I. EXORDIUM:
Are you obeying your human bosses as if you are obeying the LORD?
Yes.
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers/unbelievers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that CHRIST requires us to follow and obey our human bosses here on earth and while we're following and obeying our human bosses, we are doing it for the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
IV. TEXT:
Colossians 3:22 (Amplified Bible)
Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him.
V. THESIS:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for I am obeying and following my human bosses here on earth and I am motivated in doing it because I am doing it out of my sincere expression of my devotion to You.
VI. TITLE:
Servants obey everything your earthly masters command you
VII. EXPLICATION: [Source: Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines]
A. Author: Apostle Paul
B. Date written: From A.D. 60 to A.D. 64
C. Purpose:
1. General, a message of good will to exhort and edify believers.
2. Special, to counteract doctrinal errors growing out of the mixture of Judaistic teaching combined with the vagaries of oriental and philosophic speculation. These heresies tended to obscure the divine glory of Christ.
D. To whom written: Church in Colosse
E. Main Themes:
The epistle resembles Ephesians, both in thought and language, yet has a distinct message of its own. In Ephesians Paul dwells on the thought of the church as the body of Christ, while in Colossians he emphasizes Christ as the head of the church. The warning against trusting in worldly wisdom that appears in 1 Corinthians reappears in Colossians.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines
F. Key words: CHRIST is the HEAD of all
Colossians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)
And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].
G. Key verses:
Colossians 2:9-10 (Amplified Bible)
For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].
And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].
VIII. MAIN BODY:
Colossians 3:22 (Amplified Bible)
Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him.
Colossians 3:22 (King James Version)
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
A. Slaves obey your earthly masters in everything.
"Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,"
Colossians 3:20 (Amplified Bible)
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Psalms 123:2 (Amplified Bible)
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.
Malachi 1:6 (Amplified Bible)
A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the [reverent] fear due Me? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name. You say, How and in what way have we despised Your name?
It's JESUS CHRIST that we serve and not men, and I can see injustices among our boss, nevertheless, it's not them that we obey and serve but the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the One who commands and instructs us on what we are to do while we live, it's course through our human bosses. If we can only renew our mind, for this is easier said than done, but once we have done it, the Reward follows us through it.
B. Not with eyeservice, or as menpleasers but in singleness of heart fearing GOD.
"not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him."
For with eyeservice, once our earthly bosses resigns or goes home they won't see how we work, but GOD, the LORD JESUS CHRIST always sees us how we work for His Glory.
Galatians 1:10 (Amplified Bible)
Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (Amplified Bible)
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the glad tidings (the Gospel), so we speak not to please men but to please God, Who tests our hearts [expecting them to be approved].
We do seek to please one Audience and that is GOD ALMIGHTY.
Acts 2:46 (Amplified Bible)
And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,
Ephesians 6:5 (Amplified Bible)
Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]—
Well it's actually not pleasing men, but if you are to serve men for the sake of CHRIST, then better enjoy it with respect and eagerness concern to please your human bosses for the sake of CHRIST, it's as if you are serving CHRIST.
Ephesians 6:5 (The Message)
Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ.
We have one goal that is to please CHRIST JESUS our LORD.
Ecclesiastes 8:12 (Amplified Bible)
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his days [seemingly] are prolonged [in his wickedness], yet surely I know that it will be well with those who [reverently] fear God, who revere and worship Him, realizing His continual presence.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (Amplified Bible)
THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for I am obeying and following my human bosses here on earth and I am motivated in doing it because I am doing it out of my sincere expression of my devotion to You.
