- 1. COLOSSIAS 1 COMMETARYWritten and edited by GLE
PEASEPREFACEPreface to the class on THE COLOSSAL CHRIST OF
COLOSSIAS.This commentary is based on a class I taught, and this is
the way I began the class. Ihave always found it meaningful to know
something about a teacher who is teachinga class. It gives you some
insight into their perspective, and why they so foolishlysometimes
disagree with your more logical views.When I was born I was quite
homely. So much so that when my parents abandonedme in the hospital
parking lot they were arrested for litering. When I got a
littleolder my father taught me how to swim at an early age by
taking me out in a boatand throwing me over. It was not bad once I
got out of the bag. I told my teacherone day I don't think my
parents like me. She said nonsense, what makes you saythat? I told
her that when I got home yesterday, I found they had moved.I made
people happy as a kid. I remember one teacher saying it was the
happiestday of her life when I graduated from her class.I was in
the eighth grade and still thought farm was spelled EIEIO.I thought
it was Custer's last stand was where they got the idea for arrow
shirts.I thought the Indians got to America first because they had
reservations.Many felt I would never get through college, but I
showed them. I made it throughin just two terms-Truman's and
Isenhour's.I had a hard time with girls. I just could not get the
hang of dating. I asked one girlif she could like a guy like me.
She said sure if he wasn't too much like you.I asked one girl what
I would have to give her to get a kiss, and she saidchlorophorm. My
romantic life could be written on a piece of confetti.I finally met
Lavonne, she was different than any other girl I had ever met.
Sheliked me. She said she married me for my brain. Her philosophy
has always been itsthe little things in life that really count. So
much for my biography.The real story is I was born, as was my wife,
and raised in Sioux Falls, S.D. I went toBethel College and
Seminary for 9 years and have been a Baptist GeneralConference
pastor for 34 years. I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren and
8greatgrandchildren. I have read hundreds of authors on Colossians
and I sharequotes from many of them that give insights that I never
saw, or could notcommunicate as well as they have.How much you get
out of the class will depend on how much you want to get. How
2. much you want will be measured in such things as note taking
on things you want toremember, and questions you come up with to go
deeper or to get practicalapplication of the truth in this part of
God's Word. I think Bible Study is fun, and Ihope it will be that
to you as we dig into this great letter of Paul.I have been a
teacher long enough to know that there is always a risk
ofmisunderstanding everytime you open your mouth and say something.
So please feelfree to interrupt at any time and ask questions and
seek for clarification.Communication has not really taken place
unless the listener gets the message thespeaker intends. It does
not always happen that way.Mike Hays has written a paragraph that
reveals how dangerous it can be to assumethat you are being heard
the same way as you mean to be heard. He writes, Clearcommunication
is a key for those who live in such a diverse society like you and
me.Some of the corporate giants have found out how important it is
to communicateclearly if they are going to continue to make a,
profit. When Gerber first startedselling baby food in Africa, they
used the same packaging as here in the USA -- withthe picture of
the cute baby on the label. Later, when sales were going poorly,
theyfound out that in Africa companies routinely put pictures on
the label of what isinside. When Pepsi started marketing its
products in China, they translated theirslogan, Pepsi Brings You
Back To Life pretty literally. The Chinese charactersthey chose
really meant, Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back From The Grave.
TheChevy ova never sold well in Spanish speaking countries because
o Va meansIt does not go. Coors put it slogan of a few years back,
Turn it Loose, intoSpanish, where it was read, Suffer from
Diarrhea. When Braniff translated aslogan touting its upholstery,
Fly in Leather, it came out in Spanish as Flyaked. We really need
to be careful what we say and how we say it, huh!The point of Bible
study is so that we are influenced by the truth we come
tounderstand so that we can be an influence in the world for our
Lord. There aremany things we cannot do, but all of us can be an
influence, and often that is themost important thing that can be
done. Let me share some examples that canencourage all of us to be
aware that our influence can be a power that makes adifference in
some life.Cecil B. DeMille wrote, When I was a nine year old boy,
and old preacher came toEcho Lake, ew Jersey to conduct a series of
meetings. Young DeMille attendedevery morning, but one cold rainy
morning he was the only one who showed up. Hewondered if that man
would preach to one small boy. DeMille describes thatunusual scene.
If he preached under those circumstances I felt that he was aman of
God. If he dismissed the service I felt that he would be false. And
he didpreach, although it was a very short sermon. Then he came
down to the alter railingof the church and invited me to come up.
He said: My audience no doubt noticedthat I did not take the
collection at the usual time. I now invite my audience to comeup
and put the offering the plate. I walked up proudly to that alter,
put my nickelin the plate and, as I did so, that old gray-haired
preacher put his hand on my headand prayed a prayer in which he
lifted my name to God. I shall never forget the feel 3. of that old
preacher's hands on my head. I have en-joyed the greatest honors of
life.Here in Hollywood I have met the great of the earth. But I
have never had any thrillas great as the feel of that preacher's
hands on my head. It was a kind ofordination. That had much to do
with my interest in producing Biblical motionpictures. Millions
have watched the Biblical movies of Cecil B. DeMille, but
nobodyeven knows the name of the old preacher who put his hand on
him as a boy, andthus, became a major influence in his life.
Because of the impact of influence, thathand that touched the
little boy, touched a whole world of people.The same story can be
told on the negative side of influence. Vincent Teresa in hisbook
My Life In The Mafia, tells of how his uncle would ask him to shine
his shoes,and then give him ten or fifteen bucks. This made a deep
impression on him, and hesaid to himself, I don't know what he
does, but what ever it is I want to do it. Thatwas the beginning of
his desire to be a gangster.Bach's, the Passion According To St.
Matthew is generally acclaimed as the greatestchoral work ever
written in German. Bach performed it once in his day, and it wasput
away where it lay unperformed for 100 years. In 1829 Felix
Mendelssohnobtained a copy of it and revived it. He unleashed a
title wave of enthusiasm forBach that has never ebbed to this day,
and so Mendelssohn had great influence onBach's fame, but Bach even
more on Mendelssohn, for the 20 year old composer wasconverted to
faith in Christ by his exposure to Bach. They lifted each
other.Henry Drummond said, There is nothing exaggerated more than
the power of ourwords, and there is nothing we exaggerate less than
the effect of our influence.Andrew Robinson, one time chairman of
the board of Westinghouse, tells of thestrange experiment he saw
performed in their lab. A great steel bar eight feet longand
weighing 1000 pounds was suspended by a slender chain from the
ceiling.Parallel to it was a small cork suspended by a silk thread.
The cork was slung intothe steel bar, and, of course, had no effect
whatever. But after about ten minutes ofconstant swinging of that
cork into the steel bar, a little quiver could be seen, andafter
two more minutes a visible vibration could be detected. After 25
minutes thesteel bar began to swing like a huge pendulum. The
experiment proved that eventhe least likely force, with no visible
influence can by persistence have an impactthat is visible. The
study of influence reveals just how tremendous the trivial can bein
its impact.Why was the good Samaritan so caring and compassionate.
For all we know, he hadbeen helped by someone who found him in the
same condition some years before.Whatever the influence, his act of
love for a stranger has influenced all the rest ofhistory. There
are Good Samaritan Hospitals, Good Samaritan ursing Homes,and Good
Samaritan Ministries of all kinds. The whole world has been lifted
by oneman's kindness. We do not even know his name, but he was an
Atlas of influence,for he lifted the whole world when he lifted
that helpless victim. We have no recordof what that victim did in
gratitude, but he could very well have become a socialworker
ministering to people who were victims of crime. For all we know,
the worldis full of people with compassion who have been influenced
by this one unknownman. Only the omniscient mind of God could trace
the impact of his influence, but 4. we know it is
inexhaustible.What is the point of all this about influence? We
need to recognize that influence isthe bottom line in Bible Study.
Each book of the Bible is designed to have aninfluence on our
lives. If it has no influence, we have not studied it, no matter
howmuch time we have spent reading it and discussing it. God has a
purpose for all Hehas revealed, and that is to influence us to be
influencing others. We are alwaysbeing an influence for good or
ill, but the purpose of Bible Study is to make sure weare growing
in our influence for good, and for the Kingdom of God-that is, that
Hemight more completely reign in our lives and the lives of those
He brings into oursphere of influence.Sarah Bolton wrote,The
smallest bark on life's tumultuous oceanWill leave a track behind
forever more;The lightest wave of influence, once in motionExtends
and widens to the eternal shore.Another poet wrote,My life shall
touch a dozen livesBefore this day is done,Leave countless marks of
good or ill,Ere sets the evening sun.This, the wish I always
wish,The prayer I always pray:Lord, may my life help others'
livesIt touches by the way.The following verse by verse commentary
is based on the reading of many otherstudies of Colossians combined
with my own insights into the text.ITRODUCTIO:1.Paul wrote this
epistle from prison in Rome where he had plenty of time as
heawaited his trial. Daille wrote, The imprisonment of St. Paul has
done the churchmore good than the prosperity of the rest of the
faithful of that age. This letter waswritten the same time as the
letter to the Ephesians and Philemon, and they all seemto be
delivered by the same messengers, Tychicus and Onesimus who was
returningto his master, Philemon, who lived in Colosse.J. Vernon
McGee writes, The Prison Epistles include Eph.,Phil., Col.,and the
verypersonal Philimon. The year was about A.D. 62. Four messengers
left Romeunobserved, but the each carried a very valuable document.
Tychicus was carryingthe Epistle to the Ephesians over to Ephesus
where he was the pastor or the leader 5. of that church.
