Colossians 1:9–14 (ESV)

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

From this prayer, we learn that prayer makes two great requests:

1. It asks for the discernment of God’s will,

2. and then for the power to perform that will.

We have examined the first request…

1.  TO BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL  (V.9)

Today, we look at Paul’s second request…

2. TO LIVE WORTHY OF THE LORD, PLEASING HIM IN EVERY WAY (v.10)

We are to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…

“so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;”  (v. 10-11)

There is nothing so practical as prayer. We pray, not in order to escape life, but in order to be better able to meet life. We pray, not in order to withdraw ourselves from life, but in order to live life in the world of men as it ought to be lived.

If we are going to live a life that is worthy of the Lord, that pleases Him in every way, that life must express itself in four ways:

1)  Through bearing fruit in every good work (v.10) “bearing fruit in every good work”

This includes acts of worship (prayer, praise, etc) as well as service done for other people (deeds of kindness) and cultivation in one’s own life of Christian virtues; i.e. fruit of the Spirit.

Here is a helpful reminder that although a person is not saved by good works, he most certainly is saved for good works. We are so strong in emphasizing that we are saved by grace and not by works that some might get the impression that works are not connected to salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth! Good works are the fruit of genuine salvation.

We learn in Ephesians 2:10 that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Again, Paul wrote to Titus: “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” (Tit. 3:8).

We live a life that is worthy of the Lord…

2)  Through increasing in the knowledge of God (v.10) “Increasing in the knowledge of God.”

“Increasing” is a present tense, continuous action. ”Growing continually” expresses the meaning.

Before one has the desire to know God’s will, he must first have the desire to know God himself.

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.”

We live a life that is worthy of the Lord…

3) Through being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might (v.11) “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;”

The word strengthened is a present tense verb just like bearing fruit, just like increasing. That means that God does not just pour His power into us and there it is. No, He empowers us with power as we need it and as we seek Him. There is no limit to the resource of God’s power.

We do not live the Christian life in our own power. Paul stresses how our will and Christ’s power work together. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Paul lists three ways Christ’s power expresses itself in our lives.

* Expressing Great Endurance (this has to do with CIRCUMSTANCES).

The King James version translates it as “patience.”  It is the ability to deal triumphantly with anything that life can do to us.

* Expressing Patience (this has to do with PEOPLE).

The Greek word is a combination of two words, “long” and “suffering.” If you have ever had to “put up” with a high-maintenance person, you would understand the need for challenge in “long-suffering.” The basic meaning is patience with people. The Spirit never loses patience with us, belief in us, and hope for us and in His strength, we can do the same for others.

Paul prays that the Christian may be such that no CIRCUMSTANCE can defeat his strength, and no HUMAN BEING can defeat his love.

* Expressing Joy

Added to all this is joy. The Christian is not to face life as a grim struggle with events and with people.

The Christian is to have a radiant and sunny-hearted attitude to life.

So, the Christian prayer is, “Make me, O Lord, victorious over every circumstance; make me patient with every person; and withal give me the joy which no circumstance and no man will ever take from me.”

It takes the power of God to express endurance, patience and joy.

The fourth way we live a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing Him in every way, we will discuss tomorrow. I’ll give you a hint. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.