Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God


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42 – Real Prayer Reaching People – Part 2

Colossians 4:2-6

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

  1. PRAYER – Verses 2-4
  • Power of Prayer

Paul’s teaching on prayer is nothing new, it’s not a new play, its simply persistence to pursue God’s plan. Our captain Jesus Christ is calling us to prayer, because prayer is the place of power. If we want to see people pursuing God then we must be found in prayer with God.  We live in a place where prayer is not only unpopular it’s prohibited but this is nothing new. Thousands of years ago Daniel was prohibited from praying to God, he prayed anyway and everyone experienced God’s power. If you and I want to see the mouths of the lions shut and the people shout praise as they proclaim the name of Jesus it starts with pray.  We can’t bring the power of the new life to people without prayer. So often we try to share about God’s power without seeking His power.

  • Purpose of Prayer

Prayer is not just about bring God’s power to people. It is more about being than doing.

1. Prayer reminds us of God’s position.

2. Prayer refreshes us through relationship with God – Prayer is not just about petitioning God it’s about the presence of God.

3. Prayer reassures us of the Redeemer’s peace – Without prayer we end up in panic

4. Prayer reignites our passion – Nothing drains and derails us faster than distance. As we drift our desire drifts.

5. Prayer reengages us with lost people – We get so entangled with life that we forget to love. When we see people as an interruption to our plans we miss Gods purpose. People are not an interruption to the ministry they are the ministry.

6. Prayer revives our purpose – We make it about the Savior instead of self.

7. Prayer restores our pursuit of God – Its easy to get sidetracked and make it about the pursue of pleasure or profit.

8. Prayer redirects God’s resources –  In prayer we remember who owns the planet.

9. Prayer reawakens God’s people – Satan subtly lulls us to sleep, the monotonous movement makes us tired and cause us to close our eyes on Christ.

10. Prayer reaffirms God’s plan – It’s easy to make the plan to please self and other people.


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41 – Real Prayer Reaching People – Part 1

Colossians 4:2-6

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Paul has taught us about living the new life in God’s power by putting off the past and putting on His provision, His Godly garments so that we can have real relationships where we connect instead of control. Now Paul reminds us that taking God’s power to people is not just for family but for all. Paul also reminds us that perusing people comes through the power of prayer. So today we are going to take a trip together into God’s truth. When we hear God’s Word we have a tendency to swing to the extremes either taking a trip on a Comfort Cruise or a Guilt Getaway. For too long the church has chosen comfort and used guilt to get people to go. Today I’m calling you to board God’s boat on a grace getaway. I can’t promise you a comfortable cruise but our captain is Christ and I can promise you an exciting expedition of eternal significance. As you read God’s Word today don’t cringe or cling to comfort listen to Christ’s call, we don’t need another guilt trip we need a God trip.

Difference between guilt and grace is that where grace moves us to the master guilt becomes our master.

Our text falls naturally into two parts.

  1. Prayer: Speaking to God about people (verses 2-4) Faith that Loves
  2. Proclaiming: Speaking to people about God (verses 5-6) Faith that lives

Now, before you shut down and drown in another mental guilt trip at the mention of prayer and evangelism, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to bring freshness perspective to this passage. We’ve all heard messages on the need to pray and share our Faith. We know that prayer makes a difference, that we have access to the God of the universe yet many of us proceed without prayer. When we do we go it alone which leads to frustration weariness and burn out. How tired are you? Are you communing with God or just communicating to Him?