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October 11, 2009

Colossians 4:2-6

Colossal Outlook

 

Two weekends ago I attended my nephew’s wedding in Battle Ground, Washington.

 Imagine starting your marriage in Battle Ground.

  I won’t even touch that one.

   The next day our family and some of our closest friends got together.

      It was Sunday morning.

       My brother Stan thought it would be good to have a short church service.

        He had asked me to prepare a devotional that gathering.

         Included in the group were my three brothers.

            I had never preached when all my brothers were present at the same time.

             I didn’t really preach but they probably thought I did.

              My parents were there as they are today.

               Even the newly weds delayed their honeymoon just to hear me preach.

I felt, going into that room of people that I dearly loved, a bit like Jesus.

 Jesus wanted to share the good news with His family and friends in Nazareth.

  He had just been to the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil.

   He resisted every temptation, of which only three are recorded.

      Then “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.” (Luke 4:14)

       He arrived home to care for His family and tell them of God’s love.

        But He left saying, “Truly … no prophet is acceptable in his own country.”

         I entered that gathering place with a bit of trepidation.

            If I preach too hard they could say, “Lighten up a little brother.”

             If I preach too soft they could say, “Is that the best you can do?”

As we drove through the mountains of British Columbia “colossal” came to mind.

 As we drove from Calgary to Battle Ground I returned to Colossians.

  I am always amazed by the colossal mountains.

   Driving down the west side of Washington State, Mount Ranier was visible.

      It is a colossal volcanic mountain.

       It was visible for hours as we traveled.

        I wondered what the world would look like from that colossal peak.

         What kind of outlook on the world would a person have from its summit?

I also had this game card from Safeway.

  It was the Safeway Word Play.

   When I opened it up it said, “Your word is COLOSSAL”.

      It seemed to me God wanted me to share something from Colossians.

       We had never completed the series “The Power to be Like Christ”.

        So I went to Colossians and started reading chapter 4.

         I want us to read the verses I read in preparation for that message.

            And then I want to share with you the message I shared with my family.

             Paul had a Colossal Outlook on Life.  (READ)

              What is your outlook on life like today?

               What is looming big in your sight?

                  What Mount Ranier do you seem to keep circling?

                   Maybe you are seeing an impossible obstacle.

                    Maybe you are seeing futility, or frustration.

                     Maybe you are seeing financial issues or future issues.

                        Maybe you are seeing a health crisis.

Paul wants us to have a colossal outlook on life.

 He had a colossal outlook on life.

  It wasn’t because his life was easy.

   Did you notice where he was when he sent this letter to Colossae?

      He told us in verse 3.

       He was in prison for preaching about Jesus.

        He wasn’t writing from a bed of roses and clear blue skies.

         He was in the bowels of the earth, living in stench and filth.

            Yet Paul had this colossal outlook on life.

             He believed that you can have that same outlook today.

              There are three experiences to having a colossal outlook.

 

I     In verse 2 Paul tells us to be PRAYERFUL

       Paul says continue steadfastly in prayer.

        How does prayer affect our outlook on life?

         Our outlook on life is changed completely through prayer.

            When I am prayerful I have to admit that I am not in charge of my life.

             When I come to God in prayer I am acknowledging that God is in control.

              Notice verse 3 again.

               Paul’s request is, “Pray for us”.

                  But his desire is not that those prayers will put him in charge.

                   “Pray so that God may open doors of ministry”.

                    When we are prayerful, manipulation stops.

                     When we are prayerful, control is surrendered.

                        When we are prayerful we desire to see life through God’s eyes.

                         And that transforms our outlook on life.

                          Through prayer we look out from the perspective of eternity.

                           Our outlook is not marred by our limitations.

                              God who is in all and through all and over all, guides.

 

II    In verse 2 Paul also tells us to be WATCHFUL

       This is so basic to a Colossal Outlook.

        For what are you watching?

         Are you even watching?

            Pure logic says there can be no outlook if you aren’t looking out.

             A Colossal Outlook is impossible if we are not watchful.

              In verse 5 Paul shows us the results of being watchful (READ).

               Being watchful means we don’t miss seeing others.

                  As Christians we need to see outsiders.

                    We can be so wrapped up in our own little world we never see others.

                     When we stop focusing on ourselves our outlook grows.

                        Being watchful also means we don’t miss seeing opportunities.

                         We make the most of our time.

                          We maximize opportunities.

                           That is a Colossal Outlook.

 

III   Finally in verse 2 Paul tells us to be THANKFUL

      When I am thankful I recognize that someone else is involved in my life.

       Thankfulness is language.

        It is a way of communicating with others.

         Thanksgiving is not a noun like we turn it into with “Thanksgiving Day”.

            Thanksgiving is a verb, it is an action.

             So a Colossal Outlook is not a place of inactivity.

              It isn’t idly watching life go by.

               It is entering into life with thankfulness.

                  A Colossal Outlook touches the lives of others that we see.

                   A Colossal Outlook enters the opportunities we see with thankfulness.

                    Paul gives a practical application of being thankful in verse 6.

                     “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”

                        Paul wanted his conversation to be full of grace and flavourful.

                         That is when the Colossal Outlook impacts the world.

I read a story in a book while on vacation.

 It was a story about a king who put a boulder in the middle of the road.

  He wanted to test the people of his kingdom on their outlook.

   Obstacles such as boulders have a way of doing that.

      So he placed this boulder in the middle of the road then watched from hiding.

       He wanted to see how his subjects responded to this obstacle.

The first to travel down the road were some wealthy aristocrats.

 They were riding in their fancy carriages and an entourage of servants.

  With all their pomp and fanfare the boulder made it difficult to continue.

   As they slowed to go around the boulder they blamed the king.

      They complained about the road conditions.

       They wondered what good their taxes were doing.

        They glared at the boulder and blamed everyone for their obstacle.

         Finally they got around the boulder and went off in a huff.

Next down the road came a band of soldiers.

 They were strong warriors with bulging muscles riding on powerful horses.

  They saw the boulder and marched their horses around it.

   They struck it with their swords and cursed at it.

      And off they galloped upset over the delay and distraction of the boulder.

Finally the king saw a peasant slowly approaching.

 He was weighted down with a heavy bundle of his own.

  Upon seeing the boulder he lowered his burden and pressed on the rock.

   He leaned into it with his weight.

      He pushed and pulled and slowly moved the boulder off to the side.

       Which of those travelers do you think had a colossal outlook on life?

        The peasant finally rested against the boulder, tired and sweaty.

         As he did something lying on the road caught his attention.

            Going over to it he picked up a pouch where once the boulder sat.

             It was a pouch containing several gold coins.

              They were wrapped in a note.

               It was a thank you note from the king.

                  It was written to the resourceful and caring person who moved the rock.

Paul met obstacles in his life.

 He was writing from prison.

  But he had a Colossal Outlook.

   He wanted the Colossians to have a Colossal Outlook on life.

      Be prayerful, be watchful and be thankful.

       Stephen Auterburn says, “Don’t give up when you encounter bumps on the road.  Remember when you’re traveling up a mountain, it’s the bumps you use to climb.”

How is your outlook on life today?

 I encourage you admit that you are not in charge of your life.

  Be PRAYERFUL!

   I invite you to see beyond your own problems and even beyond your own blessings.

      Be WATCHFUL!

       I invite you to recognize that others are contributing to your life.

        Be THANKFUL!

         You can have that Colossal Outlook even as you leave this morning.

            Is there someone you can pray for?

             Is there someone you can bless with your attention?

              Is there someone for whom you can be thankful?