Epaphroditus was carrying the Epistle to the Philippians as he
wasthe pastor in Philippi. Epaphras was carrying the Epistle to
Colossians; apparentlyhe was a leader of the church in Colosse.
Onesimus was carrying the Epistle toPhilemon. Philemon was his
master, and Onesimus, who had run away wasreturning to him. These
four are companion epistles and together had been calledthe anatomy
of Christianity, or the anatomy of the church. We can see that
thesubjects of these epistles cover all aspects of the Christian
faith.You notice that we refer to Paul's writings as both letters
and epistles. The idea ofthe epistle has become traditional, but
the fact is he wrote letters and not epistles.Deissmann, a great
scholar in the area of epistles of the ancient world says it is
amistake to call Paul's letters epistles. They were literary forms
meant forpublication, but a letter was personal and written for a
definite situation and tomeet a definite need. Paul was not aware
that he was writing what would becomeScripture for all God's
people. He was just pouring out his heart to those he loved.He
wrote love letters and not epistles designed to impress others with
his literarytalent.Samuel Morris had a great influence on a great
many people he never saw or whonever saw him. He was a son of an
Africa king who escaped from a tribe that hadcaptured him. He found
refuge in a Christian mission station where he heard theGospel and
he gave his life to Christ. It is a long story of hardship and
suffering, buthe finally got to America and to a Christian college
in Indiana. Under his influencea revival broke out in the school.
The severe American winter was too much forhim, however, and after
a brief illness he died. He had told everyone of how heintended to
take the Gospel back to his people. At his grave three young men
gavethemselves to do the work that he had planned to do. After his
death his influencespread. Students came from all over the world,
and dozens of them trained forservice on foreign fields. The grave
of that black boy is the most visited grave in thecity of Fort
Wayne, Indiana.Here is a case where one life had a great impact on
many others even though theyhad never met. Paul is an even greater
example of this very thing. Paul had acolossal influence on the
Colossians even though he never visited their city or theirchurch.
In 1:4 he says he heard of their faith in Christ. It was by reports
of othersthat he was aware of them. In 2:1 he refers to them as
among those who never sawhis face. Paul does not have his usual
warm personal greetings to individuals as inhis other letters,
because he did not know these people personally.Paul spent three
years in Ephesus, and while he was there people came from all
thecities round about to hear the Gospel. Some came from Colosse
and were converted.They went back to start the church in their
city. Paul indirectly therefore, startedthe church, but he had
never been there. He wrote to these Christians he had neverseen and
by so doing had a great influence on them and on all Christians
ever since.This epistle represents the great power of the written
word. The author could notgo into all the world, but what he has
written has gone into all the world, as well as 6. into all
history. ever underestimate the influence you may have by writing.
Youcan influence people you will never know if you put a message
into writing. Write amessage to those with a need that Gods truth
can meet and you can never know theimpact it might have.We will not
all have the wide spread influence of Paul, or of a Samuel Morris,
butall of us are constantly influencing others. You cannot detach
yourself from havinga good or bad influence on others you know, and
even those you do not know.Indirectly we all influence people we
never see by the way we influence those we dosee. They in turn have
an influence on us because of others in their lives we maynever
know or see. The very fact that we are studying the letter to the
Colossiansrather than some other book is due to the influence of
other people we don't evenknow. You know me, but you don't know the
people who influenced me to selectthis book for our study.Paul did
not know the Colossians nor did he know the millions of Christians
whowould be influenced by his letter to them. The whole point of
this introduction isthat we need to be aware that God can do more
than we dream to influence otherpeople if we will just do something
to minister to someone. Paul heard of a need andhe wrote a letter,
and now 2,000 years later it is still being used of God to
meetpeople's needs. His deed of love is now influencing us.Paul was
the only Apostle who was an enemy of Jesus before his conversion.
Allthrough history God has used many of his worst enemies to become
his best friends,and spread his Gospel with their radical testimony
of conversion. Paradoxes abountin the life and writings of Paul.
Right away we see the big shot Jew named Saulbecome the little
Christian named Paul. We see the worst become the best. We seePaul
blinded so he could see the light.1. Paul, an apostle of Christ
Jesus by the will ofGod, and Timothy our brother,1. Paul nor the
Holy Spirit are superstitious, it would seem, for this is one of
thirteenepistles in the ew Testament that begin with Paul as the
author.Many feel that the number 13 is bad luck. There is enough
people who fear thenumber that we have a word for
it-triskaidekaphobia. If you ride an elevator lookfor the 13th
floor and you will not likely find it, for people will not stay in
a room onthat floor. Some even go so far as to try and prove that
this is an evil number, and isthe number of Satan. One of the most
superficial studies I have ever seen is onetrying to prove this.
The author goes through verse thirteen in various chapters ofthe
Bible and sees negative things and concludes it is an evil number.
For Example: 7. 1.Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wickedand
sinners before the LORD exceedingly.2.Proverbs 13:13 Whoso
despiseth the word shallbe destroyed: but he that feareth the
commandment shall be rewarded.3.Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will shake
the heavens,and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the
wrath of the LORD ofhosts, and in the day of his fierce
anger.4.Ezekiel 13:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD;I will even
rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be
anoverflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury
to consume it.5. Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in
parables:because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not,
neither do theyunderstand.6.Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all
men formy name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the
same shall besaved.This is pure folly, for you could go through and
find bad stuff in verse three also,and verse seven, the two perfect
numbers, and also find good stuff in the thirteenthverse of other
chapters. It is an abuse of the Bible to prove such a stupid thing.
13 isno different than any other number, and the fact is it has
much good going for it.First of all, our nation started with 13
colonies and The Great Seal on our dollar billhas:13 stars13
stripes13 arrows in the eagles talons13 letters in the motto13
laurel leaves13 berries on the branch13 feathers in each wing13
levels on the pyramidJesus chose 12 and so His chosen and himself
were 13 who began the ewTestament. Jesus did not fear the number
13. It is no argument against the numberto say Judas betrayed him
for that 12th disciple was restored in Acts so there was 12again
and their Lord, making 13.2. We see here three things: The Author,
the Authority, and the Associate.AUTHORPaul was the author of more
books of the ew Testament than any other person. Hewas to be God's
man to reach out to the Gentile world, and most of what Paul
wrotewas to the Gentile world. He was born and raised in Tarsus, in
Asia Minor, wherehe was exposed to the world and thought of the
Gentiles. The university of Tarsuswas more famous in that day than
the U. of Athens. Scholars came from the ends of 8. the world to
teach there. Paul, thus, got an education that made him an
excellenttool to bridge the gap between the Jews and Gentiles. Paul
was a Jew and proud ofit, but he was also proud of his Roman
citizenship and that he was used of God toreach the Gentiles.Dr.
Grant C. Richison wrote, The name Paul means little. If there was
anyonewho could call himself Mr. big, it was the apostle Paul. He
was the greatestmissionary of the first century. He was one of the
great men of his day. In Judaismhe had a promising career. He was a
Pharisee. He was the outstanding persecutor ofthe church. He ran
out of victims in Jerusalem so he went to Damascus to capturemore
Christians, Then Saul (Paul), still breathing threats and murder
against thedisciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked
letters from him to thesynagogues of Damascus, so that if he found
any who were of the Way, whether menor women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2). He was on hisway to murder the
disciples in Damascus. On that road to Damascus he met therisen
Lord and received Jesus Christ as his Savior. As a Christian he
spread thegospel to the Gentile Roman world. The Lord Jesus ruined
his previous career ofkilling Christians! One look at Jesus and it
changed everything in his life. Jesus'worst enemy became his
greatest emissary.I was journeying in the noon-tide,When His light
shone o'er my road;And I saw Him in the glory,Saw Him, Jesus, Son
of God.Marvel not that Christ in glory'All my inmost soul hath
won;I have seen a light from heaven,Far beyond the brightest
sun.Paul was Saul, and the fact that he had the name of he first
king of Israel who alsocame from the tribe of Benjamin, tells us
that the name Saul was still honored, eventhough Saul failed God.
ot all names are ruined by the bad behavior of theirowners, as was
the case with Judas. Saul the proud self-sufficient big shot
Phariseehad to be humbled to become little Paul so that God could
make him truly great.Paul was not a right wing or a left wing in
his views, but he was the whole bird. Hewas not an old timer or a
new generation person, he was an always person. The pastperson is
always looking back to the good old days, as if all the good
answers wereback there. The now person is caught up in the present
and the fads and sensationsof the current scene is where its at.
