Please join me at Colossians 4:2.  Today we are looking at Speaking Of Truth - Speaking God’s truth in the places where we do life.

This is who?  Cassie Bernall.  Columbine High School.  We are coming up on the 15th Anniversary of the Columbine Tragedy.

April 20, 1999 - remember this?  Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold - wearing black trench coats - armed with guns and bombs - in what has become a way too familiar scene - they opened fire - murdered 12 students and a teacher - injured 23 others.  Then killed themselves.  What was the worst school shooting in US history.

According to Pastor Dave McPherson there were 47 members of the West Bowles Community Church youth group inside Columbine High during the rampage.  One of those youth group members was Cassie Bernall.

A week before the shooting, Cassie had testified of her faith in Jesus Christ.  She had vowed to be, “a good example to non-believers and also to Christians.”  When Eric Harris pointed a gun a Cassie’s head and asked, “Do you believe in God?”

Cassie said… “Yes.”  Then he shot her.

From what we know of what went on that day - that shooting was random.  In other words Cassie was not singled out because of her faith.  And that exchange probably happened.  May not have happened.  We do know that God has used Cassie’s testimony - and the testimony of other Christians who were murdered that day - who lived and died testifying of Jesus - God has used their testimony to bring others to faith in Jesus.

There’s a challenge in all that for us.  Isn’t there?  The question:  Given the circumstances - or perhaps even less intense circumstances - would we respond “Yes”?

Are Christians in America - the USA - are we persecuted in the way our siblings in Jesus are persecuted in other countries - where even being a Christian means imprisonment - possibly death?  Are we?  No.  Not yet.

However, is American culture becoming increasingly adversarial to God’s truth?  Yes.  Is American culture becoming increasingly antagonistic towards God’s people who are trying to live in obedience to God’s truth?  Yes.  Is it becoming increasingly difficult to speak God’s truth in our society without incurring opposition - sometimes violent?  Yes.  Given that reality - should we as Christians not speak God’s truth in the places where we live, work, go to school?  Of course not.

As we’ve been moving through Paul’s letter to the Colossian Church - we’ve been seeing Paul’s focus on God’s truth - God’s truth written down - meaning the Bible - and on Jesus - God’s truth in the flesh and blood of humanity - Jesus.

Paul - over and over and over and over again - as we’ve been working our way through his letter to the church in Colossae - Paul has been warning the Colossians that there are a whole lot of voices speaking different brands of “truth” from a whole lot of different perspectives of what truth is and what all that means for our lives.

Paul has been pleading with the Colossians:  Don’t get sidetracked by man focused philosophies and religions all the “isms” and so called “truths” that man has come up with - what ultimately is coming from the pit of Hell.

Paul warned the Colossians - in chapter 3 - don’t look backward at what God has set you free from.  Focus forward on what God is doing in your life.  Don’t let your horizontal relationships - your relationships with people - take your focus off of Jesus - your vertical relationship with God.

Hopefully - if you’ve been with us over the past few Sundays - hopefully that sounds familiar.  Paul - over and over and over and over again - as we’ve been working our way through his letter to the church in Colossae - Paul has been pleading with the Colossians to stay focused on Jesus - the Truth of God in the flesh. 

Coming to 4:2 - that focus is no different.  When it comes to the culture we live in - the delusional circumstances in which God calls us to share our faith - to speak forth God’s truth - we need to keep our focus on Jesus.

What we’re coming to this morning is Paul showing us what that can look like for us.  How do we stay focused on Jesus and when called upon to give testimony of our hope in Him - to stand up and say “Yes.”

Are we together?

Let’s read verses 2 to 4 together - the first part of Paul’s teaching.  Paul pleading with us to Stay Focused In Prayer.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.  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—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

While Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, he stopped for several days in Caesarea - on the Mediterranean coast - at the home of Philip the Evangelist.  Where there was a prophet by the name of Agabus.  Through Agabus - the Holy Spirit told Paul that when he went to Jerusalem he would be captured by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles.

The believers in Caesarea begged Paul - pleaded with him - not to go to Jerusalem.  “You’re gonna get arrested.” 

But Paul tells them - Acts 21:13:  “Why all this hysteria?  Why do you insist on making a scene…  You’re looking at this backwards.  The issue in Jerusalem isn’t what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Lord Jesus does through my obedience.  Can’t you see that?” (Acts 21:13 - The Message)  That’s focus.

