Study the Word

Guest (Male): Consider this question with us next as we study the word.

Pastor Thom Keller: Are you going through life with you aligning your goals with God's will for you? Or do you just go out, chase after those dreams of yours and then try to convince God in prayer to bless your plans? There is a big difference. Because when you try to live out your plan and fulfill your goals without first seeking God and discerning his will, you are forging a far more difficult path for your life than you want to walk. One that will require you to strive after your goals in the flesh, grunting, grexing, pushing, prodding, forcing doors open as you go on.

Guest (Male): As believers, we know we should pray, but we don't do it nearly enough. And other times we struggle in knowing what to pray for. Well, today on Study the Word, we'll learn a thing or two from a man who is totally devoted to prayer. That's the Apostle Paul. And in Colossians chapter one, we uncover a wonderful model prayer. You'll learn how to pray for others and even how to ask for prayer yourself. So if you're ready, let's dig in. Here's Pastor Tom Keller in Colossians chapter one starting in verse four.

Pastor Thom Keller: In his book The Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee said this, quote, the normal Christian life manifests itself in love for the unlovely. For the brother whom a natural grounds we would not like and certainly could not love, it works on the basis of what the Lord sees of possibilities in that brother. We say, Lord, you see that he is lovable and you love him. So now, Lord, help me love him you through me. You know, when we first started this fellowship, I seem to remember that the most common comment I would get from the people about the church was that it was a teaching church.

But as we've grown and become more diverse, this is now the most common positive comment I receive about Calvary. They will say, you have such a rich diversity of people in your church. They say, how did that happen? I say, I have no idea. They say, you know how rare that is? I say, I have no idea. It just happened. And as a pastor, as one of your pastors, we as pastors are so thrilled and delighted that we can say of you here at Calvary the same thing the Apostle Paul said in verse four. We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God's people.

We love you guys so much for loving everyone. You think about it, wouldn't that be true of parents? Listen, if parents had children, wouldn't you just love the fact that they all just love each other, accept each other, don't get caught up in all the garbage, all the drama, just they love each other. Isn't that the ultimate Thanksgiving meal? Everybody's just, you know, laughing and cabbitcing and having fun. That's how Look, a lot of families, blood can't pull it off. But we can as the body of Christ. We really can. And the third commendation Paul gives this fellowship in Colossians verse five, he says, which comes from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven.

You've had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the good news. Do you long for heaven? Are you looking forward day word to the joys of heaven? Folks, we've covered this issue not that long ago. So I want to share just a few quick verses and quotes about longing for heaven. Coming up in Colossians chapter three verse two, it says, think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. C. S. Lewis said, joy is a serious business of heaven. C. S. Lewis also said the fact that when our hearts yearn for something earth can supply, it's proof that heaven must be our home.

C. S. Lewis also said, my prayer is that when I die, all hell rejoices that I am out of the fight. It's pretty good. Hebrews 13 14 says this, for this world is not our permanent home. We are looking forward to a home yet to come. Second Corinthians 4 18. So we don't look if you're going through trials, difficulties right now, this is your verse this morning. So we don't look at the troubles we can see now, rather we fix our gaze on the things we that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone.

But the things we cannot see will last forever. Connected to that, C. S. Lewis said, the sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing to find the place where all beauty came from. Not beautiful? Charles Spurgeon said this, quote, the more of heaven there is in our lives, the less of earth we shall covet. Connected to that, Randy Alcorn said this, quote, nothing makes a journey more difficult than a heavy backpack filled with nice but unnecessary things. And ending with C. S. Lewis, he says, there are far better things ahead than anything we leave behind.

You know, we should learn to always keep heaven in the forefront of our view and view life and what you encounter in life, both good and bad, from the perspective of heaven. Going under verse six, this same good news that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace. You know, this is a very telling statement. Paul wrote this letter somewhere between 1662 AD. Jesus died somewhere around 33 AD.

