Prayers for the Church

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (Colossians 1:9-12, Part 1 of 7)

New Hope Christian Church, 8/6/23

What would you think of parents who were only concerned about the physical and social needs of their young children? What would happen to those children when they reached adulthood? Unfortunately, we do not have to imagine, for in our society we are seeing it displayed in the lives of many such children who have already become adults.

Just as it is not wise for parents to be concerned only about their children’s physical and social needs, so it is not wise for our prayers to be concerned mostly about the things of this life. How should we pray? We need to learn how to pray the way Jesus and the writers of Scripture prayed. Too often we pray for health and finances—which are important—more than for the will of God to be accomplished in our own lives, our families, and the church. The apostle Paul wrote down his “grocery list” of items he thought were important for the believers in Colosse, items about which he had been praying for them. Scriptural wisdom requires of us to be concerned in our prayers about these same items.

Paul’s list is found in Colossians 1:9-12. The first item in his list is for God to “fill you with the knowledge of his will.” Please consider the following three steps necessary for God to fulfill this prayer in us, that we may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.

How to Discover God’s Will

How can we know what God’s will is for our lives, our families, and the church? We will not find His will in the religions or philosophies of the world, for they are the result of the thinking of people who are living in darkness, for “the world through its wisdom did not know him” (1 Corinthians 1:21). Therefore, Paul warns, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Nor will you find God’s will through your beliefs about the nature or characteristics of God. This futile search can be recognized by phrases such as, “Surely the God I know would not want . . . .” Phrases like this, when completed with the thought, often demonstrate either a lack of knowledge of God’s revealed word or a rejection of that word.

A common way to determine God’s will regarding moral matters is: “Let your conscience be your guide.” We were created with a conscience to help us stay within the moral boundaries given us by God. When adequately and properly developed, conscience has a proper place in our decision-making. “‘My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day’” (Acts 23:1). “‘So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man’” (24:16). Paul wrote that even those who do not have the Bible “show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:15). Writing about his concern for the unbelieving Jews, Paul wrote, “I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit” (9:1). And regarding our life in this world, he wrote that “it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience” (13:5).

However, the conscience is not infallible regarding our motives or moral decisions. In defending his actions as an apostle of Christ, Paul wrote, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me” (1 Corinthians 4:4). The conscience can be and often is corrupted, apparently by genetic defects (resulting sometimes in sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors), and certainly by incorrect moral and ethical teaching. Paul warned Titus that “to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted” (Titus 1:15). He warned Timothy of “hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2), and thus their consciences have quit working altogether.

Therefore, the conscience is usually helpful, but it is not totally reliable.

 Indeed, the only true way of discovering the will of God for our lives and the church is through His word, the Bible. Isaiah (ca. 740 B.C.) recorded these words from God: “‘To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn’” (8:20).  Jeremiah (ca. 600 B.C.) called his idolatrous fellow-Jews to return to the Law of Moses before it was too late: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’”  (6:16). The definitive answer can be found in Paul’s second letter to Timothy: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (3:14-17).

Discovering God’s will through Scripture requires both reading (or hearing) and study (both by yourself and with others), along with learning principles of interpretation, especially, “to whom is it spoken?” This last is important since not every scripture applies to everybody.

How to Understand God’s Will

The next step is to understand what God’s will means. Paul prayed for the church to know God’s will “through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 2:9). Since he was praying for it, apparently prayer must be involved in acquiring spiritual wisdom and understanding. As you are praying for this wisdom, ask for His guidance in understanding. Seeking such guidance, surround your thinking with all that you have learned about His will from your study of His word. The book of James has a thought on this matter: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:5-7).

Along with praying for wisdom in this matter, give careful consideration to the understanding and character of mature Christians whom you know, understanding at the same time that they are not infallible: “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

How to Apply God’s Will

The third step to knowing God’s will is to know it in practice (the difference between knowing about and actually knowing). For this step, we go to 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Once you think you have discerned God’s will, put it to the following test:

(1) Does it have a good purpose? Does it contribute to your spiritual growth? Does it benefit others? Does it promote the kingdom of God in righteousness and/or the spread of the gospel? Or, does it merely feed the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)?

(2) Is it prompted by faith in His love for you? Do you really believe that God only wants what is best for you? “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). “‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go’” (Isaiah 48:17).

(3) Is it for the glory of the name of Christ? Will you and/or others think highly of your Savior and His followers?

If it passes the test, then act, relying on His power and grace. His power will work in you to fulfill His will, and His grace will cover your mistakes; or did you think that you would always be perfect in your understanding of and carrying out His will in your life? “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14).

Conclusion

Do you want to know His will? Are you praying for Him to fill you with this knowledge? Do you trust His will to be what is best for you in all circumstances? What God wills may not be what you would prefer: “‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’” (Mark 14:36). “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

Are you willing to be His servant, His huperetes (Luke 1:2; Acts 13:5), “assistant to another, as the instrument of his will” (Kittel)?

A LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (Part 2)

New Hope Christian Church, 8/13/23

Is your life worth living? That question is important, but we need to understand what kind of life is worth living. The second item on Paul’s “grocery list” of prayers for the church was that they might “live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way” (Colossians 1:10). Let’s look at four scriptural criteria for the life that is worthy of the Lord.

Putting Jesus First

Jesus was clear regarding the kind of life that is worthy of Him. “‘Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me’” (Matthew 10:37-38). In other words, we must put Him first in every aspect of our lives.

