Empowered by Prayer: Living Out Our Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Christ-Centered Prayer Fuels Our Mission

A life anchored in prayer is the power source for every believer’s mission, not just a place to bring needs but the foundation for boldness, clarity, and open doors for the gospel. Paul, even while chained in prison, didn’t ask for his own freedom but for opportunities to share Christ, showing that true devotion to prayer is steadfast, watchful, and filled with gratitude. When we pray with thanksgiving and alertness, we shift from desperation to trust, and our prayers become the fuel that moves the mission of God forward in our world. [54:19]

Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: Who is one person in your daily life you can begin to pray for by name, asking God to open a door for the gospel in their heart this week?

Day 2: Christ-Centered Witness Impacts the World

Every interaction with those outside the faith is an opportunity to display Christ through wise actions and gracious, truth-filled words; our lives and speech are inseparable in our witness. Just as Jesus met the Samaritan woman with both grace and truth, we are called to be salt and light—preserving truth, adding flavor, and responding to each person with Spirit-led kindness and discernment. The way we live and speak can either draw people to Christ or push them away, so let us seize every moment, making the most of every opportunity to reflect Jesus to the world around us. [01:10:14]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation with someone who doesn’t know Christ—how could you have responded with more grace and truth, and how will you prepare your heart to do so next time?

Day 3: Christ-Centered Partnerships Advance the Kingdom

The mission of Christ is never a solo effort; it is advanced through the faithful partnership of many, each playing their unique role—whether through prayer, encouragement, hospitality, or support. Paul’s list of names in Colossians 4 reminds us that behind every act of ministry is a network of ordinary people, all contributing to the spread of the gospel. No matter your role—whether you’re sending, supporting, praying, or going—your obedience is vital to the kingdom, and together, we can reach farther than any one person could alone. [01:21:40]

Colossians 4:7-18 (ESV)
"Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 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. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, 'See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.' I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can partner with others in your church or community this week—through prayer, encouragement, giving, or serving—to help advance the mission of Christ?

Day 4: Seizing Spirit-Led Opportunities in Everyday Life

God entrusts each of us with unique relationships and moments to reflect Christ’s love and truth; often, the most powerful witness is found in simple acts of kindness, attentive listening, and Spirit-prompted words. You don’t need a sermon prepared—just a heart willing to be used, eyes open to the needs around you, and a readiness to respond when the Holy Spirit opens a door. Every day brings opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and someone’s eternity may be waiting on the other side of your obedience. [01:25:41]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: Who is one person you regularly encounter that you sense God prompting you to reach out to—how will you intentionally show them Christ’s love and truth this week?

Day 5: Keeping Christ at the Center of Your Mission

The Christian life is not just about what Christ has done in you, but what He wants to do through you—He is to be the center of your life, your mission, and every relationship. When you keep Jesus at the center, your prayers, words, actions, and partnerships all align with His purpose, and you become a vessel for His love and gospel to reach those around you. Let your life and speech be a true reflection of His character, and trust that as you surrender to Him, He will use you to make an eternal difference. [01:26:09]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to re-center on Christ—how will you practically surrender this area to Him and let His mission shape your actions today?

Sermon Summary

As we gathered today, we reflected on the closing words of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, a letter written from a prison cell but filled with hope, clarity, and a call to action. Paul, chained and suffering, did not focus on his own needs but instead urged the church to look outward—to let Christ work through them for the sake of the world. The heart of the Christian life is not just what Christ has done in us, but what He desires to do through us. Our mission is to pray, to proclaim the gospel, and to partner together so that Christ is seen at the center of everything.

Paul’s first exhortation is to devote ourselves to prayer. Not just the quick, desperate prayers we toss up in times of need, but a steadfast, vigilant, and grateful life of prayer that fuels our mission. Prayer is not a side activity; it is the power source for everything we do. Just as a phone is useless without being plugged in, our efforts are empty without being connected to God through prayer. Paul’s own request was not for his release from prison, but for open doors for the gospel. This reveals a heart that is more concerned with God’s mission than personal comfort.

