Endure in the season: Unpacking Colossians 4

In the season: Unpacking Col 4 

It’s seasonal, but in most cases in the book of Colossians I can substitute the word and meaning of prison with ailment.  My life has been a medical rollercoaster. Like Paul, I know the reason for my bondage. So, I no longer pray for life’s inclement seasons to end. Now understanding that our Father uses ALL things to shape us. He may be using that valley that you’re going through to humble you. To make you look more like Jesus. I suspect that Jesus was not a handsome lad after having been scourged. That unexpected, right on time, unmerited blessing that you received,... yeah that was Him expanding your completely inadequate understanding of who He is.  He’s bigger than that. He’s stronger than that, and He loves you. I no longer pray for healing, for myself.... Wait, wait, wait... before you stop reading  (labeling me a lunatic no doubt) listen to this. I no longer pray for healing, for myself in regards to certain things. That may seem like an odd thing to hear a pastor or preacher say. Do I want to be healed? Yes.  Do I believe He can do it? Of course, but I know what He has told me corn this season. In many things, most notably the encephalitic coma of 2015, I am in a, “by His stripes, I am healed” situation. But, in others, most notably, Sickle Cell Disease, I am in a, “My Grace is sufficient for you” situation. It’s not time to be healed. DO NOT let anyone tell you that all you need is faith. All you need to do is believe and God will do it. First we must realize the caveat.  His volition; the Father’s will is first and foremost. Secondly, “Faith without work, dead” (James 2:26)

I also don’t pray to be stronger as I used to. Why not? He says to me that, “in your weakness, My strength is made perfect.” Seriously, why would I (anyone) ever want to use my minuscule, ever failing, constantly depleting strength, and forego His infinite stores. So, I do not pray to be stronger. I pray for Him to increase my endurance in all things. After all, “the race is not given to the swift” (Ecc 9:11), right? I pray, “...(Col 4:3) 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— “ I pray for Him to grant me knowledge. To increase my understanding, and to bless me with wisdom.  I pray for the Mind of Christ. 

(Colossians 4:2–6)

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. 

So, while in this season, while trekking through wilderness, climbing this mountain, weathering the storm...Endure. Be ye steadfast. Do not grow weary in well-doing, Endure until the end. 

We love you SALT, and we are praying for you. .   

SALT

~Pastor Erroyl and Sis McGinty 

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer:

Lord, help us to remember that your grace is sufficient, especially during the turbulent times of our lives. We need to always rely on Your strength and not our own.

It is in the majestic name of Jesus we that we pray,  Amen. 

***SALT Ministries is based on Col 4:5-6.  We believe those two verses of scripture are poignant and encapsulate much, if not all that a church needs as its “mission”. 

Guard your heart— Open hearted

Guard your heart, or open-hearted???

Is it Christ-like to "love from afar?” Is it a necessary evil? Can we fulfill the great commission with walls around our hearts??

Self-preservation versus self-sacrifice. I know that's tough, so give real thought.

If we are supposed to go to every nation and preach the gospel, how can we do so with our hearts walled off? The Bible also tells us to "guard our hearts." The answer is not quite so simple. It has to do with seasons, maturity, and temporal stasis (is it necessary for things to be temporary, or permanent based on circumstances, we slow [pay attention to details, speed excess time...] the things that need to be slowed, and rush through the others).

The season of your life will dictate how open you are to be toward people. If you are young in the word, then you are more susceptible to negative influences and therefore you should not be very open. This however, does not exempt you from fulfilling the great commission. It only means that you are in a season of preparation, education, and equipping. That season can last 5 days, 5 years, or 50 years. That’s up to the Father, and how long it takes us to “get it”.

The next season, step in maturity, is the season of battle, Also known as harvest. If you never enter a season of harvest you have not nurtured the seeds sown into you. In this season you actually put to work the things that you have learned. This is where your faith is tested and grows, the initial season of planting is where your faith was sown.

So, as it says in the book of James, faith without works is DEAD. Without this season of harvest, battle, the faith that was sown into you dies. This is why we enter negative cycles, and also why generational curses are allowed to take root. Once we are saved, according to 1st Peter we are adopted into a new bloodline with an "incorruptible seed". This does not stop the enemy from trying to attack.... but, hallelujah NO weapon formed against me shall prosper.

We love you, and we are praying with you.

Dr. McGinty and Sis Pinky

~SALT

Sis. Pinky’s Prayer: Thank you God for giving us discernment so that we’ll know which season we’re in, and we can act accordingly. We love and praise you.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

People and Seasons

As seasons in life change- we realize that we do as well.  Have you ever thought, "I wouldn't have liked the type of person I was back then?"  We grow into different people. We grow, we mature, and so we no longer fit into our old lives. 

Some people, places and events are only meant to be main characters or settings in your life for a particular season. It doesn't mean that you love them less (or they, you) only that God needs you (and them) to invest the time previously devoted to them with someone else, or somewhere else. The season ended.

Farmers don't sow seeds in fields that already have crops. If so, the new seeds would take root; the new and old would begin fighting for the nutrients. It would be unhealthy conflict for all. The farmer would have to spend an enormous amount of effort and time remedying that. Do you follow? You're the farmer. Do you want to spend the time investing in the next season of your life; making sure that it's properly tended to? Or, would you rather spend that time straightening out a self-perpetuating mess that is caused by holding on to the past?

Need a biblical reference? I thought you'd never ask. Acts 15: 36-41 tells the story of Paul and Barnabas. Paul wanted to return to previously visited cities. Barnabas wanted to take Mark along with them. Paul protested, as he felt that Mark had abandoned them earlier. The two quarreled, and parted ways. Their season walking together in ministry was over. Sometimes it takes a disagreement. Sometimes going in different directions is the best thing for both parties. In the case of Paul and Barnabas, they were able to spread The Gospel in an area that was twice as big as they could have covered while together. (Don't worry, in Paul's letter (Col 4:10) we see where they reconciled).

God knows what He is doing. Allow people (and circumstances too) to come and go with their proper season. If you don't know when a season is transitioning, look for the changing colors. ;-)

I love you and I am praying for you.

~Pastor Erroyl
SALT