This passage from Matthew 10 helps us to understand what Jesus meant when He later spoke of three commitments necessary to be a disciple (one of His followers), recorded in Luke 14:26-33. The first of these three requirements is, “‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple’” (14:26). This language of “hate” seems harsh and counter to everything we know about Jesus. Surely He did not ask us to hate our family! The dilemma is solved by an understanding of a frequent use of love-hate language in the Bible. In short, these two words are often used as terms of choice or preference. To choose one person over another is called “love.” The rejection of the other is called “hate.” These words, when used in such contexts, have nothing to do with emotions or feelings; so a person could be loved, in our normal use of the term, and yet at the same time be rejected (hated, in this special use of the term) for a specific purpose.

Therefore, in both passages (Matthew and Luke), Jesus is simply saying that when a choice has to be made between following those we love (family, work, life) and doing His will, then we must choose His way. Otherwise, we are not worthy of Him. This choice is explained in different language in the other two requirements for discipleship in Luke 14. One (which is also mentioned in Matthew) is, “‘And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple’” (14:27, also in Matthew 10:38). The requirement to carry or take up one’s cross is why we must “hate” our own life as well as our family. This is not a different requirement, just a very dramatic and visual picture of the first. What does it mean to take up your cross? Even in the first century, Christians were not likely to be crucified (although there were some who were), nor are we likely to suffer a literal crucifixion (although there are some, from time to time, in other parts of the world). Jesus, of course, had to take up a literal cross, but where did He actually make the choice to do so? In fact, we could list three specific times when this choice was made: (1) “He was [foreknown] before the creation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20), “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). (2) He came to earth “‘to give his life as a ransom for many’” (Matthew 20:28). We can infer His choosing to do so from His words, “‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again’” (John 10:28). (3) In reality, Jesus did not “take up” His cross on Golgotha but rather the night before in Gethsemane. As He realized, in His humanity, the full weight of what was about to happen to Him—“‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death’” (Matthew 26:28)—He prayed for hours, “‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done’” (Luke 22:42). “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (22:43-44). But after this time of prayer, He was not only consoled, but arose ready to face the horror. When Peter attempted to defend Him with his sword, He said, “‘Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”

What command of presence! What determination to move forward! What faith in His mission and His Father! Oh, how marvelous it would be for us to come close to the same attitude! Paul apparently felt the same way: “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me” (Colossians 1:24-25).

The third requirement for discipleship, a life worthy of Christ, is simply a paraphrase of the first two. After presenting a couple of examples of what it means to count the cost, Jesus added, “‘In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:33). This does not mean literally to donate everything to Him—where would we send it?—but rather to dedicate it to His use. He becomes your Lord, and everything you own belongs to Him. He has left it under your management. “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). When Jesus sent two disciples to get a donkey for His “triumphal entry,” the owners of the donkey were told, “‘The Lord needs it” (Luke 19:34), and so they sent it to Him. Is this the way you view your possessions? If the Lord needs them, do you hang on to them or send them into His service?

Jesus is worthy of such devotion because “it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

From the beginning of the church, the apostles knew what it meant to live a life worthy of the Lord (Acts 5:40-42): "They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. "

So did the church in Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5): “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

Keeping the Unity of the Spirit

A life worthy of the Lord is a life that promotes peace and unity rather than strife and dissension: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). Paul was in chains because he had put Jesus first in his life. In his last years he wrote several letters to churches and individuals, encouraging them (and sometimes admonishing them) in their Christian life. One of the early (and continuing still) difficulties was maintaining the unity of the Spirit within the churches. His instructions regarding unity emphasized two points: (1) the necessity of effort in maintaining and restoring unity, and (2) the recognition of attitudes and actions that promoted unity, on one hand, and hindered unity, on the other.

In Romans 14:19, Paul wrote, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Everyone likes peace and growing closer to Christ and our fellow believers. So why would it take great effort to promote our unity and fellowship with one another? Anyone who has been involved in a congregation for some time realizes that such a question is naive. Scripture tells us of two sources of congregational disputes. Beneath all such discord is the hidden work of Satan, our ultimate enemy. Paul refers to the schemes of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11). The scheme  he specifically names is the failure to forgive others. Satan also uses lies to make people distrust one another’s sincerity or faith.

The reason Satan too often gets away with causing discord among us is that our spiritual maturity is still a work in progress. Listed among the works of “the flesh,” that is, the sinful attitudes and habits that we have not yet been fully freed from, are “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy” (Galatians 5:20-21). You do not need to be out among the world to see these at work—they arise frequently in church, too! We are all a work in progress.

What does it take to overcome these difficulties? At least part of the solution, and perhaps the major part, is prescribed by Paul (Ephesians 1:2). He starts with humility. You may be smarter than others, know more scripture than others, or have been in the church longer than others, but none of these things makes you or your opinions more important than those of others. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 12:3). Humility calls us to consider other believers above ourselves (Philippians 2:3). “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. . . . Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:16,18).

Along with humility, Paul calls for us to be gentle with others. That quality itself rules out any disrespect or rudeness. It also leads to the next quality, being patient with one another. I once knew a church leadership team who took three years to study the meaning of a particular scriptural concept before deciding how that concept was to apply to a particular question. Having made their decision, they then demanded that everyone else in the congregation agree with them immediately! On some moral questions that are not clearly answered in Scripture, we need to allow people time to come to the right answers. Furthermore, we need to be patient with moral failings—after all, God is patient with ours. Of course, there is a time when quick action needs to be taken in dealing with sin (e.g., as in 1 Corinthians 5), but we must make sure we are following scriptural guidelines in doing so. “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh” (Jude 22-23).

