Prayer & Presence

Introduction:

Today is Father’s Day. As I follow some of your travel stories on social media, I have made a general observation and I wonder if you have seen the same thing. Women share more details about the journey, men like to reach the destination.

Today, out of honor of fathers, we reach the destination at the end of the book of Colossians. Next week we begin a new journey through selected passages in the Psalms.

As we get off the turnpike we find a few interesting lessons around the exit ramp. Before we call this journey done, let’s look at those lessons.

Transition: We begin by meeting…

Six Friends of Paul (vv.10-14)

Colossians 4:10–14 ESV:2016

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), 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. 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. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

Most commentaries breakdown the list of 6 by their ethnicity—the first 3 were Jews (like Paul), the next 3 were brothers apart from Jewish upbringing.

4 who stayed

1. Aristarchus

a. Aristarchus was from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4) and was one of Paul’s traveling companions (Acts 19:29). He willingly risked his life in the Ephesian riot (Acts 19:28–41) and sailed with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2), which meant he also experienced the storm and shipwreck described in Acts 27.

b. Aristarchus stayed with Paul no matter what the circumstances were—a riot in Ephesus, a voyage, a storm, or even a prison. “Fellow prisoner” probably means that Aristarchus shared Paul’s confinement with him so that he could be a help and comfort to the apostle. He was a voluntary prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.[i]

2. Mark

a. John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas, the man who went with Paul on that first missionary journey (Acts 13:1–3). It is a good possibility that John Mark was led to faith in Christ through the ministry of Peter (1 Peter 5:13).

b. When Paul and Barnabas set out on that first missionary journey, they took John Mark with them as their assistant. But John Mark abandoned the preachers and returned home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:5–13). Why John quit is not explained in Scripture.

c. Later, when Paul and Barnabas wanted to go on a second journey, Paul refused to take John Mark along (Acts 15:36–41).

d. However, we must admit that Paul did forgive John Mark and commend him: 2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV) — Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

e. Even in today’s text Paul is speaking as John Mark’s advocate (v.10)

f. John Mark is an encouragement to everyone who has failed in his first attempts to serve God. He did not sit around and sulk. He got back into the ministry and proved himself faithful.

3. Jesus Justus

· Jesus Justus was a Jewish believer who served with Paul, but we know nothing about him. The name Jesus (Joshua) was a popular Jewish name, and it was not unusual for Jewish people to have a Roman name as well (Justus). Jesus Justus represents those faithful believers who serve God but whose deeds are not announced for the whole world to know[ii]

4. Luke

a. He is probably the only Gentile writer of any book of the Bible (and he wrote 2). He was also a physician, and was dearly loved by Paul.

b. Notice that even though Paul miraculously healed some, he traveled with a physician. The “we” in Acts 16:10 indicates when Luke joined Paul’s travels.

c. As I will explain in a moment It is possible that Luke studied medicine in Laodicea or practiced for a healing cult in Hierapolis (before his conversion); the readers seem to have heard of him[iii], so Paul calls him beloved.

Transition: Of the 6 men mentioned these are the 4 who stayed, next is mentioned the..

1 who prayed - Epaphras (v.12-13)

1. We met Epaphras at the beginning of this book, for he was the man who founded the church in Colossae (Col. 1:7–8). He had been led to Christ through Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, and had returned home to share the Good News of salvation. Today’s makes it seem likely that he also planted the churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

2. But he did not do it alone. Epaphras also believed in the ministry of the local church, and in working with other saints. He was not just a “servant”; he was a “fellow servant.” I believe Paul evangelized Epaphras, Epaphras started these 3 churched, then he passed off their leadership so that he could plant other churches. We will meet the new pastor at Colosse before this message is over in v.17.

3. One of the secrets of the ministry of Epaphras was his prayer life. What were the characteristics of this man’s prayer life?

a. He prayed constantly (v. 12—“always”). He was constantly in prayer, seeking God’s blessing.

b. He prayed fervently (v. 12—“struggling”). The word used here means “agonizing.”

It is the same word used for our Lord’s praying in the Garden (Luke 22:44). 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.

c. He prayed personally (v. 12—“on your behalf”). He centered his intercession on the saints in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. No doubt he mentioned some of them by name. Prayer for Epaphras was not an impersonal religious exercise, for he carried these people in his heart and prayed for them personally.

