JUST THE RIGHT TASTE!

Colossians 4:2-6

WHAT SHOULD CHARACTERIZE THE LIFE OF GODLY PEOPLE?

    “How will I know one when I see one?”

Legalists claim that “living by the rules” should identify us.

Paul’s response: it isn’t rules; it’s Christ that makes the difference.

Our eyes should be focused on Him.

Our lifestyle should reflect the reality that we belong to Him–because we’re trusting Him.

        His Word should permeate every area of our life.

When these attitudes control our lives, they manifest themselves in our conduct, especially in our relationships with one another.

We seek to build up one another and to glorify God in everything we do 3:16-4:1

In 4:2-6, Paul answers: “How will I know one when I see one?”

    How DO you identify godly people?”

Fundamental question; you’d think we all ought to know the answer.

        Yet a close examination of our lives indicates we still have a lot to learn.

His answer isn’t another list of rules!

Answer centers on two kinds of relationships—integrally related

Electric light requires two-pronged connection for current to pass through filament and produce light, spiritual light in dark world requires a two-direction relationship:

FIRST RELATIONSHIP: A VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. 4:2-4

    How do you maintain a proper relationship with God?

A personal relationship with God results from study of His Word and prayer.

             When we study God’s Word, He speaks to us.

Through prayer we have the privilege of speaking to Him.

        This passage only refers to the importance of prayer.

By prayer we communicate with God and maintain fellowship with Him.

Christian fisherman at sea with godless companions when a storm threatened to sink their ship.

His friends begged him to pray;

             he responded, "It's been a long time since I've prayed or even entered a church."

When they kept insisting, he cried out, "O Lord, I haven't asked anything of You in 15 years;

             if You help us now, I promise I won't bother You for another 15!"

    Prayer is often an escape mechanism rather than a way of life.

Ironside: “Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. It is the life of the new man. One can no more have a triumphant Christian experience who neglects this exercise than one can be well physically who shuts himself up in a closed room the sun never penetrates and where pure air is unknown. The soul flourishes in an atmosphere of prayer.”

Yet, just when we’re gasping for our last breath, when things seem most hopeless, we don’t “feel like” turning to the source of fresh air.

    In 1 Thess. 5:17 he tells us to pray continually—without ceasing.

People who walk around talking out loud to God, end up in a padded cell!

So what does Paul mean?

Thomas Kelly: “There is a way of ordering our life on more than one level at once. On one level we can be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting the demands of external affairs. But deep within, behind the scenes, at a more profound level, we may be in prayer and adoration, song and worship, and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathings.”

Brother Lawrence, a medieval monk, in The Practice of the Presence of God: “The time of business does not differ from the time of prayer; and in the clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.”

Paul prays for himself, but he also prays for others.

He exhorts us to imitate his example, to give prayer a high priority, dedicate ourselves to prayer, intently, with an attitude of gratitude.

"Do you say your prayers at night, little boy?" inquired the preacher.

    "Yes, sir," answered the lad.

"And do you always say them in the morning too?"

    "No, sir," responded the lad, "I ain't scared in the daytime."

Ogilvie: “We have arrived at a strange state of self-sufficiency in contemporary Christianity.

    We have organized out the need for Christ’s intervention.

        Churches are filled with humanly adequate people who can handle daily living rather effectively.

    Prayer for Christ’s power is reserved for crises and monumental tasks.

We don’t need Him, we think, for daily living....

We don’t catch the momentous power available to maximize the mundane and sensitize life with the presence of Christ.

    Separating daily living from our relationship with Christ eventually results in bland, boring Christianity.

The way back to exciting Christian life is companionship with Christ,

surrender all our relationships and responsibilities to Him as we go through the day,

and discover the missed potential every person and problem has to offer....

Christ is the mighty maximizer.

He can take every hour and energize it with unexpected, unforeseen, uncalculated happenings.

Joy comes from watching Him work.

