2015-05-03
Lessons from Colossians
Ken Verboncoeur

God is the granter of those things which we pray for

Psalm 54:2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Genesis 25:21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

1 Kings 9:3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

Nehemiah 1:6 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.

2. Prayer is serious business and sometime takes courage

2 Samuel 7:27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name

Luke 20:46-47 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.

Nehemiah 1:6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.

3. God answers prayer

Psalm 6:9 The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.
Matthew 21:22 “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Lessons of Colossians
Colossians 1:9-11

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 May you be 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

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Lessons of Colossians
Prayer Frequency

1 – Pray without ceasing (1:9)
2 – Pray steadfastly (4:2)
3 – Pray despite the difficulty (struggle) (4:12)

Lessons of Colossians
Pray for others (ourselves) that they will:

1 – Be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (1:9)
2 – Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (1:10)
3 – Bear fruit in every good work (1:10)
4 – Increase in the knowledge of God (1:10)
5 – Be strengthened with all power [for] (1:11)
Endurance
Patience with Joy

6 – Give thanks to the Father who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (better than a qualification to nationals any day) (1:12)
7 – Conduct themselves wisely toward outsiders (4:5)
8 – Make the best use of their time for Christ (4:5)
9 – Speak with graciousness, seasoning their speech with salt (4:6)
10 – Know how they ought to answer each person (4:6)
11 – Stand mature (4:12)
12 – Stand fully assured in all the will of God (4:12)

Lessons of Colossians
Pray that God will:

1 – Open a door for the Word – to declare the mystery of Christ (4:3)
2 – Make their speech clear (4:4)