Friday – August 5, 2016
Greetings in the name of our Lord, the only living God Who can deliver all He has promised. Let us prepare our attitude to receive and prove todays Three Minute Word.
Friday is when I remind our readers to pray for the Church, not the building in which we gather but the people who gather in those buildings. The old Church building pictured is the oldest Methodist Church in Canada located in Nappanee, Ontario, Canada and first built in 1792. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Unfortunately the Church is filled with darkness and the differences seem to be irreconcilable. Let us think for a moment about the ministry of Jesus. Before Jesus exploded on the scene the Church was dead and exceedingly corrupt. The Spirit of God, the Shekinah glory, no longer inhabited the Temple and it seems they did not even know it. Jesus comes on the scene and there is a tremendous following but the vast majority were not interested in Him, or in the way of righteousness, but the Hand of God (what will God do for me today or I’m going to Church to get my blessing – an attitude with this focus is a stench in the nostrils of God) much like those who came out of Egypt. God is looking for a people who will seek His face and not His hand, His Hand comes with His face. When all was sunny they ‘believed’ but when they were required to stand they scattered, even turned against Jesus. The Apostle John and the women were the only ones that we find consistently standing with Jesus, even at the Cross, out of the multitudes and even the twelve. They were in hiding. Then came the resurrection and the restoration of authority and power to those who would walk as Jesus walked. Out of the multitudes who followed His ministry, then turned against Him (turning against Him is thinking and saying things He did not say) only one hundred and twenty came into one accord following His ascension and they were the nidus for the explosion of Christianity. I hope as I have come down through this we all recognize where the Church is today. For the most part we are dead and corrupt, looking for the Hand of God, turned against Him, scattered and hiding. On that happy note let’s finish our study of Colossians.
The following passage is a continuation of the Apostle Paul’s lengthy valediction (parting words). This is like the person in our families that we dread asking to say the blessing over our food for they go around the world with their prayer.
Colossians 4:10-18 (KJV)
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;)
The Apostle Paul is writing this Epistle from prison and he is reassuring the readers that should Marcus show up he is okay and they are to receive him.
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.
Paul continues to give accolades to those in his entourage including Justus who is a Jew, a worker with the Apostle to further the Kingdom of God and one who Paul finds to be a great comfort to him.
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.
Paul mentions yet again (Colossians 2:1) that there is ongoing Spiritual warfare on their behalf. Another term to use for this would be intercession. Epaphras is praying that they will be mature and operating in the center of God’s will.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
This guy, Epaphras, is praying the fire of Heaven, (cleansing power of God) into their lives. The unlimited Power of God can be one word away and sometimes we will not utter it to our own destruction. That does not seem to make any sense at a distance but if we are honest we have all been there and may be there right now.
14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
This is the same Luke (a physician) who by the unction of the Holy Spirit wrote the books of Luke and Acts. Luke was a firsthand witness of some remarkable things.
15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Paul wants the brethren at Colossae to greet or send his greetings to the folks at Laodicea, to Nymphas and the people who attend Church in Nymphas’ (Nymphas is feminine singular) home. Interestingly the name ‘Nymphas’ means bride of sacrifice. The Church is the bride of Christ who was the sacrifice.
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. 17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Paul gives a warning to Archippus. Archippus means ‘horse ruler’. Perhaps he had a horse business and focused on it more than the ministry the Lord had placed in his hands.
18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
This has been quite a journey down through this book of Colossians. This journey started the third of September 2013 and ends here on the 5th of August 2016. Next week, the 8th (new beginnings) of August I will start with the Book of Ephesians Lord willing.
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
