Showing Christ in the World

I trust you've been encouraged and challenged as we've been making our way through the book of Colossians together.

! The number of times where thankfulness and prayer kind of come together.

! Well, they're going to come together again for us this morning as we begin to study Colossians chapter 4, beginning in verse 2.

Colossians 4 · chapter mention

It says, continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Again, thanks and prayer coming together.

Last month we kind of celebrated a month of prayer.

This month we're kind of carrying out a month of thanks, kind of devoting attention to thanksgiving.

And part of thanksgiving has been our harvest offering that we want to continue to encourage you to contribute towards.

We're asking for about $40,000 for the sake of several of our missionaries.

And kind of strategic initiatives that will help them to be more effective in the ministry that they're a part of.

You can see that in your harvest offering brochure.

But things like coming alongside some missionaries who are a part of teaching and training pastors and Christian leaders.

Those who are doing church planting, a chance for us to kind of work on or think about ministry here at home with a soccer camp.

And also with the bus stop across the way.

And maybe being able to help provide a kind of an enclosure, a shelter for people who are using the bus stop.

Just a way for us to neighbor in a very tangible way.

But each time along this week we want to present you with a missionary.

And this morning we're going to let you see and listen from the Bells who are serving our church.

Hi, hello, Maranatha.

We are the Bells and we're coming to you from Cape Town, South Africa.

Yeah, we just wanted to share a few testimonies of the Lord's faithfulness in our ministry over here.

And yeah, many of you know that ministry can be really hard and full of unknowns and surprises.

And so it's important to just reflect on the positive things and the way that the Lord has worked.

Yeah, we're grateful to serve a faithful, constant God.

And we have just continued to see those testimonies of a steadfast love and faithfulness to us.

The church is growing.

In fact, this Sunday we're bringing in another 10 members.

And so we're grateful to see all of that.

And also being able to invest all year in developing further leaders.

Helping to fill roles that we're currently filling as we hope to launch out in the next year or so from that church to plant.

And in that vein, our home Bible study is one of those things that's been growing tremendously.

And we've had a good influx of folks from our community that have invested themselves in there.

We've gotten to know them and they've gone on and gotten involved in the church.

And so we're excited to see what the Lord's going to do in all these things.

But also in the last year, some other additional testimonies of his faithfulness is being able to open new doors for us.

And being able to proclaim the gospel in new places from the campus of the University of the Western Cape to further opportunities to minister among Muslims.

To being able to teach a systematic theology class at a local film school, for example.

But we appreciate your prayers.

The Lord is continuing to be faithful and declaring his goodness and his grace.

And we have an opportunity to help train some men to faithfully preach and proclaim the gospel in a gospel desert in Oates Wharton in December.

And so ask specifically for your prayers that first weekend in December as we go out there and try to bring along some other men,

some other brothers together and teach them to continue to proclaim this faithful God and the good news of his gospel.

So thank you for your partnership in doing so.

And we'll be excited to be sharing soon even more.

Thanks, Maranatha.

Bye.

Bye.

So thank you for your partnership with our missionaries.

Isn't it?

It's really neat to be able to not only hear from our missionaries,

but to just kind of get a taste of what God is doing through their lives and to be a part of that work through prayers and through financial contributions.

So thank you for the way that you are contributing to the needs of the saints

and helping to build thanksgivings to God through your love for them in this way.

We're back in our study in Colossians and we're kind of wrapping up.

We've got just two weeks to go.

And of course, you would expect the Apostle Paul is going to end on the notes that he's begun.

This concept of thanksgiving, this idea of prayer that he wants to continue to bring back to the church

and help them to understand and recognize the significance of what God has called them to.

We've been working through the gospel or the letter to the Colossians,

and we've seen the significance of doctrine, the theology of who Christ is,

and recognizing that theology isn't just something that's supposed to fill our heads,

but theology is supposed to bury itself out in the way we live.

The doctrine that you have is a doctrine that's meant to be put to work.

And so last week we got to see some gospel pictures, some theological pictures,

that begin to press in to the lifeblood of families in particular.

The Apostle Paul encouraged submission of wives.

