Amen
All right, we conclude this evening the book of Colossians and it's been a great book a lot a lot of
practical teaching a lot of good doctrine and
Chapter 4 from verses 7 all the way to verses 18. It's basically like a shout-out chapter
Okay, so we're not gonna spend a whole lot of time verse through from verse 7 through 18 though
It makes up the majority of the chapter simply because he's just giving honor or honors do he's calling out the names in a good way
amen, and
He's basically giving them honor for the things that they've done the work the labor in which they have the ministry that they've been involved
In etc, but we won't get too much into that. We might later on in the in the chapter
But let's start in verse number one
It says masters given to your servants that which is just an equal knowing that you also have a master in heaven now
I hope you notice that throughout
even every book that we've gone through such as James and even as we go through the book of Colossians that the chapter breaks doesn't
Mean that the flop finishes at the end of one chapters
Typically the next chapter is a continuing thought right that we see in the previous chapter
And this is no exception here because you see in chapter 4 that he addresses the Masters
But in chapter 3 verse 17 to 25 he basically talks about the wives the husbands the children fathers
Servants and he basically admonishes them to fulfill their role
Then he goes into the Masters in chapter number 4 go back to chapter 3 and verse 17
He's given some practical instructions for different roles and look what it says and what sort of you do in word or deed
Do all in the name of our Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him wives
Submit yourselves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord
Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them children obey your parents and all things for this is well pleasing unto the Lord
Fathers provoke not your children to anger lest they be discouraged
Servants obey in all things your masters according to the flesh not with eyes service as men pleasers
But in singleness of heart fearing God
So the instruction to these roles is based upon verse 17 the whatsoever we do in word or deed
We should do in the name of Jesus Christ, so when a wife submits to her husband
She's doing it in the name of Jesus Christ, right?
When a husband loves his wife, he's doing it in the name of Jesus Christ when a child obeys their parents fathers
They're not provoking their children servants. They obey in all things their masters
They're doing it because they're doing it because of Jesus right look what it goes on to say verse 23 and whatsoever you do
Do it heartily as?
To the Lord and not unto men so when these people fulfill their roles
When a wife submits to her husband do it heartily. Amen
Amen when a husband loves his wife do it heartily
When a child obeys their parents do it heartily
When a father is not to provoke his children to wrath he does it heartily when a servant obeys in all things their masters
They're supposed to do it heartily
What does it mean to do it heartily with passion with zeal
Why is that because of the fact that we're not doing it for their sake we're doing it because God told us to do it
We're doing it as unto the Lord and obviously we're gonna have moms and dads
Servants we're gonna have bosses. We're gonna have husbands and wives that are not necessary
They don't reach our expectations, but when that happens we do it as unto the Lord who meets all our expectations
Therefore when we do it for them we can do it heartily we can do it with zeal we can do with passion
We can do it whole heartily. Okay, and then he goes into chapter number four
He gives his instructions and they're there the basis is that there's whatever they do in word or do they all do it in
The name of Jesus whatsoever. They do they can do it heartily as unto the Lord not unto men and then verse number one
He says masters now when it talks about master. He's not talking about like a slave owner
Okay, that's how people typically view it as today. But when the Bible talks about masters is basically talk about your boss
Okay an employer and when it talks about a servant it's talking about someone who is an employee
That's what it's referring to. So this isn't it's speaking about the realm of a job. Okay, and it's telling the masters
Hey give unto your servants that which is just an equal
Knowing that ye also have a master in
heaven
so this is important right here because typically the vast majority of verses that we see in the Bible in regards to jobs and
Employment address the servant don't think that the servants supposed to obey the master
Making sure that even if they're forward that we obey them that we honor them, right?
Whereas here we see that now God is beginning to address the master the boss
Okay. Now there may not be many bosses in here. I know we got a couple people who own a business
This is for you a man. It says to give them to the masters that which is just an equal don't Jip your employees
That's the that's the Bruce version right you don't Jip your employees
You don't treat them wrongly you give them that which they are worth in the work that they put in
Now go to Ephesians chapter number six if you would Ephesians chapter number six
Now one thing about Ephesians and Colossians that you'll notice is that they're parallel passages
They're parallel chapters and they deal with a lot of the same subjects
In fact, the Apostle Paul words things in Ephesians exactly how I words them in Colossians with the variation
Okay of wording and how he addresses it, but you could basically see a lot of similarities in them
Look at Ephesians chapter 6 verse number 5. It says servants be obedient to them that are your masters
according to the flesh with fear and trembling and singleness of your heart as
Unto Christ not with eye service as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the hearts
What is this talking about?
Well, we mentioned I think it was last week that this is referring to the person who only does right when the boss is looking
Right when the boss is present when the boss is there when the boss is, you know front and center
They're always gonna do their job
But God expects the Christian God expects the person who is saved then when they work
They do right even in the absence of their authority
And in fact in Philippians chapter 2 it tells us that those who were those in Philippi
They obeyed so much more in the absence of Paul. What does that show that shows that they have a fear of God
That shows that they understand hey though I'm working for this earthly boss
Really at the end of the day. I'm working for God and God is always present, you know
Good example of this is Joseph in the Old Testament
Right when he was tempted to sin and to fornicate or to commit adultery with Potiphar's wife. What did he say?
How can I do this great wickedness in thine sight? How can I do this great wickedness in the sight of Potiphar?
No, he says how can I do this great wickedness before God?
