Introduction (vs. 1,2)
Today we begin a series of sermons from Paul's letter to the Colossians. Colossae was a small city in the Roman province of Asia (or Asia Minor, Western Turkey today). Colossae was about 180 km East of Ephesus and was evangelized when Paul spent two years in Ephesus, having daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Dr. Luke tells us that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord (Acts 19:8-10). Epaphras, who was a Colossian, planted the church in the city (1:7). Philemon and Onesimus were also Colossians. The population of the city was composed of Jews, Greeks, and Phrygians and this mix was also reflected in the church.

Paul wrote this letter from prison, most likely from Rome, about 60 A.D. He was writing a letter to Philemon concerning Philemon's runaway slave Onesimus. So he also decided to write a letter to the whole church, to combat false teaching that threatened to lead the church away from the truth of Christ. The letter was from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. This was not mere advice from an older brother; this was infallible teaching from an apostle, someone especially authorized by the Lord Jesus. Paul associates Timothy with the letter. It was sent to the holy and faithful (or believing) brothers (and sisters) in Christ at Colossae. The greeting follows a common pattern in letter writing at the time but is characteristically Pauline. Paul links grace and peace together. We have peace with God - all the blessings of shalom - because our God is gracious, treating us with completely undeserved favor.

Thanksgiving (vs. 3-8)
Paul begins his prayer with thanksgiving, addressed to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He thanks God for the Colossian believers. In particular Paul gives thanks for their faith, their love, and their fruit. Faith in Jesus, and love for the saints. The two are inseparable. So you have come to trust in Jesus? You belong to God and are loyal to him? Great! Do you also love the saints - your fellow believers - all of them?

Both faith and love spring from hope, the promise of our inheritance, stored up in heaven. Hope in our day is often wishful thinking, or even a polite No. "I hope to attend your wedding" really means "I don't intend to come". New Testament hope is certain; it is future, but it is certain. It is as good as the promise of God, who does not lie!

The third reason for thankfulness was fruit. The gospel that reached the Colossians through Epaphras, was continuing to bear fruit all over the world! People were coming to Christ and Paul the greatest evangelist and missionary of the church could well testify to that. It has also been bearing fruit among the Colossians because they believed it or were sharing it with others. The gospel is the word of truth about God's grace - amazing, wonderful, incredible grace! Epaphras not only brought the gospel to the Colossians; he also conveyed the love of the Colossians in the Spirit to Paul and his team. Paul prayed, we always thank God for you! I wonder. Would the people who founded DCBC, or who sent them, be able to say the same words if they wrote us a letter? We always thank God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you…? Wow!

Prayer (vs. 9-14)
Aside from thanksgiving, what else did Paul pray for when he prayed for the Colossians? We may sum up his prayer for them as consisting of three parts, all of them related to God's will for them. We may pattern our own prayers for DCBC after Paul's prayer for the Colossians. Here is Paul's prayer for the believers in Colossae, which we may express as our prayers for the believers in DCBC.

First, it is God's will that we should be saved. Consider all that God has done to save us! Look at verses 12 to 14. God has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints and he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. God has redeemed us and has forgiven our sins. The emphasis throughout is on what God has done. God has taken all the initiative! He is full of grace and he is sovereign, ruler over all. The picture of being qualified alludes to the experience of Israel in the wilderness as they were being trained to receive the promised land. For us the inheritance is no less than heaven, and God has qualified us through no merit of our own; only by his grace. The rescue from the kingdom of darkness to be brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son means a change of address. We have a new address and it is full of light! We no longer need to live in the dark. Redemption means being set free from our bondage to sin, to Satan, and to death by the payment of a price. The price is the blood of Jesus, which washes away all our sins. Redemption is more comprehensive but at the heart of it is the forgiveness of sins. Praise God for his grace in Jesus! Does God's grace automatically save everyone? No. Paul was writing to people in Colossae who had become Christians. He calls them holy and faithful brothers (v.2). We have already seen from Paul's thanksgiving that the Christians in Colossae were known for their faith in Jesus and love for the saints. Paul did not know them personally but he knew that they responded to the gospel. They were part of the fruit that the gospel was producing throughout the world. Each one of us here this morning should ask ourselves: Am I also part of this fruit? Am I truly part of the holy and believing community? Have I become a real Christian by responding to the gospel? God wants me to be saved because he is God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3-5).

Second, God wants us to know his will. He does not save us only to leave us afterwards to grope in the dark! That's like giving birth to an infant then leaving the infant out in the cold - to shrivel and die! No, no. God's will is to nurture the life in the Spirit that we receive when we become Christians. He wants us to know his will, to obey him, to bear fruit that lasts. He wants us to know not just a little bit of what he wants but that we might be filled with the knowledge of his will! (V.9). Filled! This is not merely a matter of the intellect though we need to use our minds to the full. It is a matter of wisdom and understanding, of spiritual wisdom, calling attention to the activity of the Holy Spirit. Knowing God involves the Trinity. We know God the Father through God the Son by the power of God the Spirit. This knowledge is personal and is a two-way street. God acts in grace and we respond to him in faith and obedience. Jesus the Good Shepherd knows everyone of his sheep by name; but every sheep that belongs to him knows his voice and will follow only him (John 10). Fundamentally, knowing God's will is knowing God - who he is, what he is like, what is it that pleases him! Think of a loving couple who have lived together for fifty years. They know almost instinctively what it is that pleases the other. Of course God's will involves my daily conduct, the choices I make, the values I pursue, the work I do, how I relate to people, what I do with my money, and so on. But God's will is more than conduct. God's will is fundamentally my character. That I should become more and more like Jesus - holy and loving!

Third, God empowers us to do his will. The whole point in being filled with the knowledge of God's will is so that we might obey him! Verse 9 - know! Verse 10 - do! To live in a manner that is worthy of the Lord to whom we belong. We carry his name and his honor is at stake in the way we live. Suppose your family name is Roxas and you are related to the Roxas clan from Capiz - Manuel Acuna Roxas who was president and Gerry and Mar Roxas, both senators. Don't tarnish the name! Live up to your family name. That's a small illustration. Much more is involved in carrying the name of Christ. You carry the honor of Yahweh and of Jesus. What manner of life will give God honor and delight? What life will please him in every way? Paul tells us three qualities of such a life. First, it is a fruitful life. Second, it is a life growing in the knowledge of God. Third, it is a life strengthened with all power! (vs. 10,11). One, fruitful in every good work, good works of all kinds - helping your neighbor, ministry in the church for which God gives you special ability, promoting justice and righteousness, visiting orphans and widows, sharing the gospel, persevering in prayer, and so on! All kinds. Two, increasing in the knowledge of God. Do I know God better today than I did last month? Last year? What is the chief hindrance to growing in our knowledge of God? Sin of course, whether disobedience or unbelief. Three, strengthened with all power according to his glorious might. Resurrection power, the mighty power of God demonstrated in raising Jesus from death and seating him at his right hand - the place of all honor and authority (Eph 1:19-23). This power is available to us by God's Spirit. It is power that enables us to endure hardship and to be patient with difficult people. Power to make us holy and loving. Power that leads us to joyfully give thanks to the Father. Which brings us full circle to thanksgiving. We endure, we are patient, but not like stoics who clinch their fists and grit their teeth. No. We are joyful with thanksgiving for all that God has done for us. In him we rejoice, in the Father who loves us, in the Son who redeemed us, and in the Spirit who empowers us to live the Christian life. To him be glory forever and ever! Amen.