Colossians Ch4v2-6 - Gospel Growth

Well, follow with me as we go to Colossians.

We're almost through Colossians.

We've got another one to go next week.

And today's reading is chapter 4.

Isaiah 4 · chapter mention

2 to 6 is a flicker around.

Yeah, thank you.

So a short text today.

Colossians 4, starting at verse 2 to 6.

So let's read and then we'll pray and then look at his word together.

So let's read God's word.

Colossians 4, starting at verse 2.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

And pray for us too that God may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains.

Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should.

Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders.

Make the most of every opportunity.

And let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Well, let's pray.

Father, we ask for your help.

Lord, I pray that you may know how to answer your heart.

Lord, I pray that you may know how to answer your heart.

Lord, I pray that you would open doors to our hearts and to our minds so that we may receive the message of Christ.

Lord, I pray that you may know how to answer your heart.

Lord, I pray that you may know how to answer your heart.

And that you would help me to clearly teach the truth of your word.

So that it honours you and pleases you and equips us as a church to be the kind of people you call us to be.

Thank you that you hear us.

And that now you are speaking to us through your word.

Amen.

Violent stabbings and mindless violence.

I'm sure we all saw the scenes as they unfolded in our capital city.

And we were shocked and saddened by those events.

Lives changed and ruined in just a moment.

Businesses and livelihoods wrecked in an instant.

And as surgeons went to work on the injured and politicians gathered and planned, so came the questions.

How can we stop this?

What can be done in our society?

Some say, well, it will take more powers for our policing.

Others will say stricter laws on immigration.

And of course, with all of these and many more answers, there may be some help.

It may bring some kind of change.

But how long is it going to last?

We need something better.

And you and I, the church here in Carrigoline, are at the very heart of the solution.

Yes, we are.

You see, the answer to our broken lives and our disordered society is the gospel.

A gospel that reconciles people to God and to each other.

A gospel that will bring people from every race and every background under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

This gospel had come to Colossae.

Have a look with me in chapter 1, verse 2.

The gospel had come and it had radically changed the lives of the people.

Do you see it there, verse 2?

The letter to God's holy people.

Not that they were perfect, but they had been changed.

They were holy in God's sight.

They were set apart for God.

The faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

But the gospel didn't stop there.

It didn't just change their lives.

Have a look down at verse 6.

In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world.

Just as it has been doing amongst you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace.

These words that we've just read were written nearly 2,000 years ago.

And the fact that we are meeting today here in Karageline is evidence that the gospel has been bearing fruit and growing throughout the world over the generations.

And today there are millions of believers just like us gathering together throughout the world.

God's people who are called to bring the gospel of hope to a broken and disordered society.

So how is the gospel going to bear fruit in our country?

How is the gospel going to reach into our communities and into our town of Karageline?

Well, two very simple things that we're going to see if we go back to chapter 4.

Two simple things that's going to bring about gospel growth.

We talk to God and we talk to people.

Very simple.

Talk to God and talk to people.

First, we talk to God about gospel work.

Verse 2.

Devote yourselves to prayer.

Well, that sounds hard work, doesn't it?

Devoting ourselves to prayer.

Well, look, prayer isn't a duty to perform.

It's a gift and a privilege.

Through prayer, we get to talk to the creator of the universe, our Father God, about what matters most.

We talk to God about the gospel and its impact in our society.

So three things that we can pray for as a church.

We talk to God firstly about open doors.

Look at verse 3.

Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message,

that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains.

In many countries around the world, it's illegal to preach the gospel.

You'll be put in prison.

And that's what's happened to Paul, the writer of this letter.

He is, at the end of verse 3, in chains.

So, in some ways, it's natural to think that he's praying to God and asking God,

pray for us that the doors will be opened.

The prison doors will be opened so that I can go free.

But that's not what he's asking for, is it?

Look closely at verse 3.

Pray for us that God may open a door for what?

Our message.

His concern is not so much his release from chains,

but that the gospel would be spread.

You see, the opening of doors is not a physical thing,

but a spiritual work.

Go back with me to Acts chapter 14.

Acts 14 · chapter mention

Acts chapter 14.

Acts 14 · chapter mention

Keep your finger in Colossians and go back to Acts chapter 14.

Acts 14 · chapter mention

Here, Paul has been on one of his mission trips.

And he's just returned and he's reporting back to his home church

all that God had done amongst the people.

Verse 27.

It's right at the end of chapter 14.

Do you see what he says?

On arriving there, that is, at his home church,

they gathered the church together

and reported all that God had done through them

and how God had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

You see, God was preparing hearts and minds of the people

so that they would be receptive to the gospel.

And he can report back and say,

God has opened up doors.

We see something similar if you go on a couple of chapters.

Chapter 16 and verse 14.

Here they meet a lady, a businesswoman.

And this is what we hear.

Verse 14.

One of those listening to the preaching of the gospel

was a woman from the city of Thyatira,

named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,

a very expensive clothing item.

She was a worshipper of God, not a believer,

but somebody who had great respect for God.

The Lord opened her heart

to respond to Paul's message.

Let's go back to Colossians 4.

Do you see the opening of doors that is taking place?

God is opening the doors for people.

We can't force people to be interested in the gospel.

We can't make people see their need for Christ.

If somebody is going to listen to the message,

if people are going to be engaged,

God must open a door in their life.

So we need to ask God, by prayer,

to do what we can't do.

Open doors in people's hearts and minds.

The second thing we can pray

is that we would proclaim Christ.

You see, praying for open doors

is just the first step.

Look again at verse 3.

Pray for us so that God may open a door for our message

so that we may proclaim

the mystery of Christ.

The mystery

is to be proclaimed.

Well, you say, that's not very helpful,

proclaiming a mystery.

People mightn't understand what the mystery is.

Well, no, the mystery here

is something that God has revealed.

It's like God has pulled back the curtain

to show us something glorious.

It's the unveiling of God's promised salvation.

We've already learnt about God's mystery.

If you go back to chapter 1, verse 27,

we learn there about this mystery of Christ

and what it is.

Verse 27,

to them, to God's people,

God has chosen to make known

among the Gentiles,

among all people,

the glorious riches

of this mystery.

God has made known

what was hidden.

God has revealed the mystery.

Well, what is the mystery?

Read on.

Which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory.

What an amazing,

rich message this is.

It's got a double edge to it.

Christ in you.

God's promise

that he will never leave you

and always be with you.

God who came in the person of Christ

and the person of Christ

who now dwells in all who believe.

He is with us.

And secondly,

the hope of glory.

God's promise

that he is going to bring his people

to his eternal kingdom.

What a glorious message this is.

You know,

when a woman gets engaged,

she's given a ring.

And we hope that it will be

a nice ring.

Perhaps a double diamond ring.

And it's symbolic,

if you like,

these two diamonds

of intimacy

and security.

The intimacy,

I am with you forever.

The security,

I will keep you forever.

And every time

she looks at the ring,

she's reminded

of the deep love

that is shown towards her.

Well,

this is the message of Christ

that we have.

The glorious,

twin riches

of Christ in you,

which is intimacy.

Christ is with you.

And the other one,

the hope of glory,

which is his security,

his keeping of you.

That is a glorious message

to reach out

into our broken society.

To proclaim anything else

but Christ

would be like a young man

splitting one of his

Christmas crackers

and taking out

that plastic ring

and putting it on

his fiancé's finger.

Not very rich

or precious.

No,

we proclaim

that Christ

is proclaimed.

Anything else

is empty

and hollow.

So we pray

for open doors

that people

may hear

the glorious message

of Christ.

And third,

we pray

for a clear message.

as we began,

we pray

that I would

speak clearly,

that you would

understand

what is being said.

I don't want to make it

complicated

or confusing.

I want us to see

Christ

clearly.

You see,

as we proclaim

Christ,

we're introducing

people to a person.

