Final Instructions

Intro

[Thank worship team]

Good morning Bethel Church, and good morning to our network of rural churches that are joining us live on YouTube. And if you are new here, I want to extend a special welcome to you. If you would, there are “Connect” cards in the seat in front of you. If you would fill that out there or at the Welcome Center outside of the sanctuary. We even have a free gift for you if you are new to Bethel. We would love to get in touch with you and discuss how to get connected to our church family.

Announcements:

Christmas Program - Pastor Zach

Israel Trip - Mark Hale

Today we will be continuing our study of In, But Not Of. If you are reading out of the Bibles in front of you, our passage can be found on page 985. If you do not have a Bible, please stop by the Welcome Center and take one. It is our gift to you.

TRANS: Pray

Opening Hook

There are two kinds of people in this world, people who throw away toothpaste bottles when they’re 99% gone, and people who don’t throw away toothpaste bottles until every molecule of toothpaste has been used. Then, those two people fall in love and get married.

I am a 99% person, and my wife is the 100% person. I’m convinced that she thinks she has the same spiritual gift that Jesus used to turn 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed thousands. If she just squeezes the tube right, use gravity as her ally and spin it around like this *demonstrates*, that we will get our money’s worth. I can’t even imagine how many cents we’ve saved because we used that last 1% instead of just opening a new one and not putting ourselves through this every month. I mean, it must be literally dozens and dozens of cents.

Today we close our time in Colossians. When I laid out Colossians, my initial thought was “well, why read through verses 7-18, there’s nothing there anyway. Might as well just end on verse 6 and call it a day.” But the more I studied this passage, the more I saw that there’s actually an important lesson for us there too. I’m going to take a lesson from my wife today: we will not throw away the bottle before we squeeze every bit out of this text. So we will go through all of chapter 4 today to end the series.

And where Paul ends, is where he began: live for the sake of the Gospel.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Lucy and the “Bigger” Aslan

When Lucy meets Aslan again in Prince Caspian, she notices he looks larger. She asks, “Aslan, you’re bigger.” Aslan replies, “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

Aslan didn’t change. Lucy did. Her journey—her experiences, failures, faith—gave her new eyes to see the same Lion she had known before.

Sermon Connection: God doesn’t change, but our capacity to see, appreciate, and understand Him grows as He takes us through the journey of life. Old truths appear “bigger,” not because they’ve changed, but because we have.

Finishing Where We Started

Sometimes it takes a journey to see old truth in a fresh way.

Where we started:

By virtue of God’s saving grace, you are a holy one.

Knowledge is necessary for faith.

You are currently a citizen of the Kingdom of Light.

Jesus is…

The image of the invisible God

The firstborn of all creation

The creator of all things

The sustainer of all things

The head of the church

The beginning

The first to be resurrected

The fullness of God

He reconciles all things to himself

He makes peace

Do not drift, suffer with Christ for His church

Christ is the basis of your salvation and your maturity.

Worldly deceit creates prisoners.

Christ brings freedom and victory.

Spiritual practices are not an end in itself.

Beware of Christless spirituality.

Man-made religion cannot produce heart-change.

Christ, the King, has given Christians new status.

Put to death what is earthly.

Grow into your new identity.

Honor the Lord as a parent, child, employer, and employee.

This has been quite the journey through Colossians. I hope that you see Jesus clearer, your identity in Him has grown roots, your desire to put off the old and put on the new self has been lit or rekindled. This is what Colossians is all about.

TRANS: But we have one more lesson. So let’s squeeze the tube of toothpaste and get all that there is for us.

Colossians 4:2–4 ESV

2 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.

Final Instructions

Pray for opportunities to share the gospel.

Colossians 4:2-4

Paul starts with prayer. We must “continue steadfastly, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” The idea of “being watchful” means that we guard it, we protect it.

Scott McKnight puts it perfectly as to what Paul is saying,

The grammar then informs us of this: Paul wants them to devote themselves to prayer and to do so by guarding that prayer life in thanksgiving:

Devotion to prayer

in guarding that prayer

in thanksgiving.

Jesus also urged the disciples to guard the prayer life (cf. Mark 13:32–37 and 14:38).1

1 Scot McKnight, The Letter to the Colossians, ed. Ned B. Stonehouse et al., The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 370.

