1. COLOSSIAS 1 COMMETARYWritten and edited by GLE PEASEPREFACEPreface to the class on THE COLOSSAL CHRIST OF COLOSSIAS.This commentary is based on a class I taught, and this is the way I began the class. Ihave always found it meaningful to know something about a teacher who is teachinga class. It gives you some insight into their perspective, and why they so foolishlysometimes disagree with your more logical views.When I was born I was quite homely. So much so that when my parents abandonedme in the hospital parking lot they were arrested for litering. When I got a littleolder my father taught me how to swim at an early age by taking me out in a boatand throwing me over. It was not bad once I got out of the bag. I told my teacherone day I don't think my parents like me. She said nonsense, what makes you saythat? I told her that when I got home yesterday, I found they had moved.I made people happy as a kid. I remember one teacher saying it was the happiestday of her life when I graduated from her class.I was in the eighth grade and still thought farm was spelled EIEIO.I thought it was Custer's last stand was where they got the idea for arrow shirts.I thought the Indians got to America first because they had reservations.Many felt I would never get through college, but I showed them. I made it throughin just two terms-Truman's and Isenhour's.I had a hard time with girls. I just could not get the hang of dating. I asked one girlif she could like a guy like me. She said sure if he wasn't too much like you.I asked one girl what I would have to give her to get a kiss, and she saidchlorophorm. My romantic life could be written on a piece of confetti.I finally met Lavonne, she was different than any other girl I had ever met. Sheliked me. She said she married me for my brain. Her philosophy has always been itsthe little things in life that really count. So much for my biography.The real story is I was born, as was my wife, and raised in Sioux Falls, S.D. I went toBethel College and Seminary for 9 years and have been a Baptist GeneralConference pastor for 34 years. I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren and 8greatgrandchildren. I have read hundreds of authors on Colossians and I sharequotes from many of them that give insights that I never saw, or could notcommunicate as well as they have.How much you get out of the class will depend on how much you want to get. How

2. much you want will be measured in such things as note taking on things you want toremember, and questions you come up with to go deeper or to get practicalapplication of the truth in this part of God's Word. I think Bible Study is fun, and Ihope it will be that to you as we dig into this great letter of Paul.I have been a teacher long enough to know that there is always a risk ofmisunderstanding everytime you open your mouth and say something. So please feelfree to interrupt at any time and ask questions and seek for clarification.Communication has not really taken place unless the listener gets the message thespeaker intends. It does not always happen that way.Mike Hays has written a paragraph that reveals how dangerous it can be to assumethat you are being heard the same way as you mean to be heard. He writes, Clearcommunication is a key for those who live in such a diverse society like you and me.Some of the corporate giants have found out how important it is to communicateclearly if they are going to continue to make a, profit. When Gerber first startedselling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as here in the USA -- withthe picture of the cute baby on the label. Later, when sales were going poorly, theyfound out that in Africa companies routinely put pictures on the label of what isinside. When Pepsi started marketing its products in China, they translated theirslogan, Pepsi Brings You Back To Life pretty literally. The Chinese charactersthey chose really meant, Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back From The Grave. TheChevy ova never sold well in Spanish speaking countries because o Va meansIt does not go. Coors put it slogan of a few years back, Turn it Loose, intoSpanish, where it was read, Suffer from Diarrhea. When Braniff translated aslogan touting its upholstery, Fly in Leather, it came out in Spanish as Flyaked. We really need to be careful what we say and how we say it, huh!The point of Bible study is so that we are influenced by the truth we come tounderstand so that we can be an influence in the world for our Lord. There aremany things we cannot do, but all of us can be an influence, and often that is themost important thing that can be done. Let me share some examples that canencourage all of us to be aware that our influence can be a power that makes adifference in some life.Cecil B. DeMille wrote, When I was a nine year old boy, and old preacher came toEcho Lake, ew Jersey to conduct a series of meetings. Young DeMille attendedevery morning, but one cold rainy morning he was the only one who showed up. Hewondered if that man would preach to one small boy. DeMille describes thatunusual scene. If he preached under those circumstances I felt that he was aman of God. If he dismissed the service I felt that he would be false. And he didpreach, although it was a very short sermon. Then he came down to the alter railingof the church and invited me to come up. He said: My audience no doubt noticedthat I did not take the collection at the usual time. I now invite my audience to comeup and put the offering the plate. I walked up proudly to that alter, put my nickelin the plate and, as I did so, that old gray-haired preacher put his hand on my headand prayed a prayer in which he lifted my name to God. I shall never forget the feel 3. of that old preacher's hands on my head. I have en-joyed the greatest honors of life.Here in Hollywood I have met the great of the earth. But I have never had any thrillas great as the feel of that preacher's hands on my head. It was a kind ofordination. That had much to do with my interest in producing Biblical motionpictures. Millions have watched the Biblical movies of Cecil B. DeMille, but nobodyeven knows the name of the old preacher who put his hand on him as a boy, andthus, became a major influence in his life. Because of the impact of influence, thathand that touched the little boy, touched a whole world of people.The same story can be told on the negative side of influence. Vincent Teresa in hisbook My Life In The Mafia, tells of how his uncle would ask him to shine his shoes,and then give him ten or fifteen bucks. This made a deep impression on him, and hesaid to himself, I don't know what he does, but what ever it is I want to do it. Thatwas the beginning of his desire to be a gangster.Bach's, the Passion According To St. Matthew is generally acclaimed as the greatestchoral work ever written in German. Bach performed it once in his day, and it wasput away where it lay unperformed for 100 years. In 1829 Felix Mendelssohnobtained a copy of it and revived it. He unleashed a title wave of enthusiasm forBach that has never ebbed to this day, and so Mendelssohn had great influence onBach's fame, but Bach even more on Mendelssohn, for the 20 year old composer wasconverted to faith in Christ by his exposure to Bach. They lifted each other.Henry Drummond said, There is nothing exaggerated more than the power of ourwords, and there is nothing we exaggerate less than the effect of our influence.Andrew Robinson, one time chairman of the board of Westinghouse, tells of thestrange experiment he saw performed in their lab. A great steel bar eight feet longand weighing 1000 pounds was suspended by a slender chain from the ceiling.Parallel to it was a small cork suspended by a silk thread. The cork was slung intothe steel bar, and, of course, had no effect whatever. But after about ten minutes ofconstant swinging of that cork into the steel bar, a little quiver could be seen, andafter two more minutes a visible vibration could be detected. After 25 minutes thesteel bar began to swing like a huge pendulum. The experiment proved that eventhe least likely force, with no visible influence can by persistence have an impactthat is visible. The study of influence reveals just how tremendous the trivial can bein its impact.Why was the good Samaritan so caring and compassionate. For all we know, he hadbeen helped by someone who found him in the same condition some years before.Whatever the influence, his act of love for a stranger has influenced all the rest ofhistory. There are Good Samaritan Hospitals, Good Samaritan ursing Homes,and Good Samaritan Ministries of all kinds. The whole world has been lifted by oneman's kindness. We do not even know his name, but he was an Atlas of influence,for he lifted the whole world when he lifted that helpless victim. We have no recordof what that victim did in gratitude, but he could very well have become a socialworker ministering to people who were victims of crime. For all we know, the worldis full of people with compassion who have been influenced by this one unknownman. Only the omniscient mind of God could trace the impact of his influence, but 4. we know it is inexhaustible.What is the point of all this about influence? We need to recognize that influence isthe bottom line in Bible Study. Each book of the Bible is designed to have aninfluence on our lives. If it has no influence, we have not studied it, no matter howmuch time we have spent reading it and discussing it. God has a purpose for all Hehas revealed, and that is to influence us to be influencing others. We are alwaysbeing an influence for good or ill, but the purpose of Bible Study is to make sure weare growing in our influence for good, and for the Kingdom of God-that is, that Hemight more completely reign in our lives and the lives of those He brings into oursphere of influence.Sarah Bolton wrote,The smallest bark on life's tumultuous oceanWill leave a track behind forever more;The lightest wave of influence, once in motionExtends and widens to the eternal shore.Another poet wrote,My life shall touch a dozen livesBefore this day is done,Leave countless marks of good or ill,Ere sets the evening sun.This, the wish I always wish,The prayer I always pray:Lord, may my life help others' livesIt touches by the way.The following verse by verse commentary is based on the reading of many otherstudies of Colossians combined with my own insights into the text.ITRODUCTIO:1.Paul wrote this epistle from prison in Rome where he had plenty of time as heawaited his trial. Daille wrote, The imprisonment of St. Paul has done the churchmore good than the prosperity of the rest of the faithful of that age. This letter waswritten the same time as the letter to the Ephesians and Philemon, and they all seemto be delivered by the same messengers, Tychicus and Onesimus who was returningto his master, Philemon, who lived in Colosse.J. Vernon McGee writes, The Prison Epistles include Eph.,Phil., Col.,and the verypersonal Philimon. The year was about A.D. 62. Four messengers left Romeunobserved, but the each carried a very valuable document. Tychicus was carryingthe Epistle to the Ephesians over to Ephesus