People Who Impact Our Faith

One of the best Christian books ever written is John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. In it, the main character Christian encounters Evangelist and is given a book that sets him on the path to the Celestial city (Heaven). Along the way he meets a number of people that have an impact on his journey, like Mr. Legality, Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and Discretion and Prudence. Of course, this story is an allegory and the people he meets are symbols of the types of people and trials we face as we follow Christ in this world.

At the end of the letter to the Colossians, Paul writes a greeting to a number of people that he has met in his journey of following Christ. We meet many people that come into our lives as we follow Christ. In Paul’s case, there are over 100 different Christians (some named, some unnamed) that are associated with Paul in the Book of Acts and his epistles.

So, at the end of his letters, he would often send his greeting and little notes to people and about people that have had an impact in his life

So, at the end of his letters, he would often send his greeting and little notes to people and about people that have had an impact in his life

As we follow Christ, we are going to meet people that impact our lives and impact our faith. In Paul’s greeting, we start a get a since of the types of people that we have met and will meet as we follow Christ and how they may impact us.

I. People Who Share (vv.7-9)

A. Burdens

In vv.7-9, Paul mentioned two people who believed in Paul’s missionary work and was willing to share the news of what God was doing through it. Their names were Tychicus and Onesimus. Paul chose these men to carry the news of how God was using him while he was imprisoned in Rome.

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They carried two letters addressed to congregations and one personal letter addressed to a slave owner. You might recognized these letters. They are what we know today as the epistle of Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. Paul trusted them to carry some pretty precious cargo.

A. Tychicus (vv. 7-8)

Colossians 4:7–8 ESV

7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,

Tychicus is described as a “beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.” (v. 7) It wasn’t easy to stand by Paul’s side in the ministry. Paul was a prisoner. He had plenty of enemies, which means so did Tychicus. He wasn’t willing to be used like he was because it was easy. He was faithful to Paul and the Lord because it was the right thing to do.

+How many people have you known that were willing to stick by your side when persecution came for following Christ, not because it was easy but because it was right.

*The people that make the biggest difference for Christ don’t serve because it is easy. They serve because it is what God has called them to. Right is always better than easy.

B. Onesimus (v.9)

Onesimus is an interesting person because he had been from Colossae.

Colossians 4:9 ESV

9 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.

Paul says that he’s “one of you.” (v.9) He was a runaway slave who had belonged to Philemon and had run to Rome. In Rome, he met Paul who won him to Christ and is now sending him back to Philemon. You can read all about how Paul handled that situation in the book of Philemon. The short version is that Paul’s letter asked Paul to receive Onesimus back with forgiveness on the basis that he was a brother in Christ now.

Notice how Paul describes this slave, “Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother.” (v.9) Christ had changed the dynamics of their relationship. In the world’s economy, they may have been master and slave. But in God’s economy, because Christ was their Lord both Philemon and Onesimus were brothers, “faithful and beloved.” Onesimus had only been a believer for a very short time, but in that time he had already proven himself to Paul as faithful, one he could trust.

He needs to trust Onesimus and Tychicus because he wants the Colossians and Ephesians to know what God is doing in Rome.

*You might think of Onesimus and Tychicus as missionaries who are coming home from the mission field reporting on how God has been working. Unfortunately, when missionaries come and speak people have a tendacy to stay home. Who wants to listen to another slide show? We should be thankful for those who bring us first hand news of how God is working throughout the world!

II. People who Care. (v.10-11, 14)

working throughout the world!

Paul goes on to mention a group of four people that had been of very special help to him. 3 Jews and one Gentile. Each of them had served for a long time by his side and caring for him each in a special way, Aristarchus, John Mark, Jesus Justus, and Luke).

A. Aristarchus (v.10)

Colossians 4:10 ESV

10 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),

Aristarchus was from Macedonia and was one of Paul’s traveling companions (). He was originally from Thessalonica () and willingly risked his life in Ephesus when Demetrius, a silver smith riled up the crowd when Paul was turning people away from Artimis. A riot broke out.

Acts 19:29 ESV

29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.

that He sailed with Paul to Rome (), which meant he also experienced the storm and shipwreck that Luke so graphically described in .

