Series: Colossians: Supreme!
Title: “How To Devote Yourself to Prayer”
Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20; 4:2-6 (main); Matt 6:8-13; 7:24-27
(Commentary helps listed at the end)
Last week’s Bottom line: When we gladly submit to God’s design for our work life/career/vocation, we will thrive in the fullness of life.
Bottom line: We devote ourselves to prayer by being watchful in, grateful for, and helpful to the mission God has called us to.
Review Col 1:15-20
Opening story:
‘Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence,’ -Spurgeon
"Prayer is the way we can escape the gravitational pull of the flesh and enter GOD's orbit. It's the way we escape the atmosphere and enter into HIS space. It's the way we over come human limitations and enter into the extra-dimensional realm where all things are possible." Author unknown
Mark 9:23 “’If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 235 • Devotional
The Gracious Hand of God
Things happen to us. So much of life is simply the set of circumstances we find ourselves in.
For example, our parents, our genetic design, the weather, much of our education and our government are all things that we experience as ‘happening to us’. In Greek grammar, these things are expressed in what we call the ‘passive voice’.
However, we also make things happen. When I initiate an action and do something, this is expressed in the ‘active voice’.
But Greek grammar also has a third voice – the ‘middle voice’. This is neither wholly active nor wholly passive. When I use the middle voice, I am participating in the results of an action.
Christian prayer is spoken in the middle voice. It cannot be in the active voice because it is not an action I control, as in the ritualistic pagan prayers where the gods do our bidding.
Prayer is not in the passive voice either, in which I’m at the mercy of the will of gods and goddesses.
In Christian prayer, as Eugene Peterson puts it, ‘I enter into an action begun by another, my creating and saving Lord, and find myself participating in the results of his [gracious] action.’
In one sense, the whole of the Christian life is prayer. We welcome God’s gracious hand in our lives, and we participate in what he is doing in the world. God involves you in his plans. Of course, he could do it all on his own, but he chooses to involve you. He gives you freedom, yet he remains in control. -Nicky Gumbel
The Power of Prayer
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pete Greig (founder of 24-7 Prayer) have launched an initiative calling hundreds of thousands of Christians, of many churches and denominations to a great wave of prayer for the evangelisation of the nations during the week before Pentecost Sunday. The week culminates in beacon events in packed cathedrals and churches around the world over the Pentecost weekend. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, asked people to pray for three things: ‘That all Christians find new life in Jesus Christ… That all those you meet… might see something of Jesus… For the church to overflow with the reality of the presence of Jesus.’
Pete Grieg has described it as ‘a groundswell; a movement from the grassroots up’. He said he had been very moved to hear of one boy who’d prayed for five friends, three of whom had since become Christians!
Prayer is spiritual nutrition. Just as the body needs physical food, so the soul needs spiritual food. Prayer changes us. However, the Bible goes much further than this. Prayer is powerful. It is, as Charles Haddon Spurgeon put it, ‘the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.’ Prayer has the power to change circumstances, other people and even the course of history.
Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 176 • Devotional
Of course, the Lord’s Prayers are very instructive.
Matt 6:9-13 is the Lord’s answer to his disciples’ question, “How do you pray?”
John 17 is a lengthy example of Jesus praying on the eve of the cross.
Context:
Epaphras has visited Paul in Rome (who’s in prison for sharing the gospel) to ask for help in dealing with the false teachers in the church of Colossae. Paul writes this letter to this church and sends it back with Epaphras.
Transition: In a world that seems doomed and hopeless to change, we can be part of true and lasting change as we devote ourselves to God and his mission through prayer.
My Outline
I. What? “Devote yourselves to prayer.” (4:2) How? By…
“Being watchful”
Watch yourself
Inwardly
Outwardly
Watch around the corner (locally)
Watch around the world (globally)
“Being thankful”
To God.
Pray with others.Ex. Prayer Team 6 (online and in-person)
Say 3 things you’re thankful for each day (Ann Voskamp, 1,000 Gifts book)
To People.
