Sustained In Christ

If I can get this.

Is it?

Yep.

Got it?

All right.

In and out, in and out.

Turn with me to Colossians chapter 4.

Colossians 4 · chapter mention

As you do, I want to reiterate, it has been a blessing to go to Montana.

I was thankful to be able to be sitting beside Jason as they affirmed your congregation into

the association.

And he was thrilled, as you know Jason to be.

He was so excited.

I'm so thankful for that and so eager to see how the Lord is going to continue to grow.

Not only that association, but you as your gifts and your strengths are going to be able to make that association

just more and more faithful in that regard.

What a blessing it was for me.

That's why I wanted to go there.

I am a part of the Southeast Association as well, and so that was a piece of that.

But I wanted to be sitting there beside Jason when that happened.

And then to be able to come here after many, many months of being able to pray and be a means of encouragement.

You guys, you know how this works.

You pray for missionaries.

But man, it's so much better if you can see them and see their face and see their family

and know who they are and interact with them.

And now you can pray for them more particularly and carefully.

And so thank you for that benefit.

I've been praying for you guys without many faces.

And so now I'm able to pray for you.

And we as a congregation will be able to pray for you with faces and names.

And when you share particular concerns, we'll be able to know specifically those who are going through those things.

And so I am here this morning on behalf of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

And I greet you in their name and with their authority.

And I'm seeking to be faithful to honor our Lord Jesus Christ,

but also be faithful to each of you this morning as we come to God's Word together.

Have your Bibles there open to Colossians chapter 4.

Colossians 4 · chapter mention

This is where we're going to be.

I'd like for us to...

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Let's see if I can get that.

I'd like for us to be there at the beginning of Colossians 4 for our time.

Let me pray.

Ask the Lord to grant us His grace that we may hear and receive His Word this morning.

This is a prayer of illumination.

And then our prayer will be that the Lord will, in His kindness, speak to us through His Word this morning.

And so let's go to the Lord in prayer, and then we will begin our time.

Almighty Father, Maker and Sustainer, Good Shepherd,

refuge of our weary souls that are here this morning,

You tell of Your glory, Your power, Your majesty through Your creation.

You have spoken of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness throughout the generations through Your prophets.

You came and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation, the firstborn from the dead,

the preeminent and worthy of all praise, adoration, and worship, Jesus Christ our Savior.

Grant us, I pray, Father in heaven, Your Spirit this morning,

that we might look to Christ as our great hope,

trust Christ as our sufficient joy,

love Christ as our satisfaction and pleasure forevermore,

reveal the foolishness of our hearts

when we go after empty, earthly ambitions, trinkets.

These make so many amazing promises to us,

and yet, Lord, they have proven over and over again to be barren,

to be useless, to be damning to our souls.

May we see Jesus Christ this morning.

Father, cause us to cast away the worthless longings and joys

that this world seeks to press upon us,

and may we be thrilled this morning.

With the preeminence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

So, you guys are a few years old as a church.

Our congregation is 24 years old.

And I want you to know that the greatest blessing of your life

can and will be through what God is doing through you

and the congregation that God's placed you in.

These are eternal things.

And the chaos of life often causes us to forget that

and make us think that so many other things are more important,

and yet, our Lord has told us,

better is the end of a thing than its beginning.

This is Ecclesiastes 7.

You're here this morning.

All of you have certain places that you're at in your life

and your struggles and your different things that you're in.

But here you are.

And the question you've asked yourself

and the question we ask ourselves often

is not just,

how am I going to make it through the next few days

or the next few weeks

or the things that we have in front of us.

The real question is,

will I persevere to the end?

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.

All of us can start out strong.

How many books have you started to read?

And you might even say you've read them,

but really you only got through the first chapter maybe or so.

Our lives are that way.

And I want to encourage us this morning

toward perseverance.

Because that's what really matters.

And that's what really we need to all have

as our ambition and our aim.

Because all of us have responsibilities and callings

and people that look at us,

maybe even for our faith.

And that may be great and wonderful,

but when they stand over our grave,

will they still say,

that man, that woman was faithful?

Man, I hope so.