He understood that what he did his actions the repercussions that he was gonna face we're gonna come from God
Okay that he was affecting his relationship with the Lord there
Look what it goes on to say it says with goodwill doing service as to the Lord not to men
knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free and
He masters do the same things unto them for bearing threatening knowing that your master
Also is in heaven neither is there respect a person's with him
So before the bosses get all high and mighty and say yeah, that's right serving, you know to do whatever I tell you to do
There's instructions for the master as well. He says don't threaten your employees
Don't treat them wrongly give them that which is just an equal wife because I'm your master
You know, I'm your master and I'm gonna recompense you for the work that you do therefore
You know
Make sure you you always gonna reap what you sow and make sure you're sowing good seeds within your employees so that I can bless
You okay
Don't be froward and the way you deal with your employees now
Obviously, this is not referring to unsaved bosses and I'm sure everyone in here for the most part has had an unsaved wicked boss
Some in some bosses who are not who are saved and they're still wicked
Okay, I'm gonna test that I've known some bosses who are King James only they're they're they're they're bosses
But man, they're as wicked as the day is long when it comes to being a boss
Okay
because they think for some reason that the realm of Church is
Should be dealt with differently than the secular realm of how someone gets paid or how they're treated. No, this is for all masters
This is for all employment. This is all across the board
Obviously if you work at a church the standards should be a lot higher
Obviously if you work at a church the realm is a little different regards to the fact that you're dealing with spiritual things
But guess what all the other principles in regards to employment are still set in place
Okay
Now go with me if you would to go to Proverbs chapter number 11
Proverbs chapter number 11
I'm gonna reach you from Proverbs chapter 20 verse 23 says diverse weights are an
Abomination unto the Lord and a false balance is
Not good when it talks about a balance you think of that which you know a little balancing scale and then you put you know
A measure of wheat and then you put the money that is owed right there
It's supposed to balance out in a sense, right?
and that's how they would use to measure how much certain things cost and what he's saying right here is a
False balance when you basically manipulate the balance to go a certain way so that you gain more than the person you're giving it
That's a false balance that's an abomination
You're being dishonest is what that's referring to look at Proverbs 11 verse 1 a false balance is
Abomination to the Lord but a just weight is his delight go to Proverbs chapter 28
So the principle that's being taught there is this God hates dishonesty
So if your employees work a certain amount of hours pay him
For those hours if you say you're gonna pay him on this day pay him on that day
You say well, that's that's like duh, you know, obviously, well, you know what? There's a lot of employees that don't do that
They I've known people who literally
They will literally withhold payments from their employees even though they've worked for them for an entire month
That's wicked
They will literally make them work
They'll make them work to make them put in their hours and they will not pay them
I used to know a guy at back of my old church who worked for another man
Doing you know manual labor and he didn't pay him for three months
And the guy came to me. He's like man. This guy hasn't paid me for three months. What should I do? I said quit
Go to another job
That's wicked
Well, he's a Christian you should be able to do yeah, but here's the thing
he has a wife and kids who he has to provide for and
He has a wife and kids that he has to put food on the table. He has to pay the rent
He has to pay the lights. He's responsible for other lives
So for this person to you know
Get that person to work for them to make them money and then you not give that money. That's wicked
Okay
Look at Proverbs 28 verse 8
He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance
He shall gather it for him that will pity the poor you see God does not look on unjust gain lightly
You know when you make someone work for you for free when you try to jip them when you try not to give him
Raises you try to get them to work more than what they're worth or you try to get them to work more
But you're trying to get are you trying to pay them less? That's not right
Now that's notorious out in the secular world, but it's very much notorious even in the church world as well
okay, where you have pastors who will hire employees in the church and
Literally pay them below minimum wage, right?
And what will they do? Well, they give more responsibilities upon more responsibilities upon more responsibilities
And keep paying them the exact same now
Look one thing that we believe in our church and we believe because it's in the Bible
The Bible teaches us this is the man is supposed to be the breadwinner. Amen
The man is supposed to be the breadwinner. He's supposed to be the one providing for the household
I understand it in today in the day and age in which we live there are situations where a woman
She does not have a husband for whatever reason. Maybe she got involved in fornication. Maybe she's divorced whatever it is
You know, I understand there's situations like that
But biblically the way it's supposed to be is that a man's supposed to work
Put food on the table pay for the rent and the woman stays at home
And look the Bible says it that a woman's supposed to keep be a keeper of the house
Right to bear children the Bible says in first Timothy chapter number five. Okay gives the instructions to a woman
But here's the thing. What if that person is working for a church and the pastor is just like well, you know
This is as much as you're gonna make but here's some more responsibilities and look
Here's something they'll do. Well, if you want to get paid more then you got to get your wife to come work for us, too
So they will literally violate scripture
Violate the Bible
just so they can penny pinch and
Pay them as less as as the minimum as possible and try to get two people to work for them for less than minimum wage
It's out there
You know, this is wicked
And here's the thing to that pastor to that boss. I say what about your master?
What about your master
You know masters like that bosses like that don't take into consideration
That they also have a master in heaven and it is it any coincidence that a lot of these churches are going under the water
Financially, they're going into debt. They have all kinds of crazy debt
They they have all kinds of campaigns and fundraisers, but they can't seem to make enough money
Why is that because they're not doing it biblically? That's why?
