Examples To Follow Colossians 4:7-18

As a child I was never very good at the game “Simon Says.” You remember how that game is played don’t you? The leader plays the part of Simon, and everyone playing has to do what Simon says. Of course the catch is that you are only to do what Simon says when Simon says, “Simon says. . .” Whenever you would fail to follow Simons instructions, or if you did something Simon says without saying “Simon says. . .” then you’re out. I was usually one of the first players out, caught doing something without hearing the magic words, “Simon says.” I also had a hard time getting my friends out when I played the part of Simon because I would give away when they weren’t supposed to do something with a pause followed by “Aahhh... stand on one foot”

Now I have improved at this game with age, so if anyone is daring enough to take up a “Simon says” tournament, then you can count me in!

Children enjoy playing games. They will also use their imaginations pretending what life will be like when they are grown up. Children watch their parents and other grown ups and then pretend to be like them.

Thomas Edison wrote the following tribute to his mother

I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I should never likely have become an inventor. I was always a careless boy, and with a mother of different mental caliber, I should have turned out badly. But her firmness, her sweetness, her goodness, were potent powers to keep me in the right path. My mother was the making of me. The memory of her will always be a blessing to me.

—Thomas A. Edison

Some of you have had the opportunity to meet my mother. Last Sunday she joined my father and went home to be with the Lord. Much like Edison I would not be where I am today if it were not for my mother and father. The influence that people have on our lives is not only in the words they share with us but the examples they leave for us.

Just as children watch and imitate their parents, the early believers in Colossae were watching Paul and others, learning from their example.

As you will recall, Paul had heard about these young believers “faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. ”

The gospel seed had been planted in them when they first believed in Jesus who as Paul has shown us is supreme over all things, when the Colossians repented of their sins and were buried with Jesus in baptism and also raised with him. And the fruit of the gospel seed was beginning to bear, in their faith and their love for all God’s people no matter what differences they may have had. But Paul longed to see these young believers grow into maturity living lives worthy of the Lord that please Him in every way. Paul had been praying for them, with hopes they would bear fruit, grow in knowledge of God, and be strengthened by God.

Paul challenged them to put to death, act violently toward sin that once ruled their lives, and keep their hearts and minds on Jesus. And live for Jesus.

As Paul closes out his letter to them, he gives them some final personal greetings, but I believe that we can see a few things of examples that we too should follow as we seek maturity and unity as the body of Christ, His Church!

Colossians 4:7-18

Colossians 4:7–18

Ty-ch-i-cus

o-nes-i-mus

Aris-tar-chus

Hier-a-polis

Nym-phas

Arch-ip-pus

Faithful

There are many people that Paul send personal remarks or instructions about. Instruction about how some are doing or who will share more info about Paul is doing. We see how it warms Paul’s heart that he has a few brothers that are also Jewish. Paul had received so much turmoil from his own people for his Faith in Jesus Christ, but he does find comfort in a few of his co-workers for the Kingdom of God that are Jewish.

The first person we see mentioned is Ty-ch-i-cus. He will bring more news about how Paul is doing to them, but Paul describes him as a dear bother, faithful minister, and fellow servant.

Faithfulness is a key characteristic for the people of God. Are you and I faithful with what we have been entrusted?

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”- J.R.R. Tolkien

What do you and I do when the going gets tuff? What Jesus has called us to is not all roses. It is hard. He calls us to die to ourselves and pick up our cross and follow him. He calls us to sacrifice for others, put their needs above our own, as Jesus has done for us. Following Jesus is not easy, it is far from it. With attacks from the outside world, and even from our brothers and sisters. With the constant pressure to fall back into to sin, and not live according to God’s instructions. Then on top of all that God has entrusted you and me with taking his message of His son, of His grace to ends of the earth.

And it seems when things start to be going right, there is the enemy on the attack, a roaring lion looking for people to eat up.

I know that many of you right here and now are struggling with being faithful to the ministry that God has called you to. It can be overwhelming and suffocating at times.

I want to encourage you this morning with Paul’s words

Galatians 6:9-10

Galatians 6:9–10

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Do not grow weary in the ministry that you have been called to. Lead your family to know the Lord and follow his ways. Share the truth of the saving message of Jesus with your co-workers. Keep serving help those in. Keep being the hands and feet of Jesus to your neighbors. Be faithful in your ministry to serve teaching in our kids ministry, our student ministry, in leading Life Groups. Do not grow weary in the ministry that you have been called to. Keep encouraging and correcting one another so we can grow in maturity in Christ. Be faithful with what you have been entrusted. Follow Ty-ch-i-cus example.