Right?

I hope so.

So how do we persevere?

What is it that will cause us to persevere?

John Owen,

one of the favorites in way of English Puritans for so many,

he writes a book entitled,

or a little paperback,

I would encourage you to get it from Banner of Truth,

entitled Glory of Christ.

It is fantastic.

It's great.

I would encourage you to read it.

Near the end,

he talks about,

what do we do as we're nearing death,

or as we're growing old,

to persevere?

To persevere.

He talks about how,

when we near the end of this work,

we are seeking to look to the Lord,

and too often,

and too often,

even in our weaknesses,

we can feel as if our lives,

and even our faith,

is unraveling.

I used to,

as a young believer,

believe that if I really,

really hit it hard,

like I did in college,

right before the test,

really hit it hard,

and was really faithful,

and did really well,

that by the time you become old,

being a Christian is going to be easy,

and I'm just going to be kind of coasting along,

and I don't want to discourage you in this,

but as you get older,

the Lord just brings up those sins,

that were just deeper,

than you knew you even had,

and there's new challenges,

new things,

that are coming along.

So,

in our old age,

as we grow older,

as we continue,

Owen mentions two things,

that he mentions here,

in the latter part of this volume,

called Glory of Christ.

He says,

there are two things,

which those who,

after a long profession of faith,

in the gospel,

they are going to need to address,

he calls these,

the confinements,

or the borders,

that should be around us,

as we face eternity together.

He says,

one of these things,

that we need to be concerned about,

are our faults,

that need to be repaired,

our decays,

that need to be recovered,

and our backslidings,

that need to be healed.

He said,

it is easy in old age,

to begin taking those too lightly,

because they've been around for so long,

that you begin just to kind of,

see them as normal.

He said,

as we grow older,

into faith,

we need to take those things up.

And then he goes on,

and he says,

the second thing we need to consider,

as we grow in our faith,

as we profess the Lord longer,

is he speaks of,

the other is that,

we may have these fresh springs,

of spiritual life,

vigorous actings,

of all divine graces,

in spiritual mindedness,

holiness,

fruitfulness,

to the praise of God,

the honor of the gospel,

and the increase,

of their own peace and joy.

Now that's a Puritan sentence.

They like to use a lot of words,

and bring everything together there.

So Owen shows us,

how one might receive,

both repair,

for one's stubborn fractions,

infractions,

but also fresh springs,

of divine grace,

to renew our fervor,

in our final days.

What does Owen say,

will do this,

necessary thing,

that we need,

in our older profession,

of faith?

What is it that's necessary,

he says?

He says,

look to Christ.

He said,

look to Christ,

a steady,

this is what I'm quoting Owen here,

a steady spiritual view,

of the glory of Christ,

by faith,

will give us,

a gracious revival,

from inward decays,

and fresh springs,

of grace,

even in our latter days.

This is exactly,

what David,

the king,

in Old Testament,

speaks of.

Those who look to him,

are radiant,

and their faces,

shall never be ashamed.

Psalm 34, 5.

This is what Isaiah,

the great prophet,

of the Old Testament,

speaks of,

when he says in Isaiah 45,

Isaiah 45:22

verse 22,

turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth,

for I am God,

and there is no other.

Turn to me,

he says,

Isaiah.

And this is what,

Paul,

is calling the Colossian congregation,

and us this morning,

to,

in our text,

in Colossians chapter 4.

Colossians 4 · chapter mention

I want you to notice with me,

in Colossians chapter 3.

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

Look with me,

just turn a page over here.

We're going to be looking at various passages,

in Colossians,

but we're going to be honing in,

on Colossians 4.

Colossians 3,

Colossians 3:1

verse 1,

notice what he's doing here.

If then you have been raised,

with Christ,

seek the things that are above,

where Christ is,

seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds,

on the things that are above,

not on the things,

that are on earth.

Paul continues,

in chapter 3,

to give a very practical,

very practical ways,

we are to live,

as we seek the things above.

Isn't that vague?

Seek the things above.

What does that look like?

Am I just simply,

supposed to sit somewhere,

and meditate,

on the clouds coming by?

