Christ Above Words: Colossians 4:2-18

Intro

One of the most formative experiences for me spiritually was a few years ago before I was in ministry.

I had a righteous concern toward something that many churches have been doing over the past few decades but I publically expressed it in a way that was rather sarcastic and cutting.

In other words, I expressed it sinfully.

It didn’t take long for an older, wiser pastor friend of mine to reach out and rebuke me with grace and truth.

He told me this:

Perhaps your tone is off-putting to some who would actually agree with your concerns. I, for one, agree with your concerns, but I struggle to see Christ in what comes across as snarky, self-righteousness.

Christ was full of grace and truth, and we represent Him best when we exhibit both.

I am indebted to that brother.

We have come to the end of Colossians after nearly 3 months.

We have been blessed with the reminder to put Christ over all in a multitude of ways.

Body

Christ Above Words

I. In Prayer (vv. 2-4)

It may seem strange to have to say that Christ should be above our prayers, but Paul shows us exactly what that looks like in verses 2-4.

Colossians 4:2–4 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.

Continue Steadfastly

Don’t stop praying

We must keep praying. Don’t stop.

We rely on God for our very life and breath in our lungs!

And we have great encouragements to help us persist in prayer like in 1 John 5:14-15

1 John 5:14–15 ESV

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Too often we have a tendency to get this instruction mixed up. We look primarily at verse 15, thinking “God hears our prayers so we know we already have what we asked from him, so God will give me these things I want!”

But before we get to verse 15 we have verse 14 which tells us that if we ask anything according to his will... he hears us. Our prayers must be aligned to God’s will if we want our prayers to be answered.

We must remember that God delights in doing his will and he delights to answer the prayers of his people when they pray according to his will.

Sometimes it is quickly answered and sometimes it takes decades, but God will carry his will to pass. And that is a very good and encouraging thing.

Be Watchful, with Thanksgiving

Prayer also helps us be watchful over our own life and beliefs. When Christ is over our prayers, we pray in ways that make us more like him. ‘

We pray for greater righteousness in our hearts and actions, we pray against our sin, we pray for more knowledge of Christ and more awareness of our sin so that we can drag it out and kill it.

We also pray in thanksgiving, for what Christ has done and is doing. We can get so caught up in our mess that we forget to be thankful in our prayers.

Brothers and sisters, true thankfulness to God for his mercy and grace, is a spiritual weapon against anger and hurt, bitterness and hatred, envy, jealousy, and pride.

The heart that is truly thankful to God cannot imagine that there is a worse sinner than itself, but knowing that God forgave even them, recognizes that there is always far more to be thankful for than there is to be upset about. So since they are thankful to God for forgiving all in them, they can forgive all in others and in themselves.

And Paul does not stop there

“Pray for us”

That God may open a door for the word

to declare the mystery of Christ

that he may speak clearly

Paul does not ask that they pray for his freedom, for relief of pain, or for anything for himself. He asks that they would pray for open doors that he may proclaim the mystery of Christ in a clear way to all who would hear.

To Paul, prayer is not just about giving a list of personal requests to God. To him, prayer is about being able to participate in God’s epic story of redemption.

And this is how all the leaders of the early church looked at prayer! In Acts 4 they were arrested for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection. Upon their release, they did not pray for the political and religious leaders who were threatening them to be removed from their positions. We see what they ask of the Lord in prayer in 4:29. They prayed:

Acts 4:29 ESV

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

And in verse 12 look how Epaphras prayed:

Colossians 4:12 ESV

12 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.

Prayer is a means of grace that God uses to shape His people and advance His kingdom. Paul’s request for prayer reminds us of our dependence on God for gospel ministry and our part in His sovereign plan through prayer.

Application:

Personal Prayer:

Cultivate a life of regular, intentional prayer that includes thanksgiving and intercession for the spread of the gospel.

Corporate Prayer:

This passage is a significant reason why I don’t feel right not having a prayer meeting. We are called to prayer, both individually and corporately as the church.

Brothers and sisters, I encourage you, if you are at all able to join us for the prayer meeting on Sunday nights, then please be there. This is where we join together to follow this instruction, to continue steadfastly in prayer, to pray for Gospel opportunities, and to pray for the members of our church.

It is a sweet time to be together and to seek the Lord’s will.

We are striving on in this together. The Lord saved us into a people, a family, and we are not alone.

II. In Interactions (vv. 5-6)

Paul gives one final instruction to the whole church in the next verses.

Colossians 4:5–6 ESV

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.

I enjoy cooking big chunks of meat. I like the challenge of preparing it and getting it ready and then the joy of getting to eat and share it with others when it is completed.

There is little earthly pleasure I enjoy more than a perfect rack of ribs, or a delicious brisket.

But I got started in cooking big meats with Thanksgiving turkeys. I was in college and a bunch of us couldn’t go home for Thanksgiving, so I decided I would invite left everyone to join me in a dinner. And if we were going to have thanksgiving dinner, we were going to have it right. So I learned how to cook a turkey.

