The Prison Epistles
Sermon Fifty
Colossians 3:18-4:18
Final Exhortations
(part 6)
Jim Bordwine, Th.D.
Introduction
Edward M. Bounds was a Methodist minister and devotional writer. He was born in 1835 in Shelby County, Missouri; Bounds studied law and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. After practicing law for three years, Bounds sensed a call to the ministry and was ordained in 1859 and, for a time, served as a chaplain in the Confederate Army. After the war, Bounds served as pastor of churches in Tennessee and Alabama, and in St. Louis.
Bounds is remembered for one thing and that is his devotion to prayer. The testimony to this man’s prayer life is simply phenomenal. For hours each and every morning, he prayed and he interceded and he wept. His insights regarding prayer in the life of the Christian are wise and rich. There are few figures in the history of the Church who match the example of E. M. Bounds in the discipline of prayer. Though largely unknown during his lifetime, even after forty-six years of ministry, today Bounds is famous for having authored eight books on the subject of prayer—and all are considered classics by most evangelicals.
I want to quote from one of his texts:
As I observe the lives of Christians, as I talk to Christians, as I consider my own efforts to walk before the Lord in this world, I must conclude that, by and large, we are not a praying people; and that is because we do not have the proper perception of the place of prayer in the lives of God’s people.
The practice that Bounds says should be pursued unceasingly and with constant vigilance is one largely missing from our lives these days. And his words might not seem so foreign to us and his view on prayer might not strike us as “over the top” if we only listened to what the Bible tells us about prayer. Bounds did not invent the opinion on prayer that he held and which led him to pray hour after hour, day after day. This man was informed by the Scriptures and God used him to instruct the Church in this most essential of all pursuits—prayer.
Lately, as we have been studying Paul’s closing words to the saints in Colossae, we have seen him addressing various relationships. He has given commands and encouragements related to a number of stations in life. Today, we’re going to find Paul speaking on the subject of prayer and what he has to say is the foundation for the practices and teaching of men like Edward Bounds. In just a moment, I’m going to read the next few verses in that closing section of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Before I read, however, I want to offer some observations on Paul.
I believe we often conceive of the apostle Paul as a stern lecturer in the early Church. He is, at times, so forceful in what he says to the various congregations. And, as we understand, Paul is not known for avoiding issues; he was direct in his letters to the Christians of the first century and didn’t hesitate to remind them of his apostolic authority if necessary. Our study of the prison epistles over the past year, however, should have given us a more accurate and well-rounded image of this man. If we say that Paul was a “no nonsense” teacher in the Church for whom correct doctrine was paramount, we must also say that he was a man of immense compassion, patience, and dedication. Not many measure up to the example of Paul—an example of incredible determination and razor-sharp focus. Few can match, at the same time, this man’s obvious love for the people of God and for the Church of Jesus Christ.
A simple read through Paul’s letters confirms that he was a man of both unbending dedication to the truth made known to him by Christ and equally consistent commitment to nurturing the souls for whom Jesus gave His life. While Paul wrote a lot about correct doctrine and was quick to identify error, he also expresses what can only be interpreted as genuine affection and concern for those many, many people who made up congregations like the one in the city of Colossae.
When Paul comes to the final words of his letters, he often reveals that caring side of himself I’ve just mentioned. As he contemplated closing this letter to the Colossians, for example, Paul gave several exhortations, as we know. Those exhortations, thus far, have focused on various relationships, as I noted before. Now the apostle speaks more tenderly and with an obvious sympathy for these Christians. He really does want to see them walking happily and fruitfully before the Lord. Therefore, Paul touches upon a couple of issues that are not directly connected to the relationships he mentions at the end of chapter three.
