WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.240 Okay, we're going to continue in our study of Colossians. 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:13.460 Last week, Zemir took us up through the end of chapter 3, Colossians chapter 3, up to the start of chapter 4. 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:17.679 So I'm going to do Colossians chapter 4, verses 2 through 6. 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:23.080 And in the ESV, the section header is called Further Instructions. 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:33.939 And I renamed it for this message, I'm titling it Missional Instructions, because it seems like his further instructions are very missional. 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:36.839 Which I think is great, because that's kind of what we're focused on. 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:41.820 Not kind of, this is exactly what we're focused on in Christchurch right now, being a new church plant. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.560 So I think it's timely. 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:47.920 Still going? Okay, look at this. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:51.179 I think it's timely. 00:00:51.179 --> 00:00:59.200 So I think it's worth noting, this section follows a section on divine order. 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:02.579 And think of it as Paul building a house. 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:11.900 And it's fitting that his further instructions are further building on this house of divine order. 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:14.120 So, you know, last week, Zemir taught on this. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.799 Right relationships in families. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:19.640 Wives submitting to husbands. 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:21.320 Husbands loving their wives. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:22.760 Children obeying their parents. 00:01:23.379 --> 00:01:25.060 Fathers not provoking their children. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:29.319 Honoring our earthly masters. 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:31.739 Which, you know, now it's our employers. 00:01:31.960 --> 00:01:33.900 Working in a way that's pleasing to the Lord. 00:01:34.019 --> 00:01:34.519 Honoring them. 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:39.140 So he lays this foundation of right relating and divine order in the church. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:41.579 And says, this is essential. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:44.280 This is like, this is main thing type stuff. 00:01:44.379 --> 00:01:46.299 This isn't secondary thing type stuff. 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:47.959 And then he talks about evangelism. 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:49.319 I think that's meaningful. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:50.899 You know, we want to be on mission. 00:01:51.019 --> 00:01:52.459 We want to be an evangelistic church. 00:01:52.979 --> 00:02:01.459 But God is jealous for his name and his character to be rightly reflected by those who are communicating this. 00:02:01.579 --> 00:02:01.759 You know? 00:02:01.979 --> 00:02:04.359 So I think it's noteworthy. 00:02:04.479 --> 00:02:05.099 You know, this is coming. 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:09.800 This is not an evangelistic admonition out of nowhere. 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:11.480 Where it's further instructions. 00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:13.020 Now we get to evangelism. 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:13.420 Alright? 00:02:13.580 --> 00:02:14.660 So, it's meaningful. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:18.000 So I'm going to read through it. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:20.980 I'm going to share some thoughts on each passage. 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:27.320 And at the end, I have some points that are related to the things in this passage that I think are especially timely for our church. 00:02:27.420 --> 00:02:28.520 So I'll have some points at the end. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:30.400 So getting into it. 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:32.920 Colossians chapter 4, verse 2. 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:38.879 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:53.119 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. 00:02:54.219 --> 00:02:58.399 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:07.140 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:09.740 I'm going to start with verse 2. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:13.659 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:20.060 The NASB says, devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. 00:03:20.140 --> 00:03:25.920 Which I think is a meaningful way of rephrasing this. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:30.419 You know, the ESV says, continue steadfastly in prayer. 00:03:30.559 --> 00:03:32.500 NASB says, devote yourselves to prayer. 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:34.699 It has this connotation of devotion. 00:03:34.839 --> 00:03:39.779 This is something that we as a church from the heart are giving ourselves to at a heart level. 00:03:40.079 --> 00:03:44.679 You know, it's not just that we're kind of going on doing it like we're punching the prayer clock. 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:46.219 But this is something we're devoted to. 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:54.159 And I also think of this as being communicating Paul's expectation for an atmosphere of the church. 00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:56.979 This is an atmosphere of a missional church. 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:00.740 A church that's devoted to prayer, keeping alert with an attitude of thanksgiving. 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:06.599 And the phrase that came to my mind was like rephrasing this a little bit. 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:09.340 Always watchful thanks praying. 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:11.539 Which kind of mixes it up a little bit. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:14.179 That you think of praying. 00:04:15.859 --> 00:04:20.480 Like I, my experience of praying is I'll get fired up on it for a season. 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:21.959 I'll pray for a bunch of stuff. 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:23.639 Forget about what I prayed for. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.680 Start focusing on problems again. 00:04:26.459 --> 00:04:33.319 And not even, by the time God answers the prayer, I'm just like, it doesn't even occur to me to give thanks for him. 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:40.680 But that's not, that's not the, the atmosphere that Paul is describing and exhorting here. 00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:44.599 He's saying, hey, devote yourselves to prayer and keep alert. 00:04:44.719 --> 00:04:48.719 Keep watching for the Lord to answer those prayers with an attitude of thanksgiving. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:58.600 I mean, Julie was talking this morning how she has gotten into the habit more recently of actually giving thanks ahead of time for things that she knows God's going to answer. 00:04:58.680 --> 00:04:59.980 Like, because it's according to his word. 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:04.680 Like, it's this, I'm praying and I'm praying not just for things I want. 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.939 I'm praying for things that God said he's going to give me. 00:05:07.939 --> 00:05:10.140 I'm going to be thankful ahead of time, you know. 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:15.000 So anyway, this is, this is kind of the environment. 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:18.379 This is like a good fertile garden for evangelism. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:19.960 He goes on to talk a little bit more about it. 00:05:19.960 --> 00:05:22.460 But I think that's, this is the foundation. 00:05:22.459 --> 00:05:30.139 This is a church who's given to prayer, praying for the Lord to open doors and being thankful ahead of time because he's going to do it. 00:05:30.739 --> 00:05:32.159 You know, he's the one telling us to do it. 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:33.019 So he's going to answer it. 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:34.560 Verse three. 00:05:34.799 --> 00:05:43.759 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. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.379 So Paul says, pray for us. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:47.159 Who is us? 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.959 You know, in this exact context, it's his coworkers. 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:55.379 So in other places, in Colossians, he lists off a number of his coworkers. 00:05:55.779 --> 00:06:06.980 So Paul, Timothy, Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus or Justice, Epaphras, Luke, Demas. 00:06:07.339 --> 00:06:08.719 So it's this apostolic team. 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:10.899 This is the, this is the missionary team. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:11.599 All right. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.180 This is the, the coat. 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:17.600 These are the people who are out doing the work of ministry, sharing the gospel. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:23.140 And he's asking this church to partner with him in praying that God would open up doors for them. 00:06:23.900 --> 00:06:24.620 Pray for us. 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:25.240 All right. 00:06:25.820 --> 00:06:30.120 So we are an apostolic team. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:30.700 We're a church plan. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:32.920 So what's the application for us? 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:34.680 It's us. 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:39.420 So Philippians 1 verses 3 through 5 says, 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:43.780 I thank my God and all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you. 00:06:44.900 --> 00:06:52.740 Always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:07:04.040 So this, this speaks of us as a team, as a church planning team, being on mission to people. 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:07.300 And our prayers should be oriented towards each other. 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:13.620 You know, we don't have like this concept of there's a evangelist and their job is to do the evangelism. 00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:17.980 And so we're all going to fast and pray for, you know, Fred, the evangelist to go out and do his job. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:19.879 You know, no, it's us. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:27.280 It's us as a team partnering in prayer with each other, praying that the Lord would do what he's about to talk about. 00:07:27.819 --> 00:07:28.840 What should we pray for? 