So it's been less than 30 years since Jesus died and already Paul can say this, quote, this same good news that came to you is going out all over the world and is changing lives everywhere. You know, I was curious as to how many Christians there really were in the early church. So I did some digging. Actually, they got a good head start in Acts chapter two. After Peter preached a sermon, 3,000 joined the church. But what about beyond that? Rodney Stark of Baylor University estimates that there was a total global Christian population in 150 AD of 40,000.

In 200 AD, 220,000. By 250 AD, 1.7 million. And by Constantine, when he was emperor, 7 million in 325 AD. But earlier than 150 AD, I couldn't find any information. If you find something passing on, I'd be curious if you can find something. But what we do know with certainty from the Bible is a very on the church at Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection, it had added an immediate 3,000 found in Acts chapter two. And shortly after that, in Acts chapter four, another 5,000 were added. And we know that the dating of Acts chapter four is only one year after Pentecost.

So in that first year, a minimum of 8,000 men with women and children, maybe 20,000 plus. So again, 150 AD, 40,000. 200 AD, 220,000. 250 AD, 1.7 million. By Constantine, 7 million. And that's out of a population of Roman Empire that was about 60 million. So 7 million out of 60 million is about 7%. So by the time Constantine shows up, 7% of the Roman Empire were Christians. How have we done since then? Well, 100 years ago, 35% of the world's population considered themselves Christian. 35% 100 years ago. Today we're back to 31% so we're losing some ground.

But those are the numbers. And in case you're interested, from the time of the first persecution of Christians by Nero around 64 AD until Constantine became emperor in 306 AD when the which is when the persecution ended. For that period of 242 years, 87 years of that period the church was persecuted. 87 years out of 242 years or 35%. So those first 250 years, 35% of the time the church was persecuted and severely persecuted by the emperors of Rome. Going under verse six, this same good news that came to you is going out all over the world.

It's bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives. Just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God wonderful grace. So moving on to Colossians 1 7, it says, just as you learn from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, he is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to you us your love in the spirit. I looked up the pronunciation is Epaphras. So the question is who is Epaphras? Paul says that he was the one who brought the good news to the Colossians. And as we said earlier, we know that Paul did not found this church, but neither did he ever visit it.

And so it's not known for certain who this Epaphras was. What we do know about Epaphras is that later in this letter Paul connects him with the churches in both Laodicea and Hierapolis. And of this point, William Barclay says this, quote, if Epaphras was not the founder of the Christian church in Colossae, he was certainly the minister in charge of the area, probably those three churches for sure. So what is Paul's connection to this church? Didn't found it, never visited it. What gives him the right to stick his nose in this church's business? Was generally believed that after planning this church Epaphras runs into some trouble and he travels from Colossae to Rome while Paul was in prison and asks for Paul's help, which he did.

What could he do but write a letter? He's in prison. So he wrote this letter. So what is Paul's connection to Epaphras that they had that relationship initially? It's assumed that Epaphras was one of Paul 's converts and after turning to Christ, he then planted some churches. And then in verse nine, we get a valuable insight into Paul's prayer life, a huge lesson in prayer. Verse nine. So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Amazing words. Of this prayer, William Barclay says this, listen, it may well be said that this passage teaches us more about the essence of a prayer request than almost any other prayer in the New Testament. Listen again, it well may be said that this passage teaches us more about the essence of a prayer request than almost any other passage in the New Testament.

As to why the commentator C. F. Moule says, quote, prayer should make two great requests. Number one, it asks for the discernment of God's will. And secondly, it then asks for the power to perform that will. And if we remember these two points, it will help us from falling into what is usually the most common mistake we make in prayer, which is where we pray something like this, God, instead of praying, God, thy will be done, we pray, God, thy will be changed. Not the right prayer. A little quote here, though prayer doesn't change God's mind or God's purposes, prayer does change something.

