Colossians
“A Worthy Walk”
Main Teaching: 4:6
4:6 Walking in the Wisdom of Christ
4:6 Presence of Christ
4:1 Mastered master
4:2-6 “Prayer, has it come to that?”
Vs. 1
Now to Christian Employers Paul speaks to them about being generous and fair. The reason is that they too realize that they have a Master in heaven. God is concerned with justice and fairness in the workplace. It seems as though Paul is suggesting to bless slaves financially so that they could eventually buy their freedom. And looking out over history that is what happened as the Christian influence in the workplace changed society creating the equality that God attended.
- To masters Paul says that they must not treat their slaves as mere objects, tools, things to be used and discarded. Employees are people just like they are.
- The master is also to remember that he too has a Master in Christ in heaven so he will have to answer unto his Master for how he treated God’s servants! The master and the slave are equally both working for God.
Vs. 2 It’s come to prayer
Vs. 3-6 What to pray for
Intro.
In July of 1994, Cindy Hartman, a pastor’s wife from Conway, Arkansas was confronted in her home by a pistol-wielding burglar who surprised her when she came in to answer the phone. He ripped the cord from the wall and ordered her into a closet. To the shock of the gunman, Cindy fell to her knees and began to pray for God’s Help. The robber was even more stunned when she asked if she could pray for him! She proceeded to tell him about Christ’s love and expressed her forgiveness for his actions.
This was more than the robber bargained for he broke into tears and knelt beside her to pray. What happened next surprised Cindy as the man yelled out the window to a woman in a pickup: “We’ve got to unload all of this stuff. This is a Christian home and we can’t do this to them.” She remained in prayer, while her furniture was being returned and the robber then used a shirt to wipe off his fingerprints, apologized and departed, leaving his gun behind! Friend, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness.” Prayer is asking God for that which He wants to do and give, according to His will.
Vs. 2 It’s come to prayer
Vs. 2 This section (verses 2-6) gives us great solutions on how to live as a Christian in a world completely given over to false values, where our senses are under a complete bombardment of every kind of evil and pursuit that directly opposes our faith and virtue. Paul starts off with one word that tells every Christian throughout the ages what to do when they are faced with such corruption….PRAY! One version interprets verse 2 by saying “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Jesus had similar words for His disciples on the night of His betrayal in Matthew 26:40 as He told them to “watch and pray” while He was in the garden called Gethsemane. You might recall that those men had a similar obedience problem as we do as they “fell asleep”. Is that not indicative of our struggle? We fail to rest in His presence when we should and fall asleep when we should be on guard! The outcome of this is seen in the garden that fateful night as we note:
- Peter denied the Lord
- John fled in the darkness
- And all the others abandoned Jesus
I have noticed how little I’m prepared for the dangers of daily living as it takes a very little thief to rob my joy, ransack my peace and restrict my love! How better prepared I could have been if I would have just headed Paul’s words to “Devote myself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” In light of my confession my greatest need is to “continue earnestly in prayer”. Why must I wait for the tsunami in life, the inevitable avalanche of catastrophes before I believe that the events have reached the level that warrants prayer?
Paul’s counsel is to be “vigilant” in prayer with thanksgiving. I love that the word “vigilant” also renders “watchful” as it conveys the thought of aggressively going after something or someone. We need to be a “vigilante” with regards to the pursuit of prayer life. When the seas of life are calm except for the infrequent ripple we ought to be praying for the strength to endure what may come at any moment.
That’s the surest way to not be taken off guard or drift away during the storm. What are we to do in the times when the waves don’t come? Paul tells us that such vigilant prayer is covered with “thanksgiving”. I’ve listened to a lot of prayers (especially my own) and I’ve noticed that much of what I call conversation with God is:
- Long in explaining to God what my particular situation is. It’s as if I act like He is senile, absent minded or hard of hearing. None of which is true! He knows me far off, is everywhere present and doesn’t need to have me explain to Him what is going on to help me. After all, think of how illogical it would be to come to a being for help that you first have to explain the what and how of the help? If I’ve got to wax on to God about my situation and how “this time” I need it to be just so and right on time, then I’m praying to someone that can’t help me in the first place!
