We want to turn to Colossians chapter 4, the book of Colossians chapter 4. Welcome you. Thank you for joining with us. Good to have you young and old among us tonight, those who are watching in online. We welcome you also in the Savior's name. You're maybe caring for loved ones or your children, but we're glad that you've joined with us tonight. Colossians chapter four, just reading the initial six verses off the chapter and then bringing a brief word. This evening we're getting to prayer Colossians chapter 4 in the verse number 1. It says masters Give on to your servants that which is just and equal Knowing that ye also have a master in heaven continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving With all praying also for us that God would open on to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak walking wisdom toward them that are without redeeming the time that your speech be all way with grace seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. And then we'll conclude at the end of the verse number six. As we announced on the Lord's Day, we want to give some time over to pray. Praying for evangelistic efforts that are fast approaching for this congregation. Not only thinking about the mission in November, but we're thinking about the outreach with the children the end of June when we'll go out into Calabasas and also into Portland Owen and reach children with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so with that in mind, I want to give you time over to prayer. I want to just draw your attention briefly to a number of things, a number of verses, a number of thoughts that we find here in Colossians and the chapter number four. Partnership is something that is beneficial to us all. I'm thinking about a partnership that exists in a marriage, a partnership between a husband and a wife. Where would many of us be without our spouses? I can say I'm most certainly grateful for the help, the encouragement of my wife as I labor as the minister of the congregation. They think about a partnership between friends, close friends, reliable friends, friends that tell us our faults as well as those that bring us back into line when we go astray. Such friends are worth their weight in gold as the saying goes. When two friends form a partnership, they can accomplish at least twice as much as if they embarked upon the task alone. I think about a partnership that exists within a session, a partnership between minister and elders, what a valuable partnership that is. When minister and elders pull together, their desire is to see the work go forward, the glory of God, souls saved, the saints edified, the church built up, what a benefit that is, what a blessing that is to have men of like mind serving alongside you in a church session. Ecclesiastes chapter 4 in the verse 9 is a verse of scripture that points to the value of partnership. It says there that two are better than One, two are better than one. This is not only because two people are more productive as a couple, but because there's someone to help us in our times of trouble, in our times of trial. It goes on to say, because they have good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up. Partnership. something that is beneficial to us all, beneficial in all of our lives. I wonder if you ever thought about the partnership that exists between the occupier of the pulpit and the occupier of the pew. You see you must never reach a point where you think that all you are is someone who attends this church and sits in a pew to make up the numbers. You're more than that as a child of God. Can I say that by coming to this place of worship, a partnership exists between whoever fills the pulpit and you who sit in the pew. The apostle Paul speaks about this partnership, encouraging the development of it here in Colossians chapter 4 and the verses 3 and 4. With all, he says, praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. The partnership that exists is a very simple, a very basic one. While the occupier of the pulpit preaches, the occupier of the pew is to pray. Beloved, it is a partnership that cannot be overstated. The illustration is well known, I know, but I repeat it tonight because it's relevant to what I'm speaking and addressing you upon this evening. When Mr. Spurgeon showed visitors around the Metropolitan Tabernacle there in London, he would often ask them at the end of their visit, having seen the sanctuary and all of the auxiliary rooms, he then would have asked the visitors on that particular tour, do you want to visit the powerhouse? Many of them did. Many thought that they were going to go and see the generator room. Mr. Spurgeon, he took them down into the basement of the church, and he went to a little room, and he opened the door, and as he opened the door, there were Christians kneeling in prayer. And then he turned to the visitors, and he said these words to them, here is the powerhouse of this church. You see, Mr. Spurgeon, as he preached, his people prayed. and God blessed. A partnership was forged between the preacher and the congregation, and it was a partnership forged in prayer. It's obvious by the request that Paul makes here in Colossians chapter 4 that he was convinced, as Spurgeon was convinced, of the value of a praying people behind him. and a praying people with him in his labors in the gospel. Spurgeon knew it, Paul knew it, and I know it. And every faithful preacher cannot overestimate the importance of having a people praying for you and praying with you. I want us to consider this prayer request very quickly. and see the role that we can all play in the lead up to the children's outreach, to the gospel mission, and also just to the general working of this local assembly of this local church. When you notice, first of all, from the words, these are very simple thoughts tonight, the persons for whom we must pray, the persons for whom we must pray. While Paul was often the Let's use the phrase, the front man. While Paul was often the front man in the work of God and therefore needed the prayers of God's people, Paul was also aware that his fellow laborers required the prayers of God's people too. And therefore he makes this request. With all praying also for us, not just for me. I need your prayers, but praying for us. You see, Paul did not believe in isolationism. He worked in partnership with others who were engaged in the same work as he was engaged in, preaching the gospel and doing that under the care and under the supervision of the New Testament church. Here was the eminent