First Baptist Church
November 30, 2025
  • I Love The Lord

      • Psalms 34.1-4ESV

      • Psalms 34.5-8ESV

      • Psalms 34.9-12ESV

      • Psalms 34.13-16ESV

      • Psalms 34.17-20ESV

      • Psalms 34.21-22ESV

  • Taste And See (Psalm 34)
  • Count Your Blessings
  • In Christ Alone

      • 1 Thessalonians 2.13ESV

  • Speak O Lord
  • John 17:14–18 ESV
    14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
    Why does Jesus want us to stay in this world?
    The answer is our “why”, it is our reason for existence on this earth.
    We are sent into the world just as Jesus was sent into the world.
    We are here for gospel impact.
    We are here to make disciples.
    Making a disciples starts with the gospel - it starts with leading someone to Christ.
    Colossians 4:2–6 ESV
    2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 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— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
    How God uses ordinary believers for extraordinary gospel impact.
    The context of Paul’s writing in this section is redemptive opportunities.
    Remember that as we look at what he says.

    1. Cultivate a life saturated in gospel prayer.

    God opens doors through persistent prayer people.
    Prayer is where our gospel ministry starts!

    A. Devoted prayer: our constant posture (v. 2a)

    Colossians 4:2 ESV
    2 Continue steadfastly (be persistent, don’t quit) in prayer, being watchful (be alert and vigilant) in it with (an attitude of) thanksgiving.
    The call is to be faithful, consistent, not giving up in prayer.
    An ongoing persistence no matter how long it takes or how many times opportunities dissolve.
    Prayer shows our dependance on God in any manner.
    This idea of continual prayer is not a new concept but I think we struggle with it… at least I do!
    Let’s look at the continual nature of prayer in scripture.
    1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
    17 pray without ceasing,
    Luke 18:1 ESV
    1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
    James 5:16 LSB
    16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
    How much time do you spend praying for the lost and personal opportunities to share the gospel with them?
    How important is it on our list of prayer requests corporately?
    It is through prayer that God give opportunities.
    So, we must not only be persistent prayer but we should be watchful in prayer.

    B. Watchful prayer: our daily awareness (v. 2b)

    Colossians 4:2 ESV
    2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

    B. Watchful prayer: our daily awareness (v. 2b)

    Being watchful is to keep alert and be vigilant.
    As we pray be watchful of our lives and be watchful or opportunities.
    My role is reaching the lose was something I didn’t think about much.
    I can’t say that I had a daily awareness.
    Now I think about it with almost every interaction with an unsaved person.
    In our house we often find ourselves rearranging our lives around an unsaved person.
    What are we to pray vigilantly and watchfully for?
    We are to pray and be watchful for redemptive opportunities.
    We are to pray courageously being dependent on God.
    Dependent on Him to give opportunities.
    Dependent on Him to give the words and wisdom needed.
    Watchful against our fleshly tendencies to rely on ourselves.
    Watchful against our fleshly tendencies to put ourselves in an uncomfortable situation.
    All while having an attitude of thankfulness when we go to the throne.
    A thankfulness for the greatness and magnitude of God.
    A thankfulness for the grace poured out on our lives to give us eyes to see and hearts to believe.
    A thankfulness for His sacrificial work on the cross for useless underserving sinner like me.
    A thankfulness that I can trust Him and His work.
    A thankfulness that I get to be a part of His redemptive plan.
    Thankfulness even when obedience is hard.
    The more you build redemptive relationships the harder it will be.
    You develop a genuine love for them.
    You desperately want to see them receive Christ as their savior.
    When they don’t, its heartbreaking.
    Maybe they aren’t interested.
    Maybe they come in and out of your life.
    Maybe they leave your life for good.
    Colossians 4:2 ESV
    2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
    1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
    18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
    Being watchful in prayer keeps us spiritually ready for opportunities.
    We are prone to follow our own wisdom.
    To lean on our own understanding.
    Be watchful in prayer creates a daily awareness of the mission we have and our desperate need for the power of God in our lives to accomplish that burden.

    C. Missional prayer: our confident expectation (vv. 3–4)

    Colossians 4:3–4 ESV
    3 At the same time (while you are praying for yourself), pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word (an opportunity to share the gospel), to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

    C. Missional prayer: our confident expectation (vv. 3–4)

    DON’T MISS THIS!!! The great missionary
    The unstoppable Apostle Paul
    Asks for help in his redemptive ministry.
    He does NOT ask for release from prison, but that he would have gospel opportunities.
    This isn’t the only time Paul asks for prayer like this.
    2 Thessalonians 3:1 ESV
    1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
    Paul is expecting God to do two specific things.
    Paul truly believes that if the Colossians pray, God will act.

    i. He is confidently expecting God will provide redemptive opportunities.

    “that God may open to us a door for the word.”
    Who do I know? How will I find opportunities?
    Do I have at least one unsaved person I am intentionally building a relationship with and trying to win to Christ?
    If Paul who is in prison can have a gospel impact, you and I can have a gospel impact.
    Paul is praying and asking others to pray.
    Thus he is expecting God will do it.
    1 John 5:14 ESV
    14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
    What is God’s will for us?
    Matthew 28:19–20 ESV
    19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    Ephesians 2:10 ESV
    10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

    ii. He is confidently expecting God will provides the words he needs.

