Colossians 4:12 "True Intercession"

Colossians 4:12.

"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." NIV

Epaphras was always "wrestling in prayer" for the church at Colosse. What does that mean exactly? The KJV says, "labouring fervently." Fervently means "with great struggle, with difficulties, to contend with adversaries, strive, to obtain something." Epaphras was putting in a lot of time fighting the enemy in intercession for the Colosse church. I have to stop and ask myself, do I "wrestle in prayer" for anything or anyone? I pray, but am I truly engaging in the battle. For anything to be worthwhile, you have to commit time to it. How much time am I giving? Not nearly enough.

Along with being a convicting passage toward intercession, Paul also tells us how to pray for others and for ourselves. We may pray for all kinds of things, and that is okay. But what is our primary focus to be? We should labour fervently for the ability to stand firm in all the will of God. At first glance, I thought standing firm was just the first of three things, but looking closer, standing firm means to be mature and fully assured.

Maturity in the Christian walk would mean that we have reached an adulthood in our walk. As babies, we needed to be brought along by others -- very dependent on them for everything. We needed help in how to read the Bible and understand its Truths; we needed help in how to pray; we needed guidance in how to live as Christ would have us live. But maturity implies that we now are learning from the Word on our own. We are in communion with the Father on a regular basis, and we are making choices in our lives that are directed and in tune with the Father. Not that we don't need others to do life together, but we are not dependent on them for everything as we once were.

Standing firm also means being fully assured. We have no doubts about Who we serve or why. He is our complete source, and we live our lives fully devoted to Him. Sold out for the mission of Christ. This is our Lord's will for us and something we should be praying earnestly for in ourselves and others. The battle of life truly does begin on our knees.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you seek the Father only for daily comforts and safety or do you seek His will and the ability to live in it?
2. I don't know if we ever reach complete maturity in this life, but have you left the infant stage? If no, why not? What needs to change?
3. A fully devoted believer no longer looks to their own interests, but fully looks to the interests and will of the Father. Are you there yet? If no, why not? What is holding you back and why?

Colossians 1:9-14 "Prayer and Purpose"

Read Colossians 1:9-14.

"...asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." NIV

I absolutely love this passage and here's why. It is a complete instruction on prayer and walking the Christian life. Absolutely, complete -- the how, why, and what for. In fact, I'd suggest you read the passage slowly at least two more times and completely absorb what it's teaching us.

Did you read it? Waiting.......

Okay, now let's look at it step by step.

What do we pray for? I listen to prayer request after prayer request and they always seem to be about the same thing - meet my need. And I know God hears those prayers. But where I think we are missing the boat is that God already promised to meet our needs. He knows every hair on our head, and He will provide for our needs. Now He does say to ask, so I'm not saying these prayers are wrong. We are to ask, but there is something greater that we should be praying for -- "the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." If the Spirit gives me insight into that, there really isn't anything else I need. Every other part of my life will fall into place. I will have a divine perspective that far exceeds any simple need I have here in my mortal life.

What kind of life will this prayer bring? One that pleases God. Is there anything greater than pleasing the Almighty God of Universe?

What pleases God? A life "bearing fruit in every good work." Actually accomplishing something for the kingdom -- reaching out to those in need, comforting the hurting, taking care of the widows and orphans, helping the wayward, lonely teenager, etc. It's also a life growing in the knowledge of God and being strengthened with all power.

Strengthened for what? So you can have "great endurance and patience." We have a long race to be running. Our work here is hard and unending. We are on this earth to share God's love and we certainly aren't running out of people who need it or opportunities to give it. And while we are running, we are attacked on all sides. The enemy wants to take us out and will try by any means to do so. But with the strength and patience of our Father, we can continue running the race we have been given to run.

Why run the race? Because we have already been given the prize of sharing "in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Heaven is waiting for us. We have a hope and a future that no one and no difficulty and no government and no tragedy and no recession can take away from us. Glory is waiting for us to cross the finish line and to cross it strong.

Why should we be thankful? Because our loving Father "rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." He paid the ultimate price so we don't have to. He loves us that much!

