Video from Desiring God
Partnering with God in a Thousand Prayers
Colossians 1:9-12
Intro. 1. Knowledge, when it stands alone or is unduly elevated, has the potential to cause arrogance & aloofness - 1 Cor. 8:1. 2. Col. 1:9-12 - When knowledge is coupled with "all wisdom and spiritual understanding" it enables the Christian to bear commendable fruit. a. All wisdom - Heavenly, from above - cf. Jas. 3:13, 17; Prov. 9:10. b. All spiritual understanding - Discernment, perception - Phil. 1:9-11. 3. God has made His will known to us as a part of His grace! - Eph. 1:7-9 4. By knowing God's will we avoid spiritual destruction - Hos. 4:6. 5. You are also equipped to accomplish great spiritual work in your life when you are filled with a knowledge of God's will!
I. TO WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, FULLY PLEASING HIM - 1:10. A. Our Life Will Please God Because It Is Defined & Directed By An Accurate Knowledge Of His Will - cf. 1 Ths. 4:1-3. 1. Acceptable - Rom. 12:1-2. 2. Approved - 2 Tim. 2:15. 3. Complete - Heb. 13:20-21.
II. TO BE FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK - v. 10. A. We Are His Workmanship, Created For Good Works - Eph. 2:10; cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17. -By knowing God's will we can pursue proper "good works" (Matt. 7:21-23). B. The Good Works Ordained By God: 1. Are influential - Matt. 5:16 (1 Pet. 2:12). 2. Are carefully followed by Christians - Titus 3:8. 3. Are the Christian's zeal - Titus 2:14. 4. Are mutually encouraged among us - Heb. 10:24. 5. Place the Christian above reproach - 1 Tim. 5:25. -By knowing His will we are able to "walk" in them!
III. TO INCREASE IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD - v. 10. A. Knowledge Of God Is The Foundation Of Our Spiritual Strength, Stability, Growth & Salvation. (1 Tim. 2:3-4) 1. Eph. 1:15-19 - Strength & perception possible by a "knowledge of Him" (v. 17). 2. Eph. 4:13-16 - Stability, growth & maturity via "knowledge of the Son of God" (v. 13). (Rom. 15:14 - Equips us to admonish one another.) 3. Phil. 3:7-11 - Knowledge of Christ is superior & brings eternal blessings.
IV. STRENGTHENED BY THE POWER OF GOD - v. 11. A. "With All Might" ( "According to His glorious power" - 2 Tim. 1:12; Rom. 8:31-32). -Because you know God & that His purposes never fail, you have power to endure & excel! B. With All Patience & Longsuffering - Jas. 1:2-4, 12. -Because you know the relationship between trials, patience, strengthening & eternal victory, you accept the present trials of faith! C. With Complete Joy - Phil. 4:4-7. -Because you know the power of prayer & the peace of God, you have joy!
V. TO BE THANKFUL TO GOD - v. 11. A. Because He Saves Us! 1. God has equipped us to partake in the inheritance of light. 2. Without a knowledge of God's will the inheritance would not (will not) be obtained! - cf. Acts 20:32 B. Our Giving Of Thanks Is Rooted In Understanding (Knowledge of) Our Salvation! (cf. 1:13-14)
Conclusion 1. You have every reason to be "filled with the knowledge of His will:" -Your life will be worthy of the Lord -You will please Him -You will be fruitful in every good work -You will increase in knowing God -You will be strengthened with the power of God -You will live a thankful life 2. Grow in the knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ! - 2 Pet. 3:18
from the article: FILLED WITH A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WILL
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