Untitled Sermon (2)

Rise, let us go from here, Col 4:2-6

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Intro: In 2nd Kings chapter 7, there is the story of four men who had leprosy. Israel is under the judgment of God because a man called Jeroboam splits Israel and takes 10 of the northern tribes. 1/ Jeroboam sets up two golden calves. A. One in the land of Dan B. One in the land of Bethel. The Assyrians come and encircle them at Samaria and shut them off. 1/ Nothing can come in and nothing can go out, A. and the people begin to starve, 2 Kings 6:25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. 2/ If you think that is bad, then hold on, 2 Kings 6:26-29 Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!" 27 And he said, "If the Lord will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?" 28 And the king asked her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. ' 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, 'Give your son, that we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son." Now, there are also four lepers, 2 Kings 7:3-5 Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die."

But when the lepers get to the camp of the Syrians, 2 Kings 7:5-8 So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. 6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us." 7 So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. So, the lepers find food, drink, silver, gold and all kinds of clothes, 1/ and they begin to take all of that and hide it. A. But then this is said, 2 Kings 7:9-10 Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. (Their conscience speaks) This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household." The lesson here is this, 1/ what are we doing with what God has given us. A. everything we have, we have because God gave it to us whither, we recognise Him or not. 2/ So what are we doing with what we have is the question Paul asks of the church in Colossi. The church of Colossians was a church struggling with different beliefs within the church. 1. One belief was a legalism that came out of Judaism and Gnosticism, 1/ it said that Jesus was not really a person but was a spirit. 2/ it taught that Jesus was not God but a little lower than God. 3/ Judaism, with a touch of eastern spiritualism just brought this belief that was heresy. 2. Now watch to the words of Paul in Col 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He isthe beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 1/ Four times Paul writes, HE IS 3. Then Paul gives a word to mature believers in vs. 28, Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 1/ Paul is saying, every true believer has a responsibility to grow up and be mature in the faith. A. to know exactly who Jesus is. A/ to know who His is and to know who we are, B/ and to know our responsibility to warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, 4. In chapter 3 of Colossians, Paul gives us what we need to live for Christ, 1/ Paul asks, can we be Christ like and be sexually impure? 2/ can we be Christ like and be consumed with possessions? 3/ can we be Christ like and be full of anger and wrath? 4/ can we be Christ like and be full of malice and profanity? A. The answer to all of that is, NO 5/ can we be Christ like and be bias or against someone’s colour? 6/ can we be Christ like and mistreat our spouse? A. Again, the answer to all of that is, NO And then you come to Col 4:2 1/ Paul asks the church to do two things so that we can become mature and more like Christ in our lives, (look at what Paul says) I. Continue steadfastly in prayer, Colossians 4 vs. 2, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Intro: Let me show you what that looks like because we cannot get up in the morning and come in here and pray all day every day. 1/ we all have a life to lead and a life outside of church. Story: Brother Lawrence was French monk who fought in the 30-year war and was so disgusted by the blood shed that he ran to God and became a monk. He became a cook; but listen to what he wrote The time of business does not differ from the time of prayer. In the noise and the clatter in my kitchen while serving persons who are calling for different things. I process God in tranquillity as if I were on my knees. 1/ in the busyness of life this little French monk had was in a continual conversation with God. 2/ In his daily routines, in his mind he would pray and have conversations with God. 1. Notice with me that word, watchful in vs. 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful 1/ being watchful has the idea of observing, A. as we see the news, observe someone’s life, we watch and pray. 2/ Prayer is not our mobile phone to Heaven call in requests we might have. A. It is the field phone of a soldier as he observes the enemy on the front line of battle. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful 3/ Prayer is the link between the soldier and headquarters that has unlimited firepower. 2. Notice also vs. 2 the word, thanksgiving, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 1/ that is a gratefulness A. being continually grateful on how good God is to us. 2/ read the words of Paul and you’ll see him constantly thanking God. A. we have sooo much to be grateful for, B. God is sooo good to us, A/ this time last year stc did not have a house, a car and no way to get those things. B/ look at how God has preserved this church, a) no pastor b) in some very difficult years, yet, still here. 3. Not only praying continually while watching with thanksgiving, but Col 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, 1/ Paul is asking for prayer for himself, those with him A. and for a door to be open for the word, 2/ Paul is in prison at this time, A. but he does not ask to get out, B. He does not ask for a better bed or better food, A/ but he asks for prayer so that Col 4:3 an open door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