He encouraged love of husbands.

He encouraged obedience of children and of servants.

And all of that was, of course, to show this portrait of Christ.

Who is Christ?

Not just what he has communicated about himself theologically,

but how does the doctrine of God play out in the way you live?

Well, this morning we're going to see how that theology now plays out

in how we live towards outsiders.

Not just within a family, but now how it plays out in how we live in a watching world.

Turn with me, if you would, to Colossians chapter 4.

Colossians 4 · chapter mention

We're going to begin in verse 2.

And we're going to start, we're going to see five hallmarks,

five activities that will be true of those who love Jesus,

disciples of Christ, who want to show Christ.

What will they do?

There are five things we're going to look at this morning.

Let me read this for us, and then we'll jump into our passage.

It says,

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'm in prison,

that I may make it clear which is how I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom towards 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.

How does a person who loved Jesus walk?

How does a person who is a disciple of Christ

begin to show Christ,

show good, rich, true theology in their life?

Well, the Apostle Paul begins here

by focusing and concentrating some attention

on prayer that depends on God.

Those who love God,

those who trust God,

those who want to please God,

will demonstrate that dependence on God

through prayer.

Prayer that depends on God.

This command, continue steadfastly.

It is this present imperative

that expresses this everyday part of life,

this constant present activity

that should be true of every believer.

It's one word in the Greek,

and it means to persist,

or to keep, or to endure, to remain.

It came to be used of a boat

that was always kind of standing at the ready,

kind of waiting for the individual

who needed to be transported

from one place to the other.

Kind of what we got to see a bit

in the Gospel of Luke

as the disciples were there on the shore,

and their boat was at the ready

to take Jesus out, out.

Maybe a better example would be of a taxi.

And those of you who have ever been in a big city,

and I don't think Columbus really qualifies for that,

but been maybe to a city of Los Angeles

or to the city of New York,

and have been in the airport,

and you know how it usually works,

where the taxis will line up

as the people are unloading from the airport

and needing to make their way

to the various places across the city.

this readiness and this attentiveness

of the taxi drivers

who are standing at the ready,

ready to respond

and to whisk that person

to the place of their destination.

And here again,

we're reminded of readiness,

a ready heart,

ready to respond,

continuing steadfastly

in having a heart that persists,

that's waiting,

that's ready.

And here we're to respond in prayer.

And we see this as a kind of a hallmark

of a church that's devoted to God,

continuing steadfastly in prayer.

It's used throughout the book of Acts

to describe the church.

We find it in Acts 1, verse 14.

Acts 1:14

All of these with one accord

were devoting themselves to prayer

together with the women

and Mary, the mother of Jesus,

and the brothers.

Why were they devoted to prayer?

Why were they at the ready?

Why were they receptive in praying?

Well, they were responding

and praying with direction.

Their hearts were praying with intentionality.

Their hearts were praying

and following instruction.

They had received instruction from Jesus.

You remember?

That Jesus said,

hey, I want you to wait in Jerusalem.

There's something that's going to happen there.

You will receive power

if you wait for me in Jerusalem.

The Holy Spirit is going to come upon you.

And so in their ready hearts,

in their receptive hearts,

in their dependent hearts,

they were demonstrating a prayer

with direction.

They were praying for this Holy Spirit,

praying according to the instructions

they'd received from Christ Himself.

They were also praying with devotion.

You remember that the disciples

who prayed there,

this group of 120 believers,

as they prayed,

the Holy Spirit did come.

And as a result of His coming,

they were empowered by the Holy Spirit.

And that because of their testimony,

thousands of people came to faith in Christ.

And as a result of this gospel witness,

as a result of the work of God in their life,

and kind of unifying now this church together,

there was this prayer of devotion.

We see in Acts 2, verse 42.

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching

and fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

And those numbers of disciples increased.

We find later on in Acts 2, verse 47,

Acts 2:47

that day by day,

God was adding to their number

those who were being saved.

That God was doing a work.

It was happening through

the concentrated, united efforts of prayer.

A devoted people,

receptive to the instructions of the Lord,

praying for God's power

to be unleashed among them.