06. Paul’s miscellaneous exhortations (4:2-18)
After speaking to wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, and masters, Paul’s attention turns to two important aspects of the Christian life: prayer and testimony. There are individuals mentioned in the closing remarks of Paul and there are various greetings shared, but the real meat of what the apostle says in conclusion is found in these two subjects. Let me read for us, therefore, Col. 4:2-6:
4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. 5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Today, we will consider what Paul says regarding prayer. His exhortation in this matter is plain and has three elements. First, the Colossians are urged: “Devote yourselves to prayer…” Praying on occasion or praying during a crisis is one thing, being devoted to prayer is something else. The very wording Paul uses conveys a sense of importance for this activity. This is not unlike what Paul said to the saints in Thessalonica. As he finished one of his letters to that congregation, the apostle exhorted them: “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). We read such commands and maybe we don’t take them as seriously as we should or as seriously as Paul intended. When he says “devote yourselves to prayer” or, in that other place, “pray without ceasing,” it seems clear that he is urging commitment.
We can better understand just what Paul means and what he wanted to convey to the Colossians by considering that word “devote.” This word (proskartereo) means to “continue steadfastly” or to give oneself continually to some task; the term also conveys the idea of being an adherent to some conviction or practice. This word, then, would describe someone who is completely and constantly attentive to some practice or issue.
What is really interesting about this word is that it is found several times in the opening chapters of the book of Acts in descriptions of early Christians. In Acts 1:14, we are told that the men and women who comprised the band of followers of Christ “were continually devoting themselves to prayer.” The writer means to tell us that those early Christians were characterized by prayer—and not the occasional prayer that is so easily and mindlessly uttered and not the prayer that is heard only when we find ourselves in a tight spot. This kind of prayer, as the record of the early Church teaches us, was the kind marked by length and detail and fervency and expectation.
In Acts 2:42, our word is used again; this time we are told that converts “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Once again, a little bit of interest in doctrinal teaching and a little bit of interest in fellowship with the saints and an occasional desire to share in the sacrament and a minute or two given to prayer each day is not what Luke describes when he relates to us the way the early Christians lived. They exhibited devotion to these practices because they understood how vital all these things were to their spiritual health, to the health of the Church, and to the progress of the gospel by which they were saved.
Can you list anything of a spiritual nature to which you are devoted? Is there any spiritual truth or exercise that has your continual attention and commitment? You see, that is what we’re being told when we read about the early Christians and this kind of dedication is what Paul believed should be seen in those believers in the Colossian congregation.
When the apostles were faced with the growing needs of a growing Church, they made a choice that remains a wise and guiding principle for the Church to this day. In Acts 6:4, we’re told that the apostles decided to “devote” themselves to prayer—that vital activity that powers the believer—rather than have their time consumed caring for widows. Now who would dare deny that caring for the widows of the Church should be a top priority? Who would suggest that these needy saints should not receive the full attention of the leadership of the Church? The apostles—they said their was a higher priority for them and they said they could not give their full attention to the needy widows.
While the need of some widows was genuine and a real need that had to have a real solution, the apostles would not forsake the exercise of prayer in order to tend to those dear ladies in the early Church. The apostles knew what was most necessary for them and they remained dedicated to what was most necessary; they allowed others in the Body to care for those in need. As I said, to this day, the example of the apostles stands as testimony to the indispensable nature of prayer in the life of the Christian and the life of the Church.
I dare say however that not every contemporary Christian would make the same decision made by those apostles. We tend to focus on activities that are visible and “showy,” rather than on something that is often silent and often unknown—like prayer. How many people here today, for example, would want the elders of this church spending time in prayer if that meant we would have less time for counseling or advising or planning activities? Put on the spot, I know you’re going to agree that prayer is more important than much of what elders have to do, but I think that if people perceived their wants and needs being unaddressed by the elders so that the elders could spend time in prayer together, there would be more than a few negative comments made.
And that’s because we don’t “get” what Paul is teaching and what is, in fact, the consistent teaching of Scripture. Prayer is not just one thing Christians are supposed to do, it is vital to our lives and the life of the Church. The praying church is one that recognizes where our strength comes from and where our hope is grounded; the church that prays little—and here I’m referring to the families and individuals who make up the church—is one that is implying our strength is sufficient and our hope is grounded in our own ingenuity.
