Colossians 4:2-18

The Work and Workers of God- a pursuit of Redeeming the time

In today’s text, we’re going to be discussing what prayer is and isn’t, the reality of what ministry is and isn’t- and the heart posture that God requires behind both prayer and ministry. Spoiler alert- it’s not supposed to be a check box. But so often we can slowly drift into forgetfullness. Forgetfullness of what God has done- in the historical account of scripture, in the lives of others, even our own lives.

So again- today will be about:

What prayer is and isn’t

The realities of ministry

Our hearts in the midst of that- Apathy or intentionality in the routine?

If you all could pray for me- i developed this sermon while fighting a nasty cold, had a lot of cold medicine running through my body- so pray that the Lord uses it. I joking told my wife Rae that if i consume enough redbull, it’ll kill the virus. She showed me how efficient women are at multitasking, by scoffing, rolling her eyes, and saying “yea right” all at the same time.

but i got her on a technicality, because technically if i drank enough redbull and died, technically it would also kill the virus. So i won.

Read Verses 2-18

Prayer

Read Verse 2

Why does God desire us to pray? Did i need grace’s help when forming a mother’s day gift for Rae? No, but as she reached out and grabbed those beads for the bracelet, she became a part of the work i had already planned to do.

And as she gets older, and participates more in the work i plan to do, she is able to discover and experience my heart for her and my wife in a personal way, that solidifies her trust in my love for my family.

Prayer is not about getting my will done, or even your will done- it’s the about wanting our Heavenly Father’s will done, and wanting to participate in the work He desires to do.

Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””

Prayer does not need to be eloquent or full of spiritual words to be heard by God.

Matthew 6:5–8 ““And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Prayer is not meant to just be a one way letter via the spiritual post office- where you real quick send your requests out and then drop it in the mailbox and take off, it’s meant to be a dialogue- a communion between you and the Father.

Be vigilant in prayer

Vigilance in prayer- Be alert/intentional in your conversations with God, reminding yourselves of the endless reasons to be thankful- and be watchful knowing that He will answer you!

Did you know there’s nowhere in scripture that teaches you there are certain things you shouldn’t talk to God about? “Oh well it’s not that big of a deal so God probably won’t have anything for me if i bring it to Him.”

Those are the kind’ve thoughts that live rent free at the back of our minds, influencing our relationship with the Lord. Take everything that you are going through, thinking about, or will go through or think about- God wants to hear about all of it from you.

True prayer is a mindful “bending of the knee of my heart”, understanding that i am not all knowing. I am not all powerful. I am not everywhere at once, and i see so little. It’s agreeing with God, and then appealing to Him because i know that He is all knowing, all powerful, everywhere at once- and sees the big picture. True prayer, embodies humility and adoration of our great God.

And as we call out to Him for help, for wisdom, for comfort and closeness, He reminds us of His character, His love and trustworthiness- which draws us towards thanksgiving and submission once again to His will, not ours.

Read Verses 3-4

Paul here asks for prayer, reminding his readers of the fact that he is in prison for the gospel. But what he asks for is fascinating to me. He doesn’t ask that God would break him free and get him out of his bad situation, he asks for open doors for the teaching of scripture and the sharing of the gospel.

He prayed for open doors to glorify the Lord in what God had gifted him to do. When was the last time you asked the Lord to open doors for you to glorify Him with His gifts?

-if you don’t know what your gifts are, start there and ask Him to reveal how He’s gifted you so that you can be used by Him- for Him.

But he says in verse 4 that he wants prayer to teach and speak the gospel as he ought to. Make no mistake, you need to be using your gifts. But more importantly, your heart should reflect Paul’s here- he asked for prayer from others- not just to be busy in ministry, but his real heart reflected the Lords- in that he wanted to see people receive the salvation Christ offers.

If you’re in ministry or thinking about ministry, this is the heart you should earnestly desire and pray for- that people would know Jesus through the gifts He’s given you. That it would be less of you and more of Him, again- so that others would see and love Jesus and follow Him.

And for the rest of our time in this passage, we’ll see the characteristics of those who serve the Lord.

Read Verses 5-6

Walk in wisdom towards unbelievers, not wasting time. Paul just before is in Prison, likely with a lot of unbelievers, and his request is that God would make a way for his time in prison to not be waisted.

Some of you guys, feel like school or work is a prison, and you’re just waiting it out. Waiting for the real chapter of your life to start. That isn’t right. We have the ability where we are in life, school/work/gap year, to make use of the time and the place God has set us in. Don’t waste away the time thinking that the grass is greener a year from now. Two years from now.

Read Verses 7-15

So here Paul references those few that are faithfully ministering with him. Beloved brothers, faithfully serving others because of their commitment and love for Jesus

Some of you have been wrestling with the Lord in your heart about what to do with your future, if this desire to serve Him in this way is really from Him. You wrestle with the what if’s and what about’s of the decision.

What about money Lord?

What if they can’t afford to pay me?

What if there’s no one who will house me?

What about my future family Lord? How will they make it?

What if i have kids and they hate being a pastor’s kid?

And you let all the what if’s and what about’s drown out the call of the Lord on your life. You let the enemy stirring up your flesh distract you away from discovering how God wants to equip and use you to be apart of His work.

Every one of those questions i’ve thrown at God, He’s answered back in His Word. In His own timing, but the perfect timing.

That means that if i’m not in perfect peace, it’s because my mind is slowly drifiting away from trust, and into doubt and fear.

Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Don’t you realize i know your needs?

Do you think i don’t know you need somewhere to sleep at night?

Don’t you know I’m considering your future and the provision and help you and your family will need then too?

Psalm 37:23–24 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”

When you respond to the leading of God in your life, trusting His promises, His character, and choosing to walk out your life in faith in Him and His word- You’ll have that confidence that God is holding your hand, that He is keeping you stable as you walk in obedience- that even though you will stumble and even fall at times, He won’t let you go- He will continue to guide and hold you through it.

And you know, i’ve had so many people throw out there- “well we need to use logic and wisdom and our intellect to problem solve. We need to really pray that God would give us the answer on how to get the funds, how to work harder, what we can DO to fix this.”

I’m so tired of hearing that. It’s disguised carnality. Pause. There are often times, when we do need to act and “do” something. But i’ve, found the majority of the time- we just need to wait on the Lord and watch Him do His work and believe He will.

Joshua 24:15 “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””

The gods of this land say to trust in your intellect. Trust your problem solving skills, just save enough money on your own, you don’t need faith- you just need to work more hours, be a better person.

Ministry is often lonely (vs 11) if you’re praying about or desiring what God would have you to do in ministry, you need to understand that it is often times lonely. The feeling of lonliness does not mean you are actually alone, nor does it mean that you are doing something wrong. The end of Paul’s life was by all outward appearances lonely, but Christ never left him.

The ministry of Archippus in vs 17

Why does Paul make a point to write in his own handwriting for the church to remember his chains?