And so we find

that those who heard the word believed

and the church multiplied as a result.

And because of this multiplication

of God's work

in answering prayer for them,

now we see a need for praying with discernment.

They needed to pray with discernment.

The church grew.

Wisdom was needed.

How do you interact

or how do you help

to care for the needs of so many?

And so Peter would speak up

as one of the apostles

there in the early church in Jerusalem.

In Acts 6, verse 4,

Acts 6:4

he would say,

We will devote ourselves to prayer

and to the ministry of the word.

We find in verse 7,

the word of God continued to increase

in the number of disciples,

multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,

and a great many of the priests

became obedient to the faith.

This devoted prayer,

this receptive prayer.

So what can we learn from their example?

And by the way,

in every case,

this word devoted is used

or continuing steadfastly in prayer is used.

It's always used

in reference to prayer itself.

So what can we learn from their example?

Why should we continue in prayer this way?

And of course,

there are a number of reasons

that we could work through,

but just one that I want to focus on this morning,

and that is,

we pray in constant prayer

because God answers prayer.

We pray to God in prayer

because God answers prayer.

And prayer unleashes God's power

on the situation that we pray about

as we're praying according to God's will.

I love how P.T. Forsyth says this.

He says,

Prayer is the slender nerve

that moves the muscle of omnipotence.

Have you thought about that?

That God responds to His people when they pray.

That as God's people obey the instructions

that God has put in place,

that God delights in answering their prayers.

Much like what we see in John 14, verse 13,

John 14:13

where Christ is telling the disciples,

Whatever you ask in my name, I will do.

Why?

Well, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask me anything in my name,

I will do it.

Prayer is that slender nerve

that moves the muscle of omnipotence.

God has coupled Himself

to carry out the will of God

through those who are faithful to pray.

Of course, God is sovereign.

God is sovereign.

We know that.

Psalm 115, verse 3 says this.

Psalms 115:3

Our God is in the heavens.

He does whatever He pleases.

That's God's prerogative.

He does what He pleases.

But at the same time,

God has ordained

that His will is worked out

through the prayers of His people.

Spurgeon has said this.

Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance,

but laying hold of His willingness.

You have a willing God

who delights in answering prayer.

Augustine has said this.

He says,

He, speaking of God,

He inspires us to ask

what He is preparing now to give.

That God has ordained

not only the ends of a thing,

but He's ordained the means

to accomplish those ends.

God's purpose,

God's will

is accomplished

through the means

by which He has sanctioned

those purposes to happen.

And it happens through

the coupling of prayer.

Jonathan Edwards has said this.

God has so constituted things

that prayer is the expression

of dependence

which He delights to answer.

God delights in answering prayer.

And God has given His Holy Spirit.

And this is the beautiful thing

we find in Romans chapter 8.

Romans 8 · chapter mention

We don't have time to read that.

I don't want to get distracted by that.

But I want you to understand

that God has placed His Holy Spirit

to help us understand

how to pray in our weakness.

And it's the Holy Spirit

who prays according to the will of God.

It's the Holy Spirit

who calls in your hearts

to pray for the things

that God wants to do.

And as you're faithful to pray

for those things

that the Spirit has laid on your heart,

the Holy Spirit takes

those requests to God

and God delights to answer.

You see, the miracle is not

that we move God.

The miracle is that God moves us.

He moves us to pray.

God's sovereignty

doesn't make prayer unnecessary.

It makes prayer certain.

So the more we pray

according to God's will,

the more we are depending

on the Spirit's leading in our life.

And the more we pray

according to the Spirit,

the more we'll see

God work out His will,

His purposes,

in the situation.

So God has chosen

the ends

as well as the means.

And as we couple ourselves

to pray

according to the will of God,

we can be a part

of God's sovereign plan

of working those things out

in life.

So pray.

Pray according to the will of God.

Be used of God

to see God's purposes

come to fruition.

Prayer depends on God.

We see in the second part

of this verse,

verse 2,

we see not only prayer

that depends on God,

we also see eyes

that watch for God.