- Next my prayers are often spent in reminding Him what He has already promised to do. I do this “reminding”, at least in part to convince myself of the hope I have in my relationship with Him. A way of checking my wallet to reassure me that I really do have enough in my account of grace to handle what life is throwing at me. The other reason I do this (and I’m ashamed of saying this) is just in case He has forgotten the deal He made with me, which was to bless me in spite of me. Again this is illogical because what good is the promise if the One who had promised can’t be trusted in the first place to remember that He promised me.
- Finally, I thank Him! Usually this happens a good deal after my prayer has been answered satisfactory to my expectations, as a brief postscript I say… “Oh and thanks”. As if to say, “Well it’s the thought that counts!”
I believe that my prayer is a look at a heart that struggles with believing that God only knows how to give good gifts to His children. Perhaps we all should start with thanksgiving: “Lord I thank you that you only know how to give good gifts to your children. I thank you that your love for me never fails. I thank you that you never leave me or forsake me.” Then we could move to the petition: “Lord, I just realized that in thanking you for who you are and what you always do on my behalf that my request has been answered…. so thank you for answering my request!”
Vs. 3-6 What to pray for
Vs. 3-6 You may be thinking, “Well if I prayed like that I’d have little to pray for with regards to myself…..so what would I talk to God about?” Paul has a suggestion in verse 3 “meanwhile praying for us also.” Since you will be spending less time on yourself in prayer as you will have moved to thanking Him for what He has already promised to do, you might as well fill what you would have spent on yourself, on OTHERS! And it’s just like Paul to suggest four things that he would like us to pray for as it relates to others.
Vs. 3 “That God would open to us a door for the word”: One Christian website listed the top ten prayer requests and this one of Paul’s wasn’t even on the list. Here was the top 10, all of which are great things to pray for, just not the request that Paul asked for:
- Health of others
- strength to get through grief
- guidance and wisdom
- personal love, peace and happiness
- finances, jobs or help with exams
- personal health
- salvation of others
- family issues, marriage and divorce
- protection for children
- the needy, hungry and poor
Paul is under house arrest in Rome and the prayer he wants the most from others is for an OPEN DOOR for the Word. Before I asked for a door I’d be asking for a place to live instead of a prison cell! But the open door was not to escape but for the Word of God that others may escape! Paul’s situation left restrictions upon his opportunities to share the Word of God but what I find interesting is Paul doesn’t limit the work of God by suggesting his freedom as the sole means to answering the prayer. Instead he prays not for his freedom but the Word of God’s freedom which was the reason why he was imprisoned to start with. Saints, I pray that you continue to pray for “open doors” for the word as currently our radio program is on 5 stations and we would love to see it spread to other opportunities.
Our weekly words are being sent out via email that you are passing on and our website and phone app is being picked up all the time. These are opportunities for the Word that we may not know the results until we are in His presence. The mystery that Paul refers to here was what he had described earlier as “Christ in you the hope of glory.” We are in desperate times and what we are in need of is a revolutionary that is capable of changing the world in which we live in and it just so happens that we have in the Word of God empowered by the Spirit of God just such a revolutionary.
Vs. 4 “That I may make IT..(the mystery of Christ in verse 3) manifest.” The Message renders this phrase as “Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.” This is closely linked to what Paul wanted them to pray for above only here he realized that the only restriction that the Word of God empowered by the Spirit of God has is the instrument that God chooses to use. Oh saints, pray for me and for others who have been given the great blessings and responsibility to be able to make “Christ plain as day”.
Vs. 5 That I might “Walk in wisdom towards those who are outside, redeeming the time”: Paul wants prayer for the way he lives and speaks among those who don’t yet know Christ. That’s the definition that Paul applies to “walking in wisdom….redeeming the time.” The greatest limitation that I have to the power of the Word of God by the Spirit of God is the way I live and act among those I’m called to reach. I know of no greater need in my life, that I won’t be a hindrance to the Word of God.
