INTRODUCTION:
1. Turn in your Bible to Colossians 1:11.
1) Colossians 1:11 is a continuation of the prayer that Paul
begins in verses nine and ten.
2) In verses 9&10 Paul mentions eight things that Christians
should pray about.
3) In verse eleven Paul mentions additional things that
Christians should pray about.
2. The things that Paul prayed for those of Colossae are things
that every generation of Christians should pray for.
3. In this lesson we will discuss the things, from verse eleven,
that Paul prayed for on behalf of the Christians at Colossae.
DISCUSSION:
I. FIRST, COLOSSIANS 1:11A TEACHES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY THAT THEY
WILL BE “STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT!”
1. The great problem in life is not usually, in not knowing what
to do, but the problem is to be strong enough in our desire
and determination to do the things that we know that we
should do.
1) If God merely told us what His will was, that might well be a
frustrating situation.
2) But God not only tells Christians, in the New Testament what
His will is, God also strengthens faithful Christians to be able
to perform what He wants Christians to do.
2. Turn to Ephesians 3:20. Ephesians 3:20 teaches that God is
able to help Christians do exceedingly abundantly above the
things that they are able to ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 says,
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in
us.”
3. From Colossians 1:11 and Ephesians 3:20 Paul teaches
Christians that they should pray for God’s strength and might
and that we can expect our prayers and even more that what
we ask or think to come powerfully to us.
1) Paul is teaching that if we don’t accomplish what God wants
us to accomplish, it is not God’s fault.
2) God’s “strength and might” are always greater than the devil.
II. SECOND, COLOSSIANS 1:11B TEACHES CHRISTIANS THAT THEY
SHOULD PRAY THAT GOD’S STRENGTH AND MIGHT SHOULD BE
PROVIDED FOR THEM “ACCORDING TO GOD’S GLORIOUS MIGHT!”
1. Turn to Ephesians 1:19&20. In Ephesians 1:19&20 Paul
prayed a similar prayer for the Christians at Ephesus: Verses
19&20 say, “18, “…that you may know…” 19 and what is the
exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He
worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and
seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
1. The first part of V. 19a says, “And what is the exceeding
greatness of His power to us-ward who believe.”
1) The word “power” here in the Greek is “Dunamis.” Our
English word “dynamite” comes from this.
2) In the next statements Paul refers to what the “spiritual
dynamite”, from God, actually is for Christians.
2. The second part of Ephesians 1:19 let’s Christian know that
this power is made available for them so that they can
accomplish things for God. “according to the working of his
mighty power.”
1) The word “working” here means, “divine energy or operative
power.”
2) The word “mighty” also means, “manifested strength”.
3) As the prayer continues to unfold we are able to learn of the
many ways that God’s “mighty power” is manifested or made
know for Christians.
3. Ephesians 1:20a teaches that God wants Christians to know
that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is
available for them. “Which He worked in Christ, when He
raised Him from the dead.”
1) The resurrection is the act above all others and beyond all
others that shows the unlimited power and ability of God to
do all that he has promised to do for his children.
2) Without the resurrection of Christ, the Christian gospel is
stripped of all credibility and relevance for man; and that is
why Paul never forgot to include it in the very heart of every
message and every letter.
4. Looking back to Colossians 1:11b the words “glorious power”
mean basically the same as “mighty power” and “the
exceeding greatness of His power” that we have just
explained from Ephesians 1:19&20.
5. Christians should pray that they keep fresh in their mind that
just as God’s power raised Christ from the dead that that
equal power is available to Christians as they strive to bear
fruit in every good work.
6. Christians will be victorious if they will keep faithful to God’s
word and appeal to God in prayer.
III. THIRD, COLOSSIANS 1:11C TEACHES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FOR
PATIENCE AS A FRUIT OF THEIR FAITHFULNESS AND PRAYER!
1. “Patience” means steadfast endurance whereby the Christian
is able to continue doing right regardless of the hardships
and trials.
1) The Greek word for this English word “patience” does not
refer to just bowing one’s head down and enduring the
difficulties and hard times.
2) This kind of “patience” struggles onward like a running back
with tacklers hanging on while he is trying to cross the goal
line.
3) This kind of “patience” means not only the ability to bear
things but the ability, in bearing them, to turn them into
glory. It is a conquering patience.
2. This kind of “patience” [Hupomone] is the ability to deal
triumphantly with anything that life can do to us.
3. Turn to James 5:10&11. James 5:10&11 teaches new
Testament Christians to look back at the patience of the Old
Testament prophets and also at the patience of Job, as they
dealt with theirs sufferings and discouragements and yet
they struggled onward toward success and victory. James
5:10&11 says, “10 My brethren, take the prophets, who
spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering
and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure.
You have heard of the perseverance [or patience] of Job and
seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very
compassionate and merciful.”
