Class Notes: 3/2/2008

Col 1:11 Paul's prayer for believers to have patience from their divine enablement


We are continuing in our study of prayer as part of the PPOG or Predestination Eph 1:3-5; Rom 8:29; for the purpose of determining just how and what we should pray for. At the moment we are examining Paul's prayers and we have seen in that the major focus in his prayers has been for them to appropriate by Grace the spiritual resources that God has provided and advance in God's plan for their lives.
In this segment, we are examining Paul and Timothy's prayer in Col 1:9-12; where Paul is praying for the believer's spiritual growth.
9- Because of this, since the day we heard Epaphras' report we have not stopped praying for you asking that you would be completely filled up with the knowledge of God the Father's intent in the sphere of wisdom and spiritual understanding.

10- to the end that you would conduct yourselves with conduct becoming the Lord to please Him completely while being prolific by divinely good activities and growing in
the knowledge of God,

11- because of the omnipotence empowering you in accordance with the power of God's glory for maximum perseverance and patience, accompanied by joy...

Paul's prayer is for them to be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding was so that they would be able to persevere or "keep on plugging” in their spiritual advance regardless of adversity, by means of Bible Doctrine through the power of God the Holy Spirit for the purpose of pleasing him in all respects, to bear fruit in every good work and increasing in the Spirit taught knowledge of God because they were enabled to parlay that spirit taught knowledge of God into the power necessary to fulfill the objectives of the spiritual life.

This Divine enablement that Paul is praying for believer's to receive provides the power or capacity or enablement for "steadfastness" or endurance and "patience" with "joy" or the happiness of God in any and all situations.
A lack of endurance often results in self pity or losing heart Gal 6:9;, whereas a lack of patience often leads to bitterness, anger or revenge Prov. 15:18; Prov 16:3;
Capacity for endurance and patience is enabled in the believer by God’s “glorious might” or literally the “might of His glory” which comes from God the Holy Spirit and metabolized Bible Doctrine (Faith).
Last time we looked at the etymology of the Greek word translated patience we will now consider some principles regarding patience:
patience = "makrothumia" = long-suffering, forbearance. "Makro" = long; "thumos" = temper or disposition.
The believer needs the patience which results from the power of God because as we have seen from the example of Job, Job 1:12; and Peter Luke 22:31-32; that as the believer matures God will permit them to be cross examined by Satan. Rev 2:10; Rom 8:17 Phil 1:29; 1Pet 3:17;
Satan will attempt to prevent believers from even making it to the point where they can be cross-examined on the witness stand by preventing them from being taught Bible Doctrine. 1Thes 2:18; Rev 12:9; 2Cor 4:2-3; but God is always in control so believers with positive volition will always receive the Doctrine they need. 1Cor 10:13;
The church age believer handles the schemes of the devil by picking up and putting on the armor of God and then resisting him by holding their ground. Eph 6:10-13;
The patience and longsuffering of God are related to his grace which extends from his love and truth, Psa 86:15; Psa 103:8;
Patience and longsuffering is related to the power or omnipotence of God, Nah 1:3;
The patience, longsuffering and kindness of God is related to the principle of repentance or a change of thinking, Rom 2:4;Psa 18:35; Titus 2:11-12;
The patience and longsuffering of God is related to the Lord’s tolerance and endurance with all mankind, 1Tim 1:16;
Patience in the believer is a facet of the production of God the Holy Spirit in the believer that is enabled in the believer by filling of the spirit. Gal 5:22-23;
As we have seen from Paul's prayer, patience is developed through the glorious power of God through power of the filling of the Holy Spirit and the power of Bible Doctrine in the soul of the believer. Col 1:11;
Patience and longsuffering is a system of thinking that is based in grace orientation. Col 3:12-13;


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