FINGERPRINTS IN THE CHURCH
Colossians 4:7-14
(February 2023)
One week ago Brother Earl was right over there, seated in his regular place. Today he is worshipping at the feet of Jesus. Yesterday I spent most of the day here on campus and everywhere I went I saw things that reminded me of him. I saw the paper towel holders and remembered that he purchased and installed them many years ago. I saw the bell tower out front and remembered that he is the one who arranged for it to be built. As I hooked up the laptop in preparation for worship I was reminded that he was the one who purchased it. Though Bro. Earl is no longer with us, his “fingerprints” are all over this church (and will be for many years to come).
Last night as I was walking through the church I realized that there are (metaphorical) fingerprints all over this building. These “metaphorical fingerprints” that I speak of are not only seen on things that are physical in nature. Many have left behind “spiritual fingerprints” and these are even greater, for their imprint will last throughout eternity. Quite often we hear testimonies of how a certain brother or sister from years gone by had an impact in the lives of others. People tell of how certain brothers led them to faith in Christ, helped them to return to the Lord after a time of rebellion or how the Lord used them to strengthen their faith. Others tell of how certain sisters prayed for them, encouraged them, taught them, and ministered to them in a special way. Each and every one of you is here today because someone left a fingerprint on your life.
The same is true for me; I am a Christian today because I had parents and grandparents who loved me enough to take me to church and teach me about the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, I would not be standing in this pulpit if it were not for certain pastors who cared enough to stand and faithfully preach the Word of God. Those same men cared enough to invest in my life and they taught me as much outside of the church as they did from the pulpit on Sunday mornings. Time would not permit me to tell of all the many faithful servants who taught me in Sunday school, VBS, Children’s Church and Wednesday night classes.
Just as some have left fingerprints in the church and on your life, you are doing the same for others. For the next little while I would like to walk through our selected text and point out some of the “fingerprints” that I see when I look at Stockdale Baptist Church. In the process I would like to preach on the thought “Fingerprints In The Church”
In these verses Paul is concluding his letter to the Church at Colossae. He begins to mention several of his fellow-servants and to send the church greetings from them. There were some heretical teachers in Colossae who were teaching a false doctrine that undermined the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. Their teaching promised a deeper spiritual life through knowledge. Paul wanted his readers to comprehend that Christ alone is the source of spiritual life.
Throughout history the Church has been blessed to have men like Paul who faithfully proclaimed the truth of God’s Word. However, Paul would tell you that he could not have accomplished all that he did for the Kingdom alone. All of his Epistles reference certain men and women who were fellow-laborers in the Kingdom work and fellow-soldiers in the battles that he fought.
The only reason that the ministry of this church has been fruitful for over 100 years is because certain men and women of God joined together and served the Lord for His glory. I am not just referring to those from our past; there are many current servants who are leaving fingerprints on this church, in this community and ultimately they are having an impact for the Kingdom of Christ.
- When we survey this assembly:
I. WE SEE THE FINGERPRINTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REDEEMED
Each of the men that Paul speaks of in a positive light was men who belonged to the Lord Jesus. They were surrendered saints who faithfully served the Church. Thankfully this describes the majority of people in attendance today. As we look across this building we see many who have been redeemed.
- It is encouraging to know that:
A. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SURRENDERED TO CHRIST
Tychicus and Onesimus are described as “beloved brothers”; this speaks to the fact that they had been born into the family of God. Aristarchus was a “fellow prisoner” because he had surrendered to the Lord Jesus. Mark was serving in the ministry because he was saved. Justus greeted his brothers and sisters because they were all part of God’s family. Likewise, Epaphras and Luke were concerned with their fellow saints in Colossae. These people (though separated) were all concerned with the welfare of one another because they belonged to the same family. The reason that they were part of the same family is because they had been “born again” and became part of God’s eternal family. This was made possible through their faith in Jesus Christ.
The reason that what we experience when we join together is so special is that we are all part of the same spiritual (and eternal) family. This is possible only through faith in the Lord Jesus! The men that Paul identifies in this passage were not only men who were surrendered to Christ; as a result of their relationship with Jesus they had a desire to serve His Church. In the same way, those in our assembly who have truly surrendered to Christ have an intense desire to serve His Church. And whether they know it or not, they are leaving “fingerprints” behind.
- Not only do we see people who are surrendered to Christ:
B. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THE CHURCH
As Paul names his fellow-servants, he also points out certain characteristics of their service. We see that:
1. THEY SERVE FERVENTLY
“Tychicus” is described as a “faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord”. “Onesimus” is called “a faithful and beloved brother”. “Aristarchus” had labored for the Lord to the point of being imprisoned and it seems that he is currently in chains with Paul at Rome. Concerning “Epaphras”, Paul says that he is a “slave of Christ” who “has a great zeal” for the members of the Colossian church as well as those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke was a doctor who probably could have lived a life of luxury in the secular world, but he sacrificed the pleasures of this life to invest in eternity. Likewise, we are indebted to many past and present servants of Christ in this church and in our lives who have served the Lord fervently!
- Genuine Christian servants serve fervently and the men in this passage show us that:
2. THEY SERVE COMPASSIONATELY
Tychicus was coming to the Colossians so that he could “know their circumstances and comfort their hearts.” His ministry would bring comfort and encouragement to the Apostle Paul as well as to his brothers and sisters in Colossae. Epaphras loved the saints at Colossae and desired that they would “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”. The reason that all of these men served the Lord’s people is because they possessed a great measure of compassion. God used their compassionate service to point lost people to Jesus and to strengthen and encourage those who were already in Christ.