Paul went to Jerusalem.  Preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the crowds that had gathered.  Sure as God’s word was seized by the Jews and turned over to the Gentiles.  The whole city was in an uproar because of Paul and the Jews who were preparing to kill him.

Paul appealed his case to Caesar and was sent to Rome.  It was in Rome that Paul wrote this letter to Colossians.   He writes in Colossians 4:3 - pray for me so that - even in my imprisonment - facing death - God will open a door of opportunity.  Pray that I will take advantage of the opportunities God gives me to to share Jesus with others.  That’s focus.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians was also written during this same imprisonment in Rome.  At the very end of Philippians, Paul makes a statement that we could almost miss - just sleep read right by it.  He writes, “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.”  (Philippians 4:22)  That’s huge.

Paul writing about people in the Emperor’s service - slaves - soldiers - most probably his guards.  Guards - employed by Caesar - who’d been chained to Paul every day - his captive audience - that had to listen to his sharing everyday God’s truth over and over again.  Over time they’d come to trust in Jesus as their Savior.  Because Paul stayed focused on Jesus, even the Emperor’s household was responding to the Gospel.

It wasn’t that Paul enjoyed being arrested and thrown in prison - being beaten and all of those miserable circumstances he went through.  The ridicule - even by his own people.  But, Paul saw prison as an opportunity to share Jesus with others.

Verse 3 - that’s why Paul is in prison.  “To declare the mystery of Christ.”  Who Jesus is.  What it means to have salvation and life in Him.  The prayer request isn’t for release.  “Woe is me.  Look how I’m suffering.  Pray that God will deliver me from this.”  But that when Paul speaks he will speak clearly - how he ought to speak - so the opportunities God gives are not wasted.

He could have avoided Jerusalem all together.  He could have avoided Rome.  But he was praying and looking for the opportunities and the guidance of God.  That’s... focus.

Paul pleads with the Colossians - in verse 2 - “Continue steadfastly in prayer...”   Be continually in prayer.  Devote yourself to being in prayer.  Give priority to prayer.  Don’t let anything or anyone distract you from being in prayer.

Jesus - just before He is arrested - on what is arguably the most significant night of His ministry - before His betrayal - arrest - trial - torture - crucifixion - and death - Jesus is doing what?  Praying.

Looking through the New Testament.  Consistently - in the midst of major ministry experiences - huge circumstances - Jesus gets alone with God and... prays.  That should say something to us about not getting distracted - about our own being continually steadfast in prayer.

Paul writes:  “Be watchful in it”  Be alert in prayer.  Stay awake in prayer.  Be awake to the opportunities that God is bringing to you.

When Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane - getting ready for His arrest and what’s coming - Jesus tells the disciples, “Watch with me.”  He goes a little farther from them into the garden to pray.  Jesus comes back.  Finds the disciples sleeping.  Jesus rebukes them.  Tells them:  “So, couldn’t you watch with me one hour.  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.  The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.”  (Matthew 26:36-46)

You’re going to miss the opportunity that’s coming because you’re not ready.  You’re sleeping when you should be praying.  Your focus in on you and the circumstances not what God is about to do.

Life is a spiritual mine field - spiritually dangerous - a spiritual war zone.  Prayer keeps us alert in the dangers in life - keeps us focused on Jesus.  Prayer is an opportunity that God gives to us to draw on His strength to meet the pressures that are pressing down on us.  In the midst of the stuff of life - to stay focused on God and what God may be opening up to us.  To be alert.  To be ready for what He has for us.

Paul writes, be watchful in prayer “with thanksgiving.”  Meaning that - even when confronted with death - or what’s worse than death - we can give thanks because all that is an opportunity to say “Yes!”  To give testimony.  To be used by God for His purposes - for His glory.  Which is what life is about.  Life is about… God.  Not us.

Be steadfast in prayer.  Be watchful with thanksgiving.  Be alert for the opportunities God gives you to share - and pray for us also - even here in prison - so that we will have opportunities to share.  That we will speak as we ought to speak.

Are we together?

Thinking about what that can mean for us I’d like to share a short video clip.  How many of you have read “God Space” by Doug Pollock.  If you haven’t read it.  You need to read it.  If you have then please keep the answer to yourself and enjoy the responses of those around you.

