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Colossians 4:7-18 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
So you take your copy of God's Word and turn to Paul's letter to the Colossians.
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It's our final Sunday in this book. Lord willing, I don't fall over dead this morning.
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Because then next Sunday someone else will have to preach the rest of it to you.
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I hope that you've enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed teaching it and learning from it myself as I've studied it.
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So we will look this morning at Colossians chapter 4 verses 7 through 18.
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Begin reading in verse 7.
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Tychicus will tell you all about my activities.
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He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
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I have sent him to you for this very purpose that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts.
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And with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother who is one of you.
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They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
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Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you.
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And Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions.
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If he comes to you, welcome him.
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And Jesus, who is called Justice.
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These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God.
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And they have been a comfort to me.
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Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers,
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that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
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For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Heropolis.
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Luke, the beloved physician, greets you, as does Demas.
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Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her house.
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And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans.
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And see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
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And say to Archippus, see that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.
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I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
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Remember my chains.
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Grace be with you.
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This is God's word to us.
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It was written for his glory and our good.
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And we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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So we find ourselves at the closing of Paul's letter.
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Let me remind you that all of the Word of God, the book that you have, I hope, in your lap or somehow digitally in front of you,
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the 66 canonized books of the Old and New Testament were written by God himself through men.
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So men themselves penned the letters, the Spirit of God working in them.
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The Word of God was breathed out by him, yet was not divorced from the context, the particular circumstance, and the personality of the writer.
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So it's proper, as Paul is writing a letter to a particular church, that he concludes the letter.
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He does what you do in a letter.
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He wraps it up.
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Finishes it out.
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Finishes it out.
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And we've moved now from Paul's direct exhortation, his doctrinal stances and statements in the beginning of the letter,
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to his correction and now how it is that these things are meant to play out in the life of a Christian,
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to things that can seem, maybe at first look, a bit insignificant.
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I don't know if you, like me, upon the reading of epistles, again and again, will get to this point and just hurry up to the end.
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I finished the letter now.
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I just need to go through these names quickly to get to the end.
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They have some historical significance, I'm sure, but there's nothing really to be learned from them.
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And this is a grave error.
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Every word is inspired by God.
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It's important that Paul wrote this conclusion the way in which he wrote this conclusion.
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And we need to take the time to stop and look at it and see what it is that we can learn from it.
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This morning there are a number of things we can learn from this.
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We could take a look at each of these men's lives as individuals and look at the phrasing that Paul uses and the titles that he gives them.
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And certainly this is a thing that should be done at some point.
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But this morning I primarily just want to say two things from this text.
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And that is that we are all needy and that we are all needed.
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We're all needy and we are all needed.
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We're all needy.
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Paul himself, arguably the greatest of Christians, needed support.
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He needed a fellowship of brothers around him.
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He needed both spiritual and practical ministry to him in his life.
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And this is such a wonderful example of that.
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He's not the only.
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We'll look further at that.
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But I want to take you to the Old Testament for just a bit.
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So turn to the book of Exodus with me.
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We've been in the habit, as we preach verse by verse, of doing something New Testament and then doing something Old Testament.
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Before Colossians I preached through Mark.
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Before that we preached through Nehemiah.
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So we've kind of broken the pattern already.
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Prayerfully we're considering beginning the book of Acts.
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So we're breaking it all up.
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So today I'm going to take you to the Old Testament for at least a little while.
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To scratch that itch.
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To Exodus chapter 4.
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And I just want to show you a few examples in the life of Moses.
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Again, a leader mightily used by God in the life of God's people.
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And the way in which Moses needed.
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And the way in which God provided for that need.
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So Exodus chapter 4 verses 1 through 17.
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This is after the call of Moses, the burning bush experience.
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God's still speaking to him from the burning bush.
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And Moses answered,
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But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice.
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For they will say, the Lord did not appear to you.
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The Lord said to him, what is that in your hand?
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He said, a staff.
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And he said, throw it on the ground.
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So he threw it on the ground and it became a serpent.
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And Moses ran from it.
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But the Lord said to Moses, put out your hand and catch it by the tail.
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So he put out his hand and caught it.
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And it became a staff in his hand.
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That they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers,
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the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has appeared to you.
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Again, the Lord said to him, put your hand inside your cloak.
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And he put his hand inside his cloak.
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And when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.
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Then God said, put your hand back inside your cloak.
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So he put his hand back inside the cloak.
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And when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.
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If they will not believe you, God said, or listen to the first sign,
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they may believe the latter sign.
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If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice,
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you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the ground.
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And the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.
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So there's these three miracles, God says,
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both shows them that they will work.
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And then a third that he says, if you do this, it will happen.
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If they don't believe what you say, do these things and they'll listen to you.
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And then his response beginning in verse 10.
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But Moses said to the Lord,
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Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant,
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but I am slow of speech and of tongue.
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Then the Lord said to him, who has made man's mouth?
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Who makes him mute or deaf or seeing or blind?
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Is it not I, the Lord?
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Now, therefore, go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.
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So God's response to him in his faithlessness is he knows I'm naturally gifted.
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I'm not a good speaker.
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God says, but I made your mouth.