You know, hey better a dinner of herbs that have stalled oxen strife there with
Better to just eat beans and rice, but at least you're doing it, right
You know at the end of the day the Bible way the biblical role the biblical model the way we're supposed to do
This is correct
Doesn't matter how what modern society says doesn't matter what they try to propagate through the television
Television to the radio to the movies. This is always right
But you have bosses out there like that, you know, that's called unjust gain
Okay, and it's wicked go to Ecclesiastes chapter number two
You know an example of this is Laban who you guys remember Laban in the book of Genesis
Where he changed the wages of his son-in-law ten times
He did him dirty ten times
Just to get gain off of him. That's wrong
That's wrong is it any wonder that God continued to bless his son-in-law and not him
Okay
Look at Ecclesiastes chapter 2 verse 24
There's nothing better for a man than that
He should eat and drink and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor
And by the way guys, this is just another reminder
Another public service announcement get a job
labor
If you're an able-bodied if you if you got two legs that work
You're like, well, you know, I got you know, I got some issues then go work a desk job
With one of those inflatable, you know bottom things that you can put on your chair
But go do something
Because that is the will of God for every single man
It's to get a job and live. Yeah, but I'm not getting paid enough, but you know what get paid something
Go work go do something
You know be responsible to provide for your own family
You know when I first got married, I didn't make a whole lot, but you know what?
We didn't have a whole lot. But you know what we did have was food. I paid the rent and I paid for diapers
And you know what we did we potty trained early
Okay, it's just like we got to get this boy off of diapers
All right, that we call them Pampers no matter what no matter what brand they are, you know, those things are expensive
You know Bruce you need to learn how to go and you know potty, right?
But you know what? Hey, at least I was providing for my family
At least I was working at least I was paying the rent
You know what I mean, and we still went out, you know to eat at Costco. Okay?
Get pizza and ice cream and then you get the the free samples. I'm just kidding
Hey, don't knock the free samples. Those are good. Okay?
Yeah, Costco pizza is good. Amen. Okay
Where was I at? Okay, he should make it. So enjoy the good in his labor
This also I saw that it was from the hand of God
So it's from the hand of God for a man to work and provide for his family and to enjoy
Enjoy the good of his labor, you know when and a meal tastes really good is when you paid for it
And you work for it
When a meal tastes good when your wife cooks and you put that meal no matter how you know
What if it's just beans and rice or whatever maybe hey at least you paid for that thing
Okay
Verse 25 for who can eat or who else can hasten the cure unto more than I for God giveth to a man
That is good in his sight wisdom and knowledge and joy
But to the sinner he giveth travail to gather and to heap up that he may give to him that is good before God
this also is vanity and vexation of
Spirit so we see here that you know a man is supposed to enjoy
The good of his labor right the fruit of his labor
But you know that that that also takes a boss to be able to give him according to his labor as well
To not be unjust and look if you're ever given the privilege to become a boss always take this into consideration. Okay now
Go with me if you would go back to Ephesians chapter number five
Because this is an interesting segue between
Colossians chapter 3 and Colossians chapter 4 where he give he says, you know do it heartily as unto the Lord
He goes through the different roles the wives the husbands the children servants and masters
Why does the Bible exhort the people within these roles to fulfill these positions in this manner?
Well, if you really think about it, you know, I think what God is trying to do here is basically
When you fulfill these roles in your life your God-given roles, you're basically fulfilling a beautiful picture of you in the Lord
Because it says in Ephesians 5 22 wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord
So for a wife when she submits herself unto her husband, it's a beautiful picture of the Christian submitting unto the Lord
Right submitting unto the Lord, you know doing what the master wants giving heat to what he desires our Lord
Exactly verse 23 for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church
And he is the Savior of the body therefore as the church is subject unto Christ
So let the wise be to their own husbands and everything
Amen look this isn't this message right here is not this verse verse 24 of chapter 5 is not a popular verse
Verse 22 not a popular verse. This is something that modern churches would love to just omit out of the Bible
Okay, and if it's not omitted out of there, you know, NIV ESV HIV Bibles, you know what?
They just don't cover it at all
Because it's contrary to modern culture. It's contrary to the feminist movement of our day
Whereas the Bible tells us and look we're not the church is like woman
Submit Ephesians 5
That's foolish
This machismo
Mentality, you know, look by the way, if you're the boss if you're really the boss, you don't have to say that you're the boss
You
Know I joke around my wife, but at the end of the day, I don't have to really say anything. It's just known
Because of the fact that we are following the Bible
And we're not doing it to puff up our ego. We want to do it because we want God's blessing on our life
Okay, and wife if you want God's blessing on your life you give heed to this, you know
Lean not into thine own understanding and all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths
He will help you understand that the blessing in your life comes as you subject yourself unto your husband in all things
You obey in all things. Okay. Well, you don't know my husband. Yeah, but I know the Lord
You know and the Bible says as unto the Lord, okay
And look even in first Peter talks about when you have a fraud husband or his husband that maybe he's not meets your expectations
as unto the Lord
Because you're obviously you're suffering because you have a husband who maybe doesn't meet your expectations or treat you wrongly
Well, you know what? You're still doing it as unto the Lord and the Bible says you still receive a recompense
God sure changes no man. Amen
Look at verse 25 husbands. Love your wives
What is that a picture of even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it?
So what does that show us it shows us that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself obviously for the whole world. He shed his blood for us
Therefore we as husbands should not just give lip service to our wives and say that we love them
But we're willing to even sacrifice ourselves for them our time talents and treasures day even our own lives if need be
You know, we live in a society today where men are so effeminate. They're so scared. They can't even back up and defend their own wives
You know where the wives are better fighters than the men
That's sad
You know, we should have a culture in our church say hey, we don't need to say it
But you know what? We're men who are willing to defend our wives. Yay, even unto death
Okay, why because we're to love our wives even as Christ loved the church and that's not just in the physical realm of defending our
wives
But just putting our self ambitions our desires aside and putting that the the benefit of our wife at the forefront, right?