(Awareness Test video)

That’s a great truth.  Isn’t it?  “It’s easy to miss something you’re not looking for.”  Their point is:  “Watch out for cyclists.”  If Paul was making the video he’d might say:  “Watch out for God’s opportunities.”

Applying that truth to us.  If we’re focused on our circumstances - on us - not Jesus - we’re going to miss God’s opportunities.

If we’re focused on man’s truth - his philosophies and religion - caught up in the politics and culture around us...

If we’re focused backwards and living with feelings of guilt and shame and doubt and depression and failure over things that God has forgiven us for - trying to fix all that by our own whit, wisdom, and working - rather than focusing forward on where God is taking us…

If we’re focused on the horizontal - people and peer relationships where what others think of us or what we think others think of us or we’re stressing over what others may do to us and the circumstances of what we think all that might be like - rather than focusing on the vertical which is our relationship with God through Jesus Christ…

If we’re focused on our abilities and our resources and our circumstances and all the activities of our lives that we involve ourselves with...

Rather than focusing on God and how God might use us to reach others with His Gospel - even in the midst of all that - we are going to miss out on the huge and significant and eternity impacting opportunities that God desires to bring into our lives for His glory.

Jesus stood on a hill overlooking Jerusalem - the city laid out before Him - and Jesus wept.  Broke down in tears - wept over the people  Why?  Luke records that Jesus saw what was coming - the destruction of the city - God’s judgment - and the spiritual emptiness of the people who had no clue about what God was offering them in Jesus.  (Luke 19:41-44)

Jesus - speaking to His disciples about the people in Jerusalem - Jesus said that Isaiah’s prophecy had been fulfilled.  Here’s Isaiah’s prophecy:  “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.  For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”  (Matthew 13:10-17)

Meaning that God’s people had become blind, deaf, and cold hearted towards God.  They were missing out on God’s healing that they so desperately needed.

Jesus over and over again challenged His disciples - they had a great opportunity to see and hear and feel with their hearts what Jesus was seeing and hearing and feeling as He looked at the people around Him.  To respond - not as if all that was about them - but to respond with God driven compassion for the deep spiritual need of the people.  The need that moved Jesus to tears - weeping - even to the cross.

That’s what we need to be steadfastly in prayer for - watchful with thanksgiving - to be seeing, hearing, and feeling as Jesus would see, hear, and feel - and respond as He would have us respond - to speak God’s truth in the opportunities around us.

That’s hard.  But think about what that would mean this week, if each us  began to pray that - in whatever circumstances we’re in - that we would see, hear, and feel all of that - as God sees, hears, and feels all of that.  Stay focused in prayer.  Stay focused on Jesus.

Coming to verses 5 and 6 - Paul pleading with us to Stay Focused In Conduct.

Let’s read together:  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

You’ve seen the guys with the signs that say something like “Repent or Die”?  Usually yelling at people about going Hell if they don’t know Jesus.

Maybe you’ve experienced this.  Talking with people - who have no or little understanding about what the Bible says and what Christians believe - what it means to live life with the living God.  Or people that have simply experienced toxic church.  God’s people acting ungodly towards God’s people.  One of the major reasons why people reject God is because of God’s people.

Which can be a red herring.  An easy excuse to avoid the truth of the Gospel and what that truth may mean for their life.  Not going to church because there are hypocrites there is like not going to the gym because there are fat people there.

But, the sad reality is that while we know we’re works in progress -  others don’t always understand that.  And what hurts is that way too often that misunderstanding is warranted.  Sometimes our conduct just stinks.

Paul writes that we’re to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders.” 

Wisdom is the practical application of God’s knowledge to the every day circumstances of our lives.  Seeking to know how to do life God’s way and then letting God - with His perspective of life - his understanding - His truth - and letting God apply that to how we do life.  How we respond and live in what’s going on in our lives.

“Outsiders” are those who are… outside.

The word used in the Greek is “ekso” - someone outside of our community - our people.  A foreigner.  Same word - if you saw “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” - same word that Gus Portokalos uses to describe his daughter Toula’s boyfriend Ian Miller.  “Is nice Greek boy?  Oh no.  No Greek.  Is “ekseno” with the big long hairs on top of his head.”

