The Truth About Pleasing God

Hello from the Panhandle. As we resume our study of Paul's letter to the Colossians let's take a minute to review. Epaphras had under the guiding of the Holy Spirit established the church in Colosse. But soon heresy or false teachings were running rampant in Colosse undermining and attacking the identity and sufficiency of Christ Jesus. Because of this Paul, who is sitting in jail in Rome writes this letter to the Church in Colosse. Already in chapter 1 we have seen Paul assert that Christ Jesus is God, with all the attributes of God. That Christ Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He is the First Born

Now as we look at Colossians 1:9-12 we see that Paul was exposing a heresy in the Colossian church that was the forerunner of gnosticism. Gnostics valued the accumulation of knowledge, but Paul pointed out that knowledge itself is empty. To be worth anything the knowledge of Christ Jesus must lead to a change and right living. Paul's prayer for the Colossians has two dimensions – that they might understand what God wants, and that they might also have the power to do God's will.

Knowledge is not merely to be accumulated; it should give you direction in life. Paul wanted the Colossians to be wise, and to use the knowledge they had been taught about Christ Jesus. Paul also wanted the Colossians to know that knowledge of God was not a secret that only a few could discover, it was open to all who would seek. The knowledge of God still is open to all who seek Him.

Paul's letter to the Colossians began with a prayer of thanksgiving. That prayer, based on the good report of Epaphras, reminded the Colossian believers of the power of the Gospel so that they would not be seduced by the siren song of heresy. Now as Paul's continues to pray for the Colossians, he changes things up. Paul moves from thanksgiving to intercession.

Colossians 1:9-12

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may 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, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

 

1.  Paul's Prayer of Intercession (vs. 9)

Paul let the church at Colosse know that since he had heard about them he had not quit praying for them. not: ou (oo); a primary word; the absolute negative, ceasing: pauo (pow'-o); a primary verb ("pause"); to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end.

Paul prayed for the church at Colosse, not just once-in-awhile, not every now and then, not when ever a random reminder popped into his head. He absolutely did not stop praying for them. Now did Paul walk around all day; everyday saying, “God be with the church at Colosse.” Maybe he did, but I think it is more likely that each and every time Paul prayed he prayed for the church at Colosse. 

 

Paul's prayer was specific, he prayed for knowledge, wisdom and understanding of God's will for them. Paul prayed for the Colossian church to have knowledge, not speculative doctrines or mysteries, of God's will. Barclay, Christian author and speaker, wrote: This is the true goal of all praying, but we often plead “Thy will be changed,” instead of “Thy will be done.”

The wisdom that Paul prayed for was not “fleshly” as ministering to pride. It was not for mere show, "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” Matthew 6:5

It was not worldly. “For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 2:17

His prayer was spiritual in that it was for insight into spiritual truth, and for the discerning of spiritual values and priorities. And the vision of the results of spiritual wisdom. “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” Colossians 1:28

The understanding that Paul sought for the saints at Colosse is the ability to apply spiritual principles to practical situations. Once Saul would have sought the knowledge of God's will in a written code; now Paul sought it in the knowledge of the mind of Christ Jesus, wisdom to discern what is right because of this knowledge, and the understanding to apply it in his life.

Not only did Paul pray that the church at Colosse have knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, he prayed that they would be filled with these. The word fill means to control. To be filled with something (love, rage, fear) means to be under its controlling influence that causes you to do things you might not do otherwise. Being filled by God, being controlled by God's will should cause you to do things you might not otherwise do – like enduring rather than giving up, like being patient with others rather than getting angry with them. Paul's prayer for the Christians at Colosse is my prayer for you. That you would be filled with the knowledge of God's will for your life, that you would be filled with spiritual wisdom, and that you would be filled with spiritual understanding.

Prayer is practical. It is not an escape from reality. The end of prayer is not “spiritual.” We do not seek a mystical communion alone with God. In prayer we struggle with being in the world as those who “walk worthy of the Lord.” As Christians in prayer we are looking for the power not to be translated to some “third heaven,” but to be made transparent witnesses of Christ Jesus' glory in us, bearing fruit of His Spirit.

2. Live a life Worthy of the Lord (vs.10)

Being controlled by God's will is not an end in itself; it is only a means to an end. Your goal should be to live a life worthy of the Lord and... please him in every way.