In his closing remarks to the believers in Rome, Paul told them to be “rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.” (Rom. 12:12) My point in putting before you all these citations—and this is only a small sample of what could be learned about the place of prayer in the early Church—is to help you understand what Paul wanted to see in the Colossian congregation and, by extension, in every Christian congregation. These citations remind us that prayer, consistent and expectant prayer, is not simply one of the things believers do once in a while. Prayer, as these Scriptures tell us, is critical to our well-being.
Paul wanted to see the church in Colossae characterized by the kind of commitment to prayer that was common in the early years of the Church. He wanted the Colossians to understand that prayer is supposed to be one of the leading marks of a man or woman, boy or girl who claims to know the Lord. And at the heart of Paul’s concern for prayer was his affection and fatherly regard for these saints. He knew they had struggles, so they needed to call on God for help and the grace to persevere; he knew they would face persecution, so they needed to call on God for protection and the strength to remain true; he knew they would stumble, so they needed to seek God’s forgiveness and wisdom to walk rightly. Paul knew that communion with God, established through regular prayer, would be the key to their steadfastness in the faith. Paul loved these saints and wanted to impart to them one of the key components of being a follower of Christ.
I stated that there are three elements in Paul’s exhortation regarding prayer. The next element is represented in these words: “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving …” Paul told his readers to be devoted to prayer, which, as I explained, implies a genuine dedication that makes prayer an essential part of our lives. In this next phrase, the apostle uses another term that adds a sense of urgency to the duty of prayer. The term rendered “keeping alert” (gregoreuo) doesn’t mean “keep one eye open as you pray in case someone sneaks up on you!” This term refers to being vigilant. It’s another way of emphasizing the imperative nature of prayer in the life of the Christian and the Church.
This word is used multiple times in the Gospels as Jesus tells His followers to “stay sharp,” so to speak, so that they do not find themselves in positions of compromise or in a state of being unprepared for what they must face in this life as His disciples. The idea conveyed by this word is that of understanding how important something is and, with such understanding, making a commitment to what should be a priority. In the case of our present passage, that commitment is to be made to prayer. And that commitment is to be accompanied by “an attitude of thanksgiving.” What a necessary reminder.
With Paul’s emphasis on this obligation of prayer and the essential nature of this practice, a believer might get caught up in the duty and forget what prayer really is—it is communion with God. Our prayers are not just expressions of “wishful thinking,” they are utterances and petitions and longings offered up to our Heavenly Father in the name of His Son and our glorious Savior. With this mention of thanksgiving, therefore, Paul is reminding us that this necessary practice is, in the first place, an amazing privilege. Not only is prayer vital to our well-being, but the very fact that God allows us to pray to Him with expectation of His attention and action is an advantage we must never take for granted.
The third element in what Paul has to say about prayer concerns his own labors: “3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” In these words, the apostle reveals to us something of great importance; he reveals to us his own understanding of how his ministry was directly related to the prayers of God’s people. Paul knew that his efforts, no matter how noble or well-intentioned or well-planned, would result in a good outcome only if the Lord above showed His favor.
The Christians in Colossae, therefore, had to pray for Paul; they had to lift him up before God and intercede for him and beseech the Lord to make that man’s efforts fruitful at every turn. Paul understood the connection, as I noted, between his labors and prayer; the question was whether the Colossians also understood that truth. It’s not that God’s hands are tied unless we pray; God has appointed prayer as another discipline in the Christian life that leads to our sanctification. Praying for the progress of the gospel, as Paul requests here, and praying for those who are laboring in the gospel, as was true of this apostle, will lead to a sharpening of focus for the Church; it will involve us in the work that God is doing in this world.
Prayer, consequently, enriches our faith and makes us more serious-minded about how we use the time God has given us. And it will make us more aware of just what obstacles in this world stand in the way of the gospel and it will make us aware of the unique challenges those who labor in the ministry face as a routine part of their lives. Prayer for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom and prayer for those He has called into His service produces maturity in us—and that’s a fundamental benefit.
