We finish Colossians today, Colossians 4 and verse 1 reads.
Col.4:1] Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Never lord over another without love. An evil and an abusive master will deal with an angry God.
Col.4:2] Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Pray to the Father and watch, for prayers will be answered, with giving thanks to the Father.
Col.4:3] Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Paul is asking for prayers that he might open the eyes of the elect to the mystery of Christ. Knowing that these letters that we are reading today might be understood. Showing us here the importance of the knowledge of the mystery. What is this mystery? That the antichrist comes before the True Christ in the end times.
Col.4:4] That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Manifest is “made known”.
Col.4:5] Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Feed my sheep, feed my lambs. But don’t cast pearls before swine.
Col.4:6] Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Be bold and salty, with vigor teach the word of God. Answer every man with the word of God. Knowledge is knowing how to search scriptures to answer questions.
Col.4:7] All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
[8] Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
Tychicus would become the pastor for the church of Colosi.
Col.4:9] With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
[10] Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Marcus is Mark John, writer of the gospel.
Col.4:11] And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
Justus is not the Christ but a fellow worker.
Col.4:12] Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
[13] For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Epaphras was a prayer warrior, very good works for the Lord.
Col.4:14] Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Luke called a physician here was truly a doctor before Christ called him and said “follow me”. Luke most likely scribed this letter for Paul.
Col.4:15] Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Is your house a church for Jesus Christ, do you teach your family God’s word? I truly hope so.
Col.4:16] And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
Knowing we ourselves also have read it now, have the importance of that mystery. But also, Paul is saying to them trade letters and let them have this one and you take that one and read to each congregation the two.
Col.4:17] And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Take heed for what? Let’s go to Revelations 3, and begin reading from verse 14.
Rev.3:14] And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Don’t want to be in this situation, but he continues and gives the reasons.
Rev.3:17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Being rich is having the word of God, they do not. Blind to his word and naked meaning they have no good works.
Rev.3:18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Telling them that upon repentance they may be forgiven, and be clothed for good works, and that God may open their eyes to his word. Let’s go to Rev.19:8 and it reads.
Rev.19:8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Back to Rev.3 and verse 19 reads.
Rev.3:19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
[20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
So, the Laodiceans do have the same opportunity that everyone else has, repentance and forgiveness of sins. Knowing these prophesies are for the end times and not for the times of Paul, gives reason for the warning. Back to Col.4 and verse 18 reads.
Col.4:18] The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
Asking for prayers while he is in prison. I hope that you find your place in the body of the church. Christ is the head so what are you, are you the backbone? Are you the hand, do you feed the lambs? Are you the feet and take the word to the world? Are you the lips, and pray for others? Find yourself in Jesus Christ and you will find your destiny. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible