Colossians 4 by Micayla Angel
Today we are covering Colossians chapter 4, which is the final chapter in this book. It's hard to believe this series has gone by so fast! Paul has taught us so much rich doctrine of Christ’s authority, power, and divinity, as well as practical application such as putting off the old self, putting on the new self, and setting our mind on things above. Last week we learned about having a Christ-like mindset of submission in different kinds of relationships. In this chapter, Paul’s final reminders to the church ring with a sense of urgency. We’re going to have a word of encouragement for those who may be struggling under a weight of condemnation or doubt, and also a word of exhortation for those who might need a push to step forward into something. Whatever camp you may fall into, God sees you and will meet you there.
Last week, Beverely covered verse 1 as it was a continuation of Paul's instructions about relationships.
So, we’ll pick up in verse 2 which says:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Or in the NKJV:
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”
Notice the words watchful and vigilant. These descriptive words convey an URGENCY. Watchful means to keep awake, give strict attention to. Vigilant means carefully observant, alert to potential danger. This is not something casual or lighthearted. We tend to treat prayer as a brief interlude of our daily life. But the picture here is that prayer is serious business.
Why are we earnest, vigilant, watchful? Why is this so important? Well, something that was very obvious to the early church that has become less clear to us is that we are under attack! In the time Paul was writing this, believers’ faith in Christ put them in physical danger every day. Being a Christian meant risking everything, and the urgency was natural. Prayer was one of very few options for handling stress or discomfort. Many
Christians still live in countries like this, and I can bet you that their prayer life is a lot more vigilant than ours! Many of us in America have lost the sense of urgency, because we have felt safe for so long. We have so many ways to distract ourselves from our worries, that we don't always feel the need to bring them to the Lord. And while we may be physically safe, the spiritual attack has not let up. We have the same enemy as the early church: the devil is still strategizing against the work of God.
As Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
When thinking about the word “watchful,” I couldn’t help but remember Jesus’ instructions to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane right before He was arrested:
Matt 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Doesn’t that sum up so much of our struggle in the Christian life? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Our spirit wants to participate in God’s kingdom, to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work, but our flesh just wants a break.
So, what are we “watching” for in our prayer time?
-distractions, flesh or enemy
-focusing too much on ourself, our requests, our problems
-listening/being alert to hearing from the Holy Spirit
-anticipating potential attacks from the enemy
-Downloading and uploading
When I’m tired, not really engaging in prayer, I’m not posturing myself to receive from the Lord, I’m just rambling about things on my mind. But it takes much more discipline to engage long enough to tune in to His still,
small voice and recognize how the Lord is directing us. This type of prayer requires us to be alert, engaged, active.
It’s interesting that following this sober description is the reminder to be thankful. Why does Paul include this? Well, I think he wants us to remember that although we are at war, although we need to be on our guard, although there is much at stake, we are praying from a place of victory. We are urgent, we are diligent, we are alert, but we are also full of gratitude because we have been washed with the blood of the Lamb and ultimately have nothing to fear. God’s work is not dependent on us, but we are his mouthpiece, his hands and feet. We pray confidently and joyfully knowing that “greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.”
Verse 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. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”
Paul wants the Colossians to include him in their prayers, but what does he ask prayer for? That God would open a door for the gospel. Not a prison door for him to be released. Paul's priority was for the gospel to keep going out, whether he was in prison or not. His mind was not on serving himself, but on the kingdom.
And notice that he was concerned with being able to proclaim the gospel clearly. Even Paul, who we regard as a hero, needed prayer for how to communicate the gospel. That should give us some comfort that even he felt inadequate or unsure of himself. But notice that that didn’t stop him- he committed his uncertainties to the Lord, he brought them into the light and requested prayer, rather than letting those become a barrier or an excuse.
Vs 5 NIV “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Vs 5 NKJV
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
I like that both translations use the word “toward.” We are told to have wisdom, which I usually interpret as “caution”, but that wisdom is not meant to keep us away from unbelievers, in our own little bubble, but to walk TOWARDS them. And what is our motivation for walking towards them? To reach them with the gospel before it is too late! So, if we have an urgent gospel lens on, every interaction with an unbeliever is an opportunity we should seize to shine the light of the Lord.
