Colossians 1:9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
The prayer in Colossians 1:9-12 should be carefully compared with the first prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23. Note the structure similarity and the same words used. Also, compare the prayers in Eph. 3:14-21 and Phil. 1:9-11. In all four prayers, you will find they are introduced by the word love. This is basic and cannot be left out. It is well to read 1 Cor. 13 every few days.
First of all, Paul is praying that the believers might be filled with a clear knowledge of His will. This is the object of the prayer, and at the end is the accompaniment: thankfulness that we have been made fit for the inheritance.
Now, the part in between is divided into three parts or sections, steps which lead from the filling to the inheritance. In Greek, we have the word en three times and the word eis three times. En means 'in,' and eis means 'unto' in this passage.
So the steps from being filled with the knowledge of His will to partaking of the inheritance are these:
1. a. In all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This, through wisdom and discernment in spiritual things, is the means by which we can;
b. Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, so that our lives may be worthy of the Lord and perfectly pleasing to Him. Eph 4:1.
2. a. We must be fruitful in every good work. This is where the good works which were before ordained that we should walk in them take their place. And if we walk in them as a means, then;
b. We increase in the knowledge of God as the result or end. Contrast with those who know not God and are alienated from the life that is in God.
3. a. Strengthened with might according to His glorious power, that power which raised Christ from the dead and is to usward who believe, we can go on unto;
b. All patience and longsuffering, and that with joyfulness. And when we have come to the place where we can cheerfully endure all things with this patience and longsuffering, we are ready for the accompaniment.
The accompaniment (meta) is giving thanks unto the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the inheritance in the holiest of all in the Shekinah Glory.
The starting place, then, is the knowledge of His will. Unless we know His plan and purpose for the ages, unless we know about redemption and its extent, our walk cannot be pleasing to Him, nor can we increase in the knowledge of Him, and we will not have the patience and longsuffering which leads to the inheritance. Remember that there is an inheritance which is for The Church, which is The Body of Christ. This cannot be taken away from The Church. But every individual should look at this prayer and realize that an individual may forfeit his rewards or part of The Prize. Rewards can be lost but never live or salvation. This is shown to us by the redemption of Israel from the land of Egypt. Not a hoof was left behind, but many did fall in the wilderness and did not get to enter into the blessings promised to the nation. But all will be saved even when they don't earn rewards. Now read the BEWARE section, Col. 2:4-23.
