The Epistle to the Colossians

1. Col 1:11 – “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;” By what process are we strengthened (dynamo) with all might? How about being filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding from verse 9? might (dynamis) – same stem as dynamo This is a lot of power isn't it! 2 Tim 2:1 - You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. according to His glorious power And He is the source and to Him is whom the glory is due. Eph 1:19 - and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power Eph 3:16 - that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1:11,12 Knowledge of God's Will & Our Shared Prayer 1 Mar 3, 2019 Bob Eckel

2. This process of being strengthened is passive. for all patience (hupomonē) and longsuffering (makrothumia) with joy patience - the characteristic of a person who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and loyalty to faith and piety. longsuffering - endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance. Wuest – ‘In brief, makrothumia is patience exhibited under ill-treatment by persons, hupomonē, patience shown under trials, difficulties, hardships.’ makrothumia - 2 Tim 4:2 - Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.. hupomone – Eph 4:1,2 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, And notice both patience and longsuffering are experienced with joy! Can this occur in the absence of our new creation? John 17:13 - “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1:11,12 Knowledge of God's Will & Our Shared Prayer 2 Mar 3, 2019 Bob Eckel

3. 1 Pet 4:13 - but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. How is this joy experienced in our own lives despite all the adversities? What about the stoic? Col 1:12 – “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” giving thanks to the Father – present active participle who has qualified (made) us Notice the source of the qualification (aorist). 1 Cor 1:30 - But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: As He has for other opportunities 2 Cor 3:6 - who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1:11,12 Knowledge of God's Will & Our Shared Prayer 3 Mar 3, 2019 Bob Eckel

4. to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light Acts 20:32 - And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Eph 1:11 - In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Wuest – ‘Partakers of the inheritance" is tēn merida tou klērou, "the portion of the lot." The word klēroō means "to cast lots, to determine by lot." Klēros means "an object used in casting lots." The lot of the saints, namely, that which is determined upon the saints is future blessedness, not only in the future life, but also here on earth.’ Vincent says: "The inheritance which is in light. This need not be limited to future glory. The children of God walk in light on earth." 1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleansed us from all sin. 1 John 2:10 - He that loveth his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. . The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1:11,12 Knowledge of God's Will & Our Shared Prayer 4 Mar 3, 2019 Bob Eckel

5. Acts 26:18 - To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. But our future is also filled with light. Isa 60:19 - The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Rev 21:23 – And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof Rev 22:5 - And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. John 1:1-5 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Are we His light unto darkness? The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1:11,12 Knowledge of God's Will & Our Shared Prayer 5 Mar 3, 2019 Bob Eckel