AM Bible Study Group; January 23, 2013
Colossians 1:9-14
Theme: Paul’s prayer for the Colossians teaches us what sort of things to ask for in praying for growth in our Christian faith.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
Paul’s great burden for the new Christians in Colossae was that they become established in their faith. But even though Paul had never met them personally, and even though he was physically far away from them—and in fact, was in prison (4:18) and thus was incapable of going to them personally—he was, nevertheless, very confident that he could play an important part in their spiritual growth. He believed that he could have a powerful and positive impact on them, and could do much to help them become deeply rooted in the Lord and strongly established in the faith, by praying regularly for them. In this morning’s passage—at the beginning of his letter to them—we find a list of things that he prayed for them.
This is a list of things that God wants to see happen in our own lives; and it’s a list of things that God would have us to be praying for one another. Paul’s prayer for the Colossians teaches us what sort of things to ask for in praying for our own growth in the Christian faith, and for that of one another.
I. A PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL (v. 9).
A. Paul writes, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard of 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 . . .” (v. 9). When Paul wrote this letter to these new believers, they were under the threat of a false teaching. This false teaching claimed that having a relationship with Jesus Christ was not enough; and that in order to really be made “complete” before God, these Christians needed something more than what they already had in Jesus. But Paul prayed for these new believers in the confidence that they already had all that they needed in Christ. And so, he didn’t pray that they’d be “given” the knowledge of God’s will—as if it were some mystery that was difficult to obtain. Rather, he prayed that they’d be “filled” with the knowledge of God’s will—that is, ruled over and controlled by the knowledge of God’s will, and influenced by that knowledge in a prevailing way. God’s will is never a big secret. He’s made it very plain, and has recorded it for us in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Colossians 3:17).
B. Notice also that he prayed specifically that they’d be filled with the knowledge of God’s will “in all wisdom . . .” “Wisdom”, as Paul means it, isn’t something mystical or merely intellectual. It’s something very practical. Someone has defined wisdom quite well as “the insight in how to use the best means to achieve the best ends in the best way”. And so, when he prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will “in all wisdom”, he was asking that God would grant them the ability to apply their knowledge of God’s will to the situations of life in the best, most accurate, and most effective way.
C. Paul also prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will “in all . . . spiritual understanding”. The word he uses for “understanding” here has the meaning behind it of ‘putting things together’. And so, he’s praying that they’d have a knowledge of God’s will, and be enabled by God to put the truths, facts and information of God’s revealed will together in such a way as to see significant relationships between them, and to draw insightful conclusions. It’s always exciting to be around Christians who are constantly in the word, constantly comparing scripture with scripture, and are constantly seeing the deep relevance of God’s truths to daily living. This is a “spiritual” understanding and insight—something that is granted to us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as He illumines divine truth to us through the study of the word.
II. A WORTHINESS IN DAILY CONDUCT (v. 10).
A. There’s a relationship between the first thing he prays for, and the other things he prays for. His prayer that they will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will was a means to an end; and here we see the first end—“that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (v. 10). In other words, being truly filled with the knowledge of God’s will is always practical; and it is always meant to lead us toward a manner of living that’s “worthy of the Lord” (James 3:13-17).
B. The sort of “worthy walk” Paul prayed for was characterized by three things. First, in relation to the Lord, it was “pleasing” Our walk should please the Lord. Second, such a walk, in relation to other people, is “fruitful”. God would have our daily walk influence others for His cause. Third, a worthy walk, in relation to ourselves, is one in which we’re “increasing” or “growing” in the knowledge of God. Paul prayed that, as they walked in a daily life-style pattern that was worthy of the Lord, they themselves would grow to know the Lord better and love Him more. Aren’t these things for which we all need prayer? Shouldn’t we pray such a thing for each other?
III. AN ENDURANCE THROUGH TIMES OF TRIAL (v. 11).
A. Paul went on to ask that the Colossian believers would be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power . . .” But this “might” wasn’t for what we might immediately think. It wasn’t for strength to leap over all the troubles of life and avoid them; or to conquer obstacles that stand in their way. Surprisingly, this strengthening was “for all patience and longsuffering with joy . . .” “Patience” speaks of an inner attitude of peaceful, quiet endurance—an attitude that isn’t stressed and fretful in times of trouble. “Longsuffering” speaks of an attitude that has an outward and circumstantial focus—an attitude of forbearance that doesn’t easily fly off the handle in frustration and anger toward people, circumstances, or things. And in all of it, “joy” speaks of an attitude that finds true happiness and contentment, not merely in favorable circumstances, but in knowing the God who is in control of even difficult circumstances.
B. Trusting in the power of God while in the trials of life isn’t something that came automatically for Paul. He wasn’t “naturally” an easy-going person. Rather, he “learned” it. He once wrote, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12-13). And that’s why he prayed for these new believers—so that they’d “learn” it too. It’s something that we should pray for each other.
IV. A THANKFULNESS FOR GOD’S SAVING GRACE (vv. 12-14).
A. Finally, Paul tells them that he prays they’d be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, so that they would be “giving thanks to the Father . . .” (v. 12). “Thankfulness” is an essential quality of godliness. In fact, a failure to give thanks to God and acknowledge His goodness is the chief characteristic of ungodliness (Romans 1:20-21). Paul once urged the Thessalonian Christians to “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
B. But Paul didn’t merely asking that they’d be characterized by a vague spirit of “thankfulness”. He prayed specifically that they’d give thanks to the Father, “who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (v. 12b). Our “inheritance”—our future riches in glory through Christ—is one we share in common with “the saints in light”. “The saints in light” is Paul’s way of describing all people who walk in fellowship with Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in holiness and purity, and who are destined for heavenly glory (Ephesians 5:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:5). Paul was talking here about God’s grace in bringing about our salvation. If we’re thankful for that, then we’ll have reason to be thankful for everything else!
C. But how could sinners like us ever claim to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light? It’s certainly not because we deserve to be saints in light; nor is it because we’ve done anything to earn the right to be called saints in light. We are sinners, and on the basis of our own deeds, we don’t deserve to be considered “saints in light” at all But that points to God’s grace in Jesus Christ. We don’t partake of the inheritance of “the saints in light” because we deserve it as a right; but rather because we’ve been “qualified” for it, through God’s grace, by virtue of the work of Someone else. Paul goes on to speak of God’s grace toward us; that “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (vv. 13-14).
1. Note the future aspect of salvation—that God has ensured that we will receive the full blessings of heavenly glory in Christ by the fact that He has “qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”.
2. Note also the present aspect of salvation—that we are, right now, recipients of God’s saving grace in that “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His son”; so that, right now, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).
3. Finally, note the past aspect of our salvation—that He has cleansed us completely, and purified us of all the sins of the past, in that, in Christ, “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (see also Ephesians 1:7).
* * * * * * * * * *
Here, in this passage, then, we find a list of things that we can always be praying about for one another. It’s a list that comes to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that reflects the very things the Father wants us to see happening in our lives. And it’s a list that is always current, and represents the needs that all of us continually have.
Each one of us will always need to grow in our practical knowledge of God’s will. Each of us will always need to cultivate a practical walk that is worthy of the Lord. Each one of us will always need to be strengthened with God’s glorious power, so that we can endure our trials with patience, longsuffering and joy. And each of us will always need to grow in an attitude of ongoing thankfulness for God’s wonderful, saving grace toward us. We need to be praying for one another in all these areas; and like Paul, do so “without ceasing”.