PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD A brief word concerning the magnitude of this prayer is in order. It is certainly proper for the people of God to seek deeper thoughts, more profound considerations, and extended cogitation on the things of God. Within the nominal church there is far too much "little talk" and "small thinking." There is too much room for humorous anecdotes and frothy illustrations. The salvation of God is too "great" to be associated with smallness and juvenility. The prayer we are considering is a case in point. -- Tomorrow:
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:9-11, KJV)
Devotion 9 of 32
THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS PRAYER
This is a not a "help-them-to-be-good-neighbors" prayer. It is not a prayer for better family relationships and successful organizational goals. This is a prayer that soars out of the domain of flesh and blood. It takes faith to properly consider it, and a love for the truth to dwell upon it, desiring for it to be fulfilled within ones own person. This prayer rises higher than mere earthly relationships. In fact, God-honoring interpersonal relationships can only take place when this kind of prayer is answered. Every legitimate earthly activity is sanctified by the things sought in this prayer. It is not possible for those in whom this prayer is fulfilled to be flawed or sinful in their lives in this world. The person who is in right relation with God will not be found in wrong relation to his fellow man.
Notice the language of the text. There is nothing casual or ordinary about it. "FILLED with . . . ALL wisdom and spiritual understanding . . . walk WORTHY of the Lord . . . ALL pleasing . . . fruitful in EVERY good work . . . strengthened with ALL might . . . His GLORIOUS power . . . ALL patience and longsuffering."
The prayer not that the church will have some wisdom, but that it will be filled with wisdom AND understanding – not just some facets of wisdom, but "ALL wisdom." The daily lives of the saints are to be a testimony of their worthiness of God. This is not a mere formal worthiness, accomplished by the adoption of a creed. It is a worthiness that is characterized by being pleasing to the Lord – not just pleasing, but "ALL pleasing." The fruitfulness of the saints is sought. This is not some fruit, a little fruit, or some token fruit. It is being "fruitful in EVERY good work." Strength for the saints is sought. This is not a sample of strength, or enough strength to barely get by. Rather it is being strengthened with "ALL might." This might is nothing less than the experience of God's "GLORIOUS power." The intent of this experience of Divine power is not to accomplish organizational feats or institutional goals. It is in order with that patience, or perseverance, and longsuffering might be realized. Patience and longsuffering are not a mere sampling of overcoming, with occasional victories being realized. This prayer is for "ALL patience and longsuffering." Not only that, the endurance and longsuffering are to be attended "with JOYFULNESS."
Keep in mind, this is not a prayer for only preachers and teachers, or for elders and deacons. It is a prayer for all of the saints. It is for the young and the old, male and female, mature and novice. If the church has various groups within it, they are all to be characterized by these qualities. It should be found in the youth group, the seniors group, the married group, and the singles group. The minister of the Word should seek it. The youth minister should aspire to this prayer. The worship leader should seek it. The Sunday School teachers should seek this goal. The church board should seek this for the congregation. This is to be the goal of all elders and deacons. This is what God has, and desires, for all of His people.
I personally do not champion the various subgroups I have mentioned. Not a few of them have proved to be more of a liability than an asset. However, I will tell you that if this prayer was answered in the average American church, it would call for a massive adjustment. The concept of its facilities would change. Many who are now leaders would be forced out of their office. The nature and content of the gatherings would change, as well as their duration. Extracurricular activities would undergo a great alteration. Church boards would either be restructured or rendered obsolete, and a demand for more spiritual substance would be found.
In this prayer, we are standing on holy ground, and aspiring to lofty heights. Such a prayer cannot even be uttered in the flesh. That is why you rarely hear anything like it in the average church. It is why brotherhood publications and lessons do not emphasize the things contained in it. This prayer is too majestic to be housed in a carnal mind. This is the expression of the "new man," not the "old man." It comes from a heart that has been ravished with the love of God. This is the prayer of a spiritually informed and understanding child of God. That makes it of the highest relevance.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, raise up many leaders within Your church that have a burden for the fulfillment of this prayer.