Paul’s Purposeful Prayer - A Prayer for the Local Church
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning Church!
It’s good to see each of you who made the journey out this morning. And I want to welcome all of those who may be joining us online as well!
We hope each of you have been staying warm these past few days with all the snow!
I want to start this morning by apologizing for not saying, “Thank You” last week for the very generous gift you all gave me! I got to the end of the service and it simply slipped my mind but I am very grateful and just want to say, “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity!
I also want to say, “Thank You” to Bro. Johnathon for filling in for me this past Wednesday night. My Boss retired this week and they had her a retirement party Wednesday evening in downtown Nashville so I wanted to attend and Bro. Johnathon’s willingness to fill in for me allowed me to do that. So, thank you for doing that for me!
Next, I want to make sure and announce that next Sunday, I have Bro. Jonas Taylor, our DOM, scheduled to fill in for me. I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this to anyone but my mom is going to have to have open heart surgery this coming Thursday and she will be in the hospital for probably 5-7 days afterwards, so I will be there next Sunday with her and therefore I’ve reached out to Bro. Jonas and asked if he could fill in for me and he ever so graciously volunteered to do so.
Alright, now that I’ve got these few announcements mentioned, this morning we’re going to get started in a new Book and I’m excited about it because as I was thinking back, I don’t know that I’ve preached that many messages out of this little Book.
If you will remember, last week we looked at the tiny little letter to Philemon and today we are going to get started in the other little Book that was more than likely delivered at the same time as the Book of Philemon and that’s the mighty little Book of Colossians.
Last week, we learned that Philemon was from Colosse and that the letter of Philemon was delivered by Philemon’s slave, Onesimus and a fellow laborer of Paul’s, a man by the name of Tychicus.
And if you will remember, we learned of the Church of Colosse by a man who was Paul’s companion in bonds by the name of Epaphras who was more than likely a leader, if not the the head Pastor of the church in Colosse.
As I was seeking God’s will on where to land this week this is where God sent me and as I mentioned, I’m excited for it!
John Phillips said of this little but mighty Book...
John Phillips — As brief as it is, this letter—little more, really, than a mere memo—ranks among the giants. No one ever wrote greater or grander things about the Lord Jesus than Paul does in this epistle.
And today we’re going to look at Paul’s introduction in the first 14 Verses which will set the tone for the rest of the Book. I’ve entitled today’s message…Paul’s Purposeful Prayer — A Prayer for the Local Church.
Paul’s Preface to the Church in Colosse — (Vs. 1-2)
Paul’s Preface to the Church in Colosse — (Vs. 1-2)
Although Paul had never met the Saints at the Church in Colosse, he had heard much about them from his dear friend Epaphras.
So, in his introduction, Paul begins with an introduction that would let the Saints in Colosse know where his calling originated from. There’s no doubt that the Saints knew who Paul was but to hear it straight from the horses mouth, as the old saying goes, gave this letter a little more weight.
He begins by acknowledging what his calling was and who he was called by. He was called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
*Apostle* — Messenger — One who is sent.
And then, he seals that calling by stating that his calling was...
“By the will of God” — John Phillips — “No one could promote him or demote him.”
“To the saints and faithful brethren” — Remember, Paul had never met the brothers and sisters in Christ at Colosse. He had only heard of their faithfulness.
The thought that crossed my mind as I read this was…I wonder what people say about NHMBC? Do they say…the Saints and Faithful Brothers and Sisters of New Home?
These Saints at Colosse were faithful to God; They were faithful to God’s Word; They were faithful in God’s work; And they were faithful in their fellowship!
Can the same be said of us?
I wonder what Paul would write of the Saints at New Home if he were to write us a letter?
This is something we should really put some thought in. What do we want the world to know of us? What do we want to be said of us? What kind of reflection of the Kingdom of God do we want to be known for?
And then, Paul finishes off his Preface with a greeting of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s Praise of the Church in Colosse — (Vs. 3-8)
Paul’s Praise of the Church in Colosse — (Vs. 3-8)
After the Preface, Paul then begins to sing the Praises of the Church in Colosse.
Vs. 3 — Praying Always
John Phillips — Paul never stopped praying. Probably the only One who prayed more than Paul was the Lord Himself. How that should speak to our own careless, prayerless ways! If the Son of God needed to pray, and if the great apostle needed to pray, how much more do we!
He told the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing and I believe if he where here today he’d say, “New Home…pray without ceasing!”
Be ever in constant communication with your Lord!
