Christ in our Communication

Welcome

Welcome and good morning. Thank you for being here at church. I hope you all had a blessed holiday and a time of rest with family and I hope that you found time to be grateful for the abundant gifts that we enjoy from Father God.

We pick back up and conclude our series on the book of Colossians this morning. As we pick up in chapter 4, we will look at a handful of verses about communication. Let’s read together in Colossian 4...

Colossians 4:2–6 CSB

2 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 word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, 4 so that I may make it known as I should. 5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

[prayer]

The book of Colossians is about the perfect fullness of Christ that we gain as the result of our salvation. Colossians 3:11 says that “Christ is in all and through all.”

Colossians 3:11 CSB

11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

That means that Christ in us can overcome all the things that we do and say to each other.

Let’s be honest, there are times that we offend each other and say things that we regret. We do this at work. We do it in our families. And we do it in the church, as well. This is our flesh acting out. However, we have to remember that Christ is in us and works through us all the time.

Verse 11 follows a section in chapter 3 that addresses Christians, those who are raised with Christ. It talks about setting our “minds on things above, not on earthly things” (v 1).

It also reminds us to put to death our old ways, our fleshly ways. Verses 8 and 9 address the ways that we offend with our mouths: “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language” as well as lying to each other. The passage reminds us to put our old selves behind us.

Even still, we hear about these things happening, even in the church. Yes, even in this church, conflict can raise its ugly head. It seems that, even as Christians, we can continue to do things and say things that are offensive to others.

At times we can even offend others while we are wanting and working hard for the best of the kingdom and for our church. In these times it can be all too easy to forget who we are in Christ and pick up the old ways of our flesh.

But the Apostle Paul reminds us that “Christ is all and in all.” Today I remind you that Christ is in you, if you have chosen him and made him the master of your life, you must remember this and continuously strive to keep his character within you.

So here’s the real question:

How do we, as Christians, who must work together in church service and ministry learn to work together and overcome our old selves?

For some of us, this is an occasional thing that we must work on. For others, it is the work of our lives to relate with others in a healthy and productive way that doesn’t tear people down, but build them up.

I have found that the bulk of the time, trouble can occur most often when there is a breakdown of communication or mismatched expectations.

Also, sometimes, this breakdown of communication is the result of an unwillingness on our part to make things right with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Keeping the sufficiency of Christ in mind, I can see a couple of suggestions in this passage.

I. Christ helps us Communicate with God

Of course prayer is the core for all that we do in our Christian lives. Prayer keeps us connected with God through Christ and allows us to center ourselves on the right things, the things above, rather than the wrong things, the things of the flesh.

Let’s read again in Colossians 4...

Colossians 4:2–4 CSB

2 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 word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, 4 so that I may make it known as I should.

Verse 2 is certainly a good verse for the weekend after Thanksgiving. However, I don’t want you to miss this.

1. Devote yourselves to prayer

There are times in ministry that we get so devoted to service and to our programs that we forget to devote ourselves to prayer.

Prayer is our connection to God. It is how we communicate with him. And when we are devoted to prayer, the presence of God can pervade all of our communications.

And as a reminder to us, prayer is not only something that we must do devotedly, we must also do it without ceasing.

The Christian Standard version says it this way...

1 Thessalonians 5:16–17 CSB

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly,

How is it that we so often lose track of these things? Rejoicing and prayer.

2. Stay alert in it (in prayer)

It’s because we forget to stay alert in prayer.

On the eve of Jesus’ death, the disciples failed to attend the Lord as he prayed...

Matthew 26:36–46 CSB

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. 44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

Aren’t we so much like them when we forget to remain in prayer, even as we do his work?

Pastor Kent Hughes reminds us that...

Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Fullness in Communication with God (v. 2)

Being devoted to prayer does not mean the mind goes into a devotional neutral while an easy “stream of consciousness” flows between us and God. Rather, a habit of prayer demands mental alertness to the dangers of life and the needs of those around us, an awareness which can at any moment launch us into fervent prayer.

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul reminded us to keep our prayer seasoned with thanksgiving.

3. and do it with thanksgiving

An attitude of thanksgiving can change much about our mental state. It helps us keep ourselves in perspective as well as those that we serve with and those whom we serve.

Prayer seasoned with thanksgiving is a natural part of our full communication with God. Prayer and...

Colossians and Philemon—The Supremacy of Christ Fullness in Communication with God (v. 2)

devotion is vigilant, and is also wonderfully positive because it is “thankful.” It remembers God’s goodness.

How full is your communication with God?

Colossians 2:9–10 CSB

9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

We can only be filled with Christ when we allow him to transform our communication through prayer. If you’re not full of Christ then go to the well and fill your cup until it is overflowing.

II. Christ helps us Communicate with Others

Not only does Christ help us to communicate with God through prayer, Christ helps us in our communication with others.

Colossians 4:5–6 CSB

5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

While this advice speaks specifically about outsiders, those who are not believers and not church members, it is also wise in dealing with church members as well.

1. Act wisely towards outsiders

How many churches have forgotten this? How many churches have forgotten to act wisely with church members as well?

I cannot begin to tell you how many people I have met that consider themselves survivors of, so called “church abuse” or “spiritual abuse”.

2. Make the most of the time

We waste a lot of time arguing and beating each other up over small things. And most of the time we are doing it because we love the church and we want the best for the kingdom of God.

Let’s stop arguing over small stuff and start working like the end is near. We don’t have time for internal arguments or running people off because we can’t get along or figure out how to treat our visitors and keep them around long enough to make this their home church.

The rest of these are vital for engagement with visitors and those not in the faith, but also for those in the church as well...

3. Let your speech always be gracious

Gracious speech should be, but often is not, a hallmark of Christianity. We should seek to be gracious, not only with each other but with visitors in the church and those we interact with in the public marketplace.

Gracious speech is a requirement of the Christian life because it displays so many of the Fruit of the Spirit, those characteristics of Christ that we have been talking about for the last several months: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control.

How many of those are demonstrated in our speech?

4. Let your speech be seasoned with salt

Paul also says “let your speech be seasoned with salt.” Why does he use that phrase? Salt can season and preserve. We have a saying in English, “take this with a grain of salt.” The saying means to have a skeptical attitude about what is being said. That is not what we’re talking about here.

We have to season our own speech to make sure that it is pure and prepared, ready to be received by others without misunderstanding.

Ephesians 4:29 CSB

29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

Additionally, we must speak every word as though someone is listening to them and measuring them and weighing them carefully.

5. Know how you should answer each person

Paul concluded this passage saying that these things would help us to “know how [we] should answer each person.”

As a pastor, I often field questions from church members and others about how to respond to this or that situation. Having answers for people is important. Peter told the believers in Jerusalem...

1 Peter 3:15 CSB

15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

We must know how to respond to people in a gentle way that encourages them rather than coming off as harsh or arrogant.

III. Paul’s Final Acknowledgements

To wrap up our series on Colossians, I want to read through Paul’s closing acknowledgements in verses 7 and following...

Colossians 4:7–18 CSB

7 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. 13 For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas send you greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home. 16 After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.” 18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Conclusion

In the end, the Christian life is all about our walk and our talk. We must find a way to harmonize both of those things with scripture. And, quite honestly, I’ve said it before, people are watching you. Nothing will cause people to question your witness as much as a careless life and careless speech.

Character, conduct, and conversation all work together to make for a powerful witness.