We need to be careful.  It is way to easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking that we’re end users of what God blesses us with.  That we deserve this because somehow we’re all spiritual and everything and so God is just pouring out His blessing on us so we get to live a comfortable Christian American experience.

Way too often God’s people have looked on those outside the church as somehow spiritually inferior.  The unchosen.

Our purpose here is not to have a wonderful Christian life.  The American Jesus version of Christianity.  To retire with a large portfolio.  To live out our days spending our kid’s inheritance.  This is not the Creekside Evangelical Free Club.

Outsiders are the people who need to hear and respond to God’s truth.  Walking wisely towards outsiders means seeing and hearing and feeling about them as God does.  Prayerfully walking through each day - each circumstance of life - focused on God so that He will use us to be bring people to Him.

There’s a account from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi - who on one occasion invited a young monk to join him on a trip into town to preach. 

Saint Francis often preached in up to five villages a day - often outdoors.  In town he’d climb up on box or the steps of a public building.  In the country he’d get up on a bale of straw or something.  He was known as a fiery preacher - passionate - who even jumped around while he preached.  St. Francis had a well deserved reputation as a preacher.

The invitation to accompany him was an honor.  The young monk gratefully accepted.

All day long this young monk and Saint Francis walked through the streets - alleys - and even into the suburbs.  They rubbed shoulders with hundreds of people.  At the end of the day the two headed back home.  Not once had Saint Francis addressed a crowd - or even talked to anyone about the Gospel.

Greatly disappointed, the young monk said, “I thought we were going into town to preach.”

Saint Francis responded, "My son, we have preached. We were preaching while we were walking.  We were seen by many and our behavior was closely watched.  It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk!”

Preach the gospel and if necessary use...  words.

Let’s do a reality check here.  St.  Francis used words.  A lot.

The point is not - stop using words.  But, may the truth of our words be seen in how we live our lives.

Paul writes that we are to make “the best use of our time.”  

“Best use” translates a word in Greek that has the idea of buying out completely.  Going to Costco and buying them out of everything in the store.  However many shopping carts that takes.  When we leave the place is empty.

“Time” - some translations translate as “opportunity.”  Making the most of the opportunity.  Time is an opportunity God gives us.

How much time do we have?  We may die tomorrow and our time is done.  Jesus may come back this afternoon and time is over.  How long until the window of opportunity for freely sharing the gospel in America - how long until that window closes?  How much time do we have?  Only God knows. 

Meaning there is a crucial urgency to our using this moment - this time - this God given opportunity wisely - for the purposes God has given it to us.  Buy it up completely.  Don’t let any of it go to waste.  Don’t let the opportunity of a life time slip away.  People need Jesus.

Are we together?

We are to live - right now - whatever the circumstances - conducting ourselves in a way that is going to give those outside - those needing to know and respond favorably to the Gospel - to live giving them a favorable impression of the gospel.

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:  “Look carefully then how you walk - how we live - not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”  (Ephesians 5:15,16)

Because people - in this evil world - need to see Jesus in us - need to see the testimony of what Jesus can do in someone’s life - of what a community of faith - the church of Jesus Christ - sold out totally to Jesus -  really behaves like.

What can that look like for us?  Paul goes on - verse 6: “Let your speech always be gracious.”

A couple of years ago when I was in college I took a class on missions and evangelism that required me to go out and do evangelism.  So I went with a missions organization - which shall remain nameless.  We went to Cal State Fullerton where I proceeded to “Share Christ” with the students there.

The organization had instructions - a technique - we were suppose to follow.  How to make contact with the student.  How to lead them into a conversation about Jesus.  How bring them to the point of deciding to trust Jesus - whether they did or not.  Afterward I was suppose to write out a short report about each of my “contacts.”

Thinking back on that my only reason for being there was to fulfill a requirement for my class.  It was like doing a laboratory assignment.  Students being rats.  I really didn’t give a rip about the students I was talking with.  I suppose in some vague way I cared about their eternal destination.  But I was on a mission for God.  Or at least a mission to complete my class assignment.  My bad.

There are times when we Christians approach evangelism this way.  Telling outsiders about Jesus is something we’re suppose to do.  Sharing about Jesus means convincing people of the truth of the Gospel.  Winning an argument.  Clubbing people over the head with the Gospel.  Being able to tell others about all the souls that we’ve “won” for Christ.  Notches our sword hilt.

