WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.840 As a follower of Jesus, called to my own ministry, 2 00:00:03.840 --> 00:00:07.540 it's my role to uphold the value of every person 3 00:00:07.540 --> 00:00:10.000 that I interact with and to glorify 4 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.840 and honor God at the same time. 5 00:00:18.680 --> 00:00:21.680 To be honest, chapters like Colossians 4 6 00:00:21.680 --> 00:00:25.600 used to be my least favorite kinds of passages. 7 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:27.720 If you know what Colossians 4 is about, 8 00:00:27.720 --> 00:00:30.200 it's basically a whole chapter 9 00:00:30.200 --> 00:00:35.200 where Paul is addressing specific people in the church 10 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:39.620 and encouraging them, giving final remarks. 11 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:42.480 And I used to really dislike chapters like these, 12 00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:45.280 but now I have a special appreciation for them. 13 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:48.320 The reason I appreciate a chapter like this 14 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:50.400 so much more than I used to 15 00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:53.560 is because it gives us a more personal window 16 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:56.060 into what ministry actually looked like 17 00:00:56.060 --> 00:00:57.400 for Paul the Apostle. 18 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:00.340 When I read a chapter like Colossians 4, 19 00:01:00.340 --> 00:01:03.760 I'm convicted by the way I see Paul speak 20 00:01:03.760 --> 00:01:06.020 about those God put in his life. 21 00:01:06.020 --> 00:01:08.500 I think that conviction comes in 22 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:10.980 when I think about how I ought to work 23 00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:13.980 at my own relationships in the church 24 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:16.940 to hold the same love, the same dignity, 25 00:01:16.940 --> 00:01:20.300 and respect that Paul had for his people. 26 00:01:20.300 --> 00:01:22.820 And I believe that I'm not the only person 27 00:01:22.820 --> 00:01:25.380 that this chapter should convict in this way 28 00:01:25.380 --> 00:01:27.880 because every single one of us 29 00:01:27.880 --> 00:01:29.960 have a personal ministry 30 00:01:29.960 --> 00:01:32.880 that God has envisioned for our lives. 31 00:01:32.880 --> 00:01:37.360 And my hope is that when we look closer at Colossians 4, 32 00:01:37.360 --> 00:01:38.960 we can get a clearer picture 33 00:01:38.960 --> 00:01:43.300 into how God might use us in the same way he used Paul. 34 00:01:43.300 --> 00:01:44.760 So one of the things that I like to do 35 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:46.320 when I write messages 36 00:01:46.320 --> 00:01:48.740 is I like to have a target statement written out. 37 00:01:48.740 --> 00:01:50.640 And the way that I go about this 38 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:54.000 is whenever you're leaving church 39 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.980 or in my context, a youth group, 40 00:01:56.980 --> 00:01:59.220 one of the questions that I used to hate getting 41 00:01:59.220 --> 00:02:01.940 from my mom was, what did you learn at youth group? 42 00:02:01.940 --> 00:02:05.320 I write the target statement with that question in mind. 43 00:02:05.320 --> 00:02:06.620 So what you're gonna tell your mom 44 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:10.020 after she asks what you learned at this Empower You video 45 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:13.260 is one of the ways that God changes lives 46 00:02:13.260 --> 00:02:16.500 on a consistent basis is through the appointments, 47 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:18.560 connections, and relationships 48 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:21.720 that he establishes in his sovereignty. 49 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:24.900 And if I understand the way God moves 50 00:02:24.900 --> 00:02:26.780 in and through relationships, 51 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:29.600 it can help me to be more effective 52 00:02:29.600 --> 00:02:32.340 in the ministry that God has called me to. 53 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:34.540 So let's get into Colossians 4. 54 00:02:35.420 --> 00:02:36.900 Starts in verse two by saying, 55 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:39.660 "'Continue steadfastly in prayer, 56 00:02:39.660 --> 00:02:42.500 "'being watchful in it with thanksgiving, 57 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:45.480 "'and at the same time, pray also for us 58 00:02:45.480 --> 00:02:49.440 "'that God may open to us a door for the word, 59 00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:51.480 "'to declare the mystery of Christ 60 00:02:51.480 --> 00:02:54.360 "'on account of which I am in prison, 61 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:58.100 "'that I may make it clear which is how I ought to speak. 62 00:02:58.100 --> 00:03:00.460 "'Walk in wisdom toward outsiders 63 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:02.760 "'making the best use of the time. 64 00:03:02.760 --> 00:03:05.460 "'Let your speech always be gracious, 65 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:07.780 "'seasoned with salt so that you may know 66 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:11.340 "'how you ought to answer each person.'" 67 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:14.780 So Paul lays out his final instructions to the church 68 00:03:14.780 --> 00:03:17.380 before he gives his address 69 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:19.960 to the specific individuals within it. 70 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:21.560 So just a couple of quick points. 71 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.520 We see that Paul encourages the church 72 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:29.240 and he asks for encouragement and prayer in return. 73 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:31.400 And already the conviction is coming 74 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:33.600 because if the apostle Paul wasn't afraid 75 00:03:33.600 --> 00:03:36.280 to ask for prayer, why am I? 76 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:39.600 The next point is he encourages the Colossians 77 00:03:39.600 --> 00:03:42.360 in how they should act towards outsiders. 