TEXT:  Col. 1:3-8

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PAUL WAS GIVEN TO PRAYER

          (Eph. 1:15f;  3:14f;  Phil. 1:3f;  Col. 1:9f.; 1 Thess. 1:2f;  2:13).

B.      MANY OF HIS PRAYERS WERE INTERCESSORY.

          1.       He prays giving thanks for the Colossians.

          2.       He also makes intercession for them.

C.      THE PRAYERS ARE USED TO INTRODUCE OTHER THOUGHTS.  SUCH IS THE

          CASE HERE.

I.      WE GIVE THANKS (vs. 3).

A.      TO GOD.

          1.       Jesus taught his disciples to pray (Matt. 6:9) to the Father.

          2.       All good things come from him (Jas. 1:17).

B.      PAUL NEARLY ALWAYS MENTIONS “THANKSGIVING”

          (1 Thess. 5:17-18;  Col. 4:2;  Phil. 4:6;  Eph. 1:16;  5:20).

II.     THE OCCASION OF THE THANKS ( vs. 4-5).

     HAVING HEARD:

A.      OF YOUR FAITH.

          1.       Faith is essential (Heb. 11:6;  Rom. 5:1-2).

          2        Faith alone won’t save (James 2:24).

B.      OF YOUr LOVE

          1.       John 13:34-35.  Our identification mark (Phil. 2:1-4).

          2.       Must be genuine (1 Pet. 1:22;  Rom. 12:9)

          3.       Must be active (1 John 3:18).

III.    THE SOURCE OF THEIR FAITH AND LOVE?

               – THEIR HOPE (VS. 5), LAID UP IN THE HEAVENS.

A.      OUR REWARD IS NOT OF THIS EARTH, IT IS IN HEAVEN (Luke 6:33;  1 Cor. 5:1).

B.      OUR HEARTS SHOULD BE FOCUSED THERE (Col. 3:1-4)

C.      WHAT COMES FIRST? (Matt. 6:19-21).

IV.   HOPE IS REVEALED IN THE GOSPEL ( VS. 5, 23)..

A.      THE GOSPEL IS THE WORD OF TRUTH (John 17:17).

B.      IT IS THE WORD OF GOD (1 Thess. 2:13).

C.      IT WILL BE THE STANDARD OF JUDGEMENT (John 12:48:  Rom. 2:16).

D.      IT IS GOD’S POWER TO SAVE (Rom. 1:16).

          1.       God’s choice ( 1 Cor. 1:21).

          2.       It’s power is the information it imparts (Rom. 1 17).

          3.       All who believe it ( Rom. 1:16).

V.    THE GOSPEL IS BEARING FRUIT & INCREASING (vs. 6).

A.      IN ALL THE WORLD (Matt. 28:19-20;  Mark 16:15).

          1.       Jesus died for all (2 Cor. 5:14).

          2.       God’s will revealed in his death (1 Tim. 2:3-6).  That all might be saved!

B.      THE GOSPEL EDIFIES THROUGH INSTRUCTION (Titus 2:11-12;  2 Tim. 3:16-17).

C.      A REVELATION OF GOD’S GRACE IN TRUTH (vs. 6b).

D.      EPAPHRAS WAS THEIR TEACHER (vs. 7-8).

          1.       Who taught you?

          2.       Whom have you taught? (2 Tim. 2:2;  James 5:19).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE GOSPEL IS THE SOURCE

          1.       Our Salvation.

          2.       Our faith

          3.       Hope.

B.      TO BEAR FRUIT IT MUST BE OBEYED (Heb. 5:8-9).