Colossians 4:2-18 Message

AN OPEN DOOR FOR OUR MESSAGE
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Colossians 4:2-18 Lesson 7
Key Verse: 4:3 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 9/2/09

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."
For Paul and for us, too, one of the most important tasks of our Christian lives is that of proclaiming the gospel to people mired in a world full of sin and darkness. To do this we must devote ourselves to prayer. We must be alert to see God's answers and be thankful as we proclaim the gospel message clearly. Then we can go through these open doors and make the most of the opportunities God has given. In this lesson, Paul emphasizes a life of prayer and thanksgiving. Paul mentions many names stressing the importance of building up co-working relationships with other believers. Let us learn from this passage and go through the open doors that God is opening for us in DeKalb and on the campus of NIU.
Part l: Prayer And Wisdom (2-6)

Paul encourages the new believers in matters of the heart. Verse 2 reads, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." First, these new believers needed to devote themselves to prayer. Devote means to “set apart for a special purpose...to dedicate.” (The new Mirriam Webster dictionary c. 1974) Prayer is fundamental to our spiritual life, like breathing is to our physical life. Prayer requires a certain discipline, making time pray. It requires heart. We need to put our hearts into prayer and not just go through the motions. Prayer is privilege. We should thank God that we could stand before the throne of God to pray. Prayer is conversation with God where we meet with God personally. We need to have frequent conversations with God. In regards to prayer, you need to find out what works for you. I pray when I walk the dog. I pray when I drive to work. I pray in my bedroom. When you find the place of prayer that is right for you then prayer will come more naturally.

Second, we must be watchful. Satan tries to attack us in every way. Satan is always prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We must be watchful or we will be pounced on and devoured. If you are overconfident in yourself and in your own strength then you will surely fall. (1 Cor 10:12) A person who is watchful can not be overcome by Satan nor the power of sin.

Third, thankfulness is an important factor in prayer. Verse 2b reads, “… being watchful and thankful.” Paul exhorts these Christians to be thankful in all circumstances. 1 Thess 5:17-19 reads,“pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Some may say,“Why be thankful? Does God want me to wear a plastic smile?” Look at it this way…It seems that everything wants to impede our prayer life. It is because the devil knows that pray is the most potent weapon in the spiritual battle. When we are full of complaints then we can not pray. But when we are full of thanksgiving to God then prayer can flow out from our hearts. We think that prayer is only to pray about problems. But prayer is also a chance to praise God and renew God’s grace, personally, so that we can be thankful. During prayer, try to remember God’s grace and everything will look different and prayer will flow naturally.

Paul had many important prayer requests. Look at verses 3-4, "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." His prayer was that God may open a door opportunity for the Gospel to be proclaimed clearly. It has been said that 50% of Roman prisoners died while in custody, but it is interesting to note that Paul did not pray to be released, but for the door for effectual gospel work to be open. He did not fall into the trap of focusing exclusively on his own situation. He was concerned that the Gospel go everywhere.

When we pray and are watchful we can begin to see open doors. The door for effective Gospel work was closed in Winnipeg. But our missionaries did not give up. They prayed and asked God to reveal an open door in order to raise disciples among Canadian students. They prayed and God revealed to them that planting churches in the Toronto and Montreal were open doors. They decided to enter through that door. The missionaries and Canadian shepherds moved 2,000 miles away. That was in 1989. Since then God has been blessing their ministries and so many disciples are being raised up among students. This year they held a Canadian Summer Bible Conference where about 350 people attended. They started their own Canadian UBF staff Conferences. There is great work of God sprouting in Western Canada. Praise the Lord! We need to pray for God to open our eyes so that we can see open doors for effective Gospel ministry here at NIU and enter in through those doors. Pray…look for an open door…and go through it by faith!

Let’s think a little more about Paul not praying to be released. Paul accepted his prison as his cross and as God’s will. He knew that his chains would advance the gospel. He was like Jesus who prayed not for the cup of suffering to be taken from him, but for strength to drink that cup to the end. (Lk 22:42) There are times when persecution is a better environment for advancing the gospel than security and comfort is. It is said that there are over 90 million house churches in China. They have grown under persecution. North Korea is growing a powerful underground church, even in the midst of extreme oppression. Actually there is more work of God in persecution than in security, peace, and comfort.

Paul wanted to proclaim the Gospel message clearly. Proclaim means to reveal. Paul knew that making people believe was God’s business, but one thing he could do is make the gospel clear and pray that people may understand it. The mystery that needs to be proclaimed clearly is that, in Jesus, God has opened the way for all people to receive salvation and eternal life. (Ephesians 3:6). It was a mystery because it was hidden. It must be revealed clearly. Even though we have the Bible and the gospel has been preached for over 2,000 years, we need to repeat it clearly to the new generation of our young people.

Nowadays post modern young people assume that the gospel has nothing to say, that there is no wisdom in the gospel, that there is no absolute truth to be discovered. They think that there are no answers to all their “big” questions of life. They are so wrong! There is wealth of wisdom and knowledge in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like Paul, we need to present the gospel clearly in a way that young people will understand. (1Cor 14:7-9) There are so many things that makes the gospel blurry. Our own desires, our own fixed ideas, our sins and our life styles make the gospel unclear to others. Being stuck in our own generational or cultural quarks, arguing about peripheral issues, all make the gospel unclear. It has been said that it is difficult to see Jesus because of the Christians. We need to get out of the way so others may see Christ.

