Appeal for Christian Living (Col. 3:1-4:6)
PRAYER AND ACTION
Col. 4:2-6.
INTRODUCTION
A. Christianity is not a point in life but a progression through life. Coming up out of the water is just the beginning of what we have committed ourselves to and will continue in the rest of our lives.
B. In progressing there are some things which we must put into daily action. Prayer is one of those things. It is an important part of Christian development.
C. In good or bad times, we ought always to pray. Concerning prayer, Paul said we should:
I. CONTINUE IN PRAYER - Speaking To God (4:2-4).
A. Continue in prayer (4:2).
2 ¶ Continue <4342> (5720) in prayer <4335>, and watch <1127> (5723) in <1722> the same <846> with <1722> thanksgiving <2169>;
1. continue, Strong’s - 4342. proskarterew PROSKARTEREO pros-kar-ter-eh’-o; from 4314 and 2594; to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):— attend (give self) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually)
AV-continue 4, continue instant 1, continue steadfastly 1, attend continually 1, give (one’s) self continually 1, wait on 1, wait on continually 1; 10 1) to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one 2) to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing 3) to continue all the time in a place 4) to persevere and not to faint 5) to show one’s self courageous for 6) to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly
5720 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - ImperativeSee 5794
Count-582
a. One of the identifying marks of our prayers should be the frequency with which we pray.
b. The early Christians were steadfast in attending continually to prayer (Act 2:42).
c. Jesus told his “disciples a parable to show “that men ought always to pray, and not to fain” (Luk 18:1-8).
d. Similarly, Paul wrote that Christians should persist in prayer (cf. Act 1:14; 2:46; 6:5; Rom 12:12; 1Th 5:17).
e. Being steadfast in prayer is similar to cheering a your favorite sports team. Regardless of whether they are winning or losing you still cheer for them. That means that when the XX beat the SS today you will still cheer for them.
f. Prayer always was a vital part of our Christian development and it is still (1Ti 2:1).
2. watch, Strong’s - 1127. grhgorew GREGOREUO gray-gor-yoo’-o; from 1453; to keep awake, i.e. watch (literally or figuratively):— be vigilant, wake, (be) watch(-ful)
AV-watch 21, wake 1, be vigilant 1; 23 1) to watch 2) metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active 2a) to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one
5723 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - ParticipleSee 5796
Count-2549
a. We need to continually reevaluate our lives paying close attention to them and bringing our needs to God in prayer.
b. With anything we do frequently we run the risk of it becoming dull, mechanical, monotonous, uninteresting. Through carelessness the same can happen with our prayers (cf. Mat 26:41; Mar 14:38; 1Th 5:6; 1Pe 5:8).
c. There is also always the danger through carelessness, which leads to neglect, that we will stop praying regularly or that we will be distracted while we pray (Eph 6:18).
d. Many of our problems would probably have been avoided if we had learned to watch (Act 20:28; 1Co 16:13; 2Ti 4:1-4; 1Pe 5:8).
3. with thanksgiving (1Th 5:16-18).
a. This refers to the mind set in which all our prayers should be given (1:3, 12; 2:7; 3:17).
b. We ought to seek to develop an attitude of gratitude in all things (Rom 8:28; Col 3:17; Jam 1:2-4).
4. In addition to watching and being thankful in prayer, along with doing other things in prayer, we are called upon to remember spiritual workers in prayer.
Mentioning Others In Prayer
B. ... praying also for us ... (Col 4:3-4; 1Ti. 2:1-4).
3 Withal <260> praying <4336> (5740) also <2532> for <4012> us <2257>, that <2443> God <2316> would open <455> (5661) unto us <2254> a door <2374> of utterance <3056>, to speak <2980> (5658) the mystery <3466> of Christ <5547>, for <1223> which <3739> I am <1210> <0> also <2532> in bonds <1210> (5769):
4 That <2443> I may make <5319> <0> it <846> manifest <5319> (5661), as <5613> I <3165> ought <1163> (5748) to speak <2980> (5658).
1. Paul was not the slightest behind even the “chiefest apostles” (2Co 11:5; 12:11), yet he felt a need to call on the brethren to pray for him.
a. We are given an example of praying for others in Epaphras.
(1) He was concerned about the spiritual success of other Christians.
(a) Aware of their weakness, he prayed that they would ”stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.“
(b) This should be a regular consideration each of us have in prayer for the rest of us.
(2) Of course this does not rule out concern for their physical health and material well-being (3Jo 2-3).
(3) Paul said Epaphras was, "always laboring earnestly," for the saints "in prayer" (1Th 5:17).
(4) The habit of praying for others was well established in Epaphras.
2. There were two things Paul called upon to be made in prayer for he and his companions.
a. That “God would open ... a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ” (v 3).
(1) The request was that they plead with God in prayer, that Paul and his companions be given opportunity to get into the lives of the people to whom they went, with the gospel.