So, there is almost a “sister verse” to this that Paul wrote in Eph 5:15-16 which says:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
And if Paul thought the days were evil then, how much more evil are they now!
Rom 13:11 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
We know what is coming, we know Jesus is coming back soon. And with that understanding comes a kingdom “burden”, a calling for each of us- to partner with the Lord, and the whole body of Christ, to bring the outsiders in!
The picture I had as I was praying over this passage was of Noah’s ark. The ark being the vessel of salvation. But this time, the ark is for all people, not just Noah’s family and the animals. Those of us who know Christ as our Lord, we have been set apart, by God’s grace, to BRING THE OUTSIDERS INTO THE ARK while the door is still open. This time, God wants everybody in. How do they get in? The same way we got in- by confessing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior according to Rom 10:9.
And do you remember who shut the door of the ark? It wasn’t Noah. Noah loaded everyone up, but God was the one who closed the ark; He alone knows when time is up. It is our calling to make the most of every opportunity. And I believe when we are devoted and vigilant in prayer, the Lord will then alert us to those opportunities and give us the wisdom we need to speak in His name.
Verse 6 continues by saying: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
So, this gives us an idea of how to approach those outside the faith. 1 Pet 3:15 similarly tells us to answer everyone with “gentleness and respect.” We need to balance the responsibility of standing for truth, with the responsibility to reflect Christ’s humility, meekness, and love. Our goal is not so much to win arguments, but to win souls.
Some commentators suggested that the concept of salt could imply the use of wit, humor, or charm in the way we communicate the truth. Not by watering down the gospel, but seasoning it. Making it more tasteful, not bland, legalistic religion. Sometimes a little humor or unexpected charisma can disarm people who may be instinctively opposed to Christianity. A good analogy goes a long way. Jesus commonly used parables and stories to communicate truths to the people of his day.
Notice how the end of verse 6 says “answer each one,” meaning the conversations we have are done on an individual basis, there’s not necessarily a “one size fits all” approach to this. The way Jesus dealt with the Pharisees was very different from how he approached the woman caught in adultery. That’s why we need the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance to help us personalize the way we witness depending on the specific person or audience. Only the Holy Spirit knows their hearts and what they will be most receptive to.
From here, Paul moves into a section of relaying greetings from various other believers and giving a few final instructions. There are 11 other individuals named in the following verses. A few of them I will give a little background on, but for the sake of time, you can check out the handout I gave you for a bit more details about these people.
Verses 7-9: “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.”
So Tychicus and Onesimus are the courier team delivering this letter back to the church at Colosse. Given the detailed introduction about Tychicus, he may have been a new face to the Colossians. But he is mentioned back in Acts 20:4 accompanying Paul in delivering an offering to believers in need in Jerusalem and Judea. Onesimus was known to the church as he was a slave of Philemon who had run away, came into contact with Paul in Rome, and became saved. At this point, he is now helping Paul’s ministry, and Paul is sending him back to Colosse.
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.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.”
Scholars are unsure if Paul’s term “fellow prisoner” used here is literal or more figurative, given that Aristarchus had been through several dangerous circumstances with Paul and had remained faithful. Paul mentions Mark,
who is the same Mark who he had a falling out with on a missionary journey 12 years prior. But we see here that they have reconciled and Paul instructs the church to welcome him.
Verse 12-13
“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. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.”