Eyes that watch for God.

Notice,

continue steadfastly in prayer,

being watchful

in thanksgiving.

This word for watchful

is the word to stay awake,

to be alert,

to be vigilant.

It's a word

that expresses urgency.

And every time

watchfulness is used

throughout the New Testament,

it speaks of danger.

Like a sentry

or a night watchman,

the Apostle Paul

tells the church of Ephesus

in Acts chapter 20,

Acts 20 · chapter mention

he says,

be alert.

Watch out for the wolves.

They're coming.

There's danger

to the church

of Thessalonica

in 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5:6

chapter 5,

verse 6,

he says,

so then let us not sleep

as others do,

but let us keep awake

and be sober.

Peter will say

to the church

that's scattered

throughout the known world,

be sober-minded,

be watchful.

Your adversary,

the devil,

prowls around

like a roaring lion,

seeking someone

to devour.

Christ will say

to the disciples

in Matthew chapter 26,

Matthew 26:38

verse 38,

watch and pray.

That's our word.

That you enter not

into temptation.

And finally,

Peter will say

and kind of put

these two together

very similar

to how Paul does it

in 1 Peter chapter 4,

1 Peter 4:7

verse 7,

he says,

but the end of all things

is at hand.

Therefore,

be serious

and watchful

in your prayers.

Pray with watchfulness.

Pray with thankfulness.

And maybe it would seem strange

that Paul would put

watchfulness

and thankfulness together.

But maybe we can understand

how watchfulness

by itself

will cause issues

in our heart.

As God is making us

more aware

of the dangers

that are there,

as God is helping us

to be more aware

of the problems

that are coming

and the decline,

the moral decline

in our society,

it's really easy

for us to become paranoid,

wouldn't you say?

It's really easy

for us to give way

to fear.

It's easy for us

to become suspicious

and to wonder

what's going to happen next.

Who's around the corner?

When's the next shoe

going to drop?

Can I really trust

the people

that I'm around?

And it's really easy

for watchfulness,

as good as watchfulness is,

to lead us in

to paranoia,

to fear.

And that's what

thanksgiving helps

to balance out.

It counterbalances

fear

and spurs

within us

hopefulness.

And while there is

a watchfulness,

an alertness,

not only for the

negative things

that are happening,

but now to see

and to have our eyes

open to how God

is overcoming,

those negative

struggles and troubles,

and He's showing up

to accomplish His purposes,

thanksgiving helps

to make us hopeful.

In this way,

we begin to interpret

the world

not through fear,

but through grace,

through God's power.

We come to anticipate

God's answers.

We come to believe

even more

that God is in control.

And since He's in control,

that He's working.

He's accomplishing

His purposes,

even though I may not see

what He's doing.

Imagine,

prayer is a watchtower.

Watchfulness that keeps us

kind of scanning the horizon,

seeing the movements

not only of the approaching enemy,

but also recognizing

the power

and the presence

of God who is there.

that we see

His advancements.

So Thanksgiving

is kind of that light

that is burning

in the watchtower,

helping to illuminate

our perspective

so that we

are not seeing

through the lens

of shadow and fear

or suspicion,

but we're seeing

the lens

through God's power

that God is present.

I think about

the psalmist

in Psalm 23,

though I walk

through the valley

of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil.

Why?

Because you're with me.

That watchfulness

is seeing

the reality

of the hardships

that are present,

but it's illuminated

by the light

of who God is,

and so

a thankful heart

decides

to remain confident

in the presence

and power of God.

That watchfulness

coupled with thankfulness

is so important.

So prayer

that depends on God,

eyes

that watch for God

because God

is working.

And then doors

that open for God.

We see that

in verses 3 to 4.

Doors that open for God.

At the same time,

pray for us

that God may open

to us a door

for the word

to declare

the mystery of Christ

on account of which

I'm in prison

that I may make it clear

which is how

I ought to speak.

Doors

that open

for God.

Paul,

on numerous occasions,

says,

pray for us.

Pray for us.

Why would he say

pray for us?

Well,

in light of what

we've just learned,

that prayer is the way

that God

is unleashing

his plan

and purpose

on the world.