I am so thankful that we are members of an assembly that is made up of people who are filled with compassion. And their compassion motivates them to evangelize the lost and to encourage and disciple other Christians!
- Epaphras also shows us another important attribute of a genuine Christian servant. Notice that:
3. THEY SERVE PRAYERFULLY
Paul says that Epaphras is “always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” This man loved his brothers and sisters so much that he constantly labored in prayer on their behalf. He wanted to see them grow in their faith, learn the will of God and glorify Him with their lives. This desire was so intense that he wrestled and labored for them in prayer night and day.
Our church would not be what it is today if it was not for certain faithful members who regularly cry out to God on behalf of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Each of the men in this passage shows us another important reality concerning Christian servants. Notice that:
4. THEY SERVE HUMBLY
None of these men served the Lord and His church for personal glory or recognition among their peers. There is no way that they could have known that God would be using them as an example of faithfulness over 1900 years later. Tychicus and Onesimus were just humble servants who were willing to serve as couriers to deliver letters to certain Christians and specific churches. But God saw fit to record their names in His Word and to use them to teach others throughout the history of the Church. Tychicus, Aristarchus, Onesimus, Justus, Epaphras and Luke left fingerprints on the Church at Colossae, on Paul’s ministry, on the lives of countless Christians and ultimately on the Kingdom of God.
The beautiful reality is that many of you have done (and are doing the same thing). You have left your fingerprints all over this church, on this community, on individuals’ lives and on the Kingdom of Christ. This has been made possible because you are redeemed! You have surrendered to Christ and responded by serving His Church. And you do this: faithfully compassionately prayerfully and humbly.
You are faithful to serve others for the glory of God, you walk through the doors that the Lord has opened for you, and you do this with love, compassion and a genuine concern for others. Furthermore you do this with much prayer and with a spirit of humility.
There are times when it may seem that your work for the Lord is in vain. You labor and strive and it seems that there is little or even no fruit from your labors. I pray that this passage will encourage you to remember that you are leaving fingerprints behind you everywhere you go.
The interesting thing about fingerprints is that they are everywhere, but they are rarely seen. In ministry most of what we do is spiritual in nature and the results are rarely visible, but rest assured you are leaving behind many fingerprints along the way!
- Moving on, there is another kind of fingerprint that we see when we look at our church. Notice:
II. WE SEE THE FINGERPRINTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RESTORED
v10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),
John Mark was the young cousin of Paul’s trusted associate Barnabas. He had traveled with Paul and Barnabas early on in their missionary endeavors. At some point Mark abandoned Paul & Barnabas and returned home. Later, Barnabas sought to see Mark restored to the ministry. Paul did not think this was a good idea and it became a point of contention between these two men. So much so that they parted ways; Barnabas took Mark with him and Silas joined Paul.
It is very encouraging to know that Mark’s failure was not final. He was restored to the Lord and eventually his relationship with Paul was mended as well. At the end of his life Paul proclaimed that Mark was valuable to him and to the ministry. This young man who turned away from the Lord for a time and experienced a period of great failure would go on to be used of the Lord to pen the Gospel of Mark. What a great picture of forgiveness and restoration!
Our church is covered with the fingerprints of men and women who truly surrendered to the Lord but experienced a time of failure. Thankfully, because other faithful servants left fingerprints on their lives and helped to restore them, they are now once again serving the Lord and His church. Like Mark, they prove that failure doesn’t have to be final.
If you are currently away from the Lord and not walking with Him like you should, I pray that Mark’s testimony shows you that restoration is possible. I would also implore you to return to the Lord and then begin leaving positive “fingerprints” on this church and on the lives of others!
As we survey our church we see the fingerprints of those who have been redeemed, we see the fingerprints of those who have been restored and these are encouraging truths. However, we must address the fact that when we look at this church:
III. WE SEE THE FINGERPRINTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE REBELLED
Over the years my children have made me pictures by putting their precious little hands in paint and leaving an imprint behind on a piece of paper. Those fingerprint paintings are some of my most valuable possessions. However, when those same hands leave behind chocolate fingerprints on the curtains, the walls or a clean white shirt it is nowhere near as beautiful, in fact it can be infuriating.
While there are many precious saints who have been and are currently leaving behind special fingerprints on this church and ministry, there have been others who have left behind a mess! Paul dealt with this as well; in verse 14 he references a man named Demas. He says “Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.” Demas clearly had traveled and served with the Apostle Paul for a time, but he did not persevere until the end. At some point Demas decided to abandon the Lord’s work. He was tempted by the things of this world and decided that he loved the world more than he loved Jesus. Writing to Timothy, Paul said “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10). The great tragedy of Demas’ story is not just that he abandoned Paul; that was only a bi-product of a much greater issue. The reason that he left Paul is because he loved the world and abandoned the Lord Jesus.
It is heartbreaking to look around this church and see the fingerprints of many who were once very active in the work of this ministry but at some point they turned away and returned to the things of this world. The tragic reality is that many of them were never truly part of God’s family.
I am thankful that like Paul I can write a list naming many faithful servants of the Lord. However, I could also compile a very long list with names of people who (like Demas) loved this present world and have returned to it.
We have seen over the past 7 days that none of us is promised that we will live to assemble together again next week. Therefore it is imperative for us to examine our lives and consider what kind of “fingerprints” we are leaving behind. Over the last few years the Lord has called several of our brothers and sisters home to be with Him. Though we are assured that they are in the presence of the Lord, their absence is apparent every time we walk into the church. I encourage you to live in such a way that when you transition into glory will you leave behind “Fingerprints In The Church”.
