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A LIFE-CHANGING PRAYER
A LIFE-CHANGING PRAYER
Love needs to be expressed and the greatest expression of God’s love is Jesus. The first two chapters of Colossians talk about believing in Jesus (doctrinal/belief); three and four talk about living for Jesus (practical/behavior). Colossae was a city in a Roman province called Asia Minor (Turkey). It had a mostly Gentile non-Jewish population with a significant Jewish presence. The church in Colossae was started by Epaphras, and who was with Paul in prison briefing him about what was going on in Colossae. There were many things threatening or plaguing the Colossian church: 1) Some teach that Jesus never took on a human body. He is only a spirit, deemphasizing the body. Only the spiritual is good. The body is of no value. 2) Being a Roman colony, people worshipped many gods. Jesus is an addition to the many gods they already believed in. 3) The Jewish sector says salvation through faith in Jesus is not enough. One still needs to obey the law or get circumcised. There was something plaguing the early Colossian church and there’s also certainly something plaguing us today. Many of us may consider ourselves prayerful people but the prayer that we’re going to look at is life-changing. If you want a real change in your life, we are going to dissect this prayer of apostle Paul in Colossians 1:1-14
Love needs to be expressed and the greatest expression of God’s love is Jesus. The first two chapters of Colossians talk about believing in Jesus (doctrinal/belief); three and four talk about living for Jesus (practical/behavior). Colossae was a city in a Roman province called Asia Minor (Turkey). It had a mostly Gentile non-Jewish population with a significant Jewish presence. The church in Colossae was started by Epaphras, and who was with Paul in prison briefing him about what was going on in Colossae. There were many things threatening or plaguing the Colossian church: 1) Some teach that Jesus never took on a human body. He is only a spirit, deemphasizing the body. Only the spiritual is good. The body is of no value. 2) Being a Roman colony, people worshipped many gods. Jesus is an addition to the many gods they already believed in. 3) The Jewish sector says salvation through faith in Jesus is not enough. One still needs to obey the law or get circumcised. There was something plaguing the early Colossian church and there’s also certainly something plaguing us today. Many of us may consider ourselves prayerful people but the prayer that we’re going to look at is life-changing. If you want a real change in your life, we are going to dissect this prayer of apostle Paul in Colossians 1:1-14
I. THANK YOU FOR JESUS! (Colossians 1:1-8)
Paul begins by establishing that his authority is not his own, it is given by Jesus (v.1). He is an “apostle” (messenger) writing to the “saints” (holy, separate; likeness of nature with the Lord because of being different from the world) v.2.
The focus of the book of Colossians is Jesus. He is the centerpiece of the letter as He is the centerpiece of the whole Bible. Today, we give thanks for (vv.3-8):
• FAITH AND LOVE. The word believe in the New Testament is the same word as faith (John 5:24). To “believe” means to entrust— to entrust ourselves fully to Jesus, the expression of God’s love. We learn to love through His example and because we experience the love of Jesus (1 John 4:20-21).
• THE HOPE OF HEAVEN. The most important citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Just as the Roman colonists never forgot that they belong to Rome, you must never forget that you are citizens of heaven; and your conduct must match your citizenship (Barclay).
• THE GOSPEL. Paul detailed the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
• THE GOSPEL SPREADING WORLDWIDE. Learn to see people the way Jesus sees them. “Beseech” (beg) the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest (Matthew 9:36-38).
• THE GRACE OF GOD. “Grace” means gift, blessing, the Lord’s favor—freely extended to give Himself away to people (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation could never be through good works. It has to be by grace so that no one can boast.
• THOSE WHO SHARE THE GOSPEL. The name “Epaphras” means lovely. Be an Epaphras to someone (Romans 10:15)
II. HELP ME KNOW JESUS! (Colossians 1:9-11)
The second part of the prayer is to “help me know Jesus…I want to know him more. I need him.” Today, we pray (vv.9-11):
• TO KNOW GOD’S WILL. “Foolish” means senseless, lacking perspective, fails to grasp cause-and-effect relationships. The only way to override that foolishness is to know and understand the will of God (Ephesians 5:17). Know the Word of God so that we can definitely know the will of God. Examples of the clear will of God: Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), Be pure (1 Thessalonians 4:3), Submit to authorities (Romans 13:1), Love one another (John 13:34-35),
Make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
• FOR SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING. We need to admit we always lack wisdom. Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). When we follow our own wisdom and don’t ask God for wisdom, we are forfeiting the opportunity to have God’s wisdom guide our life.
• TO WALK WORTHILY BEFORE THE LORD. “Worthy” means suitable, matches actual value. The walk matches the talk (Ephesians 4:1). “Calling” means an invitation. We are children of the living God. We should be behaving differently not to earn that position but because of whom we belong to.
• TO BE PLEASING TO GOD. “Ambition” is to strive eagerly to honor Our greatest ambition should be to please God (2 Corinthians 5:9).
• TO BE FRUITFUL. The secret to fruitfulness is to abide in Jesus (John 15:4-5). “Abide” means to stay, continue, survive, endure.
• TO KNOW GOD EVEN MORE. To “know” is to know through personal experience and intimacy. Jesus alone can save us (John 17:3).
• FOR STRENGTH, STEADFASTNESS, PATIENCE, JOY. Find your strength in Jesus (Psalm 73:26). It is God’s will that we be filled with the Holy Spirit because it’s only through Him that we can experience joy and patience among other things (Galatians 5:22). They cannot be manufactured.
III. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JESUS! (Colossians 1:12-14)
Paul ends with another round of thanksgiving. Today, we give thanks for (vv.12-14):
• HAVING BEEN QUALIFIED AS SAINTS. “Qualified” means to be sufficient. We will never qualify to be saints. Being saints has nothing to do with what we do or do not do. It has everything to do with what Jesus did. When we put our faith in Jesus, He imputes His perfect divine righteousness into our desperately empty spiritual bank account. Positionally, we become righteous and holy before God.
• HAVING BEEN RESCUED FROM DARKNESS AND TRANSFERRED TO GOD’S KINGDOM. We are in complete spiritual darkness, but Jesus takes us out one by one. It is an individual encounter with Him. When He brings us out of the darkness into His glorious light, there is rejoicing in heaven. That is how precious we are in His eyes. We don’t deserve it, but He loves us just the same.
• REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS. No person, organization, or religion can ever give us what Jesus offers. Only Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. That is why, Jesus is the expression of God’s love!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Which is of the blessings in Col. 1:1-8,12-14 are you most grateful for today and why?
Which of the petitions in Col. 1:9-11 are the ones you need most today and why?
Who will you tell about “Jesus the Expression of God’s Love” this week?
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