Colossians 1:9-14 | Praying with Paul (Part 1)

Big Idea: Learning to pray from the Apostle Paul

Hello

Pray for the Raw’s

Chatechism

A: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Q: Receiving and resting on Him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel!

Paul opened by letting the Christians in Colossae know that thier faith, love and hope that has come through the gospel of Jesus causes him to thank God the father when he prays for them.

Now, In this next section, he communicates, what he is praying!

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Intro

We are going to deal with this prayer 9-14 twice, today and next sunday, addressing it from 2 different angles.

Next week, we will be asking, what does this prayer mean for the Christian life. What does it mean to be a recipient of this prayer.

Although first, today we are going too be asking, what does this prayer teach us about prayer.

As followers of Jesus saved by grace, Christians, the primary means by which we commune with the one true living God are through:

his revelation to us, reading his word (God speaking to us)

and prayer, (Our speaking back to God)

But the Christians prayer is not the activity of human beings who are merely require a power from elsewhere, it’s not crying out to an unknown being or even based on a need that needs to be met.

The Christians prayer, the Christians words to God, are based upon God’s words to us.

God who has made himself KNOWN!

Afterall, God invites, encourages and exhorts us to pray.

Psalm 105:4 “Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”

Colossians 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The very example of Jesus leads us to seek the father in prayer

Mark 1:35 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

Although God’s words to us doesn’t merely command us to commune with our heavenly father through prayer, but it also teaches us how to do so.

i think this speaks to a pretty common sentiment… I know I should pray, I know I can, I know I should more… but im not sure how, im not sure i am doing it right !

The bible isn’t silent on the matter…

Psalms (prayers of praise and thanksgiving, lament in times of greif, and supplications in times of need).

Jesus in Matt 6:5-13 gives us a model for our prayers.

the Spirit inspired apostle Paul, includes atleast a prayer in all of his of his letters!

All of which are Prayers, which can and should, act as an example for us.

It Paul who said,

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

How should I pray?

let’s look at this example in God’s word and see how our prayers might be challenged and shaped.

Unceasing prayer for you. Petitions for the Saints (asking)

Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, …

Heard what? the fruit of the work of God’s grace in the lives of the Christian’s in Colossae.

Before we get to the content of this prayer there are things we can learn from.

‘not ceased to pray’

Paul does not mean that all he does, is pray, and specifically for them.

But that he prays regularly, in an ongoing fashion.

Paul was born and raised a Jew, and would have followed regular times of prayer, praying 3 times a day Daniel 6:10-11

‘Paul is telling the Colossians that since hearing about them he has made it a point to intercede with God on their behalf in his disciplined, regular prayer times; he has not stopped praying for them.’ Carson.

The Application isnt, we must pray 3 times a day like paul, or always early in the morning like Jesus. But we should prioritse communing with God through prayer by planning to do so

Do you plan to pray? When it comes to the topic of prayer, I think many of you, have lots of questions, but there is probably a common feeling and that is: “you know, i probably should more.” - maybe the reason is we havnt planned for it. Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray. Freind, you will not drift towards godliness, you will not chance upon good spiritual disciplines, they need to be prioritised, planned for. BEucase - What we give our time to reveals what we value. In Christ we have access to the one true God, in his word and prayer, do we value that reality. Don’t get me wrong, there is a routine of prayer that can be legalistic, and be merely a means of making us feel more religious. But that occurs when prayers are made void of faith in the grace of God. Not, when you seek to obey him, and commune with him regularly, even if you don’t feel like it. And our habits shape us, they shape our affections, and our delights.

What compells you to pray? Here for Paul it is thanksgiving, to God, for his divine grace, that leads him to pray for the saints.

When are we compelled to pray?

is it only when things are going poorly? and you feel you cannot handle something yourself?

is it only, when you are greiving, and you have complaints to make to God?

maybe it is only when you are grateful for something

or only when you have sinned and need a fresh reminder of God’s forgiving grace.

