Prayer & Grace Colossians 1:9-14
Outline • Pray for the Grace to Talk (Col 1:9a) • Pray for the Grace to Walk (Col 1:9b-14) Prayer & Grace
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Pray for a greater desire to pray.
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Paul relied on God in prayer. • Paul loved the Colossians in his prayers.
“A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more.” ~John Owen
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Prayer is a means by which God has determined to execute his providence.
“The respect and relation Providence bears to our prayers is of singular consideration, and a most taking and sweet meditation. Prayer honours Providence, and Providence honours prayer.” ~John Flavel The Mystery of Providence
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Prayer is a sweet sound in God’s ears.
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” ~1 Peter 3:12, ESV
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Prayer is sweet in the sound of God’s ears. • Prayer reminds us of our fellowship with our triune God. ✤ The Holy Spirit, who indwells us, leads us to pray to the Father who hears the prayers of his children because the Son has made them acceptable.
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Prayer is sweet in the sound of God’s ears. • Prayer reminds us of our fellowship with our triune God. • Prayer is a means of God’s grace in our lives.
“We may be very sure that men fall in private long before they fall in public. They are backsliders on their knees long before they backslide openly in the eyes of the world.” ~J.C. Ryle Practical Religion
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Because certain elements are necessary in the Christian, we ought never to stop praying the same prayers. ✤ Being rote is to repeat thoughtlessly the same words to God. ✤ Being routine is to petition thoughtfully God with the same request.
Pray for the Grace to Talk • Because certain elements are necessary in the Christian, we ought never to stop praying the same prayers. • Signs of grace ought to stimulate prayer.
Pray for the Grace to Walk • Pray for the grace to live a life that honors Christ.
Pray for the Grace to Walk • The Request: Paul prayed that God would fill the Colossians with a knowledge of his will. • The Purpose: Paul wanted the Colossians to live a life worthy of Christ.
“For this our worthiness does not depend upon our absolute perfection, but upon the gratuitous condescension of God, who accounts, as worthy his favor, those who follow the guidance of his Spirit…” ~John Davenant, Colossians
Pray for the Grace to Walk • The Request: Paul prayed that God would fill the Colossians with a knowledge of his will. • The Purpose: Paul wanted the Colossians to live a life worthy of Christ. • The Petitions: Paul gave four traits of a life that is pleasing to Christ…obedience, knowledge, endurance and thankfulness.
Pray for the Grace to Walk • Pray for the grace to obey. (Col 1:10b)
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” ~Philippians 2:12–13, ESV
Pray for the Grace to Walk • Pray for the grace to obey. (Col 1:10b) • Pray for the grace to know. (Col 1:10c)
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” ~Jeremiah 9:23–24, ESV
Pray for the Grace to Walk • Pray for the grace to obey. (Col 1:10b) • Pray for the grace to know. (Col 1:10c) • Pray for the grace to endure. (Col 1:11) • Pray for the grace to enjoy. (Col 1:12-14)
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