C. Question, what does Paul mean by the mystery of Christ? A/ the gospel is a mystery none of us can fully understand until we get to Heaven when it will all be revealed. 3/ None of us in here can fully understand the mystery of Christ A. none of us can understand how Christ, in a moment of life confronts us with truth and brought us to salvation. A/ most people believe they can earn salvation 4/ None of us can explain how the sovereignty of God and the free will of man co-exist and plays out for Gods purpose. A. that’s a mystery. 5/ Paul never said, I sat at the feet of Gamaliel and I’m such a great educated person and that’s why I have all this success in ministry. A. but yet, many rely on their education, their charisma, what a great person they are. B. It’s a mystery why God uses any of us at all. 6/ Paul says, it is God who opens the door for me to speak, Col 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, A. so pray that God would open doors for me and for you to speak to people about Him. 4. And then Paul says, Col 4:3 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. 1/ pray that when I speak and when you speak, that we speak with clarity. A. so that the person will have heard the truth, B. so that they may go and at least know what they heard. II. Living on mission, Intro: Taking all of that, Col 4:2-4 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 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. 1/ let me give you some things to pray for in 2023 1. Pray that the STC family, will actively look for opportunities to speak out, invite and witness to people we come into contact with during the week. A. not just me, you. A/ pray that that God may open to us a door for the word 2. Pray for church revitalization, (a freshness & a renewing) 1/ there are many churches that are in a weak position and the easiest thing to do is just give up and let it die, A. But let me give you a word from Rev 3:2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, A/ that’s a great word for church revitalization Closing: There are two main reasons people do not pray. 1/ One is we are just not that concerned, A. people always do what is important to them. A/ we do not do what we are not concerned about. 2/ The second reason is over confidence. A. I do not need to do it; God will use someone else. A/ and we miss what God has for us. III. Ready to share the gospel, Col 4:5 Conduct yourselves 1. now stop and think, who is Paul writing this too? 1/ He is writing to Christians, to Christ followers. A. and Paul is saying, walk in such a way that is vs. 5 wisely toward outsiders, B. Outsiders are those people who do not believe, the lost. 2/ But why, conduct ourselves wisely toward outsiders? A. so that the outsiders may hear the gospel and by our conduct, believe the gospel. 2. now watch, vs. 5again, making the best use of the time. Illustration: This time last year I was here in Tenerife. 1/ Prior to me coming over I heard of one of our church members sons diagnosed with cancer. By the time I got back to the UK, He was already in a hospice and in the last weeks of his life. 1/ He was born Nigel but for 14 to 15 years he had self-identified as a woman called Jackie. I know mom and Dad, John and June Bate. 1/ John was 90 and June is not far behind John. 2/ They had adopted two children later in life. 3/ For years, they have been praying for their unsaved children. A. especially Nigel who they called Jackie. As I said, Nigel for the last 15 years or so had been living as Jackie (identifying as a woman) 1/ When I met him, I was introduced to him as Jackie. 2/ And from time-to-time Jackie would come to church, A. Special days such as Mother’s Day or Christmas services. B. Whenever I met Jackie, Jackie heard the gospel. 3/ I always made an effort to make Jackie, welcome, A. to be nice, to be kind, because Jackie did not know Christ. And when I say identifying as a woman I mean, identifying as a woman. 1/ dresses, skirts, wigs, high heels, high pitched voice and mannerisms. 