All of these are good things to pray, but if we only pray when

things are going poorly, then we may be blind to God’s goodness and blessings we should be grateful for.

if we only pray when we need forgiveness, then we may be neglecting to remind our soul of the hope we have in times of greif.

CONTENT: Filled with the knowledge of God’s will with all spiritual wisdom and insight.

Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

9 … asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

In this prayer, Paul actually only asks for 1 thing: he asks that the saints would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.

To be “Filled” here means to be characterised by.

For example in Romans 1:29 “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,”

They were characterised by unrighteousness.

Therefore Paul prays that beleivers would be characterised by knowing God’s will.

“Gods will”

Here is a phrase, that is potentially muddied becuase of how it has been used and abused.

have yo uever heard the idea that you have to go and find “God’s will for you life.”

and what is meant by that, is, I need to find what God’s will is so I can make a decision on what I am going to study, what career path, should I marry this girl… what colour should I dye my hair next.

I had someone recently say to me that they were going to queensland to a couple of weeks to seek God’s will for thier next season.

I thought, is it there, send me the coordinates.

Coz, really, it just sounds like you want a holiday. Which is great, and sure go and pray.

But when Paul prays, that Christians would know the will of God.

He is not referring to God’s hidden will, his hidden plan for the future, he is reffering to God’s revealed will.

What God has made known to us. His commands and instructions for his people to follow.

Where, in his spoken, inspired recorded word.

Paul is praying that believers would be filled with he knowledge of God’s will that has been made-known to us.

This is a prayer, that the saints would be characterised by knowing God’s commands and instructions for his people to obey.

It is not something you need to go and find - “God’s will for my life.”

Next week we will consider more what this means for our own lives, but let us think for a moment, how often our prayers align with this example.

What are the sort of requests that you most commonly make to God: do you most commonly ask God for

good health,

recovery from illness,

safety,

the right job, or a greater salary,

success in exams or whatever project is at hand,

the emotional or behavioural needs of our children

success in getting the house or rental we want

Now, its not to say that we shouldn’t pray for such things, but we should ask - How much of Paul’s revolves around equivalent thing?

As Don Carson sharply puts “If the centre of our praying is far removed from the centre of the preayers of scripture, then even our very praying may serve as a wretched testimony to the remarkable success of the processes of paganization in our life and thought.” - Carson, 77

what at the centre of Paul’s prayers?

That the saints would grow in love Phil 1:9

That God would give unity of mind and heart (Romans 15:5–6)

Paul Prays that the saints would know God and grow in maturity.

That the word of the Lord would spread rapidly through them (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

That they would be blameless and holy at the coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23)

all of which are a means of glorifying God!

Let us learn to shape our prayers in such a way that we pray more for our holiness than we do for XYZ

and you know what, he even asks for prayer, twice in Eph 6 and

Colossians 4:2–4

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Do we only ask for the equivalent to the open door of our cell. Whatever our prevailing need is… Paul for an open door for the gospel.

Now, Paul asks that believers would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will for a purpose! Whats the purpose,

Colossians 1:10 (ESV)

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him:

The point of being characterised by a knowledge of God’s will is that Christians may live lives of holiness.

Specifcally, lives that are fully pleasing to Christ who is Lord of all.

Right knowledge of God and his grace for us in Jesus should always lead us to great worship.

“the will of God” - God’s word is far more interested in the type of person you are to be through faith in Jesus, than it is what you are to do with your life.

As I said, we will look closely next week how we might live pleasing to the Lord, but what should this teach us about prayer.

Firstly, there are ongoing needs that need ongoing prayer.

The call to live holy, and set apart for the glory of God, living lives that are fully pleasing to him… is there a higher standard? NO.

and though I have been saved by grace, loved by God though I don’t deserve it, and entirely forgiven.

I am called to live a life that is pleasing to him… but sin is still present in me.