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:31.060 What does he exhort them to pray for? 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:35.360 That God may open to us a door for the word. 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:41.879 So there's other places in the Bible that talk about this. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:43.019 There's a few verses I'm going to share. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:48.300 But Paul has this conception that just because he's going out and preaching the gospel doesn't mean it's just going to work. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:49.259 All right. 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:57.379 He knows that there's doors and that unless God opens that door, it's not going to bear fruit. 00:07:57.379 --> 00:08:07.600 So the thing that needs to happen is for God in sovereignty to mercifully open a door for Paul's apostolic work to have any fruit. 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:09.480 That's why it's essential. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:09.980 We got to pray. 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:16.779 He's like, hey, guys, I'm asking you to partner with me in prayer and pray that God would open doors. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:21.459 And unless God opens the doors, what we're doing really is in vain. 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:22.339 It doesn't really matter. 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:27.879 You know, so a few examples of this Revelation three verses seven through eight. 00:08:28.919 --> 00:08:30.699 This is Jesus talking to John. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:42.419 He writes to the church in Philadelphia, the words of the holy one, the true one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:43.879 You know how final that is. 00:08:44.459 --> 00:08:45.179 This is Jesus. 00:08:45.319 --> 00:08:47.159 This is this is who he is. 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:50.480 And he says to them, I know your works. 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:55.439 Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. 00:08:56.219 --> 00:08:57.039 Which is awesome. 00:08:57.139 --> 00:09:00.139 It's the finality of Jesus Christ reigning and ruling. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:01.759 He has authority to do this. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:04.740 And he says he gives us a little encouragement. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.939 He says, I know that you have but little power. 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:09.279 And yet you have kept my word and not denied my name. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:10.579 That's awesome. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:11.899 That encourages someone like me. 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:13.419 I feel like I have a little bit of power. 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:14.799 And I think back through it. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:16.799 So like, at least I haven't denied his name yet. 00:09:17.339 --> 00:09:17.539 You know. 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:20.019 And he encourages him. 00:09:20.079 --> 00:09:23.039 He says, hey, like the agency isn't in you. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:24.759 The agency is in me. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.959 I opened a door and nobody can shut it. 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:28.740 That's what we're praying for. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:32.000 We're praying for the Lord to open up doors that no one can shut. 00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:34.439 And it's impossible for all hell to shut it. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:36.039 He opens it up. 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:37.279 We walk through. 00:09:37.379 --> 00:09:38.120 We share the gospel. 00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:39.079 Fruit. 00:09:39.699 --> 00:09:40.579 That's the Lord's way. 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:41.419 And Paul knew this. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:47.559 He knew in his apostolic journey that everywhere he went, there were closed doors that only Jesus Christ can open. 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:50.860 And he's asking the saints, hey, partner together. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.759 Pray together that the Lord opened these doors. 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:55.879 A few from his own experience. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:58.159 Second Corinthians 2, verses 12 through 13. 00:09:58.279 --> 00:10:00.759 Paul's talking about when he was in Troas. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:03.120 He said he came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:05.819 Even though a door was opened for me in the Lord. 00:10:06.819 --> 00:10:10.340 So he has this understanding that God opened a door. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:12.399 He said he had no rest for his spirit. 00:10:12.460 --> 00:10:14.460 And he took his leave because he didn't find his brother Titus. 00:10:15.420 --> 00:10:18.100 So Paul passed on that one. 00:10:18.560 --> 00:10:19.420 There's a mystery there. 00:10:19.660 --> 00:10:23.280 I think it has to do with his intention for co-working and things and doing something together. 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:24.800 Not just alone. 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:29.440 But the fact of the matter is, he acknowledged that God had done a work in opening a door. 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:32.540 And that's essential for fruitful gospel ministry. 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:33.379 That's what we're praying for. 00:10:34.060 --> 00:10:36.259 First Corinthians 16, verses 8 through 9. 00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:40.899 Again, he says, as he's writing, he says, I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.620 For a wide door for effective work has been opened to me. 00:10:45.179 --> 00:10:46.600 And there are many adversaries. 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:48.179 So these doors are real. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.879 God opens them. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:50.899 They're spiritual. 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:57.919 You can say all the right words with all the right, you know, proof texts. 00:10:58.299 --> 00:10:59.279 You can do it right. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:01.220 You can walk people through Romans Road right. 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:02.399 Nothing. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:07.819 But unless God opens that door, we're speaking to the air, you know. 00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:10.220 There's closed eyes. 00:11:10.319 --> 00:11:11.179 There's hard hearts. 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:16.179 And God has to open eyes and open their hearts to receive the word. 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:17.059 Just like he says to Lydia. 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:20.319 He opened her heart to understand the word. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:21.860 That's what we're praying for. 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.679 You know, these are like house doors. 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:25.720 They're not some like metaphysical, weird, strange door. 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:27.240 This is doors to people's hearts. 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:32.159 You know, the God of this world has blinded the eyes of the minds of unbelievers. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:35.100 So that they wouldn't see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:39.360 We're asking that God has mercy on them and opens their eyes. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.259 So they can receive the word, the message that we're preaching to them. 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:44.699 So we're dependent on it. 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:46.079 And for what? 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:47.259 What is this? 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:48.059 Why do we? 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:48.759 Why is? 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:51.699 What are we preaching when this door is opened? 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:54.800 He says to declare the mystery of Christ. 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:57.860 There's a lot in this. 00:11:58.520 --> 00:12:03.740 The mystery of Christ is, and we could spend a hundred years of sermons talking about what 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:05.780 the mystery of Christ is, but just a few verses here. 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:10.660 He actually talked about it earlier in Colossians, Colossians 1, verses 25 through 28. 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:13.539 He touches on what this mystery is. 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:17.879 Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, 00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:25.059 to make the word of God fully known, the mystery, hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed 00:12:25.059 --> 00:12:25.819 to his saints. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:33.519 To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:37.480 mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:44.100 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:45.720 everyone mature in Christ. 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:51.759 And again, next chapter, he says, to reach all the riches of full assurance. 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:53.980 This is chapter two, verses two through three. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:59.480 To reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:05.740 which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom of knowledge. 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:09.139 Again, first Timothy three, verse 16. 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:12.340 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness. 00:13:13.060 --> 00:13:19.680 He, Christ, was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the spirit, seen by angels, 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:23.379 proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:25.720 This mystery is a person. 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.639 It's Jesus Christ. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:34.460 We, the world has no taste, no eyes for Jesus Christ. 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:37.159 It says he has no beauty that we would desire him. 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:39.960 In the world's eyes, he's despised and rejected. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:41.460 He's just, he's a blip on the radar. 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:43.319 You don't even, like you're, you're cruising through. 