Continuing the Miracle...

Caring for One Another

Imagine, living in a small town located in a valley overshadowed by other more well known towns and a “big city” which is about 80 miles away.

Now, imagine living in this little seemingly insignificant town… one day a man from the town who has been on a trip to the big city comes back sharing that He has met God… He has been shown a simple pathway to the divine...

The message he shared was one of grace and peace.... one of love and redemption. The message he presented was one where the Creator Himself had descended to our level.... in order to demonstrate that He alone is the all-sufficient Redeemer and only true pathway to the divine. On that day… when that man named Epaphras returned to town .... a miracle happened! The best miracle that could ever happen took place.... and a poor, pagan people without God and without hope in the world... found Christ!

Lives were changed.... and remarkable things that cannot be fully explained took place… resulting in the celebration of those who were affected in town… but for us as well as we read about it over 2000 years later in a letter that Paul wrote to the Colossians.

Would you open your Bibles with me to Colossians chapter 1?

As you find your place I’d like you also to imagine living in Colossae at this time. As Epaphras shares the gospel… people come to faith… and eventually a church is born. While the church is still young and growing, news of a growing popular “wisdom” was being established by an elite group who claimed to have “superior knowledge”.

This group had come into town with the mission of enlightening the lesser with their “secret wisdom”. These “people in the know” who claim to have all the answers are teaching that anything we can see our touch is actually evil… and only the things we can’t see or touch are actually good.

This leads to the growing pop culture belief that the God (who you believe created all things) couldn’t have really be involved in creation… or in the world at all… but rather it was more likely that this super complicated process took place over a long period of time… through a series of surrogate deities… so distancing the perfect “god” from the creation that the creation itself became evil.

In this world we are imagining, these elite know it alls are teaching that this Jesus, who Epaphras introduced you to not long ago… was really nothing more than a ghost-like phantom… certainly not the Creator… not really God… or His Son… and definitely not enough to lead anyone to a real divine destination.

Instead, it was taught that in order to reach the “divine” a person should begin with Jesus but then should work their way up… through a series of other lesser “deities” in order to reach the real god…

As you probably already guessed, the events we are describing took place in the city of Colossae. These “people in the know” (aka Gnostics) were selling a complicated system of ascetic disciplines, secret passwords, astrological signs, and religious rituals with the claim of being the “only way” to true enlightenment… and to reach the Divine.

Anyone who was found embracing anything else.... like Christianity… was looked down upon… made fun of.... shamed… led astray... and pressured into defecting.

Sound like a place where you’d like to live?

I lived in a place kind of like that.... (Liberia with all of its secret societies.... and country medicine.... secret knowledge.... animal doubles.... syncretism.... etc… anyone found rejecting the “culture” was shunned… and sometimes killed.)

If you didn’t believe in the “country medicine”… then you just weren’t tapped in well enough to the spirit world… you were missing out of the “secret wisdom”.....

I’m guessing that you live in a place not to different than this too....

As we look at Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we need to understand that Paul had never been to Colossae… and yet a church was planted there. We are told that when Paul was ministering in Ephesus, a man from Colosse named Epaphras (Col. 4:12) came to believe. Evidently, Epaphras went back to Colossae and began sharing what he had heard with everyone… resulting in the birth of a local church. So, even though Paul had never been to Colossae… or met any of its people… as a result of his ministry, a church was planted. As the church grew… when major problems arose, it was only natural that Epaphras would go to Paul for counsel, guidance and help.

Paul writes in response to what he has heard from Epaphras and as you read the opening paragraphs of Paul’s response, you’ll see that he was over joyed to hear of the miracle that had taken place in the lives of the Colossians! They were born again! Praise the Lord!

Paul will deal with the issues at hand… and he will give wonderful advice and teaching on what the church should do… and in whom they should believe. As he ends his greeting in verse 8, Paul shares that he and others with him are praying for them.... Paul is writing to care for them.... teach, equip and encourage them to celebrate the miracle that had taken place in them.... and encourage them to do all they can to see that gospel miracle reproduced in the lives of all those to whom they would minister.... that included reaching the lost outside of the church… but also caring for all those who were already part of the Church.

