THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS
(Living the Extraordinary Life - January 8, 2023)
Series Big Idea: "Humanity is only complete in God the Son"
Sermon Big Idea: “Believers should pray with spiritual diligence “
Key Scripture (Colossians 4:2-6)
“The important question is not how much work is being done but how much Jesus is doing through you. Look up; God’s ceiling is unlimited. Learn to look on Jesus, and more and more you will find that Jesus is directing your wondering look toward the Holy Spirit.” That is a quote from Corrie Ten Boom, who with her family helped save nearly 800 Jew's lives in the Nazi Holocaust during WWII. She is the author of the world-famous book “The Hiding Place” which details that part of her family's life. Christ radically changed Corrie's life when she met Him, and He used her mightily for His glory.
Last week as we continued our journey through the Book of Colossians, we discovered that Christ makes some drastic changes in our lives when we choose to follow Him. There is nothing left untouched in our lives when we come to Him for salvation. He changes our hearts, habits, home, and work. Let's look at the next passage of Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
(Colossians 4:2-6)
Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, 4 so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak. 5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6 Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
Paul reminded these believers that they are identified with an amazing Christ. He has called all believers (ordinary people) to live in a way that is completely opposite of the world. He has called believers to live extraordinarily! How can a believer do this? Is there any help? Yes1 Paul presented two principles that believers everywhere and for all time should follow if they are to make the most of this extraordinary life they have in Christ.
1. Believers are to devote themselves to Prayer
Paul directed this principle to several congregations he influenced (Romans 12:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18). As he urged believers to pray for one another, he asked for prayer for himself, especially that he would share the gospel clearly and boldly (Ephesians 6:19-20).
When you pray, you should be diligent. Devote means to "work hard at, stick with, or pay constant attention to." Prayer is not just something a Christian can do in times of trouble. If Christians are going to be able to handle the constant pressures of a broken and unfriendly world, they need to be persistent in prayer.
Watchful means "stay awake", but it also means to be spiritually aware. Peter told his readers to "be self-controlled and alert" in the same way. The devil, who is your enemy, roams around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan wants to destroy believers, so they need to be on guard. Christians are warned to be careful in Colossians because false teachers want to trick them. Believers need to be aware of the evil forces that are out to get them.
2. Believers are to act wisely toward Outsiders
Paul had a special calling as an apostle to the Gentiles. His missionary work put him in prison, where he wrote this letter. He urged all believers to share the gospel in their communities. Even in a harsh atmosphere and area, they were to open communication channels by how they lived. They were to answer intelligently and gracefully when those opportunities opened.4 Listen to what the Apostle Peter said to the Jews concerning this same idea. Note that although Peter was talking to Jews here, the idea applies to all Christians for all time. The Church has not replaced Israel, but the Church does have the same mission to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
(1 Peter 2:9-12)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.
Peter probably thought about what happened when the church in Jerusalem began as he wrote these words. While those who believed were devoted to the apostle's teaching and the fellowship (Acts 2:42), and while they were praising God, those who didn't believe thought well of them. As they looked at their good works, the Holy Spirit showed those who didn't believe that they were sinners, and every day the Lord added to the Church those who were being saved (Acts 2:47).
Conclusion:
Christians are members of the Church, which is Christ's body. We should all consider that it is our individual and cooperate responsibility to spread the message of salvation to the world. It is not just a responsibility but a great privilege. To be the witnesses that God wants us to be in the world, especially when we get together as the Church, we must be a vibrant, changed community that shows the world how holy God is.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
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