The request in verse 9 was made so that the Colossians would live lives pleasing to God. The word worthy here refers to conduct that is expected and appropriate for God's children. Paul is talking about holiness, a holiness that is personal and social. The person who would walk worthy of the Lord boldly orders their life in obedience to God, seeking what is pleasing to God, thus doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with the Lord (Mic. 6:8).

Now it is true that we can never live a life fully pleasing to Christ Jesus if the measure of that is moral purity, untainted ethical performance, and sinless perfection. Paul is talking about your affections, what you deeply desire; about your direction, what you truly seek; about your disposition, the set of your intent. He is talking about the shape and substance of your commitment: are you passionately eager to please Christ Jesus?

There are difficulties we pass through which we can find no relief or release for; we need the power to endure. The promise is that in every situation adequate power to “suffer through” and to remain whole and triumphant can be ours through God.

3. The Result of Obedience (vs. 10-12)

If pleasing God is the goal, how do you achieve it? Paul spells that out very clearly in these verses. By bearing fruit, growing in knowledge, being strengthened for adversity, and giving thanks for salvation, we please God.

First, you please God when you are bearing fruit in every good work. As Christians we need to bear good fruit in a world of spoiled and rotting fruit.Good works are not a means to achieve salvation, but a natural result of it. Good works in your life pleases God because good works are God's plan for believers. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

Secondly, God is pleased when you are growing in the knowledge of God. The more you know of God's character, His ways, and His expectations, the more you are able to bring your life into agreement with what pleases Him.

Thirdly, your life pleases God when it is characterized by endurance and patience. Patience, steadfastness, and joy are needs and characteristics of those who walk with the Lord (v. 11). Life is often difficult and challenging. At times, circumstances are less than friendly. It is in times like that you need endurance – the ability to pass through any experience trusting God to see you through. At times people are less than friendly, they may even be down right hostile towards you. At those times you need patience – the capacity to be long-suffering with people and not retaliate when you are wronged or irritated.

You know and I know that this is easier said than done, right? I mean often it is beyond our ability, to endure or be patient when left to our own devices. The good news is that you aren't alone with only your own resources to meet the challenge. Paul reminds you that God's power is available. You can please God with endurance and patience as you are strengthened with all power according to his glorious might. 

 

There is nothing wrong with asking God to strengthen you to do His will, it is not admitting you are weak, but that God is strong, stronger than anything thrown at you. God will strengthen you, sometimes immediately, and other times it is gradual, similar to how a person working out with weights builds up strength over time. As you yield yourself to God in trust and obedience, you will be strengthened to do His will. 

 

Finally, you please God when you are joyfully giving thanks to the Father for the blessings of salvation. This had been done by the special mercy of the Father who had provided the plan of salvation, and had sent His Son, Christ Jesus to deliver you. God the "Father" has adopted you into the kingdom through the work of the "Son," Christ Jesus. Be obedient to God right now, accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour if you haven't already.

Conclusion: Can you imagine a redwood tree saying, "I’d just rather remain a little bush"? That would seem insane, right? Redwoods are truly magnificent. There is at least one redwood that is over 2000 years old. That would mean that this tree was around when Christ Jesus walked on earth. Some of these trees can stretch 250-300 feet tall. Some of them you can drive a car through. Amazing, isn’t it? The tallest one on record is 379 feet tall. That’s as tall as a forty story building.

Now imagine if a redwood tree started out as a sapling and started to grow and for the first several years it stretched out its branches and deepened its root system -- it grew beyond the height of a little bush. Let’s say it reached it the height of 15 feet -- it has all the right conditions to continue to grow but instead of continuing it just decides, "This is far enough -- I don’t think I will continue to grow to anything beyond this 15 foot height."

Year after year after year it just sits there and chooses not to grow, even though God has provided a place where it can be nourished and fed and it can grow and stretch up and touch the sky. You would look at that and say, "God designed you grow. He’s designed you to reach higher than all the other trees in the world -- why in the world would you choose not to reach to the heights?"

God has equipped you to be a spiritual redwood. Can’t you just see God looking down at that little tree and saying, "Boy have I got plans for you." Stunted growth is just as great of a loss as no growth. It is the same with Christians. Oftentimes what happens in some people’s lives is they attend a little bit of church -- they get a little bit of knowledge and they say -- that’s enough. If you will be obedient and seek God's will, His spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, there is no reason you can't and wont grow to your full spiritual height. Won't you let God into your life now and let Him grow you.