Not just

information

or facts.

We want people

to know

Christ,

who he is,

and what he has done.

It's like

the big

spotlight

on a stage

at a theatre.

We want

the light

to shine

clearly

on Christ

so people

can see him

for who he is

and what he has

come to do.

So we pray

for open doors.

We pray

that we would

proclaim Christ

and that we

would proclaim

it

clearly.

You see,

prayer is

vital

in all of

these areas.

If we are

to see

gospel

growth,

if we are

to see the

gospel bear

fruit,

if we're

going to see

a change

in our

society,

then the

church

gathered

together

needs to

pray.

Look at

verse 2

again.

Devote

yourselves

to prayer

being

watchful

and

thankful.

You see,

prayer is

hard.

We all

struggle

with it

and very

often it's

prayer that's

pushed out

to the side.

We never

seem to have

time.

It's always

rushed.

That's why

we need to

be watchful.

Remember

what Jesus

said to

his disciples

as Jesus

was preparing

to go to

the cross

as he

went to

the Father

and he

prayed.

He said

to his

disciples,

and I

quote from

Matthew,

watch and

pray so

that you

do not

fall into

temptation.

The

spirit is

willing but

the flesh

is weak.

I think

we've all

experienced

that.

The spirit

is willing

but the

flesh is

weak.

So we

need to

be watchful.

We need

to carve

out time.

We need

to be

thankful

because as

we come

to God

and thank

God for

all that

he's done,

it encourages

us to

pray, to

remind

ourselves,

this is

what God

has given

me.

I give

thanks to

him.

It creates

a dependency.

So we

are intentional

about praying

for God

to be at

work.

We

especially

need to

pray for

those reaching

out with

the gospel.

That's

why we

have our

partners

like Mickey

in Kashmir

or Amy

over in

Sheffield

or think

more closer

to home.

The people

who are

teaching in

Sunday

school right

now.

The people

who will be

teaching in

Rooted this

afternoon.

The people

who will be

gathered here

for Rock

next Friday.

The outreach

events through

polo.

The little

flyer for

Christmas

carols.

All of

these things

we're wanting

people to

know Christ

and the

forgiveness

that he has

for us.

But none

of this will

have an

impact in

anybody's

life unless

God opens

the doors of

people's hearts

and minds.

There won't

be a change.

church.

Everything

will trundle

on the

same.

We need

to pray.

That's why

we send

out texts

during the

week.

You know

on WhatsApp

you get a

little message

that comes

in.

Pray for.

That's why

we send

it.

Because we

need God

to work.

And if you

don't know

what to pray

well just

turn to

Colossians

Colossians 4:3

4 verse

3.

Pray that

doors will

be opened.

Pray that

Christ would

be at the

heart of the

message.

And pray

that those

who teach

would make

it clear.

So how

are we going

to see

gospel growth?

Well

first we

talk to

God

about

gospel

work.

Second

we talk

to people

about

gospel

grace.

We talk

to God

and now

we talk

to people.

Look at

verses 5

and 6

with me.

Be wise

in the way

you act

towards

outsiders.

Make the

most of

every

opportunity

and let

your

conversation

be always

full of

grace

seasoned

with salt

so that

you may

know

how to

answer

everyone.

