Praying for Knowledge of God (2) CPCRC

PRAY

Introduce myself:

Ask: How many of you all have set up a march madness bracket? (I’m not a sporty person)

Point Guard Illustration - purpose is to know the mind of the coach in order to run plays for the offense and to guide their team so that way they can play to their best ability and hopefully win the game. But if they don’t know the plays because of a lack of connection from the coach, then they might not be so successful.

And in the same goes with our faith. When we grow in the knowledge of God’s will, it will help us live in the way He desires for us as His people on the earth he created.

Context to passage - Colossians

 Paul desire for this epistle was to emphasize the sovereignty and sufficiency of Jesus Christ in order to combat false teachings in the Colossian church and to instruct believers on how to live in ways that were worthy of and fully pleasing to the Lord.

before Colossians 1:9 Paul was mentioning that he was thankful for two things the church has; their Faith in Jesus Christ and their love for the saints which is why it starts with “for this reason”

1st Point  - Colossians 1:9

 A Christian is called to a committed prayer life

Paul believes that a Christian’s prayer life should be an ongoing commitment.

a. Ephesians 6:18 - Pray at all times in the Spirit 

b. 1 Thess. 5:17 - Pray constantly

c. Colossians 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer

i. St. Gregory of Palamas - Greek theologian and Christian Monk -  Let no one think, my fellow Christians, that it is the duty only of priests and monks to pray without ceasing…No, no; it is the duty of all of us Christians to remain always in prayer.

Next movement - Colossians 1:9-10 - Break down of Understanding God’s will with Wisdom and Spiritual understanding

a. Wisdom - skillful understanding.

b. Spiritual Understanding - Understanding that comes from the Spirit. This is the ability the Spirit

gives His people to think coherently and practically about God and the purposes for His people. 

Next Movement - “so that” Colossians 1:10-11 

a. Growing in the knowledge of God’s will produces Faithful living

b. Knowing God’s will allows our wills and desires to line up with His.

c. What we know about God will determine how we live for Him. 

d. We can create a God in our image where He is all about you and about your will and desires. So when something goes wrong, we blame God. 

This can lead to a life of unfaithful living. 

Why do we become unfaithful in growing our relationship with God?

a. We lack knowledge of God -  We do not take time to learn about His character and will.

b. We have developed opinions, beliefs, and a cultural worldview that we try to fit into the Word of God.

c. We put our ideas and beliefs into God’s word and transform Him rather than Him to transform us. 

We have to grow in knowing Him in order to do what He calls us to do, walk worthy of the Lord and Bear fruit in every good work.

a. Reference - John 15:8 My father is glorified by this - You bear much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

a. Our prayers should include seeking to know God’s character, His will, so we can best know How He desires for us to live so we can put that into practice.

b. We need to be invested, committed, and devoted, to a life of private prayer.

Next Movement - Encouragement of Private Prayer - Private prayer produces public power

a. Examples of Jesus going away to pray alone.

b. Luke 11 - Jesus’ followers asked Jesus “how to pray” not “how to preach, do miracles, cast out demons, raise our families.”

c. These things flowed from prayer because prayer is communing with the all-powerful, almighty God who is faithful to give generously to those who seek after Him. 

Next Movement - Colossians 1:11 - Breakdown of Endurance, patience, joyful gratitude. Connected by being strengthened by His power to rejoicing in the good news of Jesus’ work on the cross - transition to gospel moment

Gospel moment - Colossians 1:12-13

a. The foundational purpose for being able to live faithfully and have a devoted prayer life is found in these verses. 

b. Our faithfulness will be determined by what we believe about God’s grace

Ending points - How?

a. Develop a Prayer Routine

i. ACTS - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication

ii. Praying short prayers throughout the day - Arrow Prayers

iii. Scheduling time for Prayer - If you are willing to schedule meetings with people, you should be willing to schedule meetings with the Lord.

a. Lectio Divina - Spiritual reading

i. Read, Reflect, Respond, Rest

a. Track your spiritual growth with people who will hold you accountable - Elders or friends you trust to grow with. - include a picture of the elders.

Concluding thought - Just like the coach has marked a player to communicate with on the field so they can perform to the best of their ability, we have been marked by God by the Holy Spirit, who is the deposit of our faith, so we can communicate with God, to hear His voice, and grow in the knowledge of His will so that we can bear much fruit and prove to be His disciples. 

End with Prayer Prompts - 30 - 45 seconds

Exodus 34:5-6  6 The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth 

Question Prompt 1: with Passage above. What does this passage teach us about who God is?

Question Prompt 2: with Passage above.How can we live out these characteristics of God in our everyday lives?