(Colossians 4:7-17)
SERIES REVIEW
Part 1 — Rooted in
Christ
•
The
roots of our faith as believers are only strong when they are founded in
Christ.
•
Rooted
in the Gospel — The same message that saves us is the one that continues to
sustain and grow us daily.
•
Rooted
in the Word — God’s Word anchors us in
truth, fills us with wisdom, and keeps us from drifting.
•
Rooted
in Relationship — A close walk with God gives us strength, patience, and joy
through His power, not our own.
•
Ultimately,
your roots determine your fruit—so make sure your life is planted firmly in
Christ.
Part 2 — Supremacy of
Christ
•
Lord
over all creation —Everything in heaven and on earth was created by Him,
through Him, and for Him. He holds all things together and rules over all that
exists.
•
Lord
of the church — As the head of the body, Jesus leads, directs, and sustains His
people. The Church must take its direction from Him alone.
•
Lord
over redemption — Through His death and resurrection, Jesus reconciled us to
God. The fullness of God dwells in Him, and peace was made through His cross.
•
Lord
of over your life — He made you, saved you, and sustains you. Therefore, He
deserves full authority over every area of your life—don’t let culture redefine
who He is.
Part 3 — Christ in You:
The Hope of Glory
•
Jesus
lives in you — The same power that raised Him from the dead is alive inside of
you right now.
•
You’re never alone — Wherever you go, God goes with
you. His presence doesn’t leave when life gets
hard.
•
He
changes you from the inside out — Real transformation happens when you let
Jesus work in your heart, not just when you try harder.
•
There’s always hope — No matter what’s going on, Christ in you is the guarantee that
your story isn’t over and the best is
still ahead.
•
Let
Him shine through you — The way you love, forgive, and treat people should show
the world that Jesus is alive in you.
Part 4 — Guarded in
Christ
• Guard against deception — Knowing the real
Christ cause counterfeits stand out.
• Guard against religion — Good works don’t save; they flow from salvation.
• Guard against empty practices — Don’t trade spiritual reality for hollow behavior.
• Stay in the Word, stay in community, stay
alert, stay connected to Jesus.
Part 5
— New Life in Christ
•
Seek
things above — Fix your heart and mind on Christ. Focus less on what’s temporary and more on what’s eternal.
•
Put
the old life to death — Don’t negotiate with your
old habits, desires, or attitudes. That’s who you used to be.
•
Put
on the new life in Christ — Clothe yourself daily with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.
•
Let
Christ lead your life — Let His peace rule your heart, let His Word fill your
mind, and do everything in His name with gratitude.
Part 6
— Christ in Our Relationships
•
Christ
at Home — Christ changes the way we treat the people closest to us at home.
•
Christ
in the Workplace — Christ transforms the way we work, calling us to honor Him
through our integrity, excellence, and leadership.
•
Christ
to the World — Christ transforms the way we witness, guiding our prayers, our
actions, and our words so others can see Him through us.
PART 7: FAITHFUL IN YOUR PLACE
INTRODUCTION
Paul the Apostle accomplished many things in his ministry for Jesus. From leading people to Christ, planting churches, to persecution, Paul has been through it all. However, as great as Paul was, he never did them alone. In fact, the only time we have find Paul alone is in Athens when he was waiting for the rest of his friends to arrive.
Paul understood the power of companions and the value of friendships. And at the end of the letter to the Colossians, he leaves his readers with a snapshot of all the people who have helped him to reach the world with the gospel from the confines of his prison cell. It would have been impossible for Paul to do it on his own. But with companions, he was able to boldly share the gospel and disciple/ mentor the people of God from his Roman jail cell.
Today we are going to read about these people; a little bit of who they were, and what we can take away from them. My hope is that they inspire us to take another step in our walk with Jesus in becoming complete in Christ. With no further a due, let’s meet them.
1. TYCHICUS — FAITHFUL SERVANT (BOND-SERVANT)
Colossians 4:7–8 — “Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts”
Tychicus = Fortunate
We first find Tychicus in Acts 20. He is a part of a group of people that traveled with the Apostle Paul to deliver an offering to poor gentile Christians in Jerusalem. 4 years later, Tychicus was still serving along side Paul.
