Lord’s Day Message
Topics: The Final Exhortation and Greetings
Bible Verses: Col. 4:2~18
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:2-6, ESV)
“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” (Col. 4:12)
Message Outline:
- The Final Exhortation
- Continue steadfastly in prayer
Christ is our life and the New Man is our living, and prayer is the excellent way to make both become reality. We need to earnestly devote ourselves into prayer. It is best for us to set out a period of time to pray for ourselves, our family, and our church.
Paul also asked the brothers to pray for him. On one aspect, to proclaim the mystery of Christ is the most desperate burden for Paul and he asked them to pray for it. On another aspect, it indicates that no one is too spiritual to ask others pray for him. In the church we also need to pray for those who are serving.
- To redeem the time
This can also be translated to grab the opportunities. God’s will for us is to grow in Christ and for this He has arranged everything around us. The problem is that can we grab such chance so that Christ can be preeminent on us? Can we really express Christ in our living? If not, it means we have lost the opportunities and also the chance for us to grow in life.
- To speak with grace
We need to speak with grace because Christ is always gracious to us. Therefore we need to supply grace in our speaking.
We need to learn to criticize less and instead, supply more grace in our daily words. True exhortation can only be effective in grace.
2. Final Greetings
In the end Paul mentioned few coworkers and serving brothers in Colossae. It shows Paul is acquainted with these brothers. He knew their gifts and functions, he knew how to encourage them and recommend them. His words were very sweet and presented the spiritual reality in his humanity.
This is also what we need to learn in the church life today. We should get acquainted with the brothers and sisters around us and learn to appreciate them. Then we are able to grow together in Christ and to server God in one accord.
Announcements：
- Next Lord’s Day (10/2, Chinese New Year) is the gospel meeting. We hope all the brothers and sisters can participate. A few families can come together, choose gospel hymns and share testimonies.
Please give Brother Yu-Lin Wang the names, hymns, and name for testimony after today’s meeting so that a schedule and brochure can be prepared for the meeting.
- There are invitation cards available for distribution. Please take them freely and invite your friends to join our gospel meeting.
- On next Lord’s Day the love feast for lunch will be the same. The Lord’s Table will be moved to 1:00PM. All are encouraged to stay in the afternoon that we can have some sports activities, dumping wrapping, and BBQ after Lord’s Table.
- Recently the young people attendance has increased. To meet the present need there will become two groups, junior and senior, in the second part of Lord’s Day meeting. If you have any question, please fellowship with Brother Raymond and Sister Christine.
- Please exercise ourselves to attend the meeting on time.
Intercession：
- Pray for 10/2 gospel meeting. May the Lord give every brother and sister a spirit of preaching gospel and open the hearts of all friends that they can receive the precious salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Pray that the Lord will give every brother and sister healthiness, peace and joy in our daily living. Also pray for those (the saints or the relatives) who have sicknesses. May the Lord heal the sick according to His will as well as comfort and strengthen the saints.
- Pray for the new school year that all the young people can be kept and strengthened in the Lord.
Serving：
- Breaking the Bread: Brother Richard Chen and Olsen Yu
Serving Bread and Cup: Brother Michael and Richard Cui
- Pianist: Hannah Cui
- Cleaning: Patrick & Lily Family, Baolin Lei, Peter Pan
Reference Materials:
“Of the days which the Lord has ordained for us, perhaps yesterday should have been the greatest day of our life, but we may have lived yesterday in an ordinary way. This is what it means to miss the opportunity. One who is learning to serve should not do the same thing today as he did yesterday. If he is the same today as yesterday, he has squandered his opportunities. If we do not know what the Lord is doing today or what is going to happen today, we are missing the opportunity.
No worker or servant of the Lord can feel satisfied with what he has done so far. All who are satisfied with the present are losing opportunities.
When God opens the way for us to do something, we must do it. Once time moves on, the opportunity is gone. If we wait until tomorrow to do something, we will miss the opportunity. It may be useful to talk to a brother today. However, if we wait until tomorrow, it may no longer be useful because the opportunity is gone. We must have spiritual insight, and we must have spiritual senses. We must ask God to preserve each opportunity He has given us.” (The Ministries and The Open Door, Issue No 21, Watchman Nee)
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