where he was the pastor or the leader 5. of that church. Epaphroditus was carrying the Epistle to the Philippians as he wasthe pastor in Philippi. Epaphras was carrying the Epistle to Colossians; apparentlyhe was a leader of the church in Colosse. Onesimus was carrying the Epistle toPhilemon. Philemon was his master, and Onesimus, who had run away wasreturning to him. These four are companion epistles and together had been calledthe anatomy of Christianity, or the anatomy of the church. We can see that thesubjects of these epistles cover all aspects of the Christian faith.You notice that we refer to Paul's writings as both letters and epistles. The idea ofthe epistle has become traditional, but the fact is he wrote letters and not epistles.Deissmann, a great scholar in the area of epistles of the ancient world says it is amistake to call Paul's letters epistles. They were literary forms meant forpublication, but a letter was personal and written for a definite situation and tomeet a definite need. Paul was not aware that he was writing what would becomeScripture for all God's people. He was just pouring out his heart to those he loved.He wrote love letters and not epistles designed to impress others with his literarytalent.Samuel Morris had a great influence on a great many people he never saw or whonever saw him. He was a son of an Africa king who escaped from a tribe that hadcaptured him. He found refuge in a Christian mission station where he heard theGospel and he gave his life to Christ. It is a long story of hardship and suffering, buthe finally got to America and to a Christian college in Indiana. Under his influencea revival broke out in the school. The severe American winter was too much forhim, however, and after a brief illness he died. He had told everyone of how heintended to take the Gospel back to his people. At his grave three young men gavethemselves to do the work that he had planned to do. After his death his influencespread. Students came from all over the world, and dozens of them trained forservice on foreign fields. The grave of that black boy is the most visited grave in thecity of Fort Wayne, Indiana.Here is a case where one life had a great impact on many others even though theyhad never met. Paul is an even greater example of this very thing. Paul had acolossal influence on the Colossians even though he never visited their city or theirchurch. In 1:4 he says he heard of their faith in Christ. It was by reports of othersthat he was aware of them. In 2:1 he refers to them as among those who never sawhis face. Paul does not have his usual warm personal greetings to individuals as inhis other letters, because he did not know these people personally.Paul spent three years in Ephesus, and while he was there people came from all thecities round about to hear the Gospel. Some came from Colosse and were converted.They went back to start the church in their city. Paul indirectly therefore, startedthe church, but he had never been there. He wrote to these Christians he had neverseen and by so doing had a great influence on them and on all Christians ever since.This epistle represents the great power of the written word. The author could notgo into all the world, but what he has written has gone into all the world, as well as 6. into all history. ever underestimate the influence you may have by writing. Youcan influence people you will never know if you put a message into writing. Write amessage to those with a need that Gods truth can meet and you can never know theimpact it might have.We will not all have the wide spread influence of Paul, or of a Samuel Morris, butall of us are constantly influencing others. You cannot detach yourself from havinga good or bad influence on others you know, and even those you do not know.Indirectly we all influence people we never see by the way we influence those we dosee. They in turn have an influence on us because of others in their lives we maynever know or see. The very fact that we are studying the letter to the Colossiansrather than some other book is due to the influence of other people we don't evenknow. You know me, but you don't know the people who influenced me to selectthis book for our study.Paul did not know the Colossians nor did he know the millions of Christians whowould be influenced by his letter to them. The whole point of this introduction isthat we need to be aware that God can do more than we dream to influence otherpeople if we will just do something to minister to someone. Paul heard of a need andhe wrote a letter, and now 2,000 years later it is still being used of God to meetpeople's needs. His deed of love is now influencing us.Paul was the only Apostle who was an enemy of Jesus before his conversion. Allthrough history God has used many of his worst enemies to become his best friends,and spread his Gospel with their radical testimony of conversion. Paradoxes abountin the life and writings of Paul. Right away we see the big shot Jew named Saulbecome the little Christian named Paul. We see the worst become the best. We seePaul blinded so he could see the light.1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will ofGod, and Timothy our brother,1. Paul nor the Holy Spirit are superstitious, it would seem, for this is one of thirteenepistles in the ew Testament that begin with Paul as the author.Many feel that the number 13 is bad luck. There is enough people who fear thenumber that we have a word for it-triskaidekaphobia. If you ride an elevator lookfor the 13th floor and you will not likely find it, for people will not stay in a room onthat floor. Some even go so far as to try and prove that this is an evil number, and isthe number of Satan. One of the most superficial studies I have ever seen is onetrying to prove this. The author goes through verse thirteen in various chapters ofthe Bible and sees negative things and concludes it is an evil number. For Example: 7. 1.Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wickedand sinners before the LORD exceedingly.2.Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shallbe destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.3.Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens,and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD ofhosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.4.Ezekiel 13:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD;I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be anoverflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.5. Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables:because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do theyunderstand.6.Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men formy name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall besaved.This is pure folly, for you could go through and find bad stuff in verse three also,and verse seven, the two perfect numbers, and also find good stuff in the thirteenthverse of other chapters. It is an abuse of the Bible to prove such a stupid thing. 13 isno different than any other number, and the fact is it has much good going for it.First of all, our nation started with 13 colonies and The Great Seal on our dollar billhas:13 stars13 stripes13 arrows in the eagles talons13 letters in the motto13 laurel leaves13 berries on the branch13 feathers in each wing13 levels on the pyramidJesus chose 12 and so His chosen and himself were 13 who began the ewTestament. Jesus did not fear the number 13. It is no argument against the numberto say Judas betrayed him for that 12th disciple was restored in Acts so there was 12again and their Lord, making 13.2. We see here three things: The Author, the Authority, and the Associate.AUTHORPaul was the author of more books of the ew Testament than any other person. Hewas to be God's man to reach out to the Gentile world, and most of what Paul wrotewas to the Gentile world. He was born and raised in Tarsus, in Asia Minor, wherehe was exposed to the world and thought of the Gentiles. The university of Tarsuswas more famous in that day than the U. of Athens. Scholars came from the ends of 8. the world to teach there. Paul, thus, got an education that made him an excellenttool to bridge the gap between the Jews and Gentiles. Paul was a Jew and proud ofit, but he was also proud of his Roman citizenship and that he was used of God toreach the Gentiles.Dr. Grant C. Richison wrote, The name Paul means little. If there was anyonewho could call himself Mr. big, it was the apostle Paul. He was the greatestmissionary of the first century. He was one of the great men of his day. In Judaismhe had a promising career. He was a Pharisee. He was the outstanding persecutor ofthe church. He ran out of victims in Jerusalem so he went to Damascus to capturemore Christians, Then Saul (Paul), still breathing threats and murder against thedisciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to thesynagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether menor women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2). He was on hisway to murder the disciples in Damascus. On that road to Damascus he met therisen Lord and received Jesus Christ as his Savior. As a Christian he spread thegospel to the Gentile Roman world. The Lord Jesus ruined his previous career ofkilling Christians! One look at Jesus and it changed everything in his life. Jesus'worst enemy became his greatest emissary.I was journeying in the noon-tide,When His light shone o'er my road;And I saw Him in the glory,Saw Him, Jesus, Son of God.Marvel not that Christ in glory'All my inmost soul hath won;I have seen a light from heaven,Far beyond the brightest sun.Paul was Saul, and the fact that he had the name of he first king of Israel who alsocame from the tribe of Benjamin, tells us that the name Saul was still honored, eventhough Saul failed God. ot all names are ruined by the bad behavior of theirowners, as was the case with Judas. Saul the proud self-sufficient big shot Phariseehad to be humbled to become little Paul so that God could make him truly great.Paul was not a right wing or a left wing in his views, but he was the whole bird. Hewas not an old timer or a new generation person, he was an always person. The pastperson is always looking back to the good old days, as if all the good answers wereback there. The now person is caught up in the present and the fads and sensationsof the current scene is where its at. What is the latest and coolest, and what is in isall they care about. The always person is one who serves the Lord of all ages. He canfocus on the values of the past that will never change, and on the new values thatChrist brought into the world, and on the never-ending values that will continueinto eternity. God's best is in the past, and the present and the future. There is notime in which God has not had His best for man. There is always the Past Heritage,The Present Help and the Perpetual Hope. The always person is always relevant forHe is dealing with the God who is always relevant, for He is always with it, and has 9. His best available in all times. The good old days are for real, and there is no timelike the present, and