Vs. 6 That our “Speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you might know how you ought to answer each one”: Along those same lines Paul asks for prayer that the way he generally spoke and conducted himself be “always full of grace” pleasant and courteous…easy to be around. What we have to say may indeed make folks mad but the way we say it should not! The idea behind salty isn’t provocative language but rather language that stimulates a person’s spiritual appetite arousing their curiosity.
Colossians
“A Worthy Walk”
Closing 4:7-18
4:7-18 “You are the Church”
Vs. 7-11 People who stayed
Vs. 12-15 People prayed and strayed
Vs. 16-18 People with passion
Intro.
There is a tendency when reading New Testament letters to skip the closing as it is usually personal notes to people whom the writer knew. These hard to pronounce names provide yet another window into the lives of the early church. They were common ordinary people who had been transformed by an extraordinary God. There are three general observations that these 12 verses provide us:
- Family: These 8 names all have words like “fellow”, “beloved”, “brother” “one of you” attached to their name. The implication is obvious; the early church was not an institution it was a family! This is a great word to the church today that far too often it is run like a corporation and loses its compassion and intimacy.
- Faithful: Second the use of the word “servant” or “bondservant” along with the word “faithful” suggests that the early church hadn’t divided itself into “professionals” and “amateurs”. The early church didn’t GO to church they WERE the church. There weren’t any spectators in chairs, there were only participants in the streets.
- Followers: Finally, Paul knew these folks and it appears that discipleship was the norm within the early church. How would Paul know “Onesimus was a faithful brother”, or “Tychicus was a faithful minister” if he hadn’t mentored them and coached them? The early church had taken Jesus’ words at the great commission seriously and were not engaged in making “decisions” for Christ; they were involved in making “disciples” of Christ!
I have little doubt that if the church today would adopt these three principles that the early church had we would be far more successful in reaching a lost world.
Vs. 7-11 People who stayed
Vs. 7-9 Paul mentions people that were a part of his mentoring program. These men had earned a great deal of trust from Paul not only in his praise of them but also in his trust of them to carry such a letter. After the resurrection Jesus didn’t start a seminary, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower and turned them loose on the world. Rabbis that examined Jesus methods and took note that although He had unlearned fishermen they marveled realizing that they had “been with Jesus”. Paul mentions three groups of people:
- People who STAYED
- A person who PRAYED
- A person who STRAYED
People who STAYED!
Tychicus: His name means “fortunate” and in Acts 20:4 we are told that he was from Thessalonica and a part of the delegation that traveled with Paul as he took a love offering from the churches in Macedonia to the suffering church in Jerusalem. In 2 Timothy 4:12 we are told that Paul sent him to Ephesus to replace Timothy. In Titus 3:12 Paul was about to send him to the Island of Crete to help with the work there. Paul gives three descriptions of his character:
- Beloved Brother: Before Tychicus was noted for any other attribute he was a loving brother. Paul had taught him that the best way to be faithful servant and teach others is by a demonstration of love.
- Faithful Minister: Paul assesses the quality of his work and says that as a servant of Christ he was faithful. God doesn’t ask us to be brilliant, popular or eloquent, He asks that whatever the assignment He gives us we will be faithful to complete it.
- Fellow Servant: Finally Paul addresses the equality of the workers and says that Tychicus saw himself on the same level as everybody else. He didn’t see himself as over others but rather served as though he was under all. No wonder he was loved and seen as faithful. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 23:8 “for one is your Master, and all are your brothers”.
It is interesting to note the priority of Paul’s assessment of Tychicus: What Tychicus did was not as important as the way in which it was done…as he performed his service in love. No matter what we are called to do in Christ’s service, “beloved” ought to be in front of it!
Onesimus: Name means “profitable” and was no doubt attached to his life as he was a slave. His story is told in Paul’s companion letter to Philemon, a pastor of a church in the region and slave master of Onesimus. During this one page letter you read of Paul’s appeal to Philemon to receive the runaway slave Onesimus back not as a mere slave but as a brother in Christ. To add more drama the punishment inflicted upon a runaway slave was death and Paul had Onesimus carry the letter back to his master Philemon. Paul describes him three ways as well:
- Faithful: Prior to his conversion Onesimus might have been “profitable” but he was not “faithful”. Paul speaks to the attitude and by which a person serves. You can be of value in your service and still not be faithful in your service but if you are first faithful to serve as unto the Lord you will always be of more valuable than you were.