Look I

get it

we might

not all

be

teachers

and

preachers

we

might

not

be

able

to

teach

in

Sunday

school

or

the

rock

but

we

all

have

conversations

every

single

day

with

all

kinds

of

people

family

friends

colleagues

so the

expectation

I think

of these

couple

of

verses

is that

in

our

day

to

day

conversations

with

people

we

would

be

looking

for

opportunities

to

talk

about

Christ

Christ

well how

do we

do that

well three

things

here's the

first thing

we need to

watch

our

behaviour

watch our

behaviour

look at

verse

five

be wise

in the way

you act

towards

outsiders

you see

yes we're

to engage

in conversation

but it's not

just our

words

but our

behaviour

that matters

you see

people don't

just listen

with their

ears

they're

watching

our

lives

one writer

put it

like this

you can

see it

on screen

here

God's

purpose

is that

the good

news of

Jesus

Christ

is set

forth

visually

as well

as verbally

by seeing

and hearing

people have

to see

with their

own eyes

that the

gospel we

preach

has

transformed

me

to put it

simply

we need

to look

like the

message that

we're talking

about

so if I'm

talking about

grace

I should

demonstrate

grace

if I'm

talking about

forgiveness

I should

practice

forgiveness

my life

should be

a

demonstration

model of

what happens

when you

believe the

gospel

even when

we're not

in conversation

our lives

are witnessing

our actions

as we say

can sometimes

speak louder

than our

words

here's two

examples

two

texts

from

scripture

the first

one is

from

Titus

and it's

talking about

our relationships

one to

another

and how

we treat

each other

and the

difference

that makes

and here's

the difference

look at the

top one

so that in

every way

they will

make the

teaching about

God our

saviour

attractive

do you

see that

our behaviour

makes the

message of

Christ

attractive

to people

here's

another one

that comes

from

Peter

in this

case

it's

talking

about

two

wives

about

their

husbands

who

may

not

be

believers

and

it

can

apply

the

other

way

as

well

our

message

itself

is

grace

filled

that's

what it

says

verse 6

I think

this can

apply two

ways

let your

conversation

be always

full of

grace

not just

graciously

in how

we talk

but that

the message

would be

graceful

You see, we're not passing on a message for people to download information

or to offer some advice that you can take or leave.

No, our message is full of transforming grace.

It's a work that God does.

That's what grace is.

It's God's free gift of salvation that is unearned and undeserved.

Have a look back to chapter 1, verse 12.

Here's a wonderful example of showing us that this is God's work in us.

Look at verse 12 of chapter 1.

Give joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in his inheritance

of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Who qualified you?

He qualified you.

He made you right.

Verse 13.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

and he has brought us into the kingdom of his Son

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.

You see, it's God who is doing the work in us.

It's a message of grace.

It's free.

And we are simply pointing people to the one who has done everything for us.

Here's a quote to help us get our minds around it.

The gospel, the good news of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

is the astonishing announcement

that God has done the whole work of reconciliation

without a scrap of human assistance.

Isn't that wonderful?

Isn't that wonderful?

That God was the one who came searching for me

and reached down to me.

That he would come and forgive me.

You see, when we fail others,

they write us off.

But when we come to Christ with our failures,

he welcomes us in.

You will not see or hear a more radical message.

This is what our friends, our family,

our colleagues and our neighbours

and we need to hear constantly.

May our message be grace-filled.

You see, the gospel comes wrapped up in our lives.

It's not just a message detached from us as people.

It's like giving that diamond ring to your fiancé.

If you put that ring into an old, torn and dirty box

and just left it on the side,

it might never be opened.

It could be thrown into the bin.

But if that diamond ring is placed in a velvet box

with a beautiful red ribbon,

it most certainly will be opened.

Well, in the same way,

we have the treasures of the gospel

that are wrapped up in the beauty

of our words and our behaviour.

So as we disperse,

as we scatter into our community,

to our workplaces,

we go with a message of grace.

How are people going to see gospel growth?

We talk to people about the gospel of grace.

Our community,

our country is in desperate need

and God has called us to the very forefront

of bringing hope to a needy people.

It's people like you and me.

As we talk to God

and as we talk to people,

that's what will make a difference.

Let's talk to God now.

Our Father God,

we thank you so much

for the grace of your gospel.

We thank you for those who have taught us

and who are willing to share their lives with us

so that we might hear and receive

the good news of Jesus.

So we pray

that as we go into this week,

we would be a people who talk to God

and talk to people.

Father,

Father, open doors for us.

Help us to take every opportunity given to us

and help us to live our lives out well

so that we reflect all that we say

through the beauty of our words and our lives.

Father, do your work in this country

and in our community

for your glory,

the praise of your name

and for the good of our nation.

Amen.