the best is yet to be. All of these statements are true in Christ.Paul is constantly referring to the past, present and future.AUTHORITYApostle by the will of God. An apostle is one who is sent. Paul is not a self-appointedApostle, but one who has his authority directly from God. It was not hisplan, nor his choice of vocation. It was God who chose him for this job. It was nothis aspiration but God's ordination that made him an apostle. Paul makes sure thatno one ever gets the impression that he has taken it upon himself to be an apostle.Every chance he got he told of how he persecuted the church, and was totallyunworthy of anything but judgment. He felt his terrible past made him the least ofthe apostles. He is only in the service of Christ because of the grace of God. Pauldid not work his way up the ladder of some hierarchy. o group ever took a vote onwhether Paul should be apostle.An Apostle is an Ambassador for God, and one with authority to speak on God'sbehalf. It is not to be taken lightly, but very seriously, for it is not a mere man whospeaks, but one who speaks on behalf of the Master of all men. We are accountablefor what we hear from Paul, for it is God's message.ASSOCIATETimothy our brother. He is called in II Tim. 1:2 my dear son. Here he is calledand equal with Paul, a brother in Christ. This is the only place he is called brother.In the next verse he calls the Colossians brothers also, and so we see Paul is beingvery brotherly here and setting a tone of equality. He is not trying to boss themaround but is giving brotherly advice and guidance. The concept of God's peoplebeing brothers goes back to when all of them were literal brothers. The twelve tribesof Israel were all related for all came from 12 brothers. This was a very importantword to Paul. He uses the word 34 times, which is far more than anyone else does. Itwas a male world in terms of leadership in public, but Paul does use sister as well.Brother is the Greek word Adelphos and sister is Adelphe. Paul loved this word forafter his conversion it was the first word he heard from Ananias in Acts 22:12-13.And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all theJews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul,receive your sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.Join hands then, brothers of the faith,Whate'er the race may be.Who serves my Father as a sonIs surely kin to me.Brothers includes the women also. In Acts `1:15 we read, In those days Peter stoodup among the brethren. In that context we read there were women in that group 10. called brethren. It is a general term for the family of God. All who have a commonfather are brothers to each other. Stedman writes, These days it is necessary topoint out that when the Scriptures talk about brothers and brethren, it alwaysincludes sisters as well---sistern, we might say. If we understood the biblical truthabout mankind we would not have gotten into the awkward situation we findourselves in today, where we wonder whether we ought to call a woman achairperson or chairwoman, or what. That entire situation would be happilytaken care of if we observed what the Bible says. In the beginning, it says,Godcreated man, male and female he created them, and he named them man. Thus,women have as much right to there man as males do. They can properly callthemselves the sons of God just as men do, and they can properly includethemselves in the term brethren as much as men do. Both are men in thatgeneric sense. If we understood that there would be no need, as some arethreatening today, to republish the ew Testament, eliminating all so-calledchauvinist terms.Timothy was with Paul in Ephesus and no doubt got to know some of the peoplefrom Colosse. He was with Paul as he wrote this letter and Paul includes him as anequal. God made Paul an apostle but he did not make him a snob. With all hisauthority from God he still needed brothers to encourage and support him. Timothyis just a boy compared to Paul, and so we see the possibility of an older man and ayounger man being great friends and companions.Dr. Grant C. Richison writes, Timothy was a vest-pocket edition of the apostlePaul. He was Paul's companion on many of his travels (II Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; IIThes. 1:1) and his son in the faith (II Tim 2:1). Timothy had a Gentile father (Acts16:1) but Jewish mother and grandmother (II Tim. 1:5). He learned the OldTestament from a young age from them (II Tim. 3:15). Paul hand-picked Timothy toserve with him. Timothy joined Paul on his second missionary journey at Lystrawhere he was reported to be effective in ministry (Acts 16:2). Thereafter they werealmost inseparable. Wherever Paul went, he took Timothy. Wherever Paul couldnot go, he sent Timothy. ow if Timothy comes, see that he may be with youwithout fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do (I Cor. 16:10). Paulpersonally polished him as a leader. He wrote III Timothy to this young pastor.Paul had numerous colleagues and friends but none of them were quite as close asTimothy. ote his view of Timothy in Philippians 2:10-23, But I trust in the LordJesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I knowyour state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. Forall seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus [but not Timothy]. Butyou know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me inthe gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes withme. God brought these two men together and they remained together. Theirfriendship stuck. Their friendship glued together with a divine adhesive. Othersforsook Paul. When the going got tough, they quit, This you know, that all those inAsia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes (II 11. Tim. 1:15). Paul knew what it was like to have some bitter disappointments in hisfriends and co-workers.What kept Paul and Timothy together? They had nothing in common. Paul wasmuch older than Timothy (Philemon 9). In I Timothy Paul said, Let no mandespise your youth. Usually, people who have a large age gap do not remaintogether for very long unless they are relatives These two were poles apart in theirfamily background. Paul was a pure blood Jew (Phil. 3:5). Timothy was half Jew,half Gentile. His father was a Gentile (Acts 16:3). They were poles apart in theireducation. They were not on the same plane. Paul had a graduate degree. He sat atthe feet of Gamaliel. There is no record of any formal training of Timothy. Peoplecan be radically different in every way and still be one in Christ because he becomestheir center and primary motivation in living and serving.Paul always has companionship with other fellow servants, and this reveals thatChristians are to be social people and develop relationships, for this gives life greatmeaning. Christ is Savior and He is our all in all, yet, the fact is we are made to haveother relationships, and we are not complete on our own. Even Jesus neededrelationships. He had his disciples and he loved to go to the home of Mary andMartha and Lazarus. We are made to need relationships. They are a key factor inour happiness and our success in living. The paradox is, it is also relationships thatgive us most of the grief of life, and most of our heartaches and frustrations are dueto relationships, and so they are essential, yet they are often a burden. Those closestto Jesus gave him the most grief. The inner circle of Peter, James, and John wouldnot watch one hour, but fell asleep as he struggled in Gethsemane. It was hisdisciples who made him frustrated and caused him to say, How long must I endurethis. Paul also had grief from his close relationships and some of them forsook him,like Demas, and made him sad.2. To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ atColosse: Grace and peace to you from God ourFather.ADDRESSEES1. Holy brothers. It means they were people set apart to be in the service of doingthe will of God in the world. The vessels in the temple were called holy, not becausethey were different from those used in every day life, but because they were setapart to be used in the service of God. To be holy is to have a special purpose relatedto God. The Christian is saved to serve God. He may not be better than others inmany ways, but he is called to a better use. He is a saint, meaning he has a calling tobe what God wants him or her to be. 12. HOLY: Barclay writes, The Greek word Holy is hagios; this is also the word forsaint, which in the KJV is the regular word for the Christian. The basic meaningof this word is different. The temple is holy because it is different fromother buildings; the Sabbath day holy because it is different from other days;God is supremely the Holy One because He is the Wholly other, the one who inhis being is different from men. So, then, first and foremost the Christian isdifferent. But it is of the first importance to note wherein that difference isexpressed. It is expressed, not by withdrawal from the world, but by involvement inthe world. The difference is to be expressed within the life of the world.Just as a king may have a vessel in his palace he uses to spit in that may be far morecostly and beautiful than the one the priest uses to remove the ashes from the altar,so there are men in the world who are finer specimens of manhood, and morecultured and more intelligent and talented, than many professing Christians.evertheless, the blackened vessel used in the temple is holy, and so is the weakestand most inadequate Christian, for they are called to a specialized task of beingtools for the service of God in this world. Ironside wrote, The vilest sinner isconstituted by God a saint, the moment he puts his trust in the Lord JesusChrist......thus we are saints by calling and not primarily by practice. Being holy orbeing a saint is not something we achieve by living a perfect or near perfect life, it issomething we receive. It is a title that comes with salvation. Every Christian is asaint and is therefore one who is holy.Ray Stedman wrote, Why is God's name holy? Because it is his name. We call hisbook the holy Bible because it is God's book. We call Palestine the Holy Landbecause it peculiarly belongs to God, more than any other spot on earth. In thatsense, therefore, holy has nothing to do with how you act but more with who youare. You belong to God. By faith the Colossians had believed what God said,therefore God claimed them for his own; they belonged to him.Holy defines their relationship to God, and brother defines their relationship to eachother. Saints are those who-1.Receive the Gift of God.2.Respect the Goal of God.3.Radiate the Glory of God.In Buddhism a saint is one who is empty of all desire, but for a Christian it is onewho is filled with desire to do the will of God.2. Someone made this interesting observation: lt. is addressed to God's dedicatedpeople and to the faithful brothers in Colosse. ow in the matter of openingaddresses Paul's custom changed. In his earlier letters he always addressed the letterto the Church. I and 2 Thessalonians, I and 2 Corinthians and Galatians are alladdressed to the Church of the district to which they