You know, that's that's overlooking maybe some of the things that you don't like about your wife
Okay
Some things that bother you about your wife you look past them because you love your wife as Christ loved the church because think about this
You're not perfect. So when when Christ looks at you, you think he just sees like a perfect Christian
with no flaws
Nothing to work on absolutely not, you know, he's merciful to us. He shows us a lot of grace. He's long-suffering
He's forbearing. So in like manner we ought to do the same with our wives, right?
It says verse 26 that he may sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word
That he might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkled or any such thing
But they should be holding without blemish go to chapter 6 and verse number 1
Look what it says here children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right
You said what is that a picture of well the Bible says that when we believe on Jesus Christ
But as many as receive them to them give you power to become the sons of God
So when we get saved guess what we're now we're children of God
Amen, and the Bible tells us be there for followers of God as
dear children
So just as a child, you know, my son doesn't question whether I'm gonna provide for him
He kind of expects me to provide for him
There's no doubt in his mind that there's always gonna be a meal on the table that I'm gonna close him that I'm gonna love
Him that I'm there for him. It's just obvious that that's that's what's taking place. Okay. Well in like manner
We should have that same faith with God, should we?
Not even question like I was God gonna provide for me. Of course. He is. He's my Heavenly Father
Now as long as I obey his word, I'm living in obedience to him. I'm
Pleasing him. I know that he's gonna provide for my needs because I want to follow him as dear children
Ephesians 6 verse 5 look at verse 5 servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh
With fear and trembling and singleness of your heart as unto Christ. What's the picture there?
Well, just as a servant the employee is supposed to fear his boss we should fear God and no I'm not talking about reverence
I'm talking about be afraid of that
We shouldn't be how you gonna teach people to be afraid of God because God is a consuming fire
The Bible says that God is a terrible God and
God can take my life at any moment and he'd be just in doing it
So, you know what that does in my life that causes me to have the fear of God and the fear of the Lord is
The beginning of wisdom it's the beginning of knowledge, you know, when we fear God, what do we begin to do hate evil?
because we don't want to fall into the pits of sin of
disobedience that would cause God to strike us and chastise us and
Judge us and have the wrath of God on our lives. We're obviously not talking about hell
We've already been saved from that but that doesn't mean we can't be punished on this earth
So in like manner as servants because we're serving Christ. We should do it with fear and
Trembling
You know serve Christ with fear and trembling
Verse 9 and he masters do the same unto them for bearing threatening knowing that your master also is in heaven
Neither is there respect of persons with him? You know who it's also said of that God
The Bible says that God is no respecter of people right? Therefore. This is a picture of
God with us because of the fact that
Just as a master is supposed to give a due recompense, right?
He's supposed to reward or supposed to give according to the labor of his of his employees. God is gonna do the same for us
You know at the millennial reign at the excuse me at the second coming of Christ
He's bringing his reward and at the millennial reign were able to reign over ten cities. He's given us a reward, right?
He's given us according to our labor. So look you don't want God to jip you at the millennial reign
Right
You don't want God to jip you on your glorified body
You know when you've labored and it's just like hey, you know, we just ran out of stock
On glorified bodies. This is all we got left, you know little potbelly or whatever and I'm joking but you know
It's just not no we understand that God's gonna give us a hundredfold if we live for him
If we serve him if we win people to Christ
We can understand we know full well that he will give us a full
recompense
For the labor that we do well in like manner
Hey bosses treat your employees the same way
Just as you would want your master in heaven to reward you abundantly recompense you abundantly
You should also recompense your employees abundantly as well go back to Colossians
Turn on the AC, please
So that's verse number one
Alright verse number two
So now we're gonna look at praying for needs and also for the furtherance of the gospel
Look at verse two is his continuing prayer and watch in the same with Thanksgiving
With all praying also for us that God would open up 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
So here we see that in verse two, he tells them he exhorts them
Hey continue in prayer and watch and watch in the same with Thanksgiving
This is just a basic instruction to just pray and the word prayer simply means to ask
Okay, so when we pray we're asking God for specific things whether it's spiritual needs its physical needs
You know, that's what we're doing, but we're doing it with Thanksgiving, right now
Unfortunately, a lot of Christians just do verse 2
Okay, they just pray for their own needs and they pray for you know
They thank God and that's their prayer life, but you know what verse 3 says with all praying also for us
For what that God would open unto us a door of utterance. What is that referring to?
He says that God would give us more opportunities to preach the gospel
So here we see a dual thing a dual instruction pray for your needs
Be thankful but pray for opportunities to prosper and succeed in preaching the gospel as well
You see we don't want to just like hoard all the blessings right where you just pray and just get my needs met pay the rent
Good health be with my children and good health and everything's just good and dandy, you know, we want these prayers
Back so that we can do work for God
You know, we want God to take care of these things so we don't have to think about these and worry about these things
What do we worry about getting the gospel?
And you know that a door of utterance would be open to speak the mystery of Christ it says
So what what is how do we apply that practically in our lives? Hey, I hope you're praying for Compton. Amen
Hope you're praying for the surrounding cities that God will give us more opportunities to preach the gospel to see more people saved
That should pre that should be the prayer of our lives as well
So a practical way for you to apply this is hey add on your prayer list for souls to be saved
Add on your prayer list one of the cities
Right that we highlighted
Add on your prayer list that God would give us an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission in a great way
You know, he's like, oh, but we're just a church of a hundred. How can we even make a difference?