Why can I have such hope? Because through Jesus Christ, "we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Without His sacrifice and our surrender, we will be separated from God forever. But His one act of love saved us for eternity, if we will only receive.

Amazing..... and humbling.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do I need to change how I pray? Am I spending too much time on "needs" and not enough time on asking for God's will and wisdom? (Praying for our needs makes us "self-focused." Praying for God's wisdom will always make us "others-focused.")
2. Where in Scripture does God promise to give us His wisdom and understanding?
3. Where does He stress the limitations of that understanding?
4. When we can't understand, what do we rely on? Give Scripture.

Joseph: Genesis 41:1-40 "By Leaps and Bounds"

Read Genesis 41:1-40.

"Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." NIV

Wow, what an amazing passage. We go from outlandish, God-given dreams to the rise of Joseph as the second in the land of Egypt. And Joseph's position hinged upon those dreams.

I've never really put much in store in dreams. They are crazy, mixed up, morphing mysteries that never seem to be any part of reality whatsoever. Last night I dreamt I had a bed and breakfast. I pray that wasn't a sign from God because based on the state of my spare bedroom, that's just not happening anytime soon. But for some reason, the chief baker, cupbearer, and Pharaoh all knew they were being given a message and that they needed to understand it.

I find it interesting that God gave the dreams to non-believers in Him. We as believers are always yearning to hear a message from the Father. We pray for His direction through His Word, prayer, other believers, even dreams. So when three people who aren't followers of the one true God receive a personal message, jealousy can rise. But God specifically chose these people to accomplish His purposes through Joseph. Which makes sense after we see the whole picture. God can use believer and non-believer alike to do what He needs to do. In this case He needed people high up in Egypt's rule to get Joseph to the position he needed to be in to do what God needed done.

How often do we live in jealousy because it appears that non-believers are receiving God's blessings more than us? How often do we grumble about the position we are in because we believe we should have a better, more influential, maybe more public assignment? Joseph doesn't seem to possess either of these sins in his life. He receives the fact that they have had a dream, that God is the only One who interprets dreams, and that he is to be the one to share the interpretation and give God the credit. It's all very black and white in Joseph's mind.

Then Joseph seems to take in stride that he just went from a purchased foreign slave to the second in command in the land. I know what I'd be thinking....that just doesn't happen! But with God, anything is possible. I am especially such a realist. Kind of strange for someone who has a really strong faith gifting. But I just expect God to work in the natural world He has created and in the realm where He has placed me. To make things happen that include me outside of either of those realities is hard for me to imagine -- not that He can't, but that He would. But I would hope that if God does so act in my life, that I would have the humility of Joseph to give God all the glory and do as He has commanded to accomplish His purposes -- ones that go way beyond anything to do with me.

A new day is coming for Joseph. We've learned a lot from him in how he handled the dredges of life and circumstances. It will be interesting to see how he handles the prosperity.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you possess the humility needed for God to use you? Why or why not?
2. How has the enemy encouraged a society of control freaks? What has contributed to this in our history as a people/nation?
3. What kind of person does God want to use? How do we become that person? Support with Scripture.

Matthew 18:12-14 "The Lost Sheep"

Read Matthew 18:12-14.

"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." NIV

This passage is always such a comfort to me. As I pray for family members, friends, neighbors, aquaintances that don't know Jesus, I do so with a confidence that the Holy Spirit is never going to stop drawing them to Him. I don't have any hesitation in knowing that God wants them to come to a full saving knowledge of Him. So my desire, although possibly swayed by doubt in people, meets with His desire -- that all should be saved.

There is great comfort in this. We all know someone that is very far from the Lord and our heart's cry is that they accept Jesus. We've spent countless hours in prayer for the scales to be removed from their spiritual eyes, for their heart to be softened, for other believers to come into their life to speak truth to them. And through all that time, the Lord's Spirit has been reaching out to them -- drawing them to Him. All mankind is precious to Him.

Thank You, Lord, that my heart's desire began with Your heart's cry -- that not one should be lost.

Further Thoughts:

1. What other Scriptures show that God wants no one to be lost or perish? i.e. 2 Peter 3:9.
2. Is there someone you have been praying for a long time to come to Christ? Never, never, never give up. God hasn't.