And one of the things that was stressed over and over again in recipes and instructional videos was how important it was to season that bird with a lot of seasoning. And so I listened. I put a bunch of seasoning all over the skin and it was pretty good, but the seasoning was really just on the surface of the bird so the meat underneath was rather unaffected by it.

A few years later I learned about brining, where you submerge the raw turkey for a whole day in a salty liquid that has herbs and spices in it. This allows for all that seasoning to penetrate deeper into the meat and for it to be more flavorful.

And that year my turkey was much much better because of how deep that seasoning was able to get into the turkey.

Now, what if I had ignored the advice to season the turkey? It would have been tasteless.

Our words are the same way.

If they are not seasoned with the salt of Christ, we act in ways that are tasteless toward the dying world.

Exposition:

In these verses Paul instructs Christians to live wisely before the watching world.

Wisdom involves intentionality in relationships, redeeming opportunities for gospel witness, and speaking with grace and thoughtfulness. When we speak in ways that are not seasoned with graciousness, we tell the world that Jesus doesn’t really do anything, because how are we different from the world?

Peter tells Christians in 1 Peter 2:15-17

1 Peter 2:15–17 ESV

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Our lives and our words should silence people’s accusations against Christ and the church. Be careful that your interactions with outsiders do not reinforce their accusations.

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

As his ambassadors, God cares about how we present him to people. He even cares so much that he ensured it was outlined as a biblical qualification for becoming a shepherd of a church in 1 Tim 3:7.

1 Timothy 3:7 ESV

7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Even in interactions with unbelievers, God's wisdom and grace should shine through us, making us effective witnesses for Christ.

Application:

Conduct:

Be mindful of your behavior and use opportunities to reflect Christ's character.

Speech:

Speak with kindness and truth, ensuring your words point others to the hope of the gospel. Do not speak (or think, or type, or write) with a lack of gracious seasoning.

Closing Colossians

III. The Fellowship of Gospel Ministry (vv. 7-17)

Text: Paul mentions various individuals (Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Epaphras, Luke, Demas, etc.) who played significant roles in his ministry.

Exposition:

Paul’s list of greetings highlights the importance of community and partnership in gospel ministry. Each individual has a unique role in building up the church and advancing the kingdom of God.

Reformed Emphasis:

The communion of saints is a vital aspect of Christian life. Every believer, through their gifts and service, contributes to the mission of the church under the sovereignty of Christ, the head of the body.

Application:

Value Others: Recognize the importance of partnership in ministry (all of life).

Encourage One Another: Follow Paul’s example of affirming and encouraging fellow believers in their work for Christ.

IV. A Final Charge: Fulfill Your Ministry (vv. 17-18)

Text: “And say to Archippus, ‘See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.’”

Colossians 4:17–18 ESV

17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Exposition: Paul gives a specific charge to Archippus, encouraging him to be faithful to the work God has entrusted to him. This personal exhortation serves as a reminder to all believers to remain steadfast in their callings.

Reformed Emphasis: Every believer has a unique role in God’s redemptive plan. Faithfulness to our calling is a response to God’s grace and a means of glorifying Him.

Application:

Individual Faithfulness: Reflect on the ministry God has given you, whether in the church, family, or workplace, and commit to fulfilling it with diligence.

Encourage Others: Encourage fellow believers to remain steadfast in their callings, reminding them of the eternal significance of their work in the Lord.

Conclusion:

The book of Colossians is an excellent reminder of the need to put our focus on Christ in all things. There is no real separation between the secular and the sacred.

IN Christ, the secular is made sacred.

Christ is above all!

He is above:

our suffering

our human wisdom

our religion

our very concept of self

our offense taken from others

our family roles

our work

and our words

We can rest in him (and work in him!) knowing that he is above everything!

We are to put our focus on Christ above all things.

In order to see clearly we must first see Christ clearly and once we see who Jesus truly is, we can see what everything else truly is.

Christ-Centered Focus: Christ is the ultimate example of faithfulness in ministry, who intercedes for us, speaks wisdom and grace, and calls us into His body for His glory.

He is the only one who ever lived the perfect life. He is the only one who faced the wrath of God for others on the cross. He is the only one who had his body broken and his blood shed so that he could win for himself a new redeemed people. He is the only one who rose again out of the earth and rose up to heaven and now is the only one who could possibly represent us before the father.

Our response is one of gratitude and devotion to Him as we live out our new identity in the gospel.

If you have never responded to what Christ has done, if you have never recognized him as the one above all, what is keeping you? I plead with you to count the cost and see that Christ is worth giving up everything.

Respond today. Recognize his sacrifice and his kingship, repent of your rebellion against him, and follow him into the Kingdom of God. He is worth it.

I want to close this series in Colossians with one final reading of Col 1:15-23 /

Remember who Christ is. And as we prepare for the Lord’s Supper, remember how he has welcomed us into his people and his light.

Colossians 1:15–23 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Let’s pray

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”