Dr. Stanley also explains that if we truly want to change a life through prayer, we must keep our own hearts clean and free of sin and believe in God’s ability to affect the person’s life. We are not solitary—our life and faith affect those around us, including those for whom we pray.
Sermon Outline
We all want life to be better. Thankfully, if you desire real growth and improvement for yourself or someone else, there’s something powerful you can do. In today’s message, Dr. Stanley focuses on a prayer from Paul’s letters that will always bring positive change.
Key Passage: Colossians 1:7-14
Supporting Passages: Psalm 66:18; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 5:14-15
When others ask how they can pray for you, do you have an answer? Do you know how to pray effectively for someone else? Paul gave us an example of intercession that is always in God’s will and can be offered for anyone at any time.
► “You don’t want to just pray to make somebody feel good. You want to impact their life.”
Colossians 1:7-14 teaches us how to pray with impact. Let’s break down verses 9-12 in detail. They tell us to …
“Be filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (v. 9)—Pray the other person would know the will of God and the direction the Lord has set for his or her life.
“Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (v. 10)—Pray the other person’s behaviors and attitudes would align with those of Jesus Christ. This can bring noticeable change in lifestyle and character.
“Bearing fruit in every good work” (v. 10)—Pray the other person’s life wouldn’t be wasted but rather that it would become a blessing to others.
“Increasing in the knowledge of God” (v. 10)—Pray the other person would value going to church, reading the Bible, and talking about spiritual things.
► “You can pray that a person walking in darkness would be transferred to the kingdom of His light.”
To grow in the knowledge of God, we must:
Read and study the Word of God.
Apply it personally.
Observe what happens because of our obedience.
“Strengthened with all power” (v. 11)—Pray the other person might live in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Giving thanks to the Father” (v. 12)—Pray the other person might experience joy, happiness, and peace in God. Also pray he or she might understand what God has done.
What has God done? He has …
Qualified us.
Rescued us from darkness.
Transferred us into His kingdom.
Redeemed and forgiven us.
► “Do you value your life enough to pray Colossians 1:7-14 for yourself?”
When praying for the salvation of others …
Ask for them to be granted faith and redemption (vv. 13-14).
Keep in mind that God is committed to responding to such prayers (1 John 5:14-15. Also see 2 Pet. 3:9).
What are the requirements for powerful prayer?
A clean heart—Remove willful sin so that your prayers will be heard (Ps. 66:18).
Strong faith—Believe God will do what He says He’ll do.
► “How could I hold back from surrendering anything when He gave everything and denied Himself totally for me?”
After Watching
Review the prayer in Colossians 1:7-14. In your own words, rewrite its six parts to make them easier to remember. That way, the next time someone asks you for prayer, you’ll know exactly what to say.
You can pray this prayer for yourself as well. Each time the Lord answers your prayer in a certain area—increasing your knowledge or helping you to bear good fruit, for example—make note of it along with the date in a notebook or your Bible. Review these entries often to see all the amazing things God has done.
