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Strengthened With All Might
Bible study on inner strength.

There are many theories about how one comes to be strengthened by God. Paul deals with this in great detail in his epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians. In this article, I would like for us to notice Paul's prayer concerning the Colossians being strengthened with all might to live a fruitful life.

Paul's epistle was written (in part) combating Gnostic doctrines teaching a mystical spirituality. Gnostic sects (then and now) combine philosophy with the word of God to come up with false religions "indeed having an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh" (Col. 2:23).

Contrasted with the mystical doctrines of the Gnostics, Paul communicates to the Colossians the very concrete process whereby one is strengthened with all might to live a fruitful life to the Lord.

First Paul communicates his prayer for them upon having heard of their faith in Christ and because of the hope laid up for them in heaven (Col. 1:3-8). They had heard of this hope in the word of the truth, the gospel (Col. 1:5) which had come to them as well as every creature under heaven (Col. 1:6, 23) and was bringing forth fruit (Col. 1:6). The Colossians had heard and knew the grace of God in truth (Col. 1:6) which they had learned from Epaphras (Col. 1:7).

So Paul communicates that they had heard, learned, and come to a knowledge of their heavenly hope and the grace of God. They had come to a knowledge of the truth. They had faith in Jesus Christ, they had love for all the saints, and their love was in the Spirit (Col. 1:4, 8).

Then Paul communicates his prayer for them: "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Col. 1:9-12).

Paul's prayer was that they may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. The result of which is that they would have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might for all patience and longsuffering with joy.

This is not some mystic spirituality. Christians must strive to know and understand God's will as revealed in His word. And this is done by hearing and learning the word of truth, the gospel (Col. 1:5-7). Regarding the gospel Paul said: "for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." And he said: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

Yes, I will go to my grave not knowing everything about God. But, I should strive daily to come to a deeper knowledge of God's will until the day that I go to my grave.

Paul warns Timothy about people living in the last days who were lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, "having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:5-7).

In a previous epistle, Paul informed Timothy of God's desire for all men saying: "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4).

Are you saved? Are you daily coming to a deeper knowledge of the truth whereby you are "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy" (Col. 1:11)? If not, today is the day to begin!