1. Colossians 1: 9-14

2. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and 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

3. Colossians 1:9-14 endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

4. 1. PRAYER... or, the importance of noticing what God is doing For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. (v9)

5. 1. PRAYER... or, the importance of noticing what God is doing 1 Thess 1:2-5 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

6. 1. PRAYER... or, the importance of noticing what God is doing Keep your spiritual antennae up. Notice what God is doing. Give thanks and start praying.

7. 2. PROCESS... or, why believing is not enough. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and 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 giving joyful thanks to the Father,

8. 2. PROCESS... or, why believing is not enough. What does Paul pray? ◦ That God will fill you with knowledge of his will, through all wisdom and understanding from the Spirit. ◦ So that you will live lives worthy of the Lord and please him in every way;

9. 2. PROCESS... or, why believing is not enough. Living lives worthy of the Lord... ◦ Bearing fruit in every good work ◦ Growing in the knowledge of God ◦ Strengthened with all power ◦ Joyfully giving thanks

10. 3. PARADIGM... or, the phenomenon of the upside down swan Col 1:12-14 giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

11. 3. PARADIGM... or, the phenomenon of the upside down swan Paradigm? ◦ A model or pattern ◦ A framework of understanding ◦ ‘The set of experiences, beliefs and values that affect the way an individual perceives reality and responds to that perception.’

12. 3. PARADIGM... or, the phenomenon of the upside down swan ◦ Key paradigm truths  We are qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light

13. 3. PARADIGM... or, the phenomenon of the upside down swan ◦ Key paradigm truths  We’ve been rescued from the dominion of darkness  We’ve been transferred into the kingdom of the Son whom He loves  In Jesus we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

14. 3. PARADIGM... or, the phenomenon of the upside down swan