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.460 It's like a homeless person on the street. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.279 You just don't even see him. 00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:47.899 You have your blinders on, you know? 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.899 You just don't even see him. 00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.899 You just don't even see him. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.899 You just don't see him. 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.899 You just don't see him. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:52.899 You just don't see him. 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:56.699 That's how we are naturally, specifically towards Jesus. 00:13:57.699 --> 00:13:58.519 And it's a mystery. 00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.439 It's this hidden mystery. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.480 And he is who we're preaching. 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:09.600 So it's, it's even more essential that God opens a door so that we can share this mystery, 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.019 you know, because the world doesn't want to know about it. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.759 But he is life. 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:16.059 And in this mystery is the gospel too. 00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:20.739 It's not only the person of Jesus, it's the person and the work, what Jesus did for us on the cross. 00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:23.539 On account of which I'm in prison. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:31.299 So with the testimony, with this open door, with a, a deliverance of this mystery message, 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:34.759 comes prison, comes conflict. 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:41.439 I'm not going to spend too much time on this, but this is the picture throughout the whole New Testament. 00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:44.539 When there's an open door for the gospel, immediately there's conflict. 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:47.599 And I just say this because that's what we should expect. 00:14:48.439 --> 00:14:53.620 The devil's tactic is to give us to throw up our hands and just be like, oh my gosh, that was, that was bad. 00:14:53.939 --> 00:14:55.419 You know, we preach the gospel. 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:58.019 We were expecting good things to happen and then bad things happen. 00:14:58.219 --> 00:15:00.719 Well, no, actually they go together. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:04.540 So one example is 1 Corinthians 16 verses 8 through 9. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.620 Again, I just read the same one. 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:11.700 It says, he will stay in Ephesus till Pentecost for a wide door of effective work is open for me. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:15.220 But the emphasis is, and there are many adversaries. 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:19.940 So that went along with his open door, his adversaries. 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:23.160 And this attended Paul every single place he went. 00:15:23.780 --> 00:15:29.840 Open door for the gospel, soul saved, and violent adversaries persecuting him. 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.900 And we should expect the same thing. 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:38.000 This is not, you know, Christianity hadn't gotten better, or the world hadn't gotten better after 2,000 years. 00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:38.680 You know, it's just the same. 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:52.779 So anyway, moving on from this, verse 4, pray not only for an open door, but that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:55.039 Prayer for clarity. 00:15:55.739 --> 00:15:59.259 Like you, I'm sure you've experienced this in your life. 00:15:59.319 --> 00:16:00.319 You just learned so much. 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.979 You learned so much Bible. 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:03.719 You learned so much about the gospel. 00:16:04.099 --> 00:16:05.559 And it comes time to share it. 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:08.500 And you're just like, Jesus. 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.719 And, you know, and this. 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.339 And he died. 00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:12.099 And you just kind of tell it all backwards. 00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:13.039 And it's all a jumbled mess. 00:16:13.719 --> 00:16:19.799 Well, it's because it's the only message that we need the Holy Spirit to actually be able to effectively communicate. 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:23.399 We can't just, like, learn good enough to be able to do it good. 00:16:23.839 --> 00:16:24.679 We need to learn good. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.179 We need to practice doing it good. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:37.039 But it's the Spirit that gives life and clarity and timing and the right verses at the right time to be able to speak it clearly as we ought to. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:46.199 Jesus says, after he ascended, he had communicated all the information that the apostles needed to do their job. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.519 But he said, wait. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.000 Wait. 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.699 In Jerusalem until what? 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.759 You're imbued with power from on high. 00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:55.659 The Holy Spirit comes. 00:16:55.659 --> 00:17:00.299 And then you will receive power to be my witnesses. 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:03.079 So the point of this one is just very simple. 00:17:03.219 --> 00:17:04.299 We have to have the Holy Spirit. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:08.659 Not only do we got to get the Holy Spirit on day one, we need the Holy Spirit regularly. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:11.819 Pray, Lord, give me boldness. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.819 Give us boldness. 00:17:12.899 --> 00:17:14.339 Give us a fresh filling of the Spirit. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:20.139 So when we do have these opportunities, when God opens the door, then it'll come out like a bunch of gobbledygook. 00:17:20.459 --> 00:17:28.599 You know, we actually have urgency and clarity, a Spirit-controlled tongue that can communicate a timely word in season. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.480 It's essential. 00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.619 And again, God holds us in his hand. 00:17:31.679 --> 00:17:32.059 I need him. 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.899 I need him to do it. 00:17:32.939 --> 00:17:33.759 We all need him to do it. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:42.619 So not any way to downplay reading God's word, studying evangelism, learning how to be a better workman. 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.140 We need all that. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.200 And that gets refined. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:48.160 We learn how to handle the word with maturity. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:50.000 And we learn how to hear the Spirit's voice. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:55.359 But we never grow out of the need to just be filled up every single day, just as much as we did the first day. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.819 Apart from me, Jesus says, apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:58.920 Zilch. 00:17:59.379 --> 00:17:59.640 Nothing. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.879 Like, are you grown out of that? 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:02.940 No. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.140 We need it. 00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:06.059 Okay. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.940 Moving on. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:07.920 Verse 5. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:12.539 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:19.680 This is where I spend most of my time in this. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:23.460 So I'm going to try to make the best use of my time in this passage, this verse here. 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.599 Colossians 4, verse 5. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.420 And the AASB says, conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders. 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:30.140 So walk. 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.359 It doesn't mean just like movement forward. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.839 It's like the way you conduct yourself. 00:18:34.979 --> 00:18:35.799 It's how you live. 00:18:36.399 --> 00:18:41.759 Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 00:18:42.719 --> 00:18:43.619 Conduct is huge. 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:44.799 All right. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:53.339 So people who aren't in our world, who we interact with, who only really know us, like we might be the only Christian they know. 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:55.559 They're reading us primarily. 00:18:56.419 --> 00:18:56.500 Yeah. 00:18:56.500 --> 00:19:01.480 The stuff that's coming out of our mouth, that's like the second thing they're reading. 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:05.019 The first thing they're reading is us, our conduct. 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:07.660 You know, and so we need to understand that. 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:11.319 Like we need to realize people basically don't care what we have to say. 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:16.740 They care what we communicate with our conduct. 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:19.980 Our life is the bedrock. 00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:22.119 It's not just, you know, we don't want to fall. 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.779 There's two ditches. 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:23.000 All right. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:25.180 So there's a ditch over here where it's just all conduct. 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.400 We don't say anything. 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:29.019 Is it St. Francis of Assisi? 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.059 Was he like this? 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:37.440 You know, like just very hardcore, like pendulum swinging towards, you know, basically your life is the only message. 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:38.940 That's a ditch. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:45.319 Well, there's another ditch that says we say all the things, but our life just says something a lot louder. 