. When we do that, we are forced to choose our words carefully. That is honoring to our Lord and to those for whom we pray.
If this is important for those whom we know, it more important when we pray for those whom we have heard of but not met. At the beginning of Paul’s Epistle to the believers in Colossae, Paul prayed for those whom he had never met and were facing unspecified challenges.
1 We always thank God since we heard of – Col 1:4-8.
With “We always thank God,” Paul began to explain to the saints and faithful brothers in Colossae that for which he thanked God for what He had done in their lives. What we see as five verses in our Bibles are 3 sentences ( one long, one very long and one short sentence)
-The Apostle Paul often used long sentences. And what to us might seem to be a run-on sentence was much understand to those who spoke Koinee Greek. Because the verbs were conjugated the pronoun or noun that we connect with a verb was included in the verb. The verbs had difference voices and conveyed much more than we can in English in one word.
Similarly, nouns, articles and other parts of speech filled the messaage communicated.
In addition to communicating clearly Koinee Greek as with some other languages allowed for a change in sentence order so that what needed to be stressed could be placed at the beginning of the sentence. In the midst of a number of clausesthat explain each other.
In a condensed precis form, Paul’s core statement was, “We always thank God for your faith and love because of your hope.”
- Your faith in Christ Jesus – cc Rom 1:16; Ex 15:1-2; Rom 5:6; 8:3; Jn 1:12; 1 Pet 1:23.
Paul used “faith” here in the sense of saving faith in the Gospel, in Jesus Chist. In The Bible, faith in Jesus Christ, faith in the Gospel, believing the Gospel message, God’s righteousness, our sinfulness apart from the imputed righteousness of Christ and saving faith are inseparable.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Paul reminded the church in Rome:
That he was not ashamed of the Gospel with the inference that they should not be.
The gospel is the same for all, the Jew and the Greek.
The Gospel is received by faith.
The righteousness of God is revealed by faith to faith.
By faith that only God is righeous.
By faith we repent.
By faith we live.
The saving faith of saints in Colossae was from faith to faith in that they also had a love for all the saints, and demonstrated a hope laid up in heaven.
Faith in Chrst Jesus was more than what they believed, He was their salvation and their life. In the word of Moses, He became their salvation.
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
It was obvious that they had been reborn of God as children of God. John explained it this way.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
All of this was a response to the living and abiding word of God.
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
- The love that you have for all the saints – Col 1:8; Jn 13:34-35; Gal 5:22; 1 Jn 2:10.
Paul heard not only of their faith in Christ Jesus, he also heard of their love, their love for all of the saints.
Although the Scriptures use primarily two words “love”. Agapn” describes a much more giving sacrificial love.
The more general word “fileo” brotherly love and kindred kindness among comrads.
We are called love Christ and other believers with a total commitment. Jesus stressed that when He questioned Peter is he loved Jesus with a total commitment sacrificial love. When we love Jesus, we love His sheep and feed them.
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
I affirm the defenition that Stephen gave us a few weeks ago.
“Love is doing for others what they need the most when they deserve it the least, at great cost to yourself.”
Paul was encouraged by the scope of the love of the Colossian believers. It was for all the saints. For all the saints is significant. They loved the saints, all of the saints.
Love for all the saints is not a matter of choice. Jesus commanded it.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
At first glance, what Jesus commanded was not new. Love God and one’s neighbour had commanded of the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Later in his first epistle, John applied what Christ commanded to those to all who professed to be children of God. Loving all the saints is so essential as to indicate those who do not are probably still walking in darkness. John said it this way.
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven – Col 1:5-8; Rom 5:2; 1 Pet 1:3-5.
As with love for all the saints, the believer’s hope was inseparable from their faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul refers to hope in a specific way. He noted that their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all the saints was BECAUSE of the hope laid up for them in heaven.
The believer’s hope is equally focused on now and eternity.
The believer’s hope that focuses on eternity is sure.
“Unlike the English word “hope” the Greek word used in the New Testament, contains no uncertainty; it speaks of something that is certain but not yet realized.” (MacArthur Study Bible notes - Rom 5:2)
In Romans, Paul reminded them that we rejoice in hope of the glory of God that in the future will be fully revealed and shared.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
Paul encouraged Timothy that all who have kept the faith and love Christ’s appearing have a crown of righeousness laid for them to be awarded by Christ, the righeous judge.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
From Peter’s perspective, this hope laid up becomes part of our spiritual DNA when we are born again.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Before we move on, we need to review what Paul emphasized:
“We always thanks God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , when we pray for you.”
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom you have faith. We thank God because the faith, the love and the hope that Paul had heard of was in the final analysis was a work of God’s grace, the fruit of the ministry of Epaphras, who had apparently been saved during a visit to Ephesus.
because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
God had enabled their deaf ears andsoftened theirhard hearts to the grace of God in truth, that is as truth.
2. We have not ceased to pray for you asking – Col 1:9-14.
The Bible is replete with examples of God’s people praying for each other;
Colossians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 2: Paul Prays for the Colossians—Part 1
• Job prayed for his friends (Job 42:10).
