Filled with the knowledge of God's will

Paul writes to the Colossians saying he prays for them to be filled with the knowledge of God's will "in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians1:9). What this will of God is not defined in the words that follow, for what words follow seem to speak of the affect from being filled with the knowledge of that will of God, whatever it is. That will of God could be his revealed moral will as found in the Scriptures, but there are some parallels between what is said here in chapter one of Colossians and Ephesians chapter one that would indicate that the will of God in view is what God has determined for those who have believed.

First notice the similarities of how Paul addresses the Colossians and the Ephesians.

 Colossians 1:3-4:

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.

Ephesians 1:15-16:

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers

Next notice the similarities of how Paul prays for both the Colossians and Ephesians:

 Colossians 1:9:

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

Ephesians 1:17:

 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

The two references don't read exactly the same, but they both seek by prayer that the recipients obtain an understanding that must come from Divine revelation, for the wisdom, spiritual understanding, and revelation must all come from God. In Colossians, it is for the will of God, and in Ephesians, it is the knowledge of God. One way to know God is to know his will. But what is that will that God has revealed for us to know?

I believe what Paul says in Colossians 1:10 is what the affect of being filled with that knowledge will produce, being, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord,” etc. But the explanation of that will is stated in Ephesians, and it is not God's moral will for us, but what God has determined for those who believe.

Ephesians 1:18-19 says:

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

The word “will” is not used there, but it speaks of God's intentions for “us who believe.” We do read of some things there that he has planned for believers, such as the “hope of his calling,” the “glory of his inheritance,” and his “power” towards believers.

Ephesians does speak of the will of God toward those who believe:

Ephesians 1:5:

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Ephesians 1:9-12:

 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,  that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Colossians 1:19-20:

Colossians speaks of the reconciling of all things to God in Christ: For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

We are called to live in a manner that is becoming of that will of God, being what God has determined for “us who believe.”

And so, as Paul said to the Colossians:

Colossians 1:10-12:

that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

The Christian Prepper and coming affliction

The goal of the Christian is not to see how long he can physically survive in this world, but to live faithfully for God according to his revealed moral will and as an intentional minister of both reconciliation (of people to God through faith in Christ for salvation) and edification (building up) of the body of Christ (the "church") through the role(s) (or "gift") he/she is inclined/ enabled towards. 

The Christian who is more inclined towards DYI and survivalism and is more keenly aware of coming affliction (mostly from opposition from those who oppose God and the Bible, but also from cultural and social trends that can make life more difficult for all) will desire to seek to prepare physically to make enduring such affliction possible.

Such a desire and effort is not unwise, for it may provide in the time of trouble for both the preparer and others who have not prepared.  But such preparation should not be just to try to "endure to the end" physically.  The intent should always include the calling of the believer to fulfill his ministries of reconciliation and edification.  But it is natural to prepare for difficult times, and it isn't unwise to do so.  But it should not be the all-consuming aim of one's life, for there are some who devote their lives to prepping, and it almost seems that their goal in life is to make it to the end physically.  

When God pronounced judgment on Judea for her sins by the Babylonians, he said their life would be a prize to them.  Judgment was coming, and if they submitted to God's will, they would only get out with their lives.   Jeremiah the prophet speaks of their life being a prize to them, and he also spoke of some would be appointed to captivity and some the sword.   Revelation 13 speaks of this same thing in the context of the saints being given into the authority of the "Beast."  This understanding of how it will be is to be for the "patience of the saints."  One is to entrust their life to God.  If he wants to save you through it all, he will.  You can prepare, and you can run, if possible, but you must trust God with your life.  

8 "Now you shall say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him. 10 For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good," says the LORD. "It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire."'   Jeremiah 21:8-10

2 "Thus says the LORD: He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.' 3 Thus says the LORD: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.'"  Jeremiah 38:2-3

15 Meanwhile the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 "Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. 17 But I will deliver you in that day," says the LORD, "and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me," says the LORD.'"  Jeremiah 39:15-18

4 "Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the LORD. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go."'"  Jeremiah 45:4-5

1 Then the LORD said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth. 2 And it shall be, if they say to you, 'Where should we go?' then you shall tell them, 'Thus says the LORD:

"Such as are for death, to death;

And such as are for the sword, to the sword;

And such as are for the famine, to the famine;

And such as are for the captivity, to the captivity."' 

Jeremiah 15:1-2

So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God - to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, 8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. 9 If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!

10 If anyone is meant for captivity,

into captivity he will go.

If anyone is to be killed by the sword,

then by the sword he must be killed.

Revelation 13:6-10 NET Bible

2 Then the LORD answered me and said:  "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:2-4