The Church Militant

Big Idea

Tension: How does Christian maturity guide our interactions with outsiders?

Resolution: it leads believers to pray that preaching would be effective and to live holy lives so they have credibility in speaking the gospel.

Exegetical Idea: In regard to unbelievers, Christian maturity leads believers to pray that preaching would be effective and to live holy lives so they can have credibility in speaking the gospel.

Theological Idea: Mature Christians pray that God’s word would work through the preaching of pastors and live in such a way as to give credibility to the gospel.

Homiletical Idea: Mature Christians reach the lost by praying for gospel-preaching and by living out their witness.

Outline

Introduction: How do mature Christians reach the lost? Who are 5 names of unbelievers in your life.

Review: The process of maturity

God is nothing but gracious to us.

Christ died and rose again

We repent and believe

We have this union with him

The mystery of God is that Christ, died, risen again, the Son of God and Son of Man, the only begotten, is Christ for me.

If I’m united to him, I need go grow into maturity.

This happens by the preaching of the Word.

I grow to maturity inwardly and outwardly.

Praying for gospel preaching

God opens a door for the proclamation of the Word (4:3)

God makes a way for his Word.

That way usually involves preaching.

To declare the mystery of Christ (4:3). What is that mystery? Mystery is Christ (2:2) but also Christ in you (1:27). The glory of the mystery of God is not just that there is a Christ but that he is Christ for you.

Notice how the same way that God saves people is that he sanctifies people.

This is what Paul was in prison for (4:3)

Continue steadfastly in prayer for this (4:2)

Pray that God would make the preaching of his Word clear to unbelievers (4:3)

The assumption is that believers bring their friends and family and acquaintances and neighbors and enemies and people that they just met to come hear the gospel. In other words they invite them to church. You say, “well, I’m not sure they’ll like it.” To be frank that doesn’t matter. Because God is the one who opens the door for his word. You say, “Well Matt, I’m not sure your preaching will connect with them.” Well part of the reason that might be is because you aren’t praying hard enough for me.

Being watchful in it with thanksgiving - the way you make your prayer life persevere is by keeping it going through thanksgiving, reflecting back on all the good work that God has done.

Living out their witness

Walk in wisdom towards outsiders

All the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Christ (2:3).

Redeeming the time - The time that you get to influence unbelievers is so short.

If you are walking in wisdom, you will get the chance to speak

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt

If your speech is gracious, then you will get the chance to tell people the gospel.

so that you may know how you ought to answer each person

What if I don’t know what to say? God is the one who opens the door.

Application: God is in an all out war to save sinners.

Good news:

God is the one who opens the doors. God is the one who saves the lost. God is the one who touches hearts. God is sovereign and in control. So take a breath. Be still and know that he is GOd we are not. God tells us that the gates of Hell cannot stop the good news. He has come to storm the strongholds of Satan, to destroy every lofty argument, to rescue the imprisoned, to find the lost, to heal the sick, to justify the ungodly, to give life to the dead, and when all else is accomplish, to put death itself to death. There is no stopping the all pwoerful, all mighty, all knowing, all doing, all wise, all loving, gospel of the grace of God. He gives us the immense privilege of partnering with him as he goes out to seek and save the lost. But he is the one who ultimately seeks, he is the one who ultimately save the lost. This takes all the pressure off of us, and puts all the glory on him. It humbles us, because we can’t save the lost, but it magnifies his might and his power.

It also reminds us, we are the beneficiaries of such great love. God has done so much for us, he has loved us so deeply and profoundly, don’t we want to love others the same way God has loved us? Don’t we want others to come to know the same love we’ve come to know?

Therefore: Ground War and Air War

This is a profound act of God’s love. We love others by sharing the gospel with them.

Air War - Part of God’s plan is to bring the lost to the preaching of the gospel. As unbelievers come and hear the message of Christ crucified, God’s plan is to save them. You have an important part to play in 1. comign yourself, 2. bringing your friends, 3. praying like crazy

Ground War - Part of God’s plan is also for you to be in relationship with other people. You are not where you are by accident. God has put you where he’s put you. So don’t waste that opportunity. Live wisely, life a Christ-centered life. Talk carefully. Don’t run your mouth.