Knowing some of the difficulties that the believers in Colassae were facing helps us to better appreciate the overall focus of Paul’s letter…

One of the main problems that the believers in Colossae faced were these “people in the know”… called Gnostics. They had come to town and had confused people and led some astray with their “secret/ special knowledge”.

Based on what you know of the Gnostics and from what little I’ve already shared, you can probably see why Paul felt the need to write to the believers and point them to the truth of the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ as the head of all creation… and of the Church.

We may not be facing a group that self identifies as the Gnostics, whose purpose is to cultivate a culture that will destroy the church. But, we do live in a time when the existence of truth is questioned… and our culture is actively preaching a message of new “superior wisdom” that completely contradicts the truths of Scripture… and is a distraction... misdirecting people away from the life changing message of the Gospel. We do live in a day when people are actively seeking to destroy the Church.. and the very gospel that we proclaim.

I trust everyone has found their place in Colossians 1.

In verses 1-8, Paul introduces himself and Timothy and shares how excited they have been to hear the good report of the miracle of saving faith that had taken place in Colossae… and the birth of the body of Christ… the Church there!

As we read, I hope you can hear Paul’s pastoral heart. He is unable to be with them… but shares of his love and care for them. In a way Paul is living out the words of Jesus as he loves-on and “one-anothers”… the believers in Colossae… and he will encourage them to do likewise……

As I read through Colossians this week… I kept coming back to the thought that Paul was modeling what it looks like to be obedient to the Great Commandment… in order to be effective in the Great Commission. (over-arching theme… main idea?) --- I want to challenge each of you tonight to do the same…

Obedient to the Great Commandment… and Effective in the Great Commission. (keep that concept in your mind as we work through the text)

Starting in verse 9, Paul shares some details about his prayer for the church. As we examine Paul’s prayer together, I’d like to draw your attention to a few observations we can learn from as Paul cares for those in the church.... and then I’d like to suggest few conclusions we can apply as we strive to care for one another.

Colossians 1:9–14 KJV 1900

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

As we reflect on Paul’s prayer for the church, the first observation is that

I. Paul prays for understanding that leads to action

Colossians 1:9–10 (KJV 1900)

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,...

From the day when Paul first heard about the miracle that took place in Colossae, he and others with him have been praying for them. As Paul regularly prays for these believers, his top priority for them is that they be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

It’s a pretty significant observation to notice that Paul prays for the Colossians’ knowledge… since they were under attack by a people who were saying that they needed a “better knowledge”.

Remember, the Gnostics taught that Christ was a good place to start… but that they could know so much or if they would incorporate this system of secret passwords, rituals and initiations. This “we know more than you do” atmosphere was intimidating to some of the Colossian believers and made them feel that they were lacking something.... and some people were led astray.

If you’ve ever been in a debate with a well spoken Atheist or Evolutionist… you might have felt the same way…

I have known people that were seeking and when they met Atheists who were confident in their answers… even though the answers given defied logic.... they were swayed to their side....

As believers, we don’t have to know all the answers… but we do need to be confident in what we do know… That is what Paul is praying for…

that the believers in Colossae would be filled with the very thing that would help them to grow and become stronger.... the knowledge of God’s will through all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

The knowledge that Paul prays for stands in stark contrast to the knowledge that the Gnostics boasted to possess. The word Paul uses to describe what he’d like the the Colossians would be filled with can be used as a technical term describing the decisive “full knowledge” of God involved in the conversion to the Christian faith.

Paul basically is praying that the Colossians would not settle for a “special… or secret knowledge”… he prays that that they would not bend to and be filled with the culture… but they would be filled with the true “full knowledge” of Christ and His will that isn’t hidden… its not secret... but available to anyone who would seek it.

Paul is promoting a deep, growing knowledge of Christ and His will as being of the utmost importance to having a sustainable spiritual life as a Christian.

Why does Paul pray for the believers to grow in knowledge, understanding and wisdom?