No,

he's very practical,

in Colossians chapter 3.

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

He speaks of this,

seeking the things,

that are above.

And then he goes on,

he says,

in verse 5,

notice there,

it says,

put to death,

what is earthly.

We're also,

according to verse 12 then,

to put on then,

compassionate hearts.

Now,

if you don't think,

that's personal enough,

notice as Paul does,

he continues here,

and he says,

how are we to,

set our minds,

on the things above,

where Christ is?

Wives are to submit,

to their husbands,

husbands are to love,

their wives,

children are to obey,

their parents,

fathers are not to provoke,

their children,

bond servants,

are to obey,

obey the masters,

and treat their bond servants,

justly and fairly.

Reading through,

chapter 3 then,

we may become,

overwhelmed,

at just how,

personal,

and intimate,

and in our lives,

it really is.

It's unceasing,

influence of Christ's,

preeminence then,

that we find earlier,

in Colossians 1,

speaking of Christ's,

preeminence,

is in every area,

of our lives,

is rubbed into,

the very,

the very,

very small spots,

of our lives in fact.

So Paul closes,

this significant list,

of direct imperatives,

by showing us,

how we might be sustained,

this is what I'm talking about,

persevering,

in this new life,

saturated,

and consumed,

with Christ's,

rightful,

preeminence,

in our lives.

Will we be sustained,

in this?

Well,

I think all of us,

right mind,

even in our right mind,

would say,

well if it was up to me,

no.

If it was up to my strength,

my energy,

my effort,

my abilities,

none of us,

I think,

can say,

we will not be sustained.

Unless the Lord,

holds us up,

we will all fall,

in an instant.

So then,

what we have here,

then,

is Paul saying,

well if this,

is all the different aspects,

where Christ's preeminence,

is supposed to be in our lives,

how might we be sustained,

what is it then,

that Paul is calling,

this Colossian congregation,

and us today,

to do,

in order to sustain,

a fervency,

in this life,

in Christ,

cherishing,

his preeminence,

in all things.

Very practical.

Very practical.

He's asking us,

to do two things.

Here's the two points,

for the message this morning.

Two things.

Point number one,

continue steadfastly,

in prayer.

You see this here,

in verses two through four.

I'm getting ready,

to read these passages,

for you.

And then point number two,

walk wisely,

toward outsiders.

Verses five through six.

Point number one,

continue steadfastly,

in prayer.

Verses two through four.

And then,

point number two,

walk wisely,

toward outsiders.

Verses five through six.

Look with me.

Verse two.

Continue steadfastly,

in prayer,

being watchful,

in it,

with thanksgiving.

At the same time,

pray also,

for us,

that God may open,

to us,

a door,

for the word,

to declare,

the mystery of Christ,

on account of which,

I am in prison,

that I may make it clear,

which is how I ought to speak.

Verse five.

Walk in wisdom,

toward outsiders,

making the best use,

of the time.

Let your speech,

always be gracious,

seasoned with salt,

so that you may know,

how you ought to answer,

each person.

This is the text,

we'll be looking at this morning,

and seeking to understand,

by God's grace.

We see here,

that Paul,

point number one,

continues steadfastly,

in prayer.

We see here,

that Paul,

is not simply,

suggesting,

the value of prayer,

in our text.

But instead,

no one said,

we find here,

that Paul's,

insistence upon prayer,

being a constant,

part of our lives.

In other words,

and this is important,

I think some of us,

misunderstand this.

Our text,

is not speaking here,

of the intensity,

of our prayers,

but the,

consistency,

of our prayers.

Sometimes,

again,

like the college student,

that hits it real hard,

right before the night,

before the exam,

we think our prayers,

are that way.

I don't have to pray,

as much,

but when I do pray,

I need to be really,

really fervent,

and just kind of,

come at it hard,

and then I can,

lay off for a few more weeks.

No,

here what we find,

is that,

it is not the intensity,

of our prayers,

but the consistency,

of the prayers,

that we find,

that Paul is,

encouraging us in.

Our lives,

are to be marked,

by habitual,

frequent,

persistent prayer.