Notice what he says here.... “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
John Phillips — Our Lord Jesus Christ is God over all, blessed for evermore, eternal, uncreated, self-existing, Creator of the universe. Our Lord Jesus Christ stepped out of eternity into time to be born of the Virgin Mary, conceived of the Holy Ghost, to be both God and man. Our Lord Jesus Christ “went about doing good.” He spoke infallibly and inerrantly, as no man ever spoke. He walked upon the waves and stilled the storm. He fed the hungry multitudes with a little lad’s lunch and turned water into wine. He cleansed the leper and healed the sick. He cast out evil spirits and raised the dead. Our Lord Jesus Christ died an atoning death. He was buried. He rose again in triumph and ascended bodily into heaven. He is now seated in Glory at the right hand of the Majesty on high, where He ministers as our Advocate with the Father and as our great, high Priest. Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back, first to rapture the church and then to rule the world. Praise God for “our Lord Jesus Christ”!
Vs. 4-5 — Faith, Hope & Love
Chuck Swindoll — Though Paul didn’t know the Colossians personally, he knew what all believers need: growth and strength in what theologians often call the “theological virtues” of faith, love, and hope. These three pillars of the Christian life are fundamental, and Paul expresses his thankfulness to God that the Colossians are not lacking in these essentials.
Faith looks back to the anchor of salvation—Jesus Christ’s person and work. Love looks around, building up the body of Christ through selfless service toward one another by the power of the Spirit. Hope looks ahead to the unalterable promise of God the Father, that He will one day usher us into His presence. These inseparable theological virtues form the bedrock upon which everything else in the Christian life rests. When our lives are anchored by faith in Jesus Christ, a love for God and others comes naturally, resulting in harmony and unity. Both faith and love point to and are strengthened by a confident hope that will get us through the recurring trials and struggles of life.
Vs. 6-8 — The Coming of the Gospel and the Change that accompanies it.
First, there’s the Hearing of the Gospel — “5b whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7a As ye also learned of Epaphras”
I want to take a second here and make sure we don’t miss the action of the gospel that takes place here.
First, Paul says in Verse 5 there, “ye heard the gospel.”
Then, he says in Verse 6, “which is come unto you, as it is in all the world.”
And then he says there, “since the day ye heard of it” and then finally in the beginning of Verse 7 there we see how they heard about the gospel… “as ye learned of Epaphras.”
Now, listen Church. It’s not good enough to simply know the gospel, we have to share the gospel!
The Bible says in...
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We have been entrusted with the greatest weapon, the greatest tool this world has ever seen!
And that’s the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ!
But that tool, that great weapon against the forces of darkness, only does us any good if we use it!
When wielded correctly, it has the power to change the world but if not wielded at all it cannot be effective!
This is a point we need to make sure we don’t miss here! If we want to be an effective Church for the Lord Jesus Christ; if we want to be a powerful Church for the Kingdom of God, then we MUST, MUST, get good at sharing the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world!
The Church at Colosse had heard the word, it had changed their lives, and they in turned used it to change the lives of others they came into contact with!
Look what the Bible says here in...
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.
8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
The Good news of Jesus Christ has the power to change!
If you are a born again believer this morning, you once heard the good news; that good news changed you; you put off the old man and put on the new; and now, it’s your turn to share that good news with someone else in need in order that it might change their lives as well!
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest weapon on this side of eternity!
Oh, these Presidents can threaten with their man made military weapons of mass destruction but praise God, you give me an army men and women sold out for the cause of Christ, armed only with the gospel of our Lord and Savior and there would be no need for military weapons because man would stop seeking his own ideas, his own agendas and he would care for the things of others!
He’d learn to forgive. He’d learn to love. He’d learn to be content. And this world would be much better off, Amen!
Faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love!
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Dear friend, we need more love in the world today but one can’t truly know what love is until they have experienced the almighty, unending love of God shed abroad through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ!
Then and only then, can man know what true love is!
The gospel is the avenue by which we introduce men to God’s love!
And it has the power to save! It has the power to transform! It’s has the power to change a man from the inside out!
And Paul says here, that this Church in Colosse had a love for those around them.
8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
They wanted to see lives changed. They wanted to see the lost come to know the Lord. They had a mission to share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as they could with the time God granted them on this side of eternity!
We would do well to take a note from the Colossian Church this morning.
I don’t know about you but I’d love nothing more than to be known as a soul winning Church, Amen!
An army of gospel assassins! Our aim is not your head but your heart!
Someone once told their pastor one day as they walked out the back door, “Pastor you sure did step on my toes this morning.” The Pastor calmly replied, “I missed my mark then. I was aiming for your heart!”
That should be our mark this morning! To see the hearts of men changed for all eternity! Amen!
After his Preface, Paul sings the Praises of the Church in Colosse. Then, he finishes by Praying for the Church in Colosse in Vs. 9-14.
Paul’s Prayer for the Church in Colosse — (Vs. 9-14)
Paul’s Prayer for the Church in Colosse — (Vs. 9-14)
It’s a Prayer for Provision — (Vs. 9)
It’s a Prayer for Pleasing & Production — (Vs. 10)
It’s a Prayer for Power — (Vs. 11a)
It’s a Prayer for Patience & Positivity — (Vs. 11b-12a)
It’s a Prayer for Perception — (Vs. 12b-14)