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I will speak through you.
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Moses responds, verse 13.
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But he said, Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.
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Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses.
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And he said, is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite?
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I know that he can speak well.
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Behold, he is coming out to meet you.
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And when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
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You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth.
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And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.
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He shall speak for you to the people.
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And he shall be your mouth.
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And you shall be as God to him.
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And take in your hand the staff with which you shall do the signs.
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So even as God responds in anger, his anger is kindled against Moses.
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And then he says, and I will give you a helper.
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I will bring somebody to help you.
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I will bring you a partner in the ministry that I have called you to.
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We see another example in Exodus 17.
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Please turn there.
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Beginning in verse 8.
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Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.
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So Moses said to Joshua, choose for us men and go out and fight with Amalek.
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Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.
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So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with Amalek while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
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Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed.
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And whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
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But Moses' hands grew weary.
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So they took a stone and put it under him.
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And he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side.
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So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
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And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
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So once again, a task given to Moses to see the people of Israel prevail in battle at the leadership of Joshua as long as the staff was raised.
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And in his human frailty, he's unable to do this for the duration of the battle.
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And so he's supported by Aaron and by Hur.
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One more.
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Turn a few books.
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Numbers chapter 11.
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Numbers 11 beginning in verse 11.
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This is after the people of Israel once again have grumbled greatly.
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They've complained against God.
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God's actually set some fires at the borders of the camps that have consumed part of the camp.
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He's died down those fires now.
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Beginning in verse 11.
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Moses said to the Lord,
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Why have you dealt ill with your servant?
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And why have I not found favor in your sight that you lay the burden of all this people on me?
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Did I conceive all this people?
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Did I give them birth that you should say to me?
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Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing child to the land that you swore to give.
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To their fathers.
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He was like,
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Why am I in charge of all these babies?
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Where am I to get meat to give to all this people?
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For they weep before me and say,
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Give us meat that we may eat.
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I am not able to carry all this people alone.
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The burden is too heavy for me.
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If you will treat me like this,
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Kill me at once.
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If I find favor in your sight,
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That I may not see my wretchedness.
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Verse 16,
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Then the Lord said to Moses,
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Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel,
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Whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them,
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And bring them to the tent of meeting,
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And let them take their stand there with you.
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And I will come down and talk with you there,
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And I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them.
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And they shall bear the burden of the people with you,
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So that you may not bear it yourself alone.
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So we're seeing again and again this pattern with Moses,
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That he's called to do these things by God,
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And God equips,
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And he equips him,
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How?
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With people.
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With help.
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With partners.
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In the ministry.
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So the greatest of leaders for God still need other Christians.
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We see this to be true of Paul.
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The more that you mature in your Christian faith,
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You're going to realize how much you need the church.
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How much you need other people.
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That's always true of you.
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The more you mature,
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The more you realize how very true it is.
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So we get this list.
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A laundry list of shorts from Paul.
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About these different men.
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The beginning, verse 7,
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Tychicus is sent to him with the letter
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To tell about all of his activities.
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Paul describes him as a beloved brother
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And a faithful minister.
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And a fellow servant in the Lord.
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At the writing of Colossians,
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Tychicus has been with Paul for approximately four years.
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We can't pin that time frame down exactly,
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But it's been about four years since he's been with Paul.
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He's mentioned five times in the New Testament.
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All of which are very brief mentions.
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Usually it's just his name drop in there.
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But they give us a very, very rich profile of him.
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I'll give you two examples.
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Titus 3.12
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Tychicus is sent along with Artemis
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To temporarily replace Titus,
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Who's the pastor on the island of Crete.
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While Titus is coming to visit Paul.
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So he's one of the men that's sent there
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To replace Titus for a time being.
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And we see this again in 2 Timothy 4.12
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So that Timothy can travel to see Paul.
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Paul's now writing these letters,
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Afraid that his life is almost over.
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Wants to see Timothy, his son in faith,
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One more time.
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And Tychicus is sent to replace him in Ephesus.
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You can see that in 2 Timothy 4.12.
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And he's been sent, verse 8,
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I have sent him to you for this very purpose.
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That you may know how we are
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And that he may encourage your hearts.
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The reason he's sent
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Is that he may encourage their hearts.
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And I think rightly to read and understand
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By knowing how they are.
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By seeing the way in which God
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Has been graciously working through the ministry of Paul.
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To come and impart to them
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How things have been going.
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You see again in verse 9
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The inclusion of Onesimus.
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They will tell you of everything
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That has taken place here.
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It's a great encouragement
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Or it should be at least to us as believers
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To see the way in which God is working
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In the rest of the world.
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And Paul knows this.
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And he sends Tychicus for this very end.
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On this particular journey
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Paul has sent him to carry the letter
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To the Colossians.
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Also to the Ephesians
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In the same region.
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And likely, we don't know for sure
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But likely the letter of Philemon as well.
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Philemon who's a part of the Colossian church
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And the church there likely met
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In his house.
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This is an incredibly difficult journey
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So we shouldn't make light of that.
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Being sent to carry a letter
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Such a distance from a Roman prison
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All the way to the town of Colossae
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Would have taken quite some time.