I am daily tempted to give in to the desires of my flesh. To believe the lies of our culture. To fall into pride and self-preservation. To walk in a manner that is fully pleasing to ME!!!

And so i need daily - ongoing, unceasing prayer for the Spirit of God to lead me in holiness… and so do you.

Prayers of lament, requests for some needs or provision, are generally necessary for a time, but there are many things such as this, that should be a constant cuase for us to call out to God for his helping Spirit.

If the front lines are being attacked daily then the front line cannot take a day off from fighting back.

Secondly, our prayers ought to be a reflection of the love we have for one-another.

Prayer that cares for the holiness of brothers and sisters.

becuase of our common union with Jesus, we have the joyful responsibility of helping others follow Jesus.

That should certainly start with (not limited to) those we are partnering with in our local church context.

Pray for one-another…

If you don’t know where to start, pray this prayer, go put it in your own words and start with me, I NEED IT!

And look, Paul then goes on to describe what lives that are pleasing to the Lord like: (we are going to breeze through these) We should note, this is not an exhaustive list, it isnt everything that should make up the christian life, everything that should be prayed for, although it is what is typical

Bearing fruit in every good work (10b)

Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

John 15:1–2 (ESV)

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

From Christian to Christian, there are varying degrees of fruitfulness, although there is always fruit.

True faith that clings to Jesus is always, becoming more like him.

Let us pray, that there is evidence of such.

increasing in the knowledge of God (10c)

Christians Grow… we are not stagnant.

We are forever children. Forever learners.

The prayers of the humble recognise that we will never exhaust the riches of God’s grace and the infinite glories of who he is.

There is always more to behold and delight in.

Being strengthened with all power according to God’s glorious might for all (great) endurance and patience with JOY (11)

Endurance - is the kind of stamina that gets under a weight, a burden, a responsibility, a suffering, a pain, and carries it with fortitude.

Patience is self control - it is the stamina, or the strength to control ones own desires when waiting is required.

These are two virtues, that are not valued in our culture today. Instead we err towards quick fixes, instant gratification, the avoidance of responsibility.

We value a champagne type mindset. If it starts with a fun pop, has lots of fizz and gives a good high - then it must be good, irrespective of whether it has any nutritional value for the long haul.

As the people of Christ, we should value, celebrate, and pray for what honors Christ, not what the world values.

We should pray for patience and endurance. Faithfulness.

consistency

longevity.

Let us celebrate what honors Christ, not what the world values.

Becuase endurance and patience may seem ordinary, unexiting virtues, but we require the power of God’s glorious might to be strengthened in them.

So let us pray!

Giving thanks always to God! (12-14)

Let us pray prayers of thanksgiving, that believers would be marked as people of gratefulness.

For this is the appropriate disposition of those who have received an exceedingly extravagant gift they don’t deserve.

The Difference between an adult and a child receiving an unexpected gift at Christmas.

Adult - slowly opening like its a bomb, buying yourself time to figure out how you are going to get around the fact that you didnt get that person anything… oh, you shouldnt have, you didnt have to do that, and rather than enjoying the gift with gratefulness we are distracted by the guilt.

Child, Shake the card, tear the wrapping, WOW! THANK YOU!

Like children, With gratefulness we should free receive the gift of Grace. Why?

English Standard Version Chapter 1

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

A: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Q: Receiving and resting on Him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel!

Bring prayer, this is the only way that we can pray.

Notes: STRUCTURE OF TEXT

Unceasing prayer for you. Petitions for the Saints (asking)

CONTENT: Filled with the knowledge of God’s will with all spiritual wisdom and insight.

PURPOSE (Intended effect): so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,

Fully pleasing to him.

WAYS OF WALKING WORTHY:

Bearing fruit and

increasing in the knowledge of God

Being strengthened with all power according to God’s glorious might for all endurance and patience with JOY

Giving thanks always to God!