Our Priority Prayer

Remember last week, The two greatest things we can do for each others as brothers and sisters in Christ. Be thankful for each other and pray for each other.

Pray is a vital ministry that we all can perform.

#1 Priority is the Word of God

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

#2 Priority is the Prayer of the People

Colossians 4:12 (KJV 1900)

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

The Apostles new the importance of the Word of God and Prayer.

Acts 6:4 (KJV 1900)

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Paul is writing this letter because he has heard from E-pa-phras, who was the Pastor at Colossae. Epaphras has come to Rome where Paul was a prisoner and given him a wonderful report of the Colossian Christians.

Last week, Paul thanked E-pa-phras and the people at Colossae because of their Response to the Gospel.

They…

Believed or Trusted in Christ - Faith

Obeyed Christ - Love

Expectation for Christ - Hope

Then we come to verse 9

Colossians 1:9–11 (KJV 1900)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

If things are so great, They heard the Word, believed the Word, Obeyed the Word, Loved through the Word, and Rested in the Hope of the Word, then we continue to pray. Why not move on to others.

Paul didn’t do that because there is always the need for progression in the faith. God is still working on us.

When we tend to only pray for troubled people, we tend to neglect those doing well and growing in Christ.

Listen very carefully, Satan is going to come for the people that are more successful for God’s sake. The successful, growing, engaged Christian needs more prayer.

Paul says things are so great so I do not cease to stop praying.

Unceasing prayer is being God-conscious; seeing everything in reference to Him and also being People-conscious; seeing them in reference to God.

Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Do not cease to pray - God conscious.

to desire - People conscious.

and here is what Paul sees in reference to God and these believers in reference to God.

#1

We Need to be Filled with the Knowledge of the Will of God!

It is one thing to know the will of God.

It is something entirely different to be filled with the knowledge.

Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Filled = The word pleroo, in the Greek, is simply the Greek word for filling something up to completeness. It is a word that signifies the absence of anything else.

If I say here’s a glass of milk and I fill it up that means I fill it up and there couldn’t be anything else added to the glass of milk without spilling it. It is totally dominated by that milk.

That’s the word filled. It is a word that signifies something totally complete. And what Paul is praying here is that the imperfections and the inadequacies of our knowledge of God’s will will be more and more eliminated until we are filled with His will.

Filled has the idea of total control, dominated, and saturated.

What are we to be filled with?

Knowledge.

Knowledge is not just knowing facts, but rather that the knowledge of the will of God might control or dominate your life.

It is one thing to know the Word of God, but it is entirely something else to be controlled by the Word of God.

God is not really interested in what you feel when at church but rather what you know from church.

It is not about the beats of the music, but the words of the music.

It is not about he length of prayers, but the essence of the prayer.

It is not about the excitement of the message, but the impact of the message.

1 Corinthians 1:5 (KJV 1900)

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

Paul is going to tell us in Col 2:3 that in Christ

Colossians 2:3 (KJV 1900)

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Again in Col 3:9-10, Paul says

Colossians 3:9–10 (KJV 1900)

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

I quote all the time Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

With all the false teachers and false theologies in Colossae and in our society, we need knowledge of the Word of God.

We need a deep knowledge, a strong knowledge, thorough knowledge, full knowledge. We need a controlling knowledge.

A knowledge of what?

Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

The is no excuse for not knowing the will of God.

The will of God was the center of the life of Christ.

Jesus said, “I come to do the Father’s will.”

He prayed in the garden, “Not My … what?… will, but Thine be done.”

He told His disciples, “His food was to do the will of Him that sent Him.”

He prayed and taught the disciples to pray: “Thy will be done.”

John said, “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

God’s divine will is to dominate everything.

The Will of God is absolutely crucial Christian knowledge. And the knowledge I’m talking about is directly concerned with obedience.

The knowledge of His will is to proceed immediately live a life that pleases Him.

Look at verse 10

Colossians 1:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

but before we get there, go back to verse 9.

Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900)

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Before you get to obedience in your body, you have to be obedient in your mind.

When you are saturated with knowledge, dominated with knowledge, and controlled by knowledge, this knowledge will control your life.

As the knowledge goes in your mind, the result is wisdom and spiritual understanding and then behavior.

Wisdom = turning all of the knowledge, information, into a principle that can be applied to life.

Spiritual Understanding = taking that principle and make application.

You cannot expect a change in behavior without the control of the mind.

We need our mind controlled by the Word of God before we can implement the truth of the Gospel.

Why the Word of God? The word of God gives us absolutes, principles, and laws for behavior.

Absolutes are always the basis for determining the moral quality of any action.

Now that our minds are filled with the knowledge of the Will of God, we are ready to conform to that knowledge.

Romans 12:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We have noticed in all of Paul’s letters that we have studied, Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, and now Colossians, that the first half deals with doctrine, absolutes, understanding the principles and then he gives the practical how to live it.

This is the problem of the church. We do not know enough about the principles to know how to act.

When you are filled with Knowledge, and when that knowledge is turned into a Principle, and when that Principle is turned into something Applicable, Some awesome Results take place.

Paul lists 5 of them that we are going to go through rather quickly.

So, we are talking about Applied Knowledge or Knowledge in Action.

Vs. 10 is a purpose clause showing the result of taking all that knowledge and putting it into action.

We Need to Walk in the Lord!

Colossians 1:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Walking is a picture of daily conduct.

Colossians 1:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

A Worthy Walk -

How can I walk worthy of Jesus Christ?

Ephesians 4:1 (KJV 1900)

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

A worthy walk is letting your Practice match your Position!

God expects us to walk in light of where He has placed us.

