Intentional Prayer
Colossians 1:9-14 Victory Fellowship
November 3, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
Introduction:
What causes us to be very intentional in our words or actions?
For Caution. For Clarity. For Conviction.
Sometimes we are intentional as a result of a conviction we have that we cannot let go of. Like that Paul and Timothy have writing to the Church in Colossae. They offer very intentional prayer.
Explaining the Text:
A) The Goal of their Prayer:
To discern God’s Will (vs9) to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
To receive Power to Perform it (vs 11) strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,
B) The Apostles are Intentional in what they pray for:
1) that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
-doing it Gods way -not theirs
-two things we won’t do in heaven – Sin and witness to unbelievers
2) so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord -to please [Him] in all respects.
3) bearing fruit in every good work…
4) and increasing in the knowledge of God…
5) strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,..
6) for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;.
7) joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light…
8) For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins ---having the assurance that God can and will answer this prayer!
Application:
A) What motivates us to be very intentional in our actions?
1) illus. – what if you looked up in your rear-view mirror and saw a police car following you
--OR what if you passed one parked and then it pulled out behind you and followed you awhile?
B) What kind of intentional requests do we put into our prayers?
1) do we see God as the policeman following us trying to catch us doing wrong?
-or put another way: if Jesus came to see us would he tell us what terrible sinners we all are?
2) God made us. He knows our weakness. He also knows that in Christ He can remake us all into what He created us to be. Do we share Christ’s intentions?
PRAYER
SONG: Somebody Prayed
Colossians 1:9-14 (NLT)
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.