Colossians 1:7-12a

"You so learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ in our stead and as our representative and yours." Colossians 1:7

Here in verse seven, again, we see such a perfect example of encouraging one another, as Paul acknowledges Epaphras' service as a minister. And we notice that Paul announces Epaphras' position in Christ right away, also. Epaphras is mentioned again, in chapter four.

8. "Also he has informed us of your love in the [Holy] Spirit."

Paul speaks of the love again, of these Colossians and the source of that love. We are unable to produce love on our own, apart from Christ Jesus and without the Holy Spirit.

9. "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things."

Here in verse nine, Paul says, that ever since He and others heard about their love... it was for "this reason" that we "have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you,"... This is a very interesting thing for Paul to say here... don't you think? Why would the evidence of someone's love (from the Holy Spirit, mind you) compel Paul and others to an unceasing and special prayer? (Special is added by the Amplified bible because the original word for "request" meant, special request.)

First, let's look for a clue within what Paul says that they prayed for. He says that they were, "[asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things".

This sounded very familiar to a passage I have heard many times and have even taught on, and I think it has much to do with what is going on in this verse. Actually, we can find a similar thread in a number of passages, but I will show you two now, and we can consider them and ask the Lord to reveal the truth... Amen?

Philippians 1:9 "And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment]."

Ephesians 3:18 "That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]."

In these two passages from Philippians and Ephesians, we find a theme very similar to what Paul and others of Gods faithful are actually doing in the passages from Colossians 1:9 through the first few words in verse 12.

Now, I don't want us to think that we can just grab a couple scriptures from other places of the bible to make one that we are studying mean something that God is not saying, so I want us to consider something and we'll then come back to all of this.

I have studied the bible for many years now and I am convinced that, "spiritually speaking"... School is never over. When we graduate to a certain level, it is only into a new teaching... Amen?

When Christians reach the point in their faith, when they "get" this importance of love to God... Or when we reach that point in understanding where we begin to operate in a spirit of TRUE LOVE... We have Graduated... Amen?

Not only have we reached a new pentacle in faith, but we have entered into a deeper training camp, so-to-speak. We begin, or are in need of a deeper, more intense knowledge of Gods truth.

If you realize and agree with this, now we can consider why Paul has prayed as such for these Colossians whom have exhibited a love in the [Holy] Spirit. In fact, as we now read from the rest of what Paul has prayed for, because they have produced the fruit of love, we see the same theme found in these other passages... Deeper wisdom, clearer knowledge, breadth and length, et,...

10. "That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]."

11. "[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy."

12. "Giving thanks to the Father..."

And so, we'll pick back up with the rest of verse 12, next time in our study.

I love you.