    “that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak”
    What should I say? How should I say it?
    We start by pleading with God for help.
    Courageously dependent on God expecting Him to answer prayer.
    It is important that we clearly communicate the gospel we see in scripture!
    We do this with our life and our words.
    Our life must reflect the gospel but there is only one way for people to be saved… they HEAR the gospel.
    Romans 10:14 ESV
    14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
    if you genuinely want opportunities to share the gospel with the lost, it must begin with prayer!
    We must be continually devoted in prayer and courageously dependent in prayer, confidently expecting God to provide the redemptive opportunities and the words for those redemptive conversations.

    Praying the Bible: 7 Biblical prayers requests to pray for the unsaved.

    1) That God would draw the unbeliever to Himself.
    John 6:44 ESV
    44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
    2) That the Holy Spirit would convict the unbeliever of their sin.
    John 16:8 ESV
    8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
    3) That God would grant opportunities for you and others to build redemptive relationships and share the gospel.
    Colossians 4:3–4 NIV
    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.
    4) That God would put others in their life to share the gospel as well.
    Matthew 9:38 ESV
    38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
    5) That God would open their eyes to the truth of the gospel.
    2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
    4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
    6) That they would have a desire to pay attention to the gospel when it is shared.
    Acts 16:14 ESV
    14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
    7) That they would repent and believe in the gospel that is shared.
    Mark 1:15 ESV
    15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
    We can’t ONLY pray.
    Our prayer need to be put into faithful action.
    We can’t hide behind prayer, there are things we need to do while we pray.
    Think about the model prayer.
    Matthew 6:10 ESV
    10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

    2. Demonstrate a life marked by gospel presence.

    A. Wise walking: influence through integrity (v. 5)

    Colossians 4:5 ESV
    5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

    A. Wise walking: influence through integrity (v. 5)

    Our reputation has a great impact on how receptive people are to the gospel.
    Wisdom is the right application of knowledge.
    Walking in wisdom towards outsiders is regularly knowing how to use the gospel knowledge we have.
    Knowing when to speak up and when not to.
    Knowing what to say and when to say it.
    How effective is our christian life in public?
    What gospel impact are we having in the world around us.
    We need to consider every action and every word in our day.
    Being reliable to unbelievers.
    Showing up for work on time.
    Working hard.
    Following through.
    Helping our neighbors
    Being good and valuable contributors to society around us.
    Walking wisely earns a listening ear.

    B. Gracious speaking: influence through compassion (v. 6)

    Colossians 4:6 ESV
    6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
    Use grace because we needed grace when we were lost.
    Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV
    1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
    The use of grace is fruit of the Holy Spirit’s impact in our lives.
    It isn’t easy to exercise grace.
    John 1:14 ESV
    14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    B. Gracious speaking: influence through compassion (v. 6)

    Full of GRACE and TRUTH.
    Jesus goal was always redemption.
    Jesus goal was always new life.
    He never expected people to stay where they were
    But he treated sinners graciously.
    Speaking graciously allows the gospel to be heard more clearly.
    What if I have very little to no opportunities?
    What if I am not regularly around unsaved people?
    Put them in your life.
    Get a hobby and do it with unsaved people.
    Some of our moms have found the kids activities at the library productive.
    Invite your neighbors over for dinner.
    Don’t rush your time around unsaved people.
    However you do it, be intentionally present for the sake of the gospel.
    I love the the label “redemptive relationship”
    It it doesn’t mean it isn’t genuine.
    It is a constant reminder to me to be prayerfully expectant.
    That at the core of this friendship there is always one goal in mind: their redemption and how can I be the vessel God uses to redeem them.
    I am going to challenge you with some homework.
    This homework changed my life many years ago.
    Account for every hour in your week.
    Eating
    Sleeping
    Working
    Going to church
    Family time
    Friends
    etc
    See how much time you spend with unsaved people.
    How much time do you spend with unsaved people watchfully expectant for redemptive opportunities?
    We must learn to be Intentionally Present in the lives of those around us, so as to be, Prayerfully Evangelistic, seeking to help them see that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15), and they too, can have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
    Questions for the week:
    Who is regularly a part of my life that I am prayerfully expectant that God will use me in their redemption?
    If I don’t have someone, who is someone that I can be intentionally present in their life?
    What is the next step I need to take to live life on mission for God?

      • John 17:14–18ESV

      • Colossians 4:2–6ESV

      • Colossians 4:2ESV

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:17ESV

      • Luke 18:1ESV

      • James 5:16ESV

      • Colossians 4:2ESV

      • Colossians 4:2ESV

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:18ESV

      • Colossians 4:3–4ESV

      • 2 Thessalonians 3:1ESV

      • 1 John 5:14ESV

      • Matthew 28:19–20ESV

      • Ephesians 2:10ESV

      • Romans 10:14ESV

      • John 6:44ESV

      • John 16:8ESV

      • Colossians 4:3–4ESV

      • Matthew 9:38ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 4:4ESV

      • Acts 16:14ESV

      • Mark 1:15ESV

      • Matthew 6:10ESV

      • Colossians 4:5ESV

      • Colossians 4:6ESV

      • Ephesians 2:1–3ESV

      • John 1:14ESV

First Baptist Church
howardcitybaptist@gmail.com
2319374809
https://fbcohc-howard-city.faithlifesites.com
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