2/ Jackie has gone through hormone drugs and medical operations. This situation had been very hard for mom and dad, 1/ they have prayed and tried their best. 2/ Jackie has always been a trial, A. Names, pro nouns, have all been very much land mines. B. constantly walking on egg shells whenever, Jackie came to visit. Well Jackie was diagnosed with cancer in November 2021, 1/ taken in to hospital and diagnosed with just months to live, A. Jackie was moved to a hospice. I got a call telling me that Jackie would like to talk to me. 1/ and I said I would, I called the hospice to make an appointment to get in. A. I visited on Friday the 21st of January last year. As I walked into the hospice and made my way into the room, 1/ I was not going there to unravel a person’s life, 2/ I was not going to sooth conscience of a person so that they could die well. A. I wanted to ask the question, where do you stand with God? 3/ but also on my mind I’m aware, A. If I upset them, the family, the nurses, and the resident chaplain’s wont appreciate it. For 55 minutes we sat and talked, 1/ Over the years Jackie had dipped in and out of church looking for acceptance. A/ visiting every church in London. B/ talking to anyone with a dog collar. Jackie talked and then Jackie said, 1/ I know you will tell me the truth, where do I stand with God? I said, you know of Jesus here (head knowledge) 1/ but you do not know Jesus here (as I pointed to my heart) We talked about the grace of God, the love of God, and the gift of salvation. 1. We talked about what a true Christ follower is, A. surrendering your life and following. B. Not dipping in and out of church, A/ but a real and constant surrendered life. Jackie said, But it’s too late for me, I don’t have time. 1/ That’s when I got to talk about a bad man on cross. A. How the thief on the cross came to faith in the closing hours of his life. B. He never went to church, C. He was never baptised, D. He never knew about the doctrine of salvation, A/ but right there on the cross he was converted to faith. I said, shall we pray, why don’t you just pray and ask God for what you need? 1/ the answer came back yes, and you can call me Nigel. A. I prayed B. Nigel prayed (acknowledging his mistakes and his trust in Jesus) 2/ And I got to sit and have a front row seat as I watched this poor wretched sinner, come to faith in Jesus. A. I got to sit and witness one of the greatest outpourings of God’s grace I have ever seen. There’s a Matt Redman song that goes, 1/ when the music fades and all is stripped away… A. I will never sing that song the same way again. Because what was in the bed, 1/ was a human being, the wig was gone the pretence was gone. 2/ just a cancer ridden, self-mutilated, bald man, a sinner. I thought to myself, 1/ is this the way God sees us without the righteousness of Christ? Two days later, Nigel was unresponsive and on Wednesday morning Nigel passed away. On Wednesday the 15th Of February I had the privilege of doing the funeral of Nigel. 1/ There were people there and people watching on line. A/ A lot of his friends in the LGBQ community were watching. Loved ones, people you meet and share your faith with may never come to Christ, 1/ But some will, like Nigel, 2/ I hadn’t seen Nigel in 4 years prior to the call, Col 4:5-6 So, Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Conclusion: Loved ones, we have been given the greatest story ever told. How a God created us, gave us free will. 1/ but man rejected Him and chose a lie, chose separation from God. But God himself, the second person of the Trinity, 1/ wrapped Himself in humanity 2/ Lived a perfect life A. but man rejected Him and nailed him to a cross, 3/ Only for Him to conquer death so that we may have eternal life with God the Father. Now, let me say this and then I’m done: Do you realise that all these people down stairs, who watch us come to church, 1/ do you realise that they actually believe, that we believe, what we say we believe? 1/ they take us at our word, A. so be sweet, be nice, Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, What do we do with all that God has given us? John 14:31 as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

STC, 15th January Scripture reading: Col 4:2-5 Title Rise, let us go from here, Col 4:2-5 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 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. 5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 2 Kings 6:25-29 2 Kings 7:3-10 Col 1:15-20, 28 I. Continue steadfastly in prayer, Colossians 4 vs. 2-4 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 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.

II. Living on mission, Col 4:2-4 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 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.

III. Ready to share the gospel, Col 4:5-6 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. John 14:31