Text: Colossians 4:1-4

Theme: The Christians actions and attitudes toward fellow Christian’s ought to testify of Christ.

Intro:

  1. In the previous chapter we were looking at Paul’s command for Christian living. We noted some general principles governing our lives and then look at the specifics of certain relationships like marriage and parenthood.
  2. Chapter 4 continues this theme in verse 1 and transitions into our attitude toward fellow Christians, in verse 1-4.

I. The Right Attitude Toward Pay (Vs 1)

  1. The Christian employer is required to be fair in his treatment of employees.
    a. Verse 22 of chapter 3 instructs servants to serve their masters with singleness of heart, fearing God. Verse 1 of chapter 4 instructs employers to treat their employees fairly.
    – [“In every instance it is to the new man He speaks. Ungodly masters could not be expected to take heed to such an admonition as this, but it is addressed to one who, while master in his relationship to his servants, is himself but a servant to his own Master in heaven.[1]” 1] H. A. Ironside, Lectures on the Epistle to the Colossians. (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1929), 162.
    b. The employee must give his time and efforts to serve his employer, and the employer must compensate his employees appropriately and fairly.
    – 1 Timothy 5:18 “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”
  2. Masters are servants themselves (Vs 1b)
    a. In Chapter 3 Vs 22-23 we read that the employee was to serve his employer faithfully, doing all things as unto the Lord. Service for Christ our Master is the governing principle for the employee. Likewise, the Christian employer is subject to Christ and ought to treat his employees in a Christ honouring way.
    b. Mathew 18 gives us the account of a servant who owed his master a great debt that he could not pay but his master forgave him. That same servant went out and found another servant who owed him money and refused to forgive him. When the master heard of this, he called the first servant back and punished him for his wrongdoing
    – To whom much has been given much more shall be required, and of whom much has been forgiven, of him shall much forgiveness be required.

II. The Right Attitude Toward Prayer (Vs 2-3a)

  1. We should pray continually for our own good (Vs 2)
    a. Speaking of prayer, Ironside says, “One can no more have a happy, triumphant Christian experience who neglects this spiritual exercise than one can be well and strong physically who shuts himself up in a close room to which the sun never penetrates and where pure air is unknown. The soul flourishes in an atmosphere of prayer.[1]” [1] H. A. Ironside, Lectures on the Epistle to the Colossians. (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1929), 165–166.
    b. We’re commanded to watch in prayer. To watch is to be alert, awake, and vigilant. Our spiritual safety depends on our watchfulness in prayer.
  2. Our prayer should incorporate intercession for others.
    a. In other words, as you are watching in prayer for your own spiritual growth and benefit you should also be praying for others.
    b. As he mentions in the verse, Paul was currently in prison in Rome and was unable to go where he wanted to and have the public influence that he wanted to have, but he saw opportunities for the gospel message to be carried into the halls of the Roman government.
  3. “Doubtless the devil thought he had gained a great advantage when he shut Paul up in prison, but from that prison cell came at least four of the great Church epistles, and some of the pastoral letters, which have been the means of untold blessing to millions throughout the centuries.[1]” [1] H. A. Ironside, Lectures on the Epistle to the Colossians. (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1929), 170.

III. The Right Attitude Toward Preaching (Vs 3b-4)

  1. We should desire powerful preaching (Vs 3b)
    a. To make something manifest is to openly declare in and make it apparent.
    b. Paul wanted his readers to uphold him in prayer as he sought to faithfully proclaim the Word of God.
  2. Paul was particularly concerned that his preaching would be powerful.
    a. 1 Corinthians 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”
    b.     Paul wanted to ensure that his preaching was not done in his own strength and with his own wisdom, but that he would preach “As (he) ought to speak”.
    c. When Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him in the ministry, he gave a strict charge to be faithful in preaching.
    – 2 Timothy 4:2-4 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
  3. The preacher is required to preach sound words.
    a. He Must Reprove Sin
    b. He Must Rebuke the Unruly
    c. He Must Defend Sound Doctrine
  4. Pray that the Word of God will continue to be faithfully proclaimed from this pulpit and from this church.

 

Conclusion:

  1. Do you allow your servitude to Christ to affect the way you treat others?
  2. Do you pray for and value sound preaching and the proclamation of the Gospel?