What is the latest and coolest, and what is in isall they care
about. The always person is one who serves the Lord of all ages. He
canfocus on the values of the past that will never change, and on
the new values thatChrist brought into the world, and on the
never-ending values that will continueinto eternity. God's best is
in the past, and the present and the future. There is notime in
which God has not had His best for man. There is always the Past
Heritage,The Present Help and the Perpetual Hope. The always person
is always relevant forHe is dealing with the God who is always
relevant, for He is always with it, and has 9. His best available
in all times. The good old days are for real, and there is no
timelike the present, and the best is yet to be. All of these
statements are true in Christ.Paul is constantly referring to the
past, present and future.AUTHORITYApostle by the will of God. An
apostle is one who is sent. Paul is not a self-appointedApostle,
but one who has his authority directly from God. It was not
hisplan, nor his choice of vocation. It was God who chose him for
this job. It was nothis aspiration but God's ordination that made
him an apostle. Paul makes sure thatno one ever gets the impression
that he has taken it upon himself to be an apostle.Every chance he
got he told of how he persecuted the church, and was
totallyunworthy of anything but judgment. He felt his terrible past
made him the least ofthe apostles. He is only in the service of
Christ because of the grace of God. Pauldid not work his way up the
ladder of some hierarchy. o group ever took a vote onwhether Paul
should be apostle.An Apostle is an Ambassador for God, and one with
authority to speak on God'sbehalf. It is not to be taken lightly,
but very seriously, for it is not a mere man whospeaks, but one who
speaks on behalf of the Master of all men. We are accountablefor
what we hear from Paul, for it is God's message.ASSOCIATETimothy
our brother. He is called in II Tim. 1:2 my dear son. Here he is
calledand equal with Paul, a brother in Christ. This is the only
place he is called brother.In the next verse he calls the
Colossians brothers also, and so we see Paul is beingvery brotherly
here and setting a tone of equality. He is not trying to boss
themaround but is giving brotherly advice and guidance. The concept
of God's peoplebeing brothers goes back to when all of them were
literal brothers. The twelve tribesof Israel were all related for
all came from 12 brothers. This was a very importantword to Paul.
He uses the word 34 times, which is far more than anyone else does.
Itwas a male world in terms of leadership in public, but Paul does
use sister as well.Brother is the Greek word Adelphos and sister is
Adelphe. Paul loved this word forafter his conversion it was the
first word he heard from Ananias in Acts 22:12-13.And one Ananias,
a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all theJews
who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me,
'Brother Saul,receive your sight.' And in that very hour I received
my sight and saw him.Join hands then, brothers of the
faith,Whate'er the race may be.Who serves my Father as a sonIs
surely kin to me.Brothers includes the women also. In Acts `1:15 we
read, In those days Peter stoodup among the brethren. In that
context we read there were women in that group 10. called brethren.
It is a general term for the family of God. All who have a
commonfather are brothers to each other. Stedman writes, These days
it is necessary topoint out that when the Scriptures talk about
brothers and brethren, it alwaysincludes sisters as well---sistern,
we might say. If we understood the biblical truthabout mankind we
would not have gotten into the awkward situation we findourselves
in today, where we wonder whether we ought to call a woman
achairperson or chairwoman, or what. That entire situation would be
happilytaken care of if we observed what the Bible says. In the
beginning, it says,Godcreated man, male and female he created them,
and he named them man. Thus,women have as much right to there man
as males do. They can properly callthemselves the sons of God just
as men do, and they can properly includethemselves in the term
brethren as much as men do. Both are men in thatgeneric sense. If
we understood that there would be no need, as some arethreatening
today, to republish the ew Testament, eliminating all
so-calledchauvinist terms.Timothy was with Paul in Ephesus and no
doubt got to know some of the peoplefrom Colosse. He was with Paul
as he wrote this letter and Paul includes him as anequal. God made
Paul an apostle but he did not make him a snob. With all
hisauthority from God he still needed brothers to encourage and
support him. Timothyis just a boy compared to Paul, and so we see
the possibility of an older man and ayounger man being great
friends and companions.Dr. Grant C. Richison writes, Timothy was a
vest-pocket edition of the apostlePaul. He was Paul's companion on
many of his travels (II Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; IIThes. 1:1) and his
son in the faith (II Tim 2:1). Timothy had a Gentile father
(Acts16:1) but Jewish mother and grandmother (II Tim. 1:5). He
learned the OldTestament from a young age from them (II Tim. 3:15).
Paul hand-picked Timothy toserve with him. Timothy joined Paul on
his second missionary journey at Lystrawhere he was reported to be
effective in ministry (Acts 16:2). Thereafter they werealmost
inseparable. Wherever Paul went, he took Timothy. Wherever Paul
couldnot go, he sent Timothy. ow if Timothy comes, see that he may
be with youwithout fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I
also do (I Cor. 16:10). Paulpersonally polished him as a leader. He
wrote III Timothy to this young pastor.Paul had numerous colleagues
and friends but none of them were quite as close asTimothy. ote his
view of Timothy in Philippians 2:10-23, But I trust in the
LordJesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be
encouraged when I knowyour state. For I have no one like-minded,
who will sincerely care for your state. Forall seek their own, not
the things which are of Christ Jesus [but not Timothy]. Butyou know
his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with
me inthe gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I
see how it goes withme. God brought these two men together and they
remained together. Theirfriendship stuck. Their friendship glued
together with a divine adhesive. Othersforsook Paul. When the going
got tough, they quit, This you know, that all those inAsia have
turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes (II
11. Tim. 1:15). Paul knew what it was like to have some bitter
disappointments in hisfriends and co-workers.What kept Paul and
Timothy together? They had nothing in common. Paul wasmuch older
than Timothy (Philemon 9). In I Timothy Paul said, Let no
mandespise your youth. Usually, people who have a large age gap do
not remaintogether for very long unless they are relatives These
two were poles apart in theirfamily background. Paul was a pure
blood Jew (Phil. 3:5). Timothy was half Jew,half Gentile. His
father was a Gentile (Acts 16:3). They were poles apart in
theireducation. They were not on the same plane. Paul had a
graduate degree. He sat atthe feet of Gamaliel. There is no record
of any formal training of Timothy. Peoplecan be radically different
in every way and still be one in Christ because he becomestheir
center and primary motivation in living and serving.Paul always has
companionship with other fellow servants, and this reveals
thatChristians are to be social people and develop relationships,
for this gives life greatmeaning. Christ is Savior and He is our
all in all, yet, the fact is we are made to haveother
relationships, and we are not complete on our own. Even Jesus
neededrelationships. He had his disciples and he loved to go to the
home of Mary andMartha and Lazarus. We are made to need
relationships. They are a key factor inour happiness and our
success in living. The paradox is, it is also relationships
thatgive us most of the grief of life, and most of our heartaches
and frustrations are dueto relationships, and so they are
essential, yet they are often a burden. Those closestto Jesus gave
him the most grief. The inner circle of Peter, James, and John
wouldnot watch one hour, but fell asleep as he struggled in
Gethsemane. It was hisdisciples who made him frustrated and caused
him to say, How long must I endurethis. Paul also had grief from
his close relationships and some of them forsook him,like Demas,
and made him sad.2. To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ
atColosse: Grace and peace to you from God ourFather.ADDRESSEES1.
Holy brothers. It means they were people set apart to be in the
service of doingthe will of God in the world. The vessels in the
temple were called holy, not becausethey were different from those
used in every day life, but because they were setapart to be used
in the service of God. To be holy is to have a special purpose
relatedto God. The Christian is saved to serve God. He may not be
better than others inmany ways, but he is called to a better use.
He is a saint, meaning he has a calling tobe what God wants him or
her to be. 12. HOLY: Barclay writes, The Greek word Holy is hagios;
this is also the word forsaint, which in the KJV is the regular
word for the Christian. The basic meaningof this word is different.
The temple is holy because it is different fromother buildings; the
Sabbath day holy because it is different from other days;God is
supremely the Holy One because He is the Wholly other, the one who
inhis being is different from men. So, then, first and foremost the
Christian isdifferent. But it is of the first importance to note
wherein that difference isexpressed. It is expressed, not by
withdrawal from the world, but by involvement inthe world. The
difference is to be expressed within the life of the world.Just as
a king may have a vessel in his palace he uses to spit in that may
be far morecostly and beautiful than the one the priest uses to
remove the ashes from the altar,so there are men in the world who
are finer specimens of manhood, and morecultured and more
intelligent and talented, than many professing
Christians.evertheless, the blackened vessel used in the temple is
holy, and so is the weakestand most inadequate Christian, for they
are called to a specialized task of beingtools for the service of
God in this world. Ironside wrote, The vilest sinner isconstituted
by God a saint, the moment he puts his trust in the Lord
JesusChrist......thus we are saints by calling and not primarily by
practice. Being holy orbeing a saint is not something we achieve by
living a perfect or near perfect life, it issomething we receive.
It is a title that comes with salvation. Every Christian is asaint
and is therefore one who is holy.Ray Stedman wrote, Why is God's
name holy? Because it is his name. We call hisbook the holy Bible
because it is God's book. We call Palestine the Holy Landbecause it
peculiarly belongs to God, more than any other spot on earth. In
thatsense, therefore, holy has nothing to do with how you act but
more with who youare. You belong to God. By faith the Colossians
had believed what God said,therefore God claimed them for his own;
they belonged to him.Holy defines their relationship to God, and
brother defines their relationship to eachother. Saints are those
who-1.Receive the Gift of God.2.Respect the Goal of God.3.Radiate
the Glory of God.In Buddhism a saint is one who is empty of all
desire, but for a Christian it is onewho is filled with desire to
do the will of God.2. Someone made this interesting observation:
lt. is addressed to God's dedicatedpeople and to the faithful
brothers in Colosse. ow in the matter of openingaddresses Paul's
custom changed. In his earlier letters he always addressed the
letterto the Church. I and 2 Thessalonians, I and 2 Corinthians and
Galatians are alladdressed to the Church of the district to which
they are sent. But beginning withRomans all Paul's letters are
addressed to God's dedicated people in such and sucha place. It is
so in Romans, Colossians, Philippians and Ephesians. As Paul
grewolder, he cared more and more to see that what matters is
individual people. TheChurch is people. The Church is not a kind of
vague, abstract entity; it is individualmen and women and children.
