Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 5

Paul Prays for the Colossian Believers to be Thankful for Spiritual Strength and our Heavenly Inheritance

Colossians 1:11-12 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: KJV

Paul prays for these Colossian believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to receive His strength within them as he says it in this manner, “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” (Colossians 1:11) (KJV). The English word strengthened is translated by the Greek word dunamoo which simply means to enable or render capable or able for some task. It is the same prayer Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 3:16). In other words, even the great Apostle Paul (as many then and now like to refer to him) had come surely acquainted with the reality that there is no human strength within any man (even the redeemed man) that renders him capable of living a life pleasing to Almighty God, for as the Prophet Isaiah said to the people of Israel with these words speaking of even the ‘good works’ of man, “For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags {or} a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].” (Isaiah 64:6) (Amplified Bible). Paul had come to a similar conclusion of himself when he wrote these words to the believers in Rome, “For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]” (Romans 7:18) (Amplified Bible), therefore, we always and at all times find this Apostle praying for the strength of the grace of God to be welcomed into the inner man and inner woman of every believer in Christ.

The English word might Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word dunamis (this is where we get our English word dynamite) which means force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): In other words, Paul prays for this grace that comes only from God to invade the inner man and inner woman of these believers in Colosse so as to give them strength, power, and force that is not inherent in their nature or flesh. The reception of this miraculous strengthening grace is for their patience and longsuffering under trials, abuse, and ill-treatment that is certain to continually come from those who do not belong to our Lord Jesus Christ as Paul asked for prayer for himself on one occasion for this very reason when he said, “I appeal to you [I entreat you], brethren, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love [given by] the Spirit, to unite with me in earnest wrestling in prayer to God in my behalf. [Pray] that I may be delivered (rescued) from the unbelievers in Judea and that my mission of relief to Jerusalem may be acceptable {and} graciously received by the saints (God’s people there)” (Romans 15:30-31) (Amplified Bible).

The English word patience Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word hupomonē which means remaining under difficulties without succumbing, while the English word longsuffering Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word makrothumia which means long endurance that does not retaliate. Paul adds after these two words the English word joyfulness which is translated by the Greek word chara meaning cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: In other words, it is the will of God for us to suffer the ill-treatment of those two-legged devils with calm delight and not to succumb to our flesh to be filled with indignation, outrage, and anger aroused by the offense or injustice rendered unto us as our Lord Jesus said with these words, “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad {and} supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12) (Amplified Bible).

Because this power is all of God and all from God, that is, ‘the Power of His Glory’ Paul declared to these Colossian believers and to us today that they/we have but one response and that is continually thanking our Heavenly Father, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” (Colossians 1:12) (KJV). The English phrase ‘giving thanks’ Paul uses here at the very beginning of this verse is translated by one Greek word eucharisteo meaning to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude towards our Heavenly Father in this case always. The giving our Heavenly Father continual thanks is for His justifying us by faith in Christ and for His sanctifying work in us (Philippians 1:6) as we continue our pilgrimage here on the earth. The English phrase ‘which hath made us meet’ is translated by one Greek word hikanoo which means to enable, that is, qualify: - to make fit, sufficient, and worthy. In other words, God the Father has adopted us as His children automatically qualifying us for full pardon of all our sins once and for all and putting us in this new standing as sons and daughters and no longer bastards, therefore, we have inherited all that our Heavenly Father has in His vast Universes as Paul declared to the Thessalonian believers with these words, “But you are not in [given up to the power of] darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5) (Amplified Bible).

“All who are designed for heaven hereafter are prepared for heaven now. As those who live and die unsanctified go out of the world with their hell about them, so those who are sanctified and renewed go out of the world with their heaven about them.” (Matthew Henry).

“There is a fitness or meetness which Christians possess for heaven. It consists in their having complied with the conditions on which God promises heaven, so that, although they have no merit in themselves, and no fitness by their own works, they have that meetness which results from having complied with the terms of favor. They have truly repented of their sins, and believed in the Redeemer; and they are thus in the proper state of mind to receive the mercy of God; for, according to the terms of mercy, there is a propriety that pardon should be bestowed on the penitent, and peace on the believing. A child that is truly brokenhearted for a fault, is in a fit state of mind to be forgiven; a proud, and obstinate, and rebellious child, is not.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…