Thoughts from PrisonColossians 4:2-10a

We have a tendency to… Keep secrets we think will embarrass Believe “If I don’t say it, it isn’t true” Hide things we think are not good Believe we have nothing to offer

when we are struggling

Colossians 42 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

“Devote yourselves”The particular word used here is the same word used in a siege on a city

Consistently, constantly and steadfast.Besiege the throne of God with

prayers

“Being watchful”Our prayers are to be…Consistent and focused

On target and free from distractionsConfident and hopeful

Being in the habit of prayer

Being “Thankful”Our prayers are to be…

GraciousExpectantHopeful

Fully aware

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.

Our prayers are to be… For ourselves

For individual leaders in ministryFor success in ministry

For the strength to be bold

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Paul asks that we be careful not to nullified our prayers by our outward

actionsFor that reason he tells us to be wise about how we behave towards those

who are not Christians

Paul want us to share our faithBut that we do so….

Full of graceSeasoned with salt

Allowing the spirit to answer with us and through us

Paul’s point?Our prayer life and our daily walk

need to be in syncBeing synchronized

Being consistentBeing in the habit of…

For those of us who have been in the faith for some time

This may seem rudimentaryBut what is truly interesting

about this teaching may not be the teaching itself

The amazing thing is… The person who is asking us to pray To be focused and to be thankful in

prayer… To share the Gospel…

To be consistent…Is in prison…

Because of his faith

This teaching, you would think, came from someone who was

living the lifeWe discover that our teacher is

a suffering servantHe is in prison and in chains –

still doing ministry

Colossians 47 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

What is truly amazing about Paul in this letter to the church is…

He is not complainingHe is reminding us to pray and to

do so thankfully

He says… I am sending Tychicus for the

purpose of…Telling you our circumstances

So that you might be encouragedHe speaks highly of this messenger

9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. 10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.

He adds that Onesimus is also coming to tell you things

And by the way greetings from Aristarchus and Mark

Everything is going according to plan

Paul was definitely a gifted leaderHis greatest gift was the ability to

be so optimisticTo see the big picture

To be realistic and honestTo be consistent

To speak with authority

Where do you find yourself?Keeping secrets you think will be

embarrass youHiding from things you believe or

think are not so good Believing you have nothing to offer

because you are struggling

Paul says I have something to tell youI am in chains and I am in prison

Pray for meDon’t forget about us

Just because I am in a precarious situation does not mean I have lost

my ability to serveHe sends a good word and high

regards for Tychicus and OnesimusHe wants to encourage his readers

The message for todayDon’t struggle and don’t suffer alone

Find a few people….Who will pray for us

Who will help usWho will guide and protect us

We are still importantWe have wisdomWe have insight

Be proud of who we are and of whose we are

Keep a look outPray thankfully and hopefully

Knock constantly and loudly on the doors of heaven

To others of us…Open our eyesPray for others

See where we can helpAssist

Be useful

This holidayPray with focus and thanksgiving

Pray for those in needShare your secret

Tell someone your storyLet someone help you

Listen and lookHelp and encourage someone