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:47.519 Which means I don't really believe this. 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:50.460 I don't really believe what God's saying, you know. 00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:53.099 And what the Lord's saying is we need both. 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:57.220 So what's this foundation for effective witness? 00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:01.460 Conduct yourself with wisdom towards outsiders. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:08.879 There's a reason this passage here, these additional instructions are coming after an exhortation on divine order in the church. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:13.220 Because that's what the world reads. 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.839 They read us. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.939 They read our life. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:15.679 Okay. 00:20:16.439 --> 00:20:22.419 So 2 Corinthians 3 verses 1 through 6 has a very explicit teaching on this. 00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:26.339 And Paul says in that, he says, are we beginning to commend ourselves again? 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:31.319 Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 00:20:32.639 --> 00:20:35.799 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:40.159 Written on our hearts to be known and read by all. 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:44.099 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:46.399 Written not with ink but the spirit of the living God. 00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:49.559 Not on tablets of stone but on tables of human hearts. 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:53.519 And such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:57.139 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything is coming from us. 00:20:57.459 --> 00:20:58.539 Which is an important thing. 00:20:58.539 --> 00:21:01.159 Like, we can hear this whole, hey, you're the message. 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.480 And you're like, oh, no. 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:04.220 I do not want to be the message. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.659 That is one of the most condemning things I've ever heard. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.299 You know? 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:10.899 If I just look at my life and all the areas that are off. 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:14.720 And I think, I got to get that whole thing fixed before I ever share Jesus. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.560 No. 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.800 And this is why this is encouraged. 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.660 This is not what he's saying. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.960 He says, not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything is coming from us. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:25.400 But our sufficiency is from God. 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:29.280 Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant. 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.820 Not the letter but the spirit. 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:32.680 For the letter kills but the spirit gives life. 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:37.600 The Lord's work is happening in our life. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:40.439 If we've received Jesus, he's already doing this. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:43.159 So the exhortation is, let him. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.639 Say yes. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:49.980 So when he's coming into life and he's putting his finger on areas of our life that we're very uncomfortable about, 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:54.579 he's writing a letter to the world through us. 00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:57.439 This is his part of his letter that he's writing. 00:21:57.779 --> 00:22:01.799 And it gives a foundation for being able to communicate the gospel to people in an effective way. 00:22:02.719 --> 00:22:07.240 So, you know, this harkens back to that verse in the early part of Colossians where it says, 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:09.519 Christ in you is the hope of glory. 00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:12.919 This is Jesus living in, he's the word made flesh, okay? 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:21.919 Jesus living inside of us through the spirit, communicating himself to other people through our conduct and through our words. 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:28.619 But we just need to recognize for a skeptical world who is predisposed to not believe what God says, 00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:30.839 what they're looking at first is you. 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.099 Okay? 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:39.240 And we should be encouraged that we have the spirit who's up for the challenge. 00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:45.759 Christ in us is the hope of glory and he's up for the challenge of displaying his glory to the world through us. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.619 So, moving on a little bit. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:55.559 So, it says, walking wisdom towards outsiders, making the best use of the time. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.859 So, what does wisdom look like? 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.700 It means making the best use of the time. 00:22:59.400 --> 00:22:59.500 Okay? 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:04.619 So, I thought about just the array of different relationships we have. 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.579 We have some relationships that are really long term. 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:10.259 I mean, they have a time span of 50 years, maybe. 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.180 You know, family. 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.940 Very long time span with family. 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:22.559 There's a different way I'm going to walk with family members than a cashier. 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:23.420 Okay? 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:25.180 I might see that person one time. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.859 So, we need to have wisdom. 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.900 We need to think through these different relationships. 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:31.539 I mean, I'm a letter being written to the world. 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:36.000 Each of us is a letter of God to the world, bearing about the testimony of Jesus. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:42.740 But the way I handle that in wisdom looks differently depending on the kind of relationship it is. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:46.400 So, you know, you have a random person come along your path. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.339 The Lord opens the door to share the gospel. 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.180 You need to share it. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.059 You need to share the whole thing with them. 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:55.420 Like, it might not be the most comprehensive thing on the face of the world. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:58.839 You know, it might not be like a John Piper serpent. 00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:05.939 But it might be a two-minute testimony of Jesus Christ. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:10.000 And that might be the only interaction you ever have with them. 00:24:10.459 --> 00:24:11.720 So, the Lord opens the door. 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:13.240 We're praying that God would open doors. 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:18.779 The way I preach the gospel to some random person I meet is going to be different than, say, my brother. 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:21.199 Who I've had lots of conversations with. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:28.539 And every time I see him, if I share the gospel with him every single time, it might not be the most helpful thing for a relationship to continue. 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:33.340 You know, because we've already said, okay, we were, you know, we have a certain understanding. 00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:36.460 And now we're talking and we're praying for him. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:49.680 And we're wanting to put good conduct over a long time span to give foundations to the truth that we're communicating. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:52.620 So, we're supposed to walk in wisdom, you know. 00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:58.740 And anyway, Julie had an interaction with one of our neighbors that I thought was a really good example of this. 00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:06.660 And the illustration I thought of for walking in wisdom was heads up, not heads down. 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.400 Okay. 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:10.700 Heads down, we're just buried in our own life, our own problems, our own stuff. 00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:12.500 And we're walking around like this. 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:18.820 And God's got to really do something crazy to pull our head up and get us to recognize the existence of another person. 00:25:18.820 --> 00:25:19.340 Okay. 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:23.220 Well, walking in wisdom towards outsiders means we have our heads up. 00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:25.500 And she had an interaction with one of our neighbors. 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.500 She was driving by. 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:29.420 She was out doing her gardening, you know. 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:32.380 And this is a neighbor we just have not interacted with that much. 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:37.240 And she was driving by and she just had a split second. 00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:39.740 She was like, I could roll down my window and talk to this person. 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:45.019 And she didn't feel like doing it because the habit is heads down. 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.240 And this is both of us. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:48.160 So I'm not, you know, throwing through the end of the bus. 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.000 But she didn't. 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:51.579 She rolled down the window and she talked with her. 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:55.960 And this lady was kind of like, you know, like there's people are so lonely. 