Two years ago, for the beginning of the New Year, I talked to you about the “God Pocket” ministry and asked you to try it out. Let me encourage you to continue with it. For those who were not here – talk to me after the service and I will explain.
Last year we followed Nehemiah on his path with God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. We discovered what faith in God can accomplish and how it can reshape our lives.
This year, what will you do? Where are you going?
This is a great time to reflect on 2016 and make plans for the path you want to follow in 2017.
Even way back in King David’s time, the idea of asking God to show us the path He wants for us was evident. The results are the same today if we hope and trust in God.
Psalm 25: 4-5 NIV King David’s psalm
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Part of Jeremiah’s letter to the people in captivity,
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”.
This year we start by going for a walk through the Book of Colossians. We will see what Paul had to say to the Colossian Church about living Godly lives. Hopefully, we will find our path for 2017 from what we learn as we study this letter from Paul.
We start the year following the path Jesus taught to the Disciples and of which Paul became one of the strongest supporters.
Paul, with Timothy, is writing this letter in the early 60’s AD. Most likely, Paul was in prison in Rome at this time. It appears that he was under house arrest with a guard always with him, maybe even chained to him. And it lasted for two years, which gave Paul time to write several letters to the Churches. 1
Acts 28:16, 30 NIV
16 When he got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.
It is commonly held that Paul never travelled to Colossae, but that he wrote to them after being informed of their situation by Epaphras, a Colossian Christian working with Paul. Epaphras is believed to be the one who started the church in Colossae during Paul’s third missionary journey.2
Colossae was an inland city, lying beside the Lycus River (modern Curuk-su)3, near Laodicea and Hierapolis, located on the main commercial thoroughfare between East and West.4 This put it about 120 miles southwest of Ephesus. This is in modern day Turkey. Colossae was the least significant of these three cities known for their medicinal spas.5 The site of Colossae was discovered by W. J. Hamilton in 1835, and its remains present an inviting prospect to archaeologists.6
The content of the letter was to encourage relatively new believers (mostly Gentiles) to continue in the truth of Christ they had received, and warning them against outside religious influences. The emphasis is on the absolute supremacy and all-sufficiency of Christ, the Son of God; that Christ both forgives sin and removes one from the terror of ‘the powers’; religious rules and regulations count for nothing, but ethical life that bears God’s own image counts for everything. Christ-like living affects relationships of all kinds. 7
In ten words or less – Jesus Christ is supreme – over everyone and everything. 8
Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, in their book ‘How to Read the Bible Book by Book’, give us four things to watch for as we walk through Colossians.
Colossians 1:1-14 NIV
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: [The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 4:15] 10Grace and peace to you from God our Father. [Some manuscripts say Father and the Lord Jesus Christ] 11
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4 because we have heard of your 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. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, [Or slave] 12 who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, [Some manuscripts: your] 13
8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:8-9 NIV
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Epaphras journeyed to Rome with the disturbing news of heresy in the young congregation of Colossae. He seems to have lived with Paul in the hired house where Paul was confined, and so earned Paul’s description of ‘my fellow-prisoner’. Paul also calls Epaphras his ‘fellow-servant’ (1:7), no small honor, and ‘a servant of Jesus Christ’ (4:12), a phrase which Paul uses only once more – for Timothy (Phil.1:1). Epaphras must have been a man of deep concern, vast energy and faithfulness. 14
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, [Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding] 15
10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Galatians 5:22, 23a NIV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control,
(Back in February of 2015, I asked a question based on verse 10: “What footprint or fingerprint do you leave behind?” Look at your life today and see what mark you are leaving!)
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you [Some manuscripts: us]16 to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Paul makes it very clear that faith in Jesus Christ is the most important part of life. He urges the Colossians to keep their focus on Jesus by showing them how thankful he is for their faith, how he is praying for them, and by encouraging them to stand firm in their faith.
The title of this message is ‘Show Me Your Ways Lord’ and I do hope that Paul’s opening to his letter has helped you see some of the ways of the Lord. This letter to the Colossians is all about Christ – He is the source of all truth, grace and power.
Next week we look at Colossians 1:15-23 ‘The Supremacy of Christ – the Son of God’.
May you have a wonderful week walking God’s path and living a life full of Jesus!
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