So, we know that Epaphras is the founder of their church, he is the one who went to Paul out of concern for the false doctrine seeping in. Here we note that for some unspecified reason, Epaphras is not returning to Colosse at this time. Whatever the reason, we see Epaphras is commended for his devotion to praying for his congregation while he was away from them. And what is he so concerned about? He is praying that they stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. The exhortation to stand firm caught my attention. I think because sometimes we think if we’re not constantly moving forward, we’re not doing this right. I know I can be so critical of myself and easily discouraged, even condemning myself when I don’t see growth as quickly as I expect. Our expectations can be so high, and we are so prone to comparing ourselves to others who are running a completely different course than us. This exhortation to “stand firm” brought to mind Eph 6:11-15 where Paul again repeatedly encourages believers to stand:
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
So, that’s a lot of standing, right? Notice that even though we’re told to put on the armor, in this passage, Paul doesn’t say, “March forward and fight!” There are other passages where Paul does encourage believers to fight the good fight of faith and compares the Christian life to a race where we are all running to win the prize. But why are we so clearly exhorted here to stand, and not just stand casually, but stand firm?
I think this goes back to the instructions earlier to “make the most of every opportunity.” When we are under attack, like this passage is describing, standing our ground is our place of victory. The enemy wants us to get so overwhelmed and discouraged, that we forfeit prematurely. He wants us to think that merely standing is weak. But I know that in some particularly heavy seasons of life, it will take all we have and more to keep standing. Don’t be ashamed of that! That’s what these passages are for! I recently read a book called Dethrone Fear, and there’s a quote that helped inspire me and reframe some of my perspective. “If we don’t quit, we win.” Simple as that. The enemy would say to us, “If you don’t do x, y, and z, jump through these hoops, if your life doesn’t look like this, you lose. He wants us to be in our heads, disqualifying ourselves before we even try. But we must not miss the value of standing firm. We must not misunderstand the holiness and faithfulness required in that call. Should we also run and fight and gain ground for the kingdom? Of course, as we have opportunity. As the Spirit leads us. Sometimes we will be in a season of advances. Praise God! Other times, we will be in a season of standing firm and holding our ground against heavy opposition. My point is that not giving up is being victorious. Don’t let the enemy tempt you to doubt that truth.
Matt 24:12-13 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Verses 14-16: “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 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.
So, we learn that Paul is in contact with Dr Luke and a man named Demas. Interestingly, we learn later in 2 Tim 4:10 that Demas deserted Paul because “he loved this world.”
Vs 17-18 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”
Here we see Paul led to exhort a man named Archippus. We don’t know many particulars about him, but he is also listed in the book of Philemon where Paul calls him a “fellow soldier.” Whatever his circumstances, Paul speaks directly to him about his ministry. I don’t see this as Paul putting him on the spot in front of the whole church, but more as Paul acknowledging his calling and encouraging him in it. I see it as a privilege to be singled out by Paul and affirmed in his calling from the Lord. Maybe the Lord knew this man was doubting, waning, losing steam. Maybe he wasn’t seeing any results from his ministry and was growing discouraged and disillusioned. It’s so easy to go there. Whatever the situation was, Paul was able to lovingly encourage him, trusting that the Lord would be faithful to work through his words.
In one of Pastor Chuck’s sermons on this passage he said, “We are all Archippus,” meaning we all need to be encouraged to keep going, to finish
what the Lord has called us to. Some of us may be turned off by the word “ministry” as you might not see yourself as being called to “ministry” per se.
We all have ministry to do, whether it is done at church, or home, or in our workplace, the community, or all of the above! There is at least one ministry every believer has in common- we have all been assigned the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Cor 5:18-20 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
Whether we have an official role in the church or not, we all share this ministry, which is an echo of the Great Commission Jesus gave us in Matt 28:19-20 to “go and make disciples of all nations,”
2 Tim 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
So, insert your name into verse 17. God is encouraging you to complete the work He has called you to.
We see Paul asks the church to remember his chains.
Let us remember our fellow believers who are in jail, who are under persecution. The women we are supporting in Albania, Vita who is pouring her life into serving them. Part of our work is to battle with them in prayer and however else God may lead.
In closing, we’ve been talking about the call to bring outsiders in. Into the ark before it’s too late. In Matt 24:37-39, Jesus told his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
So, my fellow soldiers, let’s finish the work we have been assigned by the Lord. What is that work? To bring the outsiders in, while there is still time. To stand firm in God’s will, fully assured of His call and our wholeness in Christ. To stay vigilant in prayer. Let’s make the most of the time we have left and be found ready for His soon return.