Being Missional
Praying for Open Doors
For the message of the mystery of Christ
For clarity of the message, despite the chains
Note: Doesn’t pray for his cell door to be opened
Praying for wisdom
For the way to act towards outsiders
For gracious, salty conversation
For wisdom in those conversations
Applications
Be watchful: inwardly and outwardly; pray with someone else daily (prayer, 8 am) even weekly; journal your prayers
Be thankful: say aloud three things you’re thankful for today every day; do this as family around the table ideally
Be missional:
interceding: pray for others;
pray for kingdom expansion (Open doors)
Be an answer
Be in conversation
This mindset of the great commandment and the great commission are seen in the Lord’s supper where Christ calls us to look back, look up, look inside and look ahead. 1 Cor 11:23-26
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/1co.11.23-26.NIV
This transitions us towards the Lord’s Supper where we remember why we do all of this—because of what he did for us at the cross.
Conclusion
I heard about a preacher who preached the same sermon week after week after week. When finally asked by as people why he said I’ll preach a new sermon when you all get this one. This point is clear: until we become doers of the word will be on a path of destruction as only hearers of the word.
Matt 7:24-27 parable of how to build your family to thrive in a world of chaotic evil. This is Jesus’ summary and fitting conclusion of application to his “sermon on the mount” which is essentially his kingdom manifesto. This is also appropriate for how to thrive in our vocation/work/career.
Back to Jesus’ parable about the 2 houses and the 2 foundations:
“The assumption in Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders is that our homes necessarily have to endure a barrage of torrential storms.”
“The assurance of his parable is that those who build their homes according to God’s blueprint can withstand life’s onslaughts.”
In other words:
Building on the world’s philosophies will lead to family and societal collapse.
Building on the Lord’s blueprint will lead to stability, security and peace despite the devastating storms around us.
Bottom line: When we gladly submit to God’s design for our work life/career/vocation, we will thrive in the fullness of life.
Pray
Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32
Other
Kent Hughes
V. Servants/Slaves/Employees (3:22-25)—
Not advocating for slavery.
Staying silent on this institution for the simple reason that there’s a battle to be fought first that lays the foundation for victory later achieved.
“Through the example of Christ, the apostles understood that the great rest need for social and cultural change was a spiritual transformation through the power of the gospel.” -Pace, p. 110
VI. Masters/Bosses/Employers (4:1)—
His purchase of our freedom/forgiveness establish his ownership of us.
1 Cor 6:19-20; Romans 6:17-18
Christ is our ultimate Lord and master, King and authority over all of us. He created us and redeems us!
Christ modeled this by being equal to the Father and yet submitted to his command to come and die for us. Should we do any less?
“Paul’s instruction for masters and servants mirror his emphasis for all members of the household: ‘Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.’” (3:23)
“This verse (3:25) summarizes and reiterates his general directive for all believers in v. 17” reminding us:
WHAT we do matters “whatever you do”
HOW we do it matters “do it from the heart” and
WHY we do it matters “as something done for the Lord”
What’s your foundation: Rock or Sand?
Sand—Worldview of entitlement, blame, and selfishness.
Rock—Worldview of selfless, sacrificial love for all people surrendering al land gladly submitting to proper authorities starting with God at home.
Hearing the word AND doing the word lead to growth in Christlike being and doing (character and competency) = Fruitfulness
Cross-references
Ephesians 5:21-6:9
Matthew 7:24-27
OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:
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MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:
Exalting Jesus in Colossians by Scott Pace
Preaching the Word: Philippians, Colossians and Philemon commentary by R. Kent Hughes
ESV Global Study Bible
Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel
Bible Knowledge Commentary
The Outline Bible, Wilmington
Paul for Everyone, The Prison Letters, NT Wright’s commentary on Philippians and Colossians
Gospel Transformation Bible
NIV Study Bible
The Bible Exposition Commentary, Warren Wiersbe