Paul then,

gives us,

two characteristics,

of our prayers,

that will help us,

in our persistence.

who here,

don't raise your hand,

can say,

I pray enough,

I mean,

I'm,

I'm,

I'm killing it,

I pray all the time,

and I do plenty,

and I don't think I need to do anymore.

None of us,

right?

So how can we,

persist,

more faithfully,

more carefully,

how can we persevere,

in this prayers?

First,

we see,

that our prayers,

are to be watchful,

are to be watchful.

You see here,

in verse two,

this persistent prayer,

is rooted,

in a discipline,

that has been,

all but lost,

in our day to day.

And this discipline,

is historically,

being called,

watchfulness.

However,

this call,

is something,

we see,

over and over again,

in scripture.

Jesus himself,

calls his disciples,

to this.

Mark chapter 14,

Mark 14:38

verse 38,

Jesus says,

to his disciples,

watch and pray,

that you may not,

enter into temptation.

Do we need to watch,

and pray guys?

Absolutely.

The spirit is,

indeed willing,

but the flesh is weak,

Jesus tells,

his disciples.

He tells us.

Peter,

the apostle,

warns the saints,

of his day,

be sober minded,

be watchful.

Your adversary,

the devil,

prowls around,

like a roaring lion,

seeking someone,

to devour.

This is why,

we need to be watchful.

We see that these texts,

are not simply speaking,

of staying awake,

while praying,

and that's,

that's a,

that's a thing.

But instead,

they seem to be speaking,

of this watchfulness,

with an eye,

to an imminent end,

of the world's agenda,

to the return of our Savior.

We're praying,

watching for,

that end,

looking for,

how is it,

Lord,

that you're bringing,

these things together.

Therefore,

it will be right,

to pray,

with fervent watchfulness,

and to say,

O Lord,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth,

as it is in heaven.

Come,

O Lord Jesus,

come quickly,

as the end of our Bible says.

However,

this watchfulness,

watchfulness,

is not simply,

a praying,

that is,

constantly looking,

to the clouds,

for the Lord's return.

But instead,

this watchfulness,

is a diligent,

watching,

of one's own life,

in light of Christ's return.

In other words,

this call to watchfulness,

is not simply,

an eye to the future,

but it is,

a careful,

and diligent,

guarding,

of our hearts,

from the coldness,

toward God,

and indifference,

to His righteousness,

and holiness,

that we are all,

so apt to,

fall into.

Again,

John Owen,

the Puritan,

can help us here.

Owen,

defines watchfulness,

in this way.

Owen,

defines watchfulness,

as,

a universal,

carefulness,

and diligence,

exercising itself,

in and by all ways,

and means,

prescribed by God,

over our hearts,

and our ways.

So not only,

the things that we're doing,

but also what's happening,

inside of us.

The bait,

and methods,

of Satan,

we're supposed to be,

watching over those things.

How is it that,

Satan uniquely baits,

and tempts me,

or you,

as we're thinking,

through these things.

This is the watchfulness.

The occasions,

and advantages,

of sin,

in the world,

that we,

that we be not,

entangled to them.

Excuse me.

Let me state it this way,

and it may be helpful,

our congregation,

has found this helpful.

And this may be,

just a good test,

for us,

to see,

how we need to,

lean in,

to this,

this wonderful watchfulness.

Yesterday,

think about yesterday,

your yesterday.

It's different than mine,

I hope,

for a couple reasons.

Yesterday,

to the degree,

that you prayed,

the amount,

that you prayed yesterday,

is exactly equal,

to the degree,

that you felt like,

you needed God.

no more,

and no less.

The degree,

or the amount,

that you prayed yesterday,

is exactly equal,

to the amount,

that you thought,

you needed God.

No more,

and no less.

you only continue,

steadfastly in prayer,

if you understand,

the great dangers,

and the amazing assaults,

that are around us,

in the world,

that we're in,

regularly.

If you're in desperate need,

for the Lord,

what are you going to do?

Well,

you're going to pray.

And if you have it all,

figured out,

and you've got it,

and you can handle this,

this is okay,

guess what you're not going to do?

