Introduction to Colossians 4:17-18

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/9/2017 10:55 PM

My Worship Time                                                           Focus:  Introduction to Colossians 4:7-18

Bible Reading & Meditation                                               Reference:  Colossians 4:7-18

            Message of the verses:  “7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. 8  For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. 17 Say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.”

            I first of all want to say that this is the last chapter in John MacArthur’s commentary on the book of Colossians, and he has entitled it “With a Little Help from My Friends.”  Another thing worth mentioning is that at the end of this commentary MacArthur has a commentary on the book of Philemon which we will look at after we finish this letter to the Colossians.

            Paul had never been to the Colossian church as we have mentioned, and when he wrote his letter to the Romans he had never been there either.  Both letters have an extensive list of names at the end of the letters, and I believe it is to show those who are receiving these letters that it is truly a letter from Paul.

            MacArthur writes that “This section adds a warm, personal touch to what has been largely a doctrinal letter.  It is similar to the personals he adds to chapter 16 of Romans.”

            “These names in the letters that Paul writes are mostly names of those who helped Paul in his ministry as he was preaching the gospel in different towns, along with starting churches and getting the new believers grounded in the faith.  Having help in the ministry is necessary to the success of the ministry and Exodus 17:8-13 illustrates that truth:

“8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." 10 Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”

It was because of the help that Moses received from Aaron and Hur which enabled Israel to have a great victory.

            We will look at more from the Pen of Moses from Numbers 11:11-15:

“11 So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me? 12 “Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ’Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers’? 13 “Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me, saying, ’Give us meat that we may eat!’ 14 “I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. 15 “So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness."”

            Moses gets his answer from the Lord in verses 16-17:

“16 The LORD therefore said to Moses, "Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 “Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.”

            Good leaders are people who know those that are working with or for them as the leader knows the strengths and weakness of those people working for them.  A good leader will then trust those around him to do the job and not go out to help them do the job.  Trust is an important aspect in being a good leader along as I said the ability to know your people and their skills.  There is much to say in the Bible about leadership, and the book of Nehemiah gives an example of how to be a good leader, as Nehemiah proved to be a good leader getting things done for the Lord.

            MacArthur concludes:  “Paul never ministered alone.  He shared his first leadership opportunity in the church at Antioch with four other men, and throughout the following years of his missionary travels, he always had companions.  The only time we find him alone in Acts is for a brief period in Athens (Acts 17).  Although he is a prisoner as he writes Colossians, he still is not alone.  The eight men he names are not all well-known figures.  Each was, however, a special person to Paul.  And each was willing to pay the price of associating with a prisoner.  In this passage we meet the man with a servant’s heart, the man with a sinful past, the man with a sympathetic heart, the man with a surprising future, the man with a strong commitment, the man with a single passion, the man with a specialized talent, and the man with a sad future.”

6/9/2017 11:25 PM