They Are Watching

Introduction:

Words matter! The words we choose either correctly or incorrectly communicate the meaning we intend to communicate.

One of my professors whom many of you met a little over a year ago, Dr. Julius Wong Loi Sing, is known by his students for encouraging us to study the wording of meaning more than the meaning of words.

A prime example of can be found in Prov. 31:10-31 where we find a Hebrew acrostic description of a godly woman. Each verse begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. If I asked you to pick 3 words to describe your best friend and I asked you to pick words to describe your best friend that each begin with the letters Q, X, and Z, I’m sure you would produce 2 very different lists.

When we have a meaning to share, we must choose the best way to use our words.

Tone, setting and non-verbal cues also contribute to the meaning that is attached to our words.

I ran across a short video this week of a group that surrounded an individual and loudly and repeatedly chanted “peaceful”.

Their words said “peace” but the message they communicated was “intimidate.”

It is like the dental assistant who says, “sit back and relax” while grabbing a pick or scraper!

Paul writes this letter while shackled and imprisoned to recipients who have freedom to move and speak as they choose. Today’s section of God’s Word identifies 3 settings where we can freely choose to use our words for good.

Representatives of Christ Prioritize Prayer (2-4)

Colossians 4:2–4 ESV:2016

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.

Explanation

1. First, our praying must be faithful. “Continue steadfastly in prayer” (Col. 4:2). Some translations use “devote yourselves to”. Devote can mean a new action while the emphasis of Paul’s word means to

2. Our praying must also be watchful. The phrase “Watch and pray!” is used often in the Bible. It had its beginning in Nehemiah: “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them [the enemy] day and night” (Neh. 4:9). Jesus used the phrase (Mark 13:33; 14:38); Paul used it also in Eph. 6:18.

3. Our praying should also be thankful: “being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). If all we do is ask, and never thank God for His gifts, we are selfish.[i]

To avoid selfishness, I often follow an order in my head using the acrostic ACTS. I should adore, confess and thank before I turn to supplication.

4. Our praying ought to be purposeful: “Pray also for us” (Col. 4:3a). Too often our prayers are vague and general.

a. Instead of praying “Lord, be with us” we should humbly, but boldly say what we want the Lord to do in our presence.

b. Instead of “bless the missionaries” we should request specific blessings for missionaries!

c. By doing so, we would know when God answered and we could praise Him for it.

5. Finally, our praying ought to be opportunistic: “open to us a door for the word” (Col 4:3b-4). Paul did not request that the door to the prison would be open so that he would be free. He asked that he would be faithful within the circumstance as he ought.

a. He requests prayer for clarity and opportunity to declare the mystery, something that was previously hidden or misunderstood.

b. A common mystery of the Gospel that we must explain clearly is that man is not granted Heaven because of his own good deeds.

c. Paul is requesting the very thing that got him arrested. The Jews arrested him because they misunderstood who Jesus was and what His death accomplished. This is exactly what Paul wants to declare clearly.

Application

· Warren Wiersby writes, “You, as a church member, can assist your pastor in the preaching of the Word by praying for him. Never say to your pastor, “Well, the least I can do is to pray for you.” The most you can do is to pray! Pray for your pastor as he prepares the Word,… Pray too that your pastor will practice the Word that he preaches so that it will be real in his own life. [and] As he preaches the message, pray that the Spirit will give him freedom [and power].[ii]

Transition: Through prayer you can empower others in their proclamation, but the words don’t end there. A 2nd setting to use wise words is that…

Representatives of Christ Watch their Witness (5-6)

Colossians 4:5–6 ESV:2016

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.

Toward Outsiders

1. The outsiders are not those beyond of the church, but outside of God’s kingdom. Those who often misunderstand our view of the world and our feelings toward others.

2. This week I learned a new term – cancel culture. The age when we live requires wisdom because if your view is different from the prevailing talking points, you might not only be ignored. Your claim to legitimacy may be totally rescinded.

I read this week that the largest church is Alabama (Church of the Highlands) had been renting school district facilities for services and throughout the pandemic had done several things (like blood drives and free meals) to care for the suffering during the COVID pandemic.

According to an article in Christianity Today magazine, the pastor of the church “liked” some posts by another media person, outside of their church, who had raised some questions about systemic racism.

The School Board of that community (“outsiders”) determined that the rhetoric of this secondary media person was so offensive that “liking” his posts was adequate grounds to kick the church out of the buildings they had been renting.

3. Paul encourages us to be wise toward outsiders

Walk in Wisdom – What does this mean?

1. For one thing, it means that we are careful not to say or do anything that would make it difficult to share the Gospel.

2. Walking in wisdom also includes doing our work, paying our bills, and keeping our promises. We must “walk honestly toward them that are without” (1 Thes. 4:12).

3. It is not enough simply to walk wisely and carefully around unbelievers. We must also talk with them and share the Gospel message with them.

4. Our speech is supposed to “minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). But it cannot do that unless we have grace in our hearts and in our words. “Speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) is God’s ideal for our conversation.

5. As Paul mentions seasoned with salt the sermon would be incomplete if I didn’t mention the seasoning and preserving elements we discussed when we looked at the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus said we are the salt of the earth.

Application

“The Christian’s walk and talk must be in harmony with each other. Nothing will silence the lips like a careless life. When character, conduct, and conversation are all working together, it makes for a powerful witness.”[iii]

Transition: The first section spoke of out words upward, the previous section speaks of our words outward, the final section speaks of our words inward.

Representatives of Christ Encourage Each Other (7-9)

Colossians 4:7–9 ESV:2016

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.

Best Done in Person

1. After several weeks of safe-at-home orders as we have tried to love our neighbors by limiting the spread of a virus, you hardly need to be reminded of the power of in-person stories.

2. In verses 7-9 Paul states the value of them hearing details in person.

3. Tychicus was one of 7 men who left with Paul in Acts 20:4. Tychicus delivered the book of Ephesians (Eph 6:21) and Tychicus was joined by Onesimus in delivering this epistle to Colosse and a personal letter to Philemon.

a. A beloved brother

b. A faithful minister (diakonos - one who serves)

c. A fellow servant. (sydoulos – one bound together to a common master)

4. Onesimus was a slave from Colosse belonging to Philemon. Onesimus had been converted and in the other letter Paul challenged Philemon to receive him as a brother.

a. Interesting that Paul uses beloved brother and minister of both Tych and Oney, but doesn’t use servant of Oney.

b. I believe this is because Paul want to downplay the bondservant obligations of Onesimus to Philemon and target the familial relationship.

Who is One of You (v.9)

· V.7 begins with and v.9 ends with the activities, but, (just like a megastuff Oreo) the sweet and abundant center is all about brotherhood and family.

Application

· These 2 brothers had been given 2 tasks: inform and encourage.

This is a large reason why we take at least 1 Sunday of every month to do a Missions Moment. Our Missions and Outreach team attempts to keep us informed of the challenges that our partners face so that we all will be encouraged to pray for them as Paul sought from this church in Colosse.

Transition: Three settings that encourage the wise use of words. What are we to do with this information?

Conclusion:

Praying, witnessing, and encouraging—these are three wonderful ministries of speech.

How much better it is to be involved in these ministries than to be using our tongues for loud protesting, aggressive demonstrating, or political posturing.

Yes! We are called as the people of God to seek justice and to minister to the suffering! But the tone and words we choose must align with Jesus’ words in Mt. 10:16

Matthew 10:16 (ESV) — “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

[i] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 146.

[ii] Ibid., 147.

[iii] Ibid., 148.