Chapter

Thirty

Colossians

Three :

A

Prayer

Colossians 3: 1 - 15

A journey from seeking, to setting, putting off, putting on, and doing

Verse 1: IF RISEN - THEN SEEK

Dear Heavenly Father, when I was dead in my sins You in Your kindness reached down in Jesus and resurrected me and sat me down in heaven at Your right hand where Jesus sits until His coming again (Eph. 2:5-7; Mk. 16:19; 14:26). You extended to me the right hand of fellowship (Gal. 2:9) that I should, with Christ, not be moved (Acts 2:25). The resurrection of Christ, that put Him at Your right hand, is a power beyond measure defeating all principality and power in any world or time (Eph. 1:19-21). When I visited Israel -- I visited an empty tomb (Lu. 24:5). Father, I SEEK to know Him and His power (Phil. 3:10).

Lord, as I SEEK to know Jesus, the first priority in my seeking is His kingdom and His righteousness (Mt. 6:33). I am mindful that the seeker of the kingdom is looking for a city yet to come (Heb. 13:14) and I do so in faith believing the One who is the builder of the city (Heb. 11:6). As a Seeker I desire to be unashamed and make my search a public declaration (Heb. 11:14). My end reward as a seeker of God’s glory, honor, and immortality is eternal life (Rom. 2:7; Amos 5:4).

The road to this kingdom begins with asking [ A. S. K. ] (Mt. 7:7-8). Father help me when I ask [A] to believe I will receive; when I seek [S] help me to believe I will find; and when I knock [K] help be to expect Your doors will begin to open. The depth of my search is well described in Proverbs, Chapter Two, verses one through five, Lord. I begin by receiving the Word of God (v.1). I do accept it as complete and total -- as absolute truth, and I adjust my mind, beliefs, and my behavior accordingly. Lord God Almighty, as I study the law of God intently for what You say about this life (2 Tim. 2:15) help me to file these issues away in my heart (Psa. 119:9-11).

Father of Glory, I incline my ear to Your wisdom (v.2). Hay! Lord, I’m listening! I know when a military watch is posted -- especially at night -- one thing the watch does is listen for sounds lest he be overcome by the enemy. So get the wax out of my ears, Lord, and help me begin to listen to Your voice. As I practice listening help me begin to hear. When I hear You speak, God, my next step is to start applying what I hear to my heart in understanding (v.2).

As teachers teach they insure the student understands one thing before going on to the next. God, You have said that this is Your method of education (Isa. 28:9-14) -- so teach me Lord.

Abba, Father, I cry for this understanding knowledge (v.3). Whatever it takes that will bring tears to my eyes: Romance. Pain. Emotions. Fear. Anger. Love. Help me, Lord, to put these emotions into obtaining Your knowledge. Help me to lift my voice heavenward for You to unlock Your mystery to me (v.3)?

Holy Father, I SEEK Your wisdom and understanding in the rigger and attitude of an old west prospector roaming the Colorado Rockies for a vein of silver or gold, or for some lost Dutchman’s Mine (v.4). Your son Jesus told us about several seekers and the joy they had in finding. There is the shepherd who lost one of his hundred sheep and went into the wilderness to find it. Then, there is the woman who had ten pieces of silver who, having lost one, swept the house till she found it. Both the shepherd and the woman rejoice with their neighbors over their find (Lu. 15:2-10). Lord, help me to share my joy and rejoicing over what You give me of Your wisdom (Jer. 15:16). Father, as you told Your prophet Ezekiel to eat the roll You gave him, help me to do the same even though at times it contains some things that are hard to swallow (Ezk. 2:9-3:3). Help, Lord, that even the bitter will be sweet. Lord, as I put this effort into SEEKing Your wisdom and understanding, then help me to accept that which You give, and help me to have the right fear of Your Majesty and then see Jesus (v.5).

Verse 2: SET YOUR AFFECTIONS

Almighty Creator, when an earthly builder pours what we call concrete he has to wait for it to SET. After the concrete is set it is hard and will stay in place. It is also heavy. Father, as a believer in Your Son Jesus I ask You to help me SET my affections on Your eternal purposes. In the prophesies of Your Son Jesus it is said that He set His face like a flint (Isa. 50:7).

