Lesson 22: Paul's Final Concerns

We often mention that the final words of anyone to someone they care about are important. They tend to convey what is the most crucial or important things to remember.

It was Christ that said, it is finished as he died upon the cross and again as He ascended into heaven he left with the Apostles and with us, the Great Commission.

So it is here with Paul in the book of Colossians, the emphasis of the book has been knowing Christ, but he also leaves some things to equip the Colossians and us to day with what they need to accomplish that mission of knowing Christ and also conveying Christ to other people

I. Concerning Prayer

Anyone who knows of George Mueller, who ran a great orphanage in Great Britain in late 19th Century by faith, know that he was a man of prayer. When I think of him, I often think of a man who got his prayers answered and right away. But early on, he began to pray for a group of five personal friends who needed salvation. After five years one of them came to Christ. In ten years, two more of them found peace in the same Savior. He prayed on for twenty-five years, and the fourth man was saved. For the fifth he prayed until the time of his death, and this friend, too, came to Christ a few months afterwards.

For this latter friend, Mr. Mueller had prayed almost fifty-two years! When we behold such perseverance in prayer, we feel that we have scarcely touched the fringe of real importunity in our intercessions for others.

—Earnest Worker

Oh friend, may we not forget about the importance of prayer and the patience thereof required for God to work. Do not become discourage in your prayers, but pray on for God to intercede. Here in this passage, Paul has some specific counsel on prayer.

A. The Span of Prayer - Continual

It ought to go on and on. The Believers goal when it comes to his prayer time ought to be all the time.

We should want and desire a constant communication, and open channel if you will to God. All the time.

Luke 18:1 AV

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

We often faint when it comes to do what is right, but don’t faint in this area.

I remember in the early days of our marriage, it was so much harder to keep in communication with loved ones. It cost a lot.

One or two months, my wife was home and spent time talking with family members and her mom or sister, and it racked a bill of about $250.

Now was there anything wrong with having a desire to talk to family, of course not, and you should. but it cost a lot back then.

But our communication with God is always free. As a matter fact, Jesus purchased our right to come in boldly to the throng of grace. So let take advantage of it.

B. The Study of Prayer - Watch

Be observant and study to know more about prayer. Prayer is communication with God of heaven. Like all communication, we should look to become better at it - study to be more productive with it.

We study how to communicate better with our spouse, why because we are different people, we are different biologically, emotionally, we have different desires and we want to work to make that communication become better.

Don’t you think we should do that with God. Now God does not have anything to work on, we know. But we sure do.

I like what the disciples asked, and it is what we should certainly ask as well:

Luke 11:1 AV

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

C. The Spirit of Prayer - Thanksgiving

In the midst of letting God know all of our petitions and requests, make sure you are thanking Him for what He has already done.

God has been very good to each of us. He has shown Himself faithful, time and time again - and yet we often do not thank Him, but not only is it right, but he demands it of us anyway.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 AV

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

D. The Side-note of Prayer - Ministers

“Withal praying for us...”

While we realize the importance of prayer, we also need to keep in mind the need to pray for preachers.

People who take the Gospel and preach and teach every week. Men who are pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and full time servants. You can include in this your Sunday school teacher as well.

Anyone that week in and week out communicates the Gospel and preaches or teaches to a crowd needs to prayed for.

E. The Supplier of Prayer - God

“…that God...”

God is the one who has to fill the need and give that which is asked for.

James 1:17 AV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

F. The Score for Prayer - Utterance

You could describe this several different ways, but it is the power to do what the Gospel is supposed to - see folks saved and lives changed.

It is having the Holy Spirit working through us, speaking through us and speaking to and breaking the heart of those that receive the message.

F. The Simplicity of the Petition - Clarity

v.4 That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.”

We don’t want to just preach the truth, but we God to help us to make it clear to the hearers. We want Him to take our feeble attempt and empower it to touch the lives it comes into contact with.

Clarity comes through:

1. Wisdom

The great and most important thing we can get from God is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:30 AV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

2. Knowledge

Knowledge puffs up, but with wisdom, God can use knowledge greatly.

To have clarity, we need wisdom and knowledge.

3. Walking in the Spirit

We have addressed this extensively the last few weeks, but we must allow the Spirit of God to fill us and control us.

It is not something that happens once and boom, your done, it happens as we walk by God’s side day and night, day after day. We take on his mannerisms, we become like Him and therefore He can use us more effectively with His Spirit.

4. Prayers of others

While Paul certainly needed wisdom, knowledge, and to be walking in the spirit, it should never be underestimated how much power one has because of the prayer of others for him.

I know that God enabled me overseas, not because of my talents, study, or even my walk with the Lord as much as God used the prayers of 100’s of people among the 80 or so churches that supported me that were likely praying for me daily or at least weekly as I preached, witnessed, taught and led my church on the mission field.

Oh what could do for your teacher or pastor, or evangelist, or missionary we all prayed for them and utterance like we should.

II. Concerning your Walk

Paul covered the most important thing, I believe was prayer. But now he moves to something practical - he speaks of our walk or our testimony and relationship with the world.

Remember, the world is not supposed to be our enemy. But there are also not supposed to be our closest friends either. So what do we need:

A. Wisdom toward those of the world

I need God’s wisdom in dealing with the lost while witnessing, but in general as I operate in this foreign land.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 AV

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

1 Timothy 3:7 AV

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

B. Using time wisely

Psalm 90:12 AV

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Ephesians 5:16 AV

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

III. Concerning your speech

Whether without or within the church we need to make sure our speech, our conversation, our lifestyle is the testimony that God deserves.

Matthew 10:16 AV

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

A. With Grace

Proverbs 22:17–18 AV

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

Proverbs 25:11 AV

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 AV

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

B. With Salt

Matthew 5:13 AV

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

C. With an Answer

1 Peter 3:15 AV

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

So we have some things to remember, somethings Paul was us to be concerned with:

Our prayer life, our walk in this world, and our speech before this world.

Lesson 22: Paul’s Final Concerns

Colossians 4:2-18

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