PAUL'S GREAT PRAYER REQUESTS

Good Morning,

Today's lesson aim is to encourage you to pray daily for three great things:  God's will, a worthy life, and the power of God.

How often we go through life expecting God to meet our needs! And we never grasp the critical importance of our own involvement—that of prayer, constant prayer.  Paul asked three things; he made three great requests. All three requests are needed by every church and all believers, in particular those who face false teaching. Note how these three requests lead to a deeper experience with the Lord, a much stronger walk than most believer experience. Every believer should covet these three things and covet them diligently.

Request 1: to know God's will—to be filled with the knowledge of God's will (v.9). "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray fo you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."  Are you focused upon knowing God's will?  Are living with a certainty that you are in God's will?

Note what is stated: we are to "...be filled with the knowledge of His will..."  It is not enough to just know God's will; we are to be filled with the knowledge of His will.  What is being talked about is not God's will for a particular thing nor for a few things. God's will involves all of life, everything we do every moment of every day.  The will of God involves what we do, say, and even think.

Request 2: to walk worthy of Christ (v.10).
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." 

Having a precise understanding of God's will, particularly as recorded in His Word, enables us to walk worthy of Him.  The word "worthy" has among other things the sense of appropriateness and suitability.  Thus, a proper understanding of God's will and Word will enable us to walk worthy before Him.  Being fruitful in every good work is also part o walking worthy of the Lord.

Request 3: to possess the power of God (v.11).

"Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."

Paul prayed the believers at Colosse would be empowered with all power by God's glorious strength and power.  This presents an important foundation for praying for spiritual power that originates in the power of God.  The flesh is weak according the teaching of Christ (see Matthew 26:41). It also profits us nothing (John 6:63). "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:8)

Does your prayer life follow the pattern presented by Paul in Colossians 1:9-11?  Are you seeking to know God's will?  Are you determined to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing?  Are you seeking to live energized by God's power rather than living in the flesh?

May our praying come alive!

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.  Are you living for God, really living for Him in every area of life?  Living like He tells you to live?  In which areas do you need a change of attitude?

2.  Are you consistently experiencing the fullness of God's will?  What kinds of things can you do in order to be filled with the knowledge of God's will?  

3.  How do you know for sure that you are in God's will?

4.  What kinds of things must you do in order to grow in the knowledge of God?

5.  How would you describe your fruitfulness in what you do?

6.  What is the source of the Christian's power?  What are the supernatural results of this power at work in you?

7.  Share a time when you sensed God's power.  What impact did it make on how you live today?

I hope you will take time to worship with family and friends this Sunday, in a good Bible preaching church.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott