Would it Happen to You?

Would it Happen to You?

by David Brenneman 

‭‭"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:9-12.

The opening passage is after the greeting that Paul and Timothy began with to the church in Colosse.  

Do people pray this way anymore?

Good question.  

Should people pray this way anymore?

Equally good question. 

Probably the answer is indeed found right there in this passage. If indeed people are walking in Christ as they ought to be, it shouldn't be taken for granted. If Jesus instructed us to be fruit inspectors then there should be a stamp of approval on both good fruits and likewise a stamp of disapproval on bad fruits. Silence shouldn't be the response.  

All too often people are personally feeling guilty regarding personal sins so they won't say anything to others when they very much ought to be speaking up.  

We're to be worker's in the fields of where we live. This work is to be done to its fullest. Complete. Regardless of how we feel about it. Regardless of how much it may look.  

Jesus didn't care what the world thought concerning how He addressed sins in the lives of people. 

A doctor doesn't care about public opinion when a patient needs care that he or she is obligated to give.

We also need to rid ourselves of the notion, truthfully, that we require the approval of others rather than of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Read the opening 3 chapters of the book of Revelation. Pay close attention to the letters to the Churches. 

What would you do if a letter showed up addressed to you from Jesus?  

Without a doubt such a letter would contain information so personal that it would quell any doubts as to its authenticity. 

These letters to the Churches...these Churches knew that they were being written to by Jesus.  

Would you take a letter seriously?

This opening passage is perhaps a great idea to pray for one another who are walking as they ought to be doing in Christ.  

In my Facebook memories it showed up yesterday and today that I made a statement of "The curses of God are as real as the promises of God".  

The reality of Hell is unquestionable to all who are there. Regardless of if they agree with Jesus as to their being there at all they know exactly what their reason for being there is. They rejected the Word of God. They rejected the authority of God. 

They rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

They refused the free gift of salvation available only through Jesus Christ...and for all eternity there's nothing they can do about it.

People will either be commended or they won't be by Jesus. The truth behind every thought and choice will not be hidden from Him. There are no Perry Mason techniques to use against the knowledge of God in defending our thoughts, actions or intentions. 

Praying for people probably ought to be more than a sentence or two about a situation that Jesus is already fully aware of, don't you think?  

Praying for more than the personal desire of the person requesting prayer ought to be on our minds as well.  

It's amazing to me how there's times when my prayer times get stretched on some people. Where it dawns on me that there's more going on than we know of.  

Jesus's definition of an answered prayer isn't ours in most cases. 

If we are praying for what Paul wrote here...it's going to change how and what we pray concerning others and as the lesson of Jacob and his brother Esau...it's going to change us as well.

We so quickly forget how much more important the Spiritual walk is than our physical walk is in our lives. 

People can be disfigured from birth yet come to Christ and seriously change their world for the sake of the Gospel. People who are ready, willing, members of the body of Christ are supposed to change the world.  

Praying for those things that are most important to Jesus...you cannot go wrong with that.

Thinking of others in the way that the Spirit is teaching you to think of others will indeed make your life more impactful for the Kingdom of God.

Many put a lot into the Gospel record of what Jesus answered when the Disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. That prayer is a fantastic model of how to pray. This prayer here is a fantastic addition to it in that it shows the fruits of what Jesus told them. Practical application. 

Consider how you pray. Every life is changed one person at a time. 

Would you like to receive such a prayer about you? I certainly would. Jesus wants us to get personal about our prayers. He had no good words to say about people doing little more than endless useless repetition. Mean what you pray. 

Are you walking in a manner worthy of your calling in Christ?

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.