Walking Worthy: Living in God’s Will

Pastor Jason

Colossians - Jesus Above Everything • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

Colossians 1:9–14

Jesus Prays for God’s Will to Be Done

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Introduction: Walking Worthy

Opening Story: Living in a Way That Honors Someone Important

When I was a kid, my dad would often remind me before I went to school, “Remember who you are.”

It wasn’t just about staying out of trouble- which was hard enough for me to do,—it was about living in a way that honored and reflected our families values.

He wanted me to remember what we believed, Who we represented and why it mattered. He wanted me represent our family well in the way I spoke, treated others, and handled myself.

‌represent—not just my family or even the church I pastor but, most importantly, my Lord the one I say I love he most..…..

This idea of living in a way that reflects honor and respect is at the heart of what Paul is praying for in Colossians 1:9-14

LISTEN TO HIS OPENING PRAYER or the Colossians. -

Colossians 1:9–10 (ESV)

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;

He’s praying that the Colossians would walk faithfully in a way that represents their savior well. That they would walk worthy of the name by which they had been saved.

Transition to Walking Worthy

Walking worthy isn’t about being perfect or earning God’s favor.

Its about being faithful,

It’s about living in a way that reflects God’s character and brings Him glory.

It’s about our daily lives showing the world who we belong to and what we believe.

This prayer should challenge us to evaluate our lives.

Are we walking in a way that honors God?

Are we living in a way that pleases Him?

Are we representing what Jesus stands for in this world?

Paul in this prayer is laying out for us the roadmap for walking worthy.

and in this prayer he highlights three key ways to live in a way that honors the Lord:

Knowing God’s will.

Living in God’s will.

Giving thanks for God’s will.

Our our big idea for today is this..“ To Walk Worthy is to dwell in God’s Will”

Let’s begin looking at verse 9 again, where Paul prays for the Colossians

COl. 1:9

Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

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,

Point 1: Knowing God’s Will is the Foundation of a Worthy Walk

Paul’s prayer begins with a simple but profound request: "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will."

Paul prays for the church to know and understand Gods will for their lives.

Church: walking worthy of the Lord must begin by knowing Gods will for your life.

And Im sure most of you are out there thinking “phew Im glad its nothing hard… All I have to do is know the will of God for my life…

How Can I Know God’s Will?

If your like me maybe you have asked before or maybe you are sitting here today asking , “How am I supposed to know what God’s will is for my life?”

It’s a question that can feel overwhelming.

Have you ever been there—where you just look up to heaven and cry out, “Lord, just tell me what I’m supposed to do!” …..

It’s a cry that comes from a place of longing to please Him, but often, we feel stuck.

Too often it may seem that even when our plea’s become desperate God still doesn’t seem to answer....

Paul prays that the Colossians would know what God desires from their lives, Not that they would know the future,

Paul’s prayer reminds us that God’s will isn’t about figuring out every detail of our lives and even what step to take next.,…

Instead, it’s about being filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we can live faithfully in the present knowing that our future is in Gods hands.

Christian- God’s will for your life is more about how you live than about knowing every specific detail of what lies ahead.

What Does the Bible Say About God’s Will?

So here is The good news: God’s will is not hidden from us.

In fact throughout Scripture God makes it clear what His will is for your life.

God’s will is for you to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:3-4: "God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Living in God’s will begins by placing your faith in Christ.

God’s will is for you to live a holy life—to grow in sanctification.

1 Thessalonians 4:3: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality."

Holiness is not an option for the beleiver; it’s a command for all Christ followers, and God’s will for you as a believer is to grow in holiness and obedience.

God’s will is for you to be thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Gratitude reflects a heart aligned with God.

God’s will is for you to do good.

1 Peter 2:15: "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."

Our lives should display God’s character and goodness.

And finally in Prv 3 we see

God’s will is for you to trust Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."

Trusting God, even without knowing all the details, is central to living in His will.

Slide: that goes over all the above ideas as a whole

How Do We Know God’s Will?

Paul’s prayer shows us that knowing God’s will comes through Knowledge and spiritual wisdom and we find this through

Scripture: God’s Word is our primary source for understanding His will (Psalm 119:105

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Prayer:

James 1:5 (ESV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Obedience: As we live out what God has already revealed, He guides us further (Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

As we obey, God transforms the way we think so that we can discern wha Gods will is for our lives.

