Text:  Colossians 1:3-14

1. The direction of prayer      Colossians 1:3
   1. From Paul & his ministry team
   2. To God the Father
   3. For the believers in the church @ Colossae
2. The dynamic of prayer    Colossians 1:4-8
   1. It was caused by the testimony of the believers
   2. It was caused by the obedience of the believers     Acts 16:30-32;  Galatians 3:22, 26;  I John 5:10-13
   3. It was caused by the fruit of the Gospel proclaimed
      1. They had to hear it before they could believe on it     Ephesians 1:12-14
      2. They needed someone to proclaim it to them in order that they could hear it     Romans 10:13-17
      3. Epaphras was obedient to be the one used by God to reach them
   4. It was caused by the faithfulness of the proclaimer    Colossians 1:7-8
      1. Epaphras proclaimed the Gospel to them
      2. Epaphras proclaimed their faith to Paul
      3. Epaphras proclaimed God’s Word to them
         1. He was a faithful servant with Paul; A faithful minister to Colossae; A faithful minister of Christ
3. The details of the prayer    Colossians 1:9-14
   1. That they would be filled with knowing His will
   2. That they would be honoring to their Saviour     Acts 26:20; Ephesians 2:8-10;  Titus 3:1-8; 3:14;  Hebrews 13:20-21
   3. That they would be strengthened by God
      1. Strengthened with His might; by His glorious power; unto patience and unto joyfulness
   4. That they & him would give thanks to God
      1. Thanks to God the Father for:
         1. giving them part in His inheritance
         2. for His deliverance of them from the power of darkness
         3. for moving them into the kingdom of His Son
         4. for sending His Son to bring redemption in His blook
         5. for making forgiveness possible by the blood of Jesus Christ
         6. for being willing to complete the redemptive plan of God the Father

Conclusion:  Colossians 1:15-23