Note 14 at Col. 1:9: Paul had just spoken about how Epaphras expressed the Colossians' love for him. Now he is saying that he loved them also, and expressed that love through praying for them.

Note 15 at Col. 1:9: Two prominent and distinct characteristics found in the lives of the apostles were that they gave themselves continually to prayer, and to the preaching and teaching of God's Word (Acts 6:4).

Before the apostle Paul begins his instruction to the Colossians we are privileged to see into his prayer life (vv. 9-14). Sometimes we have a tendency to think that people's lives cannot be touched by us without us physically being there. Paul shows us that through prayer God will impart such things as knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and strength, in helping others in their spiritual walk even without the physical presence of an individual.

The scripture says that the prophetess Anna, "served God" night and day through prayer (Lk. 2:36-37). Prayer is an awesome tool, used in establishing others in Christ, that is often overlooked. Trusting faith in God is a vehicle which works on the behalf of others.

Note 16 at Col. 1:9: Paul's desire is that the Colossians might be filled with the knowledge of God's will. The word "filled" means "to put into as much as can be held" (AH Dict.). Such knowledge is to permeate all of one's person.

Note 17 at Col. 1:9: Knowledge of God's will is foundational in developing Christian conduct and character. The first thing Paul desired for the Colossians was that they be filled with the knowledge of God's will. Only then would they be able to "walk worthy of the Lord" and be "fruitful in every good work" (v. 10). There is no way we can fulfill God's will if we don't know what it is. The starting point for any Christian has to be understanding God's will for him.

So how can a person obtain such knowledge (see the footnotes in ref. n at this verse)? The first step is to desire it. Jeremiah 29:13 says, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." People ask the Lord for knowledge of His will but don't receive because they aren't seeking with ALL THEIR HEART. No one who has ever sought the Lord with all his heart has ever been disappointed.

Secondly, the Holy Spirit is the dispenser of God's wisdom. It is through Him that we know the things God has revealed to us (1 Cor. 2:10-12). One of the primary ministries of the Holy Spirit is to reveal God's will to us (Jn. 16:13). There has to be a dependency on the person of the Holy Spirit (see notes 4-8 at 1 Cor. 2:9-13, pp. 868-869).

Finally, we must study the scriptures for they reveal the will of God for our actions and attitudes. To be filled with the knowledge of God's will, one must be filled with God's Word. God's Word is His will! Those who are ignorant of God's Word will be ignorant of God's will.

Note 18 at Col. 1:9: Notice that Paul desires for the Colossians to be filled with SPIRITUAL understanding. There is a big difference between carnal understanding and spiritual understanding. All spiritual understanding originates from and conforms to God's Word. Any reasoning which violates God's Word is not spiritual understanding.

Note 19 at Col. 1:9: The Greek word for "wisdom," SOPHIA, is used 51 times in the New Testament and six times in Colossians (Col. 1:9,28; 2:3, 23; 3:16; 4:5). Wisdom is more than just knowledge. It is the ability to use knowledge correctly.

The Greek word SUNESIS was translated "understanding" a total of six times in the New Testament. (Mk. 12:33; Lk. 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:19; Col. 1:9; 2:2). It literally means "a mental putting together" (Strong).

The words "wisdom" and "understanding" are used in combination a total of 53 times in scripture. To utilize our facilities fully, wisdom and understanding have to work together.

These terms can be explained in relation to a computer. The mind is like the hardware of a computer. It has the capacity to store all kinds of information but it is useless without software and data. The understanding is the data and wisdom is the software that allows us to retrieve, combine, and output that information.