A Passion Of Prayer
Colosians • Sermon • Submitted
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Colossians 2:1–3 (KJV 1900)
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Paul had not been to Colossi or Laodicea, I believe Paul wanted to see and encourage them face to face though.
The Apostle had a desire to tenderly care for those he had never seen.
Conflict = a contest (held there); figuratively an effort or anxiety: - conflict, contention, fight, race
Paul was concerned and operating like he knew them and loved them.
We should care and love and be concerned for others in the church.
The body of Christ has always been in a fight
Our eye affected
The church = not the institution but the individual members
Each member strong in the faith
The apostle was in a race a fight for those in the church of Colossi
The true beauty of life is not how happy you are but how happy others are because of you.
I’m so thankful for this church -
Expressing love
Expressing care
Praying
Helping
Individuals loving and caring for other individuals
The Strength of the body of Christ is so important
A Church is strengthened as members are using their time, talents, and treasure to encourage other members of the Body.
As we’ve been discussing on Sunday nights - Using the special supernatural enabling to
The strength of our church will determine how much influence we get to have in our city for the Lord Jesus.
The spiritual strength of your family
of your marriage
of your children
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
The apostle understood his journey of faith was not just about him but what he went through was to help the churches.
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
What a burden for the lost
What are the desires of your heart?
Do you care about others hearing the Gospel
A burden is supposed to go from the pastor to the people of a church
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
When we consider praying with the church, is that something that we are casual about?
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
As we were visiting homes with the Gospel yesterday - Asking the Lord to help them
Praying
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Consumed with the Spiritual welfare of those in the church
Comforted = exhorted and encouraged
Consoled in the soul
We must be careful to not put all our energy in the temporal world
Soul = emotional and spiritual life
My inner spiritual health is more important that any other part of my life
We must prioritize our spiritual health
not that we neglect other areas
Your relationship with Jesus
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Mind will and emotions are prospering
They made a priority to prosper in their soul - that was first
Your physical health will be determined by your emotional health
If you lose your spiritual health you will lose your physical health
We can’t afford to lose our spiritual health
knit together = compact, assuredly, gather, instruct, knit together, prove.
Unification makes a church unstoppable
You could be sitting here today and not know anyone else's needs and prayer requests - that is not being a good member of the church
God has given you time talent and treasure to care for others in your church
I am amazed at what God has done in lives that are here today
What makes me happy as a pastor is seeing the steadfastness of God’s people in the church
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Colossians 2:2 (KJV 1900)
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto
“all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;”
Boldly acknowledging Christ in their lives.
Full assurance = a settled confidence
Embracing truth and embracing Christ
The highest satisfaction found in Christ
Being rich towards God
How do you spend what God has given you
Time
Talents
Treasure
That is an indicator of your spiritual health
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
We should save that’s ok
Luke 16:11 (KJV 1900)
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
I believe everything that God gives us should have an element that is given back to God.
prayer tune was unaware drey might mature in the faith. The words striving (1:29) and conflict (2:1) are athletic terms. They refer to the strenuous effort put forth by the runner to win
the race. Our English word agony comes from this Greek word.
Paul's instruction (1:28). refers, of course, to Jesus Christ. "For we preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord" (2 Cor. 4:5). The false teachers exalted themselves and their great "spiritual" attainments. They preached a system of teaching, but Paul preached a Person. The Gnostics preached philosophy and the empty traditions of men (Col. 2:8), but Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ.
The false teachers had lists of rules and regulations ( Col. 2:16, 20-21), but Paul presented Christ. What
a difference in ministries! Paul not only preached (the word means "to announce with authority as a herald), but he also warned. While it is good to proclaim positive truth,
it is also necessary to warn God's people against the lies of the enemy (Acts 20:31). In fact, God's
people should be alert to warn one another (admonish in Col. 3:16, NIV). Paul considered himself
a spiritual father to the local churches, and it was his duty to warn his children (1 Cor. 4:14).
But Paul was also a teacher of the truth. It is not enough to warn people; we must also teach
them the positive truths of the Word of God. How far would we get in our travels if the highway signs
told us where the roads were not going? Not very far! It is good to win a man to Christ, and then to
warn him about the dangers ahead, but it is also important to teach that convert the basic truths of
the Christian life.