And, as the years went on, Paul began to think less 13. and less of
the Church as a whole, and more and more of the Church as
individualmen and women. And so, in the end, he sends his
greetings, not to a kind of abstractsociety called the Church, but
rather to the individual men and women of whom theChurch must
always be composed.Alexander Maclaren on this text points out that
the Christians in the .T. were onlycalled Christians twice, but
they were called brothers often. Christian has becomethe popular
term to go by, ever though in was the nick-name given by the
world.The deeper name given by Paul is saints and brothers. Masses
of very diversepeople, both Jews and Gentiles, being called brother
because they are a part of thefamily of God. Maclaren says, ..there
had never been anything like it in the world.The name is a memorial
of the unifying power of the Christian faith. The unity ofall
believers is based on their common Father, which makes them all
brothers andsisters. He says again, Do not be content with the
vague, often unmeaning name ofChristian, but fill it with meaning
by being a believer on Christ, a saint devoted toGod, and a brother
of all whom by like precious faith, have become Sons
ofGod.FAITHFULBeing faithful was very important to Paul. It meant
somebody you could count on.They could be trusted to be reliable.
If they have a duty to do, you can count on itthey will do it.
There is nothing more frustrating than the unfaithful. You
expectthem to do what they say they will do and then make plans
accordingly and they letyou down. They are a disappointment and it
is discouraging, but with the faithfulyou know it will be as they
promise. The reason Paul loves Timothy was because hewas so
faithful. When others let him down and even forsook him, Timothy
wasalways there for him. Paul loved to praise those who were
faithful.Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow
servant, who is for you afaithful minister of Christ;Col 4:7 All my
state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother,
anda faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord:Col 4:9 With
Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
Theyshall make known unto you all things, which are done
here.Someone put it this way: To some, the word plugger may seem a
little coarse andundignified when applied to people. It shouldn't.
ot even when applied to God'speople. As defined by Webster in its
colloquial sense, the plugger is one who keepssteadily and doggedly
at work. When that work is the Lord's work the pluggers arethe
faithful. So, even if the word seems common, the people it
describes are certainlynot. They are the unsung heroes of the
Lord's army. They are the backbone of thechurch. They are worthy of
honor. Praise the pluggers. ot for their extraordinarytalents, but
for making good use of whatever talents they do have. They don't
lettheir inability to do things hinder them from doing little
things. They are contentjust to do the best they can at what they
can (Eccl. 9:10). That may mean cleaningthe building or mowing the
lawn. It may involve helping the sick or cheering the 14.
fainthearted. It may mean nothing more than giving a tract or an
invitation, butthey just keep right on, doing all as unto the
Lord.Faithful brothers. Here is a Jew writing to Gentiles and
calling them brothers.People in that day hated each other for being
one or the other. Hatred characterizedthe relation of Jews and
Gentiles. But in the church and in Christ these enemiesbecome
brothers. All walls between people are to be broken down in Christ.
Parkerwrites, There are messages which can be delivered only to
such men as are heredescribed. Paul has written nothing to
societies of wicked men. the Apostles havenothing to say to
brotherhoods of evil or confederacies of malice; they can
onlydeliver their gospel to those who are prepared to receive it.
The sun indeed hasnothing to say to plants that are dead, or to
trees that are plucked up by the roots:but how much it has to say
to plants that live, and to trees that stretch forth theirbranches,
as if in eager expectancy, towards heaven!ADDRESS1. In Christ. This
is their permanent address that will never change for all
eternity.Colosse was only their temporary address. This city was
destroyed by anearthquake, but it did not change their address of
being in Christ. Barclay writes,The Christian lives in two
dimensions. He lives in this world, and he does not takethe duties
and relationships lightly; he fulfills his every obligation to the
world inwhich in lives. But above and beyond that he lives in
Christ. In this world he maymove form place to place, so that now
he is in one place and now in another; butwherever he is, he is in
Christ. That is why outward circumstances will make verylittle
difference to the Christian; his happiness and his peace and his
joy are notdependent on them; these things can change, but the fact
is that he is in Christ cannever change.We never say men are in
Paul, or Moses, or Isaiah, or Luther, or Calvin. We saythey are
Lutherans and Calvinists, and mean they are followers of these men,
butnever that they are in them. Calvin's ideas may be in us, but we
are not in him. Theideas of Jesus may be in men also, and they not
be in Him. A Christian is one whohas Christ in him and thus, he is
in Christ. A cup can be in the water and the waterin the cup. If
you are in love, love will be in you. To be in is to be immersed
in, andsurrounded by. Jesus is our environment. We are in the world
but not of it, but weare in Christ and of Him. We are in the air
and the air is in us, so we are in Christand Christ is in us. Both
our internal and external world are Christ oriented.2. R.C. Sproul
has some fun occasionally at a lecture in his studio at Orlando.
Hewill go up to someone in the audience and ask, Where do you live?
The personwill answer, Chicago or St. Louis or Burlington. Then
R.C. asks, are youalive now? The person answers, Yes. Are you in
Chicago now? The answer isno. But, you said you live in Chicago?
What is it that you are doing now? Hispoint is simple: Our home is
in a specific location. We live wherever we ARE. AsChristians we
are both in the world and in Christ. The being in Christ is to make
a 15. major difference in how we are in the world. Colosse is not
to be the major influencein our lives, but Christ, and that
influence is to make a difference in Colosse. WhenColosse has a
more powerful influence than Christ, we are worldly Christians.
Weneed to ask ourselves often, where am I living right now? Am I in
Colosse, andletting it be the primary source of influence in my
life, or am I in Christ letting Himbe that primary source of
influence?3. We are in Christ, and so what happens to Him happens
to us. We are raised withHim, and we are ascended with Him. We are
in His humanity and all that happensto Him is our destiny. Paxton
says it,Denotes our position=Where He is, we are.Defines our
privileges=What He is, we are.Describes our possessions=What He
has, we share.Determines our practice=What He does, we do.4. What
the Epistles say about Christ.1. Romans: We are justified in
Christ.2. Corinthians: We are dignified in Christ.3. Galatians: We
are sanctified in Christ.4. Ephesians and Colossians: We are
unified in Christ.5. Thessalonians: We are glorified in Christ.6.
Timothy: We are qualified in Christ.7. Titus: We are purified in
Christ.8. Hebrews: We are magnified in Christ.9. James: We are
amplified in Christ.10. Peter: We are edified in Christ.11. Jude:
We are fortified in Christ.12. Revelation: We are beautified in
Christ.--A. T. Pierson.5. I CHRIST WE HAVE1. Love that can never be
fathomed.2. Life than can never die.3. Righteousness that can never
be tarnished.4. Peace that cannot be understood.5. Rest than can
never be disturbed.6. Joy that can never be diminished.7. Hope that
can never be disappointed.8. Glory that can never be clouded.9.
Light that can never be darkened.10. Happiness that can never be
interrupted.11. Strength that can never be enfeebled.12. Purity
that can never be defiled.13. Beauty that can never be marred.14.
Wisdom that can never be baffled.15. Resources that can never be
exhausted. QUOTED FROM WAR CRY6. This is really Paul's letter to
podunkville, for this is the least important city Paul 16. wrote
to. His letters to Rome and Corinth were to very big and major
cities of theworld of that day, but Colosse was a dying town. Yet
these Christians motivatedPaul to write one of the greatest letters
in history that has influenced all of thehistory of the whole
church.7. It was located near the other two cities mentioned in
this letter. Laodicea in 2:1,4:13-16. and Hierapolis in 4:13. These
other two cities were bigger and could be seenby each other as they
stood on opposite sides of the Lycus river in what is nowTurkey.
They were about six miles apart and up the river 12 miles was this
smallertown of Colosse. Rev. Bruce Goettsche wrote, Colosse was
considered a small townat this time but was near a major trade
route which meant that many travelerspassed through their area. I
think the best way to understand what Colosse was likeis to liken
it to a small town just off the Interstate. People from all over
the worldstop in that town to get gas or lodging. With these
visitors come an exposure to thethinking and values of the world.
Different people would stop and visit and sharetheir ideas and
philosophies. It was only natural for the people of the town to
beintrigued by some of the things they had heard. It is similar to
what takes placewhen someone goes to college . . . they are exposed
to ways of thinking that aredifferent from their own and often have
radical swings in belief.Some of these ideas were embraced by the
people. Soon, these ideas were findingtheir way into the church.
And though the change was subtle (at this point), thegospel was
being distorted. The church was beginning to be molded by the world
inwhich it lived. This is called Syncretism. It is a blending of
various philosophies.However, any change in the pure gospel message
diminishes the Gospel. Anythingwe try to add pollutes God's great
plan. Maybe you can already see why this is amessage for our time.
o matter where we live, we are constantly exposed to
thephilosophies of the world. We may feel like we are isolated and
secure. But we arenot. Today with C, network television, the radio,
mass marketed literature, thedaily newspaper, and the Internet, we
are constantly being bombarded with non-Christian thinking.
Unfortunately, even much of the Christian broadcasting isnow
carrying secular overtones.8. It was rich territory with fertile
land and great flocks of sheep. It became thecenter of the woolen
industry of the world. All three cities benefited from this,
butLaodicea became the political and financial center of the area
and Hierapolisbecame the trade center and place for health spas
with its vapor springs. Thecompetition was too great for Colosse
and she had nothing special to offer and sobegan to decline. It can
and does happen to the best of people and places. Today theruins of
the other two cities can be seen but there is not one stone left of
Colosse totell where it once was. In the eighth century people left
the city and by the twelfthcentury it disappeared completely.