Why does Paul challenge us to “guard” our prayer? Well, let me ask, if you do not guard the time around which you pray… do you pray? Does prayer just *happen*? Or do you need to guard that time? The answer is obvious. Paul is picking up on something immensely practical: guard that time, or you won’t have it.

But Paul is instructing us to pray for something specific: opportunities to share the gospel. He understands two things:

That his primary mission in life is to proclaim that Jesus is God and the one who can forgive sins to those who come to him. The message of hope. The message of the gospel.

2. That it must be the Lord that “opens the doors,” or creates opportunities.

Many groups have been going through the study called “Life-2-Life” this fall. One of the primary action items throughout the study is summarized by one of the key lifestyle priorities: Praying regularly by name for the people in my life who don’t know Jesus.”

It was Paul’s zeal toward this goal that landed him in prison. Paul both prayed for opportunities, and he (in God’s strength) took them.

Do we?

Have a Ready Witness on Your Tongue

Tongue, The

Colossians 4:2–6

(POSB , note 3.)

Some years ago, Dr. Henrietta Mears visited the Taj Mahal in India. The famed structure is noted for its unusual acoustical qualities. Standing in the center of the white marble mausoleum, the guide said loudly, “There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the prophet!”

His voice reverberated through all the chambers and corridors of the tomb.

Dr. Mears asked, “May I say something, too?”

The guide courteously replied, “Certainly.” In a clear, distinct voice, Dr. Mears said, “Jesus Christ. Son of God, is Lord over all!”

Her voice, too, reverberated from wall to wall and through the corridors of the … shrine, saying, “Lord over all … over all … over all … over all!”136

How often we are silent when someone gives us an opening to tell what the difference is in our lives. We need to have an answer for every one who does not know and recognize the only living and true God.1

POSB The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible

136 Paul Lee Tan. Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times, p.1618.

1 Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001), 136.

How many of us, when we see an opportunity, say, “may I say something?” Little do we know, that the Lord will take those small moments and cause them to reverberate far beyond what we think is possible.

Here’s a clue that it’s the right time, you get a sense from something that feels *outside of yourself* that you should speak. This is the Holy Spirit, nudging you. Saying, “hey. You know how the Bible talks about being prepared? Now is the time.” And you might not hear words, you might not even necessarily be able to articulate the feeling. But what you can discern is a sense that God is telling you, “Now. Here. This is it.”

The question is. Will you have the courage, and the knowledge, to say “I’m ready.”

TRANS: Paul then talks about what we need in order to “be ready.”

Colossians 4:5–6 ESV

5 Walk in wisdom 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.

A good witness for the gospel includes wisdom, speech, and knowledge.

Colossians 4:5-6

By “outsiders,” Paul simply means non-Christians. Walking in wisdom means three things:

We “make the best use of the time.” What does that mean?

Have gracious speech that is seasoned with salt.

Knowing how to answer each person.

“make the best use of the time.” What does that mean?

Many have applied this to time-management skills. Work/life balance, removing distractions or time-wasters. These are good things, and we should be doing them. But that’s not what Paul has in mind here.

The greek word translated in the ESV as “time” (kairos) does not necessarily refer to time in a literal, time ticking away kind of meaning. The word is also used to refer to season, or occasion. Paul could have used another word for time that more specifically means “the passing of time,” but he doesn’t. He seems to be referring to occasions, moments, or opportunities that come up as we are “walking among outsiders.”

Richard Eng Paraphrase: “as you seek to be wise when you are around non-Christians, be sure that you are making the most of those opportunities.”

Lexham Bible Dictionary Entry

Salt as a Symbol of Life

In the biblical world, salt was associated with life due to its uses as a preservative, a purifying agent, and a seasoning. Many of the symbols attached to salt reflect its practical uses. For example, because salt can delay the rotting or decaying process when rubbed into meat, it is a symbol of incorruptibility. Salt was also a symbol of provision, and eating someone’s “bread and salt” left the eater obligated to the giver (Ezra 4:14). Other practical uses of salt attested in the ancient world include:

• purifying agent—ancient peoples rubbed babies with salt at birth (Ezek 16:4), and the prophet Elisha used salt to purify a polluted spring (2 Kgs 2:19–22);

• seasoning for food (Job 6:6–7; compare Isa 30:24)—tasteless salt was worthless and thrown out (Matt 5:13; Luke 14:34);

• fertilizer (Latham, Religious Symbolism, 204);1

1 Robert G. Rayburn II, “Salt,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

Here’s how Paul means “seasoned with salt” here: “saltiness is gracious, wise, informed, and redemptive speech.” - Scot McKnight

But in order for your speech to be seasoned with salt, you must have something to SAY. And having something to say requires you to know what you’re talking about. This is the third aspect of a good witness: knowledge.

