COLOSSIANS 1:9-14 REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS THROUGH THE SON

Passage:

Colossians 1:9-14 

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^[a] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father,who has qualified you^[b] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Notes

Just like Paul prays for the people of Colossae, We need to pray to the Lord 

- to understand His will through the wisdom and understanding that the Holy Spirit gives us so that we can live a life pleasing to the Lord and bear much fruit. 

- to be strengthened by Him to have endurance and patience.

- to thank Him for the inheritance to the Kingdom of light where we have redemption and forgivenes of sins through the Son who rescued us.

Prayer

Abba Father, 

You rescued me from darkness and gave me the inheritance to your kingdom where there is redemption and forgiveness. I have not done anything to deserve this. It is only by your grace. Enable me to surrender myself to your will and operate on your strength. I thank you for rescuing me from eternal death and planting this Hope in me. I seek your blessings to share this joy with others. Help me to overcome my weaknesses and proclaim the good news to all the people you have placed in my sphere of influence. 

In Jesus matchless name

Amen

COLOSSIANS 1:3-8 FAITH AND LOVE FROM THE HOPE GIVEN IN THE GOSPEL

COL 1:3-8

PASSAGE

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.⁷ You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,^[a] who is a faithful minister of Christ on our^[b] behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Notes

The gospel was proclaimed to each of us through faithful ministers of His word. The gospel gave us the hope of heaven and what is in store for us . From this hope, faith in Christ and love for God's people sprang up in our hearts. In the same way that the gospel bore fruit in us, it is growing throughout the world. Let us also be a part of this great commission and provide hope to a world which is groping around in darkness.

Prayer:

Abba Father, Thank you for using your precious ministers to spread to gospel. I bless them in your precious name. I would never have experienced your love and care, had this not happened. Enable me also to spread your love to others. Let the hope that is in me bubble up with love for your people so that I can lead them to you. Lead me to the right persons and put the right words and the right actions in me so that I make them understand your grace. I seek your will to do this and trust in the   Holy Spirit to lead me at all times.    
In your awesome name I pray
Amen!

COLOSSIANS 1:1-2 GRACE AND PEACE - A GREETING FROM PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

Col 1:1-2

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters^[a] in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

^Notes:

 In this letter to Colossians also, Paul addresses himself as an apostle. But he is not putting honor on himself but only because it was the will of God. He calls the people of Colossae 'God's Holy people' and as 'faithful brothers and sisters in Christ'. This letter applies to us also who are God's chosen people in Christ. Let us also be able to get the same label of 'faithful in Christ'. Grace and Peace can be granted by God alone. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, how lucky I am to be chosen by you! Just like how Paul is so clear about your will, Enable me to understand your will in my life and move accordingly in that direction. Bless me to be faithful to you at all times in all that I do. I know that grace and peace are your gifts alone and I seek for these to reign in my life. 

In your matchless name I pray

Amen

Phil 4:10-13 BE SATISFIED IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Phil 4:10-13

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Notes: Paul teaches through these beautiful verses how important it is to be content in every situation. He is the right person to give this testimony since he came from a well off background. He threw away everything for the gospel. He knows what it means to live in plenty and also how to live with bear minimum. He has learned to find contentment whatever the situation is. He seals this testimony with an awesome verse that his contentment and satisfaction is only because the Lord strengthens him and not by his own merit.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, In Psalms 23, you teach us that you are our shepherd and hence we will not be in want. Enable me to be satisfied in every situation. I confess that I am a complainer and mostly unsatisfied. But with your strength I want to eradicate this and be content with whatever you have given me. Bless me to overlook any greed or dissatisfaction and put my focus on you alone. Thank you for your mercy and love
In Jesus' precious name
Amen

Phil 4:8-9 Filter your thoughts

Phil 4:8-9

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Notes:

Paul speaks about the nature of our thoughts and 8 guiding principles of how it shud it be:

* true 

* noble

* right

* pure

* lovely 

* admirable

* excellent

* praiseworthy

     These 8 principles should be like a filter for our thoughts. If what we think or meditate on, does not fall into these category then 'out it goes'. Most of our actions are based on the way we think. If we are angry inside we tend to do things angrily and everything will upset us. Similarly these positive thoughts will have a positive impact on our actions.

        Paul goes on to explain that we should put to practice what we have learned, received, seen or heard from him. It would make us hypocrites to read the word, understand it and not put it to practice. We need to grow more into His image each day and we can do this only by living out what the word teaches us. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, enable me to filter my thoughts and meditate only on those which is pleasing to you as you have taught in these verses. I seek to obey the Holy Spirit who guides me each and every moment. Help me to 'take captive of every thought' so that I obey you (2 Cor 10:5) Guide me to put to practice all that you are teaching me and also be a blessing to others.

