Colossians 1 vs 9 - 23 - Corps Night - April 11 - 1984
Colossians 1:9-23 April 11, 1984 So, tonight we're in the Colossians chapter one and in verse nine. And tonight the literals that you've been given, you will notice, they are in introverted structure ABCDCBA. That's because this particular section forms a real nice crisp and clear introverted structure and something that will help you to understand this particular section. And remember this, these verses 9 to 23 form a section in themselves, it's the section on prayer, to be filled with the knowledge of God's will. The prayer to be filled with a knowledge of God's will and it starts out in the first section, verses 9, 10 and 11 with a view to the believer. Colossians 1:9: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you [you, the believer].... Then in verses 12 and 13, it switches to God the Father. The Father, which corresponds to Jehovah of the Old Testament. Jehovah was God's relationship, covenant relationship with his people. Elohim was the term used for God when it was God in relationship to his creation, as the creator. So, this is the Jehovah section, verses 12 and 13. Then verses 14 and 15 refer specifically to the son of God, Jesus Christ. Then, verses 16 and 17 are the central section and they speak of God as Elohim the creator. Elohim. And those are also a parenthesis, that we'll get into a little bit later. Verse 18, then goes back to the son, Jesus Christ. Then, verses 19 and 20 come back to the Father, Jehovah. God as the Father in relationship to His family, Jehovah. And then, the last three verses 21, 22, and 23 come back to you the believer. Now in verse nine. Colossians 1:9: 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. First of all, it says, we also, we also do not cease to pray for you. Who else was praying for them? Well, how about Epaphras? Epaphras is the one in verse
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and fully knew, God's grace in all its truth. From the day you first heard what? The true Word, the good news, remember? The true Word, the good news, it was preached to you... and that true Word produces fruit and growth. And when you come to a full complete knowledge of the Mystery, of the Word, it causes fruitfulness and growth in your knowledge of God, your full complete knowledge of God. But it comes from the Word, back in verse six. You learn the Word, you learn the walk, you grow up, you're fruitful, and that's what he wanted to see more and more of. He wanted to see them filled to capacity with this knowledge. Look at verse 11. Colossians 1:11: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Strengthened and might are the same word in a different part of speech. So it would be a figure of speech, the word there is