Many Christians over emphasize living a life of Christian character *to the neglect of* having thoughtful answers. Fewer Christians, though it still happens, over emphasize having thoughtful answers *to the neglect of* Christian character. These are called “keyboard warriors.” It is not either/or, it is both/and. Typically we are drawn more to one side than the other, but this does not excuse the other side. It simply means we must act with intentionality to become a well-rounded witness.

TRANS: [text]

Colossians 4:7–18 ESV

7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 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. 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), 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. 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. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 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. 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.

Remember your partners for the gospel.

Colossians 4:7-18

Invite Missions Team members on the stage for an update:

Prayer: A Strategic Operation

Prayer

Colossians 4:2–6

(POSB , note 1, point 4.)

Who is counting on your faithful prayers today?

There is a story told about underwater divers who worked during World War II. As fighting raged above the water, they performed their work under the water. While at work, their only connection with the world above was an air line which was hooked up to an air pump. While the underwater divers did their work, a man was stationed next to the pump to make sure it remained operational. If this man left his post, the diver would be at risk if the pump quit pumping air to his lungs.

God has stationed His people in key places. While some go “underwater” and work at bringing down the strongholds of the enemy, others have been assigned to pray for them. Prayer is the life-support system that requires our devotion. All over the world, God’s workers are at war with the powers of darkness. Prayer warriors: don’t forsake your post. Keep the air coming!1

POSB The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible

1 Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001), 111.

TRANS: [text]

In, But Not Of

You are an ambassador for Christ.

You have the great honor of representing the Lord Jesus and His Kingdom. This is how you live in the world and not of it, you think of yourself as an ambassador, living in a foreign land, from another country.

This also gives clarity to your purpose while you’re on earth. We celebrate what God has done in us and the glorious hope that is secured in Him. Yet, there are many who do not have hope. So we must not forget our purpose:

The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported in September 1985 a celebration at a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at any New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, two hundred people gathered, including one hundred certified lifeguards.

As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, thirty-one, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.

I wonder how many visitors and strangers are among us drowning in loneliness, hurt, and doubt, while we, who could help them, don’t realize it. We Christians have reason to celebrate, but our mission, as the old hymn says, is to “rescue the perishing.” And often they are right next to us.32 1

POSB The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible

32 Craig B. Larson, Editor. Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching, p.152.

1 Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001), 51–52.

TRANS: [text]

Being an effective ambassador takes intentionality.

Let’s be honest, not everyone is great at representing Jesus. Becoming an effective ambassador takes intentionality. It won’t happen by accident. Paul, and Peter for that matter, say “be prepared,” not “wing it!”

Wisdom, speech, and knowledge. You will not become more proficient, have greater depth, or know what to say by being passive. You must take ownership of your assignment as God’s ambassador. No one can do it for you. It is for this work that all of us will stand before the throne and God will ask, “what did you do with what I gave you?”

What area do you need to grow in? Wisdom, speech, and knowledge. If you don’t know where to start, this is why we have Sunday school classes, small groups, Bible studies, men’s breakfasts, Bible Conference, etc. Take a step, grow in your effectiveness as God’s ambassador and learn to make disciples like Jesus did.

Conclusion :

Pray

Talk About It/Think About It

Have you ever rediscovered an “old truth” in Scripture that suddenly felt new or timely? What changed?

What would change in your week if you actively prayed for open doors to share Christ?

Paul urges believers to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders.” What does wise conduct look like in today’s culture?

Which names or stories in this passage stand out to you—and what do they show about gospel partnership? (4:7-18)

Which of these areas—knowledge, character, wisdom—is God most pressing on your heart right now?

Where do you see opportunities to represent Christ this week?