You know never have that minimal thinking like that
That's small thinking where you just don't feel like oh, it's only a hundred people. What difference can we make?
we don't God use 300 and
God can use anyone as long as we're dependent upon him and we're praying to God give us an opportunity to do this
Give us an opportunity to see people saved use us mightily verse 4 that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak
Now another thing is this is that you know
We need to pray for the people in our church who are so shy that they don't have boldness to preach the Word of God
You know, some of you are just talkers naturally
Okay, some of you that you know, you don't need to pray for boldness to you speak you just
It just comes naturally to you a little too natural. We need to pray to you be quiet. I'm just
Some of you talk too much amen, I'm just kidding sort of
But there's certain people in our church right there's so shy it actually it's like it's a challenge
Not just to speak. I mean, it's a challenge to speak to people in our church
People you see every week
Let alone some lost person who's never heard of the gospel and to tell them that they're sinners that they're going to hell
But that Jesus Christ died go through the gospel. That's like very difficult for them
You know, so those of you who it comes easy to you. You need to pray
That God would open up a door of utterance and give boldness to those who are shy
Okay. Now look you say well, I just don't understand that. Well think about the first time you went with your sweaty palms
You're stuttering self, you know, and you you you you you basically stumbled and fell and you messed up. That's how they feel all the time
without even giving the gospel
You know, we want to make sure that we help everyone in our church
whether a social butterfly or a very shy person for all of them to be confident and bold in
Preaching the gospel. Why is that? Well because of the fact that you know, it's all a responsibility to preach the gospel
Whether you're shy or not, okay, we all have the response. What's the ministries? Do you got here? So winning?
Well, what can I get involved in so winning
Well, what kind of what kind of like, you know, what kind of uh,
What are those called?
Life circles or what do they call them life groups or something?
Liberal judges that always have these weird names for like Sunday school classes. Come on someone throw it out there
You guys don't want to talk about
Connection groups. I knew it
Don't believe you're right the wife that thou gave us me he's like
Connection grooves, this is the connection group the Ministry of Reconciliation
Somebody and
That's the responsibility of everyone, right?
But we need to pray for our people that they would get the boldness to do that
Go to 2nd Thessalonians. Hold your place here in Colossians. Go to 2nd Thessalonians chapter number three
But
Hey look even with the lat within the last two years
And the Sony's been good here
It's been delicious
You know my meetings to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work
Hey that meats been pretty good here
Okay, we've seen a lot of people save I know that there's weeks when I'm sorry that a hundred thousand people don't get saved
Okay, people, you know start memory. Oh, we only got one. Hey, that's one
For the most part we see a lot of people saved over the last two years we've seen over
2,700 people saved that's very fruitful a
Great door has been opened unto us
And we want to make sure that these doors continue to open
Look at 2nd Thessalonians 3 verse 1. It says 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 that we may be delivered from
Unreasonable and wicked men for all men have not faith, but the Lord is faithful who shall establish you and keep you from evil
So he's saying there
Hey pray that we would that the word of the Lord would have free course and then he couples that were verse number two
That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men. So you often read in the ministry of the Apostle Paul
He'll often say this, you know, I purpose to come unto you but Satan hath hindered me
How does he do it through wicked and unreasonable men?
You know one thing that will that will slow down the momentum of our church in regards to sowing unreasonable and wicked men
infiltrators
Division all these things they come into the church, you know
We need to pray that God would deliver us from such wicked people and that he would make manifest the folly of the infiltrators
So that the word of the Lord can continue to have free course
Okay, so we need to focus on that and because look it's going good, but we don't want anything to hinder that
You know go with me if you would to first Corinthians chapter 16
First Corinthians chapter 16 I
Hope that every city we go to
It's just an open door like man. This is good here. You know, I can't wait till we start going to Watts
You know Compton's good, but Watts is like, I don't know I can't say if it was better than Compton
But it was pretty good
And I hope all the cities around here are the same way look at first Corinthians 16 verse 8
But I will Terry at Ephesus until Pentecost for a great door and effectuals open unto me and there are many adversaries
You know what we see in the Bible is that whenever there's an open door whenever there's an opportunity. There's always enemies
Adversaries why because Satan does not like what's going on
How can we've had so many infiltrators come through our church because we're doing something for God
You know
Hunk, you know, we've thrown out like how many people three people at this year?
Yeah, because this is the work of the Lord is being done here. That's why
So, you know the gospel light attract some weird bugs
You
Know attract some weird bugs they come and they try to hinder the work of the Lord here
Okay, whether it be by criticizing yours truly or trying to pull other members with them
You know, they try to sow seeds of discord in order to hinder the work of God
You know, so we need to pray go to first go to chapter 15. You're in chapter 16 go to chapter 15
It
Says in verse 32 if after the manner of men I fought with the beast at Ephesus
What advantages it mean if the dead rise not let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die now just to let you know
He's not talking about like he's fighting with like wolves and like, you know lions and bears when he's talking about beasts at Ephesus
He's referring to the unreasonable and wicked men
He says I fought with beasts at Ephesus
Now why was the Apostle Paul so successful, why did he have so many people say why was he able to do such a great work
Well because of the fact that I believe that people prayed that that free course that the word of the Lord would have free course
That he would that he would go through the doors and fight the adversaries and battle against them and look
This is you know throwing out infiltrators and all this and the light it's not gonna stop
It's not like oh we go independent now we just got into our first phase and no more infiltrators and everything is just dandy
It's probably gonna like pick up a little more
as the years go by
That's something you got to get used to if you want to continue to do the work of the Lord
Now you can be like one of these churches that don't do anything
They don't do any soul winning. They don't preach the gospel at all. They don't even preach the Bible
They'll show a movie or something, you know, they'll do a play instead instead of giving the Word of God
You think that threatens Satan if they play Superman?