- Beloved brother: Here again this speaks the motive of his service as now it was as a beloved brother not as a servant to his master. We will always serve greater when our motive is love.
- Who is one of you: Paul addresses his status which was total equality as he was “One of You”. Our service will be better when we are equal with each other, part of a team that shares in the victory and blessings!
Vs. 10-11 This section give us some more names:
Aristarchus: He came from Thessalonica and most likely became a Christian under Paul’s ministry in that city and then later joined Paul when he was sent from Caesarea to Rome as Paul calls him a “fellow prisoner” suggesting that he had also been charged with a crime against Rome that dealt with his trust in Jesus.
Mark: Is referenced back to Paul’s first missionary journey where Mark (also known as John Mark) went along with his cousin Barnabas. We know that because of Mark’s flaky nature there arose a dispute about whether he should continue with the team. Paul refused to take him and Barnabas refused to leave without him. Years have passed and restoration has happened as Mark is now with Paul. Paul has written instructions for the Church in Colossi to welcome Mark with now hesitation. Saints, make sure you move in grace, as God is a God of multiple chances.
Justus: Is also known by the common name of Jesus but chose the Roman name so as a Jew he could be a better witness to the Romans as had Paul who was known as Saul.
Vs. 12-15 People prayed and strayed
Epaphras: A person who PRAYED: We have already read his name in the first chapter and know him as the evangelist that went out from Paul’s time in Ephesus to plant churches in Colossi, Laodicea and Hierapolis, all sister cities. Paul says of him that he had a great concern for their wellbeing. This was visible as he was a “servant by choice” and always laboring in prayers for them that they would stand confident in the will of God. Here was a man that didn’t stop his ministry at evangelism but continued on as a shepherd laboring in prayer for those he shared with.
Luke: In 2nd Timothy Paul’s last letter he writes that “only Luke was still with him”. Here was a man who remained connected to Paul throughout his whole ministry. Paul calls him the “beloved physician” and I believe that his healing touch went well beyond the body to the soul and spirit.
Demas: A person who STARTED. We know that he was from Thessalonica and had served with Paul a while as he is mentioned in other letters so he must have traveled with him. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy 4:10 he writes of Demas that “he has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.” What a reminder to us that it is not how well we start the Christian life but how well we finish it! We have all known a Demas who started well and was on fire for the Lord but has left their faith and went back to the world’s attractions.
Nymphas: Some versions have this name in the masculine others in the feminine but it is most likely that this was a woman who had opened her house for fellowship. At any rate here was a person who served with the gift of hospitality as many in this fellowship have and what a blessing they are to the rest of us.
Vs. 16-18 People with passion
Vs. 16-18 We do not have the letter other than Jesus’ to the church that met in Laodicea but these letters were to be shared, studied and applied which shows that the first century church already recognized these letters as being divinely authored and that Paul and others were just the pin.
Archippus: Paul mentions him in his letter to Philemon and many feel that he was the son of Philemon. Paul exhorts him not to neglect the calling that was upon his life. We all have been given a ministry by the Lord. The question is: Are you taking heed to it so that you may fulfill it? I can’t fulfill your ministry as I’ve been called by the Lord to be a part of the ministry found in Ephesians 4 that is to “equip the saints for the work of ministry.”
I’m called to equip people not so they can be entertained but for the work of service to the King and His children. You have every right to expect that out of me…I pray that I am equipping you. And the only way I can tell how I’m doing is by watching most of you go to work for Christ. How do you know what your work is for the Lord? Well what are you passionate about? What are your interests? Answer those questions and you will know where your work is.
That’s why we here don’t have programs that I appoint people towards. We have folks with passion that get to work. Recently someone came to me with a heart to start a book club and now we have a ministry for those that love to read good Christian books and share with each other. I met with another person who saw the need to reach out to folks like her and her husband so they are going to start a ministry called “common ground” for 20-30 somethings every other Saturday night in He-Brews café.