In Jesus mighty name

Amen

Phil 4:4-7 REJOICE ALWAYS - JOY NOT BASED ON ONE'S CIRCUMSTANCES

Philippians 4:4-7

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

 ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Notes:

 Paul was imprisoned when he writes this letter to the Philippians. He is the last person who should be talking about happiness and rejoicing. But that’s the valuable lesson we learn here. Joy is not based on our circumstances, it is based on the hope we hold in the Lord.

         Our nature should not be that we are saints in the church and a different person to the outside world. We are to be gentle to all. The Christ in us should be evident wherever we go or whoever we meet. The coming of the Lord is not too far. How can we hide the hypocrisy from the Lord if we show favor only to few people. If the love of the Lord overflows in us then we love everyone unconditionally.

 Any situation that we worry about, we should bring it to the Lord in prayer with a lot of gratitude that the Lord is in control and He will do the needful. If we pray about it and then worry about it then it really is equal to distrusting the Lord. Once we have laid down our burdens on the Lord, His peace takes over our heart and mind and we are at complete peace. Only the precious Lord alone can provide such peace. No man or thing can provide us this everlasting peace.

Prayer:

Abba Father,

Thank you for teaching me a lot of valuable truths from this passage. Enable me to rejoice in you at all times whatever maybe my situation and bring all the troubles to you in prayer. I know that you are wonderful father who listens to me and knows what is right for me and I do not need to fear. Enable my faith and trust in you to increase day by day. I want to let go dependency on my strength and abilities and put my complete trust in you alone. I seek your blessings to show the ‘Christ in me’ wherever I maybe. Let me be able to give glory to you alone in all that happens in my life.

In Jesus matchless name

AMEN

Phil 4:1-3 Stand firm in the Lord and be of one mind

Phil 4:1-3

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Notes:

Paul talks here of two women who are not getting along very well. He pleads with them to ‘be of the same mind’. Their purpose was the same - to spread the gospel. But they could not go get along very well. It is a possibility that during our journey as believers we meet other believers who are different. The love and passion for Christ may the same but their attitudes, way of ministering, way of living may be different. But instead of having an attitude of judgement and hatred, let us reconcile with each other and focus on Christ and His will in our life. The enemy can even use other believers to distract us from our purpose in life. Let this not happen to us. Like Paul says in Phil 3:14 Let us press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us. 

Prayer:

Abba Father, I confess that many a times I have judged believers for their action and attitudes. You teach me here that they are not the ones I need to look upon and criticize, but my eyes need to be on you alone and what you teach me. I need to be more like you and hence my focus should only be on you. Enable me to reconcile with other believers and also help them in our journey together to do the tasks you entrusted us with. Fill me with your love so that I may look upon others only with love. 

In Jesus’ mighty name 

AMEN

Phil 2:12-13 WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION

Phil 2:12-13

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Notes:

Salvation is not by our works. It is by grace alone. We cannot achieve salvation by our merit but it is the free gift of God.  Here Paul asks people of Philippi to “work out your salvation”. It teaches me that we need to live out your life with awe and love until the completion of this salvation. The Lord is a Lord of completion and what He has started in us, He also wants to complete perfectly. In this way, each moment of our saved life we learn through the word about him, we learn to sit at His feet and listen to Him, we learn to overcome our frustration and put our trust on Him, we learn to overcome our fleshly desires, we learn to share about His love. It is not an instant process but an ongoing process of sanctification. During our journey we realize His purpose in our life. For the Lord who found me worthy, what more to give than my own submitted life? I need to faithfully do each and every task that he entrusts me with, whether small or big. I need to move prayerfully and submit myself to Him and work my way towards this purpose. But is this a heavy burden for me? Will I be tired? No. I have His assurance that with His strength I will continue in the same fervor and desire, ready to act for Him and fulfill His purpose in my life.