I think too often we want to look every where else except where God has told us to look to find his will for our lives.

Really what its all about is faithfulness, When we are faithfully in Gods Word We are being consumed with Gods Truth,

and when we are faithfully on our knees we are growing in our dependency on Gods Provision

and when we are faithful in our obedience we grow in our ability to discern what his will is for our lives.

Application Questions:

The question is this….Are you more focused on trying to figure out God’s future for your life than on living faithfully day by day?

Paul’s prayer reminds us: knowing God’s will is not about discovering a hidden blueprint. It’s about living faithfully in what He has already revealed.

It’s about completely trusting and believing that He has a plan for you,

and what He desires is not that you know what it is but that you are faithful.

Knowing God’s Will for your life is the foundation of a life that walks worthy of the Lord.

Transition to Point 2: Living in God’s Will

Paul doesn’t just stop at knowing God’s will—he takes it a step further.

in the next 3 verses he says to walk a life that is worthy of the Lord We must be living in the will of God!

Church family, it’s not enough to know what God desires for your life; it has to translate into action.

Point 2: Living in God’s Will Reflects a Worthy Walk

To walk worthy of the lord we must live in God’s Will,

Colossians 1:10–12 (ESV)

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.

Living in God’s will means aligning our actions with God’s desires.

and in these verses Paul outlines

four key characteristics of a life that pleases God: of a life that is walking in God’s Will,

vs 11- Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work

A faithful life produces visible results.

Jesus said in John 15:8, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.”

Bearing fruit means reflecting the character of Christ through your actions.

in Galatians 5:22-23 ) Paul givers us a glimps into what this fruit looks like in the life of the one walking worthy of the Lord

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;

If this does not describe your life - than the reality is you are not walking in the will of God

Christian what is your reputation this community?

If I were to ask your neigbors your coworkers, your kids, the attendant at the gas station- to give me one word to describe you- would it be one of the fruits of the sprit!

Application: Are your actions drawing others closer to Christ?

Are you faithfully serving in ways that glorify God? Arte you producing the fruit that looks like Jesus in this world?

#2 Growing in the Knowledge of God

in verse 10 of our text

- Paul connects bearing fruit with growing in the knowledge of God. he says and growing in the kowledge of God

These two go hand in hand—as you grow in your understanding of Gods desire for your life, it deepens your walk and enables you to live more faithfully.

and like we have already seen - This growth comes through faithfully studying Scripture, prayer, and obedience.

Application: How are you growing in your knowledge of God?

Are you spending time in His Word and in prayer?

are you faithfully living a life of obedience?

In verse 11 we see the 3rd Characteristic ..

Colossians 1:11 (ESV)

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

The one who is walking in the will of God is the one walking with the strength of God!

#3 Being Strengthened with His Power

This reminds us that we dont go through this life alone on our own strength.

living in God’s Will means trusting in Him, and relying on His strength not your own

I love how Paul says “for ALL ENDURANCE and patience with joy.

Endurance helps us remain faithful in difficult circumstances.

Patience allows us to respond with grace in challenging relationships.

If your like me- sometimes it is tough waiting on the Lord to lead. RIGHT?

Brothers and sisters… walking in Gods will means you are laying it all in His hands - And when we truly give our decisions over to him we find the endurance and patience we need to faithfully wait on the Lord.

Application: Are you relying on God’s strength to endure trials and challenges, or are you trying to do it on your own?

Are you enduring well with Patience waiting on God’s leading in your life?

In verse 12 we come to the 4th Characteristic of the one who is living in the will of God

look at our text

Colossians 1:12 (ESV)

12 giving thanks to the Father,

#4 Overflowing with Gratitude

Gratitude flows from understanding God’s grace in your life

Gratitude is the idea of thanking God for everything He has placed in your life, Including the blessing and the trials.

Gratitude is a hallmark of a life aligned in God’s will.

Having a heart full of Gratitude is what helps us believe the truth that even when it hurts God is doing all things for our good and for His glory.

Application: Christian, Are you cultivating a habit of gratitude in your daily life? are you thanking God for all that he is doing?

As we walk worthy of the Lord, our hearts should overflow with gratitude for not just what he is doing in our lives but also for what He has done.