Wearing Clean Clothes

That reference in Jude leads us into the third criterion for a life that is worthy of the Lord, as illustrated in Revelation 3:4-5. “‘Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.’” What did Jesus mean by “soiled clothes”? Of course He was not referring to literal dirt but rather to spiritual uncleanness.

Again, the apostle Paul is helpful in our understanding. He wrote about “the old man” and “the new man.” The old man is the way we were before becoming Christians. The new man is the character of our new selves. In Colossians 3:5-10 Paul lists the character traits of the old. (1) First are the more outward and visible sins that we should have already laid aside: “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” (2) Then he lists the ones more difficult to deal with because they are more deeply ingrained in our habits: “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other . . . .” (Admittedly, these two lists somewhat overlap.)

Then in 3:12-14, Paul lists the character traits of the new person we are becoming in Christ: “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Why is it so important to wear “clean clothes”? Hebrews 12:1 urges, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Our sinful habits and attitudes drag us down, like excess clothing for a runner, in our service for Christ. Furthermore, they are enemies, warring against our souls (1 Peter 2:11).

Partnering in Outreach

The fourth criterion for a life worthy of the Lord and thus worth living is joining with others in reaching out to others in need, materially or spiritually. In Romans 16:1-2 Paul refers to Phoebe, who was from the church in Cenchrea (a town near Corinth). He commends her to the church in Rome—apparently she is on her way there: “I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.” She is apparently on some mission of mercy. When we join with others in meeting material needs, that is “worthy of the saints.”

We also join with others in sending missionaries, church planters, to places beyond our own area of influence. The apostle John wrote to a friend who had been doing just that (3 John 5-8): "Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth." “Showing hospitality” to them included sending them on their way with financial and prayerful support.

And, of course, because we are followers of Jesus, we are partners with Him and the church of all ages and in all places in taking the gospel to the lost.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. . . . Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:4-6,27-30)

Conclusion

Is your life worth living? Peter thought it was. He had some lofty thoughts about the status of believers in Christ:

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4-5,9,10)

A life worth living is a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him in every way.

BEARING FRUIT

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (Part 3)

New Hope Christian Church, 8/20/23

Do you know what was the only miracle Jesus performed that was harmful? “Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately the tree withered” (Matthew 21:19). With this exception, all of Jesus’ miracles were done for the subjects’ benefit. Even this one, however, was for others’ benefit: a lesson about the importance of bearing fruit, not just putting on a good show.

The Scriptures are clear: God expects His people to bear fruit; and we need to realize that. It is not enough for us just to try to “be good,” that is, not to “be bad.” Several of Jesus’ parables illustrate this point, especially the Parable of the Tenants (Mark 12:1-9). The third item on the apostle Paul’s “grocery list” of prayers for the church was “bearing fruit in every good work” (Colossians 1:10). To understand the importance of this part of the prayer, here are five propositions involving bearing fruit.

We Are Recognized by the Fruit We Bear

Jesus stated this first proposition several ways: “‘[1] No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. [2] Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. [3] The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks’” (Luke 6:43-45). These are three ways of saying the same thing: we are recognized by the fruit we bear.

Our “fruit,” that which people observe in us, does not necessarily prove that we are saved, for even Satan and his servants can, from time to time, put on a pretty convincing disguise: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Nevertheless, the fruit we sincerely and consistently bear does reveal our inner character. Even false prophets can sound good, but eventually the results of their teaching will reveal their true nature: “‘They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. . . . Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them’” (Matthew 7:16-20).

Character is not revealed by what we say but rather by what we do. “‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples’” (John 15:8). Jesus’ disciples are recognized by their fruit, especially, “‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another’” (John 13:34-35). If the world does not recognize us as disciples of Jesus, why do you think that is?

The Fruit We Bear Are Good Works

Let’s make it simple: Fruit = good works. Paul prayed that we might “live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way,” which meant first, “bearing fruit in every good work” (Colossians 1:10). Fruit-bearing is not what we say or even “being good” but rather acting in such a way that other people draw benefit from our actions. A part of this kind of action is making the world a better place because we are in it. Quoting the prophet Hosea, Jesus affirmed that God prefers mercy over sacrifice (Matthew 12:7).

So, what are good works? Again, in general they are things that improve the lives (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) of other people. Paul gives some examples, “bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble” (1 Timothy 5:10). “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives” (Titus 3:14). (When you read in the NIV phrases such as “good deeds” or “doing what is good,” you should understand that a literal translation would be “good works.”)

Fruit also includes our monetary contributions to believers in need, whether on account of poverty or hardships arising from persecution. See Paul’s reference to one such collection he was receiving on behalf of the believers in Jerusalem, which he identified as fruit (Romans 15:26-28).

Pruning Enables Us to Be More Fruitful

It’s great to be fruitful, but followers of Jesus should always be looking for ways to be even more fruitful. Jesus presented His disciples with the unfortunate truth that becoming more fruitful sometimes requires pruning. In literal pruning, blossoms, buds, or even branches need to be cut back in order to produce better and more fruit. That is the case in our fruitfulness, as well. Jesus said that His Father, the gardener, prunes every branch that bears fruit “‘so that it will be even more fruitful’” (John 15:2). He then said, “‘You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you’” (15:3). They were already “clean,” that is, “pruned,” because of His words to them; but the implication seems to be that they should expect to be pruned or cleaned even more. Thus they would be more fruitful because they would be better fruit trees. “‘Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit’” (Matthew 12:33).

