Journal Entry ~ 01/11/19

being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; - Colossians 1:11

Verse 11 is part of a larger prayer Paul makes for the church in Colossi:  
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:9-14

Paul is praying here that the people of Colossi are filled with His knowledge, bear fruit, and are strengthened by His glorious might - these are all as a result of being filled by the Spirit. It’s important to understand exactly what that means, or you’ll spend an awful lot of time in this life looking for that strength and wisdom He promises.  

We know from other places in scripture that we are filled with God‘s Spirit. When we are filled with His Spirit, We are being acted upon - God fills us with the Spirit.  It isn’t something that we do, we can't fill ourselves, only He fills us. We can quench or grieve the Spirit so we won't see the fruit or feel His presence, but we aren't the ones who fill us. We can go get the wisdom, the fruits of the Spirit, or the strength we need to walk through this journey of life - that’s is given to us when we are filled. The problem is so many of us try to get these things in our own power. 

For example, when we're frustrated with our lack of patience (a fruit of the Spirit that is given to us when we are filled) at the end of a long day, we cannot simply determine that tomorrow is going to be a better day. I tried that for years - i. Here to tell you it doesn't work. We must confess and repent that which grieves the Spirit, then pray for Him to fill us up again. 

"Be filled" is also present tense verve - that means it's not something that happened once in the past at our point of conversion, be filled is present, so it is happening now. Present is continuous. We understand this to mean He is continually filling us with the Spirit. We have only one baptism, but many fillings. Continually, every moment, He is trying to fill me with His Spirit - that means continually, every moment, I need to allow Him to fill me


Press on~ you are loved 💗

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