As we
continue our study of Colossians, we come to Paul’s prayer for this group of
believers—a prayer that I have borrowed from many times as I pray for those I
love.
Colossians 1:3-4 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of
the love which ye have to all the
saints,
Paul
encourages the believers at Colosse by letting them know that he gives thanks
to God in his continual prayers for them.
By identifying God as “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he was
affirming the truth as stated by Jesus during His ministry on earth.
John 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself,
my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that
he is your God….
It was this claim that
had motivated the Pharisees to seek to have Jesus put to death. It was probably this claim that most
motivated Saul to seek to destroy the
sect of the Nazarenes, those that followed Jesus. This was such an eye-opening truth for Paul
that he repeated it clearly many times throughout his epistles.
Colossians 1:5-6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard
before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth
forth fruit, as it doth also in you,
since the day ye heard of it, and
knew the grace of God in truth….
I had to go
back to the beginning and read again to get the flow. Paul is giving thanks not only for the active
faith of this body of believers, but “for the hope which is laid up for you in
heaven.” The Greek for hope is a reference to anticipation with
pleasure and confidence. Because of
their faith, they could now look forward to eternity in the presence of
God. The Greek for heaven makes reference to the abode of God and is affirmed in
scripture.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the
holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
1Peter 3:18 & 22 For
Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit….
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Just as the gospel had
brought forth fruit in the lives of the believers at Colosse, so it would wherever
it was preached. Once people hear the
gospel and respond to its truth through the grace of God, there will be
evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives by the fruits that are
produced.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no
law.
Colossians 1:9-11 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and
to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of
God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience
and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Paul was a
man who rejoiced at the effective spread of the gospel and was a faithful
prayer warrior for the Gentile churches in particular. My understanding of his prayer:
- That the believers be filled with the
knowledge of His will. – This is the ability to discern or recognize God’s
purpose(s) (from the Greek).
Webster defines knowledge
as clear perception of the truth. I
interpret this to mean that Paul is praying for them to become totally
familiar with the Word of God—His message of truth to us.
- That their knowledge be put to use with
wisdom. – Wisdom is the ability to make good use of knowledge or
truth.
- That their wisdom be based on spiritual
understanding. – Spiritual understanding would be wisdom as based on the
meaning and intent of the Word of God.
This is an area in which the Pharisees were woefully lacking.
As a former
Pharisee, Paul knew firsthand what it was to possess knowledge and earthly
wisdom without spiritual understanding.
It was his desire that these believers not fall into that trap.
Paul also prays
for God to strengthen the Colossian believers with ability and power so
abundant that their works will be a source of praise and worship to God (from
the Greek for might and glorious power). It is only through God’s enablement that any
believer can possibly walk worthy of the Lord and be fruitful in every good
work. Through God’s empowerment, the
believer can live with patience (cheerful endurance, constancy) and
longsuffering (not easily provoked) while having a joyful spirit in spite of
trouble or trying circumstances. Joy is synonymous with the hope of the
Christian; it’s an expectation of good to come.
Colossians 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from
the power of darkness, and hath translated
us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Paul now
transitions into a time of praise to God, which should be an important part of
our prayer life. It is through the
Father’s provision that believers have part in an inheritance specifically
designated for the pure and morally blameless (from Greek for saints).
It is only “in Christ” that we meet those qualifications. When we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, we
are “imputed His righteousness.”
2Corinthians 5:21 For he
hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
Romans 4:20-24 He staggered not at the promise of
God through unbelief; but was strong in
faith, giving glory to God….And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for
his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we
believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead….
Paul notes
that this inheritance is “in light.”
This would be a reference to the presence of God. I am reminded of the words of John.
1John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare
unto you, that God is light, and in
him is no darkness at all.
Paul
contrasts our inheritance “in light” to our deliverance from “the power of
darkness. I believe this is a reference
to Satan, the ruler of the “rulers of the darkness of this world.”
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in me.
We have been
rescued from one kingdom (Satan’s) and carried away to the safety of another
(Christ’s, the dear Son of God).
(to be
continued…)
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