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He would have had to cross Italy on foot
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At its very shortest distance
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The closest port from Rome
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To the east coast
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Would have been a hundred miles.
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He had to sail across the Adriatic Sea
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Traverse Greece once again
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Closest possible thing
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Another hundred miles on foot
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Sail across the Aegean Sea
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And once he got to the coast of Asia Minor
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Where Ephesus was located
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He would have had to go yet another hundred miles
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On foot to there.
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It's not an easy thing to do.
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You add up those distances in your mind
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And you say, well that's no big deal
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But in this day it was incredibly dangerous
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To travel distances of this kind
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And in this way.
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So a faithful man
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Being sent by Paul
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On Paul's behalf to be an encouragement
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To the churches at Ephesus
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And Colossae.
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And Paul sends with him
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Onesimus, verse 9
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Our faithful and beloved brother
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Who is one of you.
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Now we know
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If we've read Philemon
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And if we see this clue
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In this text in verse 9
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That Onesimus
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Was a Colossian.
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Somehow
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Paul's encountered him
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Along his way
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And
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He knows
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He's from there
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He's sending him back
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To his people
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And we learn
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From reading in Philemon
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That Onesimus
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Was the slave
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Of Philemon
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And he's being sent back to him
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As part of his repentance.
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Right?
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That he was a runaway
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Became a Christian
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Under the ministry of Paul
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And he's now being sent back
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To Philemon
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And we can see a little bit about this
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So turn to the book of Philemon
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With me
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This is why we suppose
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That Tychicus
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Was also carrying this letter
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With Onesimus
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To give this letter to Philemon
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That Philemon would
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Rightly receive
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Onesimus back
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No chapters in Philemon
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So just verse 8
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And I'll read through verse 22
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Paul writes
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Accordingly though
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I am bold enough in Christ
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To command you
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To do what is required
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Yet for love's sake
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I prefer to appeal to you
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I Paul
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An old man
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And now a prisoner also
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For Christ Jesus
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Appeal to you
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For my child
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Onesimus
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Whose father I became
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In my imprisonment
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We take that to mean
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That Onesimus
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Somehow encountered him
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While he was imprisoned
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And Paul shared his faith
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With him
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And he came to Christ
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Verse 11
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Formerly
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He was useless to you
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But now he is indeed
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Useful
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To you
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And me
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I am sending him back to you
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Sending my very heart
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I would have been glad
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To keep him with me
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In order that he might
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Serve me on your behalf
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During my imprisonment
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For the gospel
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But I prefer to do nothing
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Without your consent
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In order that your goodness
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Might not be by compulsion
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But out of your own accord
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For this perhaps
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Is why he was parted
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From you for a while
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That you might have him
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Back forever
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No longer as a bondservant
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But more than a bondservant
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As a beloved brother
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Especially to me
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But how much more to you
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Both in the flesh
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And in the Lord
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So you see what he's saying
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Is I could keep him
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I wanted to keep him
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And just say to you
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Send this letter to you
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To say
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I've kept him
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And this is your good service
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To me
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That I've kept Onesimus
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Because he's been
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A faithful brother to me
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And he's ministering
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To my need here
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But I also recognize
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That it's possible
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That maybe Onesimus
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Left you
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In order that he might
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Become a brother
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And come back to you
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And be yours forever
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And serve you
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And so he's making
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This appeal to him
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To ultimately send him back
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But to do what he thinks
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Is right
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In the boss-employee relationship
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Between himself
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And Onesimus
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Verse 18
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If he has wronged you at all
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Or owes you anything
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Charge that to my account
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I, Paul, write this with my own hand
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I will repay it
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To say nothing of your owing me
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Even your own self
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Yes, brother
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I want some benefit from you
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In the Lord
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Refresh my heart
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In Christ
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Confident of your obedience
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I write to you
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Knowing that you will do
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Even more than I say
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At the same time
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Prepare a guest room for me
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For I am hoping
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That through your prayers
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I will be graciously given
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To you
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And see this appeal
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On the behalf
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Of Onesimus
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To send him back
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And then to receive him again
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In return
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From Philemon
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Very neatly about this
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And I think of note
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As we consider
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The life of Onesimus
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A rebellious slave
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Who ran away
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But now
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Had become a Christian
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And saw the need
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To return to his master
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Right?
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That things might be made right
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Between them
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The name Onesimus
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Was a common Greek slave name
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And it means useful
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In Greek
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And so in verse 11
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When Paul
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This parenthetical
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You'll see
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It's a word play
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He's saying
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Formerly
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Useless
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Was useless
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Or useful
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Was useless
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To you
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Formerly useful
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Was useless
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To you
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In that he had no
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Real
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Eternal
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Bearing and weight
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In your life
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Right?
