Paul s Final Greeting Colossians 4:7-18 (NKJV)

Paul s Final Greeting Colossians 4:7-18 (NKJV) As we walk through this list of people it would be good for you to ask yourself, If my name was put down in scripture, what would it say? Would there be a commendation or exhortation or even a correction? Notice the first name listed here Vs. 7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. Notice the three things here that speak about Tychicus Beloved brother When you give your life to Christ, you become a part of the body of Christ. You re birthed into a new family. We become brothers and sisters. You might even find that this family becomes something greater than your biological family. My father said that when he was a young boy, his mother would send him and his younger brother, Bob, to church. She would give a nickel a piece to put into the offering box. Bob would take the nickel and go to the movie theatre and dad would go to church. It was there he was introduced to Christ. A little southern Baptist church in downtown Riverside. Every Sunday he would make his way to church month after month, year after year. He said to me that the family of God had become to him something even greater than his biological family. It wasn t that he didn t love his mother, father, brothers and sister, but what he had at church was not what he had at home. It was not a home founded on the word of God or a home that served the Lord Jesus Christ. Eventually, God would use my dad to lead each one of his family members to the Lord. Paul goes on and calls Tychicus a faithful minister and fellow servant. It s what every believer should be. Whether you re one month in the faith or 50 years in the faith, servanthood is one of our greatest titles, one of our greatest privileges. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 1

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:42-45 (NKJV) It s the way of the kingdom if you want to be great, then be a servant. It s even what we will hear when we stand before the Lord. Well done good and faithful SERVANT. There is no greater ambition in the kingdom than to be a servant of the king, to be faithful to what He has called us to today. Notice the next thing about Tychicus Vs. 7-8 he 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 He s bringing a message. It s what Tychicus is known for. In Ephesians, we read almost word for word the same thing about him; notice But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. Ephesians 6:21-22 (NKJV) Tychicus could be trusted to communicate the truth to the body of Christ about Paul and his situation. We all have people like this in our life. Someone we can trust to share the truth and not put their slant on it, not blow up the story, or to add drama to it or even to give too much information. They are trusted to give what is needed what will promote unity. Tychicus even had the gift of bringing comfort when he spoke. We need more people like this in the body of Christ. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 2

Is that what you are noted for? Someone that can be trusted with information? Someone that brings comfort and not chaos, unity not disunity. Notice the next guy Paul brings up Vs. 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here. Onesimus, faithful and beloved and one of the members of the community of believers there in Colossae. When Paul was discipling Timothy on choosing godly leadership, one of the traits that was listed was faithfulness; notice And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) More than being famous, God is looking for men and women who are faithful. I look at our staff and can go back and see the days of them serving as volunteers. Jason started in our 1 st -3 rd ministry, he and Aubrey were faithful. I remember attending a men s study and he was leading worship. He had one song halfway down, first verse and the chorus. We couldn t get to the second verse, and then a couple years later I showed up at our student ministry night and he was leading. Wow! God had honored his faithfulness. He was gifted and anointed. Pastor Scott started out as a greeter, Erik started out ministering to our junior high. At the end of the day, they were faithful. Are you like Onesimus? Faithful, someone who can be counted on. Is that what people say when they mention your name? The next person that is mentioned is Aristarchus Vs. 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) Aristarchus, fellow prisoner. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 3

Aristarchus was with Paul back in Acts 19 when he was arrested. He was also a part of the crew that went to Rome with Paul in Acts 27, so he was part of the shipwreck on Malta where they almost lost their lives. Most commentators believe that Aristarchus was a fellow prisoner with Paul by choice. He was choosing to be with Paul in his most difficult times. Solomon in his wisdom said this about friendship A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (NKJV) When life throws you a curveball and adversity shows up, it is people like Aristarchus that God brings into our life to keep us moving forward. They are the ones that breathe life into difficult times. Notice the next guy that makes the list Mark- the cousin of Barnabas. Notice Paul says, If he comes to you welcome him Mark was the reason that Paul and Barnabas had a falling out back in the early days of ministry. Many believe Mark either got homesick or he might have struggled with the change in leadership styles from Barnabas to Paul. Either way, it became a contention between Paul and Barnabas. So Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus and Paul chose Silas and went to Syria. But here Paul reminds the church, if Mark shows up, greet him, embrace him. Time had brought healing to their disagreement and the discipleship of Barnabas had impressed Paul enough to say that. Later in Paul s ministry, Mark would even be a blessing to him. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11 (NKJV) Just a reminder that God uses all types of people and methods to bring discipleship into our lives. Notice the next guy on the list Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 4