00:25:55.960 --> 00:26:04.340 And when we have our heads up and we just allow the Holy Spirit to say, hey, make the best use of this time that you have with this person. 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.620 This two minutes. 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:12.199 There can be a relationship that's established that you just never would have thought of. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:15.479 And it feeds into this overall mission. 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:18.759 Now we can be more thoughtful about our neighbor and pray for them, you know. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:23.479 Where before maybe out of shame or whatever, you kind of just keep that stuff down. 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:28.099 You don't even pray for them because you're embarrassed about the fact that you always, you know, blow by that, you know. 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:38.339 Well, the Holy Spirit wants to bring our heads up and give us an alertness towards the people around us so that we're making the most out of every opportunity. 00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:39.379 You know, we have wisdom. 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:44.519 So, I guess moving on from that, the last verse, verse six. 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:51.779 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer every person. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:55.659 So that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:57.779 It's hard to get through that. 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.060 Gracious speech. 00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:04.940 This is not my wheelhouse. 00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:08.000 Out of all these, I think this is the one that was most convicting to me. 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:11.220 Don't be a truth bulldozer. 00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:16.960 A gracious person doesn't just plow people over with the truth. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:20.660 So much salt, a person can't taste the love. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:23.620 You know, that was something that came to mind. 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:26.399 It's just, you know, you eat food that's just over salted. 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.599 I like really salty food. 00:27:28.179 --> 00:27:34.079 For me, it's like the right salt level is usually a little bit too much for other people. 00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:34.979 Like, oh, it's too salty. 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.359 But there's a salt level where I'm just like, even I don't like that. 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.219 I'm just like, no, that's not. 00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:40.319 That's too much salt. 00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:40.899 That's not edible. 00:27:41.739 --> 00:27:42.039 All right. 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:47.180 If we have speech that's full of truth, but there's no graciousness to it, it's like that. 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:49.299 Like, it's food, technically. 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:52.259 But there's so much truth in it. 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.299 There's so much salt. 00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:54.460 I just can't hear it. 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:56.159 You know, it's just off-putting. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.859 1 Corinthians 13, one said, 00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:13.079 This is how essential it is to have graciousness that comes from love. 00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:14.179 What we're talking about is love. 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:17.159 You know, truth and love, they go together. 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.240 John chapter 1 says, 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.500 The law came through Moses. 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:25.279 Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:27.079 He was full of grace and truth. 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.620 He had both. 00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:29.480 The law was all truth. 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.180 It was terrifying. 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.980 People heard it and they're like, I can't hear any more of them. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.880 It's just too much. 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.079 It condemns me. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.339 Jesus had all the truth. 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:41.359 He was full of grace. 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:43.380 And people beheld him. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.539 He was the word made flesh. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:45.160 They could come. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.740 They could taste. 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.380 They could see. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.299 And they could hear it. 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.099 You know? 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:52.279 And they could hear it from a way from Jesus that you just can't hear it from other people. 00:28:52.939 --> 00:28:54.139 Well, Jesus lives in us. 00:28:54.159 --> 00:28:56.159 So we can be the same through his spirit. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.539 Don't treat people like a checklist. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.079 I treat people like a checklist or like a to-do list. 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:02.659 All right? 00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:04.199 I see problems. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:06.879 They're now, they're in a person. 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:08.279 That person's now on my to-do list. 00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:10.019 I got to work through my to-do list. 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.899 I got to check it off. 00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:12.819 I got to address the truth problem. 00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.659 And then we're going to move on. 00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:16.119 You know, this is not like people feel that. 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:22.699 I know that's the effect that I've had when I'm not walking with graciousness, with a heart full of the love of the Lord. 00:29:24.459 --> 00:29:27.219 And anyway, so that's one extreme. 00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:31.639 Gracious speech is essential so that we're not just bulldozing people with the truth. 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:36.340 On the other side, it's not just gracious speech. 00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:40.540 It's let your speech be always gracious, seasoned with salt. 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:43.160 Don't be so sweet you don't share the truth. 00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:49.280 There's a way of just trying to build relationship and build relationship and build capital and build trust. 00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:51.020 And you're building, you're building, you're building, you're building. 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.380 Are you really building? 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.520 Are you sharing the truth? 00:29:55.519 --> 00:30:00.740 Are you allowing the salt of Jesus Christ to pervade that relationship? 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:04.019 It's like food that has no taste in it. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.740 Matthew 5.13 says, 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:12.279 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:16.299 It's no good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:24.960 So we think naturally that if I err on grace, I'm going to build street cred with them. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:31.079 I'm going to earn myself a seat at the table so I can finally, someday, share the truth. 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:35.940 And man, when I do, they're going to trust me so much, they're going to have to say, yes, that's the truth and I receive it. 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:41.839 And we think that we're going to kind of be their bestie that way. 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.759 But it's not true. 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.180 People don't work that way. 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:48.799 It says in Proverbs 28.23, 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:53.220 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:58.240 That kind of graciousness is not actually graciousness. 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.000 It's flattery. 00:30:59.779 --> 00:30:59.940 Okay. 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:07.460 And that way of interacting with people is like salt that's lost its saltiness. 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:10.539 That's good for nothing to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.639 And people do it. 00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:12.259 You see it in the world. 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:16.119 You see someone who's just constantly trying to like earn trust, 00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:17.379 earn favor, earn trust. 00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:20.439 And they're so scared of the reproach of Jesus Christ. 00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:23.339 And they're so embarrassed about what the Bible actually says. 00:31:23.399 --> 00:31:24.259 They never share it with them. 00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:27.219 It's despicable. 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:30.219 It's kind of something that makes you feel like you can't respect somebody like that. 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.940 Because you're two-faced. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:34.100 You're not being honest. 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:35.100 You're not being genuine. 00:31:36.100 --> 00:31:36.960 Jesus does both. 00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:41.240 There's graciousness and there's truth together. 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:47.779 And that's what our orientation towards people ought to be. 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.579 Full grace. 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.120 You know, gracious speech. 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.400 Season with salt. 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:51.819 It's done. 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.859 And it says, 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:57.099 So that you may know how to answer each person. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:57.799 Each. 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:03.319 So that you may know how to answer each person. 00:32:07.459 --> 00:32:10.159 There's one way of thinking about this that says, 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:13.620 While we are communicating with unbelievers, 00:32:13.860 --> 00:32:17.259 we need to have gracious speech that's seasoned with salt. 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.620 And that's true. 00:32:19.580 --> 00:32:22.580 But this actually colors it in a little bit different of a lens. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.019 It says, 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:27.680 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:30.460 So that you may know how to answer each person. 00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:31.820 It's a lifestyle. 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:34.879 A lot of times, 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.480 we try to turn it on. 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.500 When you get a mission opportunity, 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:38.839 it's like, 00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.240 Oh, wait. 00:32:39.659 --> 00:32:39.799 Okay. 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.119 Time to share the gospel. 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:44.200 I need to have gracious speech, 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.240 seasoned with salt. 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:47.379 And you try to just turn it on then. 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:52.179 But you don't have this as your way of being 00:32:52.179 --> 00:32:54.859 throughout all of your life as a Christian. 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:56.319 So it's unnatural. 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.079 And you're not ready. 00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:58.460 You know? 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:00.679 So if our speech, 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.519 our speech is very important to the Lord. 00:33:03.120 --> 00:33:03.320 You know, 00:33:03.340 --> 00:33:04.180 it says in James, 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:04.880 Hey, 00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:09.600 how can bitter water and sweet water come out of the same well? 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.720 It doesn't. 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:12.259 It doesn't. 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:15.580 The tongue is so important to the Lord. 00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.720 It's a sacred place. 00:33:17.360 --> 00:33:18.960 We're trying to use our tongue. 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:22.720 We want our tongue to be enlivened by the Holy Spirit. 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:24.420 A place where the Holy Spirit is like, 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:25.640 that's my house. 00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:30.019 Our mouths are where the Holy Spirit lives. 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:34.180 And if we're going around our normal life, 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.440 our non-mission life, 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.480 which there really isn't one, 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.600 but the way we think of it is like, 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:37.799 okay, 00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.860 our non-mission life, 00:33:39.360 --> 00:33:40.460 and we're backbiting, 00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:41.279 we're backbiting, 00:33:41.600 --> 00:33:42.779 we're grumbling, 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.220 we're complaining, 00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:46.019 we're slandering. 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:50.940 this is a mouth that's not ready. 00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:54.099 When those interactions come, 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.139 we're not ready. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:00.579 Our mouth is to be under the control of the Holy Spirit, 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.700 set apart for Jesus, 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.460 for his glory, 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.660 no matter where we are. 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:05.819 And it's this mouth, 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:07.619 this gracious speech, 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:09.800 always seasoned with salt, 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:13.039 that makes us ready when those opportunities come. 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:14.320 We're praying for opportunities. 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:18.000 Are we praying to be ready for those opportunities? 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:21.179 So this is also, 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.980 this is what it means to walk by the Spirit. 00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:26.759 I love that the Holy Spirit's referred to often as the Spirit of Christ, 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:32.679 which is kind of an interesting way of framing the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:34.940 There's the Trinity, 00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.399 the Father, 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:35.719 Son, 00:34:35.819 --> 00:34:36.199 Holy Spirit, 00:34:36.319 --> 00:34:36.739 distinct. 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:39.500 Each has a unique ministry though, 00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:43.059 and the Spirit has a ministry of Christ. 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:46.359 It communicates Christ into our hearts, 00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:48.759 that Christ would dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:34:48.859 --> 00:34:51.159 So when we talk about Jesus living inside of us, 00:34:51.219 --> 00:34:53.859 what we're talking about is the Holy Spirit living inside of us. 00:34:54.359 --> 00:34:56.000 But the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:59.719 He's communicating the personhood of Jesus into our hearts, 00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:01.779 and expressing his character. 00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:05.780 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:08.019 And so when the Holy Spirit comes and lives in our hearts, 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:12.519 he's making a home for Jesus to express himself. 00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:15.200 And he's the same as he always is. 00:35:15.540 --> 00:35:15.640 You know, 00:35:15.680 --> 00:35:19.300 so I shouldn't expect the Spirit inside of me to be different than Jesus. 00:35:19.740 --> 00:35:20.840 When I read about Jesus, 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:22.000 it's just that. 00:35:22.420 --> 00:35:23.620 That should be my expectation. 00:35:23.740 --> 00:35:24.880 So we ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:35:25.120 --> 00:35:29.140 We're asking for Jesus to come and have his home and reign and rule in our life. 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:30.480 It's a little bit of an aside, 00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:34.239 but this does have bearing on this whole being ready thing, 00:35:34.779 --> 00:35:35.960 having gracious speech. 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:39.099 First Peter 3 verse 15 says, 00:35:39.339 --> 00:35:41.559 sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:48.359 Always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that's in you, 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:50.059 yet with gentleness and reverence. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:50.960 Parallel passage. 00:35:51.279 --> 00:35:51.699 Same thing. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.519 Same message. 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.159 Okay. 00:35:53.780 --> 00:35:55.619 But his message to them then is say, 00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:55.900 Hey, 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.519 sanctify, 00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:58.380 set aside. 00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:58.719 Lord, 00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:01.119 the Lord Jesus is holy in your hearts. 00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:02.159 That's what sanctify means. 00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:04.320 He's living inside of you through the Spirit. 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.800 Treat him as holy. 00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:11.460 So that you can be ready to make a defense to anybody at any time. 00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:11.980 Always. 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:16.460 And thing I love about Jesus is you look at his example. 00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:18.159 He always knew what to say to anybody, 00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:19.679 everybody in every situation, 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.399 no matter what, 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.659 no matter how different it was, 00:36:21.739 --> 00:36:24.019 no matter how like out of left field it was, 00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:25.960 over and over and over again, 00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:27.399 Jesus always knew what to say. 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.339 The Bible says, 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:31.919 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 00:36:32.399 --> 00:36:34.359 He's the same Jesus who lives in our hearts. 00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.779 So he's always ready. 00:36:36.339 --> 00:36:38.940 The reason we can be ready is because he's always ready. 00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:39.719 So, 00:36:39.839 --> 00:36:40.039 you know, 00:36:40.379 --> 00:36:40.919 women at the well, 00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:41.659 Nicodemus, 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:43.039 how he talked to Peter, 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.139 how he talked to the disciples, 00:36:44.419 --> 00:36:45.259 the rich young ruler, 00:36:45.819 --> 00:36:46.699 Pharisees, 00:36:46.859 --> 00:36:47.440 Sadducees, 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.019 crowds, 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:48.839 you know, 00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:51.220 a random Syrophoenician woman. 00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:51.620 He just, 00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:53.340 no matter what, 00:36:54.260 --> 00:36:55.600 he had the right words to share. 