Strengthened With All Might

J.J. Stark

February 2016

Week 4

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Strengthened With All Might

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;” – Colossians 1:11 (NKJV)

The apostle Paul and Timothy start off this letter to the church of Colossi with thankful praise to God after hearing a good report of the faith and love that was beginning to flourish from the Colossians, and also to encourage the church with their unceasing prayer (Colossians 1:3-4).  Paul continues this in verses 9 and 10, asking that the Lord that the church would be “filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding, walk worthy of the Lord, fruitful in every good work and increased in the knowledge of God,” which leads into verse 11, “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” What a powerful prayer!  This is incredibly encouraging to me because this prayer can not only be used as a prayer for others, but also as a personal prayer and as an excellent standard to base my walk with God in.  This is still a very needed prayer, perhaps even more so today, as church persecution, wars, terrorism, and political turmoil is running rampant across the world.  Verse 11 revealed that by being patient for God’s timing, with longsuffering throughout trials, He will give me joy in the current circumstance that glorifies to His power.  God never abandons me, just as Joshua told the Israelites in Joshua 1:9“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Only by falling back on Him can I draw strength and joy to endure.  And with that joy, I need to then spread it to others here on earth, and lift them up with the same diligence and encouragement of Paul and Timothy, praying without ceasing.

Application: Today, I will find a chapter in the Bible on joy and write it down in my journal.  Tonight, I will also pray for each one of my fellow interns the prayer in Colossians 1:9-12.