Sermon
delivered on October 15th, 2017
Morning Service
By: Pastor Greg Hocson
Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:18-20
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints; 19: And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may
open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20: For which I
am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to
speak.
Introduction
In
August 15th, year 1778, Charlemagne's army was moving through the mountains,
when the rearguard portion of the army was ambushed by the enemy. The rearguard
was greatly outnumbered by the ambushing enemy. Roland who was the commander of
that rearguard refused to blow the horn to call Charlemagne's army back to help
him. And he refused to blow it because of pride. He underestimated the strength
of his attackers and as a result the entire rearguard was massacred.
Roland
refused to call for help because he is so prideful. He did not think he needed
help. I am afraid the story or Roland is the story of many Christians in our
world. We underestimate the enemy and our battle. We have this idea that we can
handle just anything on our own. We don't need any help. We don't have to blow
the horn. And as a result many Christians find themselves overwhelmed and
defeated by the enemy because of pride and self-sufficiency thinking they can
fight the war alone.
That
is not the way the war is won. Paul knows that he does not have enough
strength to win the war singlehandedly.
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Here
we read the Apostle Paul asking his congregation that they would pray for him.
This request is not under a guise of humility. Paul was sincere in this
request. This request is born out of the real sense of his weakness, the
greatness of his responsibility and the difficulty of the task at hand and the
opposition of a strong enemy. Paul realizes that he needs God's gifts and
grace, to enable him to faithfully and successfully carry out the work and
service of Christ.
It
is true that God is the One who ultimately sustains pastors, but one of
the primary means that God sustains the pastors is through the prayers of the
people.
Last
Sunday, we learned that there are two basic areas where we must pray for
spiritual leaders, namely their life and their ministry.
We already talked about Paul's prayer request in regard to his life. This
morning let's talk about his prayer request in regard to his ministry.
What
exactly Paul had in mind when he said to the Ephesians, "and
pray for me"? What did he want them to pray for
him about? He tells us in various places in the New Testament in his writings.
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20:
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I
ought to speak.
I Opportunity
We
need to remember that Paul was in prison at Rome when he wrote this letter to
the Christians in Ephesus. His hands were in chains. He has been arrested for
his faith. He was being persecuted in the name of Jesus and he was going to
face death. As his hands and feet were in chains, he wrote to the Christians in
Ephesus, "pray for me and here is what I want you to pray."
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Notice
that it is not release from imprisonment he was asking. What he asks them to
pray for him was that God would open a door of utterance; a door of
opportunity to preach the Gospel. Paul did not ask them to pray that he
might be released. Paul's priority was not his comfort and
release but the spreading of the Gospel.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with
thanksgiving; 3: Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door
of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4:
That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Pray
that God would grant us an opportunity to minister. That's what we live for.
Just as our Lord Jesus Christ came not to be ministered unto but to minister,
we ministers of the Gospel are called not to be ministered unto but to
minister (Mark 10:45).
This
is what I am asking Grace & Truth church family, to pray for me that God
would providentially open a door of opportunity to speak, to preach,
and to teach Word of God. Pray that God would open door of opportunity to hold
more Home Bible Studies. A door of opportunity to reach our community with the
Gospel.
II Ability
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that
I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20:
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly,
as I ought to speak.
Paul
pleads with them to pray that when God opens door of opportunity to minister,
that He would also give him the ability to minister. Two areas he asks them to
pray for him as he ministers.
1. Ability to minister in the area of content
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Paul
requested prayer for himself "that utterance" might "be given" to him when he opened his mouth to speak. Paul's
hope was that even as a prisoner he might "make known the mystery of the gospel". That words would be
given to him so that he would know what to say. Pray that he would
be able to say the right thing at the right time in the right way.
That
is what exactly what I ask you to pray for me that whenever I am given the
opportunity to minister, that God would give me the right words to say.
The
messages that I preach to you Sunday after Sunday does not come to me
magically; they are given to me by God through study, meditation, and
prayer. As I pray, study and meditate, God starts putting the understanding of
the passage into my mind and it never ceases to amaze me how that God
gives the utterance.
2. Ability to minister in the area of his courage
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20:
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I
ought to speak.
Paul
says pray for the door to open for the Word and that when the door is open he
would speak as he ought to speak. There is only one way to preach the
Word of God boldly. Boldly does not mean loud or mean, but without fear or
with confidence. He prays that he would be fearless as he preaches.
This implies that Paul was not fearless. He is just like us needing prayer to
be bold.
Oh,
brothers and sisters, pray for me, that when I open my mouth I would speak the
right words and that I would make known the Gospel boldly.
III Victory
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the
gospel, Again, notice that Paul did not ask
them to pray for his comfort or safety, but for the effectiveness of
his witness and ministry. That he would be able to make known the
mystery of the gospel. What he prayed for was that he might be enabled
to properly and successfully preach the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that
the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is
with you:
Pray
for us that the Word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified.
What
a great, great pattern this is. First he said pray for an opportunity to speak.
Secondly, when that opportunity presents itself pray that I will speak as I
ought to speak - clearly and boldly. And then pray that the Word may spread
from there and be glorified. The Word is glorified when the sinners
respond in repentance and faith and when the saints respond in obedience and
love. Paul's main concern is the success and the spread of the Gospel.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word
only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know
what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
This
is what I am asking you to pray for us who give ourselves to prayer and
ministry of the Word. Pray for our preparation and delivery, and for the
success of the ministry of the Word. Pray for me on Saturday night, and pray
that the Word of the Lord on the Lord's Day would run and be glorified.
Conclusion
That
is what Paul wanted. He wanted the ability to minister, the opportunity to
minister, and the victory as he ministers. He asks these things not for
his glory but that the word of God would be glorified. His main concern is
that the word of God would be received without any hindrance of dullness of
mind or darkness of spirit on that part of those who heard it.
Gardiner
Spring said:
"It is at a
fearful expense that ministers are ever allowed to enter the pulpit without
being preceded, accompanied, and followed by the earnest prayers of the
churches. It is no marvel that the pulpit is so powerless, and ministers so
often disheartened when there are so few to hold up their hand ... When the
churches cease to pray for ministers, ministers will no longer be a blessing to
the churches."
If
we want the Word of God and the God of the Word be glorified you and I must
stand with the spiritual leaders. You must hold us up before the throne of God.
Do
you want God and His Word to be glorified in this community where people would
be led to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Then, brethren, pray
for us!
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the
word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with
you:
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20:
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I
ought to speak.
AMEN!