we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.” Inspired by Epaphras’ stories of them, Paul has prayed daily for the church at Colossae. --------------------------------- Colossians 1:9 “… since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.”
Colossians 1: 9-14
Spiritual Intelligence Prayer Request #1: (vs. 9) Spiritual Intelligence Unlike the false teachers at Colossae that were offering hollow “wisdom,” Paul prays that the Colossians will be filled/controlled with the Holy Spirit’s guidance in their daily lives.
It is not enough for the Colossians Prayer Request #2: (vs. 10) Practical Obedience It is not enough for the Colossians to simply learn what God’s Will is… they need to live it! Their Christian “walk” (daily living) & “work” (service/ministry), and worship must be honoring to God.
Always continue growing in Christ! Paul takes time in this prayer to encourage the Colossians to continue growing in their fruitfulness of ministry and within their own lives. The message for us today is clear: Always continue growing in Christ!
Prayer Requests #3 & #4: (vs. 11-12) Divine Power & Moral Excellence Paul concludes by praying for God to give His supernatural strength to them; and that the Colossians will work to cultivate the “fruit” of patient endurance, joyfulness, and thankfulness in their lives.
Paul seamlessly transitions out of his “prayer” for the Colossians into focusing on “why” they should be eager to continue to grow in the virtues that he just mentioned.
Colossians 1: 12-14 who has qualified you to share 12 “… giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of Light. 13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Sadly, our “Salvation terms” can lose their wonder & appreciation in our hearts: 1.) Jesus rescued us & delivered us 2.) Jesus brought us out & brought us in 3.) Jesus redeemed us, paying our ransom 4.) In Jesus, we have full forgiveness of sin
In light of the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we should long to live up to the bold prayer of the Apostle Paul: To better know, love, serve, and honor our Savior that has given everything for us!