Bible Study - All In (5) - Committed to Prayer - Colossians 1:3-12 - November 15, 2020

 Bible Study – All In (5) – Committed to Prayer – November 15, 2020

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled, “All In – A Life of Commitment.”

Our focus scripture is Colossians 1:3-12.

Commit to prayer for the salvation and spiritual growth of others. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we read:

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

GOD desires for HIS Children to be in constant communication with HIM. Communication is a two-way street. We, as GOD’S Children talk to GOD but just as important, we are to stop and listen. That is one way we get to know GOD in an intimate, loving way and build trust with HIM. Also, in 2 Chronicles 16:9a - 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. – Only GOD knows the needs of those throughout earth. Never question what GOD calls you to pray for but pray. When you hear a siren, do you pray. When watching the news and things are happening over earth, do you pray? When you read the newspaper are you led to pray? It doesn’t always have to tragedies but prayers of praise and thanksgiving. All Christians are called to pray. 

I have heard some Christians say, “If GOD spoke to me, I would run or it would frighten me to death.” Do you recall that the prophet Elijah demonstrated the power of GOD to the Israelites versus the pagan god Baal? We find this contest in 1 Kings 18:20-24:

20 So Ahab (King) sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” Be careful and don’t take this to mean you can test GOD but only if HE leads you to do so. 

We know that the One True GOD, YHWH, responded and the pagan priests were killed. This was a magnificent display of GOD’S power and sovereignty over all. Yet, when we read on, we read that Elijah prayed for rain and rain came. When King Ahab told his wife, Jezebel, what Elijah had done she sent him a message that she would have him killed the next day. Elijah ran to get out of her reach, as we read in 1 Kings 19:1-4:

19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a [a]broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

A successful prophet in the LORD’S sight fleeing? Why? Did he not have the faith that GOD would take care of him or did GOD need to teach Elijah more about their relationship? 

Let’s read 1 Kings 19:9-13:

9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

God’s Revelation to Elijah

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire [e]a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

We often think GOD will speak to us in some dramatic way, but I can tell you when HE speaks in “a still small voice” it is peaceful, pure and magnificent. But GOD speaks in many different ways. HE speaks in ways we will listen to HIM. Let’s explore!

When we pray, GOD listens and responds to the Spirit-born Christian with yes, no, wait but to the person seeking an eternal relationship with HIM as his or her son or daughter the response is always YES!!!. Dear JESUS, I am a sinner and ask you to forgive me for all of my sins believing that JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay in full for all of my sins. I acknowledge that JESUS is my Savior and I thank HIM for HIS eternal love and forgiveness. 

The Spirit-born person’s part is to trust HIM and follow and trust what HE reveals or tells us, as HIS Child. Just as a baby has to grow physically and mentally, so does the Spirit-born Christian. Ask GOD to lead you to the church or Bible study group where you can grow Spiritually. If you asked JESUS to come into your heart then welcome to GOD’S Family with prayers that you will grow Spiritually as a Spirit-born Christian.

Our scripture was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome to the Christians in Colossae.

Let’s read Colossians 1:3-6a:

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love (agape) you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. 

When the Apostle Paul and fellow Christians heard of the faith they had in CHRIST JESUS and their love for all the saints, they recognized that was a witness that their source was founded in GOD, the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. All Spirit-born Christians have the hope that resides in the fact that JESUS gave HIS sinless life upon the cross, died, was buried, was resurrected on the third day, walked upon earth 40 days before ascending into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of GOD and sending the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell every person who places his or her faith in JESUS. Their hope is centered and secure in the passion of JESUS and their faith in JESUS for eternal life.

We, as Christians, need to pray for all the saints around the world. But we don’t know them but GOD does so pray for them as they struggle with the issues of life. Who are “the saints”? They are the Holy Ones, those who have been made Holy through their redemption through the shed blood of JESUS and their faith they have placed in JESUS as their Savior, which is every Spirit-born Christian. Every Spirit-born Christian is sanctified or set aside for the purposes of GOD to be used as HE leads. 

The word of truth comes through the gospel which is CHRIST in you, the hope of Glory. 

It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.[b] 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your[c] behalf, 8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit. 

The Gospel of truth is spreading all over the world and it is bearing Spiritual fruit. You learned of GOD’S Grace, which you learned about from Epaphras. It is interesting the Epaphras means “lovely.”

Epaphras is the person who communicated with Paul and Paul’s evangelistic team “about your love in the Spirit.” The result of this communication it triggered specific prayers focused your Spiritual growth as you are being led by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the great commission. 

Let’s read Colossians 1:9-12:

Prayer for Spiritual Growth

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,[d] 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you[e] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 

When we hear where GOD is working that is our que, as Spirit-born Christians to join the effort with prayers, physical presence, financial support and other assistance as the Holy Spirit prompts you. Paul knew that where the gospel was being successful, Satan would also be at work to prevent it. We must pray for our ministers and those who are serving our LORD, as well as each other. 

We recently had the opportunity to support a mission effort in Africa to have a well dug. GOD provided the funds and the work began. One of the workers accepted JESUS as his Savior. Providing funds to dig the well was incidental to GOD’S main focus, the salvation of a worker. 

It is exciting when GOD works through us to reach others with the Good News. 

Review these bullet points the Apostle Paul outlined for the benefit of the Christians in Colossae:

- We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,[d] 

- 10 so that you may walk/live worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 

- 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 

- 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you[e] to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 

We who know the truth are the light and we must not hide the light from those who are in darkness. Share the light you have with others as GOD gives opportunity. We can all pray as our LORD prompts us. Remember HIS eyes go to and fro throughout the earth. Listen to the Holy Spirit as HE calls you into ministry. Read and study GOD’S Word and put into action what GOD reveals to you. No Christian is a finished product until we meet JESUS face to face as we enter Heaven. YES!!!

Blessings!!!