Sunday Sermon Colossians 4:10-18
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The Revelation Bible Study is this Thursday at 6:30pm. This is great way to connect! We hope to see you there! There will be a link sent out for those that would like to join us online.
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3.After church today, we need strong men to help remove the air conditioner and put it away for the winter.
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Introduction
Introduction
Well, good morning and welcome to FCC where we worship God in Spirit and in Truth one verse at a time, one book at a time.
We are so glad that you have joined us for this special day.
Today, we we finish the book of Colossians where we learned about the eminence of Jesus Christ in the life of a believer and in the life of the church.
So lets not delay, but rather dive in.
We have come as far as verse 12.
Read Colossians 4:12-18
Read Colossians 4:12-18
Prayer
Prayer
Lord God, we humbly come before your throne to obtain mercy and grace in our time of need! And man, do we have many of them. So rather than list them all, we ask that you would fill us with your Spirit and that you would teach us the truths that you would have us to know. Lord, please remove all distractions and please heal our hearts this day and set the captives free. Thank you for your Word for it is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. So please God, make us more like Jesus today and teach us that being a disciple of your’s is a team sport and last help us to understand today how much we need others in our life. In Jesus Name we love you, Amen!
Review
Review
Last week we looked at Ecclesiastes 4 because we see here in Colossians a three-fold cord with Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus.
Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Notice that the text reads when he falls! For we all fall sometimes, right?
Would you say that some of the greatest lessons in life have come from falling?
We learned about working, walking, warmth, and watch-care comes with numbers or if you may being connected to each other.
We learned that not only did Paul need brothers and sisters, but Moses as well. Moses needed others to hold up his arms when they were heavy church:
But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Moses was a strong man whose hands became heavy church and he needed someone to hold them up.
When Moses hands were raised they would be winning the war against the Amalekites, but when they fell they the would be losing church.
But we must note that when Hur and Aaron stepped in and helped Moses they won the war.
Church, it is the same for us. We need others in our lives to hold up our hands when we become weary or weak.
Heavy- ka’bed- heavy (weary) adj. — marked by great psychological weight; weighted down especially with sadness or troubles or weariness.
If you look back over your life, you will find that some of the greatest battles in your life were not one alone, but rather with God and others.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
Scholars believe that Paul led Epaphras to Jesus in Ephesus.
After his conversion, he was so zealous for the Gospel that he started the church of Colossae in Philemons house.
When the false teachers started coming into the churches in Colossae, Laodecia, and Hieroplolis, he traveling 1300 miles to find Paul and get counsel because he loved his brothers and sisters and did not want them to be lead astray.
Do you have brothers and sisters in your life that are truth tellers? These are the kind of folk that are willing to speak those hard truths into your life and not just be passive about everything?
Do you have friends that are willing to let you know if you are going astray?
We must remember the elect can be deceived!
Notice what Paul said about him:
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
He was a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was souled out for Christ church!
He was always laboring fervently in prayers for those in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hieroplolis.
Laboring Fervently-agonizomai (agonize)-to enter into a contest, contend in the gymnastic games, to contend with adversaries, to fight. Metph- to contend and struggle with difficulties and dangers.
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Here we see the same word being used when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
Here we see the same word used which is strive together in prayer
Do you agonize in prayer or have brothers and sisters that agonize for you?
Notice what he prayed for :
3. The goal of Epaphras’s prayers was that the Colossians stand perfect and fully complete in all the will of God.
Perfect is from teleios and means “complete,” “mature,” or “fully developed.” Fully assured is from plērophoreō and could be translated, “persuaded,” or “satisfied fully.”
Epaphras, like Paul wanted the Colossians to be mature and satisfied in all the will of God. Only those who live in obedience to God’s will can grow to the fullness of Christ and be content (cf. Eph. 4:13–14).
He wanted them to mature in Christ church, because this was their only defense against the false teachers trying to teach them all that it was Christ plus works, or Christ plus the Gnostics secret knowledge.
Praying with Your Family
When Dr. Richard Halverson was the U.S. Senate chaplain, he spoke before a group of evangelicals who had expressed their anger about Congress’ inactivity on the subject of school prayer. They were irritated that congress had not acted with a strong initiative to restore prayer in schools. To these who were seeking greater initiative from the government, Dr. Halverson asked, “How many of you have prayed with your children this month, outside of church?” Nobody raised their hand. Spiritual initiative starts in the home, not on Capitol Hill.
Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
Here we have two other team members of Paul’s.
Luke was Paul’s personal physician, as well as his close friend.
He was a Gentile believer (cf. 4:11) who traveled frequently with Paul on his missionary trips.
In fact, have been Paul’s recurring illnesses on the first missionary journey that prompted him to take Luke along on the second.
Like Paul, he was an educated, cultured man, as evidenced by the literary quality of his Greek in his gospel and the book of Acts.
Luke actually wrote 1/4 of the NT.
Luke is mentioned by name only two other times in the New Testament. All three times his name appears, it does so in Paul’s writings from prison (cf. Philem. 24; 2 Tim. 4:11).
Church, it should be noted that Mark, Luke and Paul were all in Rome who combined wrote about 60% of the New Testament. This partially explains the great unity of the 260 chapters of the New Testament; for approximately 155 were written by these three men. You can be sure they were checking notes.
Soem scholars believe that he traveled with Paul throughout his ministry career because Paul had an eye affliction.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
It is clear that Paul had an eye affliction that God used for his glory!
I think it is important to notice the he was beloved physician
Demas-
Demas, as far as Paul knew, at the writing of this letter, was a fellow worker in Christ. (Phil. 24).
He is mentioned three times in the Word here and two others times. Once in the salutation of Philemon and then here in:
for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
We do not know the hearts of man, but we do know that God does.
It is clear that Demas deserted Paul, left him, abandoned him when Paul most needed him.
Some commentators think Demas deserted Paul because he felt that to stay with him would mean his own death.
The word “world” should be translated “age.”
Demas, they say, loved this age more than the future age and so was afraid to die.
However, other commentators, and I agree with them, think more is implied in this verse.
Demas deserted Paul because he loved this present age.
Demas loved this present age more than the future age to come - heaven.
When he left Paul outwardly, he left Jesus Christ inwardly.
Demas made a conscious, deliberate decision that the present age had more to offer than Christianity and its beliefs in the future age of glory.
Christianity with its hardships, dangers and difficulties was not worth enduring when he could live it up in the here and now. Demas wanted the success and glamour of the world. He wanted the pleasure and materialism the world had to offer and he wanted to be seen with the right people in the right places.
Now I do not want to imply that it is wrong to have a nice home, wear stylish clothes or drive fancy cars.
It was that Demas loved these things more than Christ, so much so that he was willing to sell his soul to the devil to get them.
It is not money which is evil, but the love of money which is evil. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (I Tim. 6:10).
Demas was a mere professor but not a possessor of Christ because one cannot love the world and love the Father too.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Demas represents the seed which fell among thorns in the Parable of the Sower which says,
Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
“Wait”, you say, “didn’t Demas believe once and serve faithfully?” Yes, it appeared so outwardly but God alone knows the human heart and it is those who are truly motivated to do God’s will who are genuinely saved no matter how many claims they make to Christianity or spectacular things they do.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
And with this tragic final statement about Demas - “He loved this world” - he disappears from sacred history as do all apostates.
Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
Some translations says his house and others say her house.
I think it is significant to realize here that although this was a patriarcal society, Paul had team members that were sisters in the Lord.
Phoebe, Prisca, Lydia, Julia, Priscilla and Aquilla and the list goes on and on...
We know that churches met in homes and the the first church to be discovered from antiquity was discovered I believe on a river bank in Syria in the first century.
There churches in pagan nations that meet in houses and in the underground, and who knows we might be meeting in houses one day soon church unless Jesus comes back...
Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.
The epistle to the Laodiceans that scholars believe Paul penned is lost.
And notice that Paul wrote this with his own hand church.
Other letters of his were penned by scribes because of the eye affliction he had.
Colossians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Concluding Remarks
That sums up the message of Colossians: salvation is by grace through faith in the all-sufficient Christ, not through human works advocated by false teachers.
Have you been touched by the grace of a sovereign God? You can be! The Bible says, “For by grace have you been saved through faith...” God’s grace is the cause which moves upon a person to give him the ability to trust Christ as Savior and Lord.
Salvation is not of works but grace and is appropriated through faith in Christ. The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith - not of works lest any man should boast.” The whole of salvation is a gift from God.
Have you received this gift? All you have to do is trust Christ, receive the gift of Christ, yield to Christ as Lord! The Bible says, “For by grace are you saved through faith!”
Prayer
Prayer
Benediction
Benediction
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Bless You!!
Your Mission Starts Now!!