Pray for us
Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Those who employ people or rule over them, must be fair, in no way giving cause for discouragement. All must give account to God.
Isa 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Continue in prayer and thanksgiving. This is to be a continuous way of life. Pray for yourself and especially the needs of others.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
We are to dwell in God's secret place, as in Psalms 91.
Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Col 4:3 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:
Col 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Those who witness need the covering of faithful people in prayers, continuously interceding in their behalf. The witness is in spiritual warfare, undergoing many attacks while looking for those looking for answers and hope. His strength is the power of God, not his or her ability. It is by the Spirit of God and the prayers of the saints that God brings the lost to his saving grace. The gospel must be preached with great perseverance and desire to help others, from a heart of love.
Once the lost sheep is found, then the witness must continue interceeding in prayer for the new one in Christ, while discipling them and helping them grow strong enough so that they may be free from satans strongholds. When we are new in Christ Jesus, we are really a completely new spirit person. the old things should not prevent our new life from maturing.
Wisdom and Salt
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
We walk in the wisdom of God toward the unsaved of the world. Putting on hearts of love, but not being as the world.
1 Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1 Cor 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
We are wise in the fruit of the spirit, looking for opportunities to share the good news of Christ. If our manner of life is not godly, they will not seek anything from us.
Redeeming the time, making good use of our time.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
I am reminded of a man who was growing old who became concerned with his life. He thought that he had little fruit to show for his life. We should be concerned for our life and direction, are we following the world's idea of success, or are we redeeming the time making eternal choices? To redeem is to buy back. We must buy back our time from the world that is controlled by the devil and live as if all that we say and do are for our Lord.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
We must watch our words, are they words of grace or condemnation. Do we speak of worthless things or are we concerned for others? Are our words seasoned with salt, salt is a preservative. Do our words prevent decay or do we tell off colored jokes? Finally are we consistant and trustworthy? If another is in need would they share with us without fear of gossip?
If given the opportunity would you share the gospel message with another or show them from the Bible the answer to their need? We are required to walk our talk and be the physical body of Christ to a needy and lost world. No one is able to meet these requirements apart from Christ Jesus and his power living through them.
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
I don't think any of us want to be door mats; we are the beloved children of God, redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ, let us bring him honor. If you feel down trodden, fill up again with his grace. It is always here for you, with his love.
Faithful Associates
Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
Col 4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
Tychicus, a friend of Paul was chosen to deliver this epistle to Colosse. He would answer their questions about Paul. When we love someone, we want to know how they are. The church at Colosse loved Paul as we love close family. When my daughters are a distance away, I want to know all about how they are, and if in need I would desire to meet the need.
Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
Onesimus was a runaway slave who became a Christian. His story is told in the epistle to Philemon, his master. Paul vouches for his character to his home church and also in the letter to Philemon.
Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
Three here mentioned were fellow Jews who helped Paul minister. Note Marcus or Mark who was a nephew to Barnabas, he had been accepted back into Pauls fellowship, after the test of time he proved faithful. If you, like Mark, have failed in the past, purpose to be faithful from this time on and see how God places you in his favored ministry . God is faithful to his obedient followers.
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Col 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis.
Epaphras had been sent from the church to minister to Paul. He was faithful to fervently pray for his home church that they would stand in the truth of the Lord. He was concerned, because false teaching had come to his church. He prayed that the church would be perfect and complete in the will of God. We can only be perfect if we follow Jesus, any other way leads to destruction.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Final Instructions
Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
This short sentence in the end of the epistle, gives us a knowledge of what Luke did for a living. I wonder if when we meet Luke if he will be introduced as "the physician," and a friend of Paul. Or as faithful Luke, the obedient writer of the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the apostles. Luke a Gentile doctor who ministered to Paul, in turn shared with us many things which would have been unknown to us had he not made a record of them by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit. He wrote in the gospel of Luke the following;
Luke 5:30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
Luke 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Demas, here a trusted friend, would later forsake Paul. Friends sometimes part, but if they love and serve the Lord we know it is for their good; not so with Demas.
2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Salute the brethren who are in the nearby city of Laodicea. This church is often referred to as the church of today because of the warning given to it in Revelation. A church rich in things, needing nothing, but in the eyes of God, spiritually blind and naked.
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Nymphas, was probably a pastor of a house church. Many churches met in homes, which is a good way to get to know one another.
Col 4:16 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.
This letter to the Colossians was meant to be shared. They new that it came from Paul. I agree, anything that I send is meant to be shared freely, the word is to be shared to profit the hearer, not to profit the prophet.
Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Archippus was referred to in Philemon, as our fellow soldier. As soldiers in God's spiritual army, we each are to fulfill the position that we are equipped for. Take heed to thy ministry. Paul uses a soldier as an example in a letter to his beloved spiritual son, Timothy.
2 Tim 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Tim 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
We are not to be entangled in the world system. I believe that God allows satan to attack his soldiers as a test of faithfulness, to prepare them for future battles. When we continue to trust and obey God, he is glorified.
Col 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
Paul as a soldier, salutes his fellow soldiers, probably in reference to writing the final greeting himself. He asks that they not forget him in his imprisonment. Grace, God's unearned favor, be with you, Amen. The epistle ends with these introductions and instructions and by God's grace.
Gary
Colossians Chapters
Colossians 3
Colossians 2
Colossians 1
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