Series in Colossians - Your Faithful Laborers, Witnesses, Bondservants, and Fellow Workers

 

Your Faithful Laborers, Witnesses, Bondservants, and Fellow Workers

Col. 4:7-17

Now, if you have been a part of a church for a short time or a long term member, you have seen that there is a workforce carrying on a plethora of duties, ministries, and tasks of various needs. Such is the organization of a church that honors and fulfills the mandates of the Lord. From the Old Testament times through the New Testament eras to the present, God has had faithful laborers for the Gospel. So let’s dig into the lesson’s first portion of the text. Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here. Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!

Paul, now in Roman confinement, is still in touch with the churches he had started, visited, or as correspondence through the faithful servants of Jesus Christ. He is finishing off this letter to Colossae with encouragement and with acclamations for those who have labored and toiled alongside of him in years of ministry to the Gentiles and the Jews. He begins with Tychicus. Tychicus was probably a native to Asia-minor and was known in the surrounding areas of Colossae. He invariably carried the letter or letters to these different churches. Paul says he had firsthand information of Paul's situation and condition, and Paul considered him trustworthy and dearly loved as an encourager of the heart for those in the faith. Paul sent him as well to Ephesus, “Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.” (Eph. 6:21)

Next was Onesimus, a former slave. Onesimus had come through the providence of God to Paul as a runaway slave, who had received the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and had assisted him while in prison. Paul had written a letter to His master, Philemon on receiving Onesimus back not only as a slave but as a brother in the Lord. At this time, Onesimus was still assisting Paul in Rome. Paul also associates him as from the area of Colossae. He was entrusted with the security of the letter as well as Tychicus. Paul considered Onesimus his dear brother and faithful to the work of God.

Third, Paul introduces a fellow prisoner in Rome to the church in Colossae, Aristarchus from Thessalonica. Paul doesn’t say how Aristarchus, a jewish christian, was imprisoned. He was probably arrested in the riots in Ephesus, and he accompanied Paul. “The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.” “He was accompanied by Sopater, son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.” “...He was accompanied by Sopater, son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.” (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2) Having been on the journey with Paul through many of the cities, he desired for the church to receive his earnest prayers and blessings. 

Fourth, Barnabus’ cousin John Mark (Mark), and Jesus Justus. They were jewish christians, and Mark was also the writer under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of the gospel bearing his name. The first mention of Mark was in the arrest of Jesus. He was the fellow who was at the olive garden, he had his linen garment yanked off in the olive garden while fleeing, and he was left naked and ran away. “A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” (Mark 14:51-52) Later he joined His uncle Barnabus in his mission journey with Paul, only to have desired to leave the team for an undisclosed reason. “From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem…Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.” (Acts 13:13; 15:37-38)

It seemed that Mark had redeemed and reconciled  himself as a faithful brother and servant of Jesus Christ. As for Jesus Justus, there is no other information about this faithful co-worker for the Kingdom of God with Paul other than he was a jewish christian. They all were a great comfort to Paul throughout the missionary journeys.

Application - Imagine, how many of these faithful workers thought that their names would be honored for centuries for their contribution and labor for God? Probably not one! They weren’t doing it for fame or profit, they gave their lives to the service of the gospel. They were drawn to Paul, and the message of hope. And they desired to please God and our Lord Jesus Christ with their lives.

Paul was like a magnet in a sense, to some he drew them to himself through the gospel and the Holy Spirit and to the work of God. In the other sense, he repelled others because of the gospel and his teachings, even to the point of some proclaiming a different gospel. But each of these workers would receive their just reward from Jesus Christ.

Just like today, there are many faithful who are working in the shadows of their lead people. Diligently and loyalty serving their Savior, Lord, and God Jesus Christ and assisting those chosen by God to lead. For Jesus taught us to pray for laborers for the harvest. “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matt. 9:37-38) and told parables about those who he put incharge of the vineyard or other duties such as finances. Each one who were faithful or unfaithful in performing their duty or service would receive a reward and an invitation into the Kingdom of Heaven and those who were not would not.

Last, Paul honors the gentile laborers in the mission for the Kingdom of God. So let’s read the last portion of the text. “Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”

Epaphras, an earnest prayer warrior from Colossae. Paul considered Epaphras invaluable in the intercession for the people in Colossae. He was earnest in prayer for their safety, strengthening, and confidence in their walk with Jesus Christ in the faith. He prayed that they were living and following the Spirit in the whole will of God. Paul considered him a wrestler in prayer, and not only for the church in Colossae, but also in Laodicea. Paul especially wanted the churches in Laodicea and Hierapolis to read the letter to Colossae as well as the letter that Paul had written to Laodicea. 

Finally, Paul sends greetings from probably some of his faithful servants of the Lord Jesus, doctor Luke and Demas. Little is mentioned of Demas other than he had joined the mission team late, but from the beloved physician Dr. Luke. He wrote two letters to the churches, a gospel account, and the acts of the Apostles both to his fellow believer, Theophilus. We learn most about Dr. Luke through his writings. Dr. Luke was a loyal member of the second missionary journey all the way to the imprisonment in Rome. 

  Application - Now there were some who went on to write gospel accounts and the acts of the churches and the Apostles, but there were also those who worked within the menial and assisted in the proclamation of the gospel. For me, I see the words of the Lord Jesus Christ saying, “Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.” (Luke 22:26)

A servant in the eyes of our Lord God and Father are those who as Paul said earlier in the letter, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” (Col. 3:23-24)

Yes, there will be many trials and tribulations, times of fellowship, and times of rejoicing and prayer. But in all that we do in the Lord as we labor wherever we are at, remember we serve Jesus, and He will reward diligence and loyalty, faithfulness, and most of all unswerving devotion to our Lord God, and the work of God the Father.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com