# 11~COL.3: 21-25 ~4:1-6 ~ CHOICH OF WORDS~ 2-2-14
* Let me refresh our memory a little bit about Colossians.
"Colossians", is one of the 3 Prison Epistles, {Ephesians- Philippians -- Colossians} and was written from Rome 61--63 a.d. while Paul was in prison. ~
~ The church at Colossi is not mentioned in the book of Acts, and it was not directly founded by the Apostle Paul. --- The Colossian assembly's membership was made up mostly of Gentiles. (1:21, 27; 2:13).
~ Nothing is said of its size, there's no historical record of it.
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~ During Paul's stay at Ephesus; Philemon, Aphia, Archippus, Epaphras, and other were converted and became effective witnesses in and around Colossi.
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~ Epaphras visits Paul during his imprisonment in Rome and brings with him the news that certain false doctrines and practices threaten the faith of the Colossian Christians. --- And so Paul writes this epistle, Paul warns the Colossians about false doctrine and to give encouragement for the Christian life.
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~The area was prone to earth quakes; Paul probably wrote his epistle before the area was destroyed with an earth quake.
~After it's destruction a small remnant remained together for a time, and later was deserted completely about a.d. 700 -- and today is a place of ruins.
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* Let's read 3: 21-25 and get hooked back up to our thought line.
21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
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21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
~Fathers and Mothers both can provoke their children by being too hard on them, too demanding, and too controlling, unforgiving, or just showing their anger.
~ This harshness can be expressed through words, and through actions.
~ Parents, and specially fathers, are told not to irritate their children by being so unreasonable in their demands, that their children lose heart and come to think that it is useless trying to please their parents. -- 'WHATS THE USE, I GIVE UP"
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
~ Another way Parents can provoke their children is by always finding something wrong with them, and throwing up other children to them, "why can't you be like so- n -so.
~~~ I believe if I had my time to go over, I would have tried to be a better example before my children, and by all means, take them to church, that is so important. ~~ but let me say this, I have seen and most likely you have to, that as soon as some of them ** get a little freedom, many just go hog wild, so just because their raised in church don't guarantee they'll always do right.
~ But we have Gods word that promises in;
>Proverbs 22: 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
He may go astray when he is young, but he'll be back, it may be when he is old.
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22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
"Eyeservice" is to work for an employer, as other people might be watching; it's to impress others, including the employer as well.
[in singleness of heart] -- Means, not under some kind of false motive.
[fearing God] -- Means, dreading God's displeasure.
~ The Christian, who is a dishonest or unreliable worker, has something far worse to deal with than a reprimand from his earthly supervisor; his heavenly Supervisor may reprimand him as well.
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23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
~ Christian workers today - have the highest of all motives to do a good job for their employer, they are above all else servants of Christ, and will work first and foremost so as to please him, -- and the reason is given in v.24.
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24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
~The heavenly inheritances are full recompense in return for faithful service. Christians are actually employed by Christ in all things.
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25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
~ Employer or employee, God will pay either one. -- There is respect of persons with man, but not with God. --- God does not have a double standard; He weighs the unfaithfulness in servants and the unkindness in masters in the same divine scale of justice. --- There are no partialities, no favorites, and no exceptions with God.
> 1st. Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
"sojourn" means to dwell or live in a place as a temporary resident or as a stranger.
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* Chapter 4:
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
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~ Let me remind us that a slave, as it's referred to here, back in Paul's time, meant [debt slavery or bonded labor) it was a person's pledge of their labor or services as security for the repayment for a debt or other obligations.
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1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
~This verse goes very well with the last verses in chapter 3:
Masters should remember that they have a Master too. --- And with that in mind, this should cause the Employer to treat their employees just and fairly.
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2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
The Colossians and all believers as well, are to be mentally alert and spiritually sensitive to the needs for which they pray, gratitude is the attitude in which prayer should always be offered.
As Christians, we should pray regularly, always with thanks giving, and watch as to how God might answer our prayers, it may be, no. it may be not now, or it may be alright. --- He knows what's best. --- Only saved people can rightly pray to God, lost sinners need to be saved 1st, and then, as children of God can be assured that God hears their prayer.
~ God knows and hears every word people say, He's God, but He's not every ones Heavenly Father, they must be saved first.
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3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, (known) as I ought to speak.
~He asked them to pray that God would give him and his companion's opportunities for evangelism* {as he goes other places) and edification.* { to encourage the saints)
He also asked them to pray that when these opportunities came that he would be able to present the gospel clearly.
"The mystery of Christ"
>Colossians 1: 26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, (Christ the Head of the church) but now is made manifest ** to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
~~ Especially to tell and explain that Jews and Gentiles alike have equal opportunity for salvation. ~ Paul had greater concern about getting the gospel out than he had with getting out of prison himself.
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5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Here, Paul turns from his responsibilities for evangelism, to the Colossians responsibilities. ~ They are to walk in wisdom "that is to live and conduct themselves wisely before others" -- especially them that are without, that is, unbelievers. -- And to take advantage of every opportunity, every time, the door is opened to witness for Christ.
~~~ I believe a Christian who talks to sinners about Jesus can some times be over bearing, they can become a dread to be seen coming, a turn off, after a while they can do more damage that good. --- Jesus told his disciples;
>Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
~ In the ancient Near East the serpent was commonly regarded as the wisest of beasts. --- A cautious wisdom was necessary in order to deal with the fierce opposition that the disciples would face.
~ Hostility is the general attitude of the world, especially toward the gospel.
* Paul turned from thinking about his readers' walk to their talk.
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6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
-- The Colossian believer's speech was very important, as all believers choice of words are. -- Believers should wisely suit his or her speech to each need.
~ Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message.
~ How a person talks, his choice of words expresses what is inside the person, the listeners pick up on our way with words. {seasoned with salt,}
~Have you ever heard a person who claims to be saved use profanity? -- I have, I've heard some tell dirty jokes. -- I told you of the man at work coming to me to tell me a dirty joke, he didn't know that I had made my peace with God; --- I listened and then invited him to go too church with me. **** Such as that is unbecoming of a saved person, that person won't win many to Christ, if any.
(seasoned with salt}, that is, by wise conversation, that will enable the believer to know how to answer every man when speaking to him about the gospel.