Paul not only preached Christ, but he also "taught Christ," for in Christ are "all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). It was not necessary to introduce any new teaching, for all
that a believer needs to know is related to Jesus Christ.
"'Teaching every man in all wisdom" Was Paul's concern (Col. 1:28). Wisdom is the right
use of knowledge. The false teachers promised to give people a "hidden wisdom" that would make
them "spiritually elite." But all true spiritual wisdom is found only in Jesus Christ.
Paul's intent (1:28b). He wanted to present every believer as "perfect in Christ Jesus." The word
perfect was a favorite word with the Gnostic teachers. It described the disciple who was no longer
instructed ho tine boors or into seal read pain tula it to mean "complete, mature in Christ." This is the
goal of all preaching, warning, and teaching. What is the evidence of this spiritual maturity?
Paul described them next (Col. 2:2). Encouragement-"that their hearts might be
comforted."
Our English word encourage means "with heart." To encourage people is to give them
A new heart. Shallow sympathy usually makes people feel worse, but true spiritual encouragement makes
them feel better. It brings out the best in people. Endearment-"being knit together in love." The
mature Christian loves the brethren and seeks to be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. He is a part
of spiritual unity in the church. An immature person is selfish and causes division.
Enrichment- "unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding." Paul mentioned the riches of Christ earlier (Col. 1:27). Too many Christians are living like paupers when they could be living like kings. Mature Christians do not complain about what they don't have. Rather, they make use of the vast resources that they do have in Jesus Christ. Enlightenment-"full assurance of understanding." The mature believer has assurance in his heart that he is a child of God. The spiritual knowledge that he has in Christ constantly enlightens him and directs him daily. I have often counseled believers who told me they lacked assurance of their salvation. Invariably, they have been neglecting God's Word and living in ignorance.
God wants us as His children to have "understanding" and "wisdom and knowledge" Colossians2:2-3 ).
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
understanding literally means "to place together." It is the ability to assess things.
Wisdom implies the ability to defend what we understand. Knowledge suggests the ability to grasp
truth. All of these terms were also used by the Gnostics.
Paul’s intercession (1:29-2:1). "For this I labor to the point of exhaustion, agonizing" is a literal
translation of the first part of Colossians 1:29
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
What a picture of prayer! So much of our praying is calm and comfortable, and yet Paul exerted his spiritual muscles the way a Greek runner would exert himself in the Olympic games. He also taught Epaphras to pray the same way (Col. 4:12
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
This does not mean that our prayers are more
effective if we exert all kinds of fleshly energy; Nor does it mean that we must "wrestle with God" and wear Him out before He will meet our needs. Paul described a spiritual striving: it was God’s power at work in his life. True prayer is directed to the Father (Matt. 6:9), through the Son (in His
name, John 14-13-14), in the power of the Holy Is at work in our lives, then we can pray mightily in the will of God.
How does the Spirit assist us in our praying? For one thing, the Spirit teaches us the Word and shows us the will of God
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Prayer is not our trying to change God's mind.
It is learning what is the mind of God and asking accordingly
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
The Holy Spirit constantly intercedes for us even though we do not hear His voice
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
He knows the Father's will and He helps us pray in that will.
There are times when we simply do not feel like praying--and that is when we must pray the most!
The Spirit gives us divine energy for prayer, in spite of the way we feel. The resurrection power of Jesus Christ is made available to us (Eph. 3:20-21). In these verses, Paul explained his ministry, and in so doing, he silenced the accusations of the enemy. He also stirred the affections of the be levers as they realized how much Paul had done for them.
All of us are not called to be apostles, but each one of us does have a God-given ministry. We can share the Gospel and be soul-winners. We can suffer for Christ and fulfill the ministry God has given us. We can strive in prayer for God's people and encourage them to mature. Paul took time to minister to individuals; note the repetition of "every man" in Colossians 1:28.
If we minister to only a few believers, we are helping the whole church. Are you fulfilling your God-given ministry?