• Moses prayed for Aaron (Deut. 9:20) and Miriam (Num. 12:13).
• Samuel prayed for Israel (1 Sam. 7:5, 9).
• David prayed for lsrael (2 Sam. 24:17) and Solomon (1 Chron. 29:18–19)
• Hezekiah prayed for Judah (2 Kings 19:14–19).
• Isaiah prayed for the people of God (Isa. 63:15–64:12).
• Daniel prayed for lsrael (Dan. 9:3–19).
• Ezekiel prayed for Israel (Ezek. 9:8).
• Nehemiah prayed for Judah (Neh. 1:4–11).
• Jesus prayed for His disciples (John 17:9–24).
• The Jerusalem church prayed for Peter’s release from prison (Acts 12:5).
• Paul prayed for Christians (E.g., Rom. 1:9–10; Eph. 1:16–19).
• Epaphras prayed
- Epaphras for the Colossians (Col 4:11)
Because of prayer is so important and because Paul understand that prayer was integral to impact of the Gospel and spiritual growth, he was careful to focus on prayer before the teaching part of his letter.
Because not a prayer before he preached and because prayer was so important, Paul recorded when he prayed for them what he always thanked God for and what he prayed.
In our meeting like we haver this morning, it was comparable to me taking the first five minutes to explain what I thanked God for doing in your lives. But the rest of that five minutes would be devoted to what I was praying God would still in the future.
All of this would recorded for posterity and posted on YouTube.
An so, Paul not only thanked God thanked God for what He had done in the believers at Colossae, he had not ceased to pray.
Paul’s preamble to what he is praying for indirecting provides part of the answer.
Epaphras will return with this letter and assume sharing his Elder role. Paul affirms Epaphras as:
Beloved
Fellow servant
Faithful servant of Christ on your behalf
And has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
This would underscore the underscore that Epaphas’ leadership and counsel can be trusted. The importance of Paul’s affirmation cannot be stressed too much.
Within every congregation, including those who are doing well, there are well intentioned brothers and sisters who in seeking to determine what needs to be done and God’s will, ask someone they know or reference something that a TV radio teacher said. While I appreciate the sincerity of all involved, no one knew the situation at Colossae better than Epaphras and the other Elders. Similarly, no one knows the situation at Faithway better than the Elders and Deacons. They know the whole picture and factors that might not be known to the whole congregation.
Indirectly, Paul was affirming in the process of knowing and applying God’s will be prepared to trust the Elders whom God has raised up and gifted from your midst.
That you might be filled with the knowledge of His will – Col 1:9; 3:16-17; 1 Tim 2:3-4.
By the end of his letter, Paul partially explained that they would have a knowledge of God’s will from His word, allowing the word to shape their lives, worshipping together as they sang songs, hymns and spiritual songs that echoed and repeated the truths of God’s word. Paul also added that whatever we do in word or deed, everything must be in the name of the Lord Jesus so that we can thank God for what He has done.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
And lest we lose sight of the end result of God’s will, it is salvation.
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Paul was specific re the knowledge of God’s will with which he prayed they would be filled. This was about common sense and sage wisdom, it was spiritual wisdom and understanding that come only from the word of God and the Spirit.
This was not about what they thought or feel.
- In all spiritual wisdom and understanding – Col 1:9; 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
- To walk in a way worthy of the Lord – Col 1:10; Ps 1:1-3; Eph 4:1-3
Paul gently reminded them knowing God’s will is an essential beginning. Knowing is a good beginning, but is not an end in itself.
What the Psalmist describes in Psalm 1, re what is blessed does not do, is probably determined by medidating on the word of God that is not underscored until verse two with the resulting fruit affirmed in verse three.
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;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
That which is fully pleasing to the Lord can only determined only by the word of God. When Paul wrote the believers in Ephesus, he gently reminded them that they could assume as believers they automatically had an insight to God’s will they could be deceived.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
- That you may be strengthened with all power – Col 1:11; Eph 3:14-16; Acts 1:8; Rom 8:5-9, 13.
Paul prayed and reminded the Colossian believers, being filled with the knowledge of God’s will and walking worthy would require a spiritual strength that only God could and would give.
Like all of us they would need to admit that this was beyond them.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- According to His glorious might – Col 1:11.
- For all endurance and patience with joy – Col 1:11; Eph 4:2
-Giving thanks to the Father, who has – Col 1:12
- Qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light – Col 1:12; Acts 26:18; Rom 8:17
- Delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to
the kingdom of His dear Son – Col 1:13: Lk 22:53
o In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins – Col 1:14: Eph 1:7
Because most of us will never know what those who are able to accurately what they hear about us and pray accordingly, we are better to ask ourselves if we demonstrate God’s saving grace by:
1. Faith in Christ Jesus and love for all the saints.
2. A clear embodying of the word of truth, the Gospel walking worthy of the Lord.
3. A spiritual strength that demonstrates God’s power, having been delivered to His Son.
AWV/Feb 4/11