OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 OUR WALK AND OUR WORDS Colossians 4:4-6 Colossians 4:4-6 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. In these verses Paul continues to talk about our sharing the mysteries of Christ to those outside of the family. v. 3...to speak the mystery of Christ... 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. make it manifest - to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown. To manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way. (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon) ought - it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon) v. 5 - III. OUR WALK v. 5 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 Page 2 of 7 This walking in wisdom to those who are outsiders is talking about having a witness to those we know who are not believers. Our actions and conduct should be that that would attract, impress, and convict non-believers and give them a positive view of believers and the Gospel. Colossians 4:5 redeeming the time. making the most of the opportunity. NASU, THE MESSAGE, NIV, redeeming - to buy out or purchase completely time kairos a point of time or a specific time or opportunity. Every opportunity is to be snapped up. Wuest buying up for yourselves the strategic, opportune time. Romans 12:9-12 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; I. OUR WISHES II OUR WORDS III. OUR WALK IV. OUR WORDS v. 6
OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 Page 3 of 7 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Jesus gave an important spiritual principle when he told the Pharisees in Matthew 12:34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. One commentator put it this way, Speech will reflect the kind of person one is. Because the tongue can speak so easily and is difficult to control, a person's speech becomes the truest indicator of his spiritual state. Matthew 12:36-37 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." The Bible has much to say about the speech of both the redeemed and the unredeemed mouth. The unredeemed mouth is characterized by the following. SPEAKS EVIL Proverbs 15:28 28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. SPEAKS DECEIT Jeremiah 9:8
OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 Page 4 of 7 Jeremiah 9:8 8 Their tongue is an arrow shot out; It speaks deceit; One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, But in his heart he lies in wait. CURSING, TROUBLE, and INIQUITY Psalms 10:7 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. SPEAKING LIES Proverbs 12:22 22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight. THE WORKS OF LIES AND FLATTERY Proverbs 26:28 28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin. SPEAKING WORDS THAT ALLURE 2 Peter 2:18 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. THE WISE vs. THE FOOLISH SPEECH Proverbs 15:2 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. In contrast, redeemed speech is characterized by
OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 Page 5 of 7 CONFESSION OF SIN 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. CONFESSION OF CHRIST Romans 10:9-10 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. CULTURED SPEECH Ephesians 4:29 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. CONTINUAL PRAISE TO GOD Hebrews 13:15 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. COMFORTING vs. CRITICISING WORDS Proverbs 15:1 15 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. CHRIST S WORDS Luke 4:22
OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 Page 6 of 7 Luke 4:22 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. 1 Peter 2:21d-22 21d...that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth" Colossians 4:3-5 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. We are to be making manifest that is revealing, making known the mystery of Christ at every kairos appointed moment, thereby redeeming the time. buying up for yourselves the strategic, opportune time. Philippians 1:12-14 12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 Page 7 of 7 Philippians 4:22 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household. OUR WALK AND OUR WORDS FILE: SERMON/COLOSSIANS/OUR CHRISTIAN VIGLIANCE PART 3 OUR WALK AND OUR WORDS