The Faithful Life NKL Pt. 9

Scripture Reading: Luke 7:24-28

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**Good morning....Turn to text, Col. 4:2

Recap

NKL SERIES (CLOSING TODAY)

LAST WEEK = CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLD…RELATIONSHIPS that REFLECT CHRIST

ALL RELATIONSHIPS = IMPACTED…

ALL BELIEVERS are UNDER CHRIST’S (HIGHER) AUTHORITY…TREAT VULNERABLE PROPERLY.

So, Today we are going to go through Paul’s closing remarks and personal addresses and we will see the implications that they hold for us as believers today.

Read text and pray!!

Intro:

DO YOU EVER DESIRE to be FAMOUS? OR wish YOU WERE?

NOT EVERYONE DOES, BUT FOR SOME IT IS A REAL STRUGGLE

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CHURCH’S MISSION = SUSTAINED…NOT by FEW that are FAMOUS…BUT MILLIONS who are FAITHFUL...

CHRIST is the SUSTAINER…YET, HE uses ORDINARY, BUT FAITHFUL PEOPLE for HIS CAUSE.

MISSIONARIES

MEAL & CAREGIVERS

INTERCESSORS

SOUND & MEDIA MINISTRIES

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS/YOUTH GROUP LEADERS

PARENTS, PRAYING WITH THEIR KIDS

PROPERTY UPKEEP & MAINTENANCE.

BIBLE TRANSLATORS (FOREIGN LANGUAGES)

ETC.

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EVERYONE KNOWS PAUL, BUT FEW KNOW TYCHICUS, EPAPHRAS, ETC.

PAUL DIDN’T DO IT ALONE!

TRAVELING COMPANIONS, LOCAL ELDERS, FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS, ETC.

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AS BELIEVERS, LET’S ASPIRE TO BE FAITHFUL, RATHER THAN FAMOUS.

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Text:

PAUL CONCLUDES EXHORTATIONS

THEN MOVES TO PERSONAL RECOGNITIONS...

EXHORTATION (FOR ALL OF US)

Colossians 4:2–18 (ESV)

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

CONTINUE STEADFASTLY = GK PRESENT IMPERATIVE

OBEYING OVER TIME.

It has the SENSE of “PERSEVERE DEVOTEDLY” - persevering to the point of devotion.

“busy oneself with, be busily engaged in, be devoted to” (BDAG)

“to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty” (Louw-Nida)

WORD MOST FREQUENTLY APPLIES to PERSEVERING in PRAYER!

DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN “PRAY INTENSELY” BUT in your PRAYERS, DON’T GIVE UP.

DON’T WORRY IF YOU “CAN’T PRAY LIKE SO & SO”

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Concerning prayer: Being watchful (in it):

DESCRIBES/CHARACTERIZES our PRAYERS, AGAIN a CONTINUAL THING.

“to be in constant readiness, be on the alert” (BDAG)… “be wide awake about it [prayer]” (BDAG)

FREQUENTLY USED for AWAITING CHRIST’S RETURN (PARABLES)

Literally: “stay awake”, BUT NOT USED LITERALLY in this CONTEXT...

DOUG MOO:

Colossians and Philemon (D. Exhortation to Prayer and Christian Witness (4:2–6))

What the “watching” believers are to do in these texts is not watch for Christ’s return, but watch their own life in light of the return of Christ. Believers need constantly to be “awake” to the nature of the times they live in—the “last days” of eschatological “fulfillment without consummation”—and to orient their lives accordingly

ESSENTIALLY: STATE of READINESS for the KING who’s COMING!

FRIEND, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED CHRIST’S RETURN THIS WEEK?

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IN ALL THIS, we are to BE THANKFUL

COMMON THEME - COLOSSIANS

CONSIDER THEME of MESSAGE SERIES.... NKL....

NEW KINGDOM by GRACE....NOT LEGALISM

CHRIST in US...HOPE of GLORY

NEW LIFE in CHRIST ON EARTH

***REASONS TO BE THANKFUL!.....ESP. in PRAYER

As Christians, we know that because God was faithful to save us from our sin in the past, that he will be faithful to us in the future.....and that in our prayers, even if we don’t receive the answer we are looking for, we can trust His perfect plan and His timing...... knowing that he is a faithful God and for this we can be thankful.

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AFTER DESCRIBING REGULAR PRAYERS, PAUL MAKES SPECIFIC REQUEST:

3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

GOD = SOVEREIGN…USES HIS GOSPEL to TRANSFORM LIVES… HE WILL OPEN DOORS.

PAUL’S REQUESTS:

GOSPEL OPPORTUNITIES

GOSPEL CLARITY

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CONSIDER PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE HERE!!

