Colossians 1:9-11: Growing in the Lord

I. Introduction: Paul wrote to the church in Colosse urging them on in their faithfulness to the Lord. His desire for them should be our desire for ourselves as we grow in Christ.

II. Text: Colossians 1:9-11

III. The church at Colosse

A. Was not established by Paul yet he had a great interest in the work.

B. Apparently established by Epaphras who worked with Paul.

C. Colossians 1:7 – Epaphras taught them the gospel.

D. Colossians 4:12-13 – Epaphras was one of them.

E. At the time of the writing of the epistle, Epaphras was a fellow prisoner with Paul, Philemon 23. It appears that Archippus was preaching in Colosse at this time.

F. The church was a growing church, but Paul urged them to grow even more.

G. They had strong faith, v.4. They had strong love, v.4. They were bearing fruit, v.6. Paul prayed that they would grow even more.

IV. Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

A. He desired that they be full of God’s word, not just a small portion.

B. He wanted it to consume them completely. This would allow them to fulfill the work of God and combat threats to their faith.

C. They, like us, would have to spend time learning God’s word.

D. To fill oneself with God’s word one must study His word. It will not come automatically or by some miraculous means. As we study and meditate on the word of God we come to learn more and more what we should be doing and avoiding.2 Peter 1:3 – All things pertaining to life and godliness. Yet often we struggle with problems and make poor decisions because we do not spend much time with the wisdom sent from God. We often give lip service to the idea that the Bible contains all wisdom for life and godliness yet live as if it has no relevance for our lives.

E. He desired that the knowledge of God would dwell in them with wisdom.

F. Wisdom is the ability to understand how things really are. They would be able to use the knowledge of God in their lives. We need the wisdom to use principles to make practical applications. God freely gives this wisdom to those who ask in faith, James 1:5. The wisdom from above is superior to the world’s wisdom, James 3:14-17.

G. He desired that they would have spiritual understanding.

H. The spiritual understanding would help them comprehend the reasons for obeying the will of God. According to Vine’s, “understanding” means reflective thought and is from a root that means to put together, to unite the perception with what is perceived.

I. We will not always understand the “why” of God’s commands.

J. Sometimes we can see the reasons for them. It should follow that we don’t have to know the “why” but simply know who commanded it.

V. He prayed that they would have a walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him.

A. Our walk must be guided by our knowledge of God’s word and the wisdom in applying it.

B. It is folly to think that we can please the Lord without seeking His will. If we are to fully please Him, we must come to him in faith (Hebrews 11:6) and faith comes from the word of God (Romans 10:17).

C. Paul exhorted the church in Thessalonica to walk worthy of their calling (1 Thess. 2:12) and to the church in Ephesus to have a walk worthy of God (Eph. 4:1).

D. When we are called by God, we are called to live holy lives, 1 Pet. 1:15.

E. We are not to live holy lives in order to impress others or have a show of piety (Mt. 6:1-4, 16-18), but rather to be pleasing to God. We must strive to be good examples to the world in our conduct, in our speech, and in our attitude. Again, the word of God teaches us how to live as we ought.

F. Our Christian walk is seen and judged by others, we must live carefully.

VI. He prayed that they would be fruitful in every good work.

A. He had already commended them on their fruitfulness. In verse 6.

B. They were not to be content but to continue to be fruitful.

C. We learn the good works that we must do from the word of God not from our own wisdom, 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

D. If we are not sincere in our love for God, we will be disqualified for every good work, Titus 1:16.

E. There are many things that we are commanded to do, that are necessary and we must be busy about those things and bear fruit to God. We cannot be idle with our faith.

VII. He prayed that they would increase in the knowledge of God.

A. In 1:9, Paul prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.

B. In this verse, Paul desires that they increase in the knowledge of God Himself.

C. This knowledge of God can only come through God’s revelation and it should be obvious that we cannot know everything about God, only what He has chosen to show us.

D. We can learn much about God through His revelation in creation and the Bible.

E. We understand that only through Him do we have life both begun and sustained. We rely on Him for every breath, our sustenance, and the continued existence of the universe. Through His word, we come to know His love, anger, mercy, justice, power, providence, indignation, and means of salvation. We sometimes become so focused on knowing the word of God that we neglect to seek the God behind the word. It is hard for us to properly love and fear God unless we know Him.

VIII. He prayed that they would be strengthened by God in patience and longsuffering in joy.

A. If we want to persevere, we must rely on the power of God.

B. We are to be strong in the Lord’s power and might, Eph. 6:10.

C. He gives us the knowledge to do his will, so that we will be fruitful, and gives us the power to do that will.

D. We are made strong through the power of God so that we may endure and persevere.

E. Patience relates to our handling of the trials and suffering of life. Longsuffering relates more to our patience with others. Both should be endured with joy. We do not often associate suffering and forbearance with joy, yet it is sometimes linked in the scriptures: Mt. 5:11-12; Jas. 1:2; 1 Pet. 4:13-16. Paul wrote to the Philippians to rejoice always even though he was suffering in prison and they would suffer persecution.

IX. Conclusion: In doing these things they would be assured of the inheritance that they hoped for, they would be more useful for God’s service, and they would grow closer to God.