At church and let's look at the biblical application of this movie and how we could apply it for Jesus and Superman
You know, you think Satan's like, oh man, we really got to stop this church
You know, don't let them see part two or whatever, you know
Cuz then they're really gonna be bomb Christians after that
No
Satan's not worried about that. You know who Satan's concerned about? He's concerned about churches like this. They actually had the members
Out there preaching the gospel
seeing people saved
So look it's exciting to be a part of a church where people are getting saved
But understand this there are also many adversaries
There's a lot of beasts out there at second Peter chapter 2 says made to be taken and destroyed
Let's talk about reprobates. Okay, go back to Colossians chapter number four
So we should pray man pray for your own needs, of course
But along with that that God would allow us to preach the gospel and the regions beyond
Then an open door would be opened unto us
That we would be he would make manifest the folly of the infiltrators that we see a lot of people saved
That he would give us boldness that he would give the people in our church who are shy boldness to preach the gospel
Look at verse number five
Now along with the gospel he starts talking here about our attitude towards the lost
It says in verse number five walk in wisdom toward them that are without
Redeeming the time let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how to eat ought to answer
Every man now turn with you if you would to Titus chapter number three
This is a great verse. He says here walk in wisdom to them that are without
Now you can apply that many different ways but in context this is talking about so many
Because the previous verses we're talking about the utterance of the gospel the mysteries of the gospel
It's talking about us preaching and having that door of utterance, etc
So then he says walk in wisdom towards them that are without
Redeeming the time. What is he saying when you go so winning don't waste your time
Redeem your time
How do you do that?
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without so let me give you some practical things here
How you can walk in wisdom when you go out so winning when you preach the gospel number one don't debate
When you walk in wisdom the way you can redeem the time is by not debating
What does that mean? You know when you get to a door because you know, you know like all the Bible stuff, you know
You know all the doctrines and then someone brings up that doctrine. That's not a time
To start arguing with them and get into this verbal
MMA match
Just so you can walk away and I shut that guy up
You know
But you didn't get him saved and in fact you wasted so much time
You could have knocked five other doors of people who actually want to hear the gospel
You're not walking in wisdom to them that are without you're not redeeming the time you're wasting time
Okay, look at Titus 3 10 says a man that is in heretic after the first and second admonition
reject
Knowing that he that is such a subverted incentive being condemned of himself
So this is what you do when you talk to a person and they're just and look you got to know the difference
When there's a person who's just like you can kind of tell that they're just being arrogant and prideful
They just want to argue you give them two verses
First and second admonition you do the first one and if they reject that first one you're giving them the benefit of the doubt
The second one is to say hey, this is what the Bible says and if they say no
It's by repenting of your sins to be saved. It's okay. Well, see ya. Have a good day
There's the invite if you ever have a question and move on
No, no, it's not by repenting of your sin you just get into this verbal argument with them
You're not redeeming the time
You're boosting up your ego is what you're doing
you know, you're just kind of creating the story so you can come back and talk about how you told off so-and-so and
Man, you're such a warrior for God because you you just got into this Calvinistic debate. The only thing you were lacking was the bell
And the reward at the end, you know, that's not redeeming the time
Walking wisdom because when we're out there we're seeking to save that which is lost
Not to debate
Leaving the base to the Calvinists
Let them think that they're doing something for God by debating people and and making people feel so stupid when they're out there
How you know they give them their stupid little illustrations and you know
They just condemn them to as the day is long. They don't get them saved. They just make them feel like trash
Like dirt, you know, we want people to know that they're sinners
But we don't we're not trying to condemn them to the point that they just feel like a worthless worm
And then we just walk away like I'm better than you
No, we try and tell them that they're sinners
So they understand that there's a penalty for their sin so that we can tell them that Jesus Christ can save them
So we can win them to Christ so we can gain a brother in Christ. Amen
Go to Acts chapter 17
Acts chapter 17 now look I'm all for reasoning though, and there's a difference between debating and reasoning
You see we are to reason with people you will run into people out solely
They're not trying to debate you. They just have questions
They're not trying to debate you. They're just trying to understand and
They have to do what the Bible says in first John chapter 5 overcome
You know, they've been taught a lot of false
Doctrine false ideologies and they've been taught that their whole lives. They're not being difficult
They're actually just trying to understand and lo and behold
They have a Bible believing Christian with the Bible in hand seems to know what they're talking about
They're trying to go to you for answers don't get mad at them don't grow frustrated with them just teach them what the Bible says
Discern have wisdom towards them redeem the time but understand look if they're just trying to understand give them the time of day, man
But they're just like look like they're being argumentative
That's the you know dust off your feet and move on
Look at Acts 17 verse 2 and Paul as his manner was went in unto them in three days Sabbath
Days reason with them out of the scriptures the Calvinists like to say see he debated
verse 3
Opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead and that this Jesus whom I preached unto you is
Christ that doesn't sound like a debate
He's declaring the gospel unto them is what he's doing. So when we reason with someone what are we doing?