Colosse was a dying city and it had this smallchurch. It could be
neglected we would think, but Paul felt it was important to
dealwith the issues of the small church and because of his value
system the whole worldhas benefited.GRACE. 17. This was one of
Paul's favorite words, and he begins and ends this letter with
grace,and he does so with every letter he writes, with Hebrews as
the only exception, andthere is debate if he wrote that. THAYER
points out that: a. CHARIS contains theidea of kindness which
bestows upon one what he has not deserved. b. The Twriters use
CHARIS (or Karis) preeminently of that kindness by which Godbestows
favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the
pardon of theiroffenses, and bids them accept of eternal salvation
through Christ. - e.g., Ep 2:5Karis is the Greek word and it is
equivalent to our God bless you. This word coversall of the ways
people wish others the best. Good luck is the secular
equivalent.Grace is more personal for it refers to the favor of
God. May the favor of God beupon you. Greeks meant beauty by grace,
and would be saying, May you havebeauty of person and beauty of
soul. May your houses and children, and all yoursurroundings be
fair to the eyes. May you lives be like a noble poem or statue
withdo discord or deformity to mar them. We get the word charm from
the Greekcharis. There is to be a loveliness about the Christian
life. If it is not attractive itfalls short of the ideal of Christ.
He was full of grace. King writes, How much itmeans! God's
attitude, as in Eph. 2:8; God's assistance, as in I Cor. 15:10;
God'sattractiveness, as in Acts 4:33. Since all this is what the
Word implies, what a wishit is with which to greet our fellows: May
this all-embracing grace be yours.Parker, Paul does not proceed
upon the principle that because grace was oncegiven to the saints
and faithful brethren that therefore they need no more. We
needdaily grace for daily need. We must, indeed, never permit the
soul to be cut off fromthe fountains of heavenly grace... Grace is
God's provision for the Christian life.Peace is the enjoyment of
God's provisions. A person experiencing peace is in theprocess of
experiencing God's grace. Grace is the normal Greek
salutation.Peace is the normal Hebrew salutation.PEACE.The Hebrew
SHALOM peace[ 13 ] is equivalent to the Greek EIREEEE peace butin
Paul's greeting peace has the special meaning that Christ gave to
it. He said toHis disciples, Peace I leave with you, adding that
His peace is not as the worldgives (Joh 14:27; compare Col 3:15).
Peace is the sense of being O K with God,others, and yourself. You
can have all the riches and fame of the world, but if youdo not
have peace you are not happy. This is the highest state of well
being.Old castles often had deep wells for time of war. The enemy
might cut off the watersupply from the aqueducts, but they could
not touch the source of water within. Tohave an inner sense of
peace is to have a well within that cannot be reached by theturmoil
of life and external circumstances. This is one of life's great
blessings andone Paul wanted for all believers. Grace is the root
and peace is the fruit. They arenot once for all gifts like
salvation but must be gotten constantly. We need God'sgrace and
peace today and every day. They are to the soul what food and water
areto the body.This is not peace with God. That peace we receive at
the point of salvation. This is 18. peace of God, God's very own
peace for everyday life. It does not take much forpeople to get our
goat. We charge into conflict over something insignificant.
Pauldesires that every believer will know the peace of God in
whatever situation theyface. This is the ability to call an
armistice because the war is over. We no longerneed to fight
insignificant battles.Illustration of the meaning of PEACE - Jim
Walton was translating the T forthe Muinane people of La Sabana in
the jungles of Colombia. But he was havingtrouble with the word
peace. During this time, Fernando, the village chief, waspromised a
20-minute plane ride to a location that would have taken him 3 days
totravel by walking. The plane was delayed in arriving at La
Sabana, so Fernandodeparted on foot. When the plane finally came, a
runner took off to bring Fernandoback. But by the time he had
returned, the plane had left. Fernando was lividbecause of the
mix-up. He went to Jim and launched into an angry
tirade.Fortunately, Walton had taped the chief's diatribe. When he
later translated it, hediscovered that the chief kept repeating the
phrase, I don't have one heart. Jimasked other villagers what
having one heart meant, and he found that it was likesaying, There
is nothing between you and the other person. That, Waltonrealized,
was just what he needed to translate the word peace. To have peace
withGod means that there is nothing--no sin, no guilt, no
condemnation--that separatesus. And that peace with God is possible
only through Christ (Ro5:1). Do you haveone heart with
God?Thanksgiving and Prayer3. We always thank God, the Father of
our LordJesus Christ, when we pray for you,1. Ray Stedman writes,
Paul is in Rome, a prisoner in chains, and unable to travelto
Colossae, a thousand miles east, to help them. There is nothing he
can dophysically for them. But spiritually, he is a powerful prayer
warrior who can createin their midst a tremendous opportunity to
know truth that will free them andenable them to withstand the
assault of false teaching. That, then, is what he isdoing: he is
praying for them. The striking thing about this prayer is the very
firstsentence of it: For this reason, since the day we heard about
you, we have notstopped praying for you... This was a continuing
prayer. As far as we know, Paulhad never been to Colossae. Apart
from one or two among them, he did notpersonally know these
believers. And yet he prays continually for them. When wecome to
statements like this in Scripture it is quite fair to ask, when did
he do this? 19. Day and night he is chained to a Roman guard, he
never has a moment to himself.Awake or asleep, he is bound to his
jailer. Furthermore, when he is awake, hisfriends are dropping by
to see him to seek his counsel and instruction. He evenministers to
the Roman guards, many of whom came to Christ, as we learn in
theletter to the Philippians. He is busy writing letters, too, so
when did he find time topray for the Colossians? The answer lies in
the form of prayer that Dr. CarlLundquist calls living prayer. Here
is a quotation from a recent letter I received.This is the
description of an ongoing life of prayer, used by Maxie Dunnam in
hisWorkbook of Living Prayer. It refers to quiet, whispered prayers
and praises thatflow from our hearts all day long. Dunnam suggests
that we use interruptions,people or events that break in
unexpectedly upon our day, as calls to specific prayer.Most of us
use mealtime---grace time---to think of God and to voice our thanks
tohim. But more than food can call us to prayer. Frank Laubach, the
modern mystic,challenges us to use the newspaper or the television
set in the same way. As worlddecision-makers are pictured before
our eyes we can breathe a quiet prayer forthem by name. We can read
a newspaper prayerfully, whispering back to God ourintercessions
for those in need, about whom we are reading. When someone callsour
attention to himself, even in an impolite way--- tripping us on the
bus, jabbingus with an umbrella, dodging in front of us (in
traffic.I often pray Henry Van Dyke's beautiful prayer, Grant me
the knowledge that Ineed To solve the questions of the mind. Light
Thou my candle while I read, Tokeep my heart from going blind.
Enlarge my vision to behold The wonders Youhave wrought of
old.2.CALVI,We give thanks to God. He praises the faith and love of
the Colossians,that it may encourage them the more to alacrity and
constancy of perseverance.Farther, by shewing that he has a
persuasion of this kind respecting them, heprocures their friendly
regards, that they may be the more favourably inclined andteachable
for receiving his doctrine. We must always take notice that he
makes useof thanksgiving in place of congratulation, by which he
teaches us, that in all ourjoys we must readily call to remembrance
the goodness of God, inasmuch aseverything that is pleasant and
agreeable to us is a kindness conferred by him.Besides, he
admonishes us, by his example, to acknowledge with gratitude
notmerely those things which the Lord confers upon us, but also
those things which heconfers upon others.But for what things does
he give thanks to the Lord? For the faith and love of
theColossians. He acknowledges, therefore, that both are conferred
by God: otherwisethe gratitude were pretended. And what have we
otherwise than through hisliberality? If, however, even the
smallest favors come to us from that source, howmuch more ought
this same acknowledgment to be made in reference to those twogifts,
in which the entire sum of our excellence consists?To the God and
Father. (279) Understand the expression thus To God who is
theFather of Christ. For it is not lawful for us to acknowledge any
other God than him 20. who has manifested himself to us in his Son.
And this is the only key for opening thedoor to us, if we are
desirous to have access to the true God. For on this account,also,
is he a Father to us, because he has embraced us in his only
begotten Son, andin him also sets forth his paternal favor for our
contemplation.Always for you, Some explain it thus We give thanks
to God always for you, thatis, continually. Others explain it to
mean Praying always for you. It may also beinterpreted in this way,
Whenever we pray for you, we at the same time givethanks to God;
and this is the simple meaning, We give thanks to God, and we atthe
same time pray. By this he intimates, that the condition of
believers is never inthis world perfect, so as not to have,
invariably, something wanting. For even theman who has begun
admirably well, may fall short in a hundred instances everyday; and
we must ever be making progress while we are as yet on the way. Let
ustherefore bear in mind that we must rejoice in the favors that we
have alreadyreceived, and give thanks to God for them in such a
manner, as to seek at the sametime from him perseverance and
advancement.2B. This verse gives us 4 basic principles in prayer.1.
PARTERSHIP I PRAYER. WEPaul could handle negative because he did
not bare the burden alone. Hehad companions, and in his mind he
escaped the prison of self-centeredness. Itrouble is the major
problem of life. It is what Wallace Hamilton called thealphabetical
heresy--the use of the capital I and the small you. Paul learned
toreverse this and concentrate on the we and the you.2. PERSISTECY
I PRAYER. ALWAYSSomeone said,The more temporal things that are
used, the more they wearand waste; but spiritual things are
strengthened and increased with exercise. Everyspiritual grace has
in it the seed of an endless reproductiveness.So often we pray for
those who are not Christians and forget that Paulprays most for
those who are Christians even when they are doing great. They
tooneed our prayers that they might keep going strong and not slip
back. Doctor R. A.Torrey was told at a Bible Conference that his
ministry 27 years previously inAustralia had produced some of the
countries greatest soul winners. When he askedfor some names he
said when these men made decisions I put them on my prayer listand
have prayed for them everyday for 27 years.Brother Lawrance, the
cook in a monastery wrote, The time of businessdoes not with me
differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of
mykitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for
different things, Ipossess God in as great tranquility as if I were
upon my knees at the blessedsacrament. 21. 3. POSITIVES OF PRAYER.