The apostle Paul

is inviting

the church

to participate

in praying

for God

to do

his will

in the world.

Like the model

prayer

that we find

from Christ

to his disciples.

It says,

Our Father

who is in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom

come,

your will

be done

on earth

as it is in heaven.

We want God's

will to be done.

We are invited

by Christ

and even his model

prayer

to pray for that

will of God

to unfold for us.

Paul

is pleading

with the church

to pray for him.

1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5:25

chapter 5

verse 25,

simply,

brothers,

pray for us.

And then in 2 Thessalonians

3, 1,

he says,

Finally,

brothers,

pray for us

that the word

of the Lord

may speed ahead

and be honored

as has happened

among you.

In Hebrews 13, 8,

pray for us

for we are sure

that we have

a clear conscience

desiring to act

honorably

in all things.

Romans 15, 30,

I appeal to you,

brothers,

by our Lord Jesus Christ

and by the love

of the Spirit

to strive together

with me

in your prayers

to God

on my behalf.

You see,

God is absolutely

sovereign,

but God has

coupled

the working

of his will

to the prayers

of his people.

So what does Paul

want them to pray for?

Well, there are two things here.

We see,

they're joined together

by the hinna clause

or the in order

that clause.

First,

that God may open

a door

and then second,

that I might make it clear.

Those are the two purposes.

First,

pray for an open door.

Pray for opportunities.

Pray that God

would just burst open

the door of gospel testimony

and witness

so that he can be magnified

in the process.

Now,

one might ask,

well,

Paul,

you're in prison.

How can a door

of opportunity

be opened to you?

You're stuck in jail.

And I think

the danger for us

and probably what's natural

for us

is to think

when hard things happen

that we've been sidelined

and that God's will

can't be accomplished

because we're stuck

in prison

or we're stuck away.

That wasn't Paul's perspective.

You see,

Paul doesn't pray

for open prison doors,

but for open ministry doors.

He understands

that ministry

is not confined

to prison.

He knows

that only God

can create

true gospel opportunities.

And as the church

of Philippi prayed,

that's exactly,

that's precisely

what God did.

We find that

in Philippians 1,

Philippians 1:12

verse 12.

God answered prayer.

Notice,

I want you to know,

brethren,

the things which

have happened to me

have actually turned out

for the furtherance

of the gospel.

So that has become evident

to the whole palace guard

and to all the rest.

My chains are in Christ.

And most of the brethren

in the Lord

having become confident

by my chains

are much more bold

to speak the word

without fear.

God accomplished

his purposes

through the prayers

of his people

in ways

they could never

have imagined.

not only in opening

up opportunities

for Paul to preach

but emboldening

a church

to follow

Paul's example

and to see God

work through them too.

The apostle Paul

encouraging this church

to pray for open

doors.

We find the summation

of Paul's ministry

still stuck in prison

in Acts chapter 28,

Acts 28:30

verse 30.

Notice what he says.

Paul dwelt

two whole years

in his own rented house.

He received all

who came to him

preaching the kingdom

of God

and teaching the things

concerning the Lord

Jesus Christ

with all confidence

no one forbidding him.

Open doors.

Gospel doors.

The jail that was meant

to silence

the apostle Paul

becomes a pulpit

to the world.

Pray for open doors.

Next pray for a clear witness

that I might make it

clear how I ought

to speak.

This is a similar prayer

to what Paul

asked the church

to pray for him

in Ephesians chapter 6

Ephesians 6:18

verses 18 and 19.

He says,

praying at all times

in the spirit

with all prayer

and supplication

to the end

keep alert

with perseverance

making supplication

for the saints

and also for me

that words may be

given to me

in opening my mouth

boldly

to proclaim

the mystery

of the gospel.

Pray that I not only

speak for Christ

pray that I speak

boldly for Christ.

There are many reasons

why our gospel witness

might be unclear.

Perhaps

it's because we preach

with the tongue

of men and angels

but we have not love

so we become

a sounding brass

or a clanging gong.

