Young People's Group

“THAT THEIR HEARTS MAY BE ENCOURAGED”

by Pastor Mitch
January 23, 2015

Knowledge Of Deeds Of Love Brings Encouragement To The Heart

We all need encouragement from time to time as we seek to live for the Lord. In the midst of his own challenges and difficulties of life, Paul sought to encourage the hearts of his fellow brethren.

“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged …”
Colossians 2:1-2

Paul did not want his brethren to be in the dark with regards to what he had been going through. The word “know” in the Greek has the idea of complete knowledge. He wrote openly of the great agony and sufferings that he had to bear for the Churches’ sake. The word “know” is also in the Greek perfect tense. There was a process of knowing what Paul had suffered for them, which would come to a point where there would be complete knowledge and this would have a continuing effect for the future. It was this knowledge of Paul’s love for the brethren and what he had suffered on behalf of them that would bring much encouragement. Paul wrote about his struggles with this definite purpose – to exhort the hearts of the churches. Brethren, when we go the extra mile for others, it brings a special sense of encouragement to the heart.

Every Encouragement To Go Deeper

Paul sought to bring encouragement to the heart because he wanted them to go deeper.

1. Having A Depth Of Love For Each Other

” … Being knit together in love …”
Colossians 2:2

Paul wanted the brethren to go deeper in love for each other. We are meant to be so identified with each other that we can be closely knit together in the sphere of love. In the text of Colossians 2:19, Paul also wrote of how Christ is the head of the body and it is from Him that the whole body is nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments. This would bring about growth through God. It is through love for God and for each other that we can be closely knit together. Let’s be encouraged to have this depth of closeness at all times.

2. Having Full Assurance From A Depth Of Understanding Of God

“… And attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:2-3

The word “understanding” in the Greek is where we get the English word “synthesis”. It has the idea of putting truths together for deeper comprehension. It was with Paul’s encouragement that the Colossian Church was to go towards a deeper and experiential knowledge of the mystery of God. The word “knowledge” is the Greek word “epiginosko”. When the Colossian Church can put together different levels of knowledge – knowledge of the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:6), knowledge of the will of God (Colossians 1:9) and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10), that there would be even deeper understanding of Him. There would be the deep comprehension with reference to God as Father and the Lord Jesus as Christ, in whom is hidden all wisdom and knowledge. With this understanding, there would also be the rich experience of the full assurance and confidence in God. Young people, let’s be encouraged to go deeper in our knowledge of God. Let’s seek to have this depth of assurance in our knowledge of both the Lord God and the Lord Jesus.

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