Paul, this giant of the faith. This man who had accomplished great things for God, and yet as eminent as Paul was, he was requesting prayer from these believers in Colossae, people who are not named, whose names are not mentioned, whose names are not recorded, and yet Paul required and requested the prayers of such congregation, because he had come to an understanding that he needed the prayers of God's people. It's very interesting to note that this is not the first time, and it certainly is not going to be the last time that Paul makes such a request. In 1 Thessalonians, writing to the saints in Thessalonica, in 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 25, he simply writes these words, Brethren, pray for us. In 2 Thessalonians 3 verse 1, you're there so you can turn there if you want. 2 Thessalonians 3 verse 1. Finally brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you. And in Hebrews 13 in the verse 18, and Betty believed that Paul is the writer of the book of Hebrews, he simply again makes this request, pray for us. us. Paul, in his epistles and his writings, placed great importance and value on the prayers of God's people. He was aware that through the answering of those prayers that great things would be accomplished for God in the work of God. He believed that God heard and God answered prayer. Brethren and sisters, while we ought to pray for our own needs, and the needs of our families and of the ministries in which we are involved in on a personal level. We must go beyond that and we must pray for others also. Who is it that needs our prayers the most in these days? I suggest to you it is those who are engaged in the preaching of the gospel. I say that because when the gospel is preached, the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light collide. When the gospel is preached, and when the word of God is being preached, there is a collision between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. It is there, or here, where the battle is found to be the hottest. and found to be the fiercest. It is here where eternal destinies are decided upon when the gospel goes forth. It is here where casualties are the likeliest to occur, at the interface where truth comes against error, where light comes against darkness, and where heaven comes against hell. Gospel preachers. who seem to be a dying breed these days, needs the prayers of God's people. If the gospel is to find any traction, if the gospel is to make any inroads, if the gospel is to transform any lies, it requires the truth of the gospel to be presented with power. Power. Not just truth, but truth preached with power, truth preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. This is what we need. And such a presentation can only come about, I believe, in answer to the prayers of God's people. And therefore, it is incumbent upon us to double down in these days When it seems to be that people don't want the gospel to be preached, it is time for us to double down and double our efforts in our praying for those who are called to preach the gospel. And that includes our brother, Mr. Noel Shields, who will preach during the week of gospel meetings. Brethren and sisters, let us redouble our efforts in prayer for all who have given their lives over And folks, that's what they have done. They have given their lives over to the preaching and the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether that is at home or whether that is abroad, they have given their lives to it. There are many men who could have had an easier job, a more comfortable living than what they presently are. And yet at the call of God, they've taken up that call, obeyed that call, and they are preaching the gospel. And we need to be in behind them in prayer. That's why we sang that hymn about being Aaron's and hers, holding up the prophet's hands. We'll never be maybe a Moses. but we can be a Moses, we can be a her, holding up the hands of God's servant in prayer. I know that you do pray, but let's pray even more. Note secondly, the nature of the prayers that should be occupied. When it comes to pray for the one who occupies the pulpit, whoever that person is, what are some of the things that should mark our prayers for such men. The character we're speaking about, the nature of those prayers. Well, can I say first of all that our prayers should be marked by persistence. Continue in prayer is the instruction given in verse 2. Continue in prayer. The word continue means to persevere and not to faint, to be earnest towards. to be constantly diligent. Our praying for the occupier of the pulpit, therefore, should not be sporadic, but rather it should be persistent, without intermission, continual prayer. Now, what that means is simply this. We come to the prayer meeting and we pray for the preacher one week, and then we come the next week and we do the same, only to return the next week do the same. Continue in prayer. And that's the type of praying that we need, persistent, continual praying. Not only is there persistence should be marked with persistence, it should be marked with watchfulness. It goes on to say in verse 2, and watch in the same, in the same. What's he speaking? Watching in prayer, continue in prayer, and watch in the same. There must be a spirit of watchfulness about us. Now, that doesn't mean that we pray one eye open and one eye shut and we're looking all around us and watching what's happening. No, no. Not speaking about that. Watching onto prayer, watching that our prayers don't become formal. Oh, we need to be on our guard against that. And they don't become repetitive. Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't pray for the same people. Of course you should. But to simply pray as if you could nearly put on the record and the person praying the same petitions and prayers in the same order, we need to be watchful against that. And we also must be watchful that our prayers go up to God with heart, with heart. This is simply not something coming from my mind, but this is coming from, as it were, the bottom of my bits, right up my being, right to the very throne of God. There's a watchfulness, making sure that my prayers, they don't go to God without heart. We must watch and pray. That's what the Savior said to his disciples when they were in Gethsemane's garden, watch and pray. Oh, we need to be watchful. Watchful that our prayer life isn't slipping. Watchful that we're not becoming lethargic, apathetic towards prayer. Oh, there must be watchfulness in our prayer. Then they should be marked with thankfulness, continuing prayer and watching the same with thanksgiving. You know that Paul says something similar to the saints in Philippi. Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known unto God. We have much to thank the Lord for, much to thank him for. But did you thank him today? Did you thank the Lord in prayer? Thank him for what he has done, what he has done. Thank him what he is doing for you and thank him what he has yet to do for you. to do for his church. Oh, a spirit of thankfulness, not a spirit of grumbling and complaining and murmuring, but a spirit of thankfulness. And this is then the nature of the prayers that we are to offer. But let's think finally and thirdly about the request that should be made on behalf of the pulpit occupier. You know, there are many things, there are many things that the Apostle Paul have asked prayer for from these believers. Think about Paul and his position at this point. He could have asked them that God would remove the thorn in the flesh that so perplexed him, He could have asked him to pray for his deliverance from prison, from his release from bonds. He speaks about them there in verse 3, for which also I'm in bonds, I'm in chains. Here's a man for the sake of the gospel, he finds himself imprisoned. He could have asked him that the Lord would release him from prison, turn the whole situation around. He could have asked for prayer with regard to companionship and fellowship with another, another believer. He could have asked prayer with regard to the impending court case, his appearance before Nero. No such request was made by Paul. Instead, he requests that God would open onto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. He asked that a door would be opened to him so that he would have an opportunity to preach the gospel, to speak forth the mystery of Christ in a manner that that subject matter merited and deserved. Notice that it was Paul who was keen that God would open the door for him. He says there that God would open unto us a door. Too often we try to open our own doors. But Paul, he left that matter with the Lord. Lord, you open the doors for me. Pray to that end that God would open doors. Really, this request, it comprehends quite a number of things. It comprehends liberty to preach the gospel. And it comprehends opportunity to preach the gospel, and power and zeal to preach the gospel, and courage and boldness to preach the gospel, and success in preaching the gospel. This is all that is entailed in this request that Paul is making here, that God would give him the liberty and the opportunity, the power, the zeal, the courage, the success, and the preaching of the gospel. Let our prayers be like that for Mr. Shields. and all faithful men who occupy pulpits across the land, at our request, mimic this request of Paul. I say, brethren and sisters, make this request your request for me, that God would open on to me a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ That's what we ought to be preaching, Christ. That's our message, Christ. Christ alone. Christ alone is what we should preach. Christ and Christ, Him crucified and Him risen. Him ascended and Him returning. Christ returning, the blessed hope. Oh, to preach all of Christ, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His coming again. eye and glory itself and all that awaits us there being with Christ, and that we would preach it as we ought to preach it in a manner that is fitting that I may make it the gospel, Christ, the mystery of Christ, make it manifest as I ought to speak, the speaking of Christ in a drab and dreary and monotone way. My type of preaching, Christ in all of his fullness, The thrill of it, the thrill of Him, of our Savior and what He has done for us ought to preach as I ought to preach and as I ought to speak. You make it, make it your prayer for your minister, for Mr. Shields and all who'll go at the end of June and speak of Christ and to the boys and girls. You see, a partnership forms. A partnership is established. between the occupier of the pulpit and the occupier of the pew, and when that partnership breaks down. Not good, brethren and sisters. Can't pray for your minister. It's not good. Not in a good place there. Oh, may that partnership may it only be but strengthened in the days that lie ahead and that we would see to the strengthening of that partnership and that we'd see God's work advance leaps and bounds as a result of people who are praying for us with all praying for us. May God help us, therefore, to be aware that I'm not just someone He occupies a pew. But I'm in partnership with the man who stands in the pulpit. And the success of the pulpit is, yes, down to God. We know that. All of God. God takes up his instruments and he employs them and he uses them in answer to prayer. May God help us to be men and women of prayer, and may we see as this mission approaches that I'm in partnership with the servant of God who's going to come and preach, and it is my duty and it is my responsibility to pray for him continually with watchfulness and with thanksgiving, believing that God will do what he has purpose to do we leave that with him we leave that with him oh may God come and stir us up to pray even by his spirit just even now for Christ's sake amen let's bow our heads briefly in prayer together our loving father We rejoice, O God, in the words of the Apostle Paul, his great request. He understood, O God, his great need of the prayers of God's people. He asked for them. He saw the benefit, the value. Lord, we say to you, where would we be without a people praying for us? Thank Thee for this congregation, people who pray every day, every day, lay hold of God for God's servant. We pray that Thou wilt help us to see that It's not simply one man that's doing the work. There's a part for us all to play, and this is a tremendous part that we can play. May every individual see the importance of prayer and the value of it in the ministry, and what the preacher reaps in the pulpit is sown in prayer. Oh, may we do much sowing, therefore, in prayer. Bless our young people. Help them to pray tonight. Help, Lord, our older folks to pray tonight and grant, dear God, help as we come to this task. We are aware that we have an adversary. He certainly doesn't want the church of Christ to be praying, and therefore, Lord, may we annoy him tonight May we annoy O God the wicked one as we come to pray and grant dear God help therefore in this task. Lead us on in these few announcements and then as we get to prayer we offer these petitions.