Pray, Walk, Speak

Well, I wish you guys could see from up here. This is the coolest looking group I have ever taught to in my life. I love you guys so much because of team black. Every team, honestly, is represented, and I love it. Good job.

So, last session. We’re now going to be on session two. The title of this one is Pray, Walk, Speak, which you’re going to see is the outline for the message, and it shows what Paul is going to say to the Colossians. I think it answers the question that we’ve been digging into.

We were talking about it yesterday in discussion groups. What we talked about in the sermon is, when we say Christians are different, they’re distinctive, they’re discernible, they’re salt and light, what does that practically look like? I know our discussion group had some good ideas. You guys had some good ideas. I wanted to open up to Colossians chapter 4, and we’re going to see, I think, Paul giving us some answers to that question.

When you are in your school, maybe your sports team, your family, your class, your lunch table, your workplace, wherever you find yourself among outsiders, if you’re a Christian, how are you supposed to respond?

As I was brainstorming, I could think of at least four wrong ways that Christians often respond to outsiders. See if you fit into any of those.

1. Sometimes Christians hide. That’s what Jesus warned us about. You either avoid unbelievers, or you just avoid hard conversations. You hide your light under a basket.
2. Some Christians blend. They laugh at the same sins. They chase the same approval. They talk the same way. They become tasteless salt, or salt that’s not actually salt.
3. Some Christians bore. I couldn’t figure out a word for this one. Maybe you’ve heard this. Maybe you are this. I’ve actually been this before. You speak truth, but with pride, with harshness, with impatience, with no grace. You say, “As long as I’ve said the words, my job is done. It’s not my job to save them. So I just need to say the gospel.” And you don’t say it with love. You don’t say it with thoughtfulness. You don’t represent God well in the way you say it.
4. Some Christians just go this alone. They live in the world trying to be salt and light, but they disconnect themselves from the church, disconnect themselves from God in prayer.

And I think Paul gives us a better way in Colossians 4:2-6 as we live with outsiders, in a way that is going to address all of this and more. So let’s pray and then read our text.

Opening Prayer

God, I pray now for the next little bit that you would help us to listen. There’s a lot going on. I’m tired. We’re all looking forward to fun. We’re dressed up fun, and there’s a lot to distract us. But I pray that you would grab our attention, that we would listen well, and that we would understand what we hear, understand what we read.

God, I pray that you would be active through my teaching, active through the listening, that you, by your Holy Spirit, would be active in each one of these hearers and active in myself, that I wouldn’t be a hypocrite. God, change us. Mold us through the teaching and the understanding of your word. Let us believe you and be changed. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

How Colossians Leads To Life Before Outsiders

So what’s this passage all about? I think, after showing how the life of Christ reshapes the church and the household, Paul now shows that same life must be lived before outsiders prayerfully, wisely, and graciously.

Right? So that’s a lot of words. We’re going to figure that out. We’re parachuting into the very end of the book, into Colossians. What’s gone on before this? Well, in Colossians 3, right before this, Paul started by saying, and this is going to sound familiar to what we talked about yesterday:

If you’ve been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is.

Remember, Christians are otherworldly. You’re not living for this kingdom, the kingdom of the world. So if you’ve been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is.

It says this in Colossians 3:1-2:

Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth.

And put to death what’s earthly in you. He’s talking to Christians.

Then he transitions. He says, “Christians, how should you live in the church?” And he addresses the one-anothers. How do you live in the church? And then he moves to Christians: How do you live in households? Husbands and wives, parents and kids, and then in those days, slaves and masters.

He’s addressed each one of those things, right? He moved from, “Hey, Christians, you’re not of this world. Put your mind on things that are above, but you still have to live in this world.” Does that sound familiar? That’s what we were talking about yesterday. And then he goes, how do you live in your house among Christians? How do you live with your parents? How do slaves live with their masters?