We try to make the message clear in three ways, through writing, speaking and living. In UBF we try not to just speak off the cuff. We need to train ourselves to be clear. 1 Peter 13:15, “15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (also 2 Tim 2:5) Paul prayed for clarity. He trained himself to be clear. Let us discipline ourselves spiritually. Take the things out of your life that blind others to the gospel of Jesus and speak the God’s message clearly.

In the Roman world, each city was like a new culture. Paul needed to make the Gospel clear for each one of them. That means he needed to flexible, dynamic and elastic. He needed to study each culture and be culturally sensitive to each city that that he entered. We too need to be culturally sensitive to the people we are trying to reveal the gospel clearly to. Though we all live in America there are so many subcultures in this vast melting pot. For me, I have to be sensitive to the NIU campus culture, the hospital culture and the suburban, middle class family culture. Each subculture has its own unique challenges. But I must adapt to them if I am going to make the gospel clear.

Paul was always alert, looking for every opportunity to reveal Jesus. Look at verses 5-6, "5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." We can help others to understand and accept the gospel by being wise in our actions and in our conversation, especially around non believers. Part of being wise is being careful and graceful in our conversation. Wisdom also has to do with making relationships with other people. Not many are wise, but we can all get wisdom. Wisdom comes from the fear of God, for “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor. Obtain wisdom from Jesus and become a wonderful counselor like Jesus! Live sincere life of faith. Have graceful speech. Speak the truth. Then go to an unbelieving world with the clear message of salvation. They will be glad you did.

Part ll: Messengers and Fellow Workers (7-18)

In verses 7-9 Paul reveals some of his fellow gospel workers to the church, "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here." These people have weird names. Who are they? Tychicus and Onesimus delivered Paul's letters. Tychicus had been Paul's representative on several occasions (Eph 6:21). Concerning Onesimus, Paul says in Philemon 14-16, “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.” Onesimus escaped to Rome. There he heard the gospel, repented of his sins and met Jesus, and now was returning to Philemon in Colossae as a dear brother in the Lord (Phm 16). He co-worked with Paul while he was prison. Onesimus’ changed life bore witness to the transforming power of the gospel.

There were more co-workers with Paul. Look at verses 10-11, “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.” These people were an encouragement because they were Jewish converts actually co-working closely with him. Paul was persecuted by his own countrymen. Some tried to kill him. But these people came along side Paul and worked with him, even at the cost of being rejected by their own people. They had faith. They were comforting. Aristarchus had been with Paul in some very trying times (Ac 19:29; 20:4; 27:2), and now he was with him in prison. Mark, who had once abandoned Paul in the mission field, was helped by Barnabas and Peter, later came back and grown into a useful servant of God (Ac 15:36-39). Mark had changed. Paul now said many graceful things about him.

There were more faithful, Gentile co-workers. Look at verses 12-14, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” Epaphras, was a preacher who went to his people as a servant of the Lord and was later arrested. (Phl 1:23) He was a fellow prisoner with Paul. He was a “hidden” prayer servant. Every church needs such, “behind the scenes” people for the church to grow strong. Luke the historian and evangelist was Paul's personal physician. He accompanied Paul on his journeys and recorded early church history. Demas was dear friend and co-worked, but later abandoned Paul (2 Tim 4:10). I’m sure Paul was thankful for the time spent with Demas. Nympha offered her home to be used as a house church, forfeiting much privacy and adopting many cleaning and serving responsibilities. Paul recognized her offering. Verse 17 refers to Archippus. He was a fellow “Christian soldier” with Paul. His message to Archippus is to complete the work he had received in the Lord.

Paul had such a beautiful relationship with his coworkers. Paul described them as faithful and dear brothers, fellow workers. Paul prayed for key leaders to be raised up. He honored them. He mentioned them by name. He was building up relationships Where can we find such a beautiful group of people? Only in Christ as we serve Jesus together! Jesus once prayed for all believers in 17:23, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Such unity is a sign that the work of God was going on among his people and is the way that non-believers will know that Jesus is the Christ. I personally tasted such unity in Winnipeg UBF, Triton UBF and now here at NIU UBF. May we continue to build up such a vessel of love and cop-working among us so that Jesus may be revealed.

Some added points…Paul wanted his coworkers to be world mission minded. Look at verse 16, “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.” Laodicea was a nearby city and more populated. A church had been planted there. The Loadicians were “luke warm” in their faith. (Rev 3:14-22) In mentioning Laodicea, Paul was encouraging Colossians to reach out to the Laodiceans and encourage them spiritually.

Verse 18 reveals Paul’s final greetings, "I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you." Most people think that persecution would hinder people from coming to Jesus, but Paul’s chains were not a source of discouragement. On the contrary, they inspired people to give their lives to Jesus. Paul’s was continually working hard to expand the territory of the Kingdom of God, encouraging others to share in Christ’s sufferings and reminding people of the grace of God.
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In this passage we learn that we must be prayerful, watchful and thankful. We need to look for open doors to do the work of God and go through them. We need to get ourselves out of the way so that Jesus and his gospel may be proclaimed clearly to those whom we are called to reveal it. Finally, let us honor our fellow workers and build each one up spiritually so that we can be a team who can glorify Christ. God bless you.