Prayer for Spiritual Blessings
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/27/2014 PM
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Text:
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Colossians 1:9,10
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Psalters: |
348, 311, 20, 159 |
Sacrament of Baptism |
- The content of Paul’s prayer serves well for believing parents as they pray for the children God has gifted to them.
- The best way to demonstrate our love for someone is that we pray for them.
- For knowledge.
- The manner of praying by Paul and by us.
- The two words used refer to a strong, fervent effort: pray and desire.
- “Not cease” (Luke 18:1; I Thess. 5:17) speaks of a fixed desire.
- The petition is specific - the request is to know “His [God’s] will” (cf. Eph. 1:17).
- The petition is God-centered (most of our troubles arise from our focus being man-centered).
- The request is for knowledge – accurate and exact as well as profoundly experiential.
- God’s will as revealed concerning what is to be believed (John 6:40) and how we are to live (I Thess. 4:3,4).
- This knowledge is possible through Jesus (John 1:18) Thus Hoyt needs union with Jesus more than anything.
- The request is that we and our children “be filled.”
- The result of this knowledge of God’s will is having “all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
- The purpose of the knowledge is to “walk worthy of the Lord.”
- “Walk” refers to our visible life which is demonstrates that we are on a journey to heaven.
- “Worthy of the Lord,” for the knowledge of God and of His will is designed to promote a godly life style.
- “Worthy” is suitably, in a manner worthy of God and of the Lord Jesus.
- It means that we walk by faith in Him, according to His Word.
- “Unto all pleasing” means that in all things we seek to please God.
- “Being fruitful in every good work.”
- “And increasing in the knowledge of God.”