78 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:45.000 He tells them to be considerate in their speech 79 00:03:45.020 --> 00:03:46.700 towards those outside the church 80 00:03:46.700 --> 00:03:50.140 for the sake of them being able to receive the gospel. 81 00:03:50.140 --> 00:03:53.180 And we need to have a grace in how we speak 82 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:56.700 to those who don't see the truth like we do. 83 00:03:56.700 --> 00:03:58.860 And as we read the rest of this chapter, 84 00:03:58.860 --> 00:04:00.620 we are going to start to get a sense 85 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:03.780 for the fact that Paul knew and loved 86 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:08.540 the individuals that he walked alongside and ministered to. 87 00:04:08.540 --> 00:04:10.300 So continuing on in Colossians four, 88 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:14.540 it says, "'Tychicus will tell you about all my activities. 89 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:18.000 "'He is a beloved and faithful minister 90 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:19.680 "'and fellow servant in the Lord. 91 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:23.160 "'I have sent him to you for this very purpose, 92 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:25.540 "'that you may know how we are 93 00:04:25.540 --> 00:04:27.900 "'and that he may encourage your hearts. 94 00:04:27.900 --> 00:04:32.160 "'And with him, Onesimus, faithful and beloved brother 95 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:34.100 "'who is one of you. 96 00:04:34.100 --> 00:04:37.600 "'They will tell you everything that has taken place here. 97 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:41.320 "'Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you 98 00:04:41.320 --> 00:04:43.960 "'and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, 99 00:04:44.400 --> 00:04:47.140 "'concerning whom you have received instruction. 100 00:04:47.140 --> 00:04:49.540 "'If he comes to you, welcome him. 101 00:04:49.540 --> 00:04:52.380 "'And Jesus, who is called Justice. 102 00:04:52.380 --> 00:04:55.400 "'These are the only men of the circumcision 103 00:04:55.400 --> 00:04:58.100 "'among my fellow workers in the kingdom of God, 104 00:04:58.100 --> 00:05:00.300 "'and they have been a great comfort.'" 105 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:05.920 to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, 106 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:12.360 always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and 107 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:18.320 fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked 108 00:05:18.320 --> 00:05:24.920 hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved 109 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:30.440 physician, greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at 110 00:05:30.440 --> 00:05:35.680 Laodicea and to Nympha and to the church in her house. And when this letter has 111 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:41.240 read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and see that 112 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:48.720 you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, see that you 113 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:55.080 fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord. I, Paul, write this 114 00:05:55.080 --> 00:06:01.400 greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains and grace be with you. So there 115 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:07.400 are a lot of unique individuals that Paul addresses specifically at the end 116 00:06:07.400 --> 00:06:11.680 of the book of Colossians, and I could go on and on about the specific things he 117 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:17.000 has to say about each person, like how he recognizes Epaphras always struggling in 118 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:23.480 prayer for the Colossians, meaning that he was laboring in his prayer that they 119 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:29.160 would all mature and grow in the Lord, or how he encourages Archippus in the end 120 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:34.720 calling out his ministry and referring to the calling that's been placed on his 121 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:39.360 life. And there's one name specifically that's mentioned in Colossians 4 that 122 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:44.240 gets me the most excited, and it might be overlooked by most, but it's the name 123 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:51.400 Onesimus. He says, Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother who is one of you. 124 00:06:51.400 --> 00:06:56.720 And the reason why Onesimus is such a significant name to me is because he's 125 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:01.240 mentioned one other place in the Bible, and he's actually the topic of this 126 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:06.080 entire book, and it's the book of Philemon. The book of Philemon is a 127 00:07:06.080 --> 00:07:12.920 letter from Paul to his friend Philemon about a certain man named Onesimus. 128 00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:18.560 Onesimus was the servant of Philemon who either ran away and then was 129 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:24.600 imprisoned, or was imprisoned while he was in service to Philemon. And God's 130 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:30.640 hand in the life of Onesimus was so clear when he led him to be imprisoned 131 00:07:30.640 --> 00:07:36.240 with the Apostle Paul. It led to a life-changing encounter. So I'm going to 132 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:40.560 read part of the book of Philemon, and what I want you to notice is Paul's 133 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:47.120 speech towards Philemon and the way that he was so intentional to hold grace and 134 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:53.320 dignity for Philemon as he was pleading for the freedom of Onesimus. He says, 135 00:07:53.320 --> 00:07:59.360 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers because I hear of the 136 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:03.720 love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the 137 00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:09.200 saints. And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the 