Colossians Series 2

Colossians (2)

Paul’s Purposeful Prayer

Steve W. Reeves

INTRODUCTION:

A. This past week we witnessed an outbreak of severe weather across our nation. Two

    of our neighboring communities were struck by small tornadoes. We are grateful that

    there were no serious injuries or loss of life in our area, Sadly, this was not the case

    in other regions of our country.

    1. What did you do during the storm? Did you remain where you were or did you take

       cover, as my wife and I, in a closet? Did you go to a storm shelter or a safe room?

    2. What do you do when you encounter storms of life?

B. When Paul wrote to the Colossians he was facing some substantial storms in life.  

    1. His personal circumstances were difficult.

       a. He had been sent to Rome and placed under house arrest.

       b. His voyage across the sea had been filled with danger and difficulty (Acts 27-28).

           He was shipwrecked. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 he detailed his struggles, “²⁴ Five

           times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten

           with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I

           have spent in the deep. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from

           rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the

           Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea,

           dangers among false brethren; ²⁷ I have been in labor and hardship, through

           many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and

           exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of

           concern for all the churches.”

    2. The church to whom he was writing faced serious storms of a doctrinal nature.

       a. Some were seeking to “Judaize.”

       b. Some were denying the fleshly incarnation of Jesus.

       c. Some were teaching false doctrine which threatened the church.   

    3. In the midst of these formidable storms Paul prayed. What do you do when you

       are faced with difficulties?

C. For what did Paul pray? In the original (Greek) language verses 9-20 are one long

    sentence. In our English Bibles it is broken down into paragraphs and verses. In the

    NASV 9-10 are a paragraph. Then 13-14 are a paragraph. Finally 15-20 are a

    paragraph. Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is expressed in the first two paragraphs

    of this text – verses 9-14. There are four specific things for which he prayed.

I. SPIRITUAL GROWTH

    A. In verse 9 we read, “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not

       ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His

       will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

       1. Paul didn’t say, “I’m praying for you to increase your church budget.”

       2. He didn’t pray “guide, guard and direct us until the next appointed time.”

       3. He prayed for them to be filled with knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

    B. How do we obtain knowledge, wisdom and understanding?

       a. Hosea 4:6 addressed a time of spiritual illiteracy in Israel’s history. “My people

           are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge,
           I also will reject you from being My priest.”

       b. A man once asked me, “What type of Bible should I get?” He had seen chain

           reference Bibles, various study Bibles, Bibles with different colored markings and

           Bibles with all types of helps. He would buy one and later he’d be back asking,

           “What type of Bible should I buy? I want to know the Bible like you do.” After this

           had gone on for a few years I told him, “Buy the kind that you will read!” All of the

           tools, aids, leather covers, chain references and commentaries don’t mean a

           thing if you don’t read the Bible.”

           1.) “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

           2.) Do you realize that 33% of American high school graduates never read

               another book after graduating from High School? 42% of college graduates

               never read another book after graduation. 70% of Americans have not been in

               a book store in the past five years.          

           c. If we want to be filled with wisdom, knowledge and understanding we must fill

               our hearts with the word of God.

II. SPIRITUAL WALK

    A. In verse 10 Paul wrote, “So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to

       please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the

       knowledge of God.”

    B. The Bible uses the word “walk” as a metaphor for the way we should live.

       1. Genesis 5:22 - Enoch “walked with God.”

       2. Genesis 6:9 -  Noah  “walked with God.”

       3. Genesis 17:1 - Abraham was commanded to “walk before God and be

          blameless.”

       4. Deuteronomy 5:13 – “You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has

           commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you

           may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”

       5. Psalm 1:1-2 – “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the

           wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his

           delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.”

       6. Psalm 84:11 – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and

           glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

       7. Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into

           death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,

           so we too might walk in newness of life.”

       8. Galatians 5:16 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the

           desire of the flesh.”

       C. There are many similarities between Colossians and Ephesians. One of them is

           Paul’s use of the term, “walk.” Here he encourages the Colossians  to walk in a manner

               worthy of the Lord. In Ephesians 4 and 5 he uses the word “walk:” five times.  

