Meeting the world is mission. Col. 4;2-6.
Have you ever picked up one of those children’s books where’s Wally? Where you have to find Wally in amongst the crowds....
As Christians we can be a little bit like Wally so difficult to find in the world in which God has put us! Making little impact on the surroundings we find ourselves in.
It was completely different for those early Christians they stood out they were meeting the world and engaging with them, sharing their faith. And at time under fierce opposition!
Within 10 years of the death of Christ the gospel had reached Alexandria in Africa, Antioch in Asia and Rome the capital city of the world! Christians had become so notorious that Nero would use them as scapegoats for the great fire in AD64. The message spread like wild fire because these Christians were mission minded people!
Jesus commands us to go and meet the world!
This isn’t an optional extra for the ordained minister or the Christian who is a bit OTT! No! It’s the sacred duty of all Christians to meet the world! Paul here gives us practical pointers in meeting the world. It is reflected in three areas of our lives in our Prayer life, in our daily living and in our conversation with others.
1) V2-V3 Prayer needs to be a priority in meeting the world.
Prayer must be a priority in a believer’s life, they were called to be devoted to prayer for the expansion of the gospel, it was the key ingredient. Prayer enables you and I and calls others to meet the world Matt 9.38 pray to the Lord….
However enthusiastic we might be , however many meetings we might put on without prayer it will not succeed.
C.H. Spurgeon meet a couple of students outside the tabernacle in London they never reconised Spurgeon, they were seeking to get into the Church to hear the prince of preachers. Yet no-one was around they found this strange, Spurgeon meet them at the entrance and led them in and then stated .”Let me show you the heating plant” a man says to young students… He took them down stairs where hundreds of people were praying. Spurgeon said, ’ Nothing gets done upstairs until it firstly gets done down here. ’Do we pray like our ancestors?’,
Let’s take a look at the priority of prayer in mission.
What were the disciple doing whilst waiting for the Holy Spirit?
Acts 1; 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer.
The Church explodes to over 3000 converts and what were they doing?
Acts 2:42 the early Church devoted to prayer.
And what was happening at that time?
V47 And the Lord added to their number daily.
After Peter and John were released by the Sanhedrian
Acts 4. 24. Believers raised their voices together in prayer over what took place.
V31 and the place was shaken!
Peters escape from prison a result of prayer
Acts12.5, The Church were earnestly Praying for Peter whilst in prison.
Peter returns to… V12 all night prayer meeting!
Church leaders were enabled to be devoted to prayer and the Word.
Acts 6; 4 The Church leaders gave their attention to prayer.
No short cuts
We will only see real Church growth, if we are genuinely devoted too prayer not only on our own but together as a fellowship.
Evan Roberts prayed for 11 years before the 1904 Welsh revival and his ministry broke him physically, yet when the revival broke out at that time more than 100,000 converted to Christ. 2Chr..7:14 If my people will humble themselves and pray
A) Prayer can bring new opportunities in meeting the world. V3
Paul desires that these believers pray for him, not for his health or his wealth or his release from his arrest but that he might be effective in reaching as many people as he can. This new door was a door of opportunity v3, 4.
What was this open door?
Was it to be released from his captor’s freedom? No! Even under Roman guard a new door had opened up for him Phil1:12-13Whilst under house arrest we see for two whole years he was free to preach the kingdom of God. Acts28.30-31. (Who were the real prisoners?) Paul saw immense opportunitie where ever he went.
These doors could have been when he would face the courts of Rome! Whatever Paul’s circumstances he considered them a door of opportunity! What Looked like set backs to others were opportunities to advance the gospel. Eph.6:19. Read.
Doors which have shut and opened here?
The pulling out of Bethel from this Church may have been seen as a setback by some but hasn’t it opened the door towards greater advances as a fellowship.
Bringing you all closer together, stepping out in faith, calling a pastor, seeing new doors of opportunity open up, like schools work, youth work, simply Christianity, kids work continuing, Sunday school restarting, new faces coming into Church.
Lets continue to pray for open doors, which enable us to share this message,
B) The message, the mystery of Christ is clear! V4
Paul is also asking for prayer for clear communication to be enabled to speak the Gospel clearly, as he should. This is so needful today when many Religious people wrap Christianity in such vagueness and cut it down to say something else!
This is why today when you ask somebody what is a Christian? There is little comprehension? Wasn’t till I was 30 years of age did I hear the clear gospel.
In February 1526 the gospel became clear William Tyndale had translated the Bible into the English language, and by March they were hitting the shores of England. He once said, to visiting clergymen, that he translated the Bible so that even the common ploughboy will be able to read it and be more educated than the clergymen.
But sadly now its not the message that is foreign, but many of the messengers! We need to pray that God would raise up and make us clear communicators of his word. Speaking in a language, the people will understand please pray for me!
2. V5 Our daily lives need to be different as we meet the world..
A) We will need wisdom in our daily actions.