THAKThe principle and the prominent part of prayer is thanksgiving.
We must beevaluating the lives of others at all times and be giving
thanks for all signs ofgrowth.4. PERSOS I PRAYER. WE--GODYOUCharles
Haddon Spurgeon wrote, The minister who does not earnestly pray
overhis work must surely be a vain and conceited man. he acts as if
he thought himselfsufficient of himself and therefore need not
appeal to God. Yet what a baseless prideto conceive that our
preaching can ever be in itself so powerful that it can turn
menfrom their sins and bring them to God without the working of the
Holy Ghost.I developed a sermon based on the above outline, and I
include it here even thoughit is available in my sermons on
Colossians.3. THREE KEYS TO A BETTER PRAYER LIFE.Dietrich Bonhoffer
was a leader in the church of Germany at the time ofHitler's rise
to power. He opposed Hitler and was imprisoned in 1943. He did
notcease to influence people, however, even in prison. He inspired
others by hiscourage. The guards were supposed to be his enemies,
but they so respected himthat they smuggled out his writings that
have influenced millions since.One of the men who was in prison
with Bonhoffer was the English officerPayne Best. He survived the
war and wrote this account in a book. I want to share itwith you
because it represents the kind of example of Christ-likeness that
we see inthe Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter of Colossians from
his prison cell in Rome.Best wrote- Bonhoffer-was all humility and
sweetness, he always seemed to me todiffuse an atmosphere of
happiness, of joy in every smallest event in life--He was oneof the
very few men I have ever met to whom his God was real and close to
him.Then after Best describes a service that Bonhoffer held for the
prisoners on Sunday,April 8, 1945 he wrote, He had hardly finished
his last prayer when the dooropened and two evil looking men in
civilian clothes came in ;and said 'prisonerBonhoffer, get ready to
come with us.' Those words, come with us-for all theprisoners they
had come to mean one thing only--the scaffold. We bade him
good-bye-he drew me aside-this is the end, he said. For me the
beginning of life. extday, at Flossenburg, he was hanged.This
courageous optimism in the most negative of circumstances is one of
thecharacteristics we see in the Apostle Paul. In his prison
epistles we do not hear anywhining or complaining, but only words
of joy and thanksgiving. Paul had indeedlearned to be content in
every state of life. He too faced death at any time, yet hewanted
to use his time to write and encourage others. His negative
experience hasled to positive results in the lives of millions
through history. 22. George Jackson, in a tribute to Robertson
icole, the editor of the BritishWeekly said, He flung down a bunch
of keys for me, and has set me to openingdoors for myself on every
side of me. This is what Paul has done for the Colossiansand for
the whole church of Christ. He has thrown down a bunch of keys
thatenable us to open doors to God's best on every side. As we
focus on v.3, we can seethat Paul has given us three keys to a
better prayer life. The first key is-I. THE PARTERSHIP OF
PRAYER.otice Paul says, We always thank God. He does not say I
thank God, buthe included his partner Timothy. The idea of a prayer
partner is very Biblical. Jesussaid prayer is more powerful when
two agree on what they desire from God. InMatt. 18:19-20 we read,
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree aboutanything
you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For
where twoor three come together in my name, there am I with them.It
seems as if God has designed prayer to be a promoter of unity,
fellowshipand brotherhood. He has promised to answer more
effectively those prayers thatcome from a partnership. This is a
key to a better prayer life, but it is oftenneglected. We have
potential power in prayer that we seldom use. Cabeza deVacatells of
how he and his companion explorer went from Florida to the Pacific
between1528-1536. On one occasion they were lost and starving and
in a state of despairwhen they were found by Indians. The Indians
felt that since they were white menthey should have the power to
heal some of their sick. They were miserablethemselves and now they
were expected to heal others or die. He wrote, We prayerfor
strength. We prayed on bended knees and in agony of hunger. Then
theyblessed the sick Indians, and to their amazement the ailing red
men said they weremade well. DeVaca wrote, Being Europeans, we
thought we had given away todoctors and priests our ability to
heal. But here it was, still in our possession. It wasours after
all; we were more than we thought we were.The fact is, all of us
are more than we think we are. If we form partnershipsin prayer we
will have a key that will open many doors that otherwise might
neveropen. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He made it
clear he expected them topray in partnership. He used only plurals.
It was our Father, give us this dailybread, forgive us, and lead us
not into temptation.Every believer needs to develop some
relationship with another believerwhere they feel like true
partners in prayer. In prayer, the loner is a loser. We maypray
much alone, but we need to know that there is someone else who is
one with usin our praying. When Lavonne and I began to hold hands
each night, and talk overrequests, and agree on what we desire to
bring before God, it lead to so manyanswers we stopped keeping
track of them. We are convinced any couple would beenriched if they
would begin this practice of partnership in prayer. Learn how
toenjoy the we of prayer. In verse 9 Paul says again, We have not
ceased to pray foryou. A we prayer is a better prayer than an I
prayer, and so the more you pray in 23. partnership the better
prayer life you will have.II. THE PERSISTECE OF PRAYER.Paul says,
We always give thanks. Always refers to the persistence ofPauls
prayer. The modern language Bible puts it, We constantly give
thanks toGod.In verse 9 we see this emphasis again, and from the
day we heard of it we have notceased to pray for you. Paul did not
just say prayers, he prayed, and there is aworld of difference. I
can say a prayer in a matter of seconds, but to pray takes up apart
of my consciousness, and becomes a real concern of my life. This
kind ofprayer does not cease, for it is a persistent factor in ones
life. Paul wrote this letteras a part of his prayer concern. Prayer
is not only asking God for His guidance, it isthe listening and
responding to His guidance. Pauls response in writing this letteris
a part of the circle of prayer. It is Gods answering his prayer for
them throughhim by writing to them the things they need to
hear.Persistence in prayer means there is some listening and
follow-up. It is notjust flashing a telegram to God, but a
listening for an answer, and putting feet toyour prayer by doing
what you can to be a part of the answer. This is anotherpartnership
in prayer, for it is a partnership with God. God does not want to
workalone any more than we do. He wants to work with us and have us
work with Himto achieve His purpose in history.In verse 9 Paul says
he has prayed for them to be filled with the knowledge ofGod's
will. He asked God to do this for them, and then he wrote this
letter to tellthem the will of God and thus, he was an answer to
his own prayer. He was apartner with God. Much unanswered prayer is
due to our not persisting in prayeruntil we see how we can be
partners with God in answering it. Persistence is a test ofour
sincerity. Much prayer is a matter of routine and can easily be
superficial, but ifyou persist and thank God always for certain
aspects of life you demonstrate a trueand deep interest. By his
persistent prayers Paul proves he really cares about theColossian
Christians.Paul makes it clear that he expects them to also pray
for him. In 4:2-3 hewrites, Devote yourselves to prayer, being
watchful and thankful. And pray for us,too, that God may open a
door for our message..... Paul wants their partnership inprayer
too, and we thus can conclude that the number of people caring
about amatter enough to persist in seeking God about it makes a
difference with God.Persistence is a principle that is necessary
for success in any area of life. Themore you use things the more
they wear out and become useless, but the more youuse the things of
the spirit the more they develop and become more useful.
ProfessorPhelps in his Autobiography with Letters, tells of how he
hated his first concert ofclassical music. He decided to keep on
trying to enjoy it and the day came when thesymphony became one of
his greatest pleasures. The first time he read Browning hewas not
impressed, but he persisted in reading until he came to almost
idolize the 24. man's writings. If we keep at something and persist
in seeking its value we can cometo love and value what we did not
care about at all. This is the point of persistence inprayer. We
give up to soon and lose the joy of answered prayer that would make
it agreater pleasure rather than a chore. What do you pray for
always?III. THE POSITIVE OF PRAYERThe prominent part of Paul's
prayer was thanksgiving. That is the positiveaspect of prayer that
is so easily neglected. Lack of thanks in our prayer is not a
signthat we are not close to God, however, for this is a common
lack toward those wecare about. We seldom thank our mate or
children for their acts of love and serviceon our behalf. We tend
to take them for granted, and so it is with God. His goodnessis so
common that there is no end to the things we could thank Him for
daily. Butthe commonplace is soon taken for granted and we forget
to be grateful for theblessings all around us.Paul had the amazing
ability to be ever grateful for the commonplace. Paulwould have
made a marvelous husband. Imagine a wife who is thanked and
praisedevery time she does as act of love and service. Thank you
dear for making that meal,and for making the bed, and for cleaning
the house, and for getting the kids off toschool, and thanks for
washing my shirt, and on and on it could go. Paul could begiving
thanks without ceasing. It was not as if he had no problems to
struggle with,for Paul had perpetual battles and needed plenty of
help and encouragement, but henever neglected the positive aspect
of prayer, which is thanksgiving.Because prayer was positive for
Paul, it was not a bore and a chore. He couldhardly wait to thank
God again for all His grace. Have you ever felt so grateful
tosomeone you could not wait to see them and express your
gratitude? You can't besatisfied until they know how much you
appreciate them and their acts of love. Paulfelt this way toward
God every day, and all day of every day.Prayer is basically the
desire to be in touch with God. That desire is strongerwhen you
want to express your gratitude to Him. There is no bad way to pray
forany prayer is better than no prayer, but there is a better way
to pray and that iswith a positive attitude of thanksgiving. Come
to God thanking Him for what Hehas already done before you plead
for Him to do more for you. The best reason Godhas to answer your
prayer is because you are so grateful for His previous answers.Lack
of thanks is the best reason to deny further blessings. Thanks is
the one thingwe can give to God to express how we feel about all He
has given to us. God is togain in this two way communication of
prayer too, and the only way He can and bepleased is by our being
positive in thanksgiving.Paul was always a positive thinker and, no
doubt, the reason he could be, inspite of all his trials, was
because he was always looking for the things he couldthank God for
in his every day life. If we look for them they are everywhere in
ourlives too. If you will be positive in how you see God's
blessings all around you, youwill be positive in your prayer life
by being ever thankful, and this in turn will make 25. you more
aware of your positive blessings.The prayer here is all positive.