How does God “prune” us? One such way, of course, is through our study and application of His word (John 15:3, see above paragraph). Another way, one that is often painful, is through the hardships that our loving Father lets us experience. “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” (Hebrews 12:7). Comparing God’s discipline with the discipline of a loving, earthly father, the text assures us, “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (12:10-11). It does not say that our heavenly Father actually brings hardships upon us, but that we are to trust His love in allowing us to suffer through them. There may be times, such as in the first century (see 1 Corinthians 11:29-32), when He directly brings hardship, but there is no scripture that tells us this for sure.

Our Good Works Point to the Goodness of God

We are to bear fruit, that is, to produce good works for others’ benefit; and we should expect to encounter hardships, meeting them with patience and faithfulness, so that we can be even more fruitful. The purpose of these good works (fruit) is not just to make the world a better place for others but to demonstrate that our God is good. And there is a reason that we should want them to know about this “good” God.

“‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples’” (John 15:8). When we bear much (good) fruit, it shows that we are the kind of people who follow Jesus. When people acknowledge—and many are too blind to see—that we are His disciples, then God is glorified (“made to look good”). Jesus tells us to “‘let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:16). Of course, this means not only are we being a blessing to others but also we must be accompanying our deeds with words, giving glory to God for our ability to accomplish those good deeds. If we keep quiet, we just make ourselves look good.

We are to be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11). We do not glorify God to stroke His ego! Rather, it is to help others come to know Him and the salvation He has made possible through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12). When He comes back, we want them to be on His side.

The early church took this mission to heart. In just over thirty years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, they had taken the gospel far and wide: “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Colossians 1:6). Note that Paul describes the gospel itself as bearing fruit and growing—that could only happen through the teaching and good works of the Christians. Paul himself, while in chains at the time, pondered over whether it was better to go home to the Lord or to stay here. “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:22-25). He chose bearing fruit over going to Heaven, at least for the time being.

Fruitfulness Comes from Our Relationship with Christ

We are not saved by works, but we have been saved to produce works. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). However, bearing fruit does not come through our own power. It is not just a matter of the will, nor of a desire to do good things for people. In order for our actions actually to produce the desired results, we need the power of a relationship with Christ.

We need to have a living relationship with Christ before we can ask Him for the power to produce the right kind of fruit.

”You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:3-8)

The Bible describes this relationship in two complementary phrases, Christ in us, and we in Him. When we come into Him by obeying the gospel, He comes into us in the presence of His Holy Spirit. In this union with Him even our character, not just the kind of works we perform, indicates that we have a living relationship with Him. Then we bear the fruit of the Spirit, among which are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). The “fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (Ephesians 5:9). Then, and only then, can we be effective in producing good works. 

Conclusion

We cannot and must not ignore the importance of bearing good fruit. The message of good news proclaimed by John the Baptizer also included this warning: “‘The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire’” (Matthew 3:10). The comforting words of Jesus began with this warning: “‘ I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit” (John 15:1-2).

Are you bearing little fruit? It’s not too late to change: “‘A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down”’” (Luke 13:6-9).

GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (Part 4)

New Hope Christian Church, 8/27/23

How much do you know about God? Could you list 10 of His attributes and characteristics? If not, then you certainly need to learn about God. However, it is not enough to know about God. It is important that we know as much as we can learn about God but also important that we know the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Do you know God? It makes all the difference in the world regarding how you approach and deal with life. Once when criticized about something he had done or said, Chinese evangelist Watchman Nee answered, “I have known God.” The prophet Jeremiah recorded these words of God, spoken to a disobedient and unfaithful Israel, “‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight’” (9:23). Do you know God?

The apostle Paul’s “grocery list” of prayers for the church includes, “growing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). There are three stages of growth in such knowledge. However, we do not move from one stage to another. We build each one on top of the preceding, resulting in three continual areas of growth.

Surrendered to God

The first area of growth in knowing God (not just learning about Him) is necessary to establishing a right relationship with Him. The prediction of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:33-34 implies a difference from the Old in the manner in which one enters the covenant. Based on His covenant with Abraham and his descendants, God made the Old Covenant (paradoxically called the first covenant in Hebrews 9:1,15,18) with Israel as they were liberated from slavery in Egypt and committed to becoming a nation under the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:4-6; 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:2-22). How did one come under this covenant? By physical birth. Every Israelite was automatically entered into this covenant. As a result, children had to be taught as they grew up to know this Lord that had taken them in as His people. Parents had to teach their children about their God and how they were to relate to Him (see Deuteronomy 6:1-9).

The prediction of the New Covenant, however, made a dramatic change, for no one under this covenant with God would need to be taught to know Him, for “they will all know me” (Jeremiah 31:34). What does that mean? First it means that a personal choice is required to enter into this covenant with God. Jesus described this choice in rather strict terms. To help those who were deciding whether to follow Jesus, in three ways He charged them to count the cost: (1) “‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:26). That sounds harsh, but He did not use the word “hate” in the way that we usually think of it. Sometimes in the scriptures, love and hate are not emotional terms but rather terms of choosing between two options. That this is His meaning is clear, not only from Jesus’ usual teaching about our relationships with other people, but also in a similar expression found in Matthew 10:37, “‘Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.’”

(2) Another way He describes this choice must have seemed abhorrent to the ears of those who first heard it: “‘And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:27). Death by crucifixion was the most cruel manner of death they could imagine. Again, Jesus is using this as a figure of speech. He, of course, would literally die by crucifixion; and so would many others among His followers but not all. What, then, did He mean? To take up one’s cross is to put God’s will ahead of ours, regardless of the cost. In a real sense, Jesus did not “take up” His own cross on Golgotha but in Gethsemane when He prayed, “not My will but Yours be done.”