It’s not so that they can win at Trivial Pursuit, Bible edition.... it’s not so that they can fit in at the church picnic and look good on Sunday morning.... No, he says that the believer is to be filled with knowledge wisdom and spiritual understanding so that (look at verse 10), so that you might walk worthy of the Lord....

This is a really important point… we are not to grow in our understanding just so that we can understand and be satisfied. No, we are to grow in our spiritual understanding so that we can walk… not just any way… but in a way that is worthy of the Lord.

Paul loves these believers too much to allow them to become stagnant.... So, he tells them that knowledge is not the end goal.... growing knowledge simply helps you take the next step towards a worthy walk.

Paul uses a similar phrase in Philippians 1:27

Philippians 1:27 (KJV 1900)

Only let your conversation (manner of life) be as it becometh (worthy of) the gospel of Christ:...

The word “worthy” is related to citizenship.... Paul was saying… as citizens of heaven.... make sure that your manner of life… your walk… is worthy of… is an accurate reflection of the gospel of Christ…

As you are confronted with cultural issues… remember who your words and actions represent… remember to whom you belong… remember where you citizenship lies.... and represent that!

When we lived in West Africa… we were constantly bombarded with the pressure to yield to the culture

(its ok to lie… as long as your not shamed.... — Robertson and the Hammer or Daniel Dolo and the Cassava theif)

(framework over Bible vs. Bible over Framework) — yeah… but this is Africa!!! (Story of Pastor Farr and the witch doctor)

When we served in Ukraine… (culture over Bible) — yea… I know but this is Ukraine!!!

In North America.... we are bombarded by the pressure to yield to the culture.... and place it as more

important than God’s Word… (I don’t care what the Bible says.... I feel...... )

Every believer, whether you’re serving here in Indiana or overseas in South Africa is going to struggle with walking worthy.... That is why Paul first prays that the believers would grow in their spiritual understanding… and that spiritual understanding would generate a worthy walk… understanding that leads to action!

Here is the reality:

Spiritual (godly)understanding will lead to spiritual (godly) actions.

Worldly (unbiblical) understanding will lead to worldly (unbiblical) actions.

What kind of understanding are you seeking? What kind of “knowledge” are allowing to shape your walk? How much of the ungodly culture in which we live are you allowing to mold your walk?

We should be able to filter the culture’s seductive “knowledge” through the grid of God’s “full knowledge”… resulting in actions… worthy of the Lord.

Principle to Apply #1:

Sustainability of our worthy walk is rooted in the depth of our spiritual understanding

Whether your a missionary on a foreign field or a church member here at home… If we are not personally growing in our understanding.... and spiritual wisdom then it will be extremely difficult for us to navigate the pressures we all face to yield to the culture… and stand for Christ.

The second observation I’d like to point out is that

II. Paul prays for actions that result in fruit

Colossians 1:10 (KJV 1900)

That ye might walk worthy (or in a manner worthy) of the Lord unto all pleasing (fully pleasing to him), being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Throughout the Old Testament the Hebrew word translated as “walk” typically referred to a person’s conduct. That same concept is carried over in the Greek language in Colossians.

Colossians 1:10 KJV 1900

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 2:6 KJV 1900

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Colossians 3:7 KJV 1900

In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

To the Hebrew… and many in the early church... knowledge and conduct were bound together. But in the Gnostic culture, they believed that teaching was highly theoretical and not related to life. Some would have even gone so far as to say that since the body was evil and the spirit was good, it didn’t make any difference what a person did in they body.... so they did anything and everything! (Doesn’t sound too different from our culture today…) When you come to the conclusion that everything done in the “flesh” has no ultimate consequence… it is amazing how imaginative sinful mankind can become.

The Hebrew culture as well as the early church saw an absolute connection between knowledge and conduct. From their perspective, a person didn’t know something unless he/she did it.

(illustration about building a house in Liberia)

This is the perspective from which Paul writes....

‘Yes, I am praying for your growth in the knowledge of God and in spiritual understanding… but it can’t stop there! Your growing knowledge has to be translated into action! And your actions must not be empty… they must not be just something you do… but they must be actions that are in agreement with the knowledge of God.... that they bear fruit!’

