06AM September 24 Colossians 4 2_6
September 24, 2006—Morning Worship
Thick-Skinned Knees
The Powerful Secrets of Surrendered Prayer
Colossians 4:2-6
Intro: The dictionary defines a callus as: "A localized thickening of the outer layer of the skin." Some of you work w/your hands every day. Your hands are callused from extensive use. But I wonder, “Are Your Knees Callused?”
James, the Lord’s brother & early leader of the church in Jerusalem, was nicknamed "camel knees". He spent so much time on his knees in prayer that his knees became callused & hardened just like those of camels who kneel in the hot desert sand. The historian of the early church, Eusebius tells us that James was martyred for his faith by being pushed off the pinnacle of the temple. Eusebius says that the fall did not kill James, & that somehow he managed to stumble to his knees to pray for his murderers before they bashed in his head w/a blacksmith’s hammer.
One day the Reformer, Martin Luther said, “I have so much to accomplish today, I must spend 2 hours in prayer instead of 1, so that I may know God’s will.” What do you think would happen if I said we were going to have a 2 hour prayer meeting where we did nothing but pray—would anybody come? Would anybody stay for 2 hours? Would anybody pray for 2 hours? James 5:16b tells us that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” IOW God does amazing things as He uses our prayers!
After much prayer, 2 men by the names of Shubal Stearns & Daniel Marshall left Connecticut in 1755 to come to Sandy Creek, NC. They believed God sent them to NC to plant churches. They started their 1st church w/6 other men & their wives for a total membership of 16 believers. After just 3 yrs, they had planted 3 churches w/a membership totaling over 900 believers! God does amazing things as He uses our prayers! 17 yrs later, they had planted 42 churches all over the South & from those churches God called 125 men to preach the gospel. God does amazing things as He uses our prayers!
Every time in Biblical history that God sent a sweeping move of revival, it was always preceded by intensive prayer. 4 times in the history of America God has moved in a mighty wave of revival that purified the church & drew unbelievers to salvation by grace through faith. & each time that happened, roughly 10% of the existing population of America was drawn to saving faith & usually in about 18 months! It’s been 101 yrs since God moved so mightily among us. As you look at America today, don’t you feel the sense of urgency to earnestly pray for God to do it again?
Ladies & gentlemen, what we need today, what the church needs today, what the world needs today are men & women who will commit themselves & surrender their wills to effective, fervent prayer!
Today I’m asking God to give us a fresh vision for prayer, a fresh vision that will motivate us to spend time in prayer every day for God to be at work in our community & for lost people to be saved.
So from our text today, let’s learn the powerful secrets of surrendered prayer & begin to cultivate a mindset that will allow us to develop thick-skinned knees. B/c God does amazing things as He uses our prayers!
READ Colossians 4:2-6
The 1st secret of surrendered prayer is that…
1. Prayer yields power (v. 2). We tend to underestimate the power of prayer & the importance of prayer. When we pray we are acknowledging to God that we are in a spiritual battle & we need His power & wisdom if we are to gain victory. Prayer is the key to everything.
A. It’s the power to abide. (v. 2a) “Continue earnestly in prayer”
1. This is a command to pray which will yield the power to pray
2. Prayer is like electricity—invisible yet you see the effects of it—lights & power
3. It begins at point of generation; then to relay station; substation; meter; home
4. Prayer is our supply line of power
5. Power begins w/God; sent through intercession of Jesus Christ; by the indwelling Holy Spirit into your life & mine
6. That power allows us to do the will of God; work of God; way God would do it
7. Jesus tells us as much in John 15 using the vine & branches as an example
8. The Greek for "continue earnestly" means to, "adhere to firmly."
9. It implies ongoing persistence that refuses to give up when you don't see immediate results.
[The beauty of prayer is that the more we pray, the more we become empowered to pray. Prayer is not like a cell-phone whose power runs down while you use it. Prayer is just the opposite. It increases in power the more it is used.]
B. It’s the power of attention. (v. 2b) “…being vigilant in it….”
1. Paul says “Stay Awake! Be On Guard! Pay Close Attention!”
2. The word literally means to give strict attention to something.
[Jeremiah was told that he was a watchman & if he saw the enemy & sounded the alarm & they didn’t respond their blood would be on their own heads. But if he saw the enemy & did not sound the alarm & the people were killed, then their blood would be on his head.]
3. As believers we are the watchmen for the world.
4. Jesus asked the inner circle of disciples to watch & pray w/Him in the garden
5. Yet they could not & did not b/c they were too sleepy!
6. & the same is true today—we’ve been lulled to sleep by the enemy when we should be praying for God’s glory to be revealed!
7. Prayer is a weapon in the spiritual battle.
8. The DHS has different levels of alert, but in several areas in the Middle East, they're on high alert 24/7/365.
9. B/c we're in an active spiritual battle, we need to stay on high alert at all times.
[The great Baptist pastor, Charles Spurgeon said: It is the usual rule w/God to make us pray before He gives the blessing. There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed.]
