Mission Ready
Notes
Transcript
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
The Gr. word for “devote” means “to be courageously persistent” or “to hold fast and not let go”
“Police Dog that dragged handler while on the trail”
“through the woods, into the briars…”
Here it refers here to persistent prayer
New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (4342 προσκαρτερέω (proskartereō))
προσκαρτερέω proskartereō
Colossians and Philemon: A New Covenant Commentary (Prayer, Proclamation, and Walking in Wisdom (4:2–6))
The verb pros-kart-ereō is both an imperative and plural; it is a corporate command to the entire Colossian community to be devoted to prayer
In layman’s NC terms “Y’all this is a Command not an option”
Keeping Alert:
We must be alert to the schemes of the enemy and the pit falls of our own minds.
What are some of the things that distract you?
World News? Media? Sports?
Prayer was at the heart of the life of the NT church: “They devoted themselves … to prayer, we see this in places like Acts 2 and all throughout the NT.
And to the think many of can barely be bothered to stop and pray before a meal.
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
Paul was specific of the prayer he needed.
When we pray for missions, be it the local church, the national, or the international church we need to be as specific as possible
and when we can’t be, ask the Holy Spirit to be an intercessory for you and just pray.
We cannot underestimate the power of prayer in missions
“Story of the abby monks that said “we are the under the surface part of the missional body that prays into effect the outward missions”
Charles Spurgeon “Boiler Room”
Donald Stamps {Fire Bible (Col4:3-5)}
{Paul was confident that God was directing his life and ministry by opening and shutting doors of opportunity and responsibility at just the right times.
The effectiveness of our lives, service and witness for God depends both on his providence (i.e., his knowledge of what is ahead and how it should be approached) and on his direct intervention (i.e., when God interrupts the natural course of events).
While God does not desire for us to sit passively by and wait for a sign before we take action in serving him, we should pray that God would open doors of opportunity for us and help us recognize those opportunities.
We should also pray for the boldness to step through open doors, trusting him to help us make the most of every opportunity and accomplish all that he desires.}
This week many around the world will remember the name of a man from the 4th-5th century
Key Biographical Timeline
Age 16: Captured by Irish raiders from his home in Britain and taken to Ireland as a slave to work as a shepherd.
Captivity (6 years): Spent six years in slavery before escaping and returning to his family in Britain.
Missionary Work: After becoming a cleric and bishop, he returned to Ireland around 432 AD to begin his mission of converting the Irish people to Christianity.
Later Years: He spent approximately 30 to 40 years traveling through Ireland, establishing churches and monasteries before his death.
St Patrick understood the mission
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Our lives either aid the Kingdom Mission or hinders it—Do you want to stand before God and explain why you let your life hinder His mission?
It could be something as simple as not being the cliche Church person at lunch at the Cracker Barrel. Rude and cheap
John MacArther Said in commentary… we are too… To speak what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful.
Seasoned with salt. Just as salt not only flavors, but prevents corruption, the Christian’s speech should act not only as a blessing to others, but as a purifying influence within the decaying society of the world.
Is our life a purifying influence in the world around us?
That is what is means to live a life of Holiness.
Take Home Question
Is Your Life On Mission?
Is missions just something you toss a little change too and tell the team to be blessed or is it something you weep over in prayer?