PAUL SAYS HE’S IN PRISON…GK LITERALLY “I AM BOUND/TIED UP/IN CHAINS

(DID WE FORGET HE’S IMPRISONED THE LAST TWO MONTHS AS WE’VE GONE THROUGH THIS SERIES)

END of PAUL’S LIFE: IMPRISONED 2X

1. HOUSE ARREST....chained to PRISON GUARD.

(TRADITIONALLY BELIEVED) PERIOD OF FREEDOM, FEW YEARS

2. FINAL IMPRISONMENT & DEATH UNDER EMPEROR NERO.

CAN’T BE 100% SURE WHAT his IMPRISONMENT LOOKED LIKE...

BUT, WE KNOW HE WASN’T FREE

HIS PRAYER- NOT FREEDOM, BUT GOSPEL OPPORTUNITIES & CLARITY!!

IMAGINE PRISON GUARD (POSSIBLY CHAINED TO PAUL) = CAPTIVE SITUATION...

RIDING W/ SELAH YESTERDAY in CAR - HOSTAGE SITUATION

How many of us would have complained the whole time?

HIS HOPE - GOSPEL isn’t BOUND…LET IT GO FORTH FROM MY LIFE.

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***V3 - DECLARE the MYSTERY of CHRIST

(V4) REQUEST (GOSPEL CLARITY) “Make it clear” -

“to cause to become known, disclose, show, make known” (BDAG)....

PAUL’S REQUEST - REVEAL THE MYSTERY.... CHRIST, & CHRIST in YOU, HOPE of GLORY (1:26, 3:4)

ALL PRAY - GOD’S WORD GO FORTH in OUR LIVES & CHURCH

FOR CHRIST TO NO LONGER BE A MYSTERY

FOR ALL of US & ME (PASTOR) - CLARITY

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PAUL TRANSITIONS…FROM his MINISTRY, to THEIR WITNESS

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

WALK is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE as well…something that is commanded that should CONTINUALLY CHARACTERIZE our LIVES, walking in wisdom towards outsiders...

***BALANCE, “IN THIS WORLD”.... “NOT OF THIS WORLD”

HERE GEOGRAPHICALLY (MUST MEET PEOPLE) BUT DIFFERENT.

BE WISE WITH HOW YOU LIVE, REPRESENT CHRIST WELL!!

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(V5) IN OUR WALK - MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE TIME

Literally redemption idea--“buying up time”

NOT “TIME MANAGEMENT” (ALTHOUGH THIS is GOOD)

ALL of US HAVE LIMITED TIME.

WE’RE GOING TO DIE

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN

USE OPPORTUNITIES GOD GIVES to SPREAD GOSPEL...

FOR THOSE AROUND US, WHAT EVIDENCE INDICTS US REGARDING OUR FAITH?

NOT ALL CALLED AS EVANGELISTS, BUT CALLED TO BE A LIGHT…& SHARE GOOD NEWS.

PARABLE of the TALENTS…BURYING TALENT (MASTER is DELAYED)…USE OPPORTUNITIES WELL.

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6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

SEASONED with SALT speaks of an UPLIFTING nature of COMMUNICATION

KNOWING ANSWER… (1 PET. 3:15)

ALL BELIEVERS ARE MANDATED TO KNOW THEIR FAITH WELL ENOUGH TO SHARE IT IF SOMEONE ASKS

DON’T NEED TO KNOW ALL THE SCIENTIFIC & PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENTS, ETC…BUT MUST KNOW THE FAITH YOU HOLD.

& MUST BE DONE GRACIOUSLY & KINDLY! (SEASONED W/ SALT)

CAN YOU DO THIS?

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CONSIDERING PAUL’S COMMENTS....

OPEN DOOR

GOSPEL CLARITY

PREPARED for CONVERSATION

1. PRAY AS A CHURCH BODY - GOD GIVE US GOD-OPPORTUNITIES

2. LIVE an ATTRACTIVE LIFE, before NONBELIEVERS...

MAKE THEM QUESTION their UNBELIEF.

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PERSONAL RECOGNITIONS:

7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

Beloved brother....faithful minister…and fellow servant/slave…= WOW!

8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,

9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

TYCHICUS:

FROM ASIA MINOR (TURKEY)

JOINED PAUL ON WAY TO JERUSALEM (3RD MISSIONARY JOURNEY)

LETTER CARRIER! (COLOSSIANS, EPHESIANS....MAYBE 2ND. COR.)

ENTRUSTED to EXPOUND CONTENTS

NO USPS, UPS, WALMART DELIVERY

ONESIMUS:

PHILEMON’S (BOOK) SLAVE/SERVANT

COURIERS/LETTER CARRIERS.... AMAZING MINISTRY!

GOD SOVEREIGNLY PRESERVES HIS WORD...