138 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.760 full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I 139 00:08:13.760 --> 00:08:19.520 have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts 140 00:08:19.560 --> 00:08:24.640 of the saints have been refreshed through you. So already we get this idea 141 00:08:24.640 --> 00:08:31.200 and picture that Paul loves Philemon greatly and that he's encouraged and 142 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:36.640 encouraging to the ministry that Philemon is doing. He continues on saying, 143 00:08:36.640 --> 00:08:42.000 accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is 144 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:49.800 required, yet for love's sake, I prefer to appeal to you. I, Paul, an old man and 145 00:08:49.800 --> 00:08:56.800 now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose 146 00:08:56.800 --> 00:09:02.800 father I became in my imprisonment. Formerly, he was useless to you, but now 147 00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:08.160 he is indeed useful to you and to me. I'm sending him back to you, sending my 148 00:09:08.160 --> 00:09:13.800 very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me in order that he might 149 00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:18.480 serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel. But I 150 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:24.080 preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness 151 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:30.880 might not be by compulsion, but would be of your own accord. For this, perhaps, is 152 00:09:30.880 --> 00:09:35.760 why he was parted from you for a little while, that you might have him back 153 00:09:35.760 --> 00:09:41.880 forever, no longer as a bondservant, but more than a bondservant, as a beloved 154 00:09:41.880 --> 00:09:48.960 brother, especially to me. But how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the 155 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:54.960 Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him just as you would receive me. 156 00:09:54.960 --> 00:10:02.000 And if he has wronged you in any way at all, or owes you anything, 157 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.560 and charge that to my account. 158 00:10:02.560 --> 00:10:05.760 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. 159 00:10:05.760 --> 00:10:10.040 I will repay it to say nothing of your owing me, 160 00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:11.800 even of your own self. 161 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:16.200 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. 162 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.040 Refresh my heart in Christ, 163 00:10:18.040 --> 00:10:21.240 confident of your obedience, I write to you, 164 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:24.920 knowing that you will do even more than I say. 165 00:10:24.920 --> 00:10:27.600 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, 166 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:29.920 for I am hoping that through your prayers, 167 00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:33.000 I will be graciously given to you. 168 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:37.000 So through this letter, we get one of the best examples 169 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:41.320 of the kind of grace and love that we should walk in 170 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:44.680 as believers and of followers of Christ. 171 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:48.240 Paul is setting the example in how we ought to interact 172 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:51.680 with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 173 00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:53.600 And a couple of the things that stand out 174 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:57.400 about this letter specifically are first, 175 00:10:57.400 --> 00:11:01.560 the way that Paul speaks to encourage dignity. 176 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:05.240 The first thing that we can notice when we read this letter 177 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:09.360 is the way that Paul speaks to Philemon with dignity. 178 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.480 He makes an intentional effort to let every word he speaks 179 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:18.320 in some way encourage or build up the good in Philemon. 180 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:22.000 He says something like, though I am bold enough in Christ 181 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.160 to command you to do what is required, 182 00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:27.360 yet for love's sake, I prefer to appeal to you. 183 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:30.240 And what he means by this is as an apostle, 184 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:33.640 I have the authority to tell you what to do, 185 00:11:33.640 --> 00:11:37.320 but for love's sake, for your sake, I would rather ask. 186 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:41.080 I would rather get your consent so that you can do the good 187 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:42.840 and I'm not compelling you. 188 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:45.920 So he maintains the dignity of Philemon 189 00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:50.040 by giving him the choice rather than compelling him. 190 00:11:50.040 --> 00:11:51.800 The next thing that Paul does in this letter 191 00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:55.120 is he speaks to encourage goodness. 192 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:58.800 One of the things that is clear in every correction 193 00:11:58.800 --> 00:12:02.600 or instruction that Paul gives to his fellow Christians 194 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:06.440 is that he calls them up rather than he calling them out. 195 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:10.360 He says, I preferred to do nothing without your consent 196 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:14.240 in order that your goodness might not be done by compulsion, 197 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:16.520 but of your own accord. 