Sermon Tone Analysis

*Date:*      3rd June 2007                                                                         (Sunday PM)                                                                        *Ref:* A0314

*Place:     Kambah P.S.*

*Title: Pray for Churches*

*Text:        *& Col 2:1-3

 

*Illust:     *Earlier on in the year we looked at some insight in how to pray for each other, for other Christians.

One of the major subjects that we need to pray for is other churches.

– Pioneer churches launched out from Conferences, churches in various stages of growth and struggle.

International churches, labourers in the harvest fields.

Brothers & Sisters that we may never meet, but they are fellow believers.

– We need to pray for them.

So tonight I want to look specifically at what we should pray for with respect to other churches.

2 Corinthians 11:28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

(NKJV)

Paul is writing a letter to believers in Colossae, in modern day Turkey.

Interestingly it appears that Paul had not as yet visited these believers, he had not met many if any of them.

But Paul is letting them know that He prays for them & the church in Laodicea

!

I.                   United and Encouraged

!! A.               Encouraged in Heart

i.                 First & vs.2a Paul wants their hearts to be encouraged – How we all need this, how much then do our brothers & sisters in Christ also need this.

ii.

Discouragement comes so easy, especially if you are going through the trials of growth, of setback, opposition, difficulties and tragedy.

We need to pray that the hearts of our friends, or family in Christ that their hearts would be encouraged, comforted.

This word ~~ *παρακαλέω* [/parakaleo/] is one that Paul uses often and it means to “to address,” “exhort,” then more specially “to encourage,” “comfort;” “to beseech” or “to instruct”

         Ephesians 6:22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

(NKJV)

         1 Thessalonians 3:2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, (NKJV)

iii.

The /heart/, in Biblical language, is not the seat of feeling only, but stands for the whole inner person, as the “vital centre” of your personality.

Mark 7:18-22 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also?

Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

(NKJV)

         Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

(NKJV)

         Ephesians 3:16-17 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (NKJV)

!! B.               United in Love

i.                 Then & vs.2b he goes on to request unity.

He is praying that that they would be of one mind, one accord, united.

– Nothing can hinder the purposes of God for a church quicker than a spirit of division, fighting, rebellion, dissensions, and jealousies.

ii.

Important that the brethren be united in love.

– an overlooking of individuals faults, foibles, bad habits and a dwelling together in unity.

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

(NKJV)

iii.

This is the desire of Jesus for His church, How much then should we pray for what Jesus also prayed for

         John 17:21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (NKJV)

            A distinctive, a proof to the world that there is a God & that Jesus is His son is to be unity within the church.

It was very definitely the experience of the early church.

Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

(NKJV)

!

II.

Attain all the True Riches

!! A.               Full Assurance

i.                 & vs.2c ~~ Pray that they would have an assurance of who they are in Jesus Christ.

The assurance that they are His children, His friends, His ambassadors, that He has promised to never leave them or forsake them.

The truth is that the more knowledge you have of Jesus Christ & of God, the more you are able to trust Him in every area of your life.

Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

(NKJV)

         1 John 3:19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

(NKJV)

ii.

Pray that they would understand that it is the knowledge of Jesus Christ that is the true riches, that they would not be led astray by the deceitfulness of the riches of this world.

Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

(NKJV)

         Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (NKJV)

iii.

They would pursue the inheritance they have in Him.

Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (NKJV)

!! B.               Understanding of the Mystery.

i.                 Knowledge is good but wisdom, understanding is the deep assurance in who Jesus is.

Pray for wisdom for your brethren.

In the context of Paul’s letter it appears that He is praying for the Colossians that this inward “assurance,” is to be likened unto a fortress, that the Colossians were to entrench themselves in against the attacks of error.

ii.

There is no doubt that there is mystery about the Kingdom of God.

We can’t understand fully the deep depths of an infinite God.

Although God has said that we can ask for Wisdom and it was one of the roles of the Holy Spirit, to reveal the things of God to us.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

(NKJV)

         John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

(NKJV)

iii.

Because there is mystery it can be easy to be led astray by false doctrine.

Wolves in sheep’s clothing You need to pray that your brethren have an understanding of the simplicity of the Gospel & Stay true to the Word of Truth received.

         1 Corinthians 15:3-4 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (NKJV)

!

III.

Opportunity and Faithfulness

!! A.               Open Door

         Colossians 4:3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, (NKJV)

i.

We need open doors; all churches need open doors, opportunities to witness, to be salt & light.

For buildings, for finances, a supernatural visitation.

         1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

(NKJV)

         2 Corinthians 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, (NKJV)

ii.

What we are about is the preaching of the Gospel to the lost.

If we are to do this effectively, if our churches around the world are to be effective then we need prayer

         2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, (NKJV)

!! B.               For the Pastor