You're not going to pray.

Only if you begin,

to acknowledge,

the dullness,

and the coldness,

and the indifference,

of your own heart,

will you turn,

to constant,

steadfast prayer,

doing this with watchfulness,

knowing that,

the Lord has to do something,

in your heart.

But don't make the mistake here,

what are,

what are you watching for?

You are not to be,

diving into,

a,

a,

a deep introspection,

of your own soul here.

A self-help evaluation,

what are the,

calendar things,

I need to change,

what are the agenda things,

I need to change,

that's not what I'm speaking of.

When I'm speaking of,

watchfulness here,

you know this watchfulness,

is a,

a vigilant,

tenacious,

attention,

to Christ,

in your life.

Setting your,

eyes upon Christ.

We will do this,

how,

how do you do this?

Well,

how do I do this?

Well,

turn to prayer.

Turn to the Lord in prayer.

Cry out to Him.

Persistent,

looking to Christ,

seeking His face,

setting your mind and heart on Him,

that He might warmly stir,

a love,

the mercy,

the affection,

of Him in you,

comes when we,

when we pray.

And when we realize how much that,

how valuable that is in our lives,

we might even set aside,

lingering time of prayer,

and say,

Lord,

I need to sit here,

and just pause,

and listen,

and be silent,

and cry out,

and explain my heart,

and ask for you,

to grant me grace.

Listen,

brothers and sisters,

our Father,

the Lord Jesus Christ,

is seated at the right hand of God.

And He's going to return.

And we can cry out to Him.

He wants to hear His saints,

His people,

cry out to Him.

Because there will be a day,

when Christ,

who is your life,

will appear,

Colossians 3,

4,

if you want to look at it,

then you also,

will appear with Him in glory.

If that's your heart,

that is a blessing.

If that's not your heart,

you're like,

oh man,

I'm just so far away from that.

Ask Him,

Lord,

would you give me that?

Lord,

would you,

would,

why would the Lord not answer,

that prayer?

That prayer of all,

why would the Lord not answer that prayer?

Lord,

allow me to have a heart,

that longs for your appearing,

that when you also appear,

that I might be with you in glory.

Because of indwelling sin,

and the world's influences,

Satan's cunning,

we must realize that,

like gravity,

these are always pulling us away from Christ.

If we ever put it in neutral,

we're not going to remain in that spot,

we're going to glide down the hill.

So if you do not have a fervent passion for Christ,

and regularly being reminded,

I've got to come back to Christ here,

His righteousness,

His holiness,

and His love,

then let me serve to you a warning this morning.

Some need to hear this.

You've already left your post,

and you're off your watch.

You're not being watchful.

Turn back.

Ask the Lord for repentance.

And turn back.

Our prayers are to be not only watchful,

but as well,

they're to be thankful.

It's hard.

Do you know of a praying person

that's also a grumbling person?

You don't.

Because someone who's constantly coming to the Lord in prayer

is one who is thankful.

Glaring gratitude.

That's what prayers are.

We may come to prayer

with hearts heavy and burdened,

but while in the prayer

we are able to reflect

upon the lavish supply of Christ,

and we are thankful,

despite all of our real struggles,

despite our pains and sorrows in the life,

Christ comes shining through.

We can say,

yes, Lord,

and all of these things,

and yet,

think about it,

a lot of times,

those things that our hearts are so burdened over

and struggling

and difficulties,

difficulties,

were they ever promised to us forever anyway?

They weren't.

We just love them so much

and they've been such a good blessing

from the Lord to us

that we think,

well, maybe we're to live the rest of our lives

with this blessing or this good.

Each and every one of us

are going to set aside

each and every one of these temporal blessings,

all of which that were to point us

and to remind us

and to thrill us

and to stir us to what?

The glory of Christ.

If it's not doing that

and we're anchoring our hearts in these things,

what will cause us to persevere?

Because that's the hard part, right?

When these things start being pulled away from us,

even our health.

Is Christ enough?

Yes.

He is.

He is.

And even if you're in church all your life,

you'll ask that question

when these hard challenges come.

Is Christ enough?