Maybe it's because

we preach Christ

with our mouth

but our life

is so out of step

with the gospel

that people can't hear

our words

because they are

so distracted

with our lives.

Maybe because

we soften the truth

to avoid trouble.

Maybe because

we love the ease

more than its impact.

Or maybe because

our grumbling heart

muffles

the gospel of God.

Or our harsh tones

hide

His holy truth.

Our ignorance

perhaps limits

our clarity.

We're not speaking

clearly

because we don't know

the right things

to express.

We cannot explain

what we've not studied.

We hide the gospel

perhaps because

we fear

the opposition.

There are so many

reasons why

our gospel

might be hidden,

might be concealed,

might be unclear.

Oh may God

help our speech

be clear.

May God

open gospel doors

and clarify

our message.

So prayer

that depends on God.

Eyes

that watch

for God.

Doors

that open

for God

and feet

that walk

in wisdom.

Colossians

Colossians 4:5

chapter 4

verse 5.

Walk

in wisdom

towards outsiders

making the best

use of time.

What is Paul

talking about?

What is this

wise walk?

What is he referring

to?

How do we walk

in wisdom?

Is Paul

simply talking

about maximizing

gospel opportunities,

navigating this life

so that we can

build friendships?

relationships.

I imagine

that's part

of what Paul

has in his heart.

But I think

the apostle Paul

is more interested

in the seriousness

of the situation.

The urgency

of the opportunity.

He's concerned

about this church

and preserving

the integrity

of their faith.

Remember

how the apostle Paul

is speaking about

wisdom throughout

this letter

and he's talking

about don't let

anyone defraud

you.

don't let

anyone delude

you with

heresies.

Don't let

anyone disqualify

you.

Don't let anyone

pass judgment

on you.

He's concerned

about the integrity

of the faith

of this church.

He said so much

in his letter

to the church

of Galatia.

He's worried

about have I

spent so much

time with you

that now you're

wandering away

from the truth.

May that not

be true of you.

May you hold

to the integrity

of faith.

Walk in wisdom

with insiders

but also walk

with wisdom

with outsiders.

Wisdom.

What does a

life of wisdom

look like?

We don't have

time this morning

to review all

the things we've

learned in this

letter of Colossae

but in summary

a life of wisdom

is a life that

looks like Christ.

That Christ

is our life.

That he's the one

who's stamped

his image

on our hearts.

That we're living

with him.

That he has

accomplished things

for us

and he's created

in us a new

identity.

That's why he's

called us

with the Apostle

Paul in chapter

3 verse 1

to set your minds

your hearts

on things above.

That's where

Christ is.

So walking

in wisdom

in this world

is walking

in a way

that looks

like Jesus.

That the more

you love Jesus

and you obey

Jesus

the more people

see Jesus

coming through.

And of course

when people

see Jesus

come through

your life

now there's

danger.

Remember what

Jesus says

to the Apostles

in the upper room?

He says

if they persecuted

me

they will also

persecute you.

don't be

distracted.

Don't be

those who

are thinking

it's going to

work out well

for you

because

if they

treated me

this way

they're going

to treat you

this way

as well.

And throughout

throughout the

Gospels

and throughout

especially

1 Peter

I have a number

of verses

that I put

there in your

outline.

There's danger

from those

who live

like Christ.

And so

there's wisdom

that must be

involved.

We find

from Peter's

letter

in chapter 2

verse 11

or verse 12

he says

keep your

conduct

among the

Gentiles

honorable

so that

when they

speak against

you as

evildoers

they may

see your

good deeds

and glorify

God

on the

day of

visitation.

