This week, Michael writes that many Biblical historians say that the church at Colosse was founded by Epaphras. Paul wrote to this church because Epaphras reported that false teachers were infiltrating the church saying that other laws needed to be added to the truth of the gospel of the grace of God. According to Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” We’re called alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ to minister to one another with words of comfort, encouragement, and edification through the power and love of the Holy Spirit.
In Colossians 1:9-12 Paul wrote by God’s inspiration: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”
Paul prayed for their knowledge of God’s will and that they would be filled with God’s wisdom and spiritual understanding. He specifically asked for spiritual knowledge, not worldly knowledge. To know spiritual understanding means that we must first be born again of God’s Spirit. Then we can see the world from God’s perspective. Only then can we see according to the Spirit with Christ’s eyes behind our eyes.
Pastor Eugene H. Peterson said, “the kingdom of self is heavily defended territory.” However, when we give up our so-called rights to the Lord, forsake our pride, and surrender our will to God’s will, then He will work in us and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure. He will give us the desires of our heart when we intentionally delight ourselves also in the Lord ... when we actively align our desires with His desires.
Oswald Chambers prayed in his devotional My Utmost for his Highest, “Lord, Even if I am called to offer my own self in sacrifice and service to your faith, I will be joyful and rejoice. If your plan for me is to be a doormat underfoot so that others can trample on, then thank you Lord for this calling.” Jesus Christ himself has taught us to know how to be abased. Are you willing to not seek to be ministered to, but to minister? He has called us to forsake our so-called earthly dignity in order to give up the over-desires of our sinful flesh. Until we empty ourselves of ourselves then God cannot fill us with His will and the desire of His heart.
Mother Teresa said, “God works best with nothing.” In order to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding, we must approach His throne of grace with empty hands. Then the Holy Spirit can fill us and will teach us His wisdom. Regardless of the trials and tribulations of this world, God said, in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” To love God above all is the first and great commandment. Jesus said in The Sermon on the Mount, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these other things shall be added unto you.” We cannot obey the second command, to love our neighbor as ourselves, until we obey the first command to love God above all.
In Colossians 1:9-12 Paul wrote by God’s inspiration: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”
Paul prayed for their knowledge of God’s will and that they would be filled with God’s wisdom and spiritual understanding. He specifically asked for spiritual knowledge, not worldly knowledge. To know spiritual understanding means that we must first be born again of God’s Spirit. Then we can see the world from God’s perspective. Only then can we see according to the Spirit with Christ’s eyes behind our eyes.
Pastor Eugene H. Peterson said, “the kingdom of self is heavily defended territory.” However, when we give up our so-called rights to the Lord, forsake our pride, and surrender our will to God’s will, then He will work in us and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure. He will give us the desires of our heart when we intentionally delight ourselves also in the Lord ... when we actively align our desires with His desires.
Oswald Chambers prayed in his devotional My Utmost for his Highest, “Lord, Even if I am called to offer my own self in sacrifice and service to your faith, I will be joyful and rejoice. If your plan for me is to be a doormat underfoot so that others can trample on, then thank you Lord for this calling.” Jesus Christ himself has taught us to know how to be abased. Are you willing to not seek to be ministered to, but to minister? He has called us to forsake our so-called earthly dignity in order to give up the over-desires of our sinful flesh. Until we empty ourselves of ourselves then God cannot fill us with His will and the desire of His heart.
Mother Teresa said, “God works best with nothing.” In order to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding, we must approach His throne of grace with empty hands. Then the Holy Spirit can fill us and will teach us His wisdom. Regardless of the trials and tribulations of this world, God said, in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” To love God above all is the first and great commandment. Jesus said in The Sermon on the Mount, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these other things shall be added unto you.” We cannot obey the second command, to love our neighbor as ourselves, until we obey the first command to love God above all.
Let's continue Micheal's message on surrendering our heart to the lord in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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