Next, Paul calls us to live wisely among those who do not yet know Christ. Our lives and our words are inseparable in our witness. We are to act and speak with grace, wisdom, and truth, seizing every opportunity the Spirit gives us. Our words should be seasoned with salt—preserving truth and adding the flavor of Christ’s love. The way we interact with others can either draw them to Jesus or push them away. Even simple, Spirit-led words and acts of kindness can open doors for the gospel.

Finally, Paul highlights the importance of partnership in advancing the kingdom. He lists many names—ordinary people who played vital roles in the mission. Some delivered letters, some opened their homes, some wrestled in prayer, and others gave resources. The mission of Christ is too big for one person; it takes the whole body working together. Each of us has a unique part to play, and God has entrusted us with the honor of carrying His love and message to those around us.

As we closed, we took a practical step—writing down the name of one person in our daily life who needs Jesus, committing to pray for an open door for the gospel in their life, and asking God to use us as His hands and feet. The challenge remains: whose eternity is waiting on the other side of your obedience?

Key Takeaways

1. Christ-centered prayer is the power source for our mission. True devotion in prayer is not about quantity or ritual, but about a steadfast, alert, and grateful heart that seeks God’s will above our own comfort. When we pray for open doors for the gospel, we align ourselves with God’s purposes and become ready to step into the opportunities He provides. [53:46]
2. Our witness is inseparable from our daily life and speech. The way we live and the words we speak among those who do not know Christ are a living testimony. Gracious, truth-filled, and Spirit-led interactions can open hearts in ways that arguments or scripts never could. Our lives are often the only sermon some people will ever read. [70:14]
3. The mission of God is always a team effort, never a solo act. Paul’s list of partners in Colossians 4 reminds us that every role matters—whether it’s interceding in prayer, offering hospitality, giving resources, or simply encouraging others. The kingdom advances through the combined obedience of ordinary people, each playing their part. [81:40]
4. God entrusts each of us with unique opportunities and relationships. There are people in our lives that only we can reach, and God calls us to be attentive and obedient in those moments. Even if we feel inadequate or unprepared, a simple act of kindness or a gracious word, empowered by the Spirit, can be the catalyst for transformation in someone’s life. [84:50]
5. The Christian life is not just about what Christ has done in us, but what He wants to do through us. Our calling is to keep Christ at the center, to pray for open doors, to walk wisely, to speak graciously, and to partner with others in advancing the gospel. The question we must continually ask is: whose eternity is waiting on the other side of my obedience? [85:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[46:32] - Women’s Retreat Update
[47:27] - Our Mission and Purpose
[47:47] - Context of Colossians
[48:45] - False Teaching in Colossae
[49:51] - Christ’s Supremacy and Our Identity
[51:31] - Turning Outward: Our Mission
[52:15] - Christ-Centered Prayer Fuels Mission
[55:55] - Staying Alert and Thankful in Prayer
[57:20] - Praying for Open Doors, Not Escape
[59:57] - The Flow of Prayer and Mission
[65:33] - Christ-Centered Witness Impacts the World
[70:14] - Gracious, Spirit-Led Witness
[74:26] - Christ-Centered Partnerships Advance the Kingdom
[82:52] - The Mission Entrusted to Us
[86:09] - Practical Challenge: Praying for One Person
[94:10] - Responding in Worship and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Colossians 4:2-6 (ESV) — > 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
> 3 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—
> 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
> 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
> 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Observation Questions

