Years ago we planted an orange tree. For several years, it did nothing. It did not grow. It did not produce fruit. Finally, we pulled it out. Spiritual growth is just as important for Christians.

Transition

Because Paul heard that the Colossians had been saved, from that day he began praying for their spiritual growth. He asked God that they might grow spiritually in several ways.

Paul prayed that they might grow spiritually so that they might …

Be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (v.9)

He wanted them to gain a more distinct, clear, practical and full knowledge of the mind and will of God. We note that the emphasis is not on our will but on God’s will. God expects us to understand His plan and His purpose for our lives. KJBC “We understand the will of God through the Word of God.” Wiersbe To be filled with the knowledge of God’s will is to be controlled by it. (Example: One who is filled with anger is controlled by it. One who is filled with the Spirit is controlled by Him.) (2 Timothy 3:16) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:17) “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Being filled with the knowledge of God’s will gives us the needed equipment.

  1. It will give us wisdom
    1. We need God’s wisdom for making right choices in life.
    2. To get wisdom, we need to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. He reveals much of His will to us in the Bible. Thus, the better we know the Bible, the better we will know God’s will. This gives us wisdom – the God-given ability to make right choices. Wisdom is closely linked with knowing God’s mind through the Bible. (Pro 2:1-6)
  2. It will give us spiritual understanding
    1. The word “understanding” literally means piecing things together. It has the idea of insight or discernment.
    2. The more we know about God and the Bible the better spiritual things will fit together in our minds. Our spiritual insight will increase. We will have better discernment between good and bad, truth and error.
    3. We must not be satisfied with a basic knowledge of the Bible and God’s will for your life. We must seek to be filled with it to gain wisdom and discernment.
      Paul prayed that they might grow spiritually so that they might …

Walk worthy of the Lord (v.10)

  1. To walk worthy of the Lord requires humility.
    1. The word “worthy” means, in a manner worthy of.
    2. We can only see the importance of this when we have a right view of God.
      1. God is eternal (He has no beginning or end).
      2. He is the Creator of all things. (Colossians 1:17) “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
      3. He is holy. He makes no mistakes. He is pure.
      4. He is sovereign, all-powerful and above every being. (Luke 18:27) “And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
      5. He is worthy of our highest respect, honour and worship. (Revelation 4:11) “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
    3. To walk worthy of the Lord is to live for His glory and honour not our own.
  2. To walk worthy of the Lord is productive
    1. A worthy walk seeks to please the Lord in all things. “Please” (Gr. aresko) refers to an attitude that anticipates every wish. Constable’s Notes In other words, that we might anticipate what the Lord wants and seek to please Him in every motive, word, thought and action. We are not to please ourselves or our peers or society, but the God of the universe.
    2. A worthy walk seeks to bear fruit in every good work.
      1. Fruit is the expected produce of a healthy plant. Spiritual fruit is the produce that God expects from the work we do for Him. The fruits of the Spirit are the produce that the Holy Spirit produces in the lives of Christians who submit to Him. (Galatians 5:22) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” (Galatians 5:23) “Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
      2. Good works are the things that God expects Christians to do. We are not saved by good works but to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” What are some of the things God has ordained for Christians to do? – witness, pray, study the Bible, live godly, attend church, tithe, exhort each other, etc. As you study the Bible, you will find other good works that God has ordained for you. When we do the good works that God has ordained, they will bear fruit in our lives. They will produce the results that God planned.
    3. A worthy walk will increase your knowledge of God. You see, it all works together. As you are filled with the knowledge of God by studying the Bible, you get more wisdom and discernment. That shows you how to walk worthy of the Lord. As you live to please God, you will do the good works that He ordains, and this will cause you to grow more in the full knowledge of God. Christians lack the strength and ability to do this, but Paul is not finished.
      Paul prayed that they might grow spiritually so that they might …

Be strengthened with all might (v.11)

  1. God gives the strength we need
    1. The word translated “with” usually is translated in. The idea here is that when we seek to walk worthy of the Lord God will strengthen us in every need for might. We lack the might or power to walk worthy, but He will enable us by His strength. Such Christians will be strengthened for the performance of duty; to meet temptations; and to bear up under the various trials of life. – Barnes Notes
    2. God’s strength is in the might of His glory. The “might of God’s glory” refers to the awesomeness of His sovereign, unchallengeable, omnipotent, unlimited, absolute power of God.
    3. This glorious power of the God of the universe will strengthen those who seek to walk worthy of Him. (Psalms 119:2) “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
  2. Note the results of receiving God’s strength.
    1. Patience is literally steadfast endurance. It is the opposite of giving up. It is remaining faithful to the end.
    2. Longsuffering is perseverance that is slow to avenge wrongs.
    3. With joyfulness is with gladness. We are not to walk worthy of the Lord will a long face. God wants to give us the power to walk worthy with a smile. (Jeremiah 17:7) “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”
    4. These results are supernatural. God will produce them in our lives if we will seek to walk worthy of Him.

Conclusion

Paul asked God to help the Colossian Christians to grow spiritually in three ways. 1) That they might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. 2) That they might walk worthy of the Lord. 3) That they might be strengthened to walk the worthy life for the Lord. We see that this growth was not primarily information but application. If we are not doing what we know, we are still immature.

As you look into your heart, how much have you grown spiritually. How much of Paul’s prayer has taken place in your life? If you are not growing spiritually as you should here is what you must do. 1) Admit it. 2) Humble yourself before God. 3) Ask God to change you. 4) Begin doing all that you know God wants you to do.

Song: I Surrender All – 394
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Spiritual Growth
28 August 2016 – Colossians 1:9-11 – Col16 – Scott Childs