are sent. But beginning withRomans all Paul's letters are addressed to God's dedicated people in such and sucha place. It is so in Romans, Colossians, Philippians and Ephesians. As Paul grewolder, he cared more and more to see that what matters is individual people. TheChurch is people. The Church is not a kind of vague, abstract entity; it is individualmen and women and children. And, as the years went on, Paul began to think less 13. and less of the Church as a whole, and more and more of the Church as individualmen and women. And so, in the end, he sends his greetings, not to a kind of abstractsociety called the Church, but rather to the individual men and women of whom theChurch must always be composed.Alexander Maclaren on this text points out that the Christians in the .T. were onlycalled Christians twice, but they were called brothers often. Christian has becomethe popular term to go by, ever though in was the nick-name given by the world.The deeper name given by Paul is saints and brothers. Masses of very diversepeople, both Jews and Gentiles, being called brother because they are a part of thefamily of God. Maclaren says, ..there had never been anything like it in the world.The name is a memorial of the unifying power of the Christian faith. The unity ofall believers is based on their common Father, which makes them all brothers andsisters. He says again, Do not be content with the vague, often unmeaning name ofChristian, but fill it with meaning by being a believer on Christ, a saint devoted toGod, and a brother of all whom by like precious faith, have become Sons ofGod.FAITHFULBeing faithful was very important to Paul. It meant somebody you could count on.They could be trusted to be reliable. If they have a duty to do, you can count on itthey will do it. There is nothing more frustrating than the unfaithful. You expectthem to do what they say they will do and then make plans accordingly and they letyou down. They are a disappointment and it is discouraging, but with the faithfulyou know it will be as they promise. The reason Paul loves Timothy was because hewas so faithful. When others let him down and even forsook him, Timothy wasalways there for him. Paul loved to praise those who were faithful.Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you afaithful minister of Christ;Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, anda faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord:Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. Theyshall make known unto you all things, which are done here.Someone put it this way: To some, the word plugger may seem a little coarse andundignified when applied to people. It shouldn't. ot even when applied to God'speople. As defined by Webster in its colloquial sense, the plugger is one who keepssteadily and doggedly at work. When that work is the Lord's work the pluggers arethe faithful. So, even if the word seems common, the people it describes are certainlynot. They are the unsung heroes of the Lord's army. They are the backbone of thechurch. They are worthy of honor. Praise the pluggers. ot for their extraordinarytalents, but for making good use of whatever talents they do have. They don't lettheir inability to do things hinder them from doing little things. They are contentjust to do the best they can at what they can (Eccl. 9:10). That may mean cleaningthe building or mowing the lawn. It may involve helping the sick or cheering the 14. fainthearted. It may mean nothing more than giving a tract or an invitation, butthey just keep right on, doing all as unto the Lord.Faithful brothers. Here is a Jew writing to Gentiles and calling them brothers.People in that day hated each other for being one or the other. Hatred characterizedthe relation of Jews and Gentiles. But in the church and in Christ these enemiesbecome brothers. All walls between people are to be broken down in Christ. Parkerwrites, There are messages which can be delivered only to such men as are heredescribed. Paul has written nothing to societies of wicked men. the Apostles havenothing to say to brotherhoods of evil or confederacies of malice; they can onlydeliver their gospel to those who are prepared to receive it. The sun indeed hasnothing to say to plants that are dead, or to trees that are plucked up by the roots:but how much it has to say to plants that live, and to trees that stretch forth theirbranches, as if in eager expectancy, towards heaven!ADDRESS1. In Christ. This is their permanent address that will never change for all eternity.Colosse was only their temporary address. This city was destroyed by anearthquake, but it did not change their address of being in Christ. Barclay writes,The Christian lives in two dimensions. He lives in this world, and he does not takethe duties and relationships lightly; he fulfills his every obligation to the world inwhich in lives. But above and beyond that he lives in Christ. In this world he maymove form place to place, so that now he is in one place and now in another; butwherever he is, he is in Christ. That is why outward circumstances will make verylittle difference to the Christian; his happiness and his peace and his joy are notdependent on them; these things can change, but the fact is that he is in Christ cannever change.We never say men are in Paul, or Moses, or Isaiah, or Luther, or Calvin. We saythey are Lutherans and Calvinists, and mean they are followers of these men, butnever that they are in them. Calvin's ideas may be in us, but we are not in him. Theideas of Jesus may be in men also, and they not be in Him. A Christian is one whohas Christ in him and thus, he is in Christ. A cup can be in the water and the waterin the cup. If you are in love, love will be in you. To be in is to be immersed in, andsurrounded by. Jesus is our environment. We are in the world but not of it, but weare in Christ and of Him. We are in the air and the air is in us, so we are in Christand Christ is in us. Both our internal and external world are Christ oriented.2. R.C. Sproul has some fun occasionally at a lecture in his studio at Orlando. Hewill go up to someone in the audience and ask, Where do you live? The personwill answer, Chicago or St. Louis or Burlington. Then R.C. asks, are youalive now? The person answers, Yes. Are you in Chicago now? The answer isno. But, you said you live in Chicago? What is it that you are doing now? Hispoint is simple: Our home is in a specific location. We live wherever we ARE. AsChristians we are both in the world and in Christ. The being in Christ is to make a 15. major difference in how we are in the world. Colosse is not to be the major influencein our lives, but Christ, and that influence is to make a difference in Colosse. WhenColosse has a more powerful influence than Christ, we are worldly Christians. Weneed to ask ourselves often, where am I living right now? Am I in Colosse, andletting it be the primary source of influence in my life, or am I in Christ letting Himbe that primary source of influence?3. We are in Christ, and so what happens to Him happens to us. We are raised withHim, and we are ascended with Him. We are in His humanity and all that happensto Him is our destiny. Paxton says it,Denotes our position=Where He is, we are.Defines our privileges=What He is, we are.Describes our possessions=What He has, we share.Determines our practice=What He does, we do.4. What the Epistles say about Christ.1. Romans: We are justified in Christ.2. Corinthians: We are dignified in Christ.3. Galatians: We are sanctified in Christ.4. Ephesians and Colossians: We are unified in Christ.5. Thessalonians: We are glorified in Christ.6. Timothy: We are qualified in Christ.7. Titus: We are purified in Christ.8. Hebrews: We are magnified in Christ.9. James: We are amplified in Christ.10. Peter: We are edified in Christ.11. Jude: We are fortified in Christ.12. Revelation: We are beautified in Christ.--A. T. Pierson.5. I CHRIST WE HAVE1. Love that can never be fathomed.2. Life than can never die.3. Righteousness that can never be tarnished.4. Peace that cannot be understood.5. Rest than can never be disturbed.6. Joy that can never be diminished.7. Hope that can never be disappointed.8. Glory that can never be clouded.9. Light that can never be darkened.10. Happiness that can never be interrupted.11. Strength that can never be enfeebled.12. Purity that can never be defiled.13. Beauty that can never be marred.14. Wisdom that can never be baffled.15. Resources that can never be exhausted. QUOTED FROM WAR CRY6. This is really Paul's letter to podunkville, for this is the least important city Paul 16. wrote to. His letters to Rome and Corinth were to very big and major cities of theworld of that day, but Colosse was a dying town. Yet these Christians motivatedPaul to write one of the greatest letters in history that has influenced all of thehistory of the whole church.7. It was located near the other two cities mentioned in this letter. Laodicea in 2:1,4:13-16. and Hierapolis in 4:13. These other two cities were bigger and could be seenby each other as they stood on opposite sides of the Lycus river in what is nowTurkey. They were about six miles apart and up the river 12 miles was this smallertown of Colosse. Rev. Bruce Goettsche wrote, Colosse was considered a small townat this time but was near a major trade route which meant that many travelerspassed through their area. I think the best way to understand what Colosse was likeis to liken it to a small town just off the Interstate. People from all over the worldstop in that town to get gas or lodging. With these visitors come an exposure to thethinking and values of the world. Different people would stop and visit and sharetheir ideas and philosophies. It was only natural for the people of the town to beintrigued by some of the things they had heard. It is similar to what takes placewhen someone goes to college . . . they are exposed to ways of thinking that aredifferent from their own and often have radical swings in belief.Some of these ideas were embraced by the people. Soon, these ideas were findingtheir way into the church. And though the change was subtle (at this point), thegospel was being distorted. The church was beginning to be molded by the world inwhich it lived. This is called Syncretism. It is a blending of various philosophies.However, any change in the pure gospel message diminishes the Gospel. Anythingwe try to add pollutes God's great plan. Maybe you can already see why this is amessage for our time. o matter where we live, we are constantly exposed to thephilosophies of the world. We may feel like we are isolated and secure. But we arenot. Today with C, network television, the radio, mass marketed literature, thedaily newspaper, and the Internet, we are constantly being bombarded with non-Christian thinking. Unfortunately, even much of the Christian broadcasting isnow carrying secular overtones.8. It was rich territory with fertile land and great flocks of sheep. It became thecenter of the woolen industry of the world. All three cities benefited from this, butLaodicea became the political and financial center of the area and Hierapolisbecame the trade center and place for health spas with its vapor springs. Thecompetition was too great for Colosse and she had nothing special to offer and sobegan to decline. It can and does happen to the best of people and places. Today theruins of the other two cities can be seen but there is not one stone left of Colosse totell where it once was. In the eighth century people left the city and by the twelfthcentury it disappeared completely. Colosse was a dying city and it had this smallchurch. It could be neglected we would think, but Paul felt it was important to dealwith the issues of the small church and because of his value system the whole worldhas benefited.GRACE. 