“A Prayer for the New Year”
January 5, 2003 (Col. 1:1-11)
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalms 37:4 KJV)
There are some amazing prayers in the Bible. This is one of them. This was Paul’s prayer for the church at Colosse. This is my prayer for you in the New Year. May God grant us the request of our hearts as we delight ourselves in Him.
Paul’s prayer for the church at Colosse was a prayer for:
I. Perception – (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; (Colossians 1:9 KJV)
Þ Paul prayed for the church that they would be able to understand or perceive the:
A. Will of God – “that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will”
How are you going to do God’s will if you don’t understand what it is that God would have you do? The phrase “filled with the knowledge” means to have full-knowledge.
Paul did not want the church to guess at God’s will for their lives. Neither do I want you to guess at God’s will for you. You can know what God wants you to do. You do not have to meander through life hoping your life is counting for something. You can know it is.
Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will tonight. Tell Him that you are willing to go wherever He wants you to go this year. Surrender your time, talents and treasures to Him tonight. Don’t hold anything back this year. Your life belongs to God. Give it back and watch Him use you in His will.
One thing is for certain. If you are going to do the will of God this year you’re going to have to know what it is. God will tell you if you want to do it.
Þ Paul prayed for the church that they would be able to understand or perceive the will of God. Secondly, he prayed that they might be able to perceive the:
B. Word of God – “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10 KJV)
It’s impossible for me to fully explain how important the Bible is in your life. It doesn’t matter how old you are – the Bible is your all in all.
Þ You may just be learning how to read. Read the Bible. It’s the instruction book for all of life. You’ll be a better student if you learn the principles found in the Bible and practice them throughout grade school.
Þ You might be in your teen years when all of your friends have turned their backs on God and the church. They think the Bible is a book of fairy tales and matter that are unimportant. Read your Bible. It will get you through the years when you want to wonder away from God, home, the church, and everything that is decent and moral.
Þ You might be in you twenties when the teen-age years have left you standing alone. It might not be popular among your friends to stand for God. Read your Bible. It will give you wisdom above your years and lead you into a life of significance.
Þ You might be in your thirties or forties while raising children, teen-agers or young adults. You are going to need the encouragement and inspiration the Bible provides. Your children are still watching you. They may not come to you with their problems, but they are watching to see how you handle the pressures of life. Your Bible will help you be a wise testimony to them beyond their adolescent years.
Þ You might be in your fifties and beyond. Read your Bible. All of the other generations need the guidance of godly Christian grandparents. Leave a legacy of godliness. Pass on your passion for the Bible.
Þ Paul prayed for the church that they would be able to understand or perceive the will of God and the Word of God. Secondly, he prayed for:
II. Prosperity – (1:10)
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10 KJV)
Here again, Paul’s prayer for their prosperity was in two areas. First, he prayed that they might be prosperous (fruitful) in their:
A. Walk – “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing”
I spoke about this in the morning service. I’ll not spend a lot of time here. Let me just say that Paul prayed that the believers at Colosse would be prosperous in their walk with the Lord. My prayer for each of us this year is that we would be prosperous in our walk with Him.
I’m not praying for you to make a million or to stockpile things that will rust and decay. I’m praying for you to prosper in your spiritual life. I’m praying that you will be the best example of what a believer in Christ should be. If we will do that, we will be prosperous.
Þ Paul prayed that they might be prosperous in their walk. Secondly, he prayed that they might be prosperous in their:
B. Work – “being fruitful in every good work”
That’s a good prayer, isn’t it? As we serve God this year, I pray that the work we do for Jesus Christ will produce more fruit than it ever has.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV)
Þ Paul prayed that the church would be able to perceive the will of God and the Word of God. He prayed that they would be prosperous in their walk and work. Lastly, he prayed for God’s:
III. Power – (1:11)
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1:11 KJV)
The Colossians needed the power of God in and on their lives and ministry. So do we. We have done without it too long, and we have not done without it very well. Like the Colossians, we need God’s power to:
A. Endure – “unto all patience and longsuffering”
B. Enjoy – “with joyfulness”
What a prayer! “Lord, help the Colossians to understand Your will and Your Word. Help them to prosper in their walk and work. And give them Your power to endure the difficulties and still enjoy the journey.”
