Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Many are the challenges of life

2. A Biblical Response would be best

PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and [c]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:9-14

1. Praying without ceasing

a) Diligence

b) Consistency

c) Urgency

d) Intercession

2. Praying to be Filled

a) With the Knowledge of God’s will

b) With Wisdom and Spiritual understanding

PURPOSEFUL PRAYING

1. To walk worthy of the Lord

a) Appropriate prayer

b) Awareness of all that the Lord has done for us

2. To fully please Him

a) The example of the Lord Jesus

b) Encouragement to follow Him

3. To be fruitful in every good work

a) As the Lord desires

b) As we develop our walk with the Lord

4. To increase in our knowledge of God

a) Stagnation is unwise

b) Seeking deeper knowledge is right

PRAYING FOR STRENGTH

1. Weakness threatens to prevail

a) Human weakness

b) Weakness caused by sin

c) Weakness that will result in defeat

2. Divine strength

a) The power of God

b) It is described as “glorious

c) Finding strength to overcome

i) Weakness

ii) Sin

iii) Worldliness

THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE

1. Many problems are faced

2. Some setbacks

3. Severe trials in life

4. Chronic difficulties that will not go away

FACING TOUGH CHALLENGES

1. Patience

a) Perseverance is needed

b) Endurance must be found

2, Longsuffering

a) Patience

b) Humble patience

3. Joy

a) Joy of the Lord is not lost

c) The Joy of the Lord is a special source of strength

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To improve our Prayer life

2. To pray insightfully

3. To live inspiringly