Yesterday I was told of the tragic work accident in a nearby quarry. As the person talking with me is intimately involved with the company, it was clearly more than just a news item – I was asked to pray specifically for the 2 co-workers who witnessed the event. I’m not sharing their names out of privacy, but it was one of these “on your behalf” requests like Epaphras was known to pray.

d. He prayed definitely. If you had asked Epaphras, “What are you praying for?” he could have told you. His great desire was that the believers in those three assemblies might mature in their Christian faith. Epaphras was concerned that these Christians know and do the will of God. But he wanted them to be involved in all the will of God, not just in part of it.[iv]

Transition: Not only do we meet 4 who stayed and 1 who prayed, but we also meet a man who is described elsewhere as…

1 who strayed - Demas (2 Tim 4:10)

2 Timothy 4:10 (ESV) — For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica...

1. At one point in his life, John Mark had forsaken Paul; but he was restored. Demas forsook Paul and apparently was never reclaimed. His sin was that he loved this present world.

2. But we do know that Christians today can succumb to the world just as Demas did. Demas thought that he could serve two masters, but eventually he had to make a decision; unfortunately, he made the wrong decision.

Transition: From these 6 personal relationships, let’s turn our focus to 3 cities and…

Three Churches in Cooperation (vv.13b, 15-17)

Colossians 4:15–17 ESV:2016

15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

Colosse (Cottonwood Falls)

1. Paul had clearly identified the church in Colossians 1:2 as recipients of this letter.

2. Archippus (Philemon’s son) Philemon v.2

· Connect the dots – Col 4:9 Onesimus is “one of you”; Philemon was Onesimus’ master (Phm 16); Philemon hosted the Colosse church (Phm 2); Philemon and Apphia parented Archippus. (Phm 2).

· Paul tells the Colossians to remind Archippus to complete the ministry he had received. I think this indicates that Epaphras had handed over the role of pastoring the church to Archippus.

· We don’t know Archippus’ specific struggle, but we do know that pastors of local churches face many problems and carry many burdens, and they often need a word of encouragement.

3. Laodicea lay ten miles downstream to the west of Colosse, and was situated on a plateau to the south of the River Lycus. On the other side of the river, six miles north of Laodicea, was Hierapolis.

Perhaps we could think of it as if you follow the Cottonwood River to the West you run into Cedar Point. If you follow the river a little further you encounter a larger town that even has a hosptital.

Laodicea (Marion) (v.13)

1. Laodicea was a city of great wealth and boasted a medical school. Names of its physicians appear on coins as early as Augustus.

2. This is the same church that gets the blistering rebuke in the book of Revelation.

3. This church received some letter (v.16) from Paul that was never included in inspired Scripture, but Paul thought it would be helpful for them to share these letters back and forth.

Hieropolis (Cedar Point) (v.13)

1. The name Hierapolis suggests the city owed its initial importance to religion. (The Greek word hieros means "holy," "sacred.") There were hot mineral springs in the area. That led some to believe there was some connection to the spirit world so that false religions would gather for “worship”

2. It is helpful to me to think of these 3 independent churches who had something in common.

a. There were likely founded by the same missionary

b. They knew many of the same people

c. They benefitted by learning from each other.

d. Cooperation described their fellowship more than competition.

Transition: From these lists of 6 people and 3 cities I find…

Conclusion:

3 Reminders from these Verses

1. Doctrine Matters – This letter is written to a church that had been introduced to some unorthodox teaching. Paul refocuses the direction of the church on right beliefs.

a. Kingdom of God (v.11)

b. Servant of Christ Jesus (v.12)

c. All the will of God (v.12)

2. Relationships Matter – none of the Apostles did ministry alone. Jesus sent the disciples out by two’s. The record of the book of Acts is that church-planting was a team effort. We see in Epaphras today the healthy passing of leadership to a new generation.

· Unified and diversified – as our culture tries to divide by race, the example of Scripture is that different people CAN work together!

· That Paul sent greetings from Jewish and Gentile workers engaged in spiritual ministry together would have struck ancient readers as far more profound than most modern readers can guess.[v]

3. Mission Matters

· 3 cities in one River valley – mission to the region. As the residents of this valley traded and traveled with one another, the believers were continually reminded of the unbelievers in their own town and region.

· As we do business and recreation with our neighbors, may we never look down upon them, but may we be compassionately concerned for their souls.

[i] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 150.

[ii] Ibid., 151.

[iii] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Col 4:14.

[iv] Wiersbe, 151–152.

[v] Keener, Col 4:11.