COLOSSIANS LESSON 6

 
     We will begin this lesson in Colossians 4:1 "Masters, give unto
[your] servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also
have a Master in heaven."

     Paul is reminding these masters that they have a Master up in
heaven, who is watching the way they deal with their subordinates
here. To have a really good servant, you must be a good, honest
master. Give them a job to do, and when they have done a good job, let
them know that you are pleased with them. The way we measure to the
people here on the earth is the same way God will measure to us in
heaven. We should never take advantage of someone, just because they
are working for us. Masters and servants are brothers, if they are
both believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. God is not a respecter of
persons.  We are all one in Christ. Whatever position you are filling
here on the earth, do it to the best of your ability. Be kind to all
people, and especially those you are over.

     Colossians 4:2 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with
thanksgiving;"

     We should give God thanks for everything. Remember, if you are a
Christian, the devil can not do anything to you that God does not
permit. We should grow in every tribulation that we have. They come to
make us strong in the Lord. James 5:16 "Confess [your] faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  Prayer is
a conversation with God. Jesus taught the disciples the way to pray in
what we call the "Lord's Prayer". He told them in this prayer to
reverence the Father. Prayers are prayed to the Father in the name of
Jesus. Jesus opened the way for us to go to the Father, when the veil
covering the holy of holies was torn from the top to the bottom at the
crucifixion of Jesus. We have power of attorney to use the name of
Jesus. Pray, believing that you will receive your answer. The
following verses are some things that Jesus said about prayer. John
14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the
works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall
he do; because I go unto my Father." John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye
shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified
in the Son." John 14:14 "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will
do [it]."  Notice, all prayer should be given in the name of Jesus.
The power is in His name.

     Colossians 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:"

     Paul is in chains, when this is written. This does not stop him,
however. He has his door of utterance. Some of Caesar's household were
saved. Paul, also, preached in the home where he was under house
arrest.  Wherever you are, God will open a door for you to minister.
The only thing you must do, is say Lord, here am I, send me. Be
willing to minister whereever you are. Christianity is an individual
thing.  If there is just one person there, tell them about Jesus. Paul
was in bonds, because he would not compromise the Word of God. Look
how far his message went, and is still going, in these letters he
wrote.

     Colossians 4:4 "That I may make it manifest, as I ought to
speak."

     To manifest is to make real. Paul wanted to make Christianity
real to the people he spoke to. The best way for any of us to
minister, is for Christ in us to minister. Turn yourself, especially
your tongue, over to God and let God minister through you.

     Colossians 4:5 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without,
redeeming the time."

     Our life on this earth is such a short time, so we must make
every minute count. Walking in wisdom is walking the path that God has
chosen for you, doing the things that God would have you do. This is
saying, minister to everyone the love of Jesus. There are still people
in the world who have not heard the name of Jesus. Tell them before it
is too late. I talk to church people who have been Christians for
years, and they are still sitting in the congregation soaking up all
the good teaching. That is fine, but there is a lost world out there
that they could be ministering to. I hear Christians say, I am not
qualified.  Find someone who knows less than you do about God and
share with him, or her, what God has shown you. Be wise and do what
you can at  what ever level you are. Don't waste precious time.

     Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned
with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

     When teaching others of the Lord Jesus, we must do it in love and
gentleness. Salt is a preservative. The salt in the teaching must be
something that will help them keep their salvation, after they have
received it. The evangelist, who comes through town, many times gets
people saved, but the pastor of the church applies the preservative.
The sermons the pastor gives is to help the people live their
salvation. They must grow in Jesus. This salt is truth that helps us
grow in grace. Paul is saying, tell them to seek the power of God in
their own lives. I believe there should be a time for the new convert
in church to ask questions, so the things puzzling them can be
answered. Of course, the best answers given are when the Holy Spirit
answers them through you.

     Colossians 4:7 "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you,
[who is] a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant
in the Lord:"

     We see that Paul is sending Tychicus to them. Paul gives him a
recommendation, when he calls him, beloved brother. Tychicus will
possibly bear this letter to the church of the Colossians. Notice,
that he had ministered with Paul {fellowservant}. We, also, see in
this that he was a capable minister. Perhaps, Paul had trained
Tychicus as he traveled with him.

     Colossians 4:8 "Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose,
that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;"

     Paul was very interested in what became of these Christians, and
it appears that Tychicus was to bring a report back to Paul on their
growth in the Lord. They had desired Paul to come, but since he was in
chains, he sent Tychicus in his place. This showed the loving care of
Paul for these people.

     Colossians 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."

     It seemed that Onesimus was a native, he was going along with
Tychicus. Jesus had taught them to send them out by twos. I believe
that it was important for two to go out, so they could have the power
of the prayer of agreement. I still believe that it would be much
better, if two ministers could work together in a church. Possibly,
one of the reasons it was him going instead of someone else, is the
fact that he knew the country.

