Continuing in our study of prayer as part of the PPOG for the spiritual life of the believer we are now looking at Paul and Timothy's prayer for the believer's spiritual growth in Col 1:9-12;

In verse 9 we have "Since the day we heard of you, [we] have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you ” may be filled (pleroo) with the knowledge (epignosis) of His will (thelema) and all spiritual wisdom (sophia) and understanding (sunesis).

The purpose for being filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding is:

Col 1:10; That you might walk "peripateo" (manner of life) worthy of the Lord (on tracks of righteousness), pleasing God in all things, constantly producing (present tense active voice of "karpophoreo" which describes a habit) every good work (divine good" agathos"), constantly receiving spiritual growth [present tense passive voice of, "auxano" for describing another habit) by means of epignosis knowledge (doctrine taught by the Holy Spirit) from the ultimate source of God (revelation from Bible Doctrine);

Paul's prayer for their being filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding was for them be able to walk and persevere in the Christian way of life in their regenerate life as a members of the new spiritual species and the Royal Family of God.

His desire is for them to "keep on plugging” in their spiritual advance by means of Bible Doctrine and the power of God the Holy Spirit.

Last time we discussed the "Pluggger" which is an informal word that refers to a person who keeps on moving, who relentlessly keeps on keeping on.

While "pluggers" inhabit their corruptible body, and as long as they have what they recognize to be a limited window of opportunity during their temporal life on this planet, they will keep buying back the age from the influence of the evil one, in wherever activity they are involved. Eph 5:16; Col 4:5; KJV NET note 7

The plugger is too busy being focused on their own spiritual advance in "Sophia" and "Sunesis" or "Spiritual Wisdom" and Understanding Col 1:9; to be distracted by other people's problems or failures.

They know, that it is TLJC the author and perfector of the doctrine that they are to be occupied with. Heb 12:2;

They recognize that he is their source, and their confidence in him is growing and they know that they will never lack a thing because their Shepherd is the Great Shepherd of the sheep whom God the Father resurrected from death as a powerful indicator to show that He accepted His substitutionary spiritual death on the cross and the blood that ratified an everlasting contract of life and righteousness that is imputed by the Lord and practical righteousness that is empowered by the Lord. Heb 13:20;

A contract not of the letter but of the Spirit by whom they are transformed from one degree to another into the image of the One Who shines on them. 2Cor 4:6;

The plugger has tasted the Lord's immense grace and this is what keeps them craving the Word of grace that builds them up and builds capacity for them to receive more grace and to ultimately receive a special inheritance that is above and beyond the incorruptible and immortal body that is the heritage of all believers in TLJC.

The plugger perseveres. Their imperceptible gains while small are, nonetheless, "gains" and they are cumulative and result in rewards at their evaluation by TLJC at his return.

The plugger's perseverance is not with stubborn, stoic arrogance, but by the grace of God. 2Cor 9:8;

They persevere because they have found and picked up the perseverance of TLJC Himself, so that they're energized and constantly motivated by Christ who lives in them to fulfill his mandate to "persevere".

The plugger has a great reward awaiting them. The Lord says to them in Rev 3:10; "Because you've kept My command to persevere, I'll also keep you from the hour of testing, which is about to come upon the whole population of the earth, to test those who dwell on the earth"

The Lord says to the plugger in Rev 3:11; "I am coming quickly, hold fast to what you have so that no one will take your crown"

He says to the Plugger in Rev 3:4;c "They will walk with Me in white for they are worthy" Net note 17also Rev 3:5;

"White" in this passage refers to the uniform of Glory that is given to pluggers at their evaluation by TLJC.

Doctrine--> Integrity--> Uprightness->> Honor (in time) ----> Glory (in eternity)

The plugger has heard the message from the Lord in Heb 10:35; "Don't throw away your confidence which has great reward"

Pluggers "keep on plugging". The Lord preserves them in adversity, and even keeps them from it in many cases. 2Cor 4:7-11;

They go through difficult things when it seems that the whole world around them is carefree, but there will come a time when the whole world will go through very difficult things and they will be protected and they will be rejoicing because they rejoice with the truth that is embodied in Jesus.

A full reward 2John 1:8; awaits them, the reward connected with "pleroma". The Lord will withhold no good thing from them.

The plugger lets perseverance finish its work, the perseverance of Christ in them. John 16:33; Gal 2:20-21; Phil 1:21; 2Thes 3:5; and when it has finished, they are finished. Phil 1:6;

They are the finished product that is mature and entire and lacks nothing. James 1:4;

The plugger is a believer in TLJC who is a living answer to the prayer of Paul and Timothy in Col 1:9-11;

9- Because of this, since the day we heard (Epaphras' report) we have not stopped praying for you asking specifically that you would be completely filled up with the knowledge of God the Father's intent in the sphere of wisdom and spiritual understanding.

10- to the end that you would conduct yourselves with conduct becoming the Lord to please Him completely (Conduct that imitates the pattern established by the Lord in his presentation and conduct that is empowered by the Lord in the age of his re-presentation) while being prolific by divinely good activities and growing in
the knowledge of God,

11- enabled by means of every power option according to the dominance of his glory for maximum perseverance (under difficult circumstances) and patience (in the face of underserved suffering) with joy (the happiness of God).

As the plugger "walks in a manner worthy of the Lord they fulfill the next phrase in our passage in Col 1:10; which is "to please him in all respects"