The Prayer of Paul

Colossians 1:9-14
The Prayer of Paul

* The Lord will pour out His Spirit as we pray – Acts 1:1-21

* We must pray prayers that hit the bullseye every time*
– Speaking in tongues hits the bullseye every time

– Praying the Word of God hits the bullseye every time
a. God’s Word is His will
b. God’s Word is God’s way of doing things
c. God’s Word was written by God Himself
(1) PAUL PRAYS THAT THE COLOSSIANS WILL INCREASE IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD – vs10

Increase – Means to enlarge; grow

Psalm 119:32 – Our hearts can be enlarged to receive

Psalm 18:36 – Your foundation can be enlarged so you won’t slip

Isaiah 54:2 – Our area of influence can enlarge to affect more people for Jesus Christ
Knowledge – this is full knowledge
– It is desiring and practicing and believing in the entire Word of God

– Acts 20:17-31 (v27)
*** The whole counsel of God ***
*** When we are enlarging and increasing in the Word of God, we become fruitful

Fruitful – means to produce or bring forth fruit
* The Word of God produces fruit
(2) PAUL PRAYS THAT THE COLOSSIANS WOULD BE STRENGTHENED – V11

Strengthened – means to receive power

Glorious power – is the manifest presence of God

a. It is something you can feel, sense and experience

b. It is to build our Christian character
QUALITIES OF STRONG CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

(1) Patience – v11 – it means to wait and be hopeful

– It is the ability to handle things until they work out

– It is patience under trials

a. Waiting is serving or doing something for the lord

b. Hopeful is a spirit of expectation

(2) Long-suffering – v11
– This means to have a long fuse/to suffer long

– This is patience with people. It enables us to bear people even when they are mean

(3) Joy – means to be cheerful and glad/a calm happiness and delight
– Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and we can always have it no matter what is going on in us or around us
(4) Thankfulness – means to express gratitude

– The church at Colossee was full of thanks – Col 1:3…1:12…2:7…3:15-17…

– We give thanks – this speaks of not always wanting to give thanks

Paul ends his prayer with thanks

1. That the Lord has qualified us – v12
– He has placed us in a position to receive all of His spiritual benefits
2. Jesus has delivered us – vs13-14

Delivered – means to rescue/to draw oneself like drawing water from a well

Power – means domination/the authority of/lawlessness

3. Jesus has brought us into the Kingdom of God

Translated – it means to transfer/to remove from one place/it’s a transportation of people