3 DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT OUR PRAYER SHOULD LOOK LIKE:

    *  Our Prayer should be like a military sentry in midst of battle => watchful 4:2a

He must be vigilant, never sleeping nor relaxing,

                 lest the enemy move in by surprise and eliminate him and his companions.

        Similarly, we are to watch intently.

Authentic prayer requires spiritual energy and alertness,

                 expecting that God may answer at any moment, watching to see how He will do it.

    *  Our Prayer should be with thanksgiving 4:2b

Response of faith. We ask with thankfulness when we expect God to respond.

Before seeing the answer, if we know God is in control, and the result will be according to His good plan for us, we can thank Him for the answer as we ask!

Too often we fail to be thankful, even after God shows us His response.

We’re like small children who keep asking for more, but never stop to say thank you for what we’ve already given them. Does that make us feel like giving more?

God is the giving God, James tells us, but He likes us to respond with gratitude.

[In addition to praying expectantly and thankfully, we should . . . ]

    *  Pray for people who proclaim the gospel 4:3-4

He’s not asking for vague general prayer: “Lord, bless Paul.”

                     There’s a specific purpose to our praying:

             *  Pray that God may open the door 3a

                     Pray that others come to Christ through him.

Pray God might open a door through which the Word might penetrate and reach people who hear it.

He prayed personally that he might present the Word of God faithfully.

                          He’s intent on reaching people around him with the Good News—even in jail!

To accomplish his purpose, he needed fervent, continuous prayer support of God’s people, that God would open a door.

He wasn’t asking for open prison doors, to escape affliction.

He was asking for an open door so the Gospel could enter.

It was more important that he be a faithful minister than a free man.

He wasn’t after personal safety or material help, but effective ministry.

Following his example, when we pray for him or others, we can ask that God give us opportunities and that we explain the truth clearly.

                                  We spend too much time trying to force the door open ourselves!

                                  We ought to spend a lot more time asking GOD to open the door!

                                       => PRAY FOR TWO!

             *  Pray that we may proclaim the gospel clearly. 3b-4

Today also, God’s children should pray that WE might CLEARLY present His Word to people around US who need to hear the truth.

This request is really important when so much confusion surrounds us.

Our presentation must be clear, so people understand the message and understand what they are accepting or rejecting.

It’s not enough to impress people with our vocabulary or theology.

The goal: to proclaim the good news clearly so people will understand how we can come to God through Jesus Christ.

Years ago a China mission station was particularly effective in bringing people to Christ.

    No logical explanation was found; others were equal in devotion and ability.

    While Hudson Taylor was traveling in England, after a meeting, a man asked about that station.

    The man was a college roommate of a missionary working there.

    He committed himself to daily prayer for that work.

Taylor said, “Then I knew the answer.”

Is some group of people coming to Christ because WE have made a commitment to pray that God will open the door and empower someone to present Christ effectively?

Spurgeon was showing a visitor the Tabernacle. “Would you like to see the powerhouse?”

    He took the man to a lower auditorium. “It’s here we get our power.

    While I’m preaching upstairs, hundreds of my people are in this room praying.”

Would that make a difference in the effectiveness of our ministry, if hundreds of people were to pray each week that God would enable Ralph to proclaim His Word effectively as I should?!!

WE should be identified by our personal relationship with God, maintained through a commitment to PRAY CONTINUALLY.

SECOND RELATIONSHIP godly people should be known for:

    HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PEOPLE, particularly unbelievers. 4:5-6

OUR CONDUCT 4:5

Walk wisely before people who don’t know Christ,

             so our lifestyle will attract unsaved people.

We convince people of their need by a lifestyle that is different, but attractive.

                     He urges us to “redeem the time”—to “buy it up”—to use it wisely.

“Redeem” comes from expression used for purchase of a slave in slave market.

Make good use of our time, take full advantage of the time God has given us.

"If bank credited our account each morning with $86,400, carried over no balance, and every evening canceled what we fail to use, we would soon use every cent!