This leads us to the final point: giving thanks for God’s will, which has rescued and redeemed us.

Look with me at verses 12-14:

Colossians 1:12–14 (ESV)

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.

Point 3: Giving Thanks for God’s Will Shows a Heart Transformed by Grace

Paul in these 3 verses highlights three reasons for finding gratitude in the Will of God.

1. We Are Qualified by God

“Who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.”

Through the saving work of Christ on the cross, we are qualified to be heirs of His eternal kingdom. This isn’t based on our works but entirely on His grace

Think about what this means:

God doesn’t just forgive you; He adopts you into His family and gives you an eternal inheritance.

This qualification is not something you earn; it’s a gift of grace.

2. We Are Rescued from Darkness

Verse 13: “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.”

Salvation means being delivered from the power of sin and Satan. Before Christ, we were trapped in darkness with no way out. But God, in His mercy, stepped in and rescued us.

Illustration: Imagine you’re part of a team destined to lose—a team with no hope, no future, and no purpose. You’re stuck, defeated, and surrounded by darkness. But then, out of nowhere, the Coach of all coaches steps in. He doesn’t just offer you a spot on His winning team—He handpicks you. He calls your name, places His jersey on you, and says, 'You’re mine now.' Suddenly, you’re no longer destined for defeat. You’re part of His kingdom, a team with victory guaranteed, a team with a glorious purpose and an eternal destiny. That’s what God has done for us—He chose us, rescued us, and transferred us into the kingdom of His Son, the one who reigns in victory and love."

Salvation means being delivered from the power of sin and Satan.

friends Before Christ, we were trapped in darkness with no way out. We were condemned to an eternity in the lake of fire- bound by the c hains of sin, Captive, by the devil himself, But God in His devine will for your life , in great His mercy, stepped in and rescued us.

and in this transaction we can find great thanksgiving

We Are Redeemed Through Christ

Verse 14: “In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Redemption means being bought back. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are forgiven and set free to live for God’s glory.

Think about this: Jesus paid the ultimate price so that you could be free.

Your debt is canceled, your sins are forgiven, and you are free to live a life that pleases God.

Not only did he resuce you from darkness but he canceleld out your debt- menaing you owe him nothing for your salvation- He paid its price in full,

Application: Are you living with gratitude for God’s grace?

To Walk worthy means to live a life of gratitude- gratitude to the one who gave you everything.

Bringing it Together

God’s will for humanity is ultimately fulfilled in the work of Christ.

Romans 5:8 declares - that While we were still sinners, it was God’s will that Christ would die for us.

Everything we have—our qualification, rescue, and redemption—flows from this great act of love.

And Church, it is when we truly grasp how far God reached into our lives with salvation—when we see the depth of His grace and the far-reaching power of His work—that our hearts overflow with gratitude, and we are compelled to live in worship and obedience.

It’s in this state of gratitude and awe that our lives proclaim the glory of the Lord.

And it’s here—resting in His grace and responding with thankfulness—that we truly walk worthy of the Lord.

Bring it Home: Walking Faithfully Step by Step

Remember our Big Idea: ”To walk worthy is to dwell in God’s will—faithful, aligned, and reflecting His glory."

Church, let me challenge you today: God’s will for your life is not about knowing every detail of the future. It’s about being faithful step by step right here right now.

Stop worrying about tomorrow and start walking faithfully today.

Trust Him to guide you, one step at a time as His Word lights your path.

What does faithfulness look like?

It’s living out what God has already revealed.

It’s knowing His will through Scripture,and walking in obedience,

and its giving thanks for the salvation He’s already given you.

And here’s the beautiful truth: Jesus is the centerpiece of God’s will.

He is over everything—our salvation, our purpose, and our future.

It is only Through Him

, God’s ultimate will was accomplished on the cross,

and it is only through Him, we are equipped to walk worthy of the Lord.

So I ask you church family:

`Are you walking worthy? Are you living faithfully in the light of what Christ has done for you?

Let’s be a church that doesn’t just talk about God’s will but lives it—step by step, in faith, obedience, and gratitude.

Let’s walk worthy of the Lord who has called us, rescued us, and redeemed us for His glory.

Lets go make and equip more disciples as we faithfully dwell in the will of God!

PRAY

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