C. It’s the power of appreciation (v. 2c) “…being vigilant in it w/thanksgiving;”
1. Look at Paul’s example; 1 Thessalonians 1:3 & Colossians 1:3
2. Thanking God for them & praying for them w/true heart of thanksgiving
3. Praying w/thanksgiving, acknowledges God as the One who answers prayer
4. Thanksgiving is also a motivation for further prayer
5. When we remember God's faithfulness to answer prayer, we will pray more
6. Elijah on Mt. Carmel was a demonstration of God’s power
7. Paul raising the deadman who fell from the window demonstrates God’s power
8. Our church being used of God to build a church in Romania “ “ “
9. The moral of the story – Be Thankful for what God does w/you through prayer
The 2nd secret of surrendered prayer is that…
2. Prayer enables proclamation (vv. 3-4).
& the proclamation that prayer enables…
A. Watches for an opportunity (READ v. 3a)
1. Paul often speaks of open doors of ministry
2. & here he requests prayer for an open door
3. God opens doors through prayer
4. Earlier I said that prayer is the key to everything & God uses prayer to unlock doors for us that would otherwise remain closed
5. Paul did not see prayer as a means of making life easier for himself, but as a means to spread the gospel.
6. Most of us would have made it our top priority to pray for deliverance from prison; Paul's request for prayer was that others be delivered from the prison of sin.
B. Waits for an occasion (READ v. 3b)
1. The open door is the occasion
2. You can’t push it open; break it open or beat it open
3. This precedent was set in the early church by the apostles
4. Acts 6:4 “continually to prayer & ministry of the word”
5. Acts 6:7 “Then the word of God spread & the # of disciples multiplied greatly”
6. They studied & prayed & God blessed
7. We should pray for an open door that we may proclaim "the mystery of Christ."
8. The gospel is not a mystery b/c it's confusing or obscure like a riddle, but b/c no one would have ever known it or imagined it unless God had made it plain to us.
9. Who would imagine that the very God we sinned against; that we rebelled against would provide the only means for us to be forgiven! (QUOTE Romans 5:8)
C. Wants to be obvious (READ v. 4)
1. The word “manifest” means clear, evident, plain, to reveal
2. Prayer enables clear speech b/c the gospel is supposed to be simple
3. Seminary professors talk about things like Soteriology, Eschatology, the Hypostatic Union of Christ, Anthropomorphism, Exegesis & Isogesis & Exegetical expositions of Ecclesiology
4. Even if you understand the meaning of those words—don’t use them
5. The gospel is simple – John 3:16 simple – if anyone can grasp that, they get it
6. But the Holy Spirit MUST precede our witness – to prepare our & their hearts
7. 2001 trip to California to Shepherd’s Conference & witnessed on plane
8. Someone had prayed for that young man to hear the gospel
9. God can use you the same way so – KEEP IT SIMPLE
The 3rd secret of surrendered prayer is that…
3. Prayer directs purpose (vv. 56).
Your life & words should be a reflection of your prayer life so…
A. Live Wisely (READ v. 5a).
1. Living wisely means we are careful not to say or do anything that would make it difficult to share the gospel.
2. Whether we realize it or not, people are making decisions about the Christianity based upon how we live.
[The Gospel in Your Life—Unknown Author
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John, are read by more than a few,
But the one that is most read & commented on, is the gospel according to you.
You’re writing a gospel, a chapter each day, by the things that you do & the words that you say.
People read what you write, whether faithless or true. So, what is the gospel according to you?
Do people read His truth & His love in your life, or has yours been too full of malice & strife?
Does your life speak of evil, or does it ring true? Say, what is the gospel according to you?]
3. Its all about how you pay your bills, speak, work & your friends & example
B. Make the Most of Opportunities to Share (READ v. 5b).
1. The phrase "redeeming the time" is a commercial term & means to "buy up."
2. Its a picture of finding something on sale & buying all you can afford b/c the price is so good.
3. That's what this verse is saying: when God gives you an opportunity to share, take it! Don't pass it up!
4. Otis Redding “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”
5. Wasting Time—Don’t do it
C. Saturate Your Speech with Grace (READ v. 6a).
1. We must be kind, courteous, merciful, & compassionate
2. READ Eph. 4:29
D. Season Your Conversations with Salt (READ v. 6b).
1. I love salt; I actually crave salt & the more I have the better I like it
2. Salty speech makes people thirsty for more; it makes them crave more
3. We should season our conversations w/salt so that people's mouths water for the living water, Jesus Christ!
E. Be Prepared to Answer Common Questions (READ v. 6c).
1. When we are gracious & well informed, people will want to hear what we have to say. So we must be prepared!
2. Jesus’ disciples & the demon possessed boy. They had no answer. Jesus did!
3. Jesus’ & the rich young ruler. Jesus didn’t hesitate
4. READ 1 Peter 3:15
5. Prayer directs you to live so others will ask you!
Conclusion: Satan's strategy is to keep us off our knees, to keep our knees from becoming callused, to keep us from prayer. If we fight the spiritual battle w/o spiritual weapons, we are powerless. I am asking God to give us a fresh vision for prayer & a fresh vision for outreach today.
So, is your prayer life pleasing to God? Does it yield power in your life? Does it enable you to proclaim the truth of God?
I’m concerned for our church b/c I believe, as a whole, we don’t pray as we should. Have we become lax in our praying? Have we ignored time alone w/God? Are our prayers availing much for the glory of God? Would you join me in praying for revival among God’s people?
Invitation: Perhaps God has opened your eyes to see your great need for Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord & Savior. If so, would you come in repentance of sin & place your faith in Jesus & ask Him to save you?
Or maybe, God has spoken to you today about your prayer life. Could it be that you’ve grown cold toward prayer? Are you willing to lay down the problems of your life at the feet of Jesus & ask Him to take over? Will you surrender your all to Him & then live for Him so that others will ask you why you have such a hope?
I’m praying that God will use us all for His glory & that we all will be drawn closer to God & to one another than ever before. You come today & let’s ask God to make that a reality in our lives.
Hymn 210 My Jesus, I Love Thee