Every morning we receive 86,400 seconds, at night whatever we fail to use is canceled.

                     There’s no going back. There’s no drawing against tomorrow.

Take advantage of every opportunity

             to accomplish something of lasting value.

That’s how we should invest the time God has given to us.

J. Walter Thompson advertising tries to cause readers to stop and think.

             One message stated in bold letters: “YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO LIVE!”

                 Underneath, in fine print, it said: “Today, that is!”

In "The Dead Poet's Society", Robin Williams plays a teacher in an exclusive eastern school.

             1^st day of school, he takes boys into hallway to look at pictures of past, now dead, graduates.

             We are food for worms, Lads! . . . each of us one day will stop breathing, turn cold, and die.

                 Step forward and see these faces from the past. They were just like you are now.

                     They believe they're destined for great things. Their eyes are full of hope.

                          But these boys are now fertilizing daffodils.

                 If you listen closely, you’ll hear them whisper their legacy. Lean in. What do you hear?"

                     Then he says in an erie grave-like voice, "Carpe Diem!"

                          "Seize the day boys! Make your lives extraordinary!"

The NIV captures Paul’s idea:

             “Make the most of every opportunity.”

        Take advantage of every opportunity

             to accomplish something of lasting value!

                 –especially to spread the good news about Jesus!

Are you chained to a prison guard? [Paul was!] Make the most of the opportunity!

Imagine guards’ predicament—chained to Paul, captive audience to hear the good news.

                     Unable to escape, for a 2-3 hour assignment!

             “Make the most of every opportunity!”

                 Don’t just “put in your time!”

                     Use it for God and thank Him for the privilege.

Paul wants to use every opportunity to present the good news clearly. Do we?

Gordon Maxwell, missionary to India, asked Hindu scholar to teach him the language.

                 “No, Sahib, I will not teach you my language. You would make me a Christian.”

                 Maxwell explained he simply wanted to learn the language. The man refused.

                     “No man can live with you and not become a Christian.”

                          Such was impact of his life. Would people say that about us?

    OUR CONVERSATION 4:6

        Our conversation is especially important.

That’s why James puts strong emphasis on our use of the tongue in James 3.

                 People know us by the words which come out of our mouth.

Leo Rosten said: “‘A picture is worth a thousand words’” goes the timeworn maxim.

    But . . . it took words to say that.

        We live by words: love, truth.

        We fight for words: freedom, country.

        We die for words: liberty, honor. . . .

The men who truly shape our destiny, the giants who teach us, inspire us, lead us to deeds of immortality are those who use words with clarity, passion, and grandeur: Socrates, Jesus, Luther, Lincoln, Churchill.”

Oren Arnold said: “Watch your speech. A man’s command of the language is most important. Next to kissing, it’s the most exciting form of communication mankind has evolved.”

Our total impression on those around us is influenced by what we say.

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF APPROPRIATE SPEECH.

        1. Our speech should be GRACIOUS 6a

Nothing is so damaging to our testimony as a sharp, bitter tongue.

One that’s always criticizing or complaining about something.

One that delights to go about spreading malicious gossip and rumor.

One that never sees cause for praising others.

We should avoid such “speech patterns.”

Paul uses his tongue to commend those who seek to do right, even when they fail.

                     He congratulates their effort, giving an example of what our speech should be like.

“Let your speech always be with grace.” How we speak is important.

Our speech should be marked by the kind of grace God has dealt to us.

Love, patience, sacrifice, and undeserved favor are aspects of that grace.

        2. Our speech should be SEASONED WITH SALT. 6b

In their culture, as in Scripture, SALT WAS USED IN THREE WAYS.

None of the 3 captures Paul’s entire thought, but each helps us see how God might want to improve our speech.

WE should speak so that OUR speech serves these 3 purposes:

*Salt is useful to season food—to improve flavor.

Our speech can produce a pleasant “flavor.”

