Experiencing God's Will: A Prayer for Growth
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound prayer of Paul for the church in Colossae, as found in Colossians 1:9-14. This prayer is a powerful expression of Paul's desire for the believers to be filled with the knowledge of God's will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding. It is a prayer that I have personally embraced and prayed over our church, our students, our missionaries, and my own family. The essence of this prayer is not just about knowing God's will intellectually but experiencing it deeply and personally, much like the difference between hearing about something and truly tasting it for oneself.
Paul's prayer is structured into three parts: the content of the prayer, its purpose, and the characteristics of those who walk in its purpose. The content focuses on being filled with the knowledge of God's will, which is not hidden from us but revealed through scripture and the Holy Spirit. The purpose of this prayer is to enable believers to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him. This is not about acquiring knowledge for its own sake but about living a life that reflects God's character and purposes.
The characteristics of those who walk in this way include spiritual growth, endurance, patience, and a heart of gratitude. Spiritual growth is evidenced by bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Endurance and patience are necessary for facing life's challenges and dealing with others, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Lastly, a heart of gratitude is essential, recognizing that God has already qualified us, delivered us from darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.
As we reflect on this prayer, let us be a church that embodies these characteristics, continually seeking to grow in our knowledge of God, enduring hardships with patience, and giving thanks for the incredible work of redemption He has accomplished in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Experiential Knowledge of God: Paul's prayer emphasizes the importance of not just knowing about God but experiencing His goodness deeply. This experiential knowledge transforms our understanding and compels us to live in alignment with His will. [57:38]
2. Walking Worthy of the Lord: The purpose of being filled with the knowledge of God's will is to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. This involves living a life that reflects His character and is fully pleasing to Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit. [01:03:04]
3. Spiritual Growth and Fruitfulness: A life worthy of the Lord is marked by spiritual growth, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. This growth is a continuous cycle of experiencing God's goodness and responding in obedience. [01:10:47]
4. Endurance and Patience: Endurance in difficult circumstances and patience in relationships are essential characteristics of a life pleasing to God. These qualities are not achieved by our strength but through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. [01:14:37]
5. Gratitude for Redemption: A heart of gratitude is vital, recognizing that God has already qualified, delivered, and transferred us into His kingdom. This gratitude fuels our worship and motivates us to share the gospel with others. [01:19:54]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[50:24] - Introduction to Paul's Prayer
[51:50] - Opening Prayer
[52:51] - Structure of Paul's Prayer
[54:26] - The Content of the Prayer
[55:18] - Experiential Knowledge of God
[57:38] - Tasting and Seeing God's Goodness
[58:43] - Understanding God's Will
[01:00:57] - Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding
[01:03:04] - Walking Worthy of the Lord
[01:05:46] - Characteristics of a Worthy Walk
[01:08:56] - Spiritual Growth and Fruitfulness
[01:12:19] - Experiencing God's Power
[01:14:37] - Endurance and Patience
[01:17:03] - Gratitude for Redemption
[01:23:11] - Call to Prayer and Thanksgiving
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Colossians 1:9-14
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three main parts of Paul's prayer for the church in Colossae as discussed in the sermon? [52:51]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between knowing about God's will and experiencing it? [57:38]
3. What are the characteristics of a life that is "worthy of the Lord" according to the sermon? [01:05:46]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the concept of "experiential knowledge" of God, and why is it important for believers? [57:38]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that spiritual wisdom and understanding are connected to living a life pleasing to God? [01:00:57]
3. How does the sermon interpret the role of endurance and patience in the life of a believer? [01:14:37]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Have you experienced the difference between knowing about God and truly experiencing His goodness? How can you seek a deeper experiential knowledge of God this week? [57:38]
2. Consider your daily walk: Are there areas in your life where you struggle to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord? What steps can you take to align your actions with God's will? [01:03:04]
3. Think about a recent challenge: How did you demonstrate endurance and patience in that situation? What role did your faith play in how you handled it? [01:14:37]
4. Gratitude is a key theme in the sermon. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude in your daily life, especially in recognizing God's work of redemption in you? [01:19:54]
5. Identify a specific relationship where you need to practice more patience. What practical steps can you take to improve this relationship in a way that reflects God's character? [01:16:11]
6. The sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth. What is one area of your spiritual life where you want to see growth, and what specific actions will you take to pursue this growth? [01:10:47]
7. How can you actively participate in spreading the gospel in your community, as encouraged by the sermon? Identify one person or group you can reach out to this week. [01:12:19]
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing God's Goodness Deeply
Paul's prayer for the Colossians emphasizes the importance of not just knowing about God but experiencing His goodness deeply. This experiential knowledge is transformative, moving beyond intellectual understanding to a personal encounter with God's character and love. It is akin to the difference between hearing about a delicious meal and actually tasting it yourself. This kind of knowledge compels believers to live in alignment with God's will, as it becomes a lived reality rather than a mere concept. [57:38]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: Think of a recent moment when you felt God's presence in a tangible way. How can you seek to experience His goodness more deeply in your daily life?
