Study:  The Colossians Epistle

Six General, and 14 Specific, Ways in Which We Can Pray for Our Brethren in Christ

1. For True Christian Minds (v. 9(b)) In contrast to the world's "gnosis," Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with God's fuller, deeper, more thorough "epignosis" (i.e., a true Christian mind).

2. For God-Honoring and Christ-Exalting Lives (v. 10(a))
Paul prayed that the Colossians would have a walk worthy of our dear Lord. As 1 Peter 1:15 puts it, that we would be holy as He is holy. In short, a true Christian mind not only has a proper knowledge, but also a daily life that honors God and exalts Christ. A true Christian mind walks-the-talk.

11 Specific Ways to Pray; That Our Walk Would Be:
 1. In love (Eph. 5:2)
 2. In humility (Eph. 4:1-3)
 3. In purity (Rom. 13:13)
 4. In truth (3 John 3-4)
 5. In contentedness (1 Cor. 7:17)
 6. In wisdom (Eph. 5:15)
 7. In light (Eph. 5:8)
 8. In good works (Eph. 2:10)
 9. By faith (2 Cor. 5:7)
10. Different from the world's (Eph. 4:17-32)
11. Single-minded and whole-hearted, seeking to FULLY please God
(Col. 1:11(a)).

3. For Fruitful Lives (v. 10(b))
Paul prayed that the Colossians would continually have lives which
naturally manifested the indwelling of Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit. The result: their faith is manifested as well as the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

4. For Spiritual Growth (v. 10(c))
The more one knows God, the more one desires to serve Him and live for Him. The more one desires to serve Him and live for Him, the more one desires to better know Him. It is an unending upward spiral (i.e., one begets the other). It's a mutual cause-and-effect relationship which fuels spiritual growth.

5. For Spiritual Strength (v. 11(a))
Paul prayed that his dear Colossian brethren would be spiritually strengthened by a steady supply of God's immense, glorious, limitless, power and might. Which comes through His Holy Spirit.

6. For Spiritual Endurance (and Joyfully) (v. 11(b))
Three specifics here:
a) for patience (i.e., endurance, steadfastness, perseverance) in one's adverse circumstances; even if it means affliction, suffering, persecution, etc.
b) Longsuffering (i.e., a patient, longsuffering, spirit with difficult people). Paul was praying that his Colossian brethren would be longsuffering in spirit towards each other, and even the false teachers who opposed them. We see the perfect model of this patience and longsuffering in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Even when He was being murdered. Only by God's grace can we begin to follow His example.
c) Paul prayed that his Colossian brethren would not only endure, but to do so joyfully. Only through a proper knowledge of God, His will, His promises, His purposes, as revealed in Scripture, can we have the strength to endure joyfully.

Summary of vv. 9-11 (MacArthur): It was Paul's constant prayer for
the Colossians that they be filled with the knowledge of God's will. He knew that only when believers are controlled by that knowledge can they walk worthy of the Lord and please Him. Paul knew further that such knowledge was required for:
a) a fruitful life,
b) spiritual growth,
c) strength and d) joyful endurance of trials.

By His Grace Alone,

Teacher: Darin Lawson