(3) The third way to view this drastic choice in order to follow Jesus was described this way: “‘In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:33). He was not calling on us to turn over all our possessions (including our life, by the way) to a common treasury but to consider them all as now belonging to the Lord, but under our faithful management. This understanding is underscored by the fact that Jesus’ followers still owned homes and property (e.g., Acts 12:12), but they considered them to belong to the Lord and available to be given over whenever He called for them; just as the owner of the donkey He rode into Jerusalem was told, “‘The Lord needs it,”’ and he let the disciples take it. The early church demonstrated this attitude: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need” (Acts 2:42). “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. "There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. . . . Barnabas . . .  sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:32-37). (Notice that he did not sell all his property.) And the recipients of the Letter to the Hebrews were reminded that in a time of persecution, “You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions” (Hebrews 10:34). Note the word “joyfully”!

Indeed, the cost of discipleship was and is steep, but so is the cost of not becoming a disciple: “‘For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:25-26).

To enter the New Covenant, one must choose to become a disciple (follower) of Jesus. The choice is based on faith in Jesus as the Messiah (Christ), the Son of God (Matthew 16:16), and requires repentance from sin. The penitent believer then actually becomes a disciple by being baptized (immersed in water) into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) and thus having a new relationship with God.

The disciple, therefore, “knows” the Lord, having a living relationship with Him. There is much more to learn about the Lord, of course, but “knowing” the Lord is a present reality.

Discipleship is not just an initial choice; it also requires daily living for the Lord. “‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me’” (Luke 9:23). The word “daily” implies our choice is not just once and for all but a 24/7/365 life in Jesus.

To sum up this point, under the New Covenant we are to grow continually in our surrender to and thus our knowledge of God.

Communing with God

In Psalm 46:10, God calls on His people, “‘Be still, and know that I am God.’” Growth in the knowledge of God calls for us frequently to set aside the matters of the world (which yell for our attention) and spend some quality time with Him.

First, of course, is to spend time in prayer. Those throughout history who have been considered great spiritual leaders all recognized one weakness in their lives: they did not spend enough time in prayer. It is said that Martin Luther, great 16th century Reformer, spent three hours each day in prayer because, if he didn’t, he would not have time to do what he needed to do! We probably could not spend that much time in prayer even one day without being repetitive or falling asleep! Jesus taught us that it is not the time spent in prayer that counted but rather the significance of the items in our prayers. If He needed to pray, even getting up early in the morning to find time to pray (see Mark 1:35) or praying all night before important decisions (see Luke 6:12-13), then we certainly need to pray more than we do. Our prayer time should not major in requests for health or money for ourselves or family but rather in just laying out before God our desires, weaknesses, and relationship with and service for Him. We also just need to stop and listen—He may be trying to get in a word edgewise! Many of us are better at talking than listening! Don’t expect Him to speak audibly to you or reveal new truth to you, but He does often spur our memories and our thinking about what we already know.

That brings us to the next item in communing with God: Bible reading. The apostles had Jesus to teach them directly—“‘I have made you [literally, your Name] known to them, and will continue to make you (literally, it, i.e., God’s Name) known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:26). They came to know the Father through the teachings of Jesus, and we hear Him through their words. We need to study, yes, but in communing with God, we need sometimes just to read and give Him an opportunity to make a passage “jump out” at us.

Why is it important to read the Bible (or listen to recordings if we have a hard time reading)? If done right, then you and God are communicating with one another. You stop at a particular verse or phrase and pray. You read what He has to say to you. When engaged in such two-way communication, your soul will be lifted up, and you will look forward to the next time.

We also commune with God when, together with other believers in church and around the word, we gather around the Lord’s Table. All who have committed their lives to Christ are expected, as often as possible, to remember His sacrifice for us by weekly participation in the Lord’s Supper: “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

We are not just remembering but communing with Him. What should dominate our thoughts at this time? (It must never be treated as just a ritual or a religious rite.) As we partake of the loaf and cup, our communing is not just with Christ but also with all who have surrendered their lives to Him. “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). The word translated “participation” (koinonia) does not refer here to an individual act but rather to our joint participation with others who have also (by faith and baptism) spiritually “eaten His flesh and drunk His blood” (John 6:54; see also Romans 6:3-5). We are all “one body,” that is, “His body”; and so we gather each Lord’s Day (Sunday) to remember that fact, recommitting ourselves to Him and to the one body.

The loaf, of course, does not just refer to the “one body” but also to His sacrifice upon the cross. We are thankful that “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).

In partaking of this holy Supper on the Lord’s Day (the first day of the week), we also are strengthened in the assurance of eternal life through His resurrection. And, for that reason, we have hope for an eternity with Him, for we are reminded: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

We can sum up this point: through our communing with God, we grow in our knowledge of Him.

Walking with God

The third area in which we grow in the knowledge of God is called in scripture, walking with Him. This walk is with all three Persons of the Godhead. God Himself calls His people to walk with Him. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). To walk humbly with God means that we do not forget our position in this relationship. He is the Creator, Ruler, and Redeemer. We are the creature, submitting to His will, and enjoying the benefits of His salvation. Those who walk humbly with Him are told, “‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people’” (2 Corinthians 6:16). He promises, “‘Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you’” (Jeremiah 7:23). And He reminds us that knowing Him is not just a matter of correct theological knowledge—it is a particular way of life. He explained to one of the successors to good King Josiah,  “‘Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?’” (Jeremiah 22:15-16).

We also walk with the Son: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live [literally walk]  in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6). “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6).

This walk with God is also called walking in the Spirit. “So I say, live [literally, walk] by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16). “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25).

“Walking with God” is, of course, a scriptural way of saying that in our thoughts, attitudes, speech, and actions we are to live for God. People should be able to know whose we are by what they see in us.