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But now
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He is indeed
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Useful
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To you
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And to me
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So in Christ
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Onesimus
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Had eternal
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Value
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And worth
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And purpose
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In the service
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Of both
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Paul
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And Philemon
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Back home
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In the Colossian
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Church
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Faithful
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And beloved
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Brother
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They've been sent back
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To tell them
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Everything that's happened
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Alright
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Verse 10
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We see
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Aristarchus
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Listed
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Fellow prisoner
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Greets you
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And mark
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The cousin
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Of Barnabas
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Concerning whom
21:22
You have received
21:23
Instruction
21:23
If he comes
21:24
To you
21:25
Welcome him
21:26
We don't know
21:27
About the instruction
21:27
But probably
21:28
There had been
21:29
Some other instruction
21:30
That came from
21:31
The church
21:32
In Jerusalem
21:33
About him
21:34
Likely
21:35
This is the case
21:36
So he's just saying
21:37
That instruction
21:38
I've heard about
21:38
Make sure you obey
21:39
That instruction
21:40
And Jesus
21:42
Who is called
21:43
Justice
21:44
Now Aristarchus
21:45
We know from
21:46
Biblical text
21:46
Was a native
21:47
Of Thessalonica
21:48
He first appears
21:49
In the biblical narrative
21:50
During Paul's ministry
21:51
In Ephesus
21:52
He was part of
21:53
That group
21:53
That was seized
21:54
That was associated
21:55
With Paul
21:56
The mob came
21:57
And seized them
21:58
In Ephesus
21:59
He was one of
21:59
Paul's companions
22:01
Agreed about that
22:01
In Acts 19
22:02
29
22:03
He traveled with
22:04
Paul to Jerusalem
22:05
Acts 24
22:07
And to Rome
22:08
Acts 27
22:09
4
22:09
And now we find
22:10
Him still
22:11
Alongside Paul
22:12
As a prisoner
22:13
Also a prisoner
22:15
Kept in chains
22:15
Because of the
22:17
Gospel of Jesus Christ
22:18
We see Mark
22:20
The cousin of
22:21
Barnabas
22:22
This is
22:23
This is the Mark
22:24
That authored
22:24
The Gospel of Mark
22:25
We talked about him
22:26
Quite a bit
22:27
At the very beginning
22:28
Of our study
22:29
Of that book
22:30
That Mark
22:32
Is kind of an obscure
22:32
Character
22:33
But he pops up
22:34
In some places
22:35
And is a wonderful
22:36
Picture of redemption
22:37
Mark is the one
22:39
That deserted
22:40
Paul and Barnabas
22:41
You see this
22:42
In Acts 13
22:43
Because of fear
22:44
He was just afraid
22:45
To go on
22:46
In the ministry
22:47
Of the gospel
22:48
And he abandoned them
22:49
And he was later
22:50
The point of contention
22:52
Between Paul and Barnabas
22:53
Acts chapter 15
22:54
And the reason
22:55
That Paul and Barnabas
22:56
Actually is part ways
22:57
Is that Barnabas
22:58
His cousin
22:58
Wanted to give him
22:59
A second chance
23:00
And Paul said
23:01
I only want brave men
23:02
With me
23:03
I'm going on
23:04
Without him
23:05
And so we see
23:07
This great redemptive
23:08
Story carried out
23:09
In Mark's life
23:10
As he is now
23:11
One of
23:12
Paul's fellow workers
23:14
Paul now esteems
23:16
Him well
23:16
And God uses him
23:17
To author
23:18
The Gospel of Mark
23:20
Which is so incredibly
23:21
Precious
23:22
To all of us
23:23