It shouldn’t resemble food without salt; that’s flat and flavorless.

Nor should it be like food that is so salty, or so spicy, that no one can stand it.

Our conversation ought to include just the right ingredients to give it a pleasant taste, attractive and pleasing to those who hear.

*Salt is useful to preserve food—to prevent spoiling.

Include ingredients to prevent corruption or destruction of listeners.

We shouldn’t be critical, but we should correct people when they need correction.

*Salt is useful to create thirst.

It helps prevent dehydration due to lack of fluids in the body.

Our speech should create thirst, a desire for better life,

                          such as people observe in us,

                              so they will be attracted to come to Christ.

Our words should include the right elements to attract those who don’t know Christ.

How about our speech? Does it accomplish these functions?

Is it pleasing? Does it build up and encourage people or tear down?

                     Does it protect people from destruction and contamination?

                     Does it make people thirst for God?

Becky Pippert “Recently at a party I was introduced with: ‘This is Becky ... She’s really devout and she’s so interesting!’

Wes and I have laughed many times over how people have introduced us with great enthusiasm, fascination, and respect.

This comes out of the context of our efforts to genuinely get to know people and their interests.

We go to concerts together, see films together, and out of scores of conversations, our Christian beliefs have emerged.

We don’t do this as a gimmick to slip in the gospel.

    We do it because we are genuinely interested in relating to non-believers and their world views.

        3. Our Speech Should Give an Appropriate Response 6c

An appropriate “response” involves more than just our speech

An appropriate response involves how we react to others, as people.

—both to what they are and what they do.

An appropriate response unites our words and our actions.

If we don’t demonstrate genuine interest, people will reject our testimony.

Old saying: “What you are speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you say!”

What we are and what we say go together. They have to be in harmony.

If one is deficient, the other is worthless.

If our conduct is foolish, people won’t be interested in our message.

If our conversation is wrong, if we can’t control our tongue, people won’t pay attention to us, or to the way we may act.

An evangelist went to mail a letter; he left motel in search of a post office.

    He asked a newsboy how to find it. He got a prompt answer.

    "Thanks," said the preacher, "you're a bright youngster. Do you know who I am?"

The boy didn’t so the minister explained he was preaching in a nearby church and invited him: "If you come tonight, I'll show you the way to Heaven."

    "No thank you, sir," said the newsboy.

        "I'm afraid I couldn't take your word for it-you don't even know the way to the post office!

Our conduct and our conversation go together.

                 Paul urges us to protect both.

                     They reveal the truth of the message we proclaim.

Prayer is key to obtaining power to practice truth and explain it clearly to others.

Our conduct and conversation demonstrate that truth is valid to those watching.

Sound doctrine must be accompanied by sound and holy conduct.

By continual prayer, God’s children establish a personal relationship with God.

That relationship with God affects relationships with others outside God’s family.

How should WE then live, as God’s children?    

Our lifestyle should be result of personal relationship with God and others.

THREE CHARACTERISTICS TO KEEP ACTIVE IN OUR LIFE:

    1. Dedicate yourself to continual prayer—spend time with God, deepening your personal relationship with Him.

    2. Walk wisely—Take advantage of every opportunity to share the good news of Christ clearly, every time God opens the door.

    3. Talk wisely—speak with appropriate elements to be pleasing, to prevent corruption, to give people a thirst for Christ.

Which of these areas does God need to work on in our life?

    Paul is issuing a call to godly living—both in our lifestyle and in our conversation.

        But it’s not vague and nebulous—it’s focused.

The focus—the purpose is to communicate to a lost society the good news of Jesus Christ.

How are we doing? Are we fulfilling our mission?

    That’s why God has left us here.

He wants a people, to live godly lives before people of this community, to clearly communicate the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, and to attract those people to Him.

Is that our goal in living? What do we need to work on to fulfill our mission?

How’s our prayer life?

    How’s our walk?

    How’s our talk?