Conclusion

In summary, to know God is to have a living, personal relationship with Him. To grow in the knowledge of Him requires an intentional desire—“I want to know you more”—in surrender, communing, and walking with Him.

In this busy, trouble-laden world: “‘Be still, and know that I am God.’”

STRENGTHENED WITH POWER

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (Part 5)

New Hope Christian Church, 9/3/23

I can’t do it! I’ve tried, I’m trying, but I just can’t do it! Have you ever said or thought something like this? If you have been a disciple of Jesus very long, then you realize how difficult it is to live in this present evil age without God’s help. The apostle Paul’s “grocery list” of prayers for the church (Colossians 1:9-12) continues (1:11): “being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might,” using three different Greek words for strength or power. Here we will consider three power-loaded words (the first being an additional one) that help us to understand what kind of power is being described by Paul.

Grace

In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul describes a vision he had in which he was permitted to see Paradise (but was not permitted to describe what he saw). Being so blessed would tend to make a person boast about his experience. To keep him from boasting, Paul was given what he called “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me” (perhaps a physical ailment or perhaps constant persecution). Three times he pleaded for the Lord to remove this thorn, but the Lord told him, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (12:9). Christ’s power was made perfect (sufficient for his needs). “Therefore,” Paul said, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (12:9-10).

Among our weaknesses is our addiction to sin. Addictions nearly always need more than will-power to shake off. Freedom from an addiction requires outside help. Sin, we are taught, reigns over us as sinners to the point that, although sometimes we can still make righteous choices, we cannot on our own stop sin’s control over us. We have become slaves to sin. However, the grace of Christ that brings us forgiveness also enables us to rise above sin. “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14). “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (5:17). Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” When our conscience is clean (wiped clean by the redeeming blood of Christ), we are empowered to obey God’s will.

Are we trying to do it on our own, without drawing on the power in God’s grace? “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing?” (Galatians 3:3-4). If so, we will fail, for we cannot do it on our on.

Power

“Grace” always implies the power of God in some form. Just defining it as “unmerited favor” waters down its power. As Paul described in his own life, Christ’s power is made perfect in our weakness, making us strong (2 Corinthians 12:9). His power rests on us when, instead of complaining and doubting, we take comfort in the fact that our weaknesses give Him the opportunity to empower us. The result of this power, in our weakness, is described in 4:7-12. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (4:4). However, this spiritual blindness can be overcome through the power at work in us believers: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body" (4:7-11).

In other words, His power in our weakness enables us to help others see the light. “For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you” (13:4).

Strength

According to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, true strength comes only through Christ’s power in our weakness. Even when our weakness involves some form of disobedience, “He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you” (13:3).

One way that we are strengthened is through the apostolic word, which, in our time, is the New Testament. Paul and Barnabas had traveled through Galatia, preaching the gospel and establishing churches in every city. They then back-traced their steps as they headed for home, in each of the fledgling churches “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said” (Acts 14:22), The churches were strengthened by the evangelistic team. 

In dealing with some anti-Paul sentiments in the church in Corinth, Paul did not care that others thought him weak, for his ministry helped them to be strong, and he prayed for increased “perfection” in their strength. “We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection” (13:9). “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening” (12:19). Therefore, we must search the apostolic teaching for more strength. 

In short, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Conclusion

As Christians, we cannot make it in this world without the power of God. Trying to do so just results in failure and hopelessness. Paul prayed that the church might experience the power of Christ and the strengthening of that power. Are you praying for that power, too? Are you seeing how your weaknesses and difficulties in life can actually be beneficial? His grace is sufficient for you, too! If you will let Him, His power will be made complete in spite of your weakness.

The next time you are tempted to complain about your weakness, whatever it may be, why not look to Him and say, what an opportunity for Christ to work through me! Then, wait to see it happen. (You may need to pray for Him to open your eyes so that you will see when it happens.)

Next week, we’ll look at the purpose of all this power which Paul prayed about for the church.

ENDURANCE AND PATIENCE

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (Part 6)

New Hope Christian Church, 9/10/23

Proverbs 25:15 says that a “gentle tongue can break a bone.” Not many of us have that kind of patience! Indeed, endurance and patience are in short supply in our society and our own lives. In the previous message, we examined the part of Paul’s prayer (Colossians 1:11) for the church, that the believers might be “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might.” Paul’s prayer, in this case, was for power “that you may have great endurance and patience.” These two segments of Paul’s prayer for the church are two parts of a whole. Consider the following three factors related to this prayer that connects God’s power with our endurance and patience.

God’s Power Is Awesome!

First, we must understand the broader scope of God’s power, which can be summarized in one short sentence: God’s power is awesome! Not “awesome” as we often hear it, especially from our young people, but really awesome. Something that produces true awe is jaw-dropping, an object or view that leaves us speechless, with our mouths wide open. True awe makes us stand up and stand still as we gaze upon its object, as we find it difficult to turn our gaze away from it. Some people experience such awe when they see firsthand and in person, for the first time, the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, or Cumberland Falls (in south central Kentucky). Such is the awe we experience when we truly envision God’s power in creation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Paul says of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:15-16). All things visible and invisible!

Not only did God create this universe, but His power also keeps it running in an orderly manner. He referred to this aspect of His power in bringing assurance to the Old Testament people of Israel: “‘If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed laws of heaven and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them’” (Jeremiah 33:25-26). He maintains and rules over the universe by these “fixed laws,” what we call the laws of physics. Paul wrote, still speaking of Christ, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). Hebrews 1:3 asserts, after affirming that it was through the Son that God created the universe, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” God’s power is seen both in His creation of and His ruling over (maintaining) the universe.