Prayer:

Precious Heavenly Father, The gift of salvation is the greatest gift for humanity. Enable me to live each moment of my new born life in awe and love for you and others. Help me to grow, more in grace and wisdom. Enable me to hear your voice and obey your words at all times.. Enable me to be useful for your kingdom and fill me with more of you and less of me. In Jesus’ precious name

AMEN

EPHESIANS 6:9 A CHRIST LIKE MASTER

Ephesians 6:9

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

      A master-slave relationship can be compared to the current setup in our workplace. We may have subordinates or people of lower position working along with us. The lord teaches us through the verses how to deal with them. We are to treat them with love and respect. We need to remember that the ultimate master is our Lord in heaven and hence we need to humble ourselves. Just like the Lord showed no partiality among us sinners, we too should treat all alike. So to summarize our relationship with subordinates, We are to :

1.Give orders without threatening

2. Humble yourself under the heavenly master

3. Show No partiality

Prayer: Abba father, Enable us to be the kind of leaders you want us to be. Lord, you have taught us only to love and let this love not be blinded when authority is given to us. Enable us to exercise the authority in a Christ like manner with respect and care. Overall let us be able to humble ourselves under your authority as you are the ultimate Master for us all. Let this reminder be with us at all times.

In Jesus precious name

AMEN

EPHESIANS 6:1-4 OBEY AND HONOR PARENTS IN THE LORD

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”4 Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

NOTES:

Obey and honoring parents is one of the Ten commandments and so we can understand how important it is. Furthermore It is the only commandment with a promise attached to it to emphasize its importance. The verse says that we need to obey them ‘in the Lord’ which means that we should be careful that obedience should not go against God’s will. The parents are placed in our lives to care for us and love us. They are humans and might make mistakes but we need to love them, honor them for who they are and obey them. In the same way as parents we need to make sure that we make it easy for our children to honor and obey us. We need to bring them up in the instructions of the Lord. We are responsible for their upbringing and correction/disciplining is a must but it should be done without provoking them. Explain things in a lot of love and correct them. We are also raising future fathers and mothers who have to train their children in the same manner and hence generations are influenced by our upbringing.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for my parents.I seek your blessing to obey them and honor them at all times. Help me to spread your Godly love over them. In their old age, let them be showered with your peace and strength. Enable me to be their comfort and help me to understand them well. I also seek your blessings over my children. Enable us to bring them up according to your will. Let us be examples to them and always reflect the Christ in us so that it becomes a way of life for them. The days are evil and we hear things we cannot even imagine, but with you along with us we can parent them in your Godly love. Let them never stray away from your path and let them live a life pleasing to the Lord. Enable them to accept you as savior and Lord of their life and above all, let them be useful for your kingdom. Give us your divine wisdom to teach them about you and bring them up according to your will.

In Jesus matchless name I pray

AMEN

EPHESIANS 5:15-21 ...BUT BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 4:15-21

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Notes: As children of God we are to make use of every opportunity . The days are evil and the devil prowls like a lion looking for someone to devour(1 Peter 5:8) To overcome any situation we need to be filled by the Holy Spirit i.e completely heed to the convictions of the Holy Spirit. He should control all the areas of our life and in this way we understand God’s will for us. We have been gifted with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation but we can filled with Him when we surrender our lives to His guidance and control. Let us use each opportunity to encourage one another with Psalms and hymns. Let us reflect the Christ that dwells in us in all that we do. Above all let us thank Him for everything because we know He works for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28)

Prayer : Abba Father, I surrender myself to you. Enable me to empty me of myself and be filled with you. Let me yield to your Holy Spirit in all walks of my life. Enable me to operate on your wisdom and not on my thoughts. Let my actions and words be controlled by you alone and above all I thank you for everything you are doing in my life and I seek your blessings to share this joy with many more.

In Jesus’ precious name

AMEN

EPHESIANS 5:8-15 LIVE AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8-14

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,

    and Christ will shine on you.” 

Notes:

We were saved by our God when we were deep in sin. We lived in the dark without any hope. We continued in our sin and our eyes got used to the darkness. But when the Lord found us, His light shone over all areas in our life. Not only the areas which we expose to people to give a good impression but even our deepest secret sins. He illuminated all our sins and made us realize that only He can saves us from it and He did. Our new life is in the light and we realize our mistakes now and Holy Spirit guides us in the right path. The word acts as an ever shining lamp in our path. As children of light now, let us continue to live in the righteousness imputed to us by Christ and have nothing to do with any fruitless deeds of the past. Let us live in this light and share the beauty of this light to many others who grope in darkness without any hope.

Prayer:

Precious Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for saving me from the darkness and placing me in your light. Enable me to live in this light with integrity and truth. Let my thoughts and actions be guided by you and enable me to understand your will. I submit my weaknesses to you and seek your blessings to overcome them with your strength. I seek your blessings to share the good news of your light to many others who are struggling in the darkness searching for a ray of light. 

