Paul With a Little Help From His Friends (minus one)

Paul With a Little Help From His Friends (minus one)

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Colossians 4:7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant
in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.
Colossians 4:8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may
know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
Colossians 4:9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin
of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),
Colossians 4:11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers
for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a
comfort to me.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.

Colossians 4:13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those
who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
Colossians 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and
the church that is in his house.

Colossians 4:16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also
in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have
received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
Colossians 4:18 This salutation by my own hand–Paul. Remember my chains.
Grace be with you. Amen.

6) Epaphras — The Friend with a Superb Devotion.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.
Colossians 4:13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and
those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

Daniel 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
Daniel 10:3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth,
nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Daniel 10:12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day
that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God,
your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days;
and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been
left alone there with the kings of Persia.
Daniel 10:14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your
people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

James 5:16 “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Colossians 4:12 “… always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may
stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Leonard Ravenhill once said, “The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied
will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No man is greater than his prayer life.”
Robert McCheyne said: “What a man is on his knees before God, that he is–and
nothing more.”

7) Luke — The Friend with the Specialized Talent.
Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician …”

Luke wrote more of the New Testament than any other writer.
Luke wrote fifty-two of the chapters of the New Testament.
Here are two of the most impressive individuals in the entire Bible: Luke who
wrote the gospel of Luke and Acts and Paul who wrote 13 letters.

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me.

8) Demas – The Friend with the Sad Future.
Colossians 4:14 “… and Demas greet you. ”

2 Timothy 4:10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life
and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone
to Dalmatia.

There is the sin before the sin is found out and exposed to the rest of the world.

Zechariah 13:6 And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your
hands?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of
my friends.

9) Nymphas — the Friend with Sincere Hospitality.
Colossians 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and
the church that is in his house.
Colossians 4:15 (ESV) Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to
Nympha and the church in her house.

Colossians 4:16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also
in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

1 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you …”

10) Archippus — The Friend in need of Some Encouragement.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you
have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love
which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the
saints, and do minister

Paul With a Little Help From His Friends (Part 1)

Paul With a Little Help From His Friends (Part 1)

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Notes:
Colossians 4:7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant
in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.
Colossians 4:8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may
know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
Colossians 4:9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin
of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),
Colossians 4:11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers
for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a
comfort to me.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.

Colossians 4:13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those
who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
Colossians 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and
the church that is in his house.

Colossians 4:16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also
in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have
received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
Colossians 4:18 This salutation by my own hand–Paul. Remember my chains.
Grace be with you. Amen.

1) Tychicus — The Friend with a Servant’s Heart.
Colossians 4:7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant
in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

Colossians 4:7 “… fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.
Colossians 4:8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may
know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,

2) Onesimus is the Friend with the Sinful Past.
Colossians 4:9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ignatius, who is a pastor of the Smyrna church, wrote in his epistle to the
Ephesians these words at the beginning of his letter:
“I received therefore, your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus,
a man of inexpressible love, and your bishop in the flesh whom I pray you by
Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him. And blessed be
He who has granted unto you, being worthy, to obtain such an excellent bishop.”
Ignatius in his epistle to the Antiochians writes in his benediction:
“Onesimus, the pastor of the Ephesians salutes you.”

3) Aristarchus: The Friend with a Sympathetic Heart.
Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin
of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),

It’s been said, “Your true friends are the ones who are walking in when
everyone esle is walking out.”

Gal 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

4) Mark — The Friend with the Surprising Future.
Colossians 4:10 “… with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received
instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ”

Acts 13:13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga
in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

Acts 15:37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.
Acts 15:38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had
departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
Acts 15:39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another.
And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
Acts 15:40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren
to the grace of God.

2 Timothy 4:11 “… Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for
ministry.”

5) Jesus aka Justus — The Friend with the Strong Commitment.
Colossians 4:11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers
for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a
comfort to me.

Colossians 4:11 “… they have proved to be a comfort to me.”

Matthew 25:36 ” … I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Hebrews 13:3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them–those who are
mistreated–since you yourselves are in the body also.
Colossians 4:18 This salutation by my own hand–Paul. Remember my chains.

Forgotten Servants and Unsung Heroes

Forgotten Servants and Unsung Heroes

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Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you,
Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for
all the saints;
Colossians 1:5 Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which
you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
Colossians 1:6 Which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is
bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew
the grace of God in truth;
Colossians 1:7 As you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,
who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
Colossians 1:8 Who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

I. PRAYING LIKE PAUL.
Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you,

It’s been said, “The best way to really get to know somebody is to hear
them pray.”

II. THANKING GOD FOR YOUR FAITH.
Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for
all the saints;

III. LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR HEAVENLY HOPE.
Colossians 1:5 Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, …”

Colossians 1:5 “… of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,”

Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having
the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people —

Colossians 1:6 Which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is
bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew
the grace of God in truth;

Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

IV. SINGING THE PRAISES OF THE UNSUNG.
Colossians 1:7 As you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,
who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
Colossians 1:8 Who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

The greatest ministry comes from the deepest pain.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves
are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT) He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort
others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort
God has given us.

Acts 9:5 And he [Paul] said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

Galatians 1:13 “… I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried
to destroy it.
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Philippians 3:6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church;

Philemon 1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.
Colossians 4:13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and
those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

Romans 1:14 I am a debtor …”

I am in debt to those who shared the gospel with me, and I’m in debt to share
the gospel with others.

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