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LIFE FOCUS. Colossians 4:2-6. 06/27/2021. #13.
Colossians 4:2-6 [New King James Version]
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the [a]mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
1. The primacy of prayer
a. Paul’s closing comments to Col. is a list of practical actions
that put his doctrinal teachings into practice
a1. There how-to-do implementations that proceed the fundamental beliefs of the faith
a2. Like OT offerings, actions do not replace faith &
beliefs, but are ways to apply them in real life
b. As in many passages, prayer is placed in the forefront
a1. Belief + study + prayer go together
a2. Jm. 4:1-4 prayer is the mechanism by which we approach God in worship, praise, & requests
c. Paul briefly gives vital aspects of proper praying:
a1. Continual = men are to always pray (I Thessalonians 5:17)
b1. Prayer is the attitude of life (spiritual breathing = constant contact with God)
b2. Not just prayer at specific times
a2. Earnest = a sincerity, fervency, & urgency in prayer (not absent-minded, rote, or flippant)
a3. Vigilant = prayer is involvement in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11-12 praying engages us in spiritual warfare)
a4. With Thanksgiving = without ongoing gratitude expressed to God for his being, blessings, & promises, prayer is a list of wants (Philippians 4:4-9)
d. Paul then elicits the prayers of Col. Christians
a1. Paul is in jail (not ask to pray for release)
a2. He asks that God would open a door for witness
b1. Witness to guards & visitors (Philippians 4:22)
b2. Taking the mysteries (hidden truths) into Caesar’s palace
a3. Paul asks that they pray that he would speak properly so that the message would be clear (making the Gospel understandable is a challenge)
2. Walking circumspectly
a. Paul urges the Col. to be wise toward unbelievers
a1. Mt. 10:16 commanded to be wise as serpents…
a2. We are to be a testimony to the lost in word/deed
b. Many was to mess up your testimony: sin, aggressiveness, silence, not following lead of Holy Spirit, insensitivity…
c. Redeeming the time = not frivolously wasting time on useless pursuits (an urgency about our calling, Ecclesiastes 2)
a1. Time management = putting things of God first (the Word, prayer, service)
a2. Enjoying what God has given us is great, especially if we praise him for it, but it is not priority 1
d. The testimony of a believer must encompass morality, kindness, holiness, prayer, Scripture, witness, worship, service, outreach, & contentment (good reputation)
3. Saint speech
a. Paul finishes his instructions by admonishing pure speech
a1. James 3 the tongue is a difficult device to control
a2. Appropriate speech must be wholesome (Ephesians 4:29)
b. Paul lists 3 qualities of proper speech:
a1. Gracious = kindness & deferring (humble, respect, patient, helpful…)
a2. Seasoned with salt = makes the Gospel & way of Christ appealing, desirable, & pleasing
a3. Understanding what is appropriate to say
c. Interacting properly with others requires the ability to listen (Jm. 1:19), be patient (I Thessalonians 5:14), be restrained (Ephesians 4:29), and be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:4)
d. A spiritual Christian = not known for crude or harsh speech
Key Verse: Philippians 4:4-94 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.