Application
There are many ways to approach the application of Paul’s words on prayer. I could talk about all the distractions we face when we try to be praying people. It is true that the moment you dedicate yourself to prayer, you will suddenly face a hundred obstacles that you didn’t notice before. Paul faced distractions and the Colossians faced distractions, but distractions are not the point. Distractions don’t negate those crucial aspects of the Christian life, so they don’t really qualify as an excuse not to pray.
I could try to make you feel guilty about giving so much time to some things and so little time to prayer. There’s not a person here who could say “I’m sure I spend enough time in prayer each week.” But, again, making you feel guilty is not the point. In the Christian life, pursuing something out of guilt is not the most edifying path to follow. Our motivation has to be something greater than simple guilt. That’s certainly true in the matter of prayer—praying out of guilt is probably not going to accomplish much.
What I want to do as I close is encourage you so that you desire to pray more and with greater dedication. And I think the way to do that is to emphasize, once again, how vital prayer is to us and our families and our church. Prayer is communion with God and He is the Source of our strength. When challenges come, we want that strength in abundance. God is the Source of our wisdom. When decisions have to be made, we want that wisdom given to us liberally. God is the One who determines the course of our lives. When we consider our loved ones and our church, we want God to bless and bless; we want to see those we love walking before Him in faith and we want to see our congregation growing in all those attributes that honor God.
We have to be a praying people. There is no other acceptable response to what Paul says. Churches try all kinds of schemes and plans to enhance their ministries—and these attempts are made in all sincerity. But how many churches commit themselves to that less-than-spectacular practice of habitual prayer? And yet, what great benefits might God pour out upon the congregation that makes such a commitment! Based on what Paul teaches and what we find elsewhere in Scripture on this topic of prayer, I have to conclude that it would be wonderful if it could be said of Westminster, “they continually devote themselves to prayer.” But such a characteristic cannot be established by appointing times of prayer for the congregation. It has to begin in your life and in your home.
Therefore, I want to appeal to you to consider the words of the apostle. Examine your life and take note of the place prayer occupies. Is it sufficient? What might you be missing because prayer is not one of your top priorities? What burdens are excessively weighty because you are not in communion with God through prayer? What pitfalls await your little ones because you do not pray for their spiritual maturity and protection by God from the evils of this world?
That last thought leads me to offer a special word of encouragement to our men. Brothers, this church will not become a church of prayer unless we make that commitment. Our families will not know all the glorious benefits of walking with God unless those of us who are husbands and fathers devote ourselves to prayer. Once again, my goal is to encourage you, not badger you. Therefore, I want to leave you with a few more words from Edward Bounds. This man earned the right to instruct us, I believe, by his incredible devotion to prayer. Though he has long since departed this world, he is still an able instructor and example. Speaking of men, Bounds wrote:
We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan or organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.
What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men—men of prayer. (E. M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer)
I call upon the men of this church—young and old—to heed those words. Understand that God does, indeed, use men, not plans or schemes. Understand that the welfare of this congregation and the welfare of your family are in your hands. Neither institution will prosper unless we seek the face of God in prayer. Men, will you respond to the call of the apostle Paul? Will you today began that devotion to praying, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving? Will you today promise to set before your families an example worthy of imitation in this matter? Will you today take upon your shoulders the responsibility for seeking God’s favor for this congregation? Men, if we don’t response to Paul’s challenge, who will?
Let’s pray…
Conclusion
As we come to the Table of the Lord, we have assurance that our prayers do not go unheard in heaven above. This sacrament declares to us that our Savior paid for our sins and, as the Scriptures teach, opened for us the very throne room of God. Because Jesus saved us and because He cleansed us from sin, we now have bold access to God. So even in this sacrament, we are encouraged to be people of prayer. It is our privilege to make our requests known to God and that privilege has been attained for us by the One who gave Himself in our place.
As Paul was instructing the Corinthian church about how to think of the Lord’s Supper, he wrote these words:
1 Cor. 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Let us now receive those elements appointed by our Savior to represent His body and blood. And let us know that every observance of this sacrament, as Paul teaches, is a proclamation of the gospel until Jesus returns.