Prayer that Changes Us Colossians 1:9-14

Let’s take some time to walk back through our text this morning.

Why do we do connect groups?

Connect groups is designed to walk through the sermon in practical ways and to have accountability and prayer together in a smaller setting.

Why do we have prayer on Wednesday night?

Because we believe that prayer changes things. If nothing else it should be changing me.

Why do we have intercessors?

We are looking to see people come to know Christ and for unbelievers to accept the Gospel.

Paul lays out 7 areas we can pray and praise God for us and others:

A. Pray for spiritual wisdom v. 9b

The ability to not only gain knowledge of God’s Word but the greek word sophia (wisdom) speaks to being able to organize the principles and live them out.

We should be praying not just for a knowledge or understanding of how God’s Word should be understood but how we can live it out.

B. Pray for a walk worthy of the gospel v. 10a

Now this sounds similar, but the word walk speaks to a pattern of daily conduct or our integrity. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

It is taking what Paul talked about in v. 9 and having the courage to live it out through the power of the Holy Spirit.

C. Pray for fruit to be seen v. 10b

What fruit could we be looking for? Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Fruit that bears witness of being Christ’s disciples John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

John 15:4–5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

We need to be actively attached to the vine to produce fruit.

And as Peter said in 2 Peter 1:5–8 “For this very reason, make every effort...” We have to work diligently.

D. Pray for growth in the knowledge of God v. 10c

This plays out as a deeper love for God’s Word and a deeper or perfecting obedience to it.

Psalm 119:97 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

E. Pray for endurance in life v. 11

Pray for the strength as trials enter your life. Through the power of Christ’s work in your life. Dunamoumenoi a form of the Greek word dynamoō which we get the word picture dynamite.

F. Pray for joy in our lives v. 11

Joy in the midst of the endurance. Similar to Acts 16:25 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,”

G. Praise God for the work of the Gospel v. 12-14

One we have a personal connection to our Father.

Second we have an inheritance to acquire through Christ. Which is both a present reality and a future one.

Third we have no active part in this, it solely relies upon the goodness of our Father.

I want us to take time to pray for these areas with the goal Paul had in mind. So break up into groups of … and let’s spend some time working together to pray for these things. I’ll close us in a word of prayer in about 15ish minutes.

Pray for our connect groups to produce fruit in the lives of our members

Pray for our local schools, for revival and community members to come to Christ.

Pray for our members who are hurting, or going through trials that the joy of the Lord would be shown through them and that they would have endurance through it.