00:36:57.100 --> 00:36:58.240 He's the same. 00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:59.720 He lives in our hearts. 00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:02.460 We need to realize and have our, 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.160 we need to ask the Lord, 00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:03.380 Lord, 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:05.579 open my eyes to the fact that you actually live inside of me. 00:37:05.640 --> 00:37:06.340 I'm your house. 00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:09.180 And let me treat you as holy. 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:14.840 You're not going to let me act one way to my wife 00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:19.940 or speak one way about brothers and sisters in the Lord who Christ died for. 00:37:21.220 --> 00:37:24.920 And then turn around and talk like totally different to some random stranger 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:26.039 I'm trying to share the gospel to. 00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:27.320 Continuity. 00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.579 He's the same. 00:37:29.720 --> 00:37:29.860 So, 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.680 and that should give us an encouragement. 00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:34.119 If we're insecure about having a word to share, 00:37:35.299 --> 00:37:35.500 he's, 00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:36.139 he's got it. 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.379 He's always got it. 00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:39.139 Just set him aside as Lord, 00:37:39.259 --> 00:37:39.759 trust him. 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.739 And through the spirit, 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:43.919 he always gives the right words to speak. 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.639 So anyway, 00:37:45.739 --> 00:37:46.099 that's, 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:48.239 that's all I have in the commentary on the verses. 00:37:48.419 --> 00:37:50.039 I did have a few points I wanted to pull out. 00:37:50.279 --> 00:37:51.319 Some of these are repeats. 00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:54.260 I think these are the things when I pray about Christ church, 00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:55.600 when I think about Christ church, 00:37:56.080 --> 00:37:58.080 some of these is just like myself because I'm in Christ. 00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:01.039 These are the things that stand out to me as being pertinent. 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:02.480 Number one, 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:09.360 God has given each of us a personal responsibility in gospel ministry. 00:38:09.780 --> 00:38:12.240 So we speak a lot of doing this together, 00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:13.820 which is awesome. 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:15.140 It's awesome. 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:18.039 But there's a, 00:38:18.219 --> 00:38:21.139 there's an order of operations in that togetherness. 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:25.839 There are people in each of our circles that only we know. 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:34.359 And God has ordained that we have a personal responsibility to be a first point of contact 00:38:34.359 --> 00:38:39.799 and gospel witness with those people that no one else in this room or in this church or in the world has. 00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:41.219 Only you do. 00:38:42.219 --> 00:38:44.279 We need to own it in faith. 00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:47.580 We don't need to be insecure about this or in fear about this, 00:38:47.580 --> 00:38:51.920 but we need to own it because you are the letter that they're reading. 00:38:52.740 --> 00:38:54.620 They don't care about what church you go to. 00:38:55.100 --> 00:38:56.500 They don't care about your small group. 00:38:56.740 --> 00:38:58.480 They don't care about your gospel message. 00:38:58.640 --> 00:39:00.460 They care about you. 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:08.260 We have been given everything we need to fulfill that ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit and to own it. 00:39:08.260 --> 00:39:10.360 That's why Paul's not saying, 00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:12.060 hey, 00:39:12.940 --> 00:39:19.320 let's go as a mass group on mission to every single person. 00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:21.700 As a gigantic group. 00:39:21.700 --> 00:39:23.080 And we're going to be on mission together. 00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:29.400 And we're going to co-preach to every single person in each one of our individual circles. 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:30.219 That's not how it works. 00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:31.279 There's an order. 00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:37.619 He sends them out individually in two by two to share the gospel. 00:39:37.619 --> 00:39:39.799 There might be some fruit. 00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:41.400 We bring them in. 00:39:41.639 --> 00:39:42.960 We expose them to other believers. 00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:44.380 We pray and we get on mission together. 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:45.900 They become a Christian. 00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:47.299 They're plugged into the whole body. 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.779 They're built up with the discipleship. 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.440 But this is how it works. 00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:53.319 He scatters and he sends the disciples out. 00:39:53.380 --> 00:39:56.799 He sent the 72 out two by two to do the work of ministry. 00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:59.779 Well, in our immediate circles right now, that's actually happening. 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:00.819 There are people, 00:40:01.259 --> 00:40:03.119 and I've heard a lot of examples of this, 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:04.880 but there's people that only we know, 00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:09.699 and then there's this initial gospel work that the Lord wants to accomplish. 00:40:10.339 --> 00:40:13.699 So the exhortation I have is for all of us, myself included, just own it. 00:40:14.299 --> 00:40:14.460 Okay? 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:17.739 Own that personal mission that we have. 00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:23.339 I like the analogy of a movie and previews. 00:40:24.299 --> 00:40:25.960 If people don't like the preview to a movie, 00:40:26.039 --> 00:40:26.859 they're not going to go see the movie. 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.659 We're the preview. 00:40:29.779 --> 00:40:31.380 The people that only you know, 00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:33.180 you are the preview to. 00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:35.320 And if they don't like the preview, 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:36.820 they're not going to watch the movie. 00:40:37.740 --> 00:40:38.680 So, like, 00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:43.140 don't succumb to the temptation to try to get them to jump over the preview 00:40:43.140 --> 00:40:43.920 and go see the movie. 00:40:44.860 --> 00:40:45.500 Own your task. 00:40:45.559 --> 00:40:46.059 Hey, I'm a letter. 00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:47.900 I have a mission task here 00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:50.680 to give them a good preview of the gospel 00:40:50.680 --> 00:40:54.119 and what the glory of Christ in the body of Christ looks like. 00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:56.160 I love it. 00:40:56.240 --> 00:40:58.380 The end of Colossians, 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:00.500 Paul singles out one person. 00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:02.159 He says, 00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.539 Colossians 4, 17, 00:41:04.119 --> 00:41:06.139 Say to Archippus, 00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:10.820 See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord. 00:41:11.019 --> 00:41:11.260 You. 00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:13.860 I think it's an awesome challenge. 00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:15.619 Each one of us has this, 00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:17.380 directly from Jesus Christ. 00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:20.880 And when each of us individually are owning that mission, 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:22.360 together, 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:23.780 and we're praying for each other, 00:41:23.780 --> 00:41:25.060 Lord, 00:41:25.060 --> 00:41:25.100 Lord, 00:41:25.660 --> 00:41:30.140 help us individually own the mission that we've received in Jesus. 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:31.640 It's fruitful. 00:41:32.620 --> 00:41:32.800 You know? 00:41:33.260 --> 00:41:33.800 So, anyway, 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:36.519 that's an exhortation to have is 00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:39.920 own the personal responsibility each one of us has 00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:41.040 to be a letter, 00:41:41.680 --> 00:41:42.740 to be an emissary, 00:41:43.160 --> 00:41:44.500 to give people a hearing 00:41:44.500 --> 00:41:48.220 that no one else in this room has opportunity to give. 00:41:48.219 --> 00:41:48.699 Second, 00:41:50.959 --> 00:41:54.259 be devoted to praying for each other in this ministry for open gospel doors. 00:41:55.199 --> 00:41:58.980 Each of our individual missions fail unless the Lord opens the door. 00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:01.059 This is the first stage partnership. 00:42:01.219 --> 00:42:02.199 This is how we partner together. 00:42:02.699 --> 00:42:02.879 You know? 00:42:03.259 --> 00:42:04.980 The kingdom of God and all of life together. 00:42:05.259 --> 00:42:06.199 That's our mission. 00:42:06.899 --> 00:42:08.500 This is how we partner together in the gospel. 00:42:09.299 --> 00:42:12.039 Letting each other know about these relationships and praying. 00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:12.639 Lord, 00:42:13.719 --> 00:42:14.000 like, 00:42:14.440 --> 00:42:15.360 make an open door. 00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:16.739 You know? 00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:18.119 Sam's talking to his buddy, 00:42:18.199 --> 00:42:18.920 taking him out to dinner. 00:42:19.380 --> 00:42:19.699 Lord, 00:42:20.759 --> 00:42:22.099 open a door for the gospel. 00:42:22.239 --> 00:42:23.119 Let this land. 00:42:24.219 --> 00:42:25.079 And at the right time, 00:42:25.119 --> 00:42:27.159 if there's enough of that landing and open door, 00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:28.219 fruitful work of the ministry, 00:42:28.599 --> 00:42:29.759 we enter into it with him. 00:42:29.759 --> 00:42:30.079 You know? 00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:32.659 And the Spirit will lead us at the right times for that. 00:42:32.739 --> 00:42:33.940 But we pray together 00:42:33.940 --> 00:42:36.159 with thankfulness. 