Tychicus served in these capacities:
•
He delivered
the letter(s) — Tychicus delivered
the letter to the Colossian church, and most likely delivered other letters as
well (Ephesians & Philemon). This was not some easy task (cross Italy on
foot, sail the Adriatic Sea, cross Greece on foot, sail the Aegean Sea, travel from
the coast of Ephesus up to the steep Lycus Valley
through
Laodicea, Hierapolis, to finally arrive
at Colossae). Between Rome and Colossae it would have been about 1200 miles and
would have taken 3-5 weeks. No doubt he would have faced difficult and dangerous
feats in order to deliver this letter. Nevertheless, he got the job done.
•
He brought
news — When Paul went to prison,
there were a lot of questions. Letters took weeks-months to arrive and rumors
began to spread fast. So Tychicus was instrumental in bringing a long awaited
update on the status of Paul and what was going on. No doubt he provided time
for a Q/A session.
Also informed them of the ministry that was taking place and most likely why
their pastor Epaphras had to leave and what he was up to.
•
He encouraged
the church — Tychicus was also there
to be a pastor to them. He went to strengthen them in the midst of a difficult
season for their church. A letter was one thing, but Tychicus being there made
a difference. No doubt the power of presence could not be understated here.
He was also there to help stabilize the church from all the turbulence the
false teachers were causing. No doubt he also helped them to apply the things
Paul shared in his letter to them.
We are given no indication that Tychicus was the most gifted. He was not the most educated, he wasn’t the most skilled, he wasn’t the most respected, nor was he the most famous. However, what we do know about Tychicus is that he was faithful.
Tychicus is described as a “beloved brother,” “faithful minister,” and “fellow servant.”
What we learn:
• Faithful people are willing to go the extra mile — We
should all be thanking Tychicus for the letter of Colossians (Ephesians and
Philemon as well)
• Faithful people are willing to lift others up —
Encouragement is a ministry
• Faithful people are willing to show up and serve — Your presence makes a difference (many times more than you realize)
Application:
Be someone who strengthens the faith of others.
Be a carrier of hope everywhere you go.
2. ONESIMUS — FORMER SLAVE
Colossians 4:9 — “He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.”
Now this is important. While Tychicus was a faithful servant, Onesimus was a former slave (Roman slavery was very different from slavery in America’s history). More specifically, Onesimus was a runaway slave. Do you know what would happen if a slave who ran away was caught? He would be killed. So this was a very serious matter. He ran as far away as he could from Colossae, only to run into Paul. There Paul led him to Christ and Onesimus began working alongside him from that time forward.
The Colossian church knew who he was! No doubt his decision to run away from his problems hurt some people. No doubt he made some people mad. However, look what Paul says about him: “our faithful and dear brother, who is one if you…” Paul the Apostle was easily one of the most respected people in the overall church of that day. So this would have meant a lot for him to call Onesimus his faithful and dear brother.
No doubt Onesimus had a past. No doubt he was ashamed of his past. Yet, he was now a child of God and a person Paul calls “a faithful and beloved brother.”
Grace rewrites stories.
Can you imagine what the people of the Colossian church thought when they saw Onesimus and heard that he was a co-worker of the Paul? No doubt people had something to say about it, no doubt people had their judgements. Regardless of what they thought, God had a plan and a purpose for Onesimus.
If we are not careful, we will allow our past to disqualify us from the future plans God has yet to reveal to us.
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Don’t look back at your past. Look forward to the future God has for you.
What we learn:
•
Your past doesn’t disqualify you.
•
Christ can redeem
what you thought was ruined.
• In Jesus, no one is too far gone.
Application:
Don’t let who you were stop you from becoming who Christ wants you to be.
3. ARISTARCHUS, MARK, AND JUSTUS — FAITHFUL COMPANIONS
Colossians 4:10–11 — “10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.”
These men stood with Paul through hardship.
They were loyal, supportive, steady.
Mark
•
Cousin of
Barnabas and writer of the Gospel of Mark, was a major figure in the early
church.
•
He worked along
side Paul the Apostle, and was mentored by the Apostle Peter.
•
However, he once
failed—he quit on Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13 that caused a rift between he
and Paul.
• Yet, he eventually was restored to ministry and restored in friendship.
