THE EMPOWERED LIFE

Speaker: Rev Dr Vincent Leoh
Title: The Empowered Life (Colossians 1:9-11)
Date: 13 January 2008

Colossae was the least important church to which any epistle of Paul is addressed. God is interested in the little churches as well as the large churches.

Augustine: Be great in little things

People were claiming to have special knowledge (later known as Gnostics). Also, some were advocating adhering to strict Jewish rules, worship of angels, and mistreatment of the body.

We have not stopped praying for you and asking God

Paul knew that the power to change situations lay in prayer (1 Thess. 5:17; Eph. 6:18). He did NOT pray for church growth, he did not pray for protection, he did not pray for great leaders, but Paul prayed for the spiritual maturity of the fellowship. Spiritual maturity occurs when a believer is willing to “take off the bib and put on an apron”. (Rick Warren)

God wants you to have more. He wants you to reach your full potential for Him, to live the life that God intends for your life, the EMPOWERED LIFE!

I. THE EMPOWERED WALK

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (1:10)

The Christian life can be compared to a WALK.

• Eph 4:1 – Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
• Eph 4:17 – Walk not as other Gentiles walk.
• Eph. 5:2 – Walk in love
• Eph. 5:8 – Walk as children of light
• Col 4: 5 – Walk in wisdom toward them that are without,
• 1 John 2:6 – Walk, even as he (Christ) walked.
• 3 John 4 – I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
• Gen 5:24 – And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
• 2 Cor. 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight.

The Christian life begins with a step of faith but that step leads to a walk of faith.

WALK (parapateo):

• A Pleasing Walk
• A Balanced Walk
• A Worthy Walk

God desires that each of us live an extraordinary life to His glory. This extraordinary life can only be experienced through surrender (Eph 3:16-17), obedience (2 Peter 1:3-11), and death (Gal 2:20). He has given us everything we need, but we must die to ourselves and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

II. THE EMPOWERED WORK

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (1:10b cf. 1 Cor. 15:58; 10:31)

‘Bearing fruit’ is in the present tense, which denotes a continuous non-stopping action.
The Christian life is to constantly bear fruit, not simply on occasion. We should NEVER stop bearing fruit. To be fruitful means to be productive.

What are the fruits, which a Christian can bear?
1. A Christlike character (Gal 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-8).
2. Our life and work/ministry characterized by good works (Phil 1:22)
3. A faithful witness. Those who come to Christ through our witness (Rom 1:13; 1 Cor 16:15).
4. Our lips bear fruit by giving praise to God (Heb 13:15).
5. Our generous giving (Rom 15:28).

Fruit is what we do for God, it is what comes from our life lived for Him.

The key to bearing fruit is abiding in Christ (John 15:1-5). Listen to prescription of Jesus is: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

Spirit-Empowered Work
The Spirit of God is the source of the many skills and abilities (Exodus 35:31-33)
Also, when we are empowered by the Spirit:
- He ENCOURAGES us to depend on the Lord.
- He ENABLES us to face our circumstances differently.
- He ENHANCES our relationships at home and in the workplace.

III. THE EMPOWERING

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness (Col 1:11)

THE POWER:
Dunamis power – Explosive, dynamite action power.
Dunamis power is power given:
1. To Perform Miracles for Him.
2. To Stand Morally Pure.
3. To Evangelise Boldly

Is Paul saying to pray that we can perform powerful miracles, do spectacular events for God? No, Paul says we need to pray for God’s power to get us through problems and that we get through them with JOY!

We need God’s power to:
1. Endure unto all patience and longsuffering
Patience (makrothumia) with people
Endurance (hupomone) patient with circumstances

2. Enjoy with joyfulness
Colossians 1:11 (CEV) His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.

We must pray that we will work and serve in the power of God. We cannot do His work in our own power. Our strength fades but God’s power is everlasting and abundant. This passage reminds us just how weak we are and just how powerful God really is. God is pleased with us when we look to Him for strength. Paul specifically adds according to HIS glorious might.

I WILL BE EMPOWERED! I will Be Strengthened in Power
- Present participle tells us that it is a continuous action.
God is alive and we have available to us a continuous filling of the Spirit therefore we can live with this on-going power. The measure of power available is according to His glorious might. And God’s power is limitless.

“Lord, help us to understand Your will and Your Word. Help your people to prosper in their WALK and WORK. And give them Your POWER to endure the difficulties and still enjoy the journey!”