And then we see
23:24
Jesus
23:25
Who was called
23:27
Justice
23:27
Now Jesus
23:29
Was the Greek form
23:30
Of the Hebrew name
23:31
Joshua
23:32
It was actually
23:34
Incredibly common
23:36
It's important
23:37
That we know
23:38
That so often
23:40
Jesus was called
23:40
The Christ
23:41
Because of this
23:42
It was a distinguishing
23:43
Factor about who he was
23:45
Not just another Joshua
23:46
He was Joshua
23:47
The Christ
23:48
Joshua means
23:50
In Hebrew
23:51
Savior
23:51
So this is another
23:52
Man named Josh
23:55
But not just Josh
23:56
But one who's called
23:57
Justice
23:58
Justice would have been
23:59
His surname
24:00
His last name
24:01
Of sorts
24:02
Which means
24:03
Righteous
24:04
He was
24:06
Righteous
24:07
Because
24:08
He has
24:09
A Savior
24:10
And Paul writes
24:13
These are the only men
24:13
Of the circumcision
24:14
Among my fellow workers
24:16
For the kingdom of God
24:17
And they have been
24:19
A comfort
24:20
To me
24:21
And remember
24:22
That Paul's
24:23
Primary ministry
24:23
Was to the Gentile population
24:25
That there were
24:26
Other apostles
24:27
Most of the apostles
24:28
Ministering to
24:30
Jewish populations
24:31
Peter was the major
24:32
Leader of that
24:33
Back in Jerusalem
24:34
Ministering to the Jews
24:35
Paul's been turned out
24:38
To the Gentiles
24:38
But all the same
24:40
Right
24:40
He's got this desire
24:41
This hunger
24:42
That people of his
24:44
Ethnicity
24:46
Would come to Christ
24:47
Romans 9
24:47
3
24:48
He says
24:48
For I could wish
24:49
That I myself
24:50
Were accursed
24:51
And cut off
24:52
From Christ
24:53
For the sake of my brothers
24:53
My kinsmen
24:54
According to the flesh
24:56
Right
24:57
Those that had
24:58
The patriarchs
24:59
Those that had
25:00
The prophets
25:01
Those that should have
25:02
Known what true worship
25:03
Of God would look like
25:04
And yet had turned
25:05
From Christ
25:06
Paul longed for them
25:08
To come to Christ
25:09
And not only were they
25:11
Rejecting the gospel
25:12
But they reject Paul
25:13
Altogether
25:13
Much of the danger
25:14
Paul faced
25:15
On his missionary journeys
25:16
Came at the hands
25:17
Of Jews
25:18
I'll give you an example
25:20
2 Corinthians 11
25:21
26
25:21
As Paul records
25:22
The challenges
25:23
That have faced
25:24
His Christian ministry
25:25
On frequent journeys
25:27
In danger from rivers
25:28
Dangers from robbers
25:29
Dangers from my own people
25:31
Dangers from Gentiles
25:32
Danger in the city
25:33
Danger in the wilderness
25:34
Danger at sea
25:35
Danger from false brothers
25:37
And you see him list
25:38
In that danger
25:39
From his own people
25:41
So they were Jews
25:43
Who did not seek
25:44
To kill him
25:44
Right
25:45
But also they were
25:46
A reminder
25:47
These Jews
25:48
That were fellowshipping
25:49
With him
25:50
They weren't
25:51
Seeking his life
25:52
As others were
25:53
Right
25:53
So what a comfort
25:53
That would have been
25:54
But they also
25:55
Were a reminder to him
25:57
Of the eternal purposes
25:58
Of God
25:58
A reminder to him
26:00
That God was still
26:01
In fact
26:01
Working amongst
26:02
His brethren
26:03
Working amongst
26:04
The Jewish people
26:06
He knows about the church
26:07
In Jerusalem
26:08
He's visited the church
26:09
In Jerusalem
26:10
But these are men
26:10
Who are with him
26:11
Who are a wonderful
26:12
Reminder of that
26:14
I'm going to
26:15
Encourage you to read
26:16
At some point
26:16
Romans chapter 11
26:17
And wrestle with it
26:19
And try to understand
26:19
What Paul is having to say
26:20
About God's eternal purposes
26:22
To the Jewish people
26:23
The bloodline
26:24
Jewish people
26:25
But he turns
26:26
From all of that
26:27
And all of his
26:28
Understanding
26:29
Of how it is
26:30
That God is still
26:31
Working with the people
26:32
In Romans 11
26:33
Verse 33
26:34
To 36
26:34
He says
26:35
Oh the depths
26:36
Of the riches
26:37
And wisdom
26:38
And knowledge of God!
26:39
How unsearchable
26:40
Are his judgments!
26:41
And how inscrutable
26:42
His ways!
26:43
For who has known
26:44
The mind of the Lord?
26:44
Or who has been
26:45
His counselor?
26:46
Or who has given
26:47
A gift to him
26:48
That he might be repaid?
26:50
For from him
26:51
And through him
26:52
And to him
26:53
Are all things
26:54
To him be glory forever
26:56
Amen
26:57
And I just imagine
26:58
That hymn Paul sings to himself
27:01
As he's troubled about his brethren
27:04
He's troubled about Israel
27:05
And yet he looks at the lives
27:06
Of these three men
27:08
Who have faithfully
27:09
Given up all things
27:11
In order to pursue Christ
27:12
And he praises God
27:14
For God's eternal purposes
27:15
To the Jewish people
27:16
Verse 12
27:19
Epaphras is listed