God’s power is also seen in the times when He intervenes in nature, demonstrating His power over nature, such as Jesus walking on water and calming storms (Matthew 14:24-33; Mark 4:37-41), healing the sick (Matthew 4:23-24), raising the dead (Luke 7:11-15; 8:49-56; John 11:38-46), and saving the lost (Romans 1:16-17; Eph 1:18-23). In summary, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

In fact, God’s power is so awesome that many find it difficult to believe, and so they look for other ways to account for the testimony of the Bible. However, none of these examples of God’s power is the power Paul is requesting here for the church. He is praying for the kind of power that we need on a regular basis in our lives.

God’s Power Is Needed for Our Endurance

God’s power is needed by us personally, individually, and as the church of Christ, so that we “may have great endurance” (Colossians 1:11). When the Bible speaks of endurance, it does not mean just survival—getting through it—but “great endurance,” endurance that keeps us going as we continue to serve Him. This requires “great endurance” because the obstacles we encounter, for various reasons, are many. We must rise above the obstacles, some of which are “great,” overcoming them by His power.

God’s power to endure becomes available to us through His word. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus . . .” (Romans 15:4-5). The Bible, both Old Testament and New, affords us many examples of people who endured great difficulties and still remained true to God, becoming even more useful in service to Him as a result of their overcoming. Consider, for example, Joseph, son of Jacob (Genesis 37-40), Job, King David, Daniel (Daniel 6), his three friends (Daniel 3) and the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17-21). Hebrews 11 lists many others from the Old Testament. One more example is added in the next chapter, as it concludes:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (12:1-3)

These examples from the past teach us that by faith we can, relying on the power of God, endure and overcome anything that comes our way.

In addition, we can draw strength from God’s assurances in scripture. One example is recorded in Daniel 10:17-19, “‘How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.’ Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. ‘Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,’ he said. ‘Peace! Be strong now; be strong.’ When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.’”

And so, Paul writes to his long-time protégé, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. . . . Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1,3). What is said for him certainly applies to us all, even for those who are not involved in full-time Christian work, for “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (3:12). Earlier in this letter, Paul wrote, “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life” (1:8). Could this be God’s call to you for evangelistic work; or for reaching your extended family, your work associates, or your social media contacts? You can do whatever He asks you to do, for He will never ask of you what He does not give the power to do.

God’s Power Is Needed for Our Patience

In addition to endurance, we need God’s power to be patient. Some people seem to be able to be patient naturally, but for most of us, not so much. Lord, I want patience, and I want it now! In our hurried society we do not like to wait in line for anything. God’s power is much needed in many aspects of life. He calls for us to rely on Him for patience in difficult times. The key to understanding the purpose of the book of Revelation is found in 13:10, “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Endurance and faithfulness are both needed, but they can fade away without patience. James 5:10-11 says, “Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

We also need, in many ways, to be patient with other people. “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11), With some, that’s easy, but with others, wow! So hard to do. We definitely need God’s power for that. Again, Paul gives the preacher advice that to some extent applies to all of us, especially when it comes to others in the church: “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy Ti 2:24-26).

Sometimes, it is the Lord with whom we must be patient. We pray, and He does not act as fast as we would like. Our prayers are so rarely answered quickly that we tend to think that He is not going to answer (the way we want Him to) at all. Our lack of patience can fade away into a lack of faith. Our prayers become routine, hoping against hope, but not really expecting divine help. It takes the power of God to rise above such thinking—this calls for “patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.”

We also must be patient while waiting for His return. “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Hebrews 6:10-12).

Conclusion

We look for miracles, and God can certainly work miracles whenever He chooses to do so. But for daily life, what we need most is the power to endure and be patient. The power for such patience and endurance is available. “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God” for you to be “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:9,11). Is this the emphasis of your prayer? Such prayer acknowledges that, although God rarely works (true Biblical) miracles, nevertheless His power in us is still awesome.

GIVING THANKS

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (Part 7)

New Hope Christian Church, 9/17/23

How would you rate your life on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being all complaints and worries and 10 being nothing but joy? Life’s troubles, trials, and sorrows are a natural part of this world, but we can rise above them with the joy that comes from a committed relationship with Christ. Paul’s prayer for the church closes with one final request: “and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:11-12). There are three key components of this segment of his prayer.

Joyful Thanks

It’s a shame that we need to be reminded to give thanks to God. Sometimes, especially when wishing someone, “Happy Thanksgiving,” we hear the reply, “What do I have to be thankful for?” And isn’t it a shame that we need a national holiday to remind us to be thankful? In addition, too often people say they are thankful for something in some general sense without acknowledging the source of the gift or blessing! Paul’s prayer is a reminder that we are to be thankful to our heavenly Father, in recognition that He is the true source of all our blessings, as James says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Unlike shadows which move with the changing positions of the sun in our sky, God does not change. “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, / There is no shadow of turning with Thee; / Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not; / As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be” (Thomas O. Chisholm). If it is a good gift, if it is a perfect gift, then, no matter where it comes from, it is ultimately from the Father; and therefore He is to be thanked.

As ancient Israel was nearing the end of forty years in the wilderness, during which time God had provided (sometimes miraculously) all their needs, they were reminded that in the promised land they were to continue to be thankful, even when the miracles had ceased. As they prospered in that land through increased livestock and abundant crops, they were to realize that God was still the source of their prosperity: “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

Jesus taught His hearers that God was still in the blessing business—there was more to come. “‘If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’” (Matthew 7:11).