It changes us from Chuck Smith. So question, are you going through life with you aligning your goals with God's will for you? Or do you just go out, chase after those dreams of yours and then try to convince God in prayer to bless your plans? There is a big difference. Because when you try to live out your plan and fulfill your goals without first seeking God and discerning his will, you are forging a far more difficult path for your life than you want to walk. One that will require you to strive after your goals in the flesh, grunting, grexing, pushing, prodding, forcing doors open as you go on.

The older I get, the more I've learned and learning, not learned, I'm learning. When I have to push and make things happen, I'm either ahead of God's timing or it's the wrong direction. One of those two. I'm either trying to force the timing or I'm way out of his will. Because we never should have to force things if it's God's will. What's the solution? Paul's model prayer right here. Number one, God, give me the discernment to know your will. Because the object of prayer again, folks, is not to get God to see things your way but rather getting you to see things God's way.

You aligning your will to his will, not the other way around. That's number one. God, give me the discernment to know your will. And then secondly, God, please give me the power to perform your will. And here's a really cool part. He will. Listen, what a cruel God we would serve if he said, this is my will for you but there's just no way for it to happen. How cruel would that be? Listen, if it is his will, if it's your will, that's all up in the air. If it's his will, then he'll give you the way to get there.

We just studied this in Philippians four, right? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, right? If it's his will, he will give you the strength and the ability to do that. And if you approach the prayer in this way, listen, listen, listen, this is a huge promise. If you approach prayer in this way, listen to what God promises you in return. It's in verse 10. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord. How does that sound? If you discern his will, live his will, then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.

How does that sound? All the while you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Beautiful. And then under verse 11, we also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people who live in the light. For he has rescued us, you from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us, you into the kingdom of his dear son who purchased our your freedom and forgave our sins.

And again, we can learn much here about how we should pray for others. Look what Paul asks for. Paul asks that God would grant these men and women these things in verse 11. He prays that they would be strengthened with his power so that they will have patience and endurance, patience and endurance. And in verse 12, Paul asks that they be granted joy and gratefulness. Gratefulness, thanking God and specifically thanking God for their share in the inheritance that belongs to them. Isn't that a wonderful list of blessings? Listen, wouldn't you love someone would pray this for you?

For patience, for endurance, for joy, for gratefulness, specifically that you would thank God for your share in the inheritance that belongs to you. Here it is as a prayer. God, please give me patience and endurance and joy along with a grateful heart and the inheritance that belongs to those who believe. So how does today's lesson apply to me? You know, first thing is Paul was a man devoted to prayer. He did that by locking his prayer time away. You need to lock your devotional time away. When I gave my life to Christ when I was in in my 30s, early 30s, uh and I kind of became uh it was a radical change and people knew it.

I started getting invited to different things, Christian businessmen's breakfast, the Gideons breakfast, all these breakfasts. And I could have filled my week up with breakfasts. But what it would have done, folks, is it would have choked out my devotional life. And I knew I could not do that. I've said this before, if I stop reading and praying, in two weeks I go back to what I used to be, my flesh is really strong. The pull is great. I have to spend that time in the word. I have to guard that with a jealous guardianship. You do too.

You do too. You cannot give that up. Look, there's a lot of good about corporate prayer. We should be involved in corporate prayer. Jesus was involved in corporate prayer. But if you're going to make all of your mornings about corporate prayer, then you're missing Jesus's example because what did he do? He was up in the early, went up into the mountains to pray alone, right? Jesus said, when you pray and your closet, close the door behind you and your Father who hears in secret will will reward you openly. Lock that time away. You know, it's often been said, the greatest enemy to your faith are not the wicked evil things.

It's the second best thing. It's the third best thing. Be careful of anything that knocks that priority out of your life. You can't afford it. You may not know that yet but you can't afford it. Secondly, ask for prayer. If there's something going on in your life and you need prayer, you know, I'm a I'm a German and Germans don't ask for anything, right? We're just going to fix it, do it. You know, we'll break our back before we ask somebody to help us. That's the German way, you know? And so to ask for prayer is like all but people have bigger problems in mind.