198 00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:18.880 Paul makes it a point to, 199 00:12:18.880 --> 00:12:22.640 though he could by his authority command Philemon 200 00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:25.800 to do what was right, for the sake of his friend, 201 00:12:25.800 --> 00:12:27.840 he preferred to give him the benefit 202 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:31.400 of doing the good himself and of his own accord. 203 00:12:31.400 --> 00:12:35.600 He wasn't robbing Philemon of the good that he could do. 204 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:38.240 He would rather Philemon have the chance to do good 205 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:41.040 and take credit for honoring God. 206 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:43.880 Another thing that Paul does is he acts selflessly 207 00:12:43.880 --> 00:12:47.200 towards both Philemon and Onesimus. 208 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:52.200 He prefers others' well-being before his own. 209 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:55.320 And you see the way that he takes the place of Jesus 210 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:58.000 in the life of Onesimus when he says, 211 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:01.040 if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, 212 00:13:01.040 --> 00:13:03.540 you can charge that to my account. 213 00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:08.160 The idea is that because Onesimus was a bond servant, 214 00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:11.720 there was a debt to be paid off by labor. 215 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:15.760 And Paul, desiring not to have any discord in the church, 216 00:13:15.760 --> 00:13:18.440 says whatever Onesimus owes you, 217 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:20.140 whatever wrong he might have done to you, 218 00:13:20.140 --> 00:13:22.720 you can charge to my account. 219 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:25.640 I'll take the cost so that he can be free. 220 00:13:25.640 --> 00:13:28.320 The last thing that we see Paul doing in this letter 221 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:31.120 is he speaks to uphold honor. 222 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:32.880 When we talk about honor, 223 00:13:32.880 --> 00:13:36.320 it means that I'm speaking or acting in a way 224 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.600 that upholds or maintains the value 225 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.940 of something that deserves respect. 226 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:45.780 As a follower of Jesus called to my own ministry, 227 00:13:45.780 --> 00:13:49.460 it's my role to uphold the value of every person 228 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:51.920 that I interact with and to glorify 229 00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:53.900 and honor God at the same time. 230 00:13:53.900 --> 00:13:57.140 He says, confident of your obedience, I write to you, 231 00:13:57.140 --> 00:14:01.220 knowing that you will do even more than I say. 232 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:04.880 And you see another example of Paul calling Philemon up 233 00:14:04.880 --> 00:14:06.620 rather than calling him out. 234 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:09.780 Now, I feel conviction when I read passages 235 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:12.900 like Colossians 4 or Philemon, 236 00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:15.540 because it reminds me what the outcome 237 00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:17.980 of my ministry should look like. 238 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.580 The cool thing about the book of Philemon 239 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.840 is that it's one of the few instances 240 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:25.360 where we get to see in the Bible 241 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.780 the outcome of one of the letters that Paul writes. 242 00:14:28.780 --> 00:14:32.240 In Colossians 4, he refers to Onesimus 243 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:35.100 not as a lost bondservant 244 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.800 or somebody who's imprisoned with him, 245 00:14:36.880 --> 00:14:41.660 but as a faithful and beloved brother who is one of you. 246 00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:45.120 Onesimus was a bondservant headed to prison 247 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.300 in debt and lacking purpose, 248 00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:51.440 but because of how God worked, his story didn't end there, 249 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:53.460 but he met someone who was committed 250 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:55.640 to living his calling in God. 251 00:14:55.640 --> 00:15:00.040 And Onesimus went from being lost to being faithful. 252 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:08.400 and beloved. And one of my greatest hopes, and I hope this for you as well, is that out of our 253 00:15:08.400 --> 00:15:14.080 relationships in the church, out of the way that we interact and uphold honor and speak to maintain 254 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:20.400 dignity, we would be able to see outcomes like the outcome of Onesimus. We would be able to see 255 00:15:20.400 --> 00:15:30.240 those that we speak to and honor and minister to experience the kind of transformation that 256 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:37.440 Onesimus did, going from lost to beloved and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. 257 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:46.880 So now, instead of skipping Colossians 4, I read it and I imagine how I might speak in the same way 258 00:15:46.880 --> 00:15:53.040 to those that God places in my life, and I would encourage you to do the same. How can you look at 259 00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:57.920 those people that God has placed in front of you that you know you're meant to impact and say, 260 00:15:57.920 --> 00:16:04.240 this is a beloved brother and sister in Christ. I'm encouraged by the way that they are laboring 261 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:08.800 in prayer. I'm encouraged by the way that they're serving in the church. My encouragement is that 262 00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:20.160 you would take stock of what it looks like to be a wholehearted minister for Christ.