We are persuading them knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men
We try to persuade them to believe what the Bible actually says. Okay, go to Matthew chapter 7 if you wouldn't
So look don't get into debates and look it's always a temptation, isn't it? You just want to shut someone down
You just want to tell like it is you're like man. I've gotten so much training
I can just like run circles around you, but that's not the agenda when we go out
the agenda is to see people safe and
If we're to walk in wisdom to towards them that are without if we're gonna redeem the time we can't debate
But not only that don't waste your time with people who aren't interested
You know when you try to just coax them into just listening to you even though they don't want to listen to you
It's like I gotta go and then you just roll into the gospel
And then you actually annoy them
Don't be annoying
Don't be annoying if they don't want it if they're not interested just move on
Look what it says in Matthew 7 verse 6 give not that which is holy unto the dogs. It's not talking about like real dogs
Neither cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under you their feet and turn again and rend you now
dogs in the Bible is referring to reprobates and
Sometimes you will run into reprobates people who hate God and at that point discern and then walk away
Walk away, but what about just people who are just unsaved and they're just not interested because they're cooking in there, you know
They're like, hey, I got something on the stove. It's gonna burn. Well, I'm only gonna take 20 minutes
I'm only gonna take 10 minutes. It's like they just told you
They don't want to talk
And look someone else is gonna knock that door again
So just move on. Well, I just want to like persuade them. Yeah, me too
But I also want our church to have a good reputation
Not be the annoying church
Like man, those guys will not go away. I tried to like I was trying to be nice to them
I was trying to tell him hey, you know, I'm not interested
I got my own church and they just kept going on and on and then the guy even just gave me the message that he
Wanted to get he ended up keeping me there for 15 minutes
That happens
Don't waste your time with people like that you said why because if I was says redeeming the time
Now look if you give the gospel to someone they said they don't have time then this is what you do
You said well, can I leave it was one verse to think about and they say sure and you give them that verse
you read them and
Often you can tell based upon their demeanor. I think they're actually interested in what I just said and
If you if you see that then you just say are you sure you don't got a couple minutes?
Do it with a smile on your face
You sure you want to listen to this?
Show your teeth
Say you got a couple minutes
You know typically they'll be like, okay fine
And I've been with people who have done it that way and the people are like sure and they actually end up getting saved
I've been with people who like, you know, they're persuasive in a good way or they're just like they give a first and go
Are you sure you don't got a couple minutes and they're just like, okay and then I'm getting saved
Why because that person used wisdom to them toward there without they were redeeming the time
They were trying they're not trying to waste their time. But if someone's like no, I'm good, you know, just say okay
Well, I'll just leave this in by here if they're like, no, we don't want to okay
Have a good day walk away and just forget about it
Okay
Go back to Colossians chapter 3
Here's another way you could redeem the time and walk and wisdom towards them that are without don't be offensive and
Give correct answers. Okay, don't offend people were here out there
Okay, number one in a practical way have a breath mint
Don't have garlic before you go sowing
Chew gum
Prior to it or get Banakka that's that's really old IFP right there Banakka how many know what I'm talking about?
But when Banakka is okay all the old I appears, okay
You know, don't be offensive. But also just don't be offensive if they reject you
Like seriously, you don't wanna listen. So you want to go to hell? Is that what you're saying?
All right
You don't have to offend them
You know the natural man receive it's not the things of the Spirit of God
Neither can you know him for they're spiritually discerned. So don't try to guilt-trip them into like having them. Listen to you
Like oh man, I feel kind of bad
I didn't get that, you know, he seemed like he was like really upset or something. You want to just be very kind
smile
Just be a kind person while you're out there
Okay, look at verse 5 walk in wisdom toward them that are without redeeming the time let your speech be always with grace
Be gracious
When you talk to people
Look, hey sometimes
Sometimes you just you know, you know, it helps a lot. Just I know this is really practical just a smile
Be a happy person at all times, but especially when you're out there knocking on doors
Smile, I mean aren't you having a good time out so winning or is this like a drudgery?
Just want to invite you to church
Go anywhere, you know, it's
You know smile I
Don't have a good smile. Well, they don't know that you just think you don't have a good smile
But if you genuinely smile at people they obviously think wow, this person is a pretty happy person. I wonder what they have to say
Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt they may know how you ought to answer every man
So be gracious when you speak be kind don't yell
Don't get mad. Don't raise your voice at them. You say you're raising your voice now. Yeah, but I'm preaching
And when preaching is done here, I rip face rip on the side of my it's the reprobates all across the board
But when we're preaching out there, it's a different story
You know, we preach the love of God in here, but we're we preach it more out there than we do in here actually
How can that be because we're given the gospel and the gospel is the love of God
How many times that we quote quote John 3 16 in Romans 5 8 well, we're out there preaching the gospel
That's a whole lot of loving
But here, you know, there's only so much we can talk about that
We have 66 other books that we need to cover that they cover an array of subjects
So be gracious to them go to Proverbs chapter 15. We're almost done. We're not gonna go through 7 through the end of the chapter
That's the shout out chapter. You can read that on your own
It just goes to a lot of names and the things that they've done
I think a lot of there's more practical teaching right here that we can cover. Look at Proverbs 15 verse 28
Now look if you're prone if you're that type of person who's a little rude
If you have a tendency to be a little rude
Okay, and if you're like, I don't know if that's me then ask those closest to you if that's you
Go to someone in the church and say hey am I rude sometimes
That takes humility right there to go to someone and say hey am I rude?
You know when I go out sowing it and say be honest with me
Okay, and if that's you look at verse 28 the heart of the righteous
Studiest to answer but the mouth of the wicked pour without evil things. So that's you this is what you do
You need to do some studying
Study what? Well, first of all study to be quiet as the Bible says, right?
But then also study to answer. So in other words when I go talk to people, what is it that I'm going to say?
How should I word it?
Well, I'm just spirit-led and you know, yeah, but part of being spirit-led is being prepared
Because the Bible which the Word of God Proverbs 15 28 which the Holy Ghost wrote right through Holy Man of God
Said that you should still study to answer
So that means be prepared have an introduction learn what you're gonna say look at chapter 16
You
Verse 23 it says the heart of the wise teaches his mouth and
Addeth learning to his lips. So the Bible says here that you know, if you're wise you're gonna teach your own mouth
What to say, you know what I mean?
