Today we will look at another of Paul's prayers. This one is found in Colossians chapter 1:
Col 1:9-14 (KJV)
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;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;11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
When you insert someone's name in this prayer, you are praying (proseuchomai: petitioning, supplicating, asking God) and desiring (aiteo: begging, calling, craving, desiring and requiring) that they would be filled (pleroo: made replete, crammed full, made full, fully supplied) with knowledge (epignosis: layer upon layer of accumulated, progressive precise and correct knowledge) of God's will and also of wisdom (the proper use of that knowledge) and spiritual understanding (sunesis: a mental putting together)!
This is so that they may walk (paripateo: to regulate one's life, to conduct one's self) in a worthy (axios: appropriately, suitable, after a godly sort) manner. That's a manner that is pleasing to the Lord and that is fruitful (karpophoreo: productive) in every (pas: individually and collectively) good (agathos: excellent, honorable, useful) work! And that they would also be increasing in knowledge!
We are also praying that they may be strengthened with all might (both come from the Greek word, dunamis: miraculous power) according to His glorious (doxa: magnificence, excellence, preeminence) power (kratos: dominion, might, power, force and strength). This will result in patience (hupomone: steadfastness, constancy, endurance, perseverance) and longsuffering (makrothumia: forbearance and fortitude) with joyfulness!
Then we can be thanking the Father Who has made us meet (hikanoo: enabled, qualified, equipped with adequate power) to be partakers of our inheritance as saints in God's Light, recognizing that it is He Who has delivered (rhoumai: rescued, drawn to one's self) us from the power (exousia: authority, jurisdiction, mastery, power of rule) of darkness and translated (methistemi: removed, transferred) us INTO the kingdom (dominion, rule, kingship) of His dear Son, Jesus!
In Jesus we have received redemption (apolutrosis: liberation procured by the payment of a ransom) through His blood and that includes the forgiveness (aphesis: deliverance, release from bondage, remission) of sin! Hallelujah! Let's look at the Amplified Bible here:
Col. 1:9-14 (Amplified)
9For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things--
10That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].
11[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,
12Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.
13[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins
You couldn't pray a more powerful prayer for someone that you want to see grow in the things of God than that one! Now WILL you pray this for them consistently? IF you will, you WILL see God's results!
Shalom in Him!