And now he’s transitioning. How do Christians live with outsiders? That’s the word that we’re going to see in verse 5. How do Christians live with outsiders?

And he starts saying, “If you belong to Christ, as you live before outsiders, pray with your eyes open.”

Pray With Your Eyes Open

Pray with your eyes open. I’m going to read verse 2. He 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 am in prison, that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

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 to answer each person.

So our first point is Paul says, “Pray with your eyes open.”

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

So pray being watchful. That’s why I said “with your eyes open.” That is tied to this: be watchful. What’s that watchful word? What are we supposed to be watchful for? Paul’s talking to the Christian Colossians and says, “Pray. Be watchful.”

That word “watchful,” whenever it talks about believers, I looked at the entire New Testament everywhere that word is used. It’s actually really interesting. It’s generally used in the context of believers watching themselves against temptation to sin. Believers watching themselves, not looking out for others, but watching themselves for temptation to sin.

Jesus said it:

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.

He said that in the garden to his disciples. It’s also the word used of a faithful servant watching, waiting for his master’s return. You guys know all those parables that Jesus talked about. Watch. Keep your eyes open. Watch. Be alert for when your master comes. And then there are even times where it’s saying, be watchful in prayer for others.

But the idea is, be watchful. Be ready. And so Paul, as he’s transitioning from how you are inside the church to now how we deal with outside, says, be watchful. And that makes sense.

Being watchful means that I’m awake to my own weakness. God saves Christians and leaves us in this world, a world where we’re not citizens, a world that we’re not living for. And he does give Christians a new nature, but not yet perfect. Someday we will be unable to sin. Christians, our fight with sin is very short. It’s only for this very short life. But it’s real.

And we are weak. We need to watch ourselves and watch ourselves in prayer. If you are going to be among outsiders, you will be tempted. Don’t go into those places without praying. If you’re going to school, if you’re going to work, if you’re a Christian, you’re going to be among outsiders. Temptations will come. What should you be doing that morning? What should you be doing in the car on the way there? And what should you be doing while you’re there?

Because the temptations will be real to blend in, to hide, to become like them. He says, don’t be like them. Set your mind on things that are above, where Christ is. Put to death what’s earthly in you. I can’t do that myself. I need to be watchful, being aware of my own weakness and being aware of sin’s temptation.

We’re going to see later, it says:

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders.

You can’t walk wisely toward outsiders if you’re asleep to the temptation that’s around outsiders. Be aware of sin’s temptation.

Pray For Gospel Opportunities

And then do you see what he says next in verse 3? He says:

At the same time, pray for us, that God may open a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.

What’s going on here? Paul is in prison. He’s writing to these Colossians. It’s possible he’s never even met them. He’s heard of them. And he’s saying, “Pray for us, for opportunities, that God may open the door for opportunities with the word.” So the next line is: pray for gospel opportunities.

You know what I love here? Paul is in prison. He did not want to be in prison. That wasn’t his plan A. And what does he say? Does he say, pray for us so that we can get out of prison and preach the gospel? It’s interesting. He wanted out of prison. It would have been great to pray that he could be out of prison so he could go and continue his missionary journeys, go to the churches to encourage them.

But what does he pray? Pray that God may open for us a door for the word. Paul’s like, I’m imprisoned. I’m going to look for opportunities. He’s on a missionary journey. I’m going to pray for opportunities. He says, I’m going to look for opportunities to preach the gospel.

It’s the first thing he prays for, and what he asks for isn’t to get open doors so he can get out of the prison, but open doors, or opportunities, for the word.

We should pray for our missionaries for open doors for the word. We have the Canns in Papua New Guinea. Benaiah is there with them right now. We should pray for open doors, for opportunities that the gospel could be preached there, that there would be people with open ears, receptive hearts, and that there would be opportunities to preach.

But you should pray for your pastors and your leaders for open doors with the word as we teach the lost who are in our lives, as I go to work. So we have visitors at church. Even at camp, right? There are many outsiders here at camp among us, the staff and even among you. We should pray for opportunities with the word.