     Colossians 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;)"

     Aristarchus was a Thessalonian. It seems that he had gone to Rome
with Paul. Whether he was in chains, or not, we cannot tell. Perhaps,
he was just staying in the place where Paul was under house arrest. At
any rate, he was with Paul. This Marcus is the same one that had
caused a division between Paul and Barnabus earlier. This is the same
as John Mark who went with Paul on the first missionary journey.
Sometime during the journey, he left Paul. It seems that this was
several years after that happening {it could have been about ten
years}. The mother of John Mark was thought of very highly in the
church in Jerusalem. It is good to know that Paul forgave him, and
even recommends him here. Paul tells them to receive John Mark, if he
comes, as a brother.

     Colossians 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."

     The name Jesus was sometimes Joshua. It seems in this case, it is
Justus, however. This name means just, or righteous. Notice this has
to do with the Jews {of the circumcision}. Paul is saying, that these
are brothers that are still with him here in Rome.

     Colossians 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."

     It appears that Epaphras was a native of Colosse. It, also,
appears that he was devoted to the work of Christ {servant of Christ}.
We see that he is sending greetings to his people in Paul's letter.
There is no more important job in a church than the job of prayer
intercessor. Any church is just as strong as the prayers that are
prayed for it.  This is unusual in that the desire of the prayer is
made known here.  Paul says, the desire of the prayers was that they
would be in the perfect will of God.

     Colossians 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."

     The church in Laodecia is mentioned in Revelation as one of the 7
churches. It seems they had fallen to a lukewarm condition at that
time. It seems that Epaphrus prayers were needed for this church.
Perhaps, Epaphrus was the one who started these churches, or perhaps,
he was an overseer. The Scripture does not say. We do know, that he
had great concern for them.

     Colossians 4:14 "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet
you."

     Luke was the physician who I believe attended Paul. Paul had
prayed three times to God to remove the thorn in his flesh, and God
said no. When God does not heal you, the next best thing is to have a
physician in attendance. Luke went on most of Paul's journeys with
him. We see at one time Luke was his only companion. II Timothy 4:11
"Only Luke is with me.  Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is
profitable to me for the ministry."  Luke and Paul were good friends.
This Demas is, possibly, the one from 2 Timothy that had forsaken
Paul.
At any rate, Paul did not give him a recommendation.

     Colossians 4:15 "Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and
Nymphas, and the church which is in his house."

     It appears that Nymphas was a man, or woman, who had turned his
house into a church. Most Bible scholars believe this Nymphas to be a
woman, and not a man. It really does not matter. The important thing
is whoever it was, he, or she, was devoted to God. This person {male
or female} was a leading member of the Laodicean church.

     Colossians 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 is more of a general nature, and it appears that it
should be read in all of the churches in this area.

     Colossians 4:17 "And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry
which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."

     It appears from this, that Archippus had an important job in the
church at Laodicea. Whether he was pastor, we can not say. It does
appear that he has been discouraged, and Paul is telling him to stay
in there and do the work that God has called him to do. Paul, also,
says in this that he was chosen of God for this job, he had not
appointed himself.

     Colossians 4:18 "The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember
my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen."

     This letter, and the greeting at the end here, were from Paul
himself. Paul asks them to pray for him, remembering that he is still
in bonds. Paul always speaks grace to the one he is writing to. "Amen"
means so be it.


     Thank you for taking the time to study these letters from Paul
with me. My prayer is that some little morsel of information will help
you in your endeavors to study the Word of God.



                                         Your friend in Christ,


                                         Louise Haney






























                        Colossians 6 Questions


1.  Masters, give unto your servants that which is ______ and _______.
2.  We must remember we have a ________ in heaven.
3.  How can you have a really good servant?
4.  What makes the master and servant brothers?
5.  Continue in ________.
6.  Why do Christians have tribulation?
7.  Quote James chapter 5 verse 16.
8.  What did Jesus have to say, in John, about prayer?
9.  All prayer should be in the name of ________.
10. Paul wanted them to pray that a door of _________ would be open
    for him.
11. What mystery did Paul want to speak?
12. Where is Paul, when this is written?
13. Who was saved while Paul was ministering in Rome?
14. Why was Paul in prison?
15. What does manifest mean?
16. Why must we make every minute count?
17. Let your speech be alway with ________.
18. Season it with _______.
19. Salt, in the Scripture, is a ______________.
20. Who is Paul sending this message by?
21. What does fellowservant show us about Paul and Tychicus?
22. Onesimus was from where?
23. Who did Paul call fellowprisoner?
24. Marcus, here, is the same as whom?
25. What nationality was Aristarchus?
26. Who was Mark's mother?
27. How were they to receive Mark?
28. What does the name Justus mean?
29. Who prayed for them often?
30. What is one of the most important jobs in the church?
31. Where is the church at Laodicea mentioned?
32. Who was the physician mentioned?
33. Why did Paul not give a recommendation to Demas?
34. What was Nymphas?
35. What other church was this to be read at?
36. What warning did he send to Archippus?
37. How does Paul end every letter?