Latest / The Daily Word / June 18 – Sharing the Mystery of Christ
Transcript
- Cory Barnes: ⁓ hello there. It is Pastor Jenny. We are on June 18th, which means we are in Colossians chapter four and following our life journal plan as we continue in our journey through the New Testament this year as a church family, or perhaps you are just joining us, particularly for our Daily Word podcast. We're so glad to have you. this is a short little passage, ⁓ only let's see, a total of eighteen verses. And really the last seven to eighteen, verses seven through eighteen just says final greetings. ⁓ so it's kind of just saying goodbye. ⁓ so it you know, when you kind of read a passage, I think reading a few scriptures, ⁓ verses one through six, it can kind of be like, Well, what am I gonna get out of this? ⁓ but let me tell you I was super encouraged in my reading this morning. ⁓ let me tell you why. Have you ever found yourself feeling underequipped, underqualified, ⁓ perhaps shy or hesitant to share the gospel? Feeling like it's something that's too big or too great to be able to articulate, ⁓ or for whatever reason, maybe you need to even share it with someone who you know knows the gospel, but has found themselves in a position that it's like while they may know the knowledge of the gospel, they haven't really had a revelation of the gospel. ⁓ and you're feeling that prompting of like, it needs to be shared and unfolded to them again. so I'm sure no matter where you're at listening today, whether you're in a position where you're able to boldly proclaim the gospel, you you feel like you do that on a regular basis, or you find yourself more hesitant, ⁓ The reality is that as followers of Jesus, God calls us all to proclaim the good news that Jesus has come and to share what Paul refers to in this passage here in Colossians as the mystery of Christ. So why was I encouraged in our reading today? Let me read you verses two through six, and then I'll elaborate on what was such an encouragement for me. Paul writes this to the Colossian church. In this final ⁓ book ⁓ or chapter ⁓ of this book, he says this 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 you ought to answer each person. And so why was I encouraged by this? I was encouraged because as I read this, I'm reminded that Paul, who wrote so much of the New Testament, who we see ⁓ in this passage right here, he's currently in prison. For sharing the gospel of Jesus. Paul was no stranger to unveiling what we'll say were the mysteries of Christ. He was imploring and asking the Colossian church not just to pray, but to pray for him and to pray for his team, that they would be able to have an opportunity to share the gospel, to be able to declare the mystery of Christ, and not just to do it, but that he that they would make it clear. And he said that that's how we're supposed to speak. We're supposed to speak in such a way that when we present the gospel, we're not changing the gospel, but we're making it clear. and I love verse five, how it says, to walk in wisdom toward outsiders. What does that mean? That means being aware of who you're talking to. When we're talking to people who are outside of the faith, we have to remember they they're not gonna think and understand the mysteries that have been revealed to us have not yet been revealed to them. And so as we're having conversation, we can't approach the conversation as if they have that same understanding. And so we need the Lord. We have to ask and pray for the Lord to give us wisdom. And let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. Have you ever eaten something and thought, ⁓ my goodness, this needs this needs some salt. I love some salt. Mm, a good country ham biscuit from Bojangles, mm, just gives me all the salt I need. probably for the month, but I love some salt. but when we are not being gracious in how we present things, while the mis the gospel itself is a good thing, we can take that which is good and make it not be presented in a good way. ⁓ and that's just it's not desirable to people. And so we do have a responsibility on our part. But I want to encourage you today, ⁓ be encouraged that Paul himself was asking for prayer despite the ongoing thing he was doing and sharing the gospel ⁓ and proclaiming the mystery of Christ, which by the way, it was and continues to be a mystery, but it's one that we can share. It's a mystery to those that don't yet know it. And so if you're a good love a good unsolved mystery or love a good mystery series, you're probably the perfect person to be sharing the gospel. But Paul was requesting, my point is Paul is requesting prayer. Even though he was doing on a regular basis, he said, please pray for me. And so I'm reminded to not just pray for myself for these opportunities, but to be praying for others. I should be praying for those around me, that they would have the door of opportunity to share the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, or in other words, the gospel, that they would have that those around me would have wisdom, be able to walk in wisdom towards those ⁓ around them that don't know Jesus as Savior. ⁓ because at the end of the day the pressure's not on us to pe bring people to Christ. that God is the one who calls them into repentance. ⁓ Holy Spirit is the one who's calling them and leading them. But we do have the responsibility to share, ⁓ so that all may know to to share that word. ⁓ today I actually used my phone. I'm typically on or in I love prefer being in my hard copy Bible, I'll say. ⁓ but because I was on my phone using like the Bible app, I love that it has the little markers on scripture references. And I just want to share a few of the references that it had when ⁓ Colossians 4 verse 2, continuing steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it for thanksgiving. It references Ephesians 6, 18 through 20, which reminds us Where it was written, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all 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 for which I am an ambassador in. So we see where Paul not only asked the Colossians to do this, he was asking the Ephesian church to pray for him in this same way. ⁓ we see in Colossians four verse three where it says, 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. ⁓ there's a cross reference in Romans sixteen, twenty-five that says, Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages. So I was very all that to say, I was very encouraged in my reading today, reminded of the importance of sharing the gospel to be strengthened in Christ, praying both for myself and for those around me. So let's go before the Lord and let's pray now. Well, God, we come before you and we thank you for who you are. Thank you for sending your son Jesus. Jesus, thank you for laying down your life so that we could have eternal life. We do believe that you not only sacrificed and laid down your life, but that you rose again, that you are alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. And so God, we are coming before you because of the way that Jesus made, that we now can come directly to you. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can minister to those around us. We're asking, Lord, that you would help us to boldly proclaim the gospel that you have given us. Lord, would you give us wisdom in all of our conversations today and in the days to come and talking with family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, all that you have put in our circle of influence, would we be salt to the world around us? We praise you and thank you that you are the one calling and leading people to you and for the opportunity we have to be salt and light in Jesus' name. Amen.