Know the understanding of God's will

The text urges a radical reorientation of mind and life toward Christ’s reign and the fullness of his will. It emphasizes that generosity and a surrendered heart keep the Spirit moving, while worldly or “alien” thinking blocks God’s purposes. Scriptural prayer models call for believers to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding, so that lives become fruitful, patient, and strong in God’s power. The gospel is presented as reconciling those once alienated and making believers holy and blameless through Christ’s blood, with Christ given preeminence over all creation.

A persistent theme insists that wrong thinking—poverty mindsets, fear, shame, or familiarity with sin—separates people from the kingdom. Transformation requires intentional pursuit: asking God for wisdom, digging into Scripture, listening to God’s Word daily, and changing mental habits. The call to follow Christ includes laying aside sin and weights so obedience can produce tangible kingdom power: healing, deliverance, evangelistic fruit, and bold witness. Practical responsibility accompanies divine calling; doors open for ministry and increase when believers act, share the gospel, and refuse discomfort or embarrassment as excuses.

Eternity frames urgency: decisions and patterns formed now determine eternal residence and experience. The text exhorts a steady, long-term commitment to kingdom thinking—daily growth that compounds into visible change by year’s end. The path combines prayer, study, repentance from alien thoughts, and active obedience in outreach. The promise is not immediate perfection but measurable transformation as understanding deepens and faith is applied, producing fruitful ministry and lives that reflect Christ’s reconciling work.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Be filled with God's will A life shaped by clear knowledge of God’s will produces discernible fruit, steady patience, and strengthened power. Knowing God’s will is not mere information but a transforming lens that orders choices, priorities, and ministry effectiveness. Persistent prayer and deliberate pursuit of understanding invite God to translate doctrine into daily conduct. [32:01]
• 2. Stop thinking alien thoughts that separate Thoughts that treat God as foreign create a practical estrangement from the kingdom; transformation begins by identifying and replacing those patterns. Alien thinking shows up as poverty mentality, shame, or comfort with sin—and these mental habits block spiritual authority and witness. Consciously reframe internal narratives to align with Scripture and watch behavior and outcomes shift. [35:12]
• 3. Ask for wisdom; pursue Scripture daily Wisdom comes by request and sustained engagement with the Word; passive desire yields no deep change. Use available tools—reading, audio Bibles, study—to embed truth into the mind until it governs action. Regular asking plus steady intake of Scripture unlocks understanding that enables righteous steps and kingdom fruit. [51:33]
• 4. Actively share the gospel locally Doors open through intentional witness, not waiting for leaders to fill spaces; neighbors and highways need deliberate outreach. Embarrassment or comfort erodes mission; bold sharing and hospitality extend the church and release new life. Obedience in evangelism activates promised spiritual outcomes like conversions and healings. [58:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [16:49] - Generosity Keeps the Spirit Moving
• [26:39] - Thanksgiving and Prayer for Believers
• [28:27] - Christ: Firstborn and Head of All
• [32:01] - Be Filled with Knowledge of His Will
• [34:21] - Alienated and Enemies in Mind
• [35:12] - Identifying Alien Thought Patterns
• [44:38] - Eternity Frames Present Decisions
• [51:33] - Ask for Wisdom; Use Scripture Tools
• [57:09] - Doors Open: Respond to the Call
• [58:21] - Go Out and Share the Gospel
• [74:28] - Daily Pursuit and Long-Term Growth

Based on the sermon summary and transcript provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading:
Colossians 1:9-14, 21-23 (ESV)
*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 being 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. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.*

Observation questions

1. According to Colossians 1:9, what are the three specific things Paul prays for believers to be filled with?
2. What are the four results, listed in verses 10-12, of being filled with the knowledge of God's will?
3. Verse 21 describes a past condition. What two words are used to describe a person's mind and actions before being reconciled to God?
4. The sermon emphasized that wrong thinking can block spiritual authority. What was one specific example of "alien thinking" mentioned, such as a poverty mentality or shame? [35:12]

Interpretation questions

1. What does it mean to be "alienated and hostile in mind" even after becoming a believer? How can someone who loves Jesus still think in ways that are foreign to God's kingdom?
2. The prayer in Colossians 1 links knowing God's will with practical outcomes like endurance, patience, and joyful strength. Why is simply knowing facts about God different from having a knowledge that transforms your daily life and character?
3. The idea was presented that a "poverty mentality is against the word of God." [37:58] How does a mindset of lack or scarcity conflict with the truths of our redemption and inheritance described in Colossians 1:12-14?
4. If Christ has truly reconciled us and made us holy, why does verse 23 include the condition to "continue in the faith, stable and steadfast"?

Application questions

1. What is one "alien thought" or pattern of thinking (e.g., fear, shame, comfort with sin) that you recognize has been a practical block between you and experiencing God's fullness? [35:12] What is one Scripture you can use to consciously reframe that narrative this week?
2. The knowledge of God's will is not passive but requires asking and pursuing. James 1:5 says if you lack wisdom, you should ask God. What specific area of your life do you most need to ask God for spiritual wisdom and understanding right now?
3. A door for ministry often opens through intentional action, not by waiting. [57:09] Who is one person in your immediate circle—a neighbor, coworker, or family member—that you feel a responsibility to share the gospel with, and what is one practical step you can take to do that?
4. Transformation is a daily pursuit that compounds over time. [01:14:28] What is one new habit—like listening to an audio Bible, setting a daily prayer time, or studying a specific book—you can commit to for the next month to embed God's truth into your thinking?
5. Embarrassment or comfort can erode mission. [59:08] What is a fear or point of embarrassment that has held you back from inviting someone to church or speaking about your faith? How does the eternal reality of someone's destiny help put that temporary discomfort into perspective?