Thanks to the Father is accompanied by joy if we truly appreciate what He has done for us. As the psalmist wrote, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s’”  (Psalm 103:2-5).

Show your joy! The Father Himself sets the example. Do you ever think about Him as being filled with joy as He thinks of you? Consider this, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17)! And so we are to return thanks with such joy: “And do not get drunk with wine, . . . but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Ephesians 5:18-20, New American Standard). This passage is one place where the NIV does not quite convey the meaning. In the original Greek, an imperative such as “be filled” is often accompanied by participles, indicating the manner in which the imperative is to be carried out. In other words, we are filled with the Spirit by speaking, singing, making melody, and giving thanks. So singing, whether we enjoy it or not, is one way we express our joy!

Paul wants us to learn to give thanks to the Father, joyfully!

Our Inheritance

The second component in this part of Paul’s prayer for the church is that we understand and thus give thanks for the inheritance which we share in the kingdom of light. We share in that kingdom which was promised in God’s covenant with Abraham, that through him all peoples on earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3), Jews and Gentiles alike. The “mystery of Christ” is “that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6). What is this kingdom of light in which we share?

An Old Testament promise of the kingdom of light is recorded in Isaiah 60:1-3, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:1-3). Since this passage of scripture is found in the latter part of Isaiah, it most likely refers to the Messianic Age, that is, the time following the coming of the Messiah; in other words, the church age. This interpretation is supported by the reference to the inclusion of the nations.

Matthew 4:16 identifies this kingdom as the time when “‘the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.’” Matthew cites this passage from Isaiah 9:2 as being fulfilled in the preaching and teaching of Jesus. “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near’” (4:17). This preaching involved four items, according to Mark 1:15—(1) The time had come, (2) for the kingdom of God was near. Therefore, the people were called on to (3) repent and (4) believe the good news. The kingdom of light, then, includes two basic components: (1) the good news that the Messiah has arrived to bring victory over sin, Satan, and death, and (2) that entrance into this kingdom requires a change of heart, turning from sin and self to the Way of God.

The apostle emphasized the repentance angle: “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has  any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. . . . For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:5,8-10).

Entrance into the kingdom calls for joyful thanksgiving not only for our inclusion in that kingdom but also for our rescue from both the present and the outer darkness. We often think of Hell as the “lake of fire,” but Jesus also referred to it as being thrown “outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 25:30). See also Matthew 22:12-14.

Qualified

We are to be joyfully thankful for our inheritance in the kingdom of light, but not everyone will share in that inheritance. “‘For many are invited, but few are chosen’” (Matthew 22:14). In other words, as Paul says, we must be qualified. To use a modern comparison, only those mentioned in the will are heirs. What qualifies a person to be included in the inheritance of the kingdom of light? In short, only the person who is “in Christ” is qualified. How do we become thus qualified?

First, we must understand that no one is worthy of the inheritance. We are made heirs, without working for or earning such a position. It is a gift. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). All have sinned and thus deserve the wrath of God, but through the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross we can receive the gift of salvation from our sins. However, there are conditions for receiving that gift.

The first and basic condition, the one that underlies all the others, is faith. True, saving faith includes believing the testimony of God about Jesus (1 John 5:9-11), that He died for our sins, was buried, and arose from the dead, being seen by witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Thus He was  declared to be the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God (Matthew 16:16; Acts 2:36). Faith, however, is more than merely giving our mental assent to the truthfulness of the testimony; it also requires us to trust in the word and the sacrifice of Christ. In addiiton, trusting Him leads us to commit our lives to follow, obey, and serve Him, to be loyal to Christ and every teaching of His word. In other words, we entrust ourselves and all that we have into His loving care. Paul expressed this concept in these words, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

True faith naturally leads to repentance, that is, turning away from sin (our own will and desires), and turning to obedience to the gospel, which is the power of salvation (Romans 1:16-17). Ezekiel 18:30 offers a scriptural definition of repentance: “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses.” We do not often hear people talking about repentance in relation to salvation, but Jesus was clear: “‘But unless you repent, you too will all perish’” (Luke 13:3). Peter made repentance a condition for forgiveness of sin: “‘Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord’” (Acts 3:19). See also Acts 2:38 (see below).

Confession is also a requirement for qualifying for the kingdom. In this context, the Greek word translated confession does not mean admitting to specific sins but rather agreeing with the divine testimony about Jesus. (It literally means, “saying the same thing” that God says.) Just as repentance results from genuine, saving faith, so does confession. Paul wrote that “the righteousness that is by faith says: ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:6,8-9). This confession is not just a one-time statement of faith, rather it is a life-long practice. Therefore, in connection with this kind of confession, Jesus presents a promise and a warning: “‘Whoever acknowledges [“confesses”] me before men, I will also acknowledge [“confess”] him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven’” (Matthew 10:32-33).

Baptism, that is, immersion in water in the Name of Jesus (Ac 10:47-48), is the point in time at which our faith becomes effective by bringing us into union with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Consider the following scriptures that clearly affirm this doctrine.

* “‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with [literally, “immersed in”] water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he [the apostle Peter] ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:47-48). Thus, baptism in water is baptism in the name of Christ.

* “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).

* “‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in [literally, “into”] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’” (Matthew 28:19-20).

* “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

Although many claim that baptism has nothing to do with salvation, the Scriptures are clear: baptism upon the basis of faith is the point in time when we received God’s gift of saving grace.

Conclusion

Is your life filled with joyful thanksgiving? Or are you filled with bitterness and complaints? If so, come to Jesus. Enjoy the inheritance! And be joyfully thankful!