Don McClain 1 W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,2008

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV) 9 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;

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV) 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV) 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV) 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV) 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  Paul prayed that they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will – (9)  Paul Prayed That They Walk Worthy Of The Lord– (10)  Paul prayed that they be strengthened that they may endure – (11)  Paul prayed that they give thanks for having been - qualified “to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints” – “delivered from the power of darkness” – Translated into the kingdom of Christ – Forgiven by being redeemed through His blood - (12-14)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV) 9 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;

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  Filled -  Filled - Not just a small measure – but to be saturated...  Knowledge –  Knowledge – EPIGNOSIS - Vine’s - expressing a fuller or a full knowledge, a greater participation by the knower in the object known, thus more powerfully influencing him.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  Wisdom – The ability to  Wisdom – The ability to correctly apply the knowledge of God’s will to life situations. Practical knowledge  Spiritual understanding – A grasp of the underlying principles providing the ability to discern and properly apply the knowledge and experience to the proper areas, - and provides proper motivation to carry out that which ought to be done – i.e., that which wisdom provides.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, “He will do only that which is in his spiritual interest, or what is good for him on a spiritual level. Some things even right in themselves are not best for the Christian. It does not necessarily take all wisdom and spiritual understanding to know the difference between right and wrong, or the good and the bad. But it does require such wisdom and understanding to know the better over the good, and the best over the better, and having recognized the difference to then make the best choice rather than just refuse the bad.” – ( Weaver Commentary, pg 324 )

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV) 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  Pleasing God – Walking worthy of the Lord – only accomplished by knowing and doing what God says – (Luke 6:46)  Producing For God – “ being fruitful in every good work” (Eph 2:10; Tit 3:14) – in order for a work to be good – it must be authorized. (2 Tim 3:16,17)  Progressing In Knowledge of God and His Will – There is no standing still in the kingdom – either we are progressing – or we are falling behind. – (2 Peter 1:5-10; 3:17,18; Hos 4:6)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV) 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  Knowledge Provides Mighty Strength – Thus armed to stand against the wiles of the devil – Eph 6:10-18)  The Christian Has Access To Glorious Power through the knowledge of God – What can a Christian do? (Phili 4:13)  Equipped to endure with joy – The Christian life is not easy – it will require much “patience and longsuffering” - Even so – the Christian moves forward with joy – (Mat 5:11,12; Jam 1:2; 1 Pet 1:6,7; 4:13)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV) 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  The Attitude of Gratitude – Should be possessed by all of us – for we have SO MUCH to be thankful for! – (Eph 5:20; Col. 3:15,17)  How does one “QUALIFY” for salvation? – by being redeemed by the blood of Christ and keeping His commands – (Col 1:13,14; 2:11-13; Acts 2:38; Tit 2:14; Rev. 22:14)  Have you qualified for the inheritance of the saints of light? –

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10, Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV) 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  God has “delivered us from the power of darkness” – Sin – the realm of Satan! – (Prov 5:22; John 8:34; 2 Pet 2:19-22)  “Conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”– Christians are in the kingdom– (Mat 16:18,19; Rev 1:5,6,9)  “In Whom we have redemption through His blood” – Only in Christ – the blood flows within the body of Christ – (Eph 1:7; Rom 6:3-6)  “The forgiveness of sins” – (Acts 2:38)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  Paul prayed that they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will – (9)  Paul Prayed That They Walk Worthy Of The Lord– (10)  Paul prayed that they be strengthened that they may endure – (11)  Paul prayed that they give thanks for having been - qualified “to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints” – “delivered from the power of darkness” – Translated into the kingdom of Christ – Forgiven by being redeemed through His blood - (12-14)

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,  Filled With All Knowledge Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding? - (9)  Fully Pleasing God? – (10)  Bearing Fruit? – (10)  Increasing in the Knowledge of God? – (10)  Being Strengthened With All Might? – (11)  Enduring With Joy? – (11)  Being Thankful To God? – (12)  Qualified For The Inheritance? – (12)  Translated into Christ’s Kingdom – (13)  Redeemed & Forgiven through Jesus’ blood – (14)

Don McClain 22 W. 65th St church of Christ / February 10,2008