BUT CONSIDER IF TYCHICUS’ MISSION FAILED....PRESERVATION OF NT. SCRIPTURES BEGAN W/ MEN LIKE THIS!

PAUL LIKELY WRITING FROM ROME. (1000 MILES STRAIGHT AWAY FROM COLOSSAE)

HOW HIGHLY WAS THIS LETTER VALUED…TRAVELING THAT FAR, TOUGH CONDITIONS, ETC. TO DELIVER THREE LETTERS.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS SPEAK TO HOW WE SHOULD VALUE SCRIPTURE!…WE HAVE 27 BOOKS in NT... THEY DELIVERED 3 (LITTLE ONES!)

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10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),

MARK had BEEN ALIENATED from PAUL…RECONCILIATION HAPPENED.

11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

JESUS = POPULAR NAME (1ST CENTURY)…

MEN OF CIRCUMCISION = THESE MEN WERE JEWS.

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12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.

EPAPHRAS - HAD TAKEN THE GOSPEL TO COLOSSAE & STARTED CHURCH.

PRAYING FOR THEM! SHEPHERDING CARE...

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14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

LUKE = AUTHOR OF GOSPEL & ACTS…FELLOW TRAVELER W/ PAUL.

DEMAS (ACCORDING to 2 TIM.) FELL AWAY ---LOVE FOR THIS WORLD, DESERTED PAUL.

Matt. 16:25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Persecution under Nero??…KNEW PAUL, ABANDONED HIM.

GUARD AGAINST A LOVE FOR THIS WORLD.

15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

SHARED LETTER READING = RARE...

SHOWS UNIVERSAL APPLICATION & NATURE of PAUL’S LETTERS...

WRITTEN TO COLOSSAE, LAODICEA, & US!!

17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

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Big Idea

The Christian’s focus in life should be faithful obedience to the opportunities and responsibilities God puts before us, whether great or small, knowing that He sees.

MANY FAMOUS PEOPLE in CHURCH HISTORY & EARLY CHURCH, IN SCRIPTURE

WANT TO MEET ALL OF THEM: MOSES, DAVID, ELIJAH, DANIEL, PETER, JOHN, PAUL, ETC.

BUT WHAT ABOUT TYCHICUS, ONESIMUS, ARISTARCHUS, JESUS (CALLED JUSTUS), EPAPHRAS, ARCHIPPUS

& THE COUNTLESS WHO’S LIVES AREN’T WRITTEN DOWN IN SCRIPTURE, OR A BOOK.

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Gospel:

REMINDER: NAME BEING WRITTEN DOWN IN LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN NAME IN LIGHTS, IN A BOOK, OR EVEN IN PAGES OF SCRIPTURE.

CHRIST OFFERS TO WRITE OUR NAME, IF WE BELIEVE ON HIM IN FAITH & ARE SAVED FROM OUR SIN...

HE WENT to the CROSS for US.

IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN THERE TODAY??

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For those who are saved:

I don’t know what kind of life and ministry you have been called to…I don’t know what gifts God has given to you… but I would challenge you to aspire to be like Tychicus and those who aren’t typically remembered.

A lot of people want the glory that comes with popularity, but a lot of times God desires for us to be meek, humble background servants that strengthen the cause of Christ.

Takeaways:

LIVES DEVOTED TO PRAYER… (CONSISTENT PRAYER)

W/ THANKSGIVING

PRAY FOR GOSPEL OPPORTUNITIES & GOSPEL CLARITY! FOR ME & ALL OF US.

NEED TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE FAITH

DON’T NEED ALL THE ANSWERS.

KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE

SHARE W/ GENTLENESS & KINDNESS…SEASONED W/ SALT.

USING OUR TIME & OPPORTUNITIES WISELY…AS THEY ARE LIMITED...

BE FAITHFUL WHERE GOD HAS CALLED YOU. & ASPIRE TO FAITHFULNESS

TO CHRIST

TO FAMILY

TO CHURCH

TO WORK

EVERY BELIEVER MATTERS TO GOD. (NO NEED TO BE FAMOUS)

YOUR NAME is IN GOD’S BOOK… (HE KEEPS THE BEST BOOKS)

JESUS SAID GIVING WATER TO A PROPHET WOULD HAVE A REWARD...

YOUR SERVICE TO CHRIST MATTERS, EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE CARES OR SEES.

YOUR NAME might not be WRITTEN IN LIGHTS…BUT it is WRITTEN in GLORY...

CONSIDER HOW JESUS HUMBLED HIMSELF THOUGH HE WAS THE KING OF KINGS...

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CLOSE: CHORUS LYRICS OF “ONLY JESUS” BY CASTING CROWNS

And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy,

I don’t care if they remember me,

Only Jesus

And I, I’ve only got one life to live,

I’ll let every second point to Him,

Only Jesus

***Close in prayer