Praise and Prayer for the Colossians

Opening: What would you rather receive the bad new or the good news first. I think most people would rather receive the bad before the good, but that’s not how it happened in the book of Colosse.

“Participants who got the bad news first were in a better mood and were less worried overall than those who got the good news first. However, participants who got the bad news first were less interested in changing their behavior, and were less likely to elect to watch videos to improve their behavior, than those who got the good news first.” -Psychology Today Study in 2014

Most people prefer to get bad new first then good new second but are less likely to change.

Farmer and Banker

Bits & Pieces, April 30, 1992 A farmer went into his banker and announced that he had bad news and good news. "First, the bad news..." "Well," said the farmer, "I can't make my mortgage payments. And that crop loan I've taken out for the past 10 years&md;I can't pay that off, either. Not only that, I won't be able to pay you the couple of hundred thousand I still have outstanding on my tractors and other equipment. So I'm going to have to give up the farm and turn it all over to you for whatever you can salvage out of it."

A farmer went into his banker and announced that he had bad news and good news. "First, the bad news..." "Well," said the farmer, "I can't make my mortgage payments. And that crop loan I've taken out for the past 10 years&md;I can't pay that off, either. Not only that, I won't be able to pay you the couple of hundred thousand I still have outstanding on my tractors and other equipment. So I'm going to have to give up the farm and turn it all over to you for whatever you can salvage out of it."

Silence prevailed for a minute and then the banker said, "What's the good news?" "The good news is that I'm going to keep on banking with you," said the farmer.

Paul had received both “good news and bad news” from Epaphras, the “faithful minister” of the church at Colosse. (vs. 7-8) What was the good new bad news!

Strengths: was that many had been saved and were living for the Lord and bringing forth fruit: vs. 3-4

Weakness: was that some were being enticed and allured by the Judaizers, Gnostics and Essenes into cults and heresies. (2:8)

Assessment: as Paul sits in his prison cell and writes out this epistle it really is a matter of praise and prayer as the Church goes forward.

I.The Savior was the object of the Colossian’s Faith vs 3-4

A. It is not the Promises but the Promiser!

B. It is not the Proposition, but the Person!

The idea that between God and angels were a host of intermediary beings. The Gnostics heresy made much of angelic and intermediary personages. 2:18

The promises are no more secure than the person making them. Consider the source.

The proposition of the Gospel and the premise of our faith is no more certain and full of integrity than the person guaranteeing them.

Learning to lean by faith or trusting and resting in the person of Christ is what distinguishes it from “religion”

C. It is not preaching or Preacher, but the Prince of Peace!

1. Epaphras was their preacher and he preached “the truth” 5b-6b but the Truth is embodied in a person. Christ

2. Paul was thanking the Lord and that they had a a faithful “minister of Chrsit” vs 7 but more so that their faith was in His Savior!

II. The Saints were the objects of the Colossians Love: vs. 4

Paul’s entire praise and prayers were based on never seeing but based on knowledge and a “good report” : “we have heard” and “declared unto us”

A. Love for the Savior means love for the saved … : 20-21

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

We automatically love those that He Loves.

Understanding “love” for the Brethren as

Doing good to all especially the Household of faith

Distributing to th necessity of the saints

Loving fellowship … “Not Forsaking”

Love covereth a multitude of sins ..

A forgiving spirit

Love for the Savior demands love for the Saints.

III. The Celestial City was the object of the Colossians Hope vs. 5

Paul’s trifecta of terms in several epistles are faith, love, and hope

A. Our Faith and love must be manifest Her and Now, but OUR Hope is Focused in the Future:

We live on earth but our future is in Heaven … get this truth solid. “in Heaven”

All of our present attitudes and actions should be based on our ultimate destination. “In heaven”

B. Our Savior and our Brethren (the saints) Will all Be in Heaven, So it is our Future Hope:

Our inheritance is beyond finite comprehension.

Gnostics believed that knowledge would lead to pleroma regardless of how one lived. The Colossians and a faith in a Person and Promised that affected the way they lived.

If you believe something … Do it!

2. Our inheritance is beyond the reach of Satan or men.

IV. The Scripture were the source of the Colossians Faith, Love and Hope: vs. 5-7

A. The Word Produces Faith, Hope and Love: vs. 4-5

B. The Word Produces Fruit: vs. 6

In the Colossians

In the World

The gospel was for all. If Heaven is not all then the Gospel is not “Good news” but bad news.

Christians are “fruit bearers” size maybe varies. Some 30 fold, some 60 fold, and some 100 fold but never zero fold.

C. The Word Produces Grace vs. 6

D. The Word Produces Faithful Preachers vs. 7-8

Who teach and preach the truth: vs 7a.

Who cooperate in the spread of the truth: “Fellowservants”

Who continue in the sound doctrine: “Faithful minister”

Who give a good report of the brethren: vs.8

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