In our study of the first 8 verses of Colossians 1 last week, we learned that there were three things that the Church of Colossae was know for: their faith, hope, and love! The Apostle Paul had heard about these characteristics of the Colossian believers while in prison and commends them for this at the very outset of his letter to them.

It’s interesting that these three things are so often seen, contextually, together in the scriptures (most notably, in 1 Corinthians 13)

The fact that faith, hope and love were prevalent in the Colossian Church led Paul to his statement in Colossians 1:9, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you…”

Over the course of the next few verses, Paul details just how, specifically, he is praying for these brothers and sisters, and in turn, gives us a great framework for how we should be praying for one another

WE SHOULD PRAY FOR A WISE LIFE

Verse 9 continues, “…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”
Paul prayed that with divinely given knowledge and wisdom (James 1:5, Ch 3), the Colossian believers may know and do the will of God

Questions to consider: As we mentioned in last weeks study, the city of Colossae was wrought with religious pluralism (much like our own context). Why would God given wisdom/knowledge be especially important for them…and for us?

Is it really possible to know the will of God?

Ephesians 5:17 “Do not be foolish but understand what the will of God is”

Ephesians 1:9 “He has made known to us the mystery of His will”

How may we discover the will of God?

As Paul prayed that the Church in Colossae would receive and act upon the wisdom and knowledge given by God, we too should pray in this manner for one another

PRAY FOR A RIGHTEOUS LIFE

Colossians 1:10 “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”

Throughout the scriptures, the Christian life is often described as a walk (ex. Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:7). One of the most important aspects of our walk is to continue taking the “next step” in Gods direction.

This series of “next steps” produces a walk that is “fully pleasing” unto Him

A Pleasing Walk Is Fruitful – (10) “being fruitful in every good work”

A Pleasing Walk is a walk of growth (10) “and increasing in the knowledge of God”

We grow in our understanding of who He is in a plethora of ways, chief among them: Through His Word, prayer, the Spirit within, and through His church

A Pleasing Walk is persistent

Colossians 1:11 “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy”

The text assumes hardship will be faced by the believers in Colossae, yet, they (and we) must persist!

We certainly don’t do so in our own might but in the Lord: “…strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power

We can do so with trust (Romans 8:28) and with joy (Nehemiah 8:10)

PRAY FOR A GRATEFUL LIFE

Colossians 1:12-14 “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 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”

Here Paul tells the Colossian Church that he’s grateful for what Jesus has done in their lives. Keeping their salvation at the forefront of the hearts and minds will lead to a gratitude filled life that keeps things in proper perspective!

So that we’re doers of the word and not hearers only…

DIG: Read Colossians 1:9-14 aloud

DISCOVER: Jot down a few things that the Lord is saying specifically to you through this text?


DELIGHT: What do you see in this passage of scripture that you need to hide in your heart?


DECLARE: Who in your life needs to hear what you’ve learned from this passage; how will you be intentional about sharing it with them?