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray

AMEN

  

EPHESIANS 5:1-2 IMITATORS OF GOD

Ephesians 5:1-2
 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Notes:
We are all children of God and are to follow the example of our heavenly father. Our standards are not set on human criteria but on the Lord. Our Lord has taught us only to love and he proved his ultimate love by being a sacrifice on the cross. We are called to love one another with the same love.

Precious Heavenly father, Your love for us cannot be measured. You sacrificed yourself on the cross. I am called to love in the same manner. I seek your blessings to love everyone in same way without any barriers. Help me to see all as children of God and hence everyone as my brother and sister. Enable me to speak about your great love to all and lead them to you. Without your Godly love in me I can't love others. Fill me with your love and cast away any traces of hatred in me.
All this I ask in your precious name
Amen.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21 ALL GLORY TO CHRIST ALONE

S - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20-21‬ NIV)

O - do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

According to His power within us

Glory in the church

In Christ Jesus thru all generations

A - Paul ends the beautiful prayer giving all glory to Christ who is able to do much more than what we ask for or imagine. His power which is within us can help us do much more than what Our mind can comprehend. Whether in church or wherever we go, all glory should go to Jesus alone and this is to continue to generations.

P - Abba father, Thank you for the assurance that you are able to do much more through me than what I ask or imagine.Enable me to be reminded of this at all times when I worry or put weight on my efforts. I seek your blessings to pray earnestly and then leave the matter in your hands. To you alone glory belongs and let me never take pride for anything I do. Enable me to teach and reflect your glory to my kids so that they too can bask in it and pass it in to their generations. 

In Jesus matchless name

️Amen

Ephesians 3:14-19 ROOTED IN LOVE FOR UNITY AMONG BRETHREN

S - 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your heartsthrough faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

O/A - Paul prays this beautiful prayer for the Ephesians and as we read it, it becomes a prayer for us also : 

1. Strengthen us with power thru His spirit in our inner being ( to fight fleshly desires)

2. For Christ to dwell in us through Faith ( strong Faith)

3. Be rooted and established in Love ( unconditional love)

4. Have power together with Lord Holy ppl (unity among brethren)

5. For love that surpasses knowledge 

6. To be filled to the measure of all fullness of God 

   Each verse is so strong and tell us of His will in our life  - to be a deeply rooted Christian who cannot be pulled out by the desires of this world. We cannot comprehend the depth, height, width and length of His love but only by His power bestowed on us. His love that fills us is above all the knowledge we have and fills us with measure of fullness of God. 

P - Heavenly loving father, What a beautiful prayer you have shown me in this verses. Enable me also to pray in the same manner - to be filled with you to the brim, to be overflowing with your love, to be strong in my faith, to operate in this world by your power. I cannot love all with my effort but wen your love fills me, I can love everyone. Enable me to share this love with many others. I always doubted in my knowledge and efforts but you clearly prove here that ur love surpasses all knowledge and I will trust in this alone. 

All this I ask in your holy and everlasting name

️Amen

EPHESIANS 2:14-15 ONE NEW HUMANITY

S - Ephesians 2:14-15New International Version (NIV)


14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

O/ A - Just like how the Jews and Gentiles became one in Christ, which was thought to be impossible, the peace of Christ can lead an unbeliever to be a believer. Each person in this world is different, speak different languages, come from different cultures, different backgrounds but once they come to Christ, they become one - Children of God. The dividing wall is broken between them and the crown of sin is replaced with the crown of Jesus.


P - Precious Heavenly father, we submit all the prospective believers in our sphere of influence into your hands. Let your peace reign so that the barriers are broken in your name. Let your children come to know you and live in your light. Equip us with the power of the Holy Spirit to use the right words and lead them to you. I seek your blessings to glorify your name in all situations. In Jesus mighty name

EPHESIANS 2:16-22 BUILD YOURSELVES WITH CHRIST AS CORNER STONE

S -Ephesians 2:16-22New International Version (NIV)

16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.


O / A - The Lord has put to death the hostility between Jews and Gentiles through the cross. He preached peace to all. Through Christ alone we have access to God, the father and we who were foreigners are now in the family of God. We belong to the same structure with Christ as cornerstone, apostles and prophets as foundation and each one of us joined together into the same building which becomes temple of God.

P - Abba Father, Thank you for your blessed verses. You desire unity among your children. You have broken down all barriers through your death on the cross. Help us not to create barriers again among us based on human criterias. Enable us to overcome this and develop love among each other as brothers and sisters of the same household. Help us build ourselves with you as the cornerstone.
In Jesus matchless name
Amen