27:22
Not the first time
27:23
We've heard about Epaphras
27:25
Epaphras was
27:26
The founder of the Colossian church
27:28
Became a believer in Ephesus
27:31
Brought the gospel back
27:32
To this rather insignificant town
27:34
Kind of a blip on the map
27:36
In history
27:37
He says
27:38
Epaphras
27:39
Who is one of you
27:40
A servant of Christ Jesus
27:42
Greets you
27:43
Always struggling
27:44
On your behalf
27:45
In his prayers
27:46
That you may stand
27:46
Mature
27:47
And fully assured
27:48
In all the will
27:49
Of God
27:51
For I bear him witness
27:52
That he has worked hard for you
27:53
And for those
27:54
In Laodicea
27:55
And in Heropolis
27:56
It seems that he
27:56
Expanded his gospel ministry
27:58
Out beyond just
27:59
Colossae
28:02
And out to Laodicea
28:03
And out to Heropolis
28:04
As well
28:05
And he has labored
28:06
Even while he's been gone
28:07
Even while he's been with
28:08
Paul in Rome
28:09
He's been struggling
28:10
On their behalf
28:11
So that they may stand
28:13
Mature
28:13
And fully assured
28:15
In all of the will
28:17
Of God
28:18
Remember that
28:20
At the very beginning
28:20
Of the letter
28:21
Colossians 1
28:22
Verse 3
28:22
When Paul hears
28:24
About the Colossian church
28:26
He says
28:27
We always thank God
28:28
The Father
28:28
Of our Lord Jesus Christ
28:29
When we pray for you
28:30
Since we heard of your faith
28:32
In Christ Jesus
28:33
From Epaphras
28:34
And of the love
28:35
That you have for all the saints
28:36
Because of the hope
28:37
Lied up for you in heaven
28:38
Of this you have heard
28:40
Before in the word of truth
28:41
The gospel
28:41
Which has come to you
28:42
As indeed in the whole world
28:44
It is bearing fruit
28:44
And increasing
28:45
As it also does among you
28:47
Since the day you heard it
28:48
And understood
28:49
The grace of God
28:50
In truth
28:50
Just as you learned it
28:52
From Epaphras
28:54
Our beloved fellow servant
28:55
He is a faithful minister of Christ
28:57
On your behalf
28:58
And has made known to us
29:00
Your love
29:01
In the Spirit
29:02
There's this
29:03
This
29:04
Work on Epaphras' part
29:06
Which Paul sees
29:07
As an extension of his
29:08
As Epaphras became
29:09
A believer in the Ephesian church
29:11
Under the ministry
29:11
Of Paul
29:12
And he's now
29:13
Taking it back home
29:14
He's rejoicing in
29:16
And he's sharing in this work
29:18
That Epaphras is doing
29:20
And sees this point
29:22
Of Epaphras' ministry
29:23
And his prayers
29:24
That he may stand
29:25
Mature
29:26
And fully assured
29:27
In all the will of God
29:29
And it goes on then
29:29
In Colossians chapter 1
29:31
And so from the day we heard
29:32
We have not ceased
29:33
To pray for you
29:34
Asking that you may be filled
29:36
With the knowledge
29:37
Of his will
29:37
In all spiritual wisdom
29:39
And understanding
29:41
That you may know rightly
29:42
Who God is
29:43
And then
29:44
Verse 10
29:45
How you should walk
29:46
So as to walk in a manner
29:47
Worthy of the Lord
29:48
Fully pleasing to him
29:49
Bearing fruit
29:50
In every good work
29:51
And increasing
29:52
In the knowledge of God
29:54
Are you seeing it?
29:55
Are you catching
29:56
All of the spiritual
29:58
Both investment
30:00
Into Paul
30:01
As he is needy
30:02
As well as the way
30:03
In which he's extending
30:04
His ministry
30:05
Through the lives
30:06
Of these men
30:07
Paul needed
30:08
These men
30:10
Paul was needy
30:11
Not just physically
30:13
But verse 14
30:14
We see him mention Luke
30:17
The beloved physician
30:20
Luke is only mentioned
30:21
Three times
30:22
In the New Testament
30:23
And all of these times
30:25
Are in Paul's letters
30:26
Here
30:26
Philemon verse 24
30:28
And 2 Timothy 4
30:29
11
30:30
Luke is the one
30:32
Who authored
30:33
The gospel of Luke
30:34
As well as
30:34
The book of Acts
30:36
Pretty significant
30:37
As far as his contribution
30:38
To the scripture
30:39
But mentioned very little
30:40
In the scripture
30:41
It's been understood
30:43
That Luke was Paul's
30:45
Personal physician
30:46
And that he joined him
30:47
On his second missionary journey
30:49
And mostly remained with him
30:51
For the remainder
30:52
Of his life
30:53
That Luke
30:54
Certainly a man
30:55
Gifted by the Spirit
30:58
At least at record taking
30:59
And giving us
31:00
The gospels
31:01
Certainly could
31:02
Teach well
31:04
The doctrines
31:04
Of Christ
31:05
But primarily
31:06
Tied himself
31:07
To the side of Paul
31:08
In order to be
31:09
His physician
31:10
There's much postulation
31:12
About what the thorn
31:13
In Paul's flesh was
31:15
But most agree
31:15
That it was some kind
31:16
Of physical ailment
31:17
That caused him
31:18
A great deal of trouble
31:19
As he traveled
31:20
And after his