Help me, Holy Father, to SET the Lord Jesus always before my face that I, like the concrete, will not be moved (Psa. 16:8). As I continue my journey in this life, my Precious Lord, give me the courage and conviction to allow no wicked thing to be SET before me and that I will have a holy hatred against those things that would turn me from you (Psa. 101:3). Remove from my heart any unnatural affection (Rom. 1:31) that I may be free in mind and spirit to lay up treasure in Your Treasure City -- Jerusalem from above (Mt. 6:20-21; Gal. 4:26).

Verse 3: I AM DEAD

Lord, I count myself DEAD and I accept Your faithfulness that in eternity I shall live with you (2Tim. 2:11). But in this life here below I have died because of Your law that my life might be Your life (Gal. 2:19). Holy Father, because I am dead to sin I surrender my life to you that it might be a sinless living for You (Rom. 6: 2,8,11).

Verse 4: CHRIST OUR LIFE

Heavenly Father, I look forward to the coming of Jesus for His church and our gathering to His glory. As I anticipate such a magnanimous event help me to live in moderation (Phil. 4:5), and to live a life of purity in Your likeness (I Jn.3:1-3). Help me Lord not to be over anxious of Christ’s return, knowing the earthly events that must take place beforehand (2 Thes. 2:2).

Verse 5: MORTIFY YOUR MEMBERS

My Lord God Almighty, I desire to mortify my flesh and its evil intents. Lord, if there be any seed of fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, or covetousness in me please expose it that I may CRUCIFY if for Your glory that I may fully live in the Spirit (Rom. 8:13). Help me to CRUCIFY all those things not in accord with having my AFFECTION SET on You (Gal. 5:24). Lord, lend me your strength to live this crucified life by faith (Gal. 2:20). I want to be free from the sin of the “Old Man”, so help me, Lord, as I apply the crucifixion to my daily living (Rom. 6:6-7).

Verse 6: CHILD OF DISOBEDIANCE

Father in Heaven, I want no part of Your wrath upon me so I ask to be delivered from all DISOBEDIENCE. Although in time past I had such a life with the Prince of Power in the course of this world I do heartily declare that I am one of Yours (Eph. 2:2; 1 Jn. 5:19). Lord, my sin came by disobedience, but because Your Son was obedient I am righteous -- help me live accordingly (Rom. 5:19).

Verse 7: WHERE I USED TO WALK

Dear Lord, I realize that in the life of the old man of time past I was deceived into a life of servitude to the lusts and desires of my fleshly mind, and by nature had a character of malice, envy, and hatred (Tit. 3:3; Eph. 2:3).

Verse 8: PUT OFF

But now, Most Holy Father, I surrender all that remains of the old man. I PUT OFF all his attributes of anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy communication. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, Oh Lord (Psa. 19:14).

Verse 9: PUT OFF

Having PUT OFF the old man I acknowledge, Abba, Father, that I have been re-created into Your image and that now I live in the newness of that image (II Cor. 5:17). I continue to submit to Your renewing of my mind by the Holy Spirit through Your Written Word (Rom. 12:1-2).

Help me My Father to live a life of truth and to have no part in any lie or with the father of liars -- the Devil. I don’t wan to lie against the truth, or against You, God. And help me, O Lord, not to glory in bitterness (Ja. 3:14; Acts 5:4). I covenant that I shall worship only You Jehovah God and not turn from Your truth to idolatry (Rom. 1:25).

Verse 10: PUT ON THE NEW MAN

I acknowledge before You Lord that I have PUT ON the new man of the image of Your Son Jesus. Please send Your Holy Spirit to assist me as I grow in our grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18), and add that knowledge to my faith (2 Pet. 1:5). I desire to be a wise believer, endued with full knowledge of You and Your purposes. Help me to use such knowledge to show forth Thy goodness and meekness (Ja. 3:13).

Verse 11: CHRIST -- ALL IN ALL

Father of Glory I acknowledge my place and relationship to You and to the one and only Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 8:6). Your Holy Spirit has placed me in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12) and given me peace within (Acts 10:36). I believe that all I will ever need of You, Father, is completed in Jesus, and He alone is head of all principality and power (Col. 2:9-10). Everything I need to know, and wisdom to live by are in Your Son Jesus (Col. 2:3). Holy Father, as I fellowship with Jesus I ask You to enrich my life that I may utter words of knowledge about You and Your Son (1 Cor. 1:5).

Verse 12: PUT ON

God of all Glory, You have elected me by name in Your foreknowledge through the Blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (Isa. 45:4; 1 Pet.. 1:2). No one has authority to lay charges against me but You, Lord, and You will take revenge on those who do (Rom. 8:33; Lu. 18:7). Out of Your predestination I was adopted into Your beloved family (Eph. 1:6-7). As one of Your saints I am holy and beloved (Rom. 1:7). It is Your desire, Holy Father, that I be steadfast before You in this world (1 Cor. 15:58). Taking hold of these promises I commit myself to be clean from all filth of the flesh (2 Cor. 7:1).

