Always a Witness

Colossians 4:1-6

Wait for the Lord; be strong! The promises of God will never be broken. With God as our light, what is there to fear?

Genesis 15

The promises of God will never be broken. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Psalm 27

The promises of God will never be broken.

Luke 13

Some say you cannot legislate morality.

Question: Do you agree or disagree?

In Colossians 3, Paul says obeying the law isn't enough.

We are called to a higher morality.

Our studies from Colossians have focused on the supremacy of Christ

We have been furthered challenged not to allow any false teachings us from

following Christ and growing in His grace.

This lesson challenges us to reach out by speaking and living in ways that reveal the new life in Christ.

Paul wanted the believers at Colossae to know that salvation (God’s will for us) touches our world in every area.

Paul talks about how Christianity relates itself to society.

Christianity is about our relationships to other people.

Paul has taught that we are complete in Christ and cannot add anything necessary to our salvation.

However, in order to grow spiritually and impact the lost we must pursue habits and

develop character that will strengthen their faith.

Are you more apt to pray for specific/occasional things or for

everyday things?

What does that say about us?

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Paul requested that people pray for him, his ministry, and his effectiveness in

preaching the good news about Jesus.

Paul also said that people should commit themselves wholeheartedly to prayer and to

“pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

We must remember that our battles are most often against spiritual

powers in the heavenly places and not against human adversaries

We need prayer to win these battles, overcome temptations and understand the true meaning of the Word of God.

To “watch” means “to remain fully awake.”

The word carries a military implication as a guard or sentinel

would stand “watch” over his post.

Spiritually, the believer should remain alert to his own needs, the needs of the family of faith and the needs of the lost

world around him.

When that type of alertness characterizes the believer’s prayer life it is only logical

that “thanksgiving” will follow.

Perhaps the greatest example for the apostle was the relationship between

a master and his slave.

It has been estimated by some that as much as 20 to 30 percent of the population was in that type of relationship at the time of the

writing of Colossians

Philemon was brother at Colossae who had a runaway

slave, Onesimus, who was saved under Paul’s preaching.

The epistle of Philemon is Paul’s request to Philemon to receive Onesimus back on the grounds of God’s saving grace.

Paul’s point is that Christian “Masters” must to answer to

God for the way they treat their “servants.”

The guiding principle for the master/servant relationship is that both he and his servant have the same Lord.

Christian employers must answer to God for the way they treat

their employees.

Each of us will give account unto God (Romans 14:12).

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.

Colossians 4:3-4 (NIV)

Paul did not ask the Colossians to pray for his release from prison;

he probably assumed they would pray for his release.

When the apostles were imprisoned, “they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name [of Jesus Christ] (Acts 5:41).

He requested that they pray for him to serve the Lord Jesus Christ effectively

everyplace he stayed or went—including prison.

He wanted them to pray for him to continue experiencing the privilege

of teaching about Jesus.

Maclaren described the phrase “continue in prayer” as “the idea

of uninterrupted companionship”

It does not require praying verbally or audibly every second of the day.

Praying for others is one of the best ways to reach the world.

It prevents self-centeredness and helps us remember the gospel

message is not ours alone.

If his listeners rejected Jesus Christ, Paul did not want the reason to be that he had not revealed the mystery clearly or

had not clearly answered their questions.

Paul’s request for prayer from the Colossian believers focused

specifically on the desire to see “God would open unto us a door…”

Paul’s business was evangelizing. He wanted the Colossians to make their

business that of prayer.

Question: Are there evangelists/missionaries that you pray for on a regular basis?

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

Paul did not want believers to think that a life of study and prayer was the only thing God required.

He wanted them to speak and act wisely toward others too—not only inside the church, but to those lost and without

hope.

Ephesians 2:12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

They are “without” a host of other things including fellowship, joy, peace,

security and love found in Christ.

Paul is teaching us to be wise in the way we live and act toward those that are lost.

This “wisdom” to which Paul refers is no mere human wisdom but divine.

You cannot reach a lost world by being like them

Believers must never conform to the worlds standards but rather daily conduct ourselves as Christians.

Remember that Jesus said, “…be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”

Matthew 10:16.

It is still “salt and light” that penetrates and arrests this corrupt culture and

sinful world Matthew 5:13-14

“Redeeming the time” basically means “make the most of what time you have.”

A wise believer will look for opportunities just as a good business man looks for financial opportunities.

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

Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Paul wrote that we should not use abusive language (3:8) but we need to speak gracious

words—kind and loving words

“Seasoned with salt” means “just the right amount,” for too little salt does not satisfy

and too much salt can ruin the flavor of something or be physically harmful.

Christianity and the gospel must never be shared in an arrogant authoritative manner.

Words as well as works need to be Christ like if the believer expects to make an impact on the lost world.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a

reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”

1 Peter 3:15

Every Christian should personally understand the reason for the hope that is within them because of Christ.

Then consider how you would share that understanding with a 12 year old

child.

Lessons Learned

Colossians 4:2-6

Christianity not only changes the individual, but the individual it changes affects the world in which he lives.

Christianity is not just personal. It’s a changed life that changes the environment in which that life lives.

How we walk and how we talk will speak louder than any personal experience we share.

Each of us is on mission right where we are, at all times.

Paul wants us to always pray thankfully. We are to be thankful for specific things but also for constant gifts.

In his book entitled “Crossing the Border,” Christian author Guy H. King writes these following words about Colossians

4:2-6.

“When we are trying to explain to another the reasonableness of our belief, there is a proper way to do it, a true Christian spirit in which to

talk. Almost as important as knowing what to say is to know how to say it.”

At the very beginning of the Christian Church we are told of two great characteristics of the apostles’ witness, which

should qualify both our public and private testimony.

The Bible says the apostles witnessed with ‘great power’ and ‘great grace’ (Acts 4:33).

Shall we not ask for strength of conviction, and sweetness of manner?”

Blessings

May the good Lord provide atonement for every one who prepares his heart to seek God,

the Lord God of his fathers.

2 Chron. 30:18-19, NKJV

When you return and cry out to the Lord, may He hear you from heaven and may He deliver

you many times according to His mercies.

Neh. 9:28, NKJV

May you have trust in God’s mercy; and may your heart rejoice in your salvation

Ps. 13:5, KJV