Expectant Prayer

Colossians 1:9-14

Hopewell Baptist Church

February 20, 2022

Opening Illustration

Transition

Big Idea – Pray with expectation

Colossians 1:9–14 (ESV)

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 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.

This is the Word of the Lord our God. Let us pray.

Expectant Prayer

I. Pray Without Ceasing – Colossians 1:9

a. “we have not ceased to pray for you,” – v.9

i. Pray without Ceasing – 1 Thess. 5:17 (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

b. Never give up praying for something

II. Pray Specifically – Colossians 1:10-11

a. Bring specific prayer requests (when you can) to God

b. God wants us to talk to Him. Communion with God is part of why He created us.

III. Pray With Expectation – Colossians 1:10-14

a. The way Paul prayed (look v.9-10) was in such a way that Paul firmly believed that the Colossian believers would, in fact, be filled with knowledge, wisdom and understanding. And that they would walk in a manner more worthy of the Lord…

b. Pray knowing that God hears our prayers – Proverbs 15:29

i. Not just knowing, but believing that God hears our prayers

1. For we are made the righteousness of God, and thus He hears the prayers of the righteous

c. Pray expecting that He is going to answer prayer for His glory and our good.

i. Remember that He doesn’t answer it according to what we want, but to His will, for His glory and for our good.

d. Pray giving thanks to God the Father

i. Colossians 1:12-14

ii. For His redemption and salvation of us

iii. For His adoption of us into His family

iv. For the forgiveness of our sins

IV. Application

a. Have a prayer request list

i. Journal, or some way to track your prayer requests

1. Journal

2. App, etc.

ii. Break up your prayer requests into sections you pray for regularly

1. Daily, weekly, etc.

b. Set aside time to pray

i. Personally, I prefer to pray in the mornings, early, before other wake up

c. Know exactly what you are praying for (if you can)

i. Someone’s salvation

ii. Someone’s repentance

iii. For a new job

iv. Help financially, etc.

v. Spiritual growth

vi. Patience/Wisdom

vii. Faith

viii. Better harvest

ix. Opportunities to share the gospel, etc.

d. Pray as to glorify God and not one’s self or someone else

i. Paul’s prayers for the Colossian believers were all centered around God. That all would happen in a way to walk in the ways of the Lord.

e. Have a patient expectation that God will answer prayer

i. According to God’s timing and, most importantly, His will.

ii. Colossians 1:10-14 – Paul prayed with the expectation of those outcomes.

V. Response

a. Belief

i. Repent

ii. Believe

b. Obedience

i. Baptism

ii. Membership

c. Surrender

i. Vocation

ii. Volunteer

Expectant Prayer