I covenant then before You My God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Angels to PUT ON the following attributes:

the bowels and mercies of Christ and to be like-minded (Phil. 12:1-2); since Jesus has redeemed me I want to be crowned with His lovingkindness (Psa. 103:4) against the cruel mercy of the wicked (Pro. 12:10); I add brotherly kindness and charity to my faith in You (2 Pet. 1:7), for charity is kind (I Cor. 13:4); Most High and Holy One, I submit myself to You n humility and contrition and ask for Your revival of spirit (Isa. 57:15; Ja. 4:10); I seek Your face and turn from my sin (2 Chron. 7:14); I rebuke the spirit of pride and associate myself with the lowly (Psa. 16:19); I look for Your grace and Your exhaltation (Ja. 4:6; Mt. 23:12; 1 Pet. 5:6); Lord, I SEEK meekness that I may PUT it ON and avoid Your anger (Zeph. 2:3); I desire it, for it is the fruit of Your Spirit (Gal. 5:23), and You have called me to walk that path (Eph. 4:1-2); as a follower of the meekness of Jesus (1 Tim. 6:11) I want to be ready with the right answer (1 Pet. 3:15) as an instructor and spiritual restorer of the fallen (2 Tim. 2:25; Gal. 6:1); I need to be more long-suffering, another fruit of Your Spirit (Gal. 5:22); If I am to meet with Your full approval -- I must have it! (2 Cor. 6:4-6); to do so, Lord, I need Your full might and power in the inner man for his is my only means of joy (Col. 1:11); so, Holy Father, I open the door for Christ to be in me a pattern of long-suffering (1 Tim. 1:6).

Verse 13: PUT ON MORE ATTRIBUTES

Lord, I need to be more forbearing in my personal relationships; I need Your constant prodding that only Jesus is Lord and Master (Eph. 6:9); if there is to be any unity of spirit it will have to be done in holy fear and much forbearing (Eph. 4:2-3); in Your wisdom, O God, You have said that to be persuasive use forbearance and a soft tongue (Pro. 25:15); Lord, I need You to work on my heart to make it more kind and tender that I might be more forgiving as Your Son Jesus (Eph. 4:32); Jesus said that it is from the heart that I am to forgive my brother (Mt. 18:35), for how can I expect Your forgiveness of my trespasses if I am not willing to practice the same (Mt. 6:14-15).

Verse 14: PUT ON CHARITY

God of love, I desire to PUT ON CHARITY which is the bond of perfectness. Help me to bind my soul with this bond (Num. 30:2) that I may work for unity in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). Father I need Your charitable love for it is long-suffering and kind, and does not envy. Your love is not self exhaulting or puffed up and behaves itself properly. I need it because Your love is not self-seeking, is not easily provoked, and does not think of evil. Your love, Holy Father, hates iniquity and only rejoices in truth. Help me, Dear Lord, to practice Your love that I may bear all things and believe and hope in Your truth, and endure that which comes my way (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

Verse 15: LET PEACE RULE

Holy Father, I want to allow Your peace to rule in my heart, for only if I LET Your peace rule can I have and give the peace that passeth all understanding (Phil:4:7). Again, Lord, this is the place of unity -- Your peace. You have called us to be one body and to work as a whole. You want no chasm or split in Your body, so help me Lord not to be a party to that which would sever between parts of that which is yours (1Cor:12:23-25). But rather, Abba, Father, let me be thankful for that which You have given us in Your church. I want to be a credit to You in being a person of thanksgiving for this is Your command (Phil. 4:6; I Thess. 5:18).

Verse 16: LET THE WORD DWELL

Almighty God I LET Your word into my life. I want it in all of its riches and wisdom that I might teach and admonish others in this life here below. Only if I LET Your word in will my life be a fruitful life for You (II Pet. 1:8). LET me, Lord, be an instrument of the singing of Thy praises in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. LET my heart be filled with Your grace that I might be able to answer the inquiry of every man (Col. 4:6).

Verse 17: DO IN JESUS’ NAME

My Father in Heaven, I submit this prayer to you in the Name of Jesus my saviour. Help me to DO these things in this life here on earth unto You in that name of all names -- JESUS, Amen.