I don't really think I should bother them because there's so many other people with big problems. You know, what's at the root of that? That would take a day. But here's the point. Every time you fail to ask for prayer for you when you need prayer, you're cheating God. You're cheating God. You know why? Because the more people that are praying for your situation, the more glory God gets when he answers it. So you ask two people to pray for you and the prayer gets answered, three people glorify God. You ask a thousand people to pray for you and the prayer gets answered, a thousand and one people glorify God.

You're cheating God. Do you believe he answers prayer? Do you? Let's hear an answer. Yes?

Guest (Male): Yes.

Pastor Thom Keller: Yeah. Look, if he answers prayer, bring him into the glory, right? Would you pray for me? I've got something going on. Pray for me. Pray for me. Pray for me. And think about that side of it, God getting glorified on the other side of the prayer. You think that's a prayer of faith? God, I want you to be glorified by all these people when you answer the prayer. Wow, that's beautiful. Ask for prayer. And number three, let's close in verse 13. For he has rescued you from the kingdom of darkness and transformed you into the kingdom of his dear son.

What a great reminder. Listen, God has rescued you from the one who rules over the kingdom of darkness, Satan, the prince of the air, the ruler of this world. He has rescued you from his world. Are you glad about that? Say amen.

Guest (Male): Amen.

Pastor Thom Keller: Hey, praise God. Secondly, God has brought you into the kingdom of his dear son Jesus. Imagine that. That's not in the future tense. You are now in the kingdom of his dear son Jesus. Are you glad about that? Say amen.

Guest (Male): Amen.

Pastor Thom Keller: Thank you. Third, God has purchased your freedom with his blood. Are you glad about that?

Guest (Male): Amen.

Pastor Thom Keller: Amen. Thank you. And lastly, he has forgiven all of your sins, all of your sins.

Guest (Male): Amen.

Guest (Male): Amen.

Pastor Thom Keller: Amen?

Guest (Male): Amen.

Pastor Thom Keller: Oh, that's good. That was good. That was good. Did you think about that one? You know, we sang that song this morning. Death was arrested and my life began. I'm going to ask you to show hands. You asked me in your heart. You asked the Lord right now. Do you remember when death was arrested in your life and your life began? Do you remember the time when when you thought you were living in color and you just surrendered your life to Christ and walked into that new life and discovered that that old life was just all shades of gray, no color at all?

And you walked into a brand new life full of color, full of life. I go back to my years before I was 30 and it's just pointless chasing after nothing. What a difference. Death was arrested and new life began. And here's the truth, because all of your sins are forgiven, because he has an inheritance prepared for you, because of all of those gifts that he has given to you, this next picture is you and Jesus right now, today. That's you and Jesus tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. That's you and Jesus and that's you and Jesus on the day you come into heaven and that's you and Jesus for the rest of eternity.

Be happy about that.

Guest (Male): Amen.

Pastor Thom Keller: Amen. Today on Study the Word, Pastor Tom Keller has been teaching us from the book of Colossians. You can hear this message again online at ccleb.com or subscribe to our YouTube channel at Calvary Chapel Lebanon. If you'd rather have a CD copy, call us at 717 273 5633. Have you been helped by the ministry? Let us know that. It would be so encouraging to Pastor Tom and the team. Give us a call at 717 273 5633 or write to Study the Word, 740 Willow Street, Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17046. You can also email us through the website at ccleb.com.

Study the Word is made possible through the generous support of listeners just like you. And thank you for helping us reach out with the love and truth of Jesus Christ at a time in human history where people really need biblical encouragement. You can give online at ccleb.com or call 717 273 5633. We hope you'll visit us sometime here at Calvary Chapel Lebanon. For our service times and more information, go to ccleb.com on the web. You can also watch our live stream there at ccleb.com or on our YouTube channel at Calvary Chapel Lebanon. Study the Word with Pastor Tom Keller is brought to you by Calvary Chapel Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

May God richly bless you as you study the Word.