Day 2: Living a Life Worthy of the Lord
The purpose of being filled with the knowledge of God's will is to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. This involves living a life that reflects His character and is fully pleasing to Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is not about acquiring knowledge for its own sake but about allowing that knowledge to transform our actions and attitudes. Walking worthy of the Lord means embodying His love, grace, and truth in every aspect of our lives, making our faith visible to others. [01:03:04]
1 Thessalonians 2:12 (ESV): "We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to reflect God's character. What practical steps can you take this week to align that area with His will?
Day 3: Continuous Spiritual Growth and Fruitfulness
A life worthy of the Lord is marked by spiritual growth, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. This growth is a continuous cycle of experiencing God's goodness and responding in obedience. As believers grow spiritually, they become more effective in their service to others and in their witness to the world. This fruitfulness is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that requires intentionality and reliance on the Holy Spirit. [01:10:47]
2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV): "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you desire to see growth? How can you actively pursue this growth in partnership with the Holy Spirit?
Day 4: Embracing Endurance and Patience
Endurance in difficult circumstances and patience in relationships are essential characteristics of a life pleasing to God. These qualities are not achieved by our strength but through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Endurance allows believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite challenges, while patience enables them to extend grace and understanding to others. Both are vital for maintaining unity within the body of Christ and for personal spiritual maturity. [01:14:37]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Consider a current challenge or relationship where you need more patience or endurance. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in this area today?
Day 5: Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude
A heart of gratitude is vital, recognizing that God has already qualified, delivered, and transferred us into His kingdom. This gratitude fuels our worship and motivates us to share the gospel with others. It is a response to the incredible work of redemption God has accomplished in our lives, reminding us of His faithfulness and love. Gratitude shifts our focus from our circumstances to God's unchanging character, fostering a spirit of joy and contentment. [01:19:54]
Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: Reflect on three specific things God has done in your life for which you are grateful. How can you express this gratitude in a tangible way today?
Quotes
So I'm praying that you would be filled with the knowledge of his will. Speaking of God, God's will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Now the word knowledge in the New Testament, it typically, it carries this notion. It's, it's not about just like this head knowledge of like, oh, I know this. It's talking about an experiential, personal, deep-seated knowledge of, I know this. [00:54:47] (23 seconds)
Paul's praying for the church. He's like, I don't want you to just know about the goodness of God. You can sing about the goodness of God all you want. Do you know it? Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good? Because when you taste and see that the Lord is good, then you can speak about it with a way that the Lord is good. [00:57:46] (18 seconds)
And so if that's the case, we want to hold this up as a mirror. Like, this is a good opportunity for us to reflect and look like, man, are we actually walking in the spirit? Are we actually walking in a manner that is worthy of the Lord? So number one, someone or a church who is walking in a manner worthy of the Lord is growing spiritually. Right? Verse 10, the rest of verse 10 says, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. [01:06:17] (36 seconds)
Paul is telling us that to live a life pleasing to the Lord, you must be strengthened with his power. It's not something you can do in and of yourself. And he says this about two specific things. He says, And the word endurance here, we always have these things in our minds of like what these words mean. Endurance is like someone who can just, just keep going, right? I think about my brother. He's an ultra marathon runner. [01:13:42] (23 seconds)
And we are to give thanks to God our Father for what he has done for us. And I want us to notice two things here. First, I want you to notice that all of the action in these verses, they're past tense. It says, he has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered you from the domain of darkness. He has transferred you from the king. He has transferred you into the kingdom of his beloved Son. [01:18:15] (36 seconds)
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