Colossians chapter 1 our text today is going to be verses 7 through 14 if you're not

already there I'll have you turn there and then once you do if you're able I'll ask you to

stand if not where you're seated is fine you can follow along with me as I read the

Apostle Paul is writing to this church that he's never been to.

We talked about that last week.

Very interesting.

And begins by the Spirit of God in verse 7, saying, you learned it from Epaphras.

We're introduced to this man, this godly man, who it appears was the pastor of this church there in Colossia.

Paul writes, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and verse 8 8 who also told us of your love in the spirit.

I really like this guy. He's talking about them behind their backs and it's good. He's not talking

and stink about them. He's talking about them as being these Christians who have

faith and these Christians who have love in the Spirit. Now verse 9, Paul says, for this reason,

since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom

and understanding that the Spirit gives. So verse 10 you may live a life worthy

of the Lord and please him in every way bearing fruit in every good work growing in the knowledge of God.

And I want you to really pay attention to verse 11.

He goes on, this is what he's praying for them, and he's praying continually and specifically this for them.

Verse 11, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have

great endurance and patience. And verse 12, giving joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the

inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light for For he, verse 13, has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the sun he loves,

in whom we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.

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