You should pray for open doors for yourself. Do you guys do that when you’re going to school, when you’re going to work, when you’re going to a place where you know there’s going to be non-believers, like the cafeteria here? You go to a restaurant, you are going to be around non-believers constantly. Do you pray for opportunities for the word?

Maybe with family members. We have a large number of non-believing family members. What should be on my mind as I go to a family gathering? What should be on your mind? Pray first that you’d be watchful, aware of temptation. Pray for gospel opportunities.

I love that Paul doesn’t view his imprisonment like this as a hindrance to his gospel mission. How many of you would say, “Man, I would pray, or I would preach the gospel, if only I was in this perfect situation. But you know what? I’m in a class where I don’t really have the right opportunities. If I said anything, I might get in trouble.” Who knows what excuses you might make?

Maybe, “I don’t speak well.” Well, of course Paul has gospel opportunities. He’s an apostle. He preaches well. Of course Jacob has gospel opportunities. He’s a pastor. But, you know, “I don’t speak well,” you might say. “I’m not fluent with my words.”

Moses said something like that. Do you guys remember in Exodus? And what did God say? Who makes man’s mouth? Who made you like this? Who gave you the personality that you have? God. And if you’re a Christian, he gave you a gospel mission.

And so, he will give you what he has. He says, “Go be an ambassador. Go teach. Go preach the gospel.” He’ll use you exactly how he made you. That’s not an excuse. It’s actually something to give God thanks for and then be faithful in.

And if you find yourself in prison, that’s your mission field. That’s where you preach the gospel, just like Paul. Pray for open opportunities.

Pray With Thanksgiving For God’s Provision

Pray for God’s provision. Where do I get that? Paul says, “with thanksgiving.” Be watchful with thanksgiving.

When you’re thankful, you’re aware that somebody gave you something. This world celebrates Thanksgiving, and they’re vaguely thankful to somebody for something, or they’re just vaguely thankful. Christians, we aren’t vaguely thankful. We know that every single good thing comes from our Father.

Not just God. Not just some weird name for God. We call him Father. Christian, he is actually your Father. You are his adopted child, blood-bought child. You are a real child. And he is your real Father. And he is a very, very good Father who gives you exactly what you need. He gives you every good thing.

So whether it’s a situation that you see as a good one or a situation you see as a bad one, you know it’s from your Father, and you can be watchful in prayer with thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:6-7. Do any of you guys have that memorized? That would be a good one.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

With thanksgiving, let your requests be made known. When you’re thankful, do you know what you’re not? You’re not anxious. When you’re thankful, you’re not focusing on your own provision. Whose provision are you focusing on? God’s.

So be watchful with eyes open. Pray with eyes open, being thankful for God’s provision.

Walk With Wisdom And Do Not Waste Your Time

And then next, walk with wisdom. You see in verse 5, Paul says, with outsiders in view:

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Do you guys remember that phrase, “making the best use of time”? Who was here at summer camp last year? It wasn’t here. It was in GBC Squared. Do you remember on the back of the shirts that we had? You remember the, what do you call those things? The hourglass. That’s the word, the hourglass.

And that same phrase that Paul uses here is the one from Ephesians 5: make the best use of time. Redeem the time. Do you remember how we talked about that? Look, think, step. And we said we have very limited time here on earth. Redeem it. Make the best use of it. Same phrase here that Paul’s using.

And the goal or the summary is: don’t waste your time. Don’t waste your time.

We talked yesterday, and we’re going to talk again tonight, of the concept of time in comparison to all of the time that you will be alive. There’s no such thing as a mortal among us. There’s nobody here who’s going to live for a finite amount of time.

You guys understand what infinite is? I don’t. But when my mind gets close, it overwhelms me. Think of the biggest number you can possibly get to, and you realize that you haven’t gotten any closer to infinity than the number one. That blows my mind. I’m like, what is that even? How is that possible?