31:21
First missionary journey
31:22
It's believed that Luke
31:24
Picks up with him
31:25
In order to help him
31:26
And to aid him
31:26
And to meet his
31:27
Physical needs
31:28
As he's going
31:29
Luke recognizing
31:30
That he was given
31:31
A gifted mind by God
31:33
Has been able to study
31:35
And to know
31:35
How it was
31:36
That he could help Paul
31:37
Along the way
31:38
And he does so
31:39
He's with him here
31:40
In this house imprisonment
31:42
That he's at
31:42
Able to minister
31:43
To his needs
31:45
And the rest of verse 14
31:47
He mentions Demas
31:49
Demas is with him
31:50
In Rome
31:51
As does Demas
31:54
Now sadly
31:55
We find out later
31:56
That Demas doesn't
31:57
Remain with him
31:58
2 Timothy 4
31:59
9 and 10
31:59
Paul writes to Timothy
32:02
Do your best
32:02
To come to me soon
32:03
For Demas
32:05
In love with this
32:05
Present world
32:06
Has deserted me
32:07
And gone to Thessalonica
32:09
Crescens
32:10
Has gone to Galatia
32:11
Titus
32:12
To Dalmatia
32:13
And so Demas
32:14
Deserts him
32:16
Deserts him
32:17
Because he loves the world
32:18
More than the ministry
32:19
Of God
32:19
That Paul
32:20
Was doing
32:21
And this should be
32:22
An encouragement
32:23
To all of us
32:23
Especially those
32:24
Who are in
32:24
Places of Christian leadership
32:26
Jesus had his Judas
32:27
Paul had his
32:29
Demas
32:30
And it's a comfort
32:31
To know that the two
32:31
Greatest leaders
32:32
In the world
32:33
Have had men
32:35
Who have failed them
32:35
Along the way
32:37
And then he concludes
32:40
Give my greetings
32:41
To the brothers
32:41
At Laodicea
32:42
And to Nympha
32:42
And the church
32:43
In her house
32:43
Which was understood
32:45
To be the church
32:45
In Laodicea
32:46
And when this letter
32:47
Has been read among you
32:47
Have it also read
32:48
In the church
32:48
Of the Laodiceans
32:49
And see also
32:50
That you read the letter
32:50
From Laodicea
32:52
There's a lot of postulation
32:53
About what the letter
32:54
Of Laodicea is
32:55
Some people suggest
32:55
That it actually was
32:56
A particular letter
32:57
Written to the Laodiceans
32:58
Many agree
32:59
That it actually was
33:00
The letter of Ephesians
33:01
That was actually taken
33:02
And dropped back off
33:03
On the journey
33:05
Back to Rome
33:07
And that they all
33:08
Benefited from these letters
33:09
We don't know for sure
33:11
But all the same
33:11
There's an instruction
33:12
To read Paul's other letter
33:14
To be sure that they're
33:14
Very clear
33:15
On the understanding
33:16
Of the gospel
33:17
Of Jesus Christ
33:18
And then in verse 17
33:19
He writes
33:20
And say to Archippus
33:21
See that you fulfill
33:23
The ministry
33:23
That you have received
33:25
In the Lord
33:26
So I've been talking
33:27
And I know in
33:27
Spattering of history
33:29
About these men
33:30
About Paul's life
33:32
And the way that
33:33
Paul himself
33:33
Was needy
33:35
Paul needed men
33:37
Right?
33:37
The grace of God
33:38
To him
33:39
Through men
33:40
To minister to him
33:42
And to help him
33:42
Minister
33:43
To others
33:44
We see also
33:46
Verse 17
33:47
That we are
33:48
Needed
33:49
So we are needy
33:50
But we are also
33:52
Needed
33:53
Say to Archippus
33:54
Now Archippus
33:55
Is only noted
33:56
Here in Philemon 2
33:58
We don't know
33:59
A lot about this man
34:00
Fairly insignificant
34:01
In the scope
34:02
Of history
34:03
Again Philemon
34:04
Believer in the
34:05
Colossian church
34:07
Colossae itself
34:08
The Rome
34:08
Rome had built
34:09
The road around
34:10
Colossae
34:11
Was really insignificant
34:12
Reminds me a lot
34:13
Of Dahlonega
34:14
In a lot of ways
34:15
Nothing major
34:16
Happening
34:16
In the town
34:17
Your educations
34:18
Are major
34:18
But
34:19
Not real significant
34:23
As far as
34:24
Commerce
34:25
Or military
34:26
Might
34:26
Was concerned
34:28
Right?
34:28
In Philemon 2
34:29
Though
34:29
Archippus
34:30
Is called
34:31
Paul's
34:31
Fellow
34:32
Soldier
34:33
And I don't
34:35
Believe that his
34:36
Ministry was
34:36
Of any
34:37
Particular note
34:38
Simply because
34:39
It's not noted
34:40
He doesn't say
34:41
See that you
34:43
Fulfill the ministry
34:44
And then give us
34:44
The specifics
34:45
Of what that
34:45
Ministry
34:46
Is
34:47
But just
34:47
Fulfill the ministry
34:48
That you've received
34:49
In the Lord
34:49
This
34:49
Task that God
34:52
Has granted
34:53
To you
34:53
I don't think
34:54
It's particularly
34:55
Noteworthy
34:56
I think Paul
34:57
Just recognizes
34:58
That this man
34:59
Needs to be
34:59
Encouraged
35:00
To continue
35:00
In his ministry
35:01
As a disciple
35:02
Of Jesus Christ
35:04
What is the ministry
35:05
That all disciples
35:06
Of Jesus Christ
35:07
Are given?
