Date:      4th February 2007                                                                  (Sunday PM)                                                                        Ref: A0286

Place:     Kambah P.S.

Title: Pray for One Another

Text:        & Col 1:9-12

Illust:     Many times a part of the struggle with praying, is knowing how to pray, specifically that involves the ‘what’ of praying. What do I pray about, what do I say? – Want to look at one of the areas of prayer & that is to pray for one another, for new converts. What to pray this is what we want to cover tonight

Paul is writing a letter to believers in Colossae, in modern day Turkey. Interestingly it appears that Paul had not as yet visited these believers, he had not met many if any of them. But here is Paul letting them know that He is regularly praying for them. ~ & vs. 9a

I.                   Filled With the Knowledge of His Will

A.               Know His Will

i.                 First & vs.9b Paul asks that they “may be filled with the knowledge of His will” – The most important thing that we as Christians need to grasp is the supreme priority of the “Will of God”

         Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)

         Anything else is rebellion. In every decision, in every action we need to be people that seek & obey God’s will. Our prayer for others should be that they would seek God 1st

         Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (NKJV)

ii.               Paul uses two key words, “fill” and “knowledge” The first suggests a filling out to completeness, and the latter suggests a full, deep understanding. Such knowledge of God’s will does not come from a fleshly, carnal  mind but from the Holy Spirit who enlightens a believer’s inner person

         1 Corinthians 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (NKJV)

iii.             And from the Word. God’s will, revealed in the Bible, is made known to believers by the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry. – Pray that they are in church, to hear the Word of God.

B.               Wisdom

i.                 “In all wisdom”; How many know that we need wisdom? It’s not natural for us to be wise.

         Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; (NKJV)

ii.               Yet wisdom is one of those things we all desperately need most.

         Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (NKJV)

         Proverbs 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. (NKJV)

i.                 How do we get wisdom, pray for it. You can also pray that others will have much needed wisdom to face the circumstances of life.

         James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (NKJV)

C.               Spiritual Understanding

i.                 “and spiritual understanding” – Just as we need wisdom, we need spiritual understanding. What we are involved in is spiritual; it is a spiritual battle, a spiritual enterprise.

         John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (NKJV)

         Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

II.                 Walk Worthy of God

A.               Pleasing God

i.                 & vs.10 ~ Pray that they would walk worthy of God. To please Him, that should be the goal of all Christians; to please God.

         Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (NKJV)

B.               Fruitful

i.                 That they would be fruitful. – A call on each & every one of us to be fruitful. Fruitful in your witness, in your family, business. God desires us to be fruitful.

         John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (NKJV)

C.               Knowing More of God

i.                 Growing to know more about God, We are on a journey, we don’t know it all, It would really help us to know more about God, to guide our actions, our decision making, every area of our lives. The cry of Pauls heart after years of faithful service

         Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him (NKJV)

III.              Strengthened With All Might

A.               His Power

i.                 3rd & finally & vs.11 – We need God’s strength, new converts do, old saints do. We all need Him to strengthen us. – To understand that it His power that enables & empowers us.

         2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (NKJV)

         Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (NKJV)

         Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

B.               Patient & Longsuffering

i.                 People go through things, various trials, temptations, you don’t need to know what necessarily just know that they are. Pray for patience & longsuffering

         James 1:2-4 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. (NKJV)

         2 Peter 1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, (NKJV)

C.               Filled With Joy

i.                 Finally the Christian walk is to be a life of joy. – Who wants to be a lemon sucking miserable Christian. Supposed to be filled with Joy.

         1 Peter 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (NKJV)

         1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (NKJV)

IV.             Altar Call

i.                 Pray this for others, pray this for yourself.