Walk

wisely

he says

in chapter

2

or chapter

3

even if

you would

suffer

for righteousness

sake

you are

blessed

have no

fear of

them

or be

troubled

but in

your

hearts

honor

Christ

as

Lord

as

holy

and being

prepared

to make

defense

to everyone

who asks

you for

the reason

of the

hope

that's

in you

yet do

it

with

gentleness

and respect

have a

good conscience

so that

when you

are slandered

those who

revile

your good

behavior

in Christ

may be

put to

shame

for it

is better

to suffer

for doing

good

if that

should be

God's

will

than

for doing

evil

walk

in wisdom

know the

dangers

but don't

let those

dangers

keep you

from being

bold

in your

testimony

cause them

to press

in

to be

obedient

to God

to depend

on God

to be

courageous

to speak

in a way

that God

would speak

Christ

would speak

with words

that were

full

of truth

and grace

let your

words

be

marked

by wisdom

by speaking

in a way

that Christ

would speak

your wisdom

will now

walk

and the world

will interpret

your Christ

by the way

you live

walk in a way

that pleases

him

and finally

in verse 6

lips

that speak

with grace

lips

that speak

with grace

let your speech

always be

gracious

seasoned

with salt

so that you

may know

how you

ought to

answer

each person

you know

that our

words

are windows

our words

are a window

to our

heart

as Jesus

will say

out of the

heart

the mouth

speaks

and so our

words provide

a clear

picture

of what

we believe

what we

prioritize

what we

value

how we

feel

and so

the words

that we

speak

should be

gracious

words

because

we have

a gracious

God

if you

have

experienced

the grace

of Christ

your words

should be

marked

by the

grace

of Christ

to others

what you

believe

about Christ

will show

up in the

way that you

speak

and our

words

are not

just

windows

our

words

are also

a witness

and that's

why we're

encouraged

to bless

those

who curse

you

to bless

and curse

not

what you

believe

about this

gracious

God

shows up

in your

gracious

words

to others

you bless

instead of

curse

you're showing

Christ

in the way

that you

speak

I love

how Paul

puts this

how beautiful

are the feet

of those

who preach

good

news

do you

have

beautiful

feet

do you

have

gracious

lips

our words

either point

people to

Christ

or they

point people

away

from Christ

faith

filled

words

are

gracious

words

because

we have

a God

who is

full of

grace

and truth

our words

should be

marked

by Christ

gracious

truthful

tender

Paul

is

indicating

not only

the content

of our

words

but also

the manner

in which

our words

are spoken

speaking

loving

words

in an

unloving

way

I'm sure

you've

addressed

your children

or loved

ones

in that

respect

our heart

needs to

echo

the words

that we

speak

it needs

to

mimic

the example

of Christ

and his

grace

that we've

all

enjoyed

this

should be

a habitual

pattern

this

graciousness

this

saltiness

salt

has

three

uses

it

could

either

sterilize

food

or it

could

season

it

could

help

preserve

and so

our words

are meant

to preserve

preserve

the kinds

of life

that we're

seeking

to accomplish

in the

world

around

us

Paul

will close

in Ephesians

Ephesians 4:29

chapter 4

verse 29

he includes

this

admonition

let no

corrupting

talk

come out

of your

mouths

but only

such as

is good

for building

up

as fits

the occasion

that it

may give

grace

to those

who hear

your words

carry power

the power

of not only

exemplifying

Christ

but the

power

of

distributing

the

grace

of God

to

others

what

power

what a

privilege

that we

have

what a

responsibility

to make

sure that

our words

are marked

with

gentleness

!

Let me pray

for us

and as

I pray

I'm going

to invite

the deacons

to come

forward

so we

can

take

our

communion

Father

thank you

for the

example

that you've

given to

us

of yourself

and thank

you for

the

encouragement

for the

picture

that you've

placed in

front of

us

how to

make

theology

more than

just

head

knowledge

but

to play

it out

in our

life

and so

Lord

I pray

that you

would help

us to be

people

who are

devoted

to prayer

people who

are

dependent

on

you

to

accomplish

your

purposes

help

our

eyes

to

watch

for

your

working

because

you

are

working

help

us

to

see

it

and

to

be

thankful

for

it

Lord

thank

you

for

doors

that

are

open

and

God

I

pray

that

you

would

open

those

gospel

doors

to

us

and

that

we

with

courage

and

boldness

would

walk

through

those

doors

regardless

of the

potential

impact

in our

life

help us

to have

feet

that walk

in wisdom

in lips

that speak

with grace

oh God

may our

lives be

marked

with Jesus

through and

through

we pray

in your

name

amen

do