Most of the time we spend in prayer we arepraying for problems. It
is almost embarrassing not to have a problem for then whatare
people to pray for in your life? Like the 8 year old boy who was in
SundaySchool and all the class was sharing prayer requests and as
an 8 year old he had tocome up with something significant, and so
he asked for prayer that his father mightgive up drinking. He had a
can of beer he got from somewhere that sat in the frigfor 7 months.
The word spread, and finally got back home. ow he had somethingto
pray about. He began to pray he would make it to nine.This story
illustrates the paradox that faces Christians. If your life is
toogood, you get little attention. You are not on anyone's prayer
list. It is problems thatget you on the list. The more problems you
have and the more struggles with lifeand sin, the more attention
you get. Get it altogether and you are ignored. TheChristian who is
always sinking in some quicksand is the one who gets all
theattention. The wheel that squeals gets the oil.The longest
letters of Paul are to those churches with the most problems,
andmost sinful behavior. It is a universal principle. It is the
sick who get the attention ofthe doctor. It is those in trouble who
get the attention of the lawyer. It is those withcar problems who
get the attention of the mechanic.Yet, in spite of this, the goal
of the Christian is to press on to perfection andhave such a
positive life that there is no need to be on the prayer list for
manyproblems. We all need to be on the list for the positive,
however, and be lifted up inthe way Paul does for the Colossians.4.
As is his custom, Paul gives thanks for those to whom he writes,
1:3-8. Paul didnot give thanks for the Galatians or the Corinthians
(II Corinthians). If he canhonestly thank God for the people to
whom he writes, he always does so. As soon asthe salutation is
complete he introduces what he thanks God about them (compareRom.
1:8). He could not honestly thank God for the Galatians. It is
amazing that hecould thank God for the Corinthians (I Cor 2:1).
Paul did not say thank God you allhave great jobs, children,
houses, cars and power in the community. He was gratefulfor their
Christian character and the contents of their lives and spirit
rather thanthe content of their closets and bank accounts. Paul was
thankful for people. It wasa major part of his prayer life. We may
spend more time being thankful for things.Like Gene Perrett says
that there are eight things to be grateful for:Be grateful...* for
automatic dishwashers. They make it possible to get out of the
kitchen beforethe family come in for their after-dinner snacks. 26.
* for husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house. They
usually makethem big enough to call in professionals.* for the
bathtub -- the one place the family allows Mom some time to
herself.* for children who put away their things and clean up after
themselves. They'resuch a joy you hate to see them go home to their
own parents.* that we can still have a good heart-to-heart talk
with our youngsters. They need agood nap now and then.* for
gardening. It's a relief to deal with dirt outside the house for a
change.* for teenagers. They give parents an opportunity to learn a
second language.* for smoke alarms. They let you know when the
turkey's done.5. BI, A thankful recognition of Christian excellence
as introductory towarnings and remonstrances. Almost all Pauls
Epistles begin thus. Gentlerain softens the ground, and prepares it
to receive the heavier downfallwhich would else mostly run off the
hard surface. These expressions are notcompliments, or flattery
used for personal ends, but uncalculatedexpressions of affection
which delights to see white patches in the blackestcharacter, and
of wisdom which knows that the nauseous medicine of blameis most
easily taken if wrapped in a capsule of honest praise. All persons
inauthority may be the better for taking this lesson.2. The praise
is cast in the form of thanksgiving to God, as the truefountain of
all that is good in men. All that might be harmful in directpraise
is thus strained out of it. Christian excellences are Gods gifts.
Thefountain, not the pitcher, should have the credit of the
water.3. There were two points which occasioned his
thankfulness.(1) Faith. This is sometimes spoken of as towards
Jesus, whichdescribes the act by its direction, as if it were the
going out of mansnature to the true goal of all active being. On
Christ, describes it asreposing on Him as the end of all seeking.
But more sweet is faithconsidered as in Him as its home, where the
seeking spirit may foldits wings, be strengthened, and
tranquillized.(a) In all, faith is the samesimple confidence. But
how unlike arethe objects!broken reeds in the one case, and the
firm pillar ofDivine power and tenderness in the other. And how
unlike, alas!the fervency and constancy of our trust in each other
and in Him.(b) Faith covers the whole ground of mans relation to
God.Everything that binds us to the unseen world is included in
it.(c) From that fruitful source all good will come, and that
faithlacks its best warrant which does not lead to whatsoever is of
good 27. report.(2) As faith is the parent of all virtue, so it is
the parent of lovethewhole law of human conduct packed into one
word. But the warmestplace in a Christians heart will belong to
those in sympathy with hisdeepest self. The sign on the surface of
earthly relations of the centralfire of faith to Christ is the
fruitful vintage of brotherly love, as thevineyards bear the
heaviest clusters on the slopes of Vesuvius.(3) So here we have two
members of the familiar triad, and theirsister, Hope, is not far
off. And the hope laid up in heaven is a motivefor brotherly love.
This hope is not the emotion, but the object, andthe ideas of
futurity and security are suggested by that object beinglaid up.
This is not the main motive, but it is legitimate to
drawsubordinate motives for holiness from the anticipation of
futureblessedness, and to use that prospect to reinforce the higher
motives.II. A solemn reminder of the truth and worth of that gospel
which wasthreatened by the budding heresies of the Colossian
Church.1. He begins by reminding them that to that gospel they owed
all theirknowledge and hope of heaven. Its sole certainty is built
on theresurrection of Christ, and its sole hope on His death. All
around us wesee those who reject these surrender their faith in the
life beyond.2. The gospel is a word of which the whole subject and
contents is truth.It is of value, not because it feeds sentiment or
regulates conduct only,but because it reveals knowledge about the
deepest things of God, ofwhich, but for it, man would know nothing.
It is not speculation, buttruth; and truth because it is the record
of Him who is the Truth. Towhom shall we go? If elsewhere, to
will-o-the-wisps and Babel.3. This gospel had been received by
them. You have accepted the Word;see that your future be consistent
with your past. Blessed are theywhose creed at last can be spoken
in the lessons learned in childhood, towhich experience has but
given new meaning.4. This gospel was filling the world. All the
world must be taken withan allowance for rhetorical statement, but
the rapid spread ofChristianity then, and its power to influence
all sorts of men, were factsthat needed to be accounted for if the
gospel were not true. All schismsand heresies are partial and
local, suit coteries, and are the product ofcircumstances; but the
gospel goes through the world, and draws allmen. Dainties are for
the few, and the delicacies of one country are theabominations of
another; but everybody breaks bread and lives on it. Donot fling
away the gospel, which belongs to all, for that which can neverlive
in the popular heart, nor influence more than a handful of
superiorpersons.5. Another plea for adherence to the gospel is
based on its continuousand universal fruitfulness. It brings about
results which attest its claimto be from God. Our imperfections are
our own; our good is its. Amedicine is not shown to be powerless if
a sick man has taken itirregularly. This rod has budded at all
events; have any of its antagonistsrods done the same? Dont cast it
away, says Paul, till you have found a 28. better.6. They have
heard a gospel which reveals the true grace of Godanother argument
for steadfastness. In opposition to it then, as now,were put
various thoughts and requirements, a human wisdom and aburdensome
code. They are but bony things to try and live on. The soulwants
something more than bread made out of sawdust. We want aloving God
to live on, whom we can love because He loves us. Willanything but
the gospel give us that?III. The apostolic endorsement of Epaphras,
the early teacher of theColossians, whose authority, no doubt, was
imperilled by the new directionof thought, and Paul was desirous of
adding the weight of his attestation tothe complete correspondence
between his own teaching and that ofEpaphras. We know nothing of
him except from this letter end that toPhilemon. He is a member of
the Colossian Church (Col_4:12). He hadbrought the tidings which
filled the apostles heart with joy and love fortheir Christian walk
(verses 4-8), and of anxiety lest they should be sweptaway from
their steadfastness. Epaphras shared this (Col_4:12). He was insome
sense Pauls fellow-prisoner, and alone of Pauls companionsreceives
the name of fellow-servant, which may be an instance of
Paulscourteous humility. Dont make differenceswe are both slaves of
oneMaster. As He had truly represented Paul, so he had lovingly
representedthem. Probably those who questioned Epaphras version of
Pauls teachingwould suspect his report of the Church; hence the
double witness bornefrom the apostles generous heart to both parts
of his brothers work. Neverwas leader truer to his subordinates
than Paul. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)ThanksgivingI. The duty.1. Arises
out of an express command. We are bound to be thankful for
allthings (Job_1:21; Isa_24:15).2. Is a test of Christian
character. All the saints have been distinguishedby it, and have
treasured up their mercies that they might render it. Tobe lacking
in it is to lack the chief distinguishing grace of
Christiancharacter, and to incur the greatest sin- ingratitude.3.
