The Purposeful Prayer

Prayer serves many purposes in our lives. The best purpose, however, may be that prayer changes our focus as we talked about last week, but prayer also changes our actions.

Today we want to look at principles that will give us success in our walk with Christ.

Colossians 1:9–12 NKJV

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

The purpose in prayer is

1. Praying for the Knowledge of God’s will in Wisdom and spiritual Understanding.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Colossians 1:9

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

1:9 knowledge of his will Refers to the believers’ awareness of Christ’s desires for how they ought to conduct themselves (see vv. 10–12). False teachers might have described God’s will as unknowable—or knowable only through secret rituals. Paul rejects this idea: Followers of Christ, filled with the knowledge of His will, can live in a manner pleasing to God because they know what matters to Him.

What does God’s word say about His will...

Colossians 1:9 NKJV

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Romans 12:2 NKJV

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Ephesians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

What does God’s word say about wisdom and understanding...

Ephesians 1:7–8 NKJV

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

2. Praying for a walk worthy of the Lord

Colossians 1:10 NKJV

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What does God’s Word say about Walking Worthy...

Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Philippians 1:27 NKJV

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

3. Praying to fully please God

Colossians 1:10 NKJV

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What does God’s Word say about pleasing God...

1 Thessalonians 4:1 NKJV

1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

We are to walk in faith...

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

4. Praying to be fruitful in every good work

Colossians 1:10 NKJV

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What does God’s Word say about being fruitful...

Hebrews 13:20–21 NKJV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The fruit we are to bear is Godly fruit that comes from God

5. Pray for an increase in the knowledge of God

Colossians 1:10 NKJV

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What does God’s Word say about growing in knowledge...

2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

grow in the grace and knowledge Peter asserts that the best way to resist incorrect teachings is to grow in understanding of Christ and His work

6. Pray to be strengthened with all of God's might

Colossians 1:11 NKJV

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

What does it mean to be strengthened?

Ephesians 3:14–16 NKJV

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

Ephesians 6:10 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

7. Pray to have all patience and longsuffering with joy

Colossians 1:11 NKJV

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Why should we pray for patience and longsuffering?

James 1:2–4 NKJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

8. Pray and give thanks to God the Father who has qualified you to be partakers of the Kingdom of God

Colossians 1:12 NKJV

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Ephesians 5:20 NKJV

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,