Life-Changing Intercession

Colossians 1:9-12

Colossians 1:9–12 (NLT)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

INTRODUCTION:

A – This prayer was for other believers.

1 – Why should we intercede for other believers?

a – Because Jesus intercedes for us.

(ROM 8:34)

Romans 8:34 (NLT)

34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

(HEB 7:25)

Hebrews 7:25 (NLT)

25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

b – Because the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

(ROM 8:26-27)

B – This intercession was made on a continuing basis.

1 – Paul made unceasing intercession for the Colossian Believers.

a – This refers to a habitual and purposeful intercession on their behalf.

b – It was Paul’s practice to continually engage in intercessory prayer for fellow believers.

1.) He prayed for the Roman believers.

(Rom 1:9-10)

2.) He prayed for the Corinthian believers (I Cor. 1:4-8).

3.) He prayed for the Ephesian believers (Eph. 1:15-23).

4.) He prayed for the Philippian believers (Phil. 1:3-11).

5.) He prayed for the Thessalonican believers (I Thess. 1:2-10).

6.) He prayed for Timothy, and Philemon

(2 Tim. 1:3-7 )

(Philemon 4-7)

C – How can we intercede more effectively for fellow believers?

1 – In this text, Paul helps us by sharing some requests we can make for one another that will definitely get results.

I – FILLED WITH KNOWLEDGE (Colossians 1:9).

Colossians 1:9 (NLT)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

A – Knowledge of the will of God.

1 – Pray that He will give them an insatiable desire to search out the will of God for their lives.

a – Create a hunger for the Word of God.

(Mt 5:6)

Matthew 5:6 (NLT)

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

b – Completely tuned – in to the Holy Spirit.

2 – Any man who truly seeks the will of God will find it

(Matt. 7:7).

Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

B – How to apply His knowledge.

Colossians 1:9 (NLT)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

1 – Pray that God will give wisdom in applying what God reveals through the ministries of the Word and the Holy Spirit.

(2 Tim. 3:16-17)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

a – Specific daily direction in application of the revealed will of God.

C – Having spiritual understanding.

Colossians 1:9 (NLT)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

1 – Pray that God will open their spiritual eyes, ears, and sensitivity to fully understand all things from the spiritual, rather than from the physical man.

a – This is how Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers.

(Eph. 1:15-23).

II – FOLLOWING IN A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD (Colossians 1:10).

Colossians 1:10 (NLT)

10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

A – Fully pleasing to God.

Colossians 1:10 (NLT)

10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

1 – Pray that the Lord’s perfect will be performed completely in their life.

a – Enoch’s life pleased God because he daily walked with God

(Heb. 11:5)

Hebrews 11:5 (NLT)

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

(Gen. 5:21-25).

Genesis 5:21–25 (NLT)

21 When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.

22 After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters.

23 Enoch lived 365 years,

24 walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

25 When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech.

B – Fruitful in all good works.

Colossians 1:10 (NLT)

10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

1 – Pray that their life will be one that bears fruit:

a – The fruit of the Spirit

(Gal. 5:22-26)

Galatians 5:22–26 (NLT)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

b – The fruit of righteousness

(Heb. 12:11)

Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

c – The fruit of Spiritual reproduction.

1. Others won to Christ

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

C – Forever growing in the grace and knowledge of God.

1 – Pray that they will continue to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ.

a – Growth in understanding of the Grace of God.

1. This will result in a life that is totally committed to Christ and His Church.

*It is impossible for a person to fully understand what Christ has done for him and remain uncommitted.

b – Growth in knowledge of Christ.

1.) This means growth in intimacy with Christ.

a.) Daily sharing deeply with Him.

III – FORTIFIED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Colossians 1:11-12).

Colossians 1:11–12 (NLT)

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

A – Strengthened by His power.

Colossians 1:11–12 (NLT)

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

1 – Pray that they will cease to walk in their own strength; and walk in the power of Christ.

(I COR 2:4-5)

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 (NLT)

4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

B – Staying faithful in the midst of the trial of life.

Colossians 1:11–12 (NLT)

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

1 – Pray that they will seek His strength, and will live in that strength in the midst of trials.

a – The early Apostles and Christians sought the strength of God during fiery trials.

(Acts 4:23-24)

Acts 4:23–24 (NLT)

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.

24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—

C – Serving joyfully in all situations.

Colossians 1:11–12 (NLT)

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

1 – Pray that they will find joy in their service to Jesus.

a- It is God’s will that they be filled with joy.

(Jn 15:11)

John 15:11 (NLT)

11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

b – Hymn – “Serve the Lord with Gladness”

B. B. McKinney

Verse 1 Serve the Lord with gladness in our works and ways Come before His presence with our songs of praise Unto Him our Maker we would pledge anew Life’s supreme devotion to service true.

Chorus Serve Him with gladness, enter His courts with song; To our Creator true praises belong: Great is His mercy, wonderful is His Name. We gladly serve Him, His great love proclaim.

Verse 2 Serve the Lord with gladness thankful all the while For His tender mercies, for His loving smile: Blessed truth enduring, always just the same, We will serve with gladness and praise His Name.

Chorus Serve Him with gladness, enter His courts with song; To our Creator true praises belong: Great is His mercy, wonderful is His Name. We gladly serve Him, His great love proclaim.

Verse 3 Serve the Lord with gladness, this shall be our theme, As we walk together in His love supreme: Listening, ever listening for the still, small Voice, His sweet will so precious will be our choice.

Chorus Serve Him with gladness, enter His courts with song; To our Creator true praises belong: Great is His mercy, wonderful is His Name. We gladly serve Him, His great love proclaim.

CONCLUSION:

Preached at FBC, Andover (Sunday, July 27, 2008)

Charity Baptist, Warren (Wed. July 30, 2008)

Woodville Baptist Church (October 3, 2021)