Prayer of Power

As has been observed many times in many ways by many people, Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1.9-14 is awesome.  He asks for two things, gives seven reasons for the requests, and closes with a doxology – a praise-filled description of the work of our glorious God.

The first request, for the church in Colossae, is that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  The purposes for better knowing God’s will, as proclaimed in the Bible, are fourfold, that they would:

– walk in a manner worthy of the Lord

– fully please Him

– bear fruit in every good work

– increase in the knowledge of God.

The reasons work together to provide an increasing God-loop – know His will, obey and please Him, bear fruit, and get a better understanding of who he is, which provides more knowledge of his will. Repeat.

The second request is that youmay be strengthened will all power, according to his glorious might.  The power comes from God, and is meant to provide

– endurance

– patience

– joy

The growth in wisdom, endurance, patience and joy leads to giving thanks to the Father, not just for the growth but for what he has done through Jesus.  He has

– qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light

– delivered us from the domain of darkness

– transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son

– provided us with redemption, the forgiveness of sin.

Paul’s prayer for these disciples is that they would “get it” richly, that they would know abundantly the plethora of blessings provided by their loving Father.   And notice how Paul’s prayer started with YOU pronouns and ends with US pronouns; as we read it, we are included in the blessings!

The ONLY God

The first article of the Belgic Confession contains a powerful list of God attributes. 

We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God –

– eternal

– incomprehensible

– invisible

– unchangeable

– infinite

– almighty

– completely wise

– just

– good

– the overflowing source of all good

The list reminds me of a favorite Pauline prayer from Ephesians 1.17 (NIV) – “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.”

Cool Number Dates – 10/19/14-1025/14

There are three days this week which are all multiples of two – even numbered month, day, year –  10/20/14, 10/22/14, and 10/24/14.

Next Saturday is also a minus subtract day, as 10 – 24 = -14.

A fun day occurs for high school chemistry students on 10/23 – Mole day.  A mole is a huge number for measuring molecular weight; 6.02 times 10 to the 23rd power(6.02 * 10^23).  It would seem like June 2 would be more appropriate, but high school teachers noted that many schools are out for the summer.  They may have been jealous of the math teachers who had pi day in March, or maybe they just wanted a better opportunity for solid and fun teaching on a vital topic.

Defensive Pose

I’m not short.  I’m built low to the ground for speed and accuracy.

 

I’m not lazy.  I’m energy efficient.

 

A Grouchy German is a Sour Kraut.

 

If a man says he will fix it, there is no need to remind him every six months.

Variations In Prayer

We have looked at the same psalm (118) and had essentially the same list of potential prayer topics for the last two weeks’ Tuesday morning prayer services.  But we had different instructions each time.

Last week, we took turns reading verses from the psalm. This serves to focus attention on the passage and get everyone’s vocal cords warmed up a bit.  We had a starter list of prayer chain requests and known upcoming events. Then we prayed as led using the whole psalm as a source of ideas – Thanksgiving; God’s goodness and love; the LORD as refuge, helper, savior; verses quoted by New Testament authors; and remembering that the LORD answers prayers.

This week, we took turns not just reading the verse but praying the scripture, and applying the thanksgiving, refuge, salvation, and other ideas to the list of topics and others.  The purpose was to have each person focus and apply a smaller section of the Word.  It was a joy to hear how others were prompted to give thanks, offer praise, and intercede based on the words of the psalm.

One comment for potential leaders:  If you want to get all the way through the 29 verses of Psalm 118 in half an hour, you should mention your goal at the beginning and caution everyone to be brief.  Also know that you don’t have to finish; some longer prayers cannot be rushed.

Real Whoppers

A Texan was bragging about the fish back home.  Sick of listening to him, an Alaskan blurted out, “I caught a fish last month that was eight inches.”

The Texan said, “That’s kind of puny.”

The Alaskan replied, “We measure them between the eyes.”

Bold Witness

The believers had asked for boldness at the end of Acts 4.  In the next chapter they have a chance to use the gift given in answer to that prayer.  The Sadducees (the party that denied any resurrection from the dead) and the high priest, “filled with jealousy,” arrested the apostles and threw them in jail.  An angel rescued them in the night and told them to go back to the temple and “speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

The arresting council members were freaked that their prisoners had escaped past locked doors and sentries, but they were still very angry and jealous.  The captain and the guard may also have been angry but he had the good sense not to force the apostles to come with him – not only did these apostles have prison-breaking powers, but the people were on their side.

The council members warned Jesus’ followers once more to cease and desist from telling the people about who killed Jesus, but Peter, knowing whom he served and what he had seen (including escape-by-angel), boldly proclaimed “We must obey God rather than men.  The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The council members were enraged, but they had heard the gospel:  Jesus died on the tree, was raised from the dead, and sits at the right hand of the Father.  His death provides forgiveness of sins to those who repent and believe.  And, there is a new player – the Holy Spirit – giving boldness, comfort, and wisdom those who obey God,  and being a witness himself.

The apostles were roughed up and released.  But they rejoiced, remembering that they would be blessed because others reviled them on account of Jesus Christ, their Lord, King, and Savior.

Fairest Lord Jesus

What a wonderful hymn extoling, praising, and recounting the wonders of Jesus.  It was written in the 17th century by German Jesuits and published in the Münster Gesangbuch in 1677.

 

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature, Son of God and Son of Man!

Thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring:

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight, and all the twinkling, starry host:

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, than all the angels heav’n can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.

 

The lyrics borrow a page from Hebrews, where He is described as better than Moses, angels, the law, human high priests, and animal sacrifices.  Here Jesus is praised as also being fairer, purer, and brighter than the best things nature has to offer.