Sermon Tone Analysis
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Claim - The Christian should be persistent in prayer for kingdom things, (Christ’s return; thankfulness and gospel advancement) coupled with a character that allows Christ to be proclaimed naturally and regularly.
Focus - Be persistent in prayer for kingdom things and develop a character that allows Christ to be proclaimed naturally and regularly.
Function - Excite us to pray persistently for kingdom things and live to evangelistically.
PRAY
Last week I started with a recap of Colossians so far.. and I’m going do that again.
Our Faith in Jesus and our love for each other spring from the hope stored in heaven for us, col 1v5
We therefore live lives worth of and pleasing to Jesus, col 1 v9
Becasue, in all things Jesus has supremacy, col 1v18
And he has made us ‘full’ of eternal and glory filled salvation col 2v10
So now we live with our minds and hearts on things above col 3v1
putting to death our old earthly habits, col 3v5
and putting on the virtues of Christ, col 3v12.
We then looked at how relationships within this new life that Christ has given us will look like.
In marriage,
within families
and within our work places.
And as we reach the end of this book of Colossians,
just before Paul gives his final greetings and personal notes about individuals,
he has 3 more instructions.
4v2 seems to follow on from 3v17,
with last weeks household instructions slotted in,
perhaps so that Paul could return to the idea of thankfulness through prayer
and to emphasise how important our public witness for Christ to end the letter.
These are very significant verses.
For they tell us when and what to pray for.
They remind us of a key focus for the church.
And they show us how we ought to behave, and what our priorities ought to be towards non-Christians.
By which he simply means those outside the faith.
SO, we’ll go through the 3 instructions,
1 - Pray - being watchful and thankful
2 - Pray - open doors
3 - (Urgent) Witness - natural and regular
So, let’s begin with
1 - Pray, being watchful and thankful
col
Devoted is a good word,
Not devoted like a dog might be to his owner
- devoted until someone else feeds it something better!
This is a full on,
passionate and continuous or persistent
devotion.
To continuously,
always,
steadfastly,
persistently,
devotedly
pray!
But what I think is interesting about this life of ‘devotion to prayer’
is the 2 principles Paul gives to govern our prayer.
Being watchful and thankful.
Or more precisely, being watchful in your prayers, with thankfulness.
So let’s address this verse.
What should we pray about, and how do we remain ‘watchful and thankful in our prayers.
Perhaps praise and glory of God
Certainly, what we or other’s need who are struggling.
Our families, jobs, etc..
The NT tells us to bring all things to God in prayer.
That famous hymn poetically rejoices in the joy of prayer:.
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
It really is a privilege to carry everything in prayer..
But here comes the perspective Paul wants us to have as we pray.
‘Being watchful and thankful.’
The NT uses the word ‘ to watch’ a lot, and it is used to mean - awake!
More than that it
is used in the context of being awakened from the darkness,
by which I mean sin, our old nature,
and the evil of this world -
And we are awake for what is to come-
with a view that calls on, and lives expectantly of the return of Jesus.
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