Sunday Morning: July 7th 2019 – 10:30am. A special baptismal service, service led by Chris Hughes.
The service will include believer’s baptism where upon profession of his faith Sam Shamugam will be baptised.
Imagine that you are in prison awaiting trial. You decide that it would be good to pray; but who do you pray for? What do you pray for? My guess is that most of us would end up praying for ourselves and our own situation.
Not so the Apostle Paul, who while in prison is praying, not for himself, but for the Colossian church, whom amazingly he has yet to meet! He prays not for their material, but for their spiritual blessing, asking for three things:-
1 – Spiritual Insight (v 9.)
He petitions – “asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” For it is the full knowledge of God’s will that equips the believer for the voyage of life (Ephesians 5 v 17.)
We are in turn filled with that knowledge of his will – “through all spiritual wisdom and understanding;” all of which we receive from the Bible. As we study and reflect upon God’s Word, so the Holy Spirit gives us all the spiritual wisdom and understanding that we need, enabling us to make informed decisions when it comes to being obedient to God’s will for our lives.
2 – Spiritual Intimacy (v 10.)
The purpose of such insight is – “that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work.” Bible truth must never just be head knowledge; it must always have a practical outworking that impacts everyday life in terms of being worthy of the name Christian; bringing pleasure to the Lord; as well as resulting in lasting fruit.
The only way in which this can happen is by – “growing in the knowledge of God;” which is not intellectual knowledge; but intimacy in relationship (John 15 v 5 & Ephesians 1 v 17) as we get to know God better.
3 – Spiritual Ignition (v 11 – 13.)
Paul prays that they might be – “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might.” Such power is not revealed in great spiritual feats, but in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, where Christian character patiently endures in the face of trying circumstances and difficult people, as it joyfully gives thanks to God – “who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light.” Such a heavenly inheritance has been granted on the basis of Christ’s 4 saving actions:-
A – Rescued – They have been delivered from the grasp of Satan and his Kingdom of darkness (1 Peter 2 v 10.)
B – Brought – They have now changed location, having been translated into the Kingdom of God’s much loved Son (Matthew 3 v 17 & 17 v 5.) They have been brought out, that they might be brought in!
C – Redeemed – They have been set free from Satan’s hold by the victory of Jesus on the cross. The price (ransom) has been paid and the prisoners have now been set free (Matthew 20 v 28.)
D – Forgiven – They have been forgiven once and for all (Ephesians 1 v 7), the debt having been cancelled, the slate having been whipped clean by an act of God’s unmerited grace.
Challenge – Forgetting yourself, will you pray that these spiritual blessings might be a reality in the lives of all of God’s children?
Service Details
Morning Service 10:30a.m
Theme: “Prison petition”
Reading: Colossians 1 v 9 – 14
Preacher: Chris Hughes