September 4, 2011
Evening Service

Colossians 4

 

Review:

1. In chapter 3 we saw that our lives should be living in the realm of God, in the heavenly places.  We saw that we are to work at putting off the old man, and putting on the new man, who is created after the knowledge of Christ.
2. Paul taught us concerning family life in the new you.  How that wives should treat their husbands, how that husbands should treat their wives, how that children should obey their parents, and how that Fathers should treat their children.
3. Then he taught us good working habits, and how we should act on the job, and toward our employers.

 

This evening we continue with these types of teachings, and we begin with Masters, or employers;

 

Col 4:1-18  Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. 

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.  1Ti 6:2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.

(2)  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;  (3)  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 

• Paul told of this mystery in chapter 1:27; “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

(4)  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 

• Pray that God will allow me to speak the things which need to be said.

(5)  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 

• Be careful, and have a good witness to those outside the church.  Making good use of your time, for it is short.

(6)  Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. 

• This statement is telling me to always speak in a manner consistent with the Bible teaching.  With gentleness, not judgmental, with kindness, and consideration of other people’s feelings.
• Seasoned with salt, make your speech taste good to the hearer.  Speak with love, and understanding.
• And this is how you ought to answer every man.  That you may not utter any thing that would be rash and foolish, but be prepared to answer anyone who may question you about your religion in a way that will show that you understand its nature, and that will tend to edification.
• Peter said this;  1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 (7)  All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord:  (8)  Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 

• Tychicus is going to find out how they are doing.  He is going to encourage them by the report he gives on behalf of Paul.

(9)  With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. 

• We have already met Onesimus, the run away slave.  Who Paul won to the Lord while they were both in prison.  Since Onesimus is one of them, they probably already have heard of his conversion, and servitude to the Lord, and Paul.

(10)  Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 

• Aristarchus is also a prisoner with Paul.
• Mark, who at one time was out of favor with Paul, has now been reconciled, no doubt through the life he had been living.  Tell the story of the separation.

(11)  And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision.

• Jesus was his Jewish name, and Justus his Roman name.

These only are my fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.  (12)  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  (13)  For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 

• Here again we see the importance of prayer.  There is a Christian song out called, “I can pray.”  It says I don’t have many talents, but I can pray, a good message for all.

(14)  Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 

• Luke is the writer of the gospel of Luke, and also the Book of Acts.  It is very possible that Luke has already written his writings, or that he is doing it at this time.  Nonetheless, an account of Paul’s standing before Caesar, or of  the destruction of Jerusalem ( AD 70 ) is not mentioned in Luke’s writings.  Luke is supposed to have been a native of Cyrene, and to have died in Achaia, soon after the martyrdom of Paul, at the advanced age of 84.
• And Demas.  Who at this time was in good standing, however, Demas is mentioned in two other places, Phm_1:24, and 2Ti_4:10. He is here spoken of with commendation as one in whom the apostle had confidence. Afterwards, when troubles thickened, he was not found proof to the trials which threatened him in Rome, and forsook the apostle and went to Thessalonica. He did this under the influence of the “love of this present world,” or of life, evidently unwilling to lay down his life in the cause for which Paul suffered; see the notes at 2Ti_4:10. His departure, and that of the others on whom Paul relied in Rome, was one of the severest trials which he was called there to endure;

(15)  Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 

• The only time Nymphas is mentioned, and we know nothing about him.

(16)  And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 

• Laodicea, one of the 7 churches in the book of Revelations, is supposed to have been destroyed during the inroad of Timur Leng in 1402. The ruins are called by the Turks Eski Hissar. These ruins, and the ruins of Hierapolis, were visited by Mr. Riggs, an American Missionary, in 1842, who thus speaks of them: “These spots, so interesting to the Christian, are now utterly desolate. The threatening expressed in Rev_3:10, has been fulfilled, and Laodicea is but a name. In the midst of one of the finest plains of Asia Minor, it is entirely without inhabitant.

(17)  And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.  (18)  The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.