What does Paul specifically ask the Colossians to pray for regarding his own situation? ([52:45])
According to these verses, how are believers supposed to interact with “outsiders”—those who do not know Christ? ([01:05:59])
What two qualities does Paul say should mark our speech, and what do these qualities mean in the context of the passage? ([01:08:22])
In the sermon, what analogy is used to describe the importance of prayer in the Christian life? ([01:03:38])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul, while in prison, asks for prayer for “open doors for the word” instead of for his own release or comfort? What does this reveal about his priorities? ([57:20])
The sermon says, “Our lives and our words are inseparable in our witness.” What does it look like for someone’s life and words to match up in a way that points others to Jesus? ([01:10:14])
Paul lists many different people at the end of Colossians, each playing a different role. What does this teach us about how God’s mission moves forward? ([01:21:40])
The pastor challenged the church to write down the name of one person who needs Jesus and to pray for them. Why is it important to be intentional and specific in our prayers for others? ([01:26:09])

Application Questions

The sermon compared prayer to plugging in a phone—without it, we have no power. What does your current prayer life look like? Is it more like a quick “toss up” when you need something, or is it a steady connection? What is one step you could take this week to become more devoted in prayer? ([54:35])
Paul asks for prayer for “open doors” to share the gospel, not for his own comfort. When you pray, do you tend to focus more on your own needs or on God’s mission? How could you shift your prayers to be more mission-focused? ([57:20])
Think about your daily interactions at work, school, or in your neighborhood. Is there a recent moment when you had an opportunity to show Christ’s love or speak a gracious word, but missed it? What could you do differently next time? ([01:13:11])
The sermon said, “Our lives are often the only sermon some people will ever read.” What is one area of your life (attitude, speech, habits) where you want to better reflect Jesus to those who don’t know Him? ([01:10:14])
Paul highlights the importance of partnership in God’s mission. Are you currently partnering with others in prayer, service, or giving to advance the gospel? If not, what is one way you could start? ([01:21:40])
The pastor challenged everyone to write down the name of one person in their daily life who needs Jesus and to pray for them. Who is that person for you? What is one practical thing you can do this week to show them Christ’s love or to pray for an open door? ([01:26:09])
The sermon ended with the question: “Whose eternity is waiting on the other side of your obedience?” How does this question challenge you personally? Is there a step of obedience you sense God is asking you to take? ([01:25:41])

Sermon Clips

Gratitude will keep your prayer time from becoming grumbling. And it shifts prayer from being obligation and duty to being an actual, to actually being a joy in your life. It changes it from desperation to trust. [00:56:22] (16 seconds) #GratitudeTransformsPrayer

Paul still sees himself as a missionary, as he's sitting in a jail cell shackled. And he doesn't just say pray that I'll get out. He says pray that the Word will get out. [00:57:36] (16 seconds) #PrayForTheWord

Prayer is not just for our comfort, it's for our mission. The church doesn't just pray to get through the week. As I said earlier, sometimes you gotta pray to get through your week. We've all been there before. But, guys, that's not the sole purpose of prayer. We pray so the gospel can break forth into the world, that every ear will hear the good news. Of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. [01:00:21] (23 seconds) #PrayerForMission

``Mission without prayer is like trying to run your phone on a dead battery. It's got lots of capability, lots of potential, but it's no good with a dead battery. Prayer keeps us connected to the one who opens doors and gives us the power, the strength and the boldness to walk through them. Prayer isn't preparation for the mission. It is the power that fuels the mission. [01:04:56] (31 seconds) #PrayerPowersMission

The way that we live around them either draws them into Christ or pushes them away from Christ. And I truly believe that in many ways over the. Well, over the centuries, the church has been just as good at pushing people away from Christ as it has been drawing them in. We've got to act wisely. We've got to walk wisely. [01:07:01] (23 seconds) #WalkWiselySpeakLife

Your life is the sermon most people will read and your words are the seasoning that can make Christ attractive to them. Your life is the sermon. [01:14:09] (16 seconds) #TogetherForTheGospel

Whose eternity is waiting on the other side of your obedience? Whose eternity is waiting on the other side of your obedience? Who around you needs to see Christ in you and through you? [01:25:33] (19 seconds) #ChristIsOurMission

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