Praying for Truth
A heavy fog of religious pluralism, secular humanism has rolled in, messing with the church’s spiritual discernment, and hazing the clarity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The ever-present winds of vain philosophies were blowing strong in Colossae. These made the believers there turn to rigid legalism with its list of dos and don’ts or some retreated superstition and conspiracy theories. The ever-present lighthouse of biblical truth was ignored.
The letter to the Colossians addresses specific first century problems but its relevance for today is clear. The heresies of Paul’s day are still at work though under new packages and new names.
Only when folks have a true biblical worldview will be able to fix the hatred, the racism, and the class warfare. That can only happen when a person comes to faith and begins to see their lives and the lives of others through the lens of Scripture.
TRUTH IN CHAOS (1:1-14)
Paul begins his letter to Colossae by introducing himself and Timothy as the authors. Paul wrote the letter while 1,000 miles away from Colossae yet still had a bond that only Christians can share.
Theme: Jesus is sufficient as our Lord, our life and our guide (v. 3-8)
Paul’s care and concern for the Colossians is seen in his prayer of thanksgiving. He hadn’t even met them but he was thankful for them because of what he had heard. He knew they needed what we need today: growth and strength in the theological virtues of faith, love, and hope.
The Christian life starts with faith and from faith flows love once you have the Spirit of God.
My faith looks back to the bedrock truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Love looks around, building up the body through selfless service. Hope looks ahead to the promise that God the Father will one day usher us into His presence.
Paul continues by expanding on the subject of the gospel. Paul notes that Epaphras brought the saving message to the Colossians because no one is born knowing the good news. They need someone to tell them.
Epaphras’ ministry to the Colossians was one example of many missionaries’ efforts in which they shared their faith with a lost world.
Verse 8 shows that the gospel was doing more than being passed around to others. From the moment they understood the good news, the Spirit began producing love.
Paul knew the issues with false teaching and he addresses it in detail in chapter 2. In verses 9-14 Paul pays attention to knowledge as he wants the Colossians to leave false knowledge for the intimate and experiential knowledge of Christian faith, love, and hope.
Some false teachers promote a deeper knowledge that goes beyond the saving knowledge of Christ. False teachers often promise knowledge that goes deeper or provides an alternative to the simple knowledge of the masses. They offer new teaching and use words Christians are familiar with but do it in weird ways.
Satan is so deceptive! He likes to borrow Christian vocabulary, but he does not use the Christian
dictionary. - Warren Wiersbe
The false teachers in Colossae were twisting the meaning of perfectly good Christian terms like knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
People throw around the idea that we must do this or that for the love of neighbor. They say their definition is the only one suitable. If you don’t love your neighbor like this, then you are evil.
When loving your neighbor has been twisted to fit a narrative that is actually causing harm to exponentially more people, is it really loving our neighbor? You can love your neighbor in your context and it might not fit the narrow definition Satan is using to divide the Church.
In verse 10 Paul intensifies his language with “full knowledge.” This knowledge was not simply to inform but to transform.
2 Tips as We Pray for Truth
1. Be a faithful prayer warrior
Be a people of prayer and don’t wait for the text message, pray for people.
2. Be specific in your prayers for others
We can pray they would have knowledge, have God-honoring lives, and that they would have strength.
The letter to the Colossians addresses specific first century problems but its relevance for today is clear. The heresies of Paul’s day are still at work though under new packages and new names.
Only when folks have a true biblical worldview will be able to fix the hatred, the racism, and the class warfare. That can only happen when a person comes to faith and begins to see their lives and the lives of others through the lens of Scripture.
TRUTH IN CHAOS (1:1-14)
Paul begins his letter to Colossae by introducing himself and Timothy as the authors. Paul wrote the letter while 1,000 miles away from Colossae yet still had a bond that only Christians can share.
Theme: Jesus is sufficient as our Lord, our life and our guide (v. 3-8)
Paul’s care and concern for the Colossians is seen in his prayer of thanksgiving. He hadn’t even met them but he was thankful for them because of what he had heard. He knew they needed what we need today: growth and strength in the theological virtues of faith, love, and hope.
The Christian life starts with faith and from faith flows love once you have the Spirit of God.
My faith looks back to the bedrock truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Love looks around, building up the body through selfless service. Hope looks ahead to the promise that God the Father will one day usher us into His presence.
Paul continues by expanding on the subject of the gospel. Paul notes that Epaphras brought the saving message to the Colossians because no one is born knowing the good news. They need someone to tell them.
Epaphras’ ministry to the Colossians was one example of many missionaries’ efforts in which they shared their faith with a lost world.
Verse 8 shows that the gospel was doing more than being passed around to others. From the moment they understood the good news, the Spirit began producing love.
Paul knew the issues with false teaching and he addresses it in detail in chapter 2. In verses 9-14 Paul pays attention to knowledge as he wants the Colossians to leave false knowledge for the intimate and experiential knowledge of Christian faith, love, and hope.
Some false teachers promote a deeper knowledge that goes beyond the saving knowledge of Christ. False teachers often promise knowledge that goes deeper or provides an alternative to the simple knowledge of the masses. They offer new teaching and use words Christians are familiar with but do it in weird ways.
Satan is so deceptive! He likes to borrow Christian vocabulary, but he does not use the Christian
dictionary. - Warren Wiersbe
The false teachers in Colossae were twisting the meaning of perfectly good Christian terms like knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
People throw around the idea that we must do this or that for the love of neighbor. They say their definition is the only one suitable. If you don’t love your neighbor like this, then you are evil.
When loving your neighbor has been twisted to fit a narrative that is actually causing harm to exponentially more people, is it really loving our neighbor? You can love your neighbor in your context and it might not fit the narrow definition Satan is using to divide the Church.
In verse 10 Paul intensifies his language with “full knowledge.” This knowledge was not simply to inform but to transform.
2 Tips as We Pray for Truth
1. Be a faithful prayer warrior
Be a people of prayer and don’t wait for the text message, pray for people.
2. Be specific in your prayers for others
We can pray they would have knowledge, have God-honoring lives, and that they would have strength.
Pastor Chris Williams
To learn more about Pastor Chris and his teaching, visit us on the web at fcfamily.org and make sure you subscribe to receive these biweekly encouragements in your inbox.
To learn more about Pastor Chris and his teaching, visit us on the web at fcfamily.org and make sure you subscribe to receive these biweekly encouragements in your inbox.
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