(2) Are we frequently praying God will open a door in our community?
(3) It is of the utmost importance that the mystery of Christ (Col 1:26; 2:2; Eph 1:9; 3:1), the gospel, be spoken.
(a) Paul was asking for prayers that the gospel may be proclaimed.
(b) This should always be an important part of our prayers.
(c) Many people are lost each day because of the lack of the spoken word.
b. Paul also asked that prayers be made that he would proclaim it as would be proper (v 4).
(1) A lot depends on the manner in which we speak to others of the gospel.
(a) It is important in approaching people with the gospel to first find points of agreement and then work toward differences while always trying to understand why they think the way they do (Act 17:22-27, 30-31; 1Co 9:19-22).
(b) However, at all times we want to speak only the whole truth regardless of the situation.
(2) Many have been lost to further study of the Bible by thoughtlessly spoken words.
c. Epaphras not only prayed for those in his home congregation but for other congregations - Laodicea, Hierapolis.
(1) In praying for others we need to remember not only the brethren in our congregation but those in the brotherhood, as well as preachers, missionaries and the lost.
Transition: In addition to praying for the door to open, and praying that the gospel be proclaimed as it ought to be, we must be ready and willing to act on our prayers, particularly toward the lost.
II. ACTING ON PRAYER - Speaking To Others (4:5-6).
A. Walk in wisdom toward them (4:5).
5 ¶ Walk <4043> (5720) in <1722> wisdom <4678> toward <4314> them that are without <1854>, redeeming <1805> (5734) the time <2540>.
1. walk, Strong’s - 4043. peripatew PERIPATEO per-ee-pat-eh’-o; from 4012 and 3961; to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary):— go, be occupied with, walk (about)
AV-walk 93, go 1, walk about 1, be occupied 1; 96 1) to walk 1a) to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities 1b) Hebrew for, to live 1b1) to regulate one’s life 1b2) to conduct one’s self 1b3) to pass one’s life
5720 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - ImperativeSee 5794
Count-582
2. There is a right and a wrong way to conduct our lives in regard to reaching the lost with the gospel.
B. redeeming the time
1. redeeming, Strong’s - 1805. exagorazw EXAGORAZO ex-ag-or-ad’-zo; from 1537 and 59; to buy up, i.e. ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss (improve opportunity):— redeem
AV-redeem 4; 4 1) to redeem 1a) by payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off 1b) metaph. of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of his vicarious death 2) to buy up, to buy up for one’s self, for one’s use 2a) to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own
5734 Tense-PresentSee 5774
Voice-Middle See 5785
Mood - ParticipleSee 5796
Count-105
a. The idea is that we put our efforts into making the most of the opportunities we have to reach the lost both by our example and our speech.
(1) We need to use godly wisdom in living in the light of those who may be watching us for leadership or to condemn us.
(2) With our lives, we want to cause a favorable impression of the gospel and obedience toward God, in the people of our community (1Co 5:12-13; 1Th 4:12; 1Ti 3:7).
b. Three are two things we must always keep in mind if we want to redeem the time in our lives.
(1) Our view of life should be that today may be my last in this life so what would we want to do to make sure others go to heaven.
(2) Our view of life should be that our time is God's time so what should we be doing with our time in regard to the lost.
(3) Since life is brief, let's make the most the time we have in serving God.
(4) Let's not put off our work even for a moment (Neh 6:1-4).
2. There is an important consideration we need to make in our lives concerning our walk and time.
C. Let your speech (4:6; Pro 25:11; Mat 12:36; Eph 4:24; Ti 2:7-8; Jam 3:1-2, 8-10).
6 Let your <5216> speech <3056> be alway <3842> with <1722> grace <5485>, seasoned <741> (5772) with salt <217>, that ye may know <1492> (5760) how <4459> ye <5209> ought <1163> (5748) to answer <611> (5738) every <1538> man <1520>.
1. One of the obvious places that the conduct of our lives shows up is with our mouths.
2. We need to work on making our words spiritual palatable to other people.
3. The congregation here at Gospel Hill needs to be known as Gospel Hill and not gossip hill.
4. We need to take care that in answering people we hold up Christ and not our emotions toward other people.
a. Our speech should be sharing but with a purpose, to bring forth a response to the gospel (cp. 1Pe 3:15-16).
Sources Considered:
E. Hayden, Preaching Through The Bible, Collage Press, page 455.
2. W. Smitty, 300 Sermon Outlines from the New Testament, Broadman Press, page 75
3. C. Vaughan, The Expositors Bible Commentary: Colossians, page 221.
4. H. Busby, Practical Sermons Of Persuasive Power, Lambert Book House, LA, page 81.
5. G. Knighton, The Book of Colossians: The Continuing Christian, Northside Church of Christ, FL.
In charity through Christ, R ay m on d Wi s e ma n