Colossians 1:9-14

Paul's Prayer for them - 1:9-14

9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Paul did not say that he would pray for them. He states that he has been praying, is now praying, and will continue to pray for the church at Colosse.

Paul prays that they might be filled with knowledge. Many prayers today are generic, shallow and without specifics. Many prayers today are, "Lord, bless the sick. Bless the hurting. Bless us as we go home." What do we mean by "bless"? What is it we want God to do as He answers our prayer?

Paul was very specific. Paul prayed that they be filled with:

Knowledge of God's will

Wisdom

Spiritual Understanding

9 - From the day we learned of your faith, we have continued to pray for you. We pray that you will increase and continue in knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual insight.

10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

12giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Walk worthy of the Lord. The Greek word here means to earn your pay, to receive your due reward.

TEB "Made you fit to have your share" SEB "Entitled to have a part" NASB "In a manner worthy that qualified us to share."

Paul lists eight things in which they can "earn their pay."

Please God

Be fruitful in good works

Continue in the increase in knowledge

Grow stronger in the glorious power of God

Grow in patience

Increase in your ability to endure

Keep on living in abundant joy

Always remember to express gratitude

10 - We are praying for you to live so that you will have earned your reward. The reward will be yours by pleasing go, bearing fruit in good deeds and growing in knowledge.

11 - I pray that you will grow stronger, be more patient, more able to endure and be full of joy.

12 - Remember to be grateful to God for making us suited to inherit the light.

13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Not only did God make us suited to inherit His estate, He also rescued us from the power of darkness."The devil made me do it" is a common excuse. This is an excuse for our own weakness. Satan is only as powerful as we allow him to control us. We can resist. (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9)

God delivered us from sin. TEV - "brought us safe" SEB "moved us" God was not satisfied with bringing us out of darkness. He also moved us into the kingdom.

The kingdom is the church. (Matthew 16:18-19) It is not to be established at some future date. It was in existence in the first century. The kingdom was not only in existence but it had citizens. Study the following passages: Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 1:9; Ephesians 2:19. The kingdom of God is not a future promise. It is a present reality.

13 - God rescued us from the darkness of sin and moved us into citizenship in the kingdom of the Son of His love.

14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Salvation is available ONLY in Christ. (2 Timothy 2:10) All spiritual blessings are in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

Redemption usually carries the idea of "buying back". That may not be the meaning here. Here it is more the idea of obtaining our release. God obtained our eternal release and deliverance. (Hebrews 9:12)

14 - In Christ we are made free by His blood. We have the forgiveness of our sins.