Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God

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9. Pleasing, Powerful Prayer – Part 5 

Colossians 1:9-14 

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people 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.”

  • Enjoy – “with joy”

This is not just enduring, a stoic, stiff upper lip life, but enjoying, one filled with joy and thanks. This is thriving not just surviving. Paul is talking about praying for people’s attitudes, why? Our attitude impacts nearly every aspect of our lives. It influences our behavior, our ability to learn, our contentment, and relationships with God and others. A joyful attitude is different from happiness, Joy is internal and based on Christ, happiness is external and based on circumstances. Joy is built on the eternal, the sure foundation of Salvation, happiness is built on the temporary, the sure foundation of sand. Don’t just pray, practice, if you want your family to give thanks and to be joyful you have to model it. As you spend an increasing amount of time praying for others, you will find that your attitude toward people will change and you will become more compassionate. Are you tired of pushing the vacuum do you need to get plugged in to a real relationship with Jesus?

4. PERSPECTIVE Vs 12-14

    Now Paul comes full circle – your perception (your understanding) will affect your perspective. Have you ever noticed how much we complain? Why because we focus on the problems not the promises. Paul chose to focus on the future promises not the present problems and he reminds us that:

    1. Partakers – “the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

    Not just the future promises but the fulfilment of promises:

    • Provision – Here are 4 blessings you can put in your box. 

    •                Rescued – delivered us from the power of darkness

    •                Removed – conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love

    •                Redeemed – whom we have redemption through His blood

    •                Right with God – the forgiveness of sins


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    7. Pleasing, Powerful Prayer – Part 3

    Colossians 1:9-14

    “For this reason, since the day we heard about you,we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his willthrough all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people 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.”

    2.         PRODUCTIVE Vs 10

    The second petition to Paul’s prayer is that after they know God’s will they would choose to live out God’s will. Again this is in two areas. First, he prayed that they might be fruitful in their:

    A.        Walk – “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him”

    The way we act is a reflection on God so Paul prayed that they would respond to what God revealed, only through action does a person fulfill the purpose God has for them. Change comes not just through study but surrender when we say yes. It’s like a car you can rev up the engine all you want there is lots of power in it but until you put that power into gear into action you will just make a lot of noise. The ultimate aim of knowing God’s will and walking in a worthy manner is to please the Lord. Today we want His will to be pleasing to us, we have reduced His will to our wants. God desires us to live a life based on what He has done for us not what we want Him to do. Notice we are to “fully please Him” that requires full knowledge of His will. Our lives should not be driven by the expectations of self or others. Don’t get trapped into a life of trying to please others or self instead please the Savior. Allow His will not your wants or others whims to guide you. Examine your behavior and ask this simple question, Is God pleased with what I’m doing?

    B.        Work – “being fruitful in every good work”

    Paul prayed that the people would lead productive lives. When Jesus talked about bearing fruit in John 15 he said He was the vine and we are the branches and we must abide in Him, that apart from Him we will bear no fruit. The life of an obedient Christian is fruitful, because our Creator designed us to be fruitful. Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear lasting fruit” (John 15:16). To work without bearing any eternal fruit is a tragic waste. Are you contributing in the work of the Church? Are you a giver or a taker, what do you have to show for your Christian life?

    C.       Know God Well  – “increasing in the knowledge of God”

    We all learn in different ways, visual learners, hands on learners, intuitive learners and the cognitive learners. But knowledge here comes not just from study but from doing life with the Lord, it is a knowledge that enhances an accurate comprehension of God. What rain and sunshine are to the nurture of plants, the knowledge of God is to the growth and maturing of the spiritual life. It is relationship knowledge, because Paul knew that everything hinges on the health and vitality of our relationship with God. What is truly important is not that we know about God but that we know God. There is always a danger of substituting facts for a relationship. The life that pleases God is the one that yearns to know more about God so that they can know God better. Most of what you learn about God will not be revealed to you until you know His will, live out His will, and begin bearing eternal fruit. God discloses Himself as His children obey.