True spiritual knowledges means action! A profound knowledge should dramatically affect one’s walk.

Any doctrine that isolates the believer from the needs of the world is not a spiritual doctrine… said another way… “if our doctrine lifts us so high that our feet can’t reach the ground it’s false”

James speaks of this when he says that “faith without works is dead!” Then he goes on to tell of how Abraham not only had faith… he not only believed God… he not only talked the talk… he walked the talk as he raised the knife to sacrifice his only son.....

Paul prayed that the Colossians would walk their talk… that their knowledge of Christ would grow… and that this would produce a conduct that was worthy of the Lord… pleasing him in all respects.

When we are walking in a manner worthy of the Lord.... when we are pleasing to Him.... what is the result?

Look at verse 10.... bearing fruit (continually) in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God.

Fruitfulness is the outworking of Christ’s life in his people. Paul’s prayer was that believers would act out Christ’s kind of life in every situation… all the time. Being fruitful is a continuous thing… that doesn’t stop.

Principle to Apply #2:

A fruitful walk is pleasing to the Lord and useful for building up and drawing near

(build up the believers and draw those that do not yet believe)

The last observation we’ll point out tonight is that

III. Paul prays for fruit that leads to vitality in life and ministry

Colossians 1:10–11 KJV 1900

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

As Paul prays, it seems like there is a progression to his prayer.

A growing knowledge of God enables a worthy walk which then produces a fruitfulness that then leads to what I’m going to call “vitality in life and ministry”.

What does “vitality” mean? Miriam Webster says....

A state of being strong and active...

having the power to endure.... and develop…

In verse 11, Paul describes several characteristics of a fruitful and worthy walk.... strength, endurance, patience… those all seem to fit well with the concept of vitality.

In a sense, you could say that Paul is praying that the believers in the church would have vitality in life and ministry.

Paul prays that the church in Colosse would be continuously strengthened.... drawing this divinely colossal power from God’s own glorious might!

As the believers are continuously strengthened.. (by God’s power)… what are they are enabled to have: (the text says patience and long-suffering)

patience (endurance = the trait that enables one to hold their position in battle)

As the Gnostics attacked those living in the area of Colosse, they were trying to destroy the church. Paul prays that the believers there would stand… endure… persevere… remain steadfast… hold their position in their current spiritual battle.

How many of you are in the midst of a spiritual battle right now?

How many of the missionaries you support around the world are in a spiritual battle?

How are we praying for one another? Do we continuously pray for continuous strength to endure? To hold the line.... to not give up.... to endure?

Paul not only prays that the church would be strengthened in their endurance… he also prays that they would be long-suffering (patience)

long-suffering (self controlled when being provoked)

Patience (endurance) refers to difficult circumstances...

Long-suffering (patience) refers to difficult people…

Paul prayed that the Colossians would have a long-suffering (self-controlled when provoked by people), patient spirit (enduring hard situations) as they cared for one another… as well as for those outside of the Church.

Don’t forget that Paul is writing this to encourage, care for, counsel, and teach the church at Colossae so that they could repeat it among themselves.

Moment for clarification: Just because someone possess endurance does not mean that we will always succeed in patience. (Moses endured in his struggle with Pharoah in Egypt… but he did not succeed with his patience with the people at Kadesh.... and lost his ability to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20).

Imagine how beautiful life and ministry could be when endurance and patience are wed together. In 2 Cor. 6:4-6, Paul uses both words as marks of a true minister of Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:4–6 ESV

but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;

Both qualities perfectly existed in Jesus.

Paul knew that these qualities… this kind of vitality he is praying for only comes as we are “strengthened with God’s power according to his glorious might.”

Church… this is the way we need to pray for our brothers and sisters (abroad and at home).... “Lord, give them perseverance in difficulties… and patience with people… Constantly strengthen them with your power!

The church with true vitality.... “endurance and patience”... is a great church… It is a church that walks “worthy of the Lord.”