Aristarchus was a companion who sailed with Paul to Rome.

Acts 27:2 ESV

2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.

This means that he was a part of the storm and ship wreck that Paul endured on the way to Rome when they were marooned on Malta.

Aristarchus stayed with Paul no matter what the circumstances were—a riot in Ephesus, a voyage, a storm, or even a prison. It is not likely that Aristarchus was an official Roman prisoner, but he took care of Paul while no matter the circumstances. Aristarchus stands as one of the best friends Paul ever had.

B. John Mark (v.10)

Colossians 4:10 ESV

10 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),

Col.4:

Mark, the writer of the second Gospel, played a very important part in the early history of the church. He too was a Jew, a native of Jerusalem where his mother, Mary, kept “open house” for the believers (). John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas, the man who went with Paul on that first missionary journey (). It is a good possibility that John Mark was led to faith in Christ through the ministry of Peter ().

If you know the background, you might find it strange that Paul would mention John Mark here. When Mark was younger he had traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. But something happened along the way that cause Mark to turn around and go home early on in the trip.

Paul was not happy about this at all. When Paul and Barnabas decided to go on a second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark but Paul didn’t. They had a split over the issue.

But something happened after that which shows Paul had a change of heart about Mark and he had an impact on Paul’s ministry. Here, we know that Paul was using Mark to do gospel work. He had given the Colossians instructions about Mark’s ministry when he came.

Then as Paul was approaching his death, in his last letter he wrote to Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:11 ESV

11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Mark, Timothy and Titus were young men were served as special representatives for Paul. In troubled churches, he could send them in and know that they could minister there. Mark became such a valuable minister that God even chose him to write the second Gospel.

+Mark is a perfect example of having someone having failed in their first attempts to serve God. He didn’t quit. He got back into ministry and he proved himself to be faithful to God. He was was of great us to Paul. You or someone you know may have failed in ministry before, that doesn not mean you are done.

C. Jesus Justus (v.11)

Colossians 4:11 ESV

11 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.

Jesus (Joshua), was a common Jewish name. Justus was also his Greek name. That wasn’t uncommon. John Mark is another example of that. We really don’t know anything else about this man. Paul includes him in this group that he describes as “my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.” (v.11)

He represents all those faithful to the Lord but the world never really knows about. You don’t have to be famous to make a difference for Christ.

D. Luke (v.14)

Colossians 4:14 ESV

14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

Col. 4:14

Luke was a very important man in the early church. He was a Gentile, yet he was chosen by God to write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He is probably the only Gentile writer of any book of the Bible. He was also a physician, and was dearly loved by Paul. The profession of medicine had been perfected by the Greeks, and physicians were held in the highest regard. Even though Paul had the power to heal people, he traveled with a physician!

Luke joined Paul and his party at Troas (note the pronoun we in ).

Acts 16:10 ESV

10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

He also traveled with Paul into Jerusalem for the final time and then he was also with him on the voyage to Rome.

Acts 27:1 ESV

1 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.

No doubt Luke being a believing doctor with him was very encouraging especially during difficult times. Luke is a perfect example of a professional man who uses his skills in service of the Lord and gives himself to wherever God sends.

*I see this especially when we go on mission trip to Honduras. God puts together preachers, doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, administrators, etc. to minister to people with their special needs in Honduras.

*God uses people who care because God cares. Think about the special people that God has put in your life at church the right times to help meet some spiritual needs in your life.

*When I look back I see people who helped us with gas money when the church we ministered in could only pay us $50 a week. When Misty and I were involved with infertility treatments, God put two friends with some means who put together some very meaningful money that helped us in a time that we felt hopeless and depressed that helped us move forward.

God has literally put medical people in every church we’ve pastored that have reached out to help us with many medical needs.

*I bet you have a story of God’s grace through people who care as well. God puts people who care in our lives because God cares.

Luke 16:10 ESV

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Luke traveled with Paul to Jerusalem () and was with him on the voyage to Rome (). No doubt Luke’s personal presence and his professional skill were a great encouragement to Paul during that very difficult time.