Yes.

Yes.

Ask those questions

not only to brothers and sisters around you,

but to our Lord.

Christ, I want you to be enough.

We find that the more we reflect upon Christ,

the more our hearts will turn to prayer and thanksgiving.

In this short book of Colossians,

we can't read more than just a couple paragraphs

without seeing Paul

turning his heart to gratitude

and pouring out gratitude

over and over again.

Look at Colossians 1, verse 3.

Colossians 1:3

Look here.

Colossians 1, 3.

It says,

We always thank God,

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

when we pray to you.

See that in Colossians 1, 3?

Colossians 1, 12.

Giving thanks to the Father

who has qualified you

to share in the inheritance of the saints

in light.

Giving thanks to the Father.

Now look at chapter 2, verse 7.

Rooted and built up in Him

and established in the faith

just as you were taught

abounding.

How?

In thanksgiving.

Look at chapter 3, verse 17.

Whatever you do

in word or deed,

do everything

in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Giving thanks to God,

the Father,

through Him.

So,

our prayers are to be watchful

if they're going to persist.

But our persistent prayers

also need to be focused.

This is the second characteristic

that Paul gives to us here

in Colossians 4.

The perseverance in prayer

is also to be focused prayer.

And it might be better to say here

targeted prayer.

You see here in verses 3 and 4

both what He is wanting them

to pray for, verse 3,

and why He is asking them

to pray these prayers.

Simply put,

our prayers will never persist,

continue steadfastly,

as our passage here says,

if they are random,

wandering, aimless prayers.

Dear Jesus,

be with me all day

and for everybody

all over the place

and also the missionaries.

Amen.

You've heard those prayers,

right?

You've prayed those prayers, maybe.

We see that Paul gives

the Colossians a target,

a focus

for their prayers.

He says here

in our passage,

at the same time,

pray also for us

that God may open to us

a door for the Word

to declare the mystery of Christ.

Do you see how specific

he's being?

We see here that Paul

calls the Colossian congregation

and to pray

not for him.

Notice,

Paul here is not saying

pray for me

nor for anyone

else specifically,

but instead

he's praying

that the Word

may go forward.

Paul does here

what other New Testament

writers often do.

He personifies

the very Word of God

as if

the Word of God

is moving

and working

and changing

and shaping

God's people.

And it is.

It is.

We don't see it,

but we pray for it

and we trust our Lord

for it.

Paul is wanting

the Word

to continue to do

what it has done

in the midst

of the church

there in Colossae.

Chapter 1

of Colossians

verse 6,

or excuse me,

verse 3.

Colossians 1

Colossians 1:3

verse 3 says,

We always

thank God,

there's our thankfulness,

the Father of the Lord

Jesus Christ

when we pray for you

since we heard

of your faith

in Christ Jesus

and the love

that you have

for all the saints

because of the hope

laid up for you

in heaven.

Listen,

of this

you have heard

before where

in the word

of the truth

the gospel,

listen to what he says here,

which has come to you

as indeed

in the whole world,

what is it doing?

It is bearing fruit

and increasing

as it also does

among you

since the day

you heard it

and understood

the grace of God

and truth.

faith.

This word,

this gospel advancement

is God's unfolding

plan for the world

to know and worship

the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is what we have

in our passage here

in Colossians 4

that's spoken of

as the mystery

of Christ

that we are

to persistently

pray for.

We notice something

interesting

in the last phrase

here

in verse 4

on account

of which

I am in prison.

You see that?

Here Paul

is giving us

an idea

of just how

necessary

and committed

he is

to see the word

of God

go forward

at the cost

of even

his imprisonment.

And yet

Paul did not

ask the Colossians

to pray for his release.

Isn't that interesting?

This man's in prison.

I mean the prayer

that I would pray

and I think the prayer

that we would pray

pray that the Lord

will release me

from prison

and all by the way

may the word of God

be, I mean

I wouldn't leave it out.

I hope I'm more spiritual

than that, right?

And we are.

No.

He doesn't even mention that.

He's saying

the point here

is that the word of God

goes forward.