           1. Ephesians 4:1 – “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a

               manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”

           2. Ephesians 4:17 – “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you

               walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,”

           3. Ephesians 5:2 – “walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself

               up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

           4. Ephesians 5:8 – “walk as children of Light.”

           5. Ephesians 5:15 – “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but

               as wise.”

    D. The men and women of the Third United States Infantry Regiment of the United

       States Army are very special. They spend eight hours preparing their uniforms and

       their minds for duty. Each day they are on duty they receive a fresh haircut. While

       on duty they do not vary a single step. They are completely focused on their task.

       This illustrious guard has performed its duty every minute of every day since July 2,

       1937. They are the soldiers who guard the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in

       Washington, D.C. When they come on duty they walk exactly 21 steps across the

       tomb, representing the 21-gun salute. When they turn they face the tomb for 21

       seconds. They turn again and walk 21 steps across the tomb. They stop, turn

       toward the tomb and pause for 21 seconds. Over and over the guard repeats the

       process. They maintain their post and their routine perfectly without ever flinching

       or being distracted whether it is winter or summer, scorching heat or snow, rain or

       shine.

    E. There has to be a difference in the way we live as Christians. Someone said the

       only difference between many modern day Christians and those in the world is

       where we park our cars one hour per week. Paul wanted the Colossians to

       understand that their walk with God was to bring about fruitfulness in good works.

       Remember the parable Jesus told about the sower, the seed and the soil. The good

       soil brought forth fruit – a great harvest (Matthew 13:3-9). If your life is not

       producing good works you are not walking with God. 

III. SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

    A. Paul went on to write, in verse 11 - “Strengthened with all power, according to His

       glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience.”

       1. Again, notice the similarity to Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and

           in the strength of His might.”

       2. God is the source of this strength and power. We do not generate it ourselves.

          a. Imagine a 747 jumbo jet fully loaded, fully staffed and ready for takeoff. The

               pilot gets clearance from the tower. What does he do? He does not go on the

               Intercom and tell everyone “start peddling!” He engages the power of those

               four engines that produce the thrust needed.

           b. A lot of churches are content to work only on human power. As A.W. Tozier

               said, “The Holy Spirit could be removed from many churches and they’d never

               know the difference.”

    B. Are you a flabby Christian? I am not talking about your physical appearance.

       Rather, I’m asking about your spiritual stamina. We often hear the term “couch

       potatoes” used with reference to people who lay around all day and never get any

       physical exercise. Does the church have “pew potatoes?”

IV. SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE

    A. In verse 12 we read, “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share

       in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”

       1. Have you ever received an inheritance? When my mother passed away my sister

           and I received an inheritance from the sale of her house and possessions. I am

           thankful for that inheritance but I am more thankful for the inheritance of a good

           name, an example of faithfulness and love for God. My mother did not leave that

           inheritance to you. She left it to her children.

       2. The inheritance God promises is for those who are qualified to receive it. Those

           who are not in Christ (Eph. 1:3; Gal. 3:26-27) are not qualified to receive it.

    B. How do we become qualified for the inheritance?

       1. We cannot qualify ourselves through our own righteousness.

           a. Isaiah 64:6 – “And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.”

           b. 1 John 1:8 – “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and

               the truth is not in us.”

       2. Notice that Paul says, “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us…:

           a. As hard as I try I can never be good enough to qualify myself for God’s

               inheritance.

           b. Salvation begins with grace – the unmerited favor of God.

    3. Our responsibility is faith. Remember that faith means to trust and obey.

CONCLUSION:

A. What do you pray for?

    1. Family, friends, finances, health, nation and world?

    2. There were many things Paul could have prayed for. I believe it is significant he

       prayed for these four things.  

       a. Spiritual growth.

       b. Spiritual walk.

       c. Spiritual strength.

       d. Spiritual inheritance.

B. Do you possess these four qualities? The baptismal waters are ready for anyone who

    is ready to come to Christ. The prayers and encouragement of Christian are ready for

    anyone who needs to return to their first love