Go to 1st Peter chapter 3 1st Peter chapter 3
So be gracious be kind
You
know
and
then also
Learn how to give an answer
1st Peter chapter 3 verse 15 says but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready
Always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear
So here it says that we should be ready
Now look, here's the thing is in our church
Bare minimum what you should learn as a soul winner is the Romans Road
So
If you're trying to learn how to do so winning step number one go so winning with us
Get on the team or let me back it up step number one get on a team
Step number two go so winning with that team on Sunday step number three
memorize
the Romans Road
Okay now
Here's the thing is that's bare minimum, but after a while you should start learning some other subjects some other topics
And that's why when a new soul when it comes to our church or they're trying to learn how to go so winning
We immediately place them on a team and they are a silent partner for a couple months
What's the silent partner? It's a partner who stay silent. I
Just flipped it around for you. Okay, you're just quiet at the door
So what that what that means is that when you go so winning you have a speaker and then you have a silent partner
That silent partner says nothing
Okay, you're not tag-team preaching
This is Bruce and I'm you know, and he's just like we're from favorite Baptist Church
You stay quiet
Okay, you don't even say yeah. Yeah, that's right. Amen. Hey, man, that's right. You know, I haven't been anywhere
I'm just kind of throwing it out there. Okay, you just stay silent you pray and you observe
You observe the season soul winner give the gospel and you take mental notes
Okay, and you don't interrupt
Also, sir
By the way, there's also another verse in the Bible and you just kind of interrupt silent partners just silent
You know for the entire time and you just observe
Okay, I
Don't even know how I got into that. Oh, and by the way, so as you grow as a soul winner
There's an array of subjects
Do you have to learn that you're gonna give an answer for because you will find yourself sometimes when someone asks you a question
You're just like I
Don't know how to answer that actually like I don't know
You know, and there's nothing wrong with that. That's why on-the-job training when it comes to so many is very important
The longer you go the more questions you get the more it's gonna cause you to go home and study out
So that you can have an answer the next time you go out. Okay, so
That's basically it right there. Go to go to Luke chapter 9
Luke chapter number 9
Now
Another thing is this is that when we go out sowning don't see everyone out there as your enemy
I will tell you who are our enemies obviously, it's the reprobates
But the problem is is that they don't wear a sign that says I'm a reprobate
So we don't know who that is, you know, our enemies are the Jehovah's Witnesses
Our enemies are the Mormons
You know our enemies are these people who are preaching a false gospel
Who are teaching people who are being paid full-time to send people to hell that's my enemy
That's those are the enemies of God. They're not deceived. They're doing the deceiving
You understand that but the rest of the population they're not our enemies
So we're to treat everyone equally until they're proven innocent
Look at Luke chapter 9 verse 54 says and when his disciples James and John saw this they said Lord
Without that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them even as Elias did now think about this for a second, okay?
James and John
They're so dumb
Because
They saw disciples who are preaching the Word of God and they wanted to kill them
and then he what did he do he used Elias as
An example he goes just says he lies it. Well, let me ask you did it Elias
Send down fire on actual prophets
No, he sent fire on false prophets
worshippers of Baal
So this is a bad example that they're using
It says in verse 55
But he turned to rebuke them and said he know not what manner of spirit you're off
For the Son of Man has not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them and they went to another
Village is like you guys don't even know what you're talking about
We're supposed to save men's lives not destroy them
Destroy the Mormons. Yes
Destroy the Jehovah's Witnesses. Yes
But regular people who are just out there save them
So what about the guy who's tatted from like head to toe and he has like piercings
Like he fell on a tackle box or something face first save them
What about like, you know, the the guy who just smells like like a sewer save him
What about the guy who's just looks effeminate, you know, but he's probably not a homo save him
We're supposed to save them
Don't call fire down on them
And by the way, even if he tried you probably wouldn't get that prayer answer buddy, okay
You know save them. He lies didn't call fire down on
Righteous people save people he called fire down on wicked people
So, you know, we got to understand that when we go out there we're out there to save men's lives
Save them from from, you know, the general damnation and look you are the one doing the saving. Amen
You know you get credit for that. Yes. Jesus Christ is the one saving them
But he's also using you to save them as well pulling them out of the fire
Talked to Damian today and he's like, hey you saved me a year ago
Got him the gospel. He got saved over a year ago
Got him the gospel he got saved over a year ago
You know what? That's what you're doing when you go out there and preach the gospel. You're actually saving them
Okay by going out there and giving them that gospel so what's the message tonight, you know
A lot of it had to do with practicality and soul winning
But take this if you don't get anything get this is that walking wisdom towards them that are without
What does wisdom do it causes you to think before you talk?
We save ourselves a lot of trouble
If we just put into if we just start thinking
Before we open our mouths
Okay, especially when it comes to the gospel
Because you know we have this this treasure and earthen vessels the bible says
And we want to make sure that we're good stewards of that treasure. Amen
Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer father. We thank you so much for your word
I pray god that you continue to open doors for us as as a church
Thank you for this great opportunity. I feel like we just came at the perfect time
This church opened up at the perfect time where the hearts are just ready for the gospel
you know the the cities
Roundabout are not reprobates as many would like to think that california is but they're not there's a lot of
Just unsafe people who are very receptive towards the gospel
And I pray god that god that you'd help us to walk in wisdom towards them that are without
Help us to redeem the time help us not to waste our time
help us to um
You know teach our mouths teach our lips
That the righteous may study to answer and I pray god that you'd help us to be bonafide soul winners and become better as
The years go by help us to see a lot of people saved
And though we want to help people physically with their physical needs lord
You've said within your word what shall have profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul
And we're trying to give him the bread of life the water so they can never thirst again
Help us to continue to be that church in jesus name we pray. Amen
So