Must always form a prominent feature of spiritual worship-
witnessthe Psalms.4. Is most reasonable in itselfwhen we consider
that it is the bestreturn we can make for any blessing.II. Its
special subjects. The graces of the spirit in ourselves or
others.1. Faith takes the precedence, because it is the first and
root-grace. Thinkof what faith doessaves, is the evidence of things
unseen, casts all careon God, etc.2. Love which is fruitful in
blessed effects. The loveless man is miserable.3. A good hope
through gracewhich anticipates heaven. (T. Watson, B. 29.
A.)Apostolic thanksgivingI. Its spirit.1. It is unselfish. We hear
the prisoner praise and exult for the joys ofothers. Arthur Helps
says: It is a noble sight. That man is very powerfulwho has no more
hopes for himself, who looks not to be loved oradmired any more, to
have more honour and dignity; but whose solethought is for others,
and who only lives for them.2. Ungrudging. He is about to deal with
their errors, but is eager first torecognize what is laudable.
There are two sets of men, those who first seethe blemish, then the
beauty; and those who first admire and thencriticise. To the first
of these Paul belonged.3. Constant.II. Its subjects.1. The
spiritual possessions of the Church. Sometimes Paul views faithand
love as leading up to hope: here he depicts hope as kindling faith
andlove.(1) The faith is Christ-centred.(2) The love is
practical.(3) The hope is secure.2. The means by which these
possessions had been obtained.(1) The gospel.(a) In its
universality.(b) In its fertility. The gospel is not only vital,
but reproductive.(2) The preacher.3. The source and sphere of their
possession. Love in the Spirit is thelife of all the saints. (U. R.
Thomas.)The custom of the apostle to begin his Epistles with
thanksgiving showedthe devout habit of his mind, his constant
recognition of the source of good,and his interest in the spiritual
condi tion of those to whom he wrote.I. Thanksgiving an essential
element in prayer. We give thanks, prayingalways for you.II. The
Being to Whom all thanksgiving is due. The God and Father of
ourLord Jesus Christ.III. The grounds of this thanksgiving.1. The
reputation of their faith in Christ. 30. (1) Christ is the object
and foundation of all true faith. He is so as
theDivinely-consecrated Deliverer of our race. The grandeur of His
workand the glory of His character are suggested by the titles here
given.(2): Faith is the root-principle of Christian life.2. Their
possession of an expansive Christian love. Love to Christ
isnecessarily involved, for love to the saints is our affection for
Christsimage in them. Love is all-embracing. Peculiarities,
defects, differencesof opinion, are no barriers. It is the
unanswerable evidence of moraltransformation (1Jn_3:14). It is the
grandest triumph over the naturalenmity of the human heart. It is
the indissoluble bond of choicestfellowship.3. Their enjoyment of a
well-sustained hope.(1) Its character. The prospect of heavenof
possessing a spiritualinheritance whose wealth never diminishes and
whose splendoursnever fadeof seeing Christ, and being like Him and
dwelling withHim for ever. This prospect lifts the soul above the
wearinesses,disappointments, and sufferings of the present limited
life.(2) Its security laid upsafely deposited as a precious jewel
inGods coffer. There no pilfering hands can touch, no breath
tarnish,no moth corrupt it. Earthly treasures vanish, and to Gods
peoplesometimes nothing but hope remains. Where this treasure is
therethe heart should be.(3) Its sourcethe gospel. It alone unfolds
the mysteries of the future.How dismal the outlook where hope is
unknown.Lessons:1. We should thank God for others more on account
of their spiritualthan temporal welfare.2. Learn what are the
essential elements of the Christian characterfaith, love, hope.3.
The proclamation of the gospel should be welcomed, and its
messagepondered. (G. Barlow.)The connection between thanksgiving
and prayerThe participle marks the thanksgiving as part of the
prayer, and the adverbmakes it prominent, indicating that when they
prayed for them they alwaysgave thanks. There is no true prayer
without thanksgiving. Gratitudeintensifies the souls sense of
dependence on God, and prompts the cry forthe needed help; and, on
the other hand, earnest prayer naturally glidesinto fervent
thankfulness. As one sin is interlinked with and produced
byanother, so the Use of one grace begets another. The more
temporal thingsare used, the more they wear and waste; but
spiritual things arestrengthened and increased with exercise. Every
spiritual grace has in it theseed of an endless reproductiveness.
Underlying every thanksgiving forothers is a spirit of tender,
disinterested love. Moved by this passion, the 31. apostle, from
the midst of imprisonment and sorrow, could soar on thewings of
gratitude and prayer to heaven. Thanksgiving will be the bliss
ofeternity. (Passavant.)Five Christian elementsI. Christian
experience. It consists in1. Faith.(1) That which leads us to
accept as true the testimony of the gospelconcerning Christ.(2) To
depend upon Him for all the blessings promised by Him.(3) To
constantly apply to Him for all that He has revealed
andaccomplished.(4) To lay hold of His friendship, and find Him in
every respect afaithful, suitable, ever-present, all-sufficient
friend.2. Love, the constant attendant of faith, and by which faith
works.(1) It produces universal benevolence to all the world,
andcompassion for perishing sinners.(2) It especially delights
itself in the saints as related to and bearingthe image of Him who
is the supreme object of love.(3) It will evidence itself in love
to Christs commands, ways, people.3. Hope.(1) Its object is
heaven.(2) As a grace it dwells in the heart, always in some
measureaccompanying faith and love.(3) It is with the Christian
even in his darkest moments.II. Christian communion consists in1.
Joy and gratitude to God on behalf of those who give evidence of
beingpartakers of His grace in truth. This is quite distinct from
ordinaryfriendship.(1) It is founded on personal attractions or
intimate intercourse.(2) It is oneness of soul which subsists in
the absence of every otherconsideration, and notwithstanding
unfavourable circumstances.2. Fervent prayer for the establishment
and perfection of those graces inthe beginning of which we rejoice
(verses 9, 10).3. Cheering and animating each other to
perseverance, notwithstandingall the trials and difficulties we may
meet (verse 11).4. Encouraging each other constantly to keep in
mind our infiniteobligations and glorious prospects (verses 12,
13).III. Christian resources. 32. 1. The word of the truth of the
gospel (verse 5). Till this came theColossians were strangers to
faith, love, and hope.2. The instrumentality of ministers. Epaphras
and Paul were dear fellow-servantsand faithful ministers, one
preaching to the Colossians, bywhich they believed, and both
labouring for their establishment andedification.3. Prayer for the
supply of all those spiritual blessings which the saintshave
learned to appreciate and desire (verses 3-9).4. The operations of
the Holy Spirit, which gives efficiency to all love(verse 8) is
especially said to be in the Spirit, who is indeed the agent
ofevery grace.IV. Christian practice (verse 6). Wherever the gospel
is preached, andattended with Divine power and efficacy, it brings
forth fruit.1. In the conversion of sinners.2. Where vital religion
is possessed it is evidenced by exemplarydeportment and diffusive
benevolence. There is fruit that both theChurch and the world can
see. They cannot see our love to Christ or ourhope of heaven, but
they can see our conscientious dealings in the world,our charity,
our unworldliness. These are fruits which give evidence ofvitality
and vigour in the root.V. Christian expectations. Christians have a
hope that is laid up for them inheaven.1. As to themselves, it is
secret and out of sight. It is only faith that canrealize it. They
are yet in their minority in a world of discipline andeducation;
heirs, indeed, but not of age. Supplies are sent them here,
buttheir hope, their portion, is laid up in heaven.2. It is
treasured up in a place of perfect security, so that no enemy
orthief can reach it.3. It is laid up where none of the changes of
time can affect it. If wecarried it about with us, we might lose
it. When we die we should drop it;but it is safe in heaven, out of
the reach of disappointment.Conclusion:1. If we desire spiritual
prosperity, let us be much in prayer for ourselvesand others.
Nothing more enlarges our capacity for holy enjoyment.2. If we
possess a hope in heaven, let it be evidenced by superiority to
theworld and love to our fellow-heirs.3. If these blessings are
imparted to sinners through the instrumentalityof the gospel, be
concerned to spread the gospel. (J. Hirst.)Christian love the chief
graceLove, amid the other graces in this world, is like a cathedral
tower, whichbegins on the earth, and, at first, is surrounded by
the other parts of the 33. structure. But, at length, rising above
buttressed walls, and arch, andparapet, and pinnacle, it shoots
spirelike many a foot right into the air, sohigh that the huge
cross on its summit glows like a spark in the morninglight, and
shines like a star in the evening sky, when the rest of the pile
isenveloped in darkness. So love, here, is surrounded by the other
graces, anddivides the honours with them; but they will have felt
the wrap of night, andof darkness, when it will shine, luminous,
against the sky of eternity. (H. W.Beecher. )6. GILL, We give
thanks to God,.... Meaning himself and Timothy. This isthe
beginning of the epistle, which is introduced with a thanksgiving
to God;to whom praise and thankfulness are always due as a Creator
andpreserver, as the author of all good things, as the Father of
mercies,temporal and spiritual, and as the covenant God and Father
of his peoplethrough Christ: wherefore it follows,and the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ; the sense of which either is, thatGod the
Father, who is the object of praise and thanksgiving, is both the
Godof Christ, and the Father of