Matthew 8:1-4 "Faith in His Will"

Read Matthew 8:1-4.

"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." NIV

This leper reveals so much about what he believes in this one statement. He teaches us how we need to view the Lord every day.

First, he falls down on his knees and calls Jesus "Lord." Now that doesn't necessarily mean that he recognized Jesus as the divine, but he did show Him the respect due one he knew had authority and power.

Next, the man shows deference to Jesus' will. The leper obviously wants to be healed of his disease, but he does not approach Jesus' abilities as if he has a right to them. He humbly is asking according to Jesus' will that he be healed.

And lastly, the leper has faith that Jesus can truly heal him of his disease. His posture, his demeanor, his words all speak of an unwavering faith in the power that the Rabbi possessed.

Each and every day we face trials and difficulties. They come with the territory of fighting a persistent enemy in a fallen world. The question is, do we whine, complain, blame, writhe in our self-pity, and shake our fist in the air? Or do we humbly approach the Master on our knees carrying our pain, blemishes, and needs , with hearts surrendered to His will and with a faith that can move mountains? The leper chose the right path and came away changed forever. The Master touched him, and he was clean.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you truly believe Jesus is Lord of your life? Compare and contrast Jesus as Savior and He as Lord. What difference does that make in our daily walk with Him?
2. Our submission to the Lord's will can be very different if we see Him as Savior or as Lord. How? Support with Scripture.
3. Why can some people have faith in Jesus to save them from their sins, but not have faith in Him to heal, guide, and command their daily life? Where is the hangup and how is it overcome?
4. Many who encountered Jesus "put their faith in Him." Read John 2:11, 7:31, 8:30, 11:45, 12:11. The entire book of Romans speaks on faith.
5. Faith takes a trust in the Master. Stand on the promises of Proverbs 3:5-6. He never fails.

Ephesians 5:15-17 "Wisdom vs Foolishness"

"Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." NIV

To completely understand this verse you have to sort of read it backwards. Start with the "Therefore." We are told to "not be foolish," which is the opposite of wise, and "understand God's will." How do we understand God's will? Well, first we can't be living foolishly which means avoiding all the stuff we've been discussing in 4:25-5:7. Then we must be in communion with Him through His Word and the Holy Spirit's counsel. His Spirit will guide and direct us each day if we will only "listen" for His leading.

Therefore, if I am living wisely -- not in the ways of this world, but in imitation of God and Christ's love, and focused on God's leading in my life, I will be able to make "the most of every opportunity" to shine as a light in a dark world. It's a very simple plan, even if it is not always easy to execute, and it begins with the surrender of living life our own way to living by God's plan.

The enemy works very hard to appeal to our arrogance and desire for instantaneous pleasure. Both feel really good. But when you completely submit to our Lord's desire, the satisfaction is so far greater, not to mention the eternal rewards. There is no greater high than knowing our Lord has guided you to do something or say something that you know is completely from Him. When you know you've walked in His light and not your own understanding of a situation; when you bring someone to tears of joy for saying something to them they needed to hear because God told you to; when you are serving Him and someone comes to know Him in a greater way because you were there at that moment ready and available, you will not be able to describe the joy that brings. There is no other event on this earth that brings more satisfaction than doing our Lord's will. Unfortunately, for some believers living in places of persecution, it is not always a joyful obedience. But from their testimonies, we've learned that they would have never chosen another way. The right choice is to avoid the days of evil, and choose to live in wisdom, following the will of God.

Lord, whether in peaceful times or persecution, help me to make the right choice to always live wisely for You.

Further Thoughts:

1. Making these choices relates back to what our purpose is. Reread Ephesians 1.
2. Read through some of Proverbs. It is full of instruction on living wisely. Especially take note Solomon's message to his sons in Chapter 4.
3. Read through the old hymn, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/u/guideme.htm and ask Him to guide your every step.
4. A pastor at our church last Sunday suggested setting your phone or electronic calendar to alert you 4-5 times a day. When the alarm sounds, stop what you are doing and take some time to acknowledge the Lord and ask His direction. It's a great way to reset your focus in a busy day.