III. People of Prayer. (v.12)

Everyone needs prayer warriors in their lives. Maybe you had Momma Gina, or a grandmother, or parent praying for you. Paul tells the Colossians that they have had Epaphras praying for them. He was their prayer warrior.

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.

We met Epaphras at beginning of our study. He was the man who founded the church in Colossae. After he had been in Ephesus and saved under Paul’s preaching, he came back and shared the gospel himself. He probably is the one who started the churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis too, since Paul refers to them in v.14.

He was a servant and the power behind his ministry was prayer. He didn’t just start these churches. He prayed diligently for them.

A. Constantly...“Always” (v.12)

y for them.

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.

He just didn’t pray when it was convenient, he made it a priority to pray for the people he loved. He understood the concept of praying without ceasing.

B. Fervently...“Struggling” (v.12)

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.

The word used here means “agonizing.” It is the same word used for our Lord’s praying in the Garden (). We get the impression that prayer was serious business with Epaphras! This Greek word was used to describe the athletes as they gave themselves fully to their sports. If Christians where as zealous for prayer as we are over college football and sports we would have revival.

C. Personally...“on your behalf” (v.12)

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.

For Epaphras, prayer was not just a religious exercise that ought to be done. But he really believed that prayer for people impacted people. That God honors prayer and does things for people that he would not otherwise done if they had not have prayed.

In this case he prayed specifically that they “may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” (v.12) Paul is tell the Colossians that they look more like Jesus and stand more strongly in faith because Epaphras prayed.

I want to ask you two questions: 1)Who has prayed for you that has resulted in a growing faith 2) Who are you praying for that they may grow in Christ.

Before this week is up, you should call and thank every prayer warrior you have ever known. You will never know the immeasurable impact it has had on your life.

+I am impressed with the fact that Epaphras prayed for believers in three different cities. We are fortunate today if church members pray for their own pastor and church, let alone believers in other places! Perhaps one reason that revival tarries is because we do not pray fervently for one another.

IV. People Who Scare. (v.14)

As you follow Christ, you will come across people who start following Christ with you, but along the way show that their faith is not really saving faith because they don’t persevere. They fall away and don’t continue falling Christ.

Demas is a classic example of that. Demas is mentioned in Paul’s letters 3 times and they tell a sad story. First, in . Here is grouped with two other godly men.

Philemon 24 ESV

24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Then in he is simply referred to as one who greets them. Then finally in as Paul’ s ministry was coming to an end we read these words.

2 Timothy 4:10 ESV

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

This shouldn’t surprise us. In the parable we call the 4 soils, Jesus mentions a kind of faith that does not have the power to save. It is the rocky soil. The father sows seed. The seed goes down into the soil. It starts to show evidence of life as it begins to sprout up. But, the roots run into hard bedrock right under the soil. The roots can’t go down deep so the plant very quickly withers and dies.

Some people have faith like that. It appears to show some evidence of life but it very quickly dies away and they leave the faith. If they had true saving faith, Jesus said their faith would have continued producing fruit 30,60, and 100 fold. We know our faith is saving faith if it is producing fruit and is continuing.

*You will meet several people along the way who disappoint you as they leave the faith. I have poured into a few young people who followed Christ for a while but then ran back to the world.

Not too long ago, a Christian artist that I really like named Derrick Webb left the faith. He wrote some great songs that I liked. He was affiliated with the church and the things of God. He may have even been convinced in his mind that what he believed about God was true.

But true saving fait is more than convincing the mind. It is God changing the heart so that what is true of God is truly glorious. You eyes are open to see such things about God’s glorious nature that can not be unseen and you can not go back to the world.

True saving faith perseveres. Not everyone who is connected to the church and show some signs of life is truly saved. Don’t let the startle you. But let it drive you to further prayer that their faith may not fail.

Paul mentions a few others as he closes this letter. He ends by saying. “Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” (v.18)

Colossians 4:18 ESV

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Thank God for the people he has put into your life to impact your faith. And you make sure you are someone else’s Luke, Tychichus, Aristarchus, Justus and Ephaphras. People can be hard to deal with sometimes. But many of them are gifts to our faith. Let’s strive to be gifts to someone else’s faith.