FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Scripture: Colossians 1:24-28

Colossians 1:24-28 says, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.“ The chief mystery of the New Testament is Christ in us the hope of glory. We know, according to this passage, that being obedient to pray in the Spirit unfolds that wisdom and that mystery because when we are praying in the Spirit we are praying mysteries. Verse 28 here in Colossians is a key because it says the purpose of preaching is warning and teaching every person in all wisdom that we may present everyone mature, complete or full in Christ. So the purpose for warning, teaching and preaching is maturity in Christ and that is the product of acquiring true wisdom. Praying in tongues is clearly an important path to that wisdom. That is why Paul says, I will pray with the Spirit, I will pray with the understanding also.