It means that your days never end. They just keep going and going and going. And when you’ve been alive for ten trillion years, a hundred billion trillion years, you’re no closer to the end of your life than you are today because your life’s not going to end.

God created every one of us to live for eternity. But you know what will end? Our life here on earth.

Every second that passed is a second that you don’t get back. Every minute that passed is a minute you don’t get back. Every hour. We can’t do a redo on yesterday.

So the opportunities you have now are the opportunities for now. The time that God gives you is an opportunity that you must not waste. Make the best use of that time.

If God’s given you a finite amount of time, just a certain amount of time, if you were given a bag of gold with not infinite gold, but a bag with just a certain number of gold coins, and you could spend those gold coins on whatever you wanted, you’d be wise to say, “I want to make the best use of this gold. I want to redeem it wisely. I don’t want to buy junk with it. I don’t want to waste it, because when that gold is gone, there’s no more.”

And when your time is gone, there’s no more here. Now, it will continue on into eternity. But this opportunity that we have here on this earth to fight sin, we’re going to see tomorrow, to be ambassadors, to live as salt and light in this world, it will end. And you only have so many days, and your chance today you can never get back.

Don’t waste it. Don’t waste it.

So walk in wisdom. We think walk. Think back to last year. Walk is every step that you make. You look, you think what would please the Lord, and then you take that step.

Walk in wisdom. When you’re around the church, walk in wisdom. Don’t waste time together. Build one another up. Stir one another on to love and good works. Spend time in your Bible. Spend time listening to sermons. Know what would please the Lord, so that then, when you’re with outsiders, what can you do? Walk with wisdom toward them.

Say, what would please the Lord here, not what would please them? If you’re more concerned with them, it’s called fear of man. You’re going to do what would please them. “Well, I don’t want to look weird, so I’m going to hide my light. I don’t want to share the gospel because they might not like me. I might lose my job. I might lose a friend. I might not fit in.”

Or maybe you’re like, “Hey, I actually want to give in to this temptation.”

Be watchful in prayer, and then walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time, redeeming the time. Don’t waste your opportunities.

Gospel opportunities, these open doors, they’re not open forever. You won’t be in that class forever. You won’t be in that workplace forever. You won’t be on that team forever. They won’t listen to you forever.

There are moments where your listener, somebody in your life, might have a soft heart. They’re going through a trial. They had a family member die. They’re aware of their sin. They realize for a fleeting moment just how unsatisfying living for themselves is. And they say, “Can you tell me about the hope that’s in you?”

You need to be ready. You need to open your Bible in the morning. Study God’s word to know God’s word so that you know the God of the word. And you’re prepping in that moment so that you can walk wisely. You’re prepping in that moment so that you can know how to speak when they ask you those things.

You know there’s going to be opportunities. Prep for them. Pray for them. And then when you’re in them, walk wisely.

You know what? Wisdom is knowing how to be near enough to unbelievers without being led by them. That ties back to our breakout. You want to be close enough to flavor them so that they can taste your salt. You want to be close enough to them so they can see your light and not be joined to them, who walk in a different direction.

God has assigned you people to live before. God’s going to put people into your life who are going to be watching. And they’re going to be seeing either good works that you’re going to walk in. They’re going to see somebody who’s gentle or somebody who’s angry. They’re going to see somebody who’s humble or somebody who’s proud. They’re going to see somebody who watches their heart or somebody who lusts and does whatever your heart, whatever your flesh and your mind want to do.

They’re going to see somebody who takes vengeance, or they’re going to see somebody who loves their enemies, prays for those who persecute them. They’re going to see either light, or they’re not.

God puts you here in these very few days to be salt and light. If you’re a Christian, you are those things. So don’t be tasteless salt. Don’t hide your light. Walk with wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time.