4. When things seem unbearable Christians need to pray for
patience from God to help them demonstrate the kind of
patience that Paul and James speak of.
5. Patiently keep up the struggle as the running back in his
effort to get across the goal line, even if he has to drag
tacklers with him. Patiently plod on!
IV. FOURTH, COLOSSIANS 1:11D TEACHES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY THAT
THEY WILL BE “LONGSUFFERING”!
1. “Longsuffering” is oftentimes spoken of as patience in the
English language and sometimes in the Greek language the
two words are used interchangeably.
2. However, in the Greek there is a technical difference in the
two words.
1) “Longsuffering” [makrothumia] in the Greek, for its basic
meaning is being longsuffering or patient with people.
2) “Longsuffering” is the quality of mind and heart which
enables us to cope with people in such a way that their
unpleasantness and malice and cruelty will never drive us to
bitterness, that their unwillingness to learn will never drive us
to despair, that their foolishness will never drive us to
irritation, and that their unloveliness will never alter our love.
3) “Longsuffering” [makrothumia] is the disposition of character
which never loses patience with, belief in and hope for
others.
3. Turn to Acts 15:36-41. In Acts 15:36-41 we have the example
of Barnabas being more longsuffering with John Mark than
Paul. Acts 15:36-41 says, “36 Then after some days Paul said
to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in
every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and
see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined
to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that
they should not take with them the one who had departed
from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the
work. [Record of this is in Acts 13:13, “Now when Paul and his
party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia;
and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.”] 39
Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from
one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to
Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being
commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he
went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
1) As time went on the “longsuffering” that Barnabas showed to
Mark showed to pay off and develop a stronger character out
of Mark.
2) Turn to 2 Timothy 4:9-11. Years later, when Paul wrote 2
Timothy 4:9-11 Paul makes a special request for Mark to
come and assist him. 2 Timothy 4:-9-11 says, “9 Be diligent
to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me,
having loved this present world, and has departed for
Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he
is useful to me for ministry.”
3) Another thing that shows spiritual maturity and development
for Mark is that Mark wrote the gospel account about Jesus,
which wears the name Mark.
4. Each and every Christian needs to pray that God will help
them to be “longsuffering” with other people and keep a
positive hope for others. Pray for God to help us not give up
too quick on others.
5. Our “longsuffering” and willingness to work with others and
help them develop may strengthen them like Barnabas
strengthened Mark.
V. FIFTH, COLOSSIANS 1:11E TEACHES CHRISTIANS THAT THEY SHOULD
PRAY FOR “JOY”!
1. Joy can come for the Christian regardless of the
circumstances. Joy, for one reason, will come due to one
knowing that they are living right in the sight of God.
1) Turn to Acts 5:40-42. Acts 5:40-42 provides an example of
the apostles rejoicing even after they were beaten and
threatened. Acts 5:40-42 says, “40 And they [The Jewish
leaders in Jerusalem] agreed with him [Gamaliel], and when
they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they
commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus,
and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of
the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every
house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as
the Christ.”
2) Turn to Acts 16:22-25. Acts 16:22-25 contains the example of
Paul and Silas rejoicing, through song and prayer, even while
they were in prison in Philippi. Acts 16:22-25 says, “22 Then
the multitude rose up together against them; and the
magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be
beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on
them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to
keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he
put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the
stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and
singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to
them.”
3) Turn to Philippians 4:4. About ten years after Paul was in
prison in Philippi Paul was in prison in Rome. Paul writes the
letter of Philippians to those of the church at Philippi. In
Philippi 4:4 Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will
say, rejoice!”
2. The examples demonstrated by the Christians of the first
century let Christians in every generation know that the
Christian life is not a grim and despondent struggle with
events and with people; instead the Christian life is to be a
radiant and sunny-hearted attitude to life.
3. The Christian joy is joy in any circumstances. It is important
to understand that if joy is not rooted in the soil of suffering,
it will turn out to be a shallow type of joy and will soon be
gone.
4. It is easy to be joyful when things go well; but genuine
Christian radiance is something which all the shadows of life
can never quench.
5. The Christian’s prayer should be: ‘Make me, O Lord, patient
and victorious over every circumstance; make me
longsuffering with every person; and give me the joy which
no circumstance and no one will ever take from me.’
CONCLUSION:
1. Prayer is extremely necessary and important in the life of a
Christian, however if you are not a Christian the starting
place for you is to obey the words of Jesus from Mark 16:16.
1) We should pray for strength.
2) We should pray for patience.
3) We should pray for joy.
2. In Mark 16:16 Jesus says, “He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned.”
1) Jesus is the spokesman of these words.
2) You can trust that if you sincerely believe, repent (as Jesus
also says in Luke 13:3) and confess that you believe that
Jesus is the Son of God (as Jesus teaches in Matthew 10:32)
and obey the command of baptism you will be saved from all
your past sins!
3. Whatever you need is, please come to the front as we stand
and sing!