Aristarchus
•
One of Paul’s
closest companions
•
Believer from
Thessalonica
•
Was with Paul in
Jerusalem when he seized by the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19)
•
Traveled with
Paul on missionary journeys (Acts 20)
• Sailed with Paul as a prisoner of Rome (not for a crime but for support)
Justus
•
He was one of the
only Jewish believers who worked alongside Paul
•
Many had deserted
Paul and would not work with him
•
Justus was one of
the few people who stayed (even when it cost him)
• He never wrote a gospel, planted a church, wasn’t a pastor/ teacher, but he was steady and he served
All of these men were companions to Paul. Verse 11 says that they had become a “comfort” to Paul. They encouraged and strengthened him when needed.
What we learn:
•
Faithful friends
stand with you in the easy and hard seasons.
• Faithfulness is proved in times of difficulty.
Application:
Be a faithful friend who shows up and stands with others.
4. EPAPHRAS — FAITHFUL INTERCESSOR
Colossians 4:12–13 — “12 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. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.”
Epaphras
•
Pastor of the
Colossian church
•
Was discipled and
mentored by the Apostle Paul
•
Was currently
with Paul in support during his imprisonment
•
Epaphras “wrestled
in prayer” for the church.
• He prayed with passion, persistence, and love.
He did more on his knees than he may have ever had done on a platform.
What we learn:
•
Of all the things
Epaphras was known for, prayer for his people is what stuck out to Paul the
most
• Faithfulness happens in private before it shows in public.
Application:
- Who does God have you praying for?
- Prayer made the difference then and it still does today
5. LUKE & DEMAS — MAN WHO STAYED AND ONE WHO STRAYED
Colossians 4:14 — “Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.”
Two men.
Two stories.
Two endings.
Luke
•
Paul’s personal
doctor (made continued ministry possible)
•
Traveled with
Paul on all of his missionary journeys
•
Recorded
scripture (Gospel of Luke and Acts)
• Stay with Paul to the very end “Only Luke is with me.” (2 Timothy 4:11)
Demas
•
Began as a
“fellow worker” of Paul (Philemon 24)
•
He once served
Jesus, once ministered, once active, once part of the team
•
He ended in
scripture as one who abandoned the faith
•
Demas walked away
because he “loved this present world.”
•
He didn’t walk
away because he hated Christ, he fell away because he loved the world more.
•
Must be careful
that we do not claim God with our lips but our hearts be far
|
Luke |
Demas |
|
Stayed |
Strayed |
|
Loved Jesus |
Loved the World |
|
Finished the Race |
Walked Away |
|
Faithful in Suffering |
Faithful in Comfort |
What we learn:
•
Faithfulness is
more important than talent/ skill
•
What you love
most today will determine where you finish in the
future.
Application:
- Guard your heart.
- Choose Christ over comfort.
6. ARCHIPPUS — FAITHFUL TO YOUR CALLING
Colossians 4:17 — “And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
Archippus
•
A leader in the
Colossian church
•
Possibly a pastor
or teacher
•
Possibly related
to Philemon (mentioned in letter written to his family)
•
Had a God-given
ministry that Paul felt needed to be encouraged
•
Called a “fellow
soldier” by Paul (Philemon 2)
•
Only time Paul
gives a personal charge in a letter addressed to a church
•
Paul felt it
important to encourage him to not neglect the calling on his life
•
This charge would
have been read in the presence of the entire church
• Paul believed in Archippus
Maybe Archippus was struggling, maybe he was tired, maybe he was discouraged. Regardless of what he was going through, Paul encouraged and challenged him to fulfill the calling on his life.
Here is my encouragement to you today:
“See that you fulfill the ministry you received in the Lord.”
What we learn:
•
You have a
God-given assignment.
•
Faithfulness
means completing what God started in you.
• Don’t allow the devil to convince you to quit your calling.
Application:
- Stay faithful where God has placed you
SERIES TAKEAWAYS
1.
Stay
rooted in Christ
2.
Keep
Jesus as Lord
3.
Allow
“Christ in us” to guide us
4.
Guard
our faith in Christ
5.
Live
out the new life we have in Christ
6.
Allow
Christ to bleed over into our relationships
7.
Be
faithful in our place of service
