Bearing Fruit Because It's All About Jesus
Colossians: It's All About Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Billy Graham was once asked what he would do different if he had to do it all over again. He replied, “I would pray more and study more.” Can you imagine?The greatest preacher of our lifetime felt like he did not pray and study enough. Perhaps you, like me think when you hear that, “then I am in a bad way because there is no way my study habits are like those of what Billy Graham would have been!”
Our study in Colossians gives us many benefits of the Christian Life and how those will help us grow and be stronger in our walk with Christ. Among these benefits, we find much about prayer, disciplines that strengthen our walk and a reminder of just what we are being delivered from by making our lives all about Jesus.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Praying for Direction
Praying for Direction
Paul’s example as mentioned in is that of constant prayer. Paul mentions this in . In verse 9, he continues this thought of constant prayer by mentioning that “we have not stopped praying for you.”
The Gospel had come to the Colossians perhaps just like it came to me and you. We heard the good news from someone else and God used that person in our lives to reveal the beautiful story of how God created us to be in fellowship with Him, but because of our failures, wrong doings called sin, that fellowship was broken. But because of God chose while we were still sinners to demonstrate His great love for us and allowing Christ to die for us. And, because of that, we can life abundantly now and eternal life forever! That is good news!
How do you celebrate when you hear about someone has received that good news and are growing in Christ? Paul told the Colossians that as he has heard this about them, he has prayed for them and asked God to give them spiritual direction. The line in this verse should not be overlooked. It is because of what God has already done that Paul can pray with confidence for what God can do. When God begins a work of grace, He will continue it and complete it!
That is good news!
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.
This prayer is one that is tireless. Paul says, “we have not stopped praying for you.” Paul has a habit about reporting his regular prayers. Dr. N.T. Wright points out that Paul does not offer teaching, advice, or encouragement except in the contact of prayers. As I have studied the writings of Paul, I see that more and more. Paul’s work is not of his own plan. Our work should not be of our own plans but those of the Lord.
This is indicated in the passage: “…asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
The word “fill” is translated from the Greek word PLEROO, which means filling out to completeness. The work “knowledge” is from the Greek word EPIGNOSIS which is filling out to completeness. Together, we have a description of Paul’s desire for the people of Colosse to have a complete understanding of the fullness of God and to experience it in a way that completely changes their lives. If Paul were writing this to our church, he would express the same thing!
This filling comes from the Holy Spirit being alive and working in our lives. Paul describes this in 1 Corinthians 2:13:
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1 Corinthians 2:13
It does not come from self knowledge because according to , knowledge puffs up:
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
1 Corinthians
Our knowledge of God must be filtered through His Word. It also needs to be practical. We must know it in order to do it.
That is why any person that claims to be a Christian can learn from God’s word how to live, serve and be obedient to the cause of Christ.
Paul prays for God to fill the people of Colosse with the knowledge of His will.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
It is the understanding of God’s saving purpose that helps us understand His will. Therefore, we are able to understand the ways and characteristics of God Himself.
so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
All you have made will praise you, O Lord;
your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Paul is “asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” The phrase “all spiritual wisdom” is the practical know how that comes from God.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
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.
This verse tells us that is available from God.
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.
It is there for the asking. Ask and the Bible says it will be given to you.
We must make sure that we are seeking Godly wisdom and not wisdom that is earthly.
Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
It is necessary to discern and make sure it is of God.
Notice that verse 9 closes out with the word “understanding.” Understanding is clear analysis and applied decision making of the knowledge. Spiritual wisdom and understanding are the fruit of the created order and follow God’s design. We are designed to be under God and over the world.
True spiritual wisdom and understanding is both securing and freeing.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
True spiritual wisdom and understanding keep us from being tossed about and frees us from the unbiblical schemes of man.
It is a skill that can be developed through the study of God’s word.
and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—
Exodus
Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Deuteronomy 4:6
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—
Isaiah
The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of both:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Not only does Paul pray for the people of Colosse to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, he prays that they may live a life worthy of the Lord. Paul gives insight about this in a few other passages:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
A life worthy of the Lord is received. It is something that is given, not earned.
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2
A life worthy of the Lord is urged by those who have already experienced it and has understanding of what it means to be a disciple and follower of God.
The NKJV, KJV, and NASB all have “walk worthy.” This keeps in line with Paul’s Jewish background and the understanding from the Old Testament about the description of one’s path.
Thus you will walk in the ways of good men
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 2:
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
“Live a life” and the “walk” are synonomous.
A genuine knowledge of Christ is revealed in a life that reveals Christlikeness.
The word “worthy” is from the Greek word AXIOS. It means of equal weight.
We mentioned , but also look at what else we are to be worthy of in our lives and walk.
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
Philippians
We are to be worthy of the gospel.
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians
We are called to lives lives worthy of God.
Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
We are called to continue to grow and do more and more.
As a believer, we are equal to the Lord’s standards. We are holy as He is holy.
As a believer, we are equal to the Lord’s standards. We are holy as He is holy.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
1 Pete
together make a beautiful picture of the Christian life. When we live a life worthy of the Lord, we may please Him in every way.
This is a way of life we can aim for!
Understanding fuels holiness. Holiness fuels a deeper understanding. Deeper understanding bears fruit. This leads to The Power of Discipline.
You and I can please God with our lives!
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
It is not circul:ar, but spiral. Paul is praying that as you increase in the knowledge of God’s will, you will increase in the knowledge of God. And vice versa, the more you understand about God, the more you understand about His will.
Understanding fuels holiness. Holiness fuels a deeper understanding. Deeper understanding bears fruit. This leads to The Power of Discipline.
The Power of Discipline
The Power of Discipline
We have seen in that the Gospel is bearing fruit. Here in verse 10, we also see that God’s people should be “bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” How are you doing with this? Are you bearing fruit? Are you exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:
If you could rate yourself on a scale of one to ten, one being horrible and ten being spectacular, how would you score on each of these? Could you do better? There are nine parts to the fruit of the Spirit. Could you score a 90? if you are not, there’s room for improvement! We are called to be fruit bearers in every good work.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
2 Corinthians 9
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ep
This is the pattern of Jesus: when ministering on earth, Jesus spent time alone praying then went out to serve others.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Practical obedience means pleasing God, serving Him, and getting to know Him better.”
Perhaps that is why the great evangelist D.L. Moody said, “Every Bible should be bound in shoe leather.”
Spiritual intelligence produces practical obedience which produces moral excellence!
Notice again in the phrase, “in the knowledge of God.”
Understanding fuels holiness. Holiness fuels a deeper understanding. Deeper understanding bears fruit. This leads to The Power of Discipline.
This is another Jewish tradition from which we can learn much about the experience of God’s dealings.
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.