00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:39.860 Not a glass half empty mentality. 00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:41.420 The glass is full. 00:42:42.039 --> 00:42:42.679 You know? 00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:45.019 It's just essential. 00:42:45.259 --> 00:42:46.039 So moving a little bit quicker. 00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:47.159 I know we got crying kids. 00:42:47.820 --> 00:42:49.139 Always be ready with the confidence 00:42:49.139 --> 00:42:50.139 that comes from the Holy Spirit. 00:42:50.659 --> 00:42:52.639 Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. 00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:53.400 He lives in us. 00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:55.400 That gives us great boldness and confidence 00:42:55.400 --> 00:42:56.159 wherever we go. 00:42:56.619 --> 00:42:57.320 He's with us. 00:42:57.920 --> 00:42:58.679 Can you imagine, like, 00:42:59.500 --> 00:43:03.139 the problem with this challenge of personal ownership is 00:43:03.139 --> 00:43:05.099 it makes you feel scared. 00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:06.360 It makes you feel insecure. 00:43:08.019 --> 00:43:09.099 Because it's just you. 00:43:09.460 --> 00:43:09.800 You know, it's like, 00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:11.260 where's my, you know, 00:43:11.340 --> 00:43:12.660 person who's going to go with me 00:43:12.660 --> 00:43:13.140 and, you know, 00:43:13.200 --> 00:43:13.840 I can lean on. 00:43:13.920 --> 00:43:14.960 Well, Jesus is with you. 00:43:16.260 --> 00:43:17.260 Wherever he goes, 00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:18.780 he knows the right thing to say. 00:43:19.019 --> 00:43:20.380 We can have boldness and confidence. 00:43:20.780 --> 00:43:21.280 Actually, Carrie, 00:43:21.340 --> 00:43:22.539 I loved your story 00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:23.420 just about your day 00:43:23.420 --> 00:43:24.160 the other day 00:43:24.160 --> 00:43:25.519 where you just had all these open doors 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:28.260 for these awesome Holy Spirit interactions 00:43:28.260 --> 00:43:29.320 and you were so encouraged. 00:43:30.620 --> 00:43:31.420 That's just awesome. 00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:32.780 That's like, 00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:34.440 that's like a miniature snapshot 00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:36.539 of what Jesus' life just was all the time. 00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:38.099 Well, that's what our life is like. 00:43:38.579 --> 00:43:39.800 We pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:43:39.900 --> 00:43:41.039 We're praying for these open doors. 00:43:41.940 --> 00:43:44.880 And there should be a regular experience of, 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:46.980 man, the Lord's just opening doors, you know? 00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:48.079 So, anyway. 00:43:50.360 --> 00:43:51.619 Gracious seasoned speech. 00:43:51.719 --> 00:43:52.719 We've talked about that a lot. 00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:55.239 I think it's essential. 00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:57.059 The main part being 00:43:57.059 --> 00:43:59.659 in all of the time, 00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:00.920 in all of life. 00:44:01.139 --> 00:44:02.779 I'm personally convicted about this one. 00:44:02.780 --> 00:44:06.160 I want to be careful with how I talk. 00:44:06.519 --> 00:44:07.720 Even about real things. 00:44:07.760 --> 00:44:08.620 Even about problems. 00:44:09.380 --> 00:44:10.840 The Lord is there. 00:44:11.660 --> 00:44:13.540 And he cares about how I talk. 00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:15.440 And he's living inside of me. 00:44:15.500 --> 00:44:17.600 And he's using my tongue for other things. 00:44:18.100 --> 00:44:20.260 I should not be using my tongue 00:44:20.260 --> 00:44:21.880 on the one hand to praise God. 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:23.140 On the other hand, 00:44:23.160 --> 00:44:24.560 to tear down my brother or sister 00:44:24.560 --> 00:44:26.040 who's made the image of God, you know? 00:44:28.019 --> 00:44:30.260 And the last is making the best use of the time. 00:44:30.260 --> 00:44:33.920 I had an excerpt to read, 00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:34.560 but I'm not going to. 00:44:34.620 --> 00:44:35.440 I'm just going to summarize it. 00:44:37.120 --> 00:44:38.720 D.L. Moody was a famous evangelist 00:44:38.720 --> 00:44:39.620 back in the 1800s. 00:44:40.560 --> 00:44:44.720 And he had a thought 00:44:44.720 --> 00:44:47.600 on making the best use of the time. 00:44:48.400 --> 00:44:50.200 He had an experience in Chicago. 00:44:50.540 --> 00:44:52.820 He preached to a huge congregation 00:44:52.820 --> 00:44:54.080 at the time. 00:44:54.300 --> 00:44:55.780 Wide open door for ministry. 00:44:56.240 --> 00:44:56.980 Preached in the gospel. 00:44:57.120 --> 00:44:57.760 Huge crowds. 00:44:57.760 --> 00:44:58.880 And one evening, 00:44:59.080 --> 00:45:01.260 he presented the gospel. 00:45:01.720 --> 00:45:03.120 And then he gave everyone a challenge 00:45:03.120 --> 00:45:03.500 and said, 00:45:04.020 --> 00:45:05.260 consider what you're going to do 00:45:05.260 --> 00:45:07.140 this week with this Jesus of Nazareth. 00:45:07.580 --> 00:45:08.940 And come back next Sunday 00:45:08.940 --> 00:45:09.520 with your answer. 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:10.260 All right? 00:45:10.420 --> 00:45:11.020 And they adjourned. 00:45:11.060 --> 00:45:11.640 They sang a song 00:45:11.640 --> 00:45:12.380 and they adjourned the meeting. 00:45:13.020 --> 00:45:13.640 That night, 00:45:13.720 --> 00:45:14.880 the Chicago fire broke out. 00:45:15.560 --> 00:45:16.540 Hundreds of people died. 00:45:17.300 --> 00:45:18.600 Huge sections of the city 00:45:18.600 --> 00:45:19.180 was wiped out. 00:45:19.260 --> 00:45:20.240 The church was wiped out. 00:45:20.720 --> 00:45:21.520 And he said he never saw 00:45:21.520 --> 00:45:22.300 that congregation again. 00:45:23.180 --> 00:45:24.000 People either died 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:25.520 or were displaced. 00:45:25.519 --> 00:45:28.519 And there wasn't a next Sunday. 00:45:28.980 --> 00:45:29.420 It was gone. 00:45:31.059 --> 00:45:33.320 And he said he would never again 00:45:33.320 --> 00:45:35.940 waste an opportunity 00:45:35.940 --> 00:45:37.759 when he's preaching the gospel 00:45:37.759 --> 00:45:38.960 to share it all the way 00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:40.780 and to challenge people. 00:45:40.840 --> 00:45:42.219 Hey, you might only have today. 00:45:42.920 --> 00:45:43.840 So when we talk about 00:45:43.840 --> 00:45:45.099 making the best use of the time, 00:45:45.199 --> 00:45:46.759 we need to have that in our minds. 00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:48.019 The people that we're seeing 00:45:48.019 --> 00:45:49.039 and interacting with, 00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:51.400 you don't know how much time you got. 00:45:51.400 --> 00:45:53.680 So that's a big asterisk 00:45:53.680 --> 00:45:54.340 on the whole, 00:45:55.420 --> 00:45:55.700 you know, 00:45:55.780 --> 00:45:56.840 use wisdom with like 00:45:56.840 --> 00:45:57.680 how you interact 00:45:57.680 --> 00:45:58.460 with family members 00:45:58.460 --> 00:45:59.139 versus not. 00:45:59.860 --> 00:46:00.579 Here's an interaction 00:46:00.579 --> 00:46:01.780 that's the same no matter what. 00:46:02.220 --> 00:46:03.320 We need to share the gospel with them. 00:46:04.039 --> 00:46:04.860 We don't save people. 00:46:05.240 --> 00:46:06.039 God saves people. 00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:08.360 But don't be deluded 00:46:08.360 --> 00:46:10.039 that you might have 00:46:10.039 --> 00:46:11.180 tons of time with people 00:46:11.180 --> 00:46:13.039 and let that lure you 00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:14.440 into a false sense of 00:46:14.440 --> 00:46:15.980 security, 00:46:16.680 --> 00:46:17.460 complacency. 00:46:17.460 --> 00:46:20.880 The Bible guarantees us today. 00:46:21.579 --> 00:46:22.780 Today, if you hear his voice, 00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:23.619 don't harden your heart. 00:46:24.559 --> 00:46:25.519 And this is the same with sin. 00:46:25.840 --> 00:46:26.720 Lord's putting our finger, 00:46:26.860 --> 00:46:27.720 his finger on sin. 00:46:28.179 --> 00:46:29.119 There isn't a, 00:46:29.320 --> 00:46:30.159 I'm going to repent tomorrow 00:46:30.159 --> 00:46:30.800 for anything. 00:46:31.240 --> 00:46:32.000 You might die. 00:46:32.440 --> 00:46:33.159 This might be it. 00:46:34.340 --> 00:46:35.920 So that's, 00:46:36.320 --> 00:46:37.420 when we think of 00:46:37.420 --> 00:46:40.220 walking in wisdom 00:46:40.220 --> 00:46:42.679 and having 00:46:42.679 --> 00:46:45.460 wisdom with how we 00:46:45.460 --> 00:46:46.760 make a best use of the time, 00:46:46.760 --> 00:46:48.940 let's trust the Lord 00:46:48.940 --> 00:46:50.280 for the ability 00:46:50.280 --> 00:46:51.080 to share the truth 00:46:51.080 --> 00:46:51.460 with people, 00:46:52.060 --> 00:46:52.380 you know, 00:46:52.860 --> 00:46:53.960 and do it soon. 00:46:54.540 --> 00:46:55.600 Don't wait for 00:46:55.600 --> 00:46:57.280 years to pass 00:46:57.280 --> 00:46:58.660 and building up 00:46:58.660 --> 00:46:59.360 tons and tons 00:46:59.360 --> 00:47:00.540 of street credit with people. 00:47:00.960 --> 00:47:01.900 That's a deception. 00:47:02.420 --> 00:47:03.520 That's not how Jesus 00:47:03.520 --> 00:47:04.440 interacted with anybody. 00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:06.360 He used different words. 00:47:06.460 --> 00:47:06.820 He would share 00:47:06.820 --> 00:47:07.880 different aspects of the truth 00:47:07.880 --> 00:47:08.700 according to the spirit. 00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:11.580 But he didn't act 00:47:11.580 --> 00:47:12.780 like the evangelists 00:47:12.780 --> 00:47:13.460 today do 00:47:13.460 --> 00:47:15.200 who are ashamed 00:47:15.200 --> 00:47:16.300 of the testimony of Jesus. 00:47:16.300 --> 00:47:17.300 Let us not be ashamed. 00:47:17.820 --> 00:47:19.100 Let us be faithful stewards 00:47:19.100 --> 00:47:19.840 of God's word. 00:47:20.280 --> 00:47:20.900 Let's not use 00:47:20.900 --> 00:47:21.940 underhanded ways 00:47:21.940 --> 00:47:22.920 with how we deal with people. 00:47:23.480 --> 00:47:24.640 But like Paul said, 00:47:24.720 --> 00:47:25.400 by the open, 00:47:25.480 --> 00:47:26.440 open proclamation 00:47:26.440 --> 00:47:27.460 of the truth, 00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:28.720 commended themselves 00:47:28.720 --> 00:47:29.680 to everyone's conscience 00:47:29.680 --> 00:47:30.500 in the sight of God. 00:47:31.039 --> 00:47:31.920 Let God deal with 00:47:31.920 --> 00:47:32.480 whether or not 00:47:32.480 --> 00:47:34.039 he opens their eyes 00:47:34.039 --> 00:47:34.320 or not. 00:47:34.360 --> 00:47:34.860 That's his deal. 00:47:35.860 --> 00:47:36.039 You know, 00:47:36.120 --> 00:47:37.800 that's Jesus' job. 00:47:38.740 --> 00:47:39.260 So anyway, 00:47:39.260 --> 00:47:41.440 that's all I have. 00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:41.520 Yeah. 00:47:41.520 --> 00:47:41.800 Thank you. 00:47:41.800 --> 00:47:42.120 Thank you. 00:47:42.120 --> 00:47:42.620 Thank you. 00:47:42.620 --> 00:47:42.760 Thank you. 00:47:42.760 --> 00:47:42.800 Thank you.