Wrestling in prayer

The second person I want to point out to you is Epaphras.

Colossians 4:12

Colossians 4:12

Paul says Epaphras is always wrestling in prayer for you. He is always laboring in prayer. How do we tend to look at prayer? Do we see it has rubbing God’s lamp and asking him to grant our wishes? Are we always self-centered in our prayers? Or are we seeking His kingdom. Do we labor in prayer for others?

Last week we saw that to be devoted to prayer we need to pray for and with others.

Epaphras wanted to see the Colossians stand firm, mature, full assured.

Our prayer life speaks so much to our hearts. It reveals our hearts and can realigned our hearts with the hearts of God.

Who are you laboring for/ wrestling for in prayer? Not that they would start doing what you want, or treat you better, and not just for their physical well being. Are we praying for others to come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Who are you praying for that they would stand firm in the will of God? Who are praying for that God would grow them into maturity in knowledge of him. Who are you praying for that they may become fully assured about what God has done for them in Christ?

These are the ones that should be on your prayer list. These are the ones we should wrestle for in prayer.

Let Paul’s prayer for the Colossians become our prayer for others.

Colossians 1:9-12

Colossians 1:9–12

Labor in prayer for others following the example of Epaphras.

Complete The Ministry

Lastly I would draw your attention to Arch-ip-pus. Paul wants to see to it that he completes the ministry that he has been given. We don’t know what specifically Arch-ip-pus had been entrusted with, but as we looked at being faithful, we see through scripture that we are called to ministry. Specific ministry using the individual talents that God has given us, but we are also all called to general ministry responsibilities as well. Finish the work that God has set before you.

Paul says at the end of his life to his son in the faith Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

2 Timothy 4:6–8

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Paul had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. His life and therefore his ministry was coming to an end. Notice here that Paul’s ministry wasn’t over until he breathed his last breath. Our ministry isn’t either. We are called to serve God with every last breath we have. The details of our ministry will change with our life, but our ministry isn’t over until this life is over. Keep on keeping on.

In the verse right before his we see some of Timothy’s ministry charge.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

2 Timothy 4:1–2

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Friends we are called to do the same. Jesus called us to go and make disciples of all nations, He tells us we do that, by baptizing them and teaching to obey all that He has commanded. In Matthew 28. He then calls us to be his witness to the ends of the earth in Acts1.

Friends preach the word. Be ready always. Always be ready to given an answer for anyone who ask about the hope you have. With gentleness and respect.

Correct your brothers and sisters, rebuke them, and encourage them with great patience and careful instruction of God’s word.

We are all called to this.

Paul give us this call from the example of Christ in

Philippians 2:2-5

Philippians 2:2–5

being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

As Journey Church we follow the example of Jesus who sacrificed self for the needy, hurting and lost. We put our faith into action by mobilizing to help our community and world, even when called to sacrifice and suffer to care for their needs over our own.

Care for one another, put one another above yourselves, sacrifice for others, having the same mindset as Christ, who set aside himself for our sake.

Friends complete the ministry that has been set before us. I encourage you as Paul encouraged Arch-ip-pus finish the race, fight the good fight, keep the faith!

Labor for other in prayer, and be faithful with what you have been entrusted. From Paul’s final greetings we can see these examples that we should follow. But let me challenge us as God’s people here at Journey Church. Let our lives, let our speech be examples of Christ for others to follow.

Paul says in Philippians 3:17

Philippians 3:17

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

Lets be a people that are centered, founded, built on Christ as supreme, above all else. Let us be God’s people that people hear about our faith in Jesus, and our love for all God’s people. Let us be a people that grow in maturity in Jesus with one another. Let us be examples for others to follow to Jesus. Let us be a people that are faithful, a people that labor for others in prayer, that complete the ministry set before us. Let us be the People of God! that live lives pleasing to God. Like my mother, and like Tychicus, Epaphras, and Archippus, may our lives leave behind examples worth following.

Friends If you haven’t begun your journey with Jesus, today can be your first step in following His example—repenting of your sins, trusting Him as Lord, and rising to new life in Him through baptism. Come today.