17. This was one of Paul's favorite words, and he begins and ends this letter with grace,and he does so with every letter he writes, with Hebrews as the only exception, andthere is debate if he wrote that. THAYER points out that: a. CHARIS contains theidea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved. b. The Twriters use CHARIS (or Karis) preeminently of that kindness by which Godbestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of theiroffenses, and bids them accept of eternal salvation through Christ. - e.g., Ep 2:5Karis is the Greek word and it is equivalent to our God bless you. This word coversall of the ways people wish others the best. Good luck is the secular equivalent.Grace is more personal for it refers to the favor of God. May the favor of God beupon you. Greeks meant beauty by grace, and would be saying, May you havebeauty of person and beauty of soul. May your houses and children, and all yoursurroundings be fair to the eyes. May you lives be like a noble poem or statue withdo discord or deformity to mar them. We get the word charm from the Greekcharis. There is to be a loveliness about the Christian life. If it is not attractive itfalls short of the ideal of Christ. He was full of grace. King writes, How much itmeans! God's attitude, as in Eph. 2:8; God's assistance, as in I Cor. 15:10; God'sattractiveness, as in Acts 4:33. Since all this is what the Word implies, what a wishit is with which to greet our fellows: May this all-embracing grace be yours.Parker, Paul does not proceed upon the principle that because grace was oncegiven to the saints and faithful brethren that therefore they need no more. We needdaily grace for daily need. We must, indeed, never permit the soul to be cut off fromthe fountains of heavenly grace... Grace is God's provision for the Christian life.Peace is the enjoyment of God's provisions. A person experiencing peace is in theprocess of experiencing God's grace. Grace is the normal Greek salutation.Peace is the normal Hebrew salutation.PEACE.The Hebrew SHALOM peace[ 13 ] is equivalent to the Greek EIREEEE peace butin Paul's greeting peace has the special meaning that Christ gave to it. He said toHis disciples, Peace I leave with you, adding that His peace is not as the worldgives (Joh 14:27; compare Col 3:15). Peace is the sense of being O K with God,others, and yourself. You can have all the riches and fame of the world, but if youdo not have peace you are not happy. This is the highest state of well being.Old castles often had deep wells for time of war. The enemy might cut off the watersupply from the aqueducts, but they could not touch the source of water within. Tohave an inner sense of peace is to have a well within that cannot be reached by theturmoil of life and external circumstances. This is one of life's great blessings andone Paul wanted for all believers. Grace is the root and peace is the fruit. They arenot once for all gifts like salvation but must be gotten constantly. We need God'sgrace and peace today and every day. They are to the soul what food and water areto the body.This is not peace with God. That peace we receive at the point of salvation. This is 18. peace of God, God's very own peace for everyday life. It does not take much forpeople to get our goat. We charge into conflict over something insignificant. Pauldesires that every believer will know the peace of God in whatever situation theyface. This is the ability to call an armistice because the war is over. We no longerneed to fight insignificant battles.Illustration of the meaning of PEACE - Jim Walton was translating the T forthe Muinane people of La Sabana in the jungles of Colombia. But he was havingtrouble with the word peace. During this time, Fernando, the village chief, waspromised a 20-minute plane ride to a location that would have taken him 3 days totravel by walking. The plane was delayed in arriving at La Sabana, so Fernandodeparted on foot. When the plane finally came, a runner took off to bring Fernandoback. But by the time he had returned, the plane had left. Fernando was lividbecause of the mix-up. He went to Jim and launched into an angry tirade.Fortunately, Walton had taped the chief's diatribe. When he later translated it, hediscovered that the chief kept repeating the phrase, I don't have one heart. Jimasked other villagers what having one heart meant, and he found that it was likesaying, There is nothing between you and the other person. That, Waltonrealized, was just what he needed to translate the word peace. To have peace withGod means that there is nothing--no sin, no guilt, no condemnation--that separatesus. And that peace with God is possible only through Christ (Ro5:1). Do you haveone heart with God?Thanksgiving and Prayer3. We always thank God, the Father of our LordJesus Christ, when we pray for you,1. Ray Stedman writes, Paul is in Rome, a prisoner in chains, and unable to travelto Colossae, a thousand miles east, to help them. There is nothing he can dophysically for them. But spiritually, he is a powerful prayer warrior who can createin their midst a tremendous opportunity to know truth that will free them andenable them to withstand the assault of false teaching. That, then, is what he isdoing: he is praying for them. The striking thing about this prayer is the very firstsentence of it: For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have notstopped praying for you... This was a continuing prayer. As far as we know, Paulhad never been to Colossae. Apart from one or two among them, he did notpersonally know these believers. And yet he prays continually for them. When wecome to statements like this in Scripture it is quite fair to ask, when did he do this? 19. Day and night he is chained to a Roman guard, he never has a moment to himself.Awake or asleep, he is bound to his jailer. Furthermore, when he is awake, hisfriends are dropping by to see him to seek his counsel and instruction. He evenministers to the Roman guards, many of whom came to Christ, as we learn in theletter to the Philippians. He is busy writing letters, too, so when did he find time topray for the Colossians? The answer lies in the form of prayer that Dr. CarlLundquist calls living prayer. Here is a quotation from a recent letter I received.This is the description of an ongoing life of prayer, used by Maxie Dunnam in hisWorkbook of Living Prayer. It refers to quiet, whispered prayers and praises thatflow from our hearts all day long. Dunnam suggests that we use interruptions,people or events that break in unexpectedly upon our day, as calls to specific prayer.Most of us use mealtime---grace time---to think of God and to voice our thanks tohim. But more than food can call us to prayer. Frank Laubach, the modern mystic,challenges us to use the newspaper or the television set in the same way. As worlddecision-makers are pictured before our eyes we can breathe a quiet prayer forthem by name. We can read a newspaper prayerfully, whispering back to God ourintercessions for those in need, about whom we are reading. When someone callsour attention to himself, even in an impolite way--- tripping us on the bus, jabbingus with an umbrella, dodging in front of us (in traffic.I often pray Henry Van Dyke's beautiful prayer, Grant me the knowledge that Ineed To solve the questions of the mind. Light Thou my candle while I read, Tokeep my heart from going blind. Enlarge my vision to behold The wonders Youhave wrought of old.2.CALVI,We give thanks to God. He praises the faith and love of the Colossians,that it may encourage them the more to alacrity and constancy of perseverance.Farther, by shewing that he has a persuasion of this kind respecting them, heprocures their friendly regards, that they may be the more favourably inclined andteachable for receiving his doctrine. We must always take notice that he makes useof thanksgiving in place of congratulation, by which he teaches us, that in all ourjoys we must readily call to remembrance the goodness of God, inasmuch aseverything that is pleasant and agreeable to us is a kindness conferred by him.Besides, he admonishes us, by his example, to acknowledge with gratitude notmerely those things which the Lord confers upon us, but also those things which heconfers upon others.But for what things does he give thanks to the Lord? For the faith and love of theColossians. He acknowledges, therefore, that both are conferred by God: otherwisethe gratitude were pretended. And what have we otherwise than through hisliberality? If, however, even the smallest favors come to us from that source, howmuch more ought this same acknowledgment to be made in reference to those twogifts, in which the entire sum of our excellence consists?To the God and Father. (279) Understand the expression thus To God who is theFather of Christ. For it is not lawful for us to acknowledge any other God than him 20. who has manifested himself to us in his Son. And this is the only key for opening thedoor to us, if we are desirous to have access to the true God. For on this account,also, is he a Father to us, because he has embraced us in his only begotten Son, andin him also sets forth his paternal favor for our contemplation.Always for you, Some explain it thus We give thanks to God always for you, thatis, continually. Others explain it to mean Praying always for you. It may also beinterpreted in this way, Whenever we pray for you, we at the same time givethanks to God; and this is the simple meaning, We give thanks to God, and we atthe same time pray. By this he intimates, that the condition of believers is never inthis world perfect, so as not to have, invariably, something wanting. For even theman who has begun admirably well, may fall short in a hundred instances everyday; and we must ever be making progress while we are as yet on the way. Let ustherefore bear in mind that we must rejoice in the favors that we have alreadyreceived, and give thanks to God for them in such a manner, as to seek at the sametime from him perseverance and advancement.2B. This verse gives us 4 basic principles in prayer.1. PARTERSHIP I PRAYER. WEPaul could handle negative because he did not bare the burden alone. Hehad companions, and in his mind he escaped the prison of self-centeredness. Itrouble is the major problem of life. It is what Wallace Hamilton called thealphabetical heresy--the use of the capital I and the small you. Paul learned toreverse this and concentrate on the we and the you.2. PERSISTECY I PRAYER. ALWAYSSomeone said,The more temporal things that are used, the more they wearand waste; but spiritual things are strengthened and increased with exercise. Everyspiritual grace has in it the seed of an endless reproductiveness.So often we pray for those who are not Christians and forget that Paulprays most for those who are Christians even when they are doing great. They tooneed our prayers that they might keep going strong and not slip back. Doctor R. A.Torrey was told at a Bible Conference that his ministry 27 years previously inAustralia had produced some of the countries greatest soul winners. When he askedfor some names he said when these men made decisions I put them on my prayer listand have prayed for them everyday for 27 years.Brother Lawrance, the cook in a monastery wrote, The time of businessdoes not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of mykitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, Ipossess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessedsacrament. 