With A Little Help From My Friends Series

With A Little Help From My Friends

Text: Colossians 4:7-18

Introduction.

Sometimes, I’m sure, we’re all surprised at how things get done. Sometimes, we don’t know how, and sometimes we don’t know who, but somebody did it; and, we know it got done!

I’m sure we all remember the account of the “Last Supper”. It occurred shortly before Jesus’ crucifixion and it was a very important assembly Jesus had with His apostles.

Jesus told Peter and John to go into Jerusalem and gave them these instructions:

“As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

He will show you a large upper room, which is all furnished. Make preparations there.”

The two apostles left Him and found things just as Jesus had told them—so, they prepared the Passover meal.

Who was that man….the one that was never named…the one that provided a service for the Lord? The room was all furnished by somebody!

We might look at an accomplished work and know that we didn’t do it—so, “someone else” must have. I wonder what we would do if “someone else” wasn’t there.

I’d like to read you an article that appeared in one church bulletin.

“The church was saddened this past week to learn of the death of one of its most prominent members, “Someone Else”.

“Someone’s” passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. “Else” has been with us for so many years. “Someone” always did more than his share of the work. Whenever there was a job to be done, it was—“Someone Else”—whose name was first on many of our lists to do it.

If we had a financial need, everyone expected that “Someone Else” would step forward and make up the difference.

“Someone Else” was a wonderful person—sometimes appearing superhuman—but one person can only do so much.

If the truth were known, everyone expected too much of “Someone Else”. Now he is gone, and we are wondering what we are going to do. “Someone Else” left a wonderful example to follow—but who is going to do all the things “Someone Else” always did?

The Apostle Paul.

When we look at the accomplishments of Paul’s ministry, we just shake our heads, because they are so numerous. Paul was the giant of the early Christians—a leader of the Jewish sect, educated at the feet of the great Jewish teacher, Gamaliel.

Paul rose quickly to prominence and it was he who persecuted the Lord’s Church. Yet, later, he was chosen by Jesus to represent Him before Kings, Gentiles, and the Sons of Israel, and to carry the Gospel of Christ to the world.

Paul was an apostle chosen out of season; and, Jesus said Paul would suffer greatly for the name of Jesus Christ. And, he did.

We remember the 3 great missionary trips Paul took to convert people to Christ and to establish congregations of the Lord’s people in Europe, Asia, and throughout the world.

How can one man do all that by himself?

The Apostle Paul never depended on “Someone Else” to do his job; but, he did depend on “Someone Else” to help him. Those Paul depended on didn’t expect “Someone Else” to do their jobs but, at times, they depended on “Someone Else” too.

That’s the way it seems to happen in the Lord’s Church—when we do our job in the best way we can, “Someone Else” will help us!

The American poet, Gil Scot Heron, once wrote the following:

“Nobody can do everything,

But everybody can do something,

And, if everybody does something,

Everything will get done.”

If we wonder how Paul accomplished all that he did for Christ…. well, he tells us how in Colossians 4:7-18. “Someone Else” most often is a friend. Paul talks about life “with a little help from his friends”.

Colossians 4:7-18

---7---“As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.

---8---For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;

---9---and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here.

---10---Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);

---11---and also Jesus, who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.