In
the book of Colossians Paul expresses his deep love and concern for the church
in Colossae so much so that he writes his prayer for them in the letter to that
church. This letter serves as both a theological treatise and model of prayer for
others. We often get stuck in our prayers
for others. We say a blessing try to cover all known bases but after a while they
become stale as the feedback wanes and so does the original motivators. Read
the below text and list the various outcomes that Paul desires for the
Colossian church.
For this reason, since the day we heard
about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with
the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a
life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every
good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power
according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and
patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to
share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians
1:9-12 (NIV)
As
your read the book further you will find many words that you can speak into to the
lives of those you are praying for in addition to gleaning key theological
truths that will expand and enhance your relationship with God. I believe the more we mine the theological
nuggets in scripture the better equipped we are to present others before the
Lord so He can move in and through their lives.
A great example of some faith enhancing theological nuggets is seen in verses
15-20 of chapter one. You might even
want to make a list of these truths to further develop them into a study in
order to implement them into your life.
He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation. For by him
all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by
him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the
firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the
supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and
through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or
things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians
1:15-20 (NIV)
I
will conclude with two segments that speak to what we desire to see in the
lives of those we shepherd and what we as leaders would like to be known
for. We
proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all
his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29 and
Colossians 4:12-13 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. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at
Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Notice
the descriptive language that Paul uses: laboring, struggling, wrestling, and
working hard in prayer, encouragement, and equipment, so that they would stand
firm and be mature with the full assurance of what they have in Christ. It is
to this end we are called as ministers, to help others grow in their
relationship with and become more mature in Christ.
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