There’s no grace - no compassion in that.  Being co-passionate with sinners like us.  Somehow - as we go along in life as Christians - somehow the magnitude of what God has done for us - that wonder gets dulled.  We see others as somehow different than us.  They’re the outsiders.

But…  in relationship to God we’re all outsiders.  None of us would even know that God exists if God hadn’t chosen to reveal Himself to us.  Its God Who chooses to know us and to allow us to know Him.  If it weren’t for God’s love and grace and mercy towards us none of us would be here.  Our salvation is a work of God’s grace not our merit.

It’s the Holy Spirit Who condescends to enter into us and to work in us - transforming us and enabling us to live godly lives.  The Holy Spirit Who chooses to work through us to touch the lives of others.

We need to be clear on  this.  To walk in wisdom towards outsiders means taking ourselves down a notch or two or three or more - doing a heart check - before we open our mouths and start talking with others about God’s truth and love and what it means to live saved and in relationship with Him.

Paul writes that our speech is to be “seasoned with salt.”

According to the US Center For Disease Control - our bodies need a minimum of about 180 to 500 milligrams of sodium a day.  The CDC suggests that about 1,500 milligrams is an adequate intake.  At about 2,300 milligrams per day - what the CDC says it the upper limit - at about  2,300 milligrams per day sodium starts working against us.  There are definite health risks.

Last May, Long John Silver’s introduced this meal - “The Big Catch” - which they described as “7 to 8 ounces of 100 percent premium Haddock caught in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.”  Sounds yummy.

The meal was promptly given two labels.  First:  “The worst restaurant meal in America.”  Second:  “Heart attack on a hook.”

1,320 calories.  33 grams of trans fats - a 2 week supply in 1 meal.  19 grams of saturated fat - which cannot be a good thing.  And 3,700 milligrams of sodium.  That thing is toxic.

Salt is something we add because it adds something good.  Salt improves flavor - makes food tastier - encourages people to come back for seconds.   It shouldn’t kill them.

If we’re going to share our faith with someone it should be done in such a way that they want to hear more.  Sharing our faith is about God’s desire to bless them - to meet their deepest needs - to restore and heal them - to open up eternity with Him to them - the truth of what life in Christ can be for them.

Let your speech be gracious - in humility sharing.  Seasoned with salt - what is God’s desire for all of us - especially those we are sharing with.

Paul writes, “So that you may know how to answer each person.”  So that we’ll know how to answer each person that God opens up to us an opportunity to share with. 

Evangelist Leighton Ford - Billy Graham’s brother-in-law - Leighton Ford shares about a crusade he was conducting in  Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early.  So, Billy Graham came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd - while Leighton Ford was speaking.  Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized Billy Graham.  Directly in front of Dr. Graham sat an elderly gentleman who seemed to be listening intently to the message.

Leighton Ford says, when I invited people to come forward as an open sign of commitment, Billy decided to do a little personal evangelism.  He tapped the man on the shoulder and asked, “Would you like to accept Christ?  I’ll be glad to walk down with you if you want to.”

The old man looked him up and down, thought it over for a moment, and then said, “Naw, I think I’ll just wait till the big gun comes tomorrow night.”  (1)

Unfortunately, in the minds of many people, evangelism is the task of the “Big Guns,” not the “little shots.”

Paul doesn’t say, “If by some wild stretch of the imagination, whether you’re prepared for it or not, having memorized hundreds of AWANA verses and studied theology and been to Bible school, and then God somehow decides that you might be useful to share the Gospel with someone - go out there an beat people over the head with a Bible.”

Paul says “pray.”  Is there anybody here who can’t pray?

Paul says live in a deepening relationship with God so that others will see how you live your life.  Is there anybody here who can’t do that?

Paul says speak with others - not as an expert - but as someone who has been saved by grace - someone who is concerned with the people we rub shoulders with and their eternal destiny.  Who here can’t do that?

Sharing Jesus with others - whatever the circumstances - God has already given each one of us what we need to be prepared to share with others.  He’s given us a personal saving relationship with His Son Jesus Christ - and the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us.

All God asks of us - in the opportunities He gives us - all He asks is our willingness to be used by Him.  To say, “Yes.”

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1. Attributed to Leighton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co.,