But you know what? A walk by itself is not enough. You can’t walk and say, “Hey, I’m just going to let people see how God’s changed me. Maybe he’ll save them through that,” and never open your mouth.

Speak With Grace, Seasoned With Salt

The next thing is verse 6: speak with grace. Verse 6 says:

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person.

This is assuming you’re among outsiders. Paul’s transitioned. We obviously want to know how we should speak as Christians, but Paul in here has in mind outsiders, when you’re out among the world.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.

So first, a Christian’s speech should be full of grace. Christian speech should be full of grace.

How will your speech be full of grace? Well, Christians, remember that you were once outside Christ, too. We’ve seen verses that talk about that. That should not make you proud. There’s one way where you could look and say, “Hey, I was in there, and I got my act together. I figured it out. I’m not like you anymore. Do better.”

But that’s not how God saved any of us. When we were dead in our trespasses and sins, God made us alive together with Christ. I was blind, and God gave me eyes to see. I was a sinner, and God was my Savior.

So instead, we’re out in the world. And one of my favorite phrases, Tom Angstad said it all the time, and I echo it. It gives me the right heart, especially toward outsiders:

I’m just a beggar helping other beggars find the bread.

The fact that I found Christ had nothing to do with me and all to do with him.

And so when I’m out in the world and I see somebody act harshly toward me, you know what the Bible says? The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome. They must be kind, able to teach, and correct with gentleness, because God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

I want to be among them being the kind of person the Holy Spirit would love to use to help save that person after they’ve been captured by the devil to do his will. I want God to show them grace the same way he showed me grace.

So gracious speech comes from people who remember that they were saved by grace.

But gracious speech isn’t just truthless niceness. “Hey, I just want to say nice words.” Your words better be nice. Be kind. Reflect the Lord’s kindness. God’s kindness brings us to repentance. It’s not his harshness and his threat of hell, it says in Romans 2, but it’s God’s kindness that brings us to repentance. If he’s going to use you, he’s going to use your kindness, your gentleness, but also your proclamation of the truth.

It’s a truth that you are a sinner. Nobody’s going to repent from their sins if they didn’t know that they’re a sinner. Nobody’s going to turn from a false god to a true God if they didn’t know that there’s only one God.

The gospel is just offensive. When you tell somebody who’s living for themselves, “Hey, you actually have to die to yourself and live for Christ, but he’s a good master.” When somebody lives for their sin and you tell them, “Hey, that sin, that thing that you love to do and you encourage other people to do, that actually separates you from God and is going to earn you an eternity in hell. But God, being so rich and full of mercy, placed that sin on Christ, and if only you would believe on Christ, you could be reconciled to God.”

That is an offensive message, but it’s a message full of hope. Graciousness is not truthless niceness. It doesn’t avoid talking about sin, but it’s patient and loving and forgiving and points the sinner to God’s grace.

And those words are going to be seasoned with salt. Salt makes food taste really good, but it’s really bad food if all you taste is salt. Have you ever had food that just tastes like somebody took the salt and dumped it all over it, and all you’re eating is salt? That’s what my bread tasted like last night. It was like, man, there is a lot of salt in here. That wasn’t well seasoned with salt.

And sometimes we can do that. We’re like, “Hey, I’m so different,” and we just dump. That’s like the bull in a china shop preaching the gospel. You’re not really thinking of the person. All you’re thinking of is, I’ve got to show you my salt, and I’ve got to show you my light, and just be awkward and weird and not thoughtful and not kind.

Sometimes you need to listen to the person, understand where they’re coming from, so that you may know how to answer each person.

If somebody is just having a really hard day, their mom just died, you need to tell them of the Lord’s kindness, his care, and his care was shown at the cross. That’s a different message for somebody who’s in hard-hearted rebellion and flaunting it against the Lord.

There’s a wisdom to be had, knowing the situation that somebody’s in and saying, “I know God well enough because I studied his word, so that I can open up God’s word and I can share with you just the right message.” Not that the message changes. There’s only one gospel. There’s only one way to God. But not all people need the exact same words the exact same way at the exact same time.