10 million viewers tuned in I’m a celebrity get me out of here! As they watched the blossoming romance of model Jordan and singer Peter Andre.
But what has that got to do with the Christian being wise in the way they act towards outsiders?
The Christian is in a show everyday its called “I’m a Christian people are watching me!” We live in the world, and people are watching our lives closer than you think from family members to our friend and associates. We all rub shoulders with outsiders (non-Christians) Paul calls us to be wise rather than foolish.
For the Christian this world is like the Big brother house! Full of immorality and decadance and we will need all the wisdom of God in our daily actions as we rub shoulders with these outsiders. Phil1:27 Whatever happens conduct yourself ……
Different lives
These first Christians were known as atheists as they served no visible God. Unpatriotic because they didn’t bow down to emperor worship and there actions were seen as immoral as they meet illegally behind locked doors and didn’t live as the society around them did. Isn’t this familiar to today? By many Christians are perceived as fanatics, bigots, hypocrites and intolerant.
Somebody once said, ‘worldliness is what any particular culture does to make sin look normal and righteousness strange.’
This is why we need wisdom within our actions, because it can be through our actions others will be won to Christ.
Jam.3.13. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom
Bill Hybles Pastor in America who said, ‘we need to be the good news before we share the good news!’
Matt.5.16 let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.
B) We will need to be aware of every opportunity v5b
He is saying like me in whatever situation you find yourself are you making the most of every opportunity? Not just the ones that come about but the literal translation means buying up the time! Going out of your way buying the opportunity! Seeking opportunities to speak about Jesus Christ.
Missed opportunity (tragic to miss she was kicking herself)
London premiere 2001, Vanilla sky, Tom cruise, fan passed phone, He rang the girls mother, Mrs O’leary of Northampton, meanwhile she was talking to her Ex husband she heard the calling waiting but ignored it presuming it was he daughter
Prv11:30 He who wins souls is wise Rom11;14 Paul was desired to see people saved!
Bonar said, “ No soul will be in Heaven without a human thumb print upon it.”
Will one of those thumb prints be yours? Buy up the opportunities in your life?
3. V6 Our daily conversations need to be mission minded.
a) We should speak ‘
So often this is the area that will let us down, because we are very big on letting our actions speak to the world, but many of us will fail in this area of communication.
We need to speak to individuals about Jesus Christ! God has given us this medium of sharing his gospel Rom10: 14-16. Read.
V6 With grace.’ What does this mean?
Is it to be eloquent, theological correct stimulating and contemporary.
To speak with grace is not only to be courteous but also being lovingly concerned for the person your speaking too.
Isn’t this a picture of our Lord?
Jhn1:14b. Who came from the father full of grace and truth. Lke.4. 22 all were amazed at the gracious words that came out of his mouth 1Pet2.23. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. Lke23.34. Father forgive them
We need to a real concern when we speak?
Dr. Wilbur Chapman was a country minister, he called a Church meeting; Farmer but I will help you! Farmer goes to the Blacksmith shop 4 miles away in a snowstorm.
He puts his hands upon his shoulders and with tears rolling down his eyes he said ‘ Tom when your old father died, he gave you and your brother into my guardianship and now you have grown in to man hood and never asked you to be a Christian!’ The young blacksmith went to the evening meeting, stood up and said, ‘Ive never been moved by a sermon in my life, but when my old friend stood before me this morning with tears and sobs coming through the storm to see me it was time to consider the matter!’
We can be so mechanical, so unconcerned, Our words need to be full of grace!
b) We should speak with a difference.v6 ‘Seasoned with salt’
I don’t know about you but I like salt and vinegar on my fish and chips the seasoning makes it tasty! If the seasoning weren’t on it would be lacking! Salt has pungency It’s the same with our conversation it needs salt, It needs to be tasty! Our speech needs to be vibrant, thought provoking, encouraging It has to have pungency!
What makes up salt? Sodium and Chlorine
Sodium is a very active element found naturally only in a combined form, it always links itself to another element. Chlorine on its own is a poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. Its only when these two are together you get salt which we use to preserve and bring out flavor!
We need to preserve Love and truth. Eph 4.15. Speak the truth in love
Love without truth is blind willing to compromise with various doctrines on the other hand truth without love can be offensive even poisonous spoken without love it will turn people away from the gospel. When truth and love are combined in an individual or Church then we have what Jesus called the ‘salt of the earth.
We need to be different to have an effect upon those around us. ’Matt.5.13 Read.
c) We should speak with confidence 1Pet 3.15
The News and the news broadcaster are hooked up to the director he gives him the words to say.
God is with us, He will speak through us, giving us the right word, at the right time to the right person.Lke21.14-15 Matt10.19-20 Mrk13: 11. We can speak with confidence not in ourselves but that God will give us the words to say.
So this week as you meet with the world cover it with prayer, be the good news in your life and be a tasty pungent Christian as you communicate with others and share the good news.