If somebody asks you

we have two families

every Sunday

two covenant families

every Sunday

that we pray for

specifically

throughout the week.

And it's become

a regular pattern

in our congregation

where those two families

typically get approached

on Sunday

that they are going

to be prayed for

for that week.

We mention them

at the beginning

of the service

and then many

in the congregation

go up to those

different individuals

that are members

of our church

and say

how can I pray

for you this week?

You know how hard

that question can be

if we don't get

asked that very often?

So begin thinking

about this.

how can the word

of God

run and speed

forward

and excel

and spread

and flourish

in your life

and in the things

that are around you?

You can begin

thinking about

how to

specifically

how focused

do I need to be

at asking others

to pray for me

and that will help us

begin praying

in our own hearts

and our own ways

specifically in this way.

when you and I pray

when you

when you and I pray

we're often

too often

or we're

too often

more concerned

with our release

from the difficulties

that we find

ourselves in

and that becomes

the focus of our prayer

instead of

how the Lord

is opening doors

in the midst

of our difficulties

and sorrows

and hardships

and largely

think about this

how would the Lord

get into that area

if that hardship

didn't exist?

A lot of times

if you think about it

you realize

wait a minute

unless this hardship

exists

I wouldn't have

access for the gospel

here

and yet the Lord

places us

in our lives

and he placed Paul

in prison

so that the gospel

can go forward

even human attempts

to shut down

the gospel

through Paul

did not seem

to diminish

the gospel

or cause it

to stalemate

the focus

of our prayers

is the propagation

of God's word

in our midst

what is it

that you and I

pray for?