So pray. Be ready. Don’t waste your time. And season your words wisely with salt.

Which means you have to speak kind words. Your words shouldn’t be grumbly. They shouldn’t be cussing. They shouldn’t be lying. They should be the kinds of words that look like a Christian speaks. The Bible speaks all over of speech being a window to the heart. We naturally talk about what fills our hearts.

Nobody has to teach football fans to talk about football. Nobody has to teach a gamer to talk about games. I talk about Kiki because I’m in love with Kiki. I will just talk about her. I will gush.

What comes out of you? Does it feel awkward, forced, when you’re talking about God? If so, that might be a thought that maybe your heart isn’t near him. We naturally talk about what fills our hearts.

Let me ask you this question: What do your conversations reveal about what fills your heart? And based on that, what needs to change with what you’re filling your heart with?

Guys, no Christian should have a dull, tiresome, know-it-all monologue of his faith with others. Instead, Christians should have the most exciting news in the world to share. And I’m preaching to myself. This is hard. But we should be able to share that message with excitement in a way where somebody’s like, “Oh, yeah, that person believes this. I see what they’re talking about because I know the way that they live.”

It should be done with a willingness to listen, a graciousness that gently comes alongside, a desire to answer everyone’s questions graciously.

Fit Your Speech To Each Person

Finally, our speech should be fitted to each person. I already talked about this a little bit. It’s not a one-size-fits-all where you say the right words and your job is done. “Hey, I just have to preach, and God does the rest.” That’s true. You can’t save anybody.

But the proud mocker needs a different answer than a broken sinner. A confused friend might need patience. A hostile classmate might need gentleness and courage. A guilty student needs hope. The church kid pretending to be fine needs clarity. The unbeliever who’s been hurt by hypocrisy may need you to listen before you speak.

You still need to speak. Don’t water down the gospel.

Actually, let me talk to you Christians here. Don’t leave this with a general idea: “I just need to be better around non-believers.” You’re going to walk out of here. I’ve said a lot of words. You’re going to walk out of here with one or two concepts. Don’t let it be, “All right, I just need to do better around non-believers.”

I want you to think of one person. One person in your life. One classmate, one team, one family member, one sibling, one person God’s already placed in your life. Then ask and answer these questions:

1. How do I need to pray for that person? How do I need to pray for myself when I’m around that person?
2. How do I need to walk? What does walking in wisdom around that person mean?
3. How do you need to speak?

Maybe it’s somebody who you tend to blend in with, sin when you’re around them. You’ve wasted time. It’s not over. You’ve just wasted yesterday. You haven’t wasted today yet. Don’t waste tomorrow.

Some of you need to stop hiding, stop blending, stop bulldozing, or maybe bring others along. Stop trying to do this alone.

Salt and light Christians, we need to pray. We need to walk. We need to speak.

Do Not Stay An Outsider

And non-believers, you need to not walk away from here. If you are not right with God, you can’t walk away saying, “Hey, I need to pray more. I need to walk better. I need to talk better.” This wasn’t for you. You are the outsider here that this is talking about.

I just ask you not to stay there. Don’t stay there. That eternity that I was talking about, don’t tune out here. I know I’ve talked about it before, the days that will never end. You are wasting your life here if you’re not living them for Christ.

You have very short time. You only have this very short window right now to turn. You don’t know how many days are left. And if your heart is softening now, you don’t have that window of a soft heart. You can’t say, “Hey, I’m going to wait till after college. I’ve lived my life a little bit. Then I’ll turn.”

You don’t know that. Sitting under God’s truth and staying hard only makes your heart harder. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. Don’t be hard clay today.

Closing Prayer

Let’s pray.

God, thank you for your word. I pray that it would be active in us. Pray that you would bear fruit. Make us different for having read and considered and believed this text. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.