Devoted | Colossians 4 Study | Can I Be Real? Podcast

RATE! REVIEW! FOLLOW! Email me your thoughts, comments or questions: [email protected] Show Notes: ○ Colossians 4 (NLT) § Colossians 4:2-6 § Devote yourselves to prayer with a: □ Alert mind- Watchful ® Sober-minded- "free from intoxicating influences" ® Being sober-minded means that we do not allow ourselves to be captivated by any type of influence that would lead us away from sound judgement ® Read 1 Peter 4:7 (CJB)- "the accomplishing of the goal of all things is close at hand. Therefore, keep alert and self-controlled, so that you can pray." ® Read 1 Peter 5:8-9 ® Read 2 Timothy 4:2-5 ® Read Matthew 26:41- "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the body is weak!" □ Thankful heart-Thankful and Grateful ® Read Philippians 4:6- "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." ® Read Psalm 100 ◊ Gratitude makes room for the peace of God in your life- it leads to contentment § Live wisely… and make the most out of every opportunity □ You never know how God is going to work…so just be available (plug old South of Gaza episode called "I'm Available"- that episode, I read from Acts 8 about Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch) □ Just be available! Don't shy away from the opportunities God will place in front of you to minister to his people in various ways! □ Read Hebrews 13:2- "Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" § Let your conversation be gracious and seasoned with salt □ Read Ephesians 4:15- "Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. § Colossians 4:7-18 § In this later section, Paul is closing out his letter. He lists people and things to be thinking about, welcoming, and praying for. § He speaks of several people who Paul describes as "faithful" and "beloved brother" □ Pay attention to how Paul describes these people ® Can someone say that about you? § In verse 12, notice the prayer of Epaphras: "asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God." § Lastly, Paul says to "remember my chains" □ Paul is in jail for preaching the Good News to the Gentiles….suffering for Christ ® Notice Paul's attitude the whole letter, he's been encouraging and admonishing the Colossians, while he's sitting in chains § Let us pray that God be with his people and that we may have the mind of Christ