Talking to God and to People
The Apostle Paul concluded his core message of proper practice in the Christian life in Colossians 4:2–6. The great apostle has us looking up to God and looking out to our neighbors. In the first case, we pray. In the second case, we preach. Paul also requested prayer that he might preach in a manner as he ought to as a steward of the mystery, who is Christ (Rom 16:25; Col 1:27; 2:2; 4:3).
Prayer is an act of obedience. It is also a stunning privilege. Christ has opened our access to God’s throne of mercy and grace (Heb 4:16), so that we may boldly go before Him. We worship God in Spirit and truth (Jn 4:23–24); and we pray in the Spirit (Eph 6:18; Jude 1:20). Christians should be devoted to prayer (Col 4:2), praying without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). In addition, we give thanks to God in everything. Prayer keeps the believer on guard against spiritual lethargy and the wiles of the devil.
In prayer, we also make our requests known to God, especially in times of need. Paul humbly acknowledged his troubles that often left him in need. In Colossians 4:3, the apostle requested the prayers of the saints at Colossae. The great apostle to the Gentiles carries with him both a burden and a joy. The stewardship of the mystery of the Gospel has been entrusted to him (1 Cor 4:1; 9:17).
The burden is in the dissemination of the glorious message. Paul admitted that he suffered for the sake of God’s elect (2 Tim 2:10). He also wrote to the Corinthians about the woe he experienced when not preaching Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 9:16). He must do it; but in doing so he suffered the wrath of men. He needed prayer.
One joy of preaching the Gospel of God was to be a witness to the Spirit adding to Christ’s church, day by day, those who were being saved (Acts 2:47; 5:14). Salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1); and He saves whom He wishes to save (Jn 5:21), according to His sovereign will and gracious choice (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 11:5–6; Col 3:12; 2 Thess 2:13). Knowing that God has ordained the means as well as the end, we trust God to open up a door for the Word to advance (4:3). We believe the Gospel is unstoppable. This negates the erroneous label “post-Christian age” promoted by unbelievers.
Ask and it shall be given unto you; knock and it shall be opened unto you (Mt 7:7–8). We pray to the Lord of the harvest to send for the laborers into the harvest (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2); and then we pray for those laborers to be found faithful (Dan 6:4). Faithfulness is one fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), so we are really praying for the Spirit to move in revival and then reformation.
A true revival is when those outside of Christ (outsiders) hear the Word of Christ faithfully preached (Rom 10:17). They respond to the call to faith (Acts 17:30); by repenting of sin and believing in the one and only Savior of sinners, Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). Thus, we see the whole work performed by the Holy Spirit, who fills the preacher and who enlightens the hearer (Eph 1:18). At times this event would happen to Paul while in prison chains.
There is a crucial need for Gospel preachers to be crystal clear in their Gospel presentation to others. This should be a higher priority than eloquence, volume of content, or other preferences. The Word of God itself has perspicuity. The preacher, therefore, should communicate with clarity.
Good preachers exegete the text; and they should exegete their audiences, too. People respond to the Gospel preaching event. Therefore, preachers lead by example — those who are asked about the hope that is within them. For one speaks of that which occupies the heart. Christ, by His Holy Spirit, occupies the heart of all those whom He caused to be born again (Jn 3:1–8; 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3).
Having given us His Spirit (2 Cor 5:5), who has given us His Word (Jn 6:63), which has given us faith (Rom 10:17; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29), we graciously tell others of the wisdom of God, who is Christ (1 Cor 1:24). We speak the truth in love to our neighbors, both inside and outside of Christ (Eph 4:15). Our hope and prayer are for God to open the door of opportunity for us; and that He might open the hearts of those He has appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48), as he did with Lydia at Philippi and the Gentiles at Pisidian Antioch on the Sabbath day (Acts 13:13–52; 16:14).
Let us examine ourselves, dear brethren. Regarding prayer to God on behalf of your local church pastor, do you pray for him and his ministry of preaching God’s Word to your brethren but also toward the lost? We must be diligent in our calling, to pray for God to prosper our churches and communities through the preaching of the Word.
Let us also examine our own selves in this matter of speaking Christ into the lives of those who are our neighbors. Christian, do not be blind to your exact location at this very moment. Has God placed you in a particular city, by His eternal decree and providence? Indeed, He has you where He wants you. Has God placed you in a community to live or a company to work at as an employee?
Wherever God has placed you and with whomever He has placed you, do everything you do as a labor of love unto Him. You must be steadfast and immoveable in the face of opposition — those who are perishing in hostility toward Christ and His church (Jn 7:7; 15:18–25; Rom 1:30). You must abound in the work of the Lord, regardless of your circumstances (1 Cor 15:58).
The kindness and severity of the Lord are real (Rom 11:22); but with kindness, your gracious words are always suitable for edification of the saints and the enlightenment of sinners (2 Cor 4:6; Eph 1:18). May God grant you (and me) the proper words in season and out of season for every situation He has ordained for us to bear witness of Him (Acts 1:8), who loved us and told us about it in both word and deed.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 15, 2024
John 13:31–38