Principle to Apply #3:

In order to sustain a worthy walk and fruitful ministry we must cultivate true vitality in our lives

A worthy walk and fruitful ministry are sustained when true vitality is cultivated

Conclusion/ Application:

This is a missions conference, so I’ll ask this question in the context of missionaries

Take out a sheet of paper and write down the top 5 reasons why missionaries leave the field… or turn away from missions/ ministry all together...

Fear

Discouragement

Interpersonal Issues (conflict)

Identity Issues

Sin

Knowing that they deal with these issues… and more every day… how are you caring for them?

How are caring for them… so that the miracle that took place in their lives.... can be continued on their field of service?

According to Paul’s prayer… we need to be caring for those who are sent… helping them to cultivate a Sustainable, Fruitful, Vitality… so that God can be most glorified as disciples are multiplied around the world!

Now, here is a question that may seem simple...

Who are we to care for? Who are the people in whom we are to cultivate this sustainable, fruitful, vitality?

Have people stand up:

Ever served overseas

Have a desire to serve over seas some day...

Work with unbelievers...

Work with believers...

Go to school with unbelievers...

You are a believer…

If you are standing here today.... then you deal with… and struggle with those items that you wrote down on your list.... you struggle with navigating the culture… you struggle with being sustainable in the workplace… with your understanding of God.

There are some of you here right now that are struggling with discouragement, fear, conflict… identity issues… sin.

You’re not alone… we all struggle with some of those things too.

What you need to know… is what Paul shared with the Colossians...

We are here for you.... the church.. the body of Christ is here to care for you… to pray with you… to come alongside of you to help you be as sustainable, fruitful and have as much vitality as possible in your life… and ministry.

So, in a sense… each and every one of you are both part of the problem… and the solution! (job security… until we are in heaven.. we’ll always need to be cared for… and will always need to care for one another)

In John 13:34 Jesus said..

John 13:34 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

How are you responding to Jesus’ command to love one another? To HIs Great commandment...

Friends, if we are not being obedient His Great Commandment… we cannot be effective in His Great Commissions!

Where should you start? The same place Paul started… with prayer.

Look around… everyone you see next to you right now needs to have someone love on them… pray for them.. an pour in to their lives… (look to your left and your right and say… Hi, my name is _______, would you pray for me?) — see, now I’ve removed all the awkwardness…

The unfortunate reality is that we don’t do the best job at caring for one another. If we did then I wouldn’t need to head up the Member Care Department for our mission board.

If we were more effective at cultivating sustainable, fruitful vitality in our lives and relationships… then our pastors wouldn’t have to fill their schedules with counseling appointments.... because the mature believers in the church would be counseling one another....

If we were more intentional about Member Care.... then we would have less missionaries leaving the field so unhealthy, discouraged and defeated that they return mere shells of the people they once were....

Principles to Apply

1: Sustainability of our worthy walk is rooted in the depth of our spiritual understanding

2: A fruitful walk is pleasing to the Lord and useful for building up and drawing near

3: A worthy walk and fruitful ministry are sustained when true vitality is cultivated

Summary of principles: Strive to cultivate sustainable, fruitful vitally in our lives (and the lives of others) so that we are being obedient to the Great Commandment… and effective in the Great Commission!

In the same way that you see these points need to be applied to your lives.... they also need to be applied to the lives of the missionaries you support and send.

Remember that your prayers for one another will directly translate into how you are caring for one another.

How you care for one another in here.... in the Church… will directly translate into how you care for one another out there.... in the world.... on the front lines.

Response: Applying the principles Paul presented… but then respond as Paul instructs the church at Colossae to respond....

Reflect on the gracious love and care with which Christ has cared for you and Give Thanks!

Colossians 1:12–14 KJV 1900

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

We have so much to be thankful for!!!

As God cares for you.... give thanks! As you care for others… give thanks! As you are cared for by others.... give thanks to the Father that he has delivered you from darkness and has called you to participate in what He is doing!

Let’s care for one another so that our lives and ministries are as sustainable, fruitful and have as much vitality as possible.... for God’s glory… and for the building up of His kingdom.