Colossians 1:9-12 – Wisdom
One very characteristic thing about the life of the apostle Paul was the emphasis that he had on prayer both personal and corporate. It would seem that the news that Paul had received from Colossae had caused a great upsurge in prayer. The church in Colossae was facing a problem with false teachers called Gnostics (from the Greek word for knowledge), who were teaching that Christ was not sufficient to meet all their needs, and that they required more detailed mystical and philosophical knowledge. So Paul prays that the believers might have true wisdom and understanding. Paul knew that it is impossible to serve God properly without a clear understanding of what he requires of his people Acts 22:10,14; Rom. 12:2. The knowledge that Paul prayed for was not a theoretical ‘head’ knowledge that can so easily lead to pride, but a profound experimental knowledge of the revealed will of God that will lead to a humbling of soul before the Lord. The kind of knowledge and understanding that leads to practical application and obedience in the daily life of the believer.
This knowledge is to be ‘in all spiritual wisdom and understanding’. The goal that Paul sets before them is the one that is set before all believers, that of living to the honour and praise of God. Wisdom from the Holy Spirit is essential if the believer is to use the best methods to achieve this goal. True spiritual understanding does not come from the knowledge of occult secrets or the use of magical passwords as the Gnostics taught, but by a Spirit led understanding of the Word of God and a Spirit enabled application of the Word to the heart and life of the believer. It is the kind of wisdom spoken of by James when he wrote, ‘the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy’. James 3:17.
Questions
- How are we to be ‘filled with the knowledge of his will’?
- How can we encourage one another to pray for each other?
Prayer Points
- Pray that you would have knowledge and wisdom.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.