Vs. 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. Jesus who is called Justus, this is the only time that that Justus is mentioned in scripture, so this is all we know. He was numbered as one of the guys that brought comfort to Paul while he was in prison. He made the list of the five guys who were Jewish believers, who are promoting the kingdom, not circumcision, not legalism, not Judaism but the kingdom. Now, the next list of guys are going to be gentile believers. Notice Vs. 12-13 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. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. Epaphras, he is one of you. He actually planted the church in Colossae. Not fully sure how he came to Christ. Many believe that it was through Paul s ministry in Ephesus. But more importantly, after he did come to Christ he took Christ back to his hometown. Which is not always an easy thing to do. Jesus was not all that accepted in his hometown. I know what it s like to minister in the place I went to high school, it s hard. But the love that God had put in the heart of Epaphras was enough to move him to speak to his homies back home. Notice what was spoken by Paul about Epaphras a bondservant of Christ At the end of the day this truly is our identity. Bondservant: A slave by choice Jesus chose this name. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 5

Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7 (NKJV) Paul got his identity as a bondservant Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness Titus 1:1 (NKJV) James, Peter, and Jude would also claim this identity. More than all the titles we wear banker, fireman, police officer, teacher, professor, doctor, contractor, or even pastor we are a bondservant of Jesus Christ. If we get our identity from what we do or what is on our business card, then what happens if the Lord changes that? What if something happened that we could not continue in our job? I have seen it. We spiral into an identity crisis, even depression. I have seen here at Wildwood. A pastor serves in a certain spot for 10 years and then God moves into something different, and he spirals into depression. Instead of seeing the opportunity before them, they see the loss behind them. I have seen mothers and fathers who got their identity from their parenting their kids, and when the kids left, they spiraled. Instead of looking forward to the new venture of faith with their spouse and having more time to serve the Lord, they lost their identity. If you find your identity in being a bondservant of Jesus Christ, then He can use you and move you and not shelf you. Notice what else Paul says about Epaphras Vs. 12 always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Shows you the heart of this man a true shepherd to the flock. He brought the gospel to them and now he is interceding for them. Praying that they may stand perfect and complete in the will of God. Why did he do this? Vs. 13 For I bear him witness that he has great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 6

He prayed for them because he had a great zeal for them. That s what moves us to pray for those around us. It s when they re on our heart, when we have a great zeal for them. Notice the next person here Vs. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Luke, beloved physician. This is Luke, the gospel writer of Luke, also the one that the Holy Spirit inspired to write the book of Acts. And this is the only place in scripture that we are told that Luke was a physician. Paul mentions it. Why? Maybe because that s what Paul knew him to be. Paul may have been alive, but he was not always well, and it s possible that Luke was with him because he needed a physician. Some believe he had an eye problem. Others believe being stoned to death could have made his body brittle or even crippled. Some believe the thorn in his flesh was something physical and Luke could have been a help in this. Not sure, but Paul is the one that calls Luke a doctor. Praise the Lord for doctors. So grateful how God uses them. The mind that he has given to them. Next is Demas, he greets you. Nothing more than that. Demas would be the one that Paul would later tell Timothy that he had forsaken him. for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica 2 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV) What a bummer to be listed in scripture as the one who blew off his calling for the things of the world that was Demas. Vs. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. This must have been the church that was started in Laodicea. Like most churches, they started in a home. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 7

Vs. 16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. They were to read this letter to the church. It was not something just for the leaders to talk about in their private meetings. It was to be read in public in the local congregations. Just as we do today, 2,000 years later, and we are still opening up the Bible and reading it. It s now on our ipads and cell phones and it s still relative to us today. Now, notice verse 16 also points out that there was a letter sent to the church of Laodicea, a letter we do not have. We should not assume from this that our treasure of inspiration is incomplete. The Holy Spirit has chosen to preserve those letters that are inspired for the church in a universal sense. Paul was not inspired in this way every time he set pen to paper. David Guzik It wasn t put in, so we don t have to worry about it. Vs. 17 and say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it. Notice here a couple things about ministry 1. Ministry is given by God. It s His to give; we don t take it, we don t create it, but we receive it. 2. When ministry is given, we should take heed in order to fulfill it. Ministry is a stewardship. We have been given a door to walk through, so walk through it. It might only be for a season, but be faithful in that season. 3. Ministry can be left unfulfilled. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 8

Paul said to fulfill it, which means that if we don t fulfill it, then it can go unfulfilled. I have seen many ministries fail because God s people simply did not continue in it. I have also seen ministries, even churches, fulfill their season and then God closes the door. When we fulfill it, then we can move on. The door opens and it can also close. We want to be faithful while it s open to be fulfilled. And then lastly Paul finishes with this Vs. 18 This salutation by my own hand--paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen. remember my chains that the Lord is using them for His greater purpose to bring the gospel to those have not yet heard. and grace be with you He starts with grace and ends with grace. What a great way to end Colossians. It s only by His grace that we will make an impact on anyone any eternal impact, any impact for the kingdom. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 9