Paul's Prayer For Spiritual Growth

Introduction:

Introduction:

The Hebrew writer talks about how the people he was writing to had not grown as they should (). We need to look at how we need to grow so we do not become "dull of hearing" like these Hebrews. One of the best passages that lay out how we grow is in Paul's prayer for those at Colosse.

Discussion:

I. Request: That You Be Filled (v.9)

A. What Does It Mean to Be Filled?

1. "πληρόω pleroo; from 4134; to make full, to complete: —accomplish(1), accomplished(1), amply supplied(m)(1), approaching(1), complete(1), completed(3), completing(1), elapsed(1), fill(3), filled(16), fills(1), finished(1), fulfill(5), fulfilled(35), fully carry out(m)(3), fully come(1), fully preached(m)(1), increasing(m)(1), made complete(2), made full(5), make complete(1), make full(1), passed(2), supply (1)." (Strong's)

2. The Idea is having to the uttermost, complete.

3. Nothing is Lacking.

B. What Are We to Be Filled With?

1. Knowledge of His Will

a. epignōsis - "coming to understand something clearly and distinctively or as true and valid; often with a personal acquaintance that necessitates a positive or negative reaction"

b. This Knowledge is of "His Will," That is, the Word of God (; )

c. This is the Acknowledging that God's Word is Truth ()

2. In All Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding

a. “He will do only that which is in his spiritual interest, or what is good for him on a spiritual level. Some things even right in themselves are not best for the Christian. It does not necessarily take all wisdom and spiritual understanding to know the difference between right and wrong, or the good and the bad. But it does require such wisdom and understanding to know the better over the good, and the best over the better, and having recognized the difference to then make the best choice rather than just refuse the bad.” - Weaver

b. This is the Ability to Apply What We Know.

c. Just Because We Know What Is Right and We Know What Is Best For Us, It Doesn't Mean We Apply It.

d. We Need to Pray That Me Way Apply What We Know, to Make the Best Decisions In Our Life.

e. This Is Especially True In Matters That May Not Be Right or Wrong, But Are Something We Must Consider If it Is Best.

C. When We Have This Knowledge and Wisdom, We Will Grow As A Christian.

II. The Result

A. Walk Worthy (v.10)

1. The Idea of "Walk Worthy" is Commonly Used Throughout the New Testament

a.

b.

c.

2. Since We Need to "Walk Worthy," We Need to Ask, How It Is We Do This.

3. In , A Parallel to Colossians, Paul Deals Extensively With This Idea.

4. Let's Look At How We Walk Worthy From .

a. By Keeping Unity (4:1-6)

b. By Doing Our Part (4:7-16)

c. By Being Different From the World (4:17-24)

(i) Not Like Others (4:17-24)

(ii) But A New Man (4:25-32)

d. By Being Imitators of God (5:1-21)

e. By Being What We Ought In Our Relationships (5:22-6:9)

(i) Submissive Wives (5:22-24)

(ii) Loving Husbands (5:25-33)

(iii) Obedient Children (6:1-3)

(iv) Parents That Instruct (6:4)

(v) Obedient Bondservants (6:5-8)

(vi) Non-Threatening Masters (6:9)

f. By Putting On the Whole Armor of God (6:10-20)

B. Fully Pleasing Him (v.10)

1. When We "Walk Worthy: of the Lord, We Will Be Fully Pleasing to Him.

2. As Christians, This is Our Aim ()

3. We Can Only Be Pleasing, When We Have This Knowledge and Wisdom and "Walk Worthy of the Lord."

C. Fruitful In Every Good Work (v.10)

1. As Christians We Are Created For "Good Works" ()

2. We Need to Be Zealous and Ready For These Works (; )

3. But When We Cease to Do These Things, We Become Unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5-9)

4. We Can Only Be Fruitful When We Walk Worthy.

D. Increasing In the Knowledge of God (v.10)

1. There Is Some Debate As to How This Should Be Translated.

2. It Could Mean "In the Knowledge of God" or "By the Knowledge of God"

3. "In the Knowledge of God" is a True Statement ()

4. However, "By the Knowledge of God" Seems to Be the Better Translation.

5. This Knowledge We Are to Possess (v.9) Will Cause Us to Grow.

6. We Can Only Grow As A Christian When Our Faith Increases

7. The Apostles Understood That ()

8. Our Faith Is Produced By Hearing the Word of God ()

9. Everything That Pertains to Life and Godliness Goes Back to Our Knowledge of Him ()

Conclusion:

As Christians, it is essential that we grow. We don't want to become "dull of hearing" (), "shortsighted, even to blindness" (), and unfruitful (2 Peter 1:8). Instead, we want to be "fully pleasing" to the Lord (), "strengthened with all might" (), and having been qualified as a partaker "of the inheritance of the saints of light" (). Therefore, we must pray the prayer of Paul, in order that we can achieve this.