Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians

Introduction

Last week we looked at the introduction to Colossians

Paul thanked God for the Colossians

he heard of their faith

that caused them to have hope in the salvation

that lead them to love the saints

possible because they heard the gospel from Epaphras

this week, we look at the how he prayed for them

we can struggle on how we are to pray for people

which leads us to stop praying for people

reminder of a couple things

Paul is praying for a people that he never met

so he did not have all the details of their lives

this is a long way with no ability for immediate response

Paul did not know how his prayers were being answered

Colossians 1:9–14 CSB

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

PRAYER!

You can know and obey the will of God through His redemption and his strength.

We have the how Paul is praying for the Colossians

Definitions

praying - general prayer

asking - specific intercession

gives us three ways that he is praying and a because

Grow in the knowledge of the will of God

why - so that you may live fruitful lives

Br strengthened by the power of God

why - so that you may have endurance and patience

Joyfully give thanks to the father

why - because he has made it all possible through redemption

Knowing the Will of God

We view the will of God like an escape room

we have these different clues that are supposed to get to do other things that eventually get you out

some people seem to understand the clues easily, on to step three before you even realize step one has been completed

Some people kind of know what is going on, they kind of follow and then you know they really don’t understand when they try to add to the conversation

some people stand in the middle of the room and just spin in circles, not knowing where to start or even what the goal really is

that is where so many of us are with God’s will

Colossians 1:9–10 CSB

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God,

Paul prays for growth in Christ, not comforts of this world

Paul lived with the thorn that would not be removed

Paul knew how to live with a lot and a little

Paul prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of his will

to know what his will is

there are two kinds of will

sovereign will - it will happen

Romans 15:31–32 CSB

31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.

Revealed or Moral will - Reveals what we ought to do

Romans 12:2 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Not just know what God’s will is, but to understand

I had this conversation with Heather this week… I said I feel like there is this… but I do not know what to do with it

Paul does not desire for them to simply know they will of God, but to understand the will of God

It is not enough to know that you are to get out of the escape room

Paul is praying they understand what that will is and how to live that out

Why… Why Paul, why do you want them to grow in knowledge of God’s will and in understanding

So you will walk worthy

reflecting the image of God to the world

to love God and others

bearing fruit

there are different fruits

Repentance

John the Baptist told the pharisees that they needed to have fruit of repepntance

the good works we were designed to do Eph 2:10

fruit of the spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

We should pray for salvation of our friends and family, but also for the understanding of the will of God

we should pray this for each other

we should pray this continually for each other

there is nobody so great that they do not need to grow in the knowledge of God’s will so that they can produce fruit

because this world is evil and we are weak

Living the Will of God

Fruits of the flesh

Galatians 5:19–21 CSB

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We are good at these things… we do not have to try

I do not have to work at being kind… really!

Colossians 1:11 CSB

11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully

Paul knows that we try to be good christians

we try to do the right things, but fail

we make rules and laws and fail

we doubt our salvation because a real Christian would be able to live this out

Paul knows that the hits keep coming and that we need endurance in the Christian life

things happen to you

things happen in the world

this week a political assassination

and there are videos of it that show us things our minds were never intended to see

Only so much we can take before we start asking questions of God

where were you or where are you now

like an athlete at the end of a race or game

it is easier to make mistakes when you are tired, easier to fall into fleshly ways

Paul knows there are people in the world

he knows there a lost people that will do lost people things

Paul was attacked because there were so many people coming to Christ that the people stopped buying idols

Paul was kept longer in prison in Caesarea so the the Roman governor could possibly get a bribe

he knows that believers do not always live the way they are supposed to

John Mark fled part way through the first missionary journey

end up causing him and Barnabas to part ways instead of going together on a second journey

Paul told Timothy at his first trial nobody stood with him

2 Timothy 4:16–17 CSB

16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

Satan will use all of this to keep you from walking in the will of God, being fruitful followers of Jesus

Satan wants to steal, kill and destroy

he first desires your soul

if he cannot have your soul he desires you to not live out your faith

that means no evangelizing

that means not living in the fruit of the spirit

that means not living in the will of God

So he will use everything to discourage and keep you down

he will use evil in the world

he will use the lost

he will use the fighting of fellow believers

Paul is praying that the power of God would keep them in the will of God by his strength and that is where we can rejoice

Rejoicing in the Will of God

some of the grumpiest people I have encountered are people who claim to be Christians

angry because people do not worship correctly

to the correct songs

in the correct way

that goes both ways by the way

ultra conservative hymns and KJV only claim the freedom some have in worship is not worship

the opposite is true, you are too stiff and only sing hymns, you are not really worshipping

both are judgmental and wrong… you cannot see the heart of somebody in their worship

but with the Lord, in his will, there is joy! Which results in a heart of gratitude

Colossians 1:11–14 CSB

11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Why, Paul… why are we joyfully giving thanks

he has enabled you to have an inheritance

enabled = make adequate

he has made you righteous where you were unrighteous, clean where you were dirty

How has he done this

Rescue = Draw to oneself

we were in darkness, you cannot see to find God unless he shines his light into the darkness

when it is dark and that light shines in your eyes immediately are drawn to it

then he snatches us out of the darkness and move us, transfers us into the Kingdom of the Son

this son, who he gave is now King!

the sacrificial lamb, now wheres a crown

how did he rescue us… redemption!

he redeemed us through the cross

redemption = release by payment of ransom

All who are here today, if you are in darkness, the Lord is shining his light right now and drawing you to himself

Romans 10:9 “9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

you can be saved, redeemed, transferred from darkness to the kingdom of the son

Memory Verse

Colossians 1:14 CSB

14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Discussion Questions

What does Paul's prayer reveal about his understanding of the importance of knowing God's will?

In what ways can we actively seek to understand and live out God's will in our daily lives?

How can we apply Paul's example of persistent prayer for others in our own lives?

What is the difference between God's sovereign will and His revealed will as discussed in the sermon?

How can we cultivate a heart of gratitude and joy in our relationship with God, even amidst challenges?

How does understanding our inheritance through Christ impact the way we live as believers?

In what ways does Paul's teaching on endurance and patience challenge our perception of a comfortable Christian life?

What practical steps can we take to bear fruit in our lives, as Paul encourages the Colossians to do?

What are some specific ways we can pray for our friends and family to grow in their understanding of God’s will?

How can the concept of being 'rescue from darkness' resonate with our own stories or struggles today?