21. 3. POSITIVES OF PRAYER. THAKThe principle and the prominent part of prayer is thanksgiving. We must beevaluating the lives of others at all times and be giving thanks for all signs ofgrowth.4. PERSOS I PRAYER. WE--GODYOUCharles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, The minister who does not earnestly pray overhis work must surely be a vain and conceited man. he acts as if he thought himselfsufficient of himself and therefore need not appeal to God. Yet what a baseless prideto conceive that our preaching can ever be in itself so powerful that it can turn menfrom their sins and bring them to God without the working of the Holy Ghost.I developed a sermon based on the above outline, and I include it here even thoughit is available in my sermons on Colossians.3. THREE KEYS TO A BETTER PRAYER LIFE.Dietrich Bonhoffer was a leader in the church of Germany at the time ofHitler's rise to power. He opposed Hitler and was imprisoned in 1943. He did notcease to influence people, however, even in prison. He inspired others by hiscourage. The guards were supposed to be his enemies, but they so respected himthat they smuggled out his writings that have influenced millions since.One of the men who was in prison with Bonhoffer was the English officerPayne Best. He survived the war and wrote this account in a book. I want to share itwith you because it represents the kind of example of Christ-likeness that we see inthe Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter of Colossians from his prison cell in Rome.Best wrote- Bonhoffer-was all humility and sweetness, he always seemed to me todiffuse an atmosphere of happiness, of joy in every smallest event in life--He was oneof the very few men I have ever met to whom his God was real and close to him.Then after Best describes a service that Bonhoffer held for the prisoners on Sunday,April 8, 1945 he wrote, He had hardly finished his last prayer when the dooropened and two evil looking men in civilian clothes came in ;and said 'prisonerBonhoffer, get ready to come with us.' Those words, come with us-for all theprisoners they had come to mean one thing only--the scaffold. We bade him good-bye-he drew me aside-this is the end, he said. For me the beginning of life. extday, at Flossenburg, he was hanged.This courageous optimism in the most negative of circumstances is one of thecharacteristics we see in the Apostle Paul. In his prison epistles we do not hear anywhining or complaining, but only words of joy and thanksgiving. Paul had indeedlearned to be content in every state of life. He too faced death at any time, yet hewanted to use his time to write and encourage others. His negative experience hasled to positive results in the lives of millions through history. 22. George Jackson, in a tribute to Robertson icole, the editor of the BritishWeekly said, He flung down a bunch of keys for me, and has set me to openingdoors for myself on every side of me. This is what Paul has done for the Colossiansand for the whole church of Christ. He has thrown down a bunch of keys thatenable us to open doors to God's best on every side. As we focus on v.3, we can seethat Paul has given us three keys to a better prayer life. The first key is-I. THE PARTERSHIP OF PRAYER.otice Paul says, We always thank God. He does not say I thank God, buthe included his partner Timothy. The idea of a prayer partner is very Biblical. Jesussaid prayer is more powerful when two agree on what they desire from God. InMatt. 18:19-20 we read, Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree aboutanything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where twoor three come together in my name, there am I with them.It seems as if God has designed prayer to be a promoter of unity, fellowshipand brotherhood. He has promised to answer more effectively those prayers thatcome from a partnership. This is a key to a better prayer life, but it is oftenneglected. We have potential power in prayer that we seldom use. Cabeza deVacatells of how he and his companion explorer went from Florida to the Pacific between1528-1536. On one occasion they were lost and starving and in a state of despairwhen they were found by Indians. The Indians felt that since they were white menthey should have the power to heal some of their sick. They were miserablethemselves and now they were expected to heal others or die. He wrote, We prayerfor strength. We prayed on bended knees and in agony of hunger. Then theyblessed the sick Indians, and to their amazement the ailing red men said they weremade well. DeVaca wrote, Being Europeans, we thought we had given away todoctors and priests our ability to heal. But here it was, still in our possession. It wasours after all; we were more than we thought we were.The fact is, all of us are more than we think we are. If we form partnershipsin prayer we will have a key that will open many doors that otherwise might neveropen. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He made it clear he expected them topray in partnership. He used only plurals. It was our Father, give us this dailybread, forgive us, and lead us not into temptation.Every believer needs to develop some relationship with another believerwhere they feel like true partners in prayer. In prayer, the loner is a loser. We maypray much alone, but we need to know that there is someone else who is one with usin our praying. When Lavonne and I began to hold hands each night, and talk overrequests, and agree on what we desire to bring before God, it lead to so manyanswers we stopped keeping track of them. We are convinced any couple would beenriched if they would begin this practice of partnership in prayer. Learn how toenjoy the we of prayer. In verse 9 Paul says again, We have not ceased to pray foryou. A we prayer is a better prayer than an I prayer, and so the more you pray in 23. partnership the better prayer life you will have.II. THE PERSISTECE OF PRAYER.Paul says, We always give thanks. Always refers to the persistence ofPauls prayer. The modern language Bible puts it, We constantly give thanks toGod.In verse 9 we see this emphasis again, and from the day we heard of it we have notceased to pray for you. Paul did not just say prayers, he prayed, and there is aworld of difference. I can say a prayer in a matter of seconds, but to pray takes up apart of my consciousness, and becomes a real concern of my life. This kind ofprayer does not cease, for it is a persistent factor in ones life. Paul wrote this letteras a part of his prayer concern. Prayer is not only asking God for His guidance, it isthe listening and responding to His guidance. Pauls response in writing this letteris a part of the circle of prayer. It is Gods answering his prayer for them throughhim by writing to them the things they need to hear.Persistence in prayer means there is some listening and follow-up. It is notjust flashing a telegram to God, but a listening for an answer, and putting feet toyour prayer by doing what you can to be a part of the answer. This is anotherpartnership in prayer, for it is a partnership with God. God does not want to workalone any more than we do. He wants to work with us and have us work with Himto achieve His purpose in history.In verse 9 Paul says he has prayed for them to be filled with the knowledge ofGod's will. He asked God to do this for them, and then he wrote this letter to tellthem the will of God and thus, he was an answer to his own prayer. He was apartner with God. Much unanswered prayer is due to our not persisting in prayeruntil we see how we can be partners with God in answering it. Persistence is a test ofour sincerity. Much prayer is a matter of routine and can easily be superficial, but ifyou persist and thank God always for certain aspects of life you demonstrate a trueand deep interest. By his persistent prayers Paul proves he really cares about theColossian Christians.Paul makes it clear that he expects them to also pray for him. In 4:2-3 hewrites, Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us,too, that God may open a door for our message..... Paul wants their partnership inprayer too, and we thus can conclude that the number of people caring about amatter enough to persist in seeking God about it makes a difference with God.Persistence is a principle that is necessary for success in any area of life. Themore you use things the more they wear out and become useless, but the more youuse the things of the spirit the more they develop and become more useful. ProfessorPhelps in his Autobiography with Letters, tells of how he hated his first concert ofclassical music. He decided to keep on trying to enjoy it and the day came when thesymphony became one of his greatest pleasures. The first time he read Browning hewas not impressed, but he persisted in reading until he came to almost idolize the 24. man's writings. If we keep at something and persist in seeking its value we can cometo love and value what we did not care about at all. This is the point of persistence inprayer. We give up to soon and lose the joy of answered prayer that would make it agreater pleasure rather than a chore. What do you pray for always?III. THE POSITIVE OF PRAYERThe prominent part of Paul's prayer was thanksgiving. That is the positiveaspect of prayer that is so easily neglected. Lack of thanks in our prayer is not a signthat we are not close to God, however, for this is a common lack toward those wecare about. We seldom thank our mate or children for their acts of love and serviceon our behalf. We tend to take them for granted, and so it is with God. His goodnessis so common that there is no end to the things we could thank Him for daily. Butthe commonplace is soon taken for granted and we forget to be grateful for theblessings all around us.Paul had the amazing ability to be ever grateful for the commonplace. Paulwould have made a marvelous husband. Imagine a wife who is thanked and praisedevery time she does as act of love and service. Thank you dear for making that meal,and for making the bed, and for cleaning the house, and for getting the kids off toschool, and thanks for washing my shirt, and on and on it could go. Paul could begiving