is it that God's

powerful word

would be accomplished

its end

in our life

in your needs

in your marriage

in your family

in your workplace

in your own

very heart

if not

I've got good news

for you

turn to prayer

the Lord

would love

to answer

that prayer

Lord give me

a heart

that desires

for your word

to go forward

and help me be

help me be focused

help me be targeted

to see how your word

is moving

and working

in the lives

around me

and in my own heart

and need to start

with me Lord

2 Thessalonians 3

1 says

finally brothers

pray for us

Paul's saying this

finally brothers

pray for us

that the word

of the Lord

may speed ahead

and be honored

as happened

among you

I read that

this morning

in reviewing

this sermon

and I thought

that's exactly

what's happening

at Reformed Heritage

Baptist Church

as the word

of God

is going forward

and speeding

among you

it is among us

and we can pray

for each other

in that very end

and know

that Christ

will come one day

and gather for himself

the saints

and we will be

with him in glory

we do not

have a bitter end

we have a glorious end

and we can pray

with that kind

of fervency

wouldn't that

cause us to persist

in prayer

absolutely

let me give you

an example

hopefully the

children will

remember this

example

some

the kind of prayer

we'll often find

in our lives

and in the world

around us

serious opposition

this kind of prayer

that I'm speaking of

it did for Paul

he ended up in prison

and it did also

for an Old Testament

man that many of us

know

Daniel

you remember Daniel

the Old Testament

prophet here

it also did

it also caused

opposition and struggle

for Paul

in this way

but Daniel

Daniel did not

grow casual

or even

lean away

from prayer

but instead

the opposition

caused him

to be more

strengthened

in his prayer

Paul and Daniel

both became

more resolved

to persist

in prayer

when hardship

came

and I'll say

just as a

pastor that's been

around for a while

this breaks my heart

when a brother

or sister

that's been around

for a really long time

and some just

horrendous hardship

happens in our life

and I call them

to prayer

and I want to go

and pray with them

and we want to

gather around them

as a congregation

and say let's walk

together with the

Lord in this

and if the

Lord's going to

take this away

from me

I've had enough

I'm walking away

it's hard

but it happens

we pray

Lord

create

a love

for the glory

of Christ

in this person

that's greater

than the thing

that they're losing

that they think

is ultimate

and it never

should have been

the high officials

of the day

in Daniel's day

devised a plan

to remove

Daniel's influence

with the king

remember how Daniel

was able to just

go to the king

and talk to him

all the time

well the officials

didn't like that

and so

so the

the officials

wanted to

cause Daniel's

influence

to be

turned away from

and so they had

the king

issue

an injunction

against anyone

praying

except to

the king himself

the king

signed this

injunction

thinking

this is a great

idea

the only

one that

anybody in my

kingdom can pray

to is me

that's what

the king

thought

Daniel 6

10 says

this

when Daniel

knew

that the

document

had been

signed

he went

to his

house

where he

had windows

where he

had his

windows

in the

upper

chamber

open

toward

Jerusalem

and he

got down

on his

knees

three times

a day

and prayed

and gave

thanks

before his

God

I find it

so interesting

that Daniel

6

1 says

that

when Daniel

knew

that the

document

had been

signed

this is

going to

cost me

my life

but I'm

going to

pray

I simply

wanted to

mention this

example to

say that

when Paul

is calling

us here

in our

text

is nothing

less than

what his

people were

called to

throughout the

history of

the church

that diligent

fervent

prayer

and it'll

never come

easy

the reason

you don't

pray like

you want

to isn't

because of

your schedule

it isn't

because of

your due

list

it isn't

because of

the family

the Lord

placed you

in

it isn't

because of

your boss

it isn't

because of

your surroundings

it's because

prayer is war

and we're

going before

our God

asking him

to confront

the principalities

of the air

only those

who see

this utter

emptiness

and lack

and desperately

long for

more of

Christ

to satisfy

the lack

in their

own souls

and the

souls of

those around

them

will pray

Psalm 16

1 and 2

preserve me

O God

for in you

I take refuge

I say to

the Lord

you are my

Lord

listen to this

last part

I have

no good

apart from

you

I have no

good

apart from

you

Psalm 16

11

you make

known to me

the path

of life

in your

presence

there is

fullness of

joy

and at

your right

hand

are pleasures

forevermore

do you

believe that

do you

believe that

I know you

know it

I know you've

heard it

does your soul

believe that

pray

Psalm 16

Psalms 16:11

verse 11

ask the Lord

to give you

that heart

again

many of us

would say

Lord give me

that again

I remember

when my heart

was there

give it to me

again

the second

point is

going to be

shorter

but let me

jump in

here

walk wisely

toward outsiders

and this is

verses 5

and 6

we will be

sustained in the

preeminence of

Christ in our

lives and those

around us

through our

prayers

our speaking

with the

Lord

having become

steadfast

watchful and

focused in our

prayers

then we are

able to

live and

speak with

those outside

of the church

faithfully

and best

we see here

in verse 5

those who

trusted Christ

in this

small

congregation

in this

big town

of

Colossae

opposed

those that

are in the

town

opposed

Christ

and his

teaching

big town

little bitty

congregation

do you know

what I'm

talking about

do you get

an idea

of what I'm

talking about

big town

that's opposed

to the gospel

and the things

of Christ

little congregation

man that can

feel overwhelming

that can feel

like man what

are we doing

this is just

a drop

in an ocean

the Colossian

congregation

were the

minority

for sure

so Paul

was calling

them to

live wisely

toward those

that are

outside

the church

not to

beat them

up

not to

berate

them

not to

go after

them

not to

criticize

them

no

instead

notice

what it

says

here

walk in

wisdom

toward

outsiders

you see

that there

in our

passage

it's

important

to

understand

that our

days

are few

and thus

we need

to

according to

our passage

look at

it again

make the

best use

of the

time

this

phrase

has

the idea

of buying

up

time

time

and now

some of

you

who

are

of my

age

or maybe

a little

older

that have

that were

weaned and

grew up on

the treasured

King James

version of the

Bible

and memorize

most of your

scripture memory

verses are in

King James

I still

most of my

scripture memory

I go

I revert back

to King James

and that's a

good thing

but the King

James translation

says and I

think they speak

of it better

here

of this

idea of

buying back

our time

it says here

the King

James says

redeeming the

time

instead of

make the

best use

of the

time

we're to

live as if

every moment

counts

we should

not waste

our moments

without considering

how they

should be

used

under

the rule

reign and

lordship

and preeminence

of Christ

back when

there was

this

there used

to be

these things

called

checkbooks

and I