God saved us, placed us in Jesus Christ, and sits us in heavenly places.

That’s where we are. Now God wants us to act like it.

1 John 2:6 (KJV 1900)

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Walking like Jesus is pretty difficult? It sure is. That is why we need to be filled with the Knowledge of God.

When we take the principles of the Word of God and Apply to our Walk and Walk according to the example of Jesus Christ, God is going to be pleased with us.

The flip side of that is that you will never please God by walking worthy without a knowledge of His will.

And if God is pleased with us, then look next.

Colossians 1:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

A Fruitful Walk -

Psalm 1:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 1:3 (KJV 1900)

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Jesus put it this way in the Gospels.

John 15:5 (KJV 1900)

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Austin a couple of months ago finished discussing this in 2 Peter 1:3

2 Peter 1:3 (KJV 1900)

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2 Peter 1:5 (KJV 1900)

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

goes on through some other things, and says:

2 Peter 1:8 (KJV 1900)

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of those things that brings fruit here is knowledge … to know God’s truth is to fertilize the soil to produce fruit.

The third thing in Colossians, he says: “If you’re filled with all the knowledge, you’re going to walk worthy, you’re going to be fruitful,” and third, “you’re going to grow.”

Colossians 1:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

An Growing Walk -

Increasing and growing have to do with maturity.

Ephesians 4:13 (KJV 1900)

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The knowledge of God and His truth and His will and His principles is the key to maturity.

1 Peter 2:2 (KJV 1900)

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Growth is a critical emphasis in the New Testament. And we are to grow to be like Jesus Christ. But the key to this whole thing is knowledge … it’s food that’s nourishment

Are you starting to see the importance of knowledge?

Fourth

Colossians 1:11 (KJV 1900)

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

A Strengthened Walk -

From the knowledge of God’s principles,

What do we mean by that?

Practical knowledge, Applicable knowledge, from the knowledge of God’s principles, you’re going to find that you’re strengthened.

Wow! Listen, strengthened with a little bit of power.

Is that what it says? No

Colossians 1:11 (KJV 1900)

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

You mean, I can actually be strengthened by divine power? The word strengthen is a present participle which means it has continuous action. It doesn’t mean that when you get saved God sort of gives you an initial blast-off and says—Good luck, you know. Well, when you’re saved God just begins what for all of your life is a sustaining power, you will be continually being strengthened with all might according to … what kind of power?… His glorious power.

Glorious means the … the manifold manifestation of God’s character. His power. This is the work of the Spirit, you know.

2 Corinthians 4:7–10 (KJV 1900)

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

As we study the Word of God, as we feed on the Word of God, we formulate principles, we apply those principles, and God pumps into us strength, power and energy. Yes, that’s His promise. And what a promise it is.

So, walking worthy, being fruitful, growing, being strengthened, all result from true spiritual knowledge.

An Enduring Walk -

Colossians 1:11 (KJV 1900)

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Knowledge gives Endurance

The knowledge of His Word, listen, the knowledge of His character, the knowledge of His promises and the knowledge of His purposes that makes me endure anything because God is perfecting me.

Remember what Paul said in our last study of Philippians.

Philippians 4:11–12 (KJV 1900)

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Circumstances don’t affect me because God is working.

Paul understood the Purpose of God and the Promises of God.

So, the result—you’re going to have

all patience, all … and patience means deliberate endurance,

and you’re going to have

longsuffering, and that’s kind of the attitude that goes with it. Kind of an attitude of acceptance.

Those words are really synonyms and just maybe there’s a shade of difference in their meaning, maybe one has more to do with the actual endurance and one more to do with the attitude, I don’t know, but … but whatever it means, look at the end of it, whether you’re enduring with patience or long-suffering, the key to the thing is joyfulness.

Wouldn’t you like to experience in every trial a joyful endurance, wouldn’t that be terrific?

You know how you can?

If you know God and you know His purposes and you know His promises, you can because you know what He’s doing. Joyfulness …

Listen, folks, Paul prays—I just want you to know God’s truth, that’s the bottom line of absolutes. And once you know all that, the behavior is just going to come right out of it.

You’re going to walk worthy, exciting, unto all pleasing. You’re going to be fruitful in every good work. You’re going to grow. You’re going to be strengthened and you’re going to endure anything with joy. I don’t know about you but that sounds like really living, doesn’t it?

Isn’t it time that we be filled with the knowledge of His will; make principles and apply them and live them.

What are the two greatest things mentioned in the sermon that brothers and sisters in Christ can do for each other?

According to the sermon, what is the #1 priority for Christians when it comes to their actions, based on 2 Timothy 3:16-17?

Who is mentioned in Colossians 4:12 as someone who labored fervently in prayers for the Colossian Christians?

Why does Paul mention the importance of unceasing prayer and being God-conscious and people-conscious?

What does it mean for a believer to be filled with the knowledge of God's will, according to the sermon?

How can the concept of unceasing prayer, as mentioned in the sermon, be applied to your daily life as a Christian?

In what ways can you strive to be filled with the knowledge of God's will and allow it to control your life, based on the teachings of the sermon?

How can you apply the idea of walking worthy of the Lord in your daily conduct, as discussed in the sermon?

Based on the sermon's discussion on being strengthened with all might according to God's glorious power, how can you seek to rely on God's strength in your own challenges and trials?

How can you prioritize being filled with the knowledge of God's will and turning that knowledge into action in your daily life, following the sermon's teachings?

What steps can you take to ensure that your walk as a Christian is fruitful and that you continue to grow and be strengthened in your faith, as suggested in the sermon?