thanks without ceasing. It was not as if he had no problems to struggle with,for Paul had perpetual battles and needed plenty of help and encouragement, but henever neglected the positive aspect of prayer, which is thanksgiving.Because prayer was positive for Paul, it was not a bore and a chore. He couldhardly wait to thank God again for all His grace. Have you ever felt so grateful tosomeone you could not wait to see them and express your gratitude? You can't besatisfied until they know how much you appreciate them and their acts of love. Paulfelt this way toward God every day, and all day of every day.Prayer is basically the desire to be in touch with God. That desire is strongerwhen you want to express your gratitude to Him. There is no bad way to pray forany prayer is better than no prayer, but there is a better way to pray and that iswith a positive attitude of thanksgiving. Come to God thanking Him for what Hehas already done before you plead for Him to do more for you. The best reason Godhas to answer your prayer is because you are so grateful for His previous answers.Lack of thanks is the best reason to deny further blessings. Thanks is the one thingwe can give to God to express how we feel about all He has given to us. God is togain in this two way communication of prayer too, and the only way He can and bepleased is by our being positive in thanksgiving.Paul was always a positive thinker and, no doubt, the reason he could be, inspite of all his trials, was because he was always looking for the things he couldthank God for in his every day life. If we look for them they are everywhere in ourlives too. If you will be positive in how you see God's blessings all around you, youwill be positive in your prayer life by being ever thankful, and this in turn will make 25. you more aware of your positive blessings.The prayer here is all positive. Most of the time we spend in prayer we arepraying for problems. It is almost embarrassing not to have a problem for then whatare people to pray for in your life? Like the 8 year old boy who was in SundaySchool and all the class was sharing prayer requests and as an 8 year old he had tocome up with something significant, and so he asked for prayer that his father mightgive up drinking. He had a can of beer he got from somewhere that sat in the frigfor 7 months. The word spread, and finally got back home. ow he had somethingto pray about. He began to pray he would make it to nine.This story illustrates the paradox that faces Christians. If your life is toogood, you get little attention. You are not on anyone's prayer list. It is problems thatget you on the list. The more problems you have and the more struggles with lifeand sin, the more attention you get. Get it altogether and you are ignored. TheChristian who is always sinking in some quicksand is the one who gets all theattention. The wheel that squeals gets the oil.The longest letters of Paul are to those churches with the most problems, andmost sinful behavior. It is a universal principle. It is the sick who get the attention ofthe doctor. It is those in trouble who get the attention of the lawyer. It is those withcar problems who get the attention of the mechanic.Yet, in spite of this, the goal of the Christian is to press on to perfection andhave such a positive life that there is no need to be on the prayer list for manyproblems. We all need to be on the list for the positive, however, and be lifted up inthe way Paul does for the Colossians.4. As is his custom, Paul gives thanks for those to whom he writes, 1:3-8. Paul didnot give thanks for the Galatians or the Corinthians (II Corinthians). If he canhonestly thank God for the people to whom he writes, he always does so. As soon asthe salutation is complete he introduces what he thanks God about them (compareRom. 1:8). He could not honestly thank God for the Galatians. It is amazing that hecould thank God for the Corinthians (I Cor 2:1). Paul did not say thank God you allhave great jobs, children, houses, cars and power in the community. He was gratefulfor their Christian character and the contents of their lives and spirit rather thanthe content of their closets and bank accounts. Paul was thankful for people. It wasa major part of his prayer life. We may spend more time being thankful for things.Like Gene Perrett says that there are eight things to be grateful for:Be grateful...* for automatic dishwashers. They make it possible to get out of the kitchen beforethe family come in for their after-dinner snacks. 26. * for husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house. They usually makethem big enough to call in professionals.* for the bathtub -- the one place the family allows Mom some time to herself.* for children who put away their things and clean up after themselves. They'resuch a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents.* that we can still have a good heart-to-heart talk with our youngsters. They need agood nap now and then.* for gardening. It's a relief to deal with dirt outside the house for a change.* for teenagers. They give parents an opportunity to learn a second language.* for smoke alarms. They let you know when the turkey's done.5. BI, A thankful recognition of Christian excellence as introductory towarnings and remonstrances. Almost all Pauls Epistles begin thus. Gentlerain softens the ground, and prepares it to receive the heavier downfallwhich would else mostly run off the hard surface. These expressions are notcompliments, or flattery used for personal ends, but uncalculatedexpressions of affection which delights to see white patches in the blackestcharacter, and of wisdom which knows that the nauseous medicine of blameis most easily taken if wrapped in a capsule of honest praise. All persons inauthority may be the better for taking this lesson.2. The praise is cast in the form of thanksgiving to God, as the truefountain of all that is good in men. All that might be harmful in directpraise is thus strained out of it. Christian excellences are Gods gifts. Thefountain, not the pitcher, should have the credit of the water.3. There were two points which occasioned his thankfulness.(1) Faith. This is sometimes spoken of as towards Jesus, whichdescribes the act by its direction, as if it were the going out of mansnature to the true goal of all active being. On Christ, describes it asreposing on Him as the end of all seeking. But more sweet is faithconsidered as in Him as its home, where the seeking spirit may foldits wings, be strengthened, and tranquillized.(a) In all, faith is the samesimple confidence. But how unlike arethe objects!broken reeds in the one case, and the firm pillar ofDivine power and tenderness in the other. And how unlike, alas!the fervency and constancy of our trust in each other and in Him.(b) Faith covers the whole ground of mans relation to God.Everything that binds us to the unseen world is included in it.(c) From that fruitful source all good will come, and that faithlacks its best warrant which does not lead to whatsoever is of good 27. report.(2) As faith is the parent of all virtue, so it is the parent of lovethewhole law of human conduct packed into one word. But the warmestplace in a Christians heart will belong to those in sympathy with hisdeepest self. The sign on the surface of earthly relations of the centralfire of faith to Christ is the fruitful vintage of brotherly love, as thevineyards bear the heaviest clusters on the slopes of Vesuvius.(3) So here we have two members of the familiar triad, and theirsister, Hope, is not far off. And the hope laid up in heaven is a motivefor brotherly love. This hope is not the emotion, but the object, andthe ideas of futurity and security are suggested by that object beinglaid up. This is not the main motive, but it is legitimate to drawsubordinate motives for holiness from the anticipation of futureblessedness, and to use that prospect to reinforce the higher motives.II. A solemn reminder of the truth and worth of that gospel which wasthreatened by the budding heresies of the Colossian Church.1. He begins by reminding them that to that gospel they owed all theirknowledge and hope of heaven. Its sole certainty is built on theresurrection of Christ, and its sole hope on His death. All around us wesee those who reject these surrender their faith in the life beyond.2. The gospel is a word of which the whole subject and contents is truth.It is of value, not because it feeds sentiment or regulates conduct only,but because it reveals knowledge about the deepest things of God, ofwhich, but for it, man would know nothing. It is not speculation, buttruth; and truth because it is the record of Him who is the Truth. Towhom shall we go? If elsewhere, to will-o-the-wisps and Babel.3. This gospel had been received by them. You have accepted the Word;see that your future be consistent with your past. Blessed are theywhose creed at last can be spoken in the lessons learned in childhood, towhich experience has but given new meaning.4. This gospel was filling the world. All the world must be taken withan allowance for rhetorical statement, but the rapid spread ofChristianity then, and its power to influence all sorts of men, were factsthat needed to be accounted for if the gospel were not true. All schismsand heresies are partial and local, suit coteries, and are the product ofcircumstances; but the gospel goes through the world, and draws allmen. Dainties are for the few, and the delicacies of one country are theabominations of another; but everybody breaks bread and lives on it. Donot fling away the gospel, which belongs to all, for that which can neverlive in the popular heart, nor influence more than a handful of superiorpersons.5. Another plea for adherence to the gospel is based on its continuousand universal fruitfulness. It brings about results which attest its claimto be from God. Our imperfections are our own; our good is its. Amedicine is not shown to be powerless if a sick man has taken itirregularly. This rod has budded at all events; have any of its antagonistsrods done the same? Dont cast it away, says Paul, till you have found a 28. better.6. They have heard a gospel which reveals the true grace of Godanother argument for steadfastness. In opposition to it then, as now,were put various thoughts and requirements, a human wisdom and aburdensome code. They are but bony things to try and live on. The soulwants something more than bread made out of sawdust. We want aloving God to live on, whom we can love because He loves us. Willanything but the gospel give us that?III. The apostolic endorsement of Epaphras, the early teacher of theColossians, whose authority, no doubt, was imperilled by the new directionof thought, and Paul was desirous of adding the weight of his attestation tothe complete correspondence between his own teaching and that ofEpaphras. We know nothing of him except from this letter end that toPhilemon. He is a member of the Colossian Church (Col_4:12). He hadbrought the tidings which filled the apostles heart with joy and love fortheir Christian walk (verses 4-8), and of anxiety lest they should be sweptaway from their steadfastness. Epaphras shared this (Col_4:12). He was insome sense Pauls fellow-prisoner, and alone of Pauls companionsreceives the name of fellow-servant, which may be an instance of Paulscourteous humility. Dont make differenceswe are both slaves of oneMaster. As He had truly represented Paul, so he had lovingly representedthem. Probably those who questioned Epaphras version of Pauls teachingwould suspect his report of the Church; hence the double witness bornefrom the apostles generous heart to both parts of his brothers work. Neverwas leader truer to his subordinates than Paul. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)ThanksgivingI. The duty.1. Arises out of an express command. We are bound to be thankful for allthings (Job_1:21; Isa_24:15).2. Is a test of Christian character. All the saints have been distinguishedby it, and have treasured up their mercies that they might render it. Tobe lacking in it is to lack the chief distinguishing grace of Christiancharacter, and to incur the greatest sin- ingratitude.3. Must always form a prominent feature of spiritual worship- witnessthe Psalms.4. Is most reasonable in itselfwhen we consider that it is the bestreturn we can make for any blessing.II. Its special subjects. The graces of the spirit in ourselves or others.1. Faith takes the precedence, because it is the first and root-grace. Thinkof what faith doessaves, is the evidence of things unseen, casts all careon God, etc.2. Love which is fruitful in blessed effects. The loveless man is miserable.3. A good hope through gracewhich anticipates heaven. (T. Watson, B. 29. A.)Apostolic thanksgivingI. Its spirit.1. It is unselfish. We hear the prisoner praise and exult for the joys ofothers. Arthur Helps says: It is a noble sight. That man is very powerfulwho has no more hopes for himself, who looks not to be loved oradmired any more, to have more honour and dignity; but whose solethought is for others, and who only lives for them.2. Ungrudging. He is about to deal with their errors, but is eager first torecognize what is laudable. There are two sets of men, those who first seethe blemish, then the beauty; and those who first admire and thencriticise. To the first of these Paul belonged.3. Constant.II. Its subjects.1. The spiritual possessions of the Church. Sometimes Paul views faithand love as leading up to hope: here he depicts hope as kindling faith andlove.(1) The faith is Christ-centred.(2) The love is practical.(3) The hope is secure.2. The means by which these possessions had been obtained.(1) The gospel.(a) In its universality.(b) In its fertility. The gospel is not only vital, but reproductive.(2) The preacher.3. The source and sphere of their possession. Love in the Spirit is thelife of all the saints. (U. R. Thomas.)The custom of the apostle to begin his Epistles with thanksgiving showedthe devout habit of his mind, his constant recognition of the source of good,and his interest in the spiritual condi tion of those to whom he wrote.I. Thanksgiving an essential element in prayer. We give thanks, prayingalways for you.II. The Being to Whom all thanksgiving is due. The God and Father of ourLord Jesus Christ.III. The grounds of this thanksgiving.1. The reputation of their faith in Christ. 30. (1) Christ is the object and foundation of all true faith. He is so as theDivinely-consecrated Deliverer of our race. The grandeur of His workand the glory of His character are suggested by the titles here given.(2): Faith is the root-principle of Christian life.2. Their possession of an expansive Christian love. Love to Christ isnecessarily involved, for love to the saints is our affection for Christsimage in them. Love is all-embracing. Peculiarities, defects, differencesof opinion, are no barriers. It is the unanswerable evidence of moraltransformation (1Jn_3:14). It is the grandest triumph over the naturalenmity of the human heart. It is the indissoluble bond of choicestfellowship.3. Their enjoyment of a well-sustained hope.(1) Its character. The prospect of heavenof possessing a spiritualinheritance whose wealth never diminishes and whose splendoursnever fadeof seeing Christ, and being like Him and dwelling withHim for ever. This prospect lifts the soul above the wearinesses,disappointments, and sufferings of the present limited life.(2) Its security laid upsafely deposited as a precious jewel inGods coffer. There no pilfering hands can touch, no breath tarnish,no moth corrupt it. Earthly treasures vanish, and to Gods peoplesometimes nothing but hope remains. Where this treasure is therethe heart should be.(3) Its sourcethe gospel. It alone unfolds the mysteries of the future.How dismal the outlook where hope is unknown.Lessons:1. We should thank God for others more on account of their spiritualthan temporal welfare.2. Learn what are the essential elements of the Christian characterfaith, love, hope.3. The proclamation of the gospel should be welcomed, and its messagepondered. (G. Barlow.)The connection between thanksgiving and prayerThe participle marks the thanksgiving as part of the prayer, and the adverbmakes it prominent, indicating that when they prayed for them they alwaysgave thanks. There is no true prayer without thanksgiving. Gratitudeintensifies the souls sense of dependence on God, and prompts the cry forthe needed help; and, on the other hand, earnest prayer naturally glidesinto fervent thankfulness. As one sin is interlinked with and produced byanother, so the Use of one grace begets another. The more temporal thingsare used, the more they wear and waste; but spiritual things arestrengthened and increased with exercise. Every spiritual grace has in it theseed of an endless reproductiveness. Underlying every thanksgiving forothers is a spirit of tender, disinterested love. Moved by this passion, the 31. apostle, from the midst of imprisonment and sorrow, could soar on thewings of gratitude and prayer to heaven. Thanksgiving will be the bliss ofeternity. (Passavant.)Five Christian elementsI. Christian experience. It consists in1. Faith.(1) That which leads us to accept as true the testimony of the gospelconcerning Christ.(2) To depend upon Him for all the blessings promised by Him.(3) To constantly apply to Him for all that He has revealed andaccomplished.(4) To lay hold of His friendship, and find Him in every respect afaithful, suitable, ever-present, all-sufficient friend.2. Love, the constant attendant of faith, and by which faith works.(1) It produces universal benevolence to all the world, andcompassion for perishing sinners.(2) It especially delights itself in the saints as related to and bearingthe image of Him who is the supreme object of love.(3) It will evidence itself in love to Christs commands, ways, people.3. Hope.(1) Its object is heaven.(2) As a grace it dwells in the heart, always in some measureaccompanying faith and love.(3) It is with the Christian even in his darkest moments.II. Christian communion consists in1. Joy and gratitude to God on behalf of those who give evidence of beingpartakers of His grace in truth. This is quite distinct from ordinaryfriendship.(1) It is founded on personal attractions or intimate intercourse.(2) It is oneness of soul which subsists in the absence of every otherconsideration, and notwithstanding unfavourable circumstances.2. Fervent prayer for the establishment and perfection of those graces inthe beginning of which we rejoice (verses 9, 10).3. Cheering and animating each other to perseverance, notwithstandingall the trials and difficulties we may meet (verse 11).4. Encouraging each other constantly to keep in mind our infiniteobligations and glorious prospects (verses 12, 13).III. Christian resources. 32. 1. The word of the truth of the gospel (verse 5). Till this came theColossians were strangers to faith, love, and hope.2. The instrumentality of ministers. Epaphras and Paul were dear fellow-servantsand faithful ministers, one preaching to the Colossians, bywhich they believed, and both labouring for their establishment andedification.3. Prayer for the supply of all those spiritual blessings which the saintshave learned to appreciate and desire (verses 3-9).4. The operations of the Holy Spirit, which gives efficiency to all love(verse 8) is especially said to be in the Spirit, who is indeed the agent ofevery grace.IV. Christian practice (verse 6). Wherever the gospel is preached, andattended with Divine power and efficacy, it brings forth fruit.1. In the conversion of sinners.2. Where vital religion is possessed it is evidenced by exemplarydeportment and diffusive benevolence. There is fruit that both theChurch and the world can see. They cannot see our love to Christ or ourhope of heaven, but they can see our conscientious dealings in the world,our charity, our unworldliness. These are fruits which give evidence ofvitality and vigour in the root.V. Christian expectations. Christians have a hope that is laid up for them inheaven.1. As to themselves, it is secret and out of sight. It is only faith that canrealize it. They are yet in their minority in a world of discipline andeducation; heirs, indeed, but not of age. Supplies are sent them here, buttheir hope, their portion, is laid up in heaven.2. It is treasured up in a place of perfect security, so that no enemy orthief can reach it.3. It is laid up where none of the changes of time can affect it. If wecarried it about with us, we might lose it. When we die we should drop it;but it is safe in heaven, out of the reach of disappointment.Conclusion:1. If we desire spiritual prosperity, let us be much in prayer for ourselvesand others. Nothing more enlarges our capacity for holy enjoyment.2. If we possess a hope in heaven, let it be evidenced by superiority to theworld and love to our fellow-heirs.3. If these blessings are imparted to sinners through the instrumentalityof the gospel, be concerned to spread the gospel. (J. Hirst.)Christian love the chief graceLove, amid the other graces in this world, is like a cathedral tower, whichbegins on the earth, and, at first, is surrounded by the other parts of the 33. structure. But, at length, rising above buttressed walls, and arch, andparapet, and pinnacle, it shoots spirelike many a foot right into the air, sohigh that the huge cross on its summit glows like a spark in the morninglight, and shines like a star in the evening sky, when the rest of the pile isenveloped in darkness. So love, here, is surrounded by the other graces, anddivides the honours with them; but they will have felt the wrap of night, andof darkness, when it will shine, luminous, against the sky of eternity. (H. W.Beecher. )6. GILL, We give thanks to God,.... Meaning himself and Timothy. This isthe beginning of the epistle, which is introduced with a thanksgiving to God;to whom praise and thankfulness are always due as a Creator andpreserver, as the author of all good things, as the Father of mercies,temporal and spiritual, and as the covenant God and Father of his peoplethrough Christ: wherefore it follows,and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; the sense of which either is, thatGod the Father, who is the object of praise and thanksgiving, is both the Godof Christ, and the Father of