35:08
To make disciples
35:09
This is the work
35:11
That we are to be about
35:12
As believers
35:13
In Jesus Christ
35:14
And so I think
35:14
That we could read
35:15
Rightly read
35:16
And say to Archippus
35:17
See that you continue
35:18
To make disciples
35:19
Of Jesus Christ
35:21
This is the ministry
35:22
That God has given you
35:23
In Christ
35:24
As a follower
35:25
Of Him
35:26
And we find ourselves
35:28
In the church
35:29
In a great deal
35:30
Of trouble
35:31
And I'm speaking
35:32
In broad
35:33
And general terms
35:34
There are certainly
35:35
Exceptions to this
35:36
And I think in many ways
35:37
Our church
35:37
Is an exception
35:38
To this
35:39
But so many
35:41
Churches
35:42
Function
35:43
As businesses
35:44
Where the pastor
35:46
Serves as the CEO
35:47
And much of this
35:48
Comes out of the
35:49
Church growth movement
35:49
Of the 60's
35:50
And the 70's
35:51
The glitzing up
35:53
Of the church
35:54
The putting on
35:56
Of program
35:57
In so many churches
35:58
We don't need prayer
35:59
Because we have websites
36:00
We don't need evangelism
36:03
Because we have
36:03
Road frontage
36:04
So much of this
36:06
Was given away
36:07
And so many
36:08
For generations
36:09
Have sat in churches
36:10
And they've seen
36:11
Their part
36:12
To be sure
36:13
That they give
36:14
Direction to
36:16
The CEO
36:16
Of the company
36:17
They pay his salary
36:18
And they make sure
36:19
That he does
36:20
The things
36:20
That he's supposed
36:21
To do
36:21
And as long
36:22
As they can look
36:23
Around and they
36:23
See some growth
36:24
Of some measurable
36:25
Kind in the life
36:26
Of the church
36:27
Then everything
36:27
Is good
36:28
And everything
36:29
Is going well
36:30
And we could talk
36:31
For the next few
36:32
Hours about all
36:33
The detriments
36:34
That this has been
36:35
To the life
36:36
Of the body
36:37
But we see
36:37
A much different
36:38
Picture in the
36:39
Scripture
36:39
Of what the church
36:40
Is supposed to
36:41
Look like
36:42
Christianity
36:43
Is a team sport
36:45
We're all meant
36:46
To get in the mix
36:47
And play together
36:48
1 Corinthians 12
36:49
20 and 21
36:50
Says as it is
36:51
There are many parts
36:53
Yet one body
36:55
The eye cannot say
36:56
To the hand
36:57
I have no need of you
36:58
Nor again the head
36:59
To the feet
36:59
I have no need of you
37:01
And I think we get this
37:02
I think we all
37:03
Understand that
37:04
I can't say to anybody
37:05
Else in this church
37:05
You're not necessary
37:07
But here's the problem
37:08
I think often
37:09
What happens
37:10
And at least not
37:11
In word
37:11
But functionally
37:13
People say
37:14
You have no need
37:15
Of me
37:16
You turn it around
37:18
And you say
37:18
I'm not a necessary
37:20
Part of the body
37:21
Of Christ
37:22
And this is not
37:23
The church
37:23
Pictured in Scripture
37:25
The way many of us
37:26
Function in church
37:27
Is entirely foreign
37:28
To the pages
37:29
Of the New Testament
37:29
New Testament believers
37:31
Would look at our scene
37:32
Today and go
37:33
What has happened
37:34
That you believe
37:37
That your part
37:37
In the church
37:38
Is to show up
37:39
And occupy a chair
37:40
Is not the case
37:42
There's a time
37:43
And a place
37:44
For such a thing
37:45
But it's not the only time
37:46
And the only place
37:47
You are needed
37:49
If you are found
37:51
In Christ
37:52
He has set you
37:52
On a mission
37:53
You have a part
37:55
To play
37:55
I don't know
37:56
What it is
37:57
In every single case
37:57
I think one of the things
37:58
I ought to be doing
37:59
As a pastor
37:59
Is helping you understand
38:00
Who you are
38:01
And how you can serve
38:03
What body part
38:04
You are
38:05
What's happened
38:06
Is this has placed
38:07
A huge labor
38:08
A difficulty
38:10
On pastors
38:11
And some of the statistics
38:12
Are just absolutely
38:14
Staggering about
38:15
What's happening
38:15
In the lives
38:16
Of churches
38:17
And what's happening
38:18
To pastors
38:19
I want to just
38:20
Show you a few
38:21
This is a study
38:22
Conducted by Lifeway Research
38:23
1500 Southern Baptist
38:26
Pastors
38:26
Let me say to you
38:28
That I'm an exception
38:29
To most
38:30
If not all
38:31
Of this
38:32
I don't mean this
38:33
To be whining
38:34
In any way whatsoever
38:35
Please don't hear that
38:36
From me at all
38:37
I feel very loved
38:38
By our church
38:38
I'm very thankful
38:40
To be a pastor
38:40
Of this church
38:42
But I just
38:43
Want to point out
38:44
To you the danger
38:45
Of thinking in this way
38:46
Not believing
38:47
That you're needed
38:48
Not believing
38:48
That you have a place
38:49
And a part to play
38:50
In the life of a church
38:52
So here's some stats
38:53
I'm going to rattle
38:54
Them off to you
38:54
25% of pastors' wives
38:57
See their husband's
38:58
Work schedule
38:59
As a source of conflict
39:01
45% of pastors
39:03
Say they've
39:03
They've experienced
39:04
Depression or burnout
39:05
To the extent
39:06
That they needed
39:07
To take a leave
39:08
Of absence
39:08
For ministry
39:09
So give it up
39:10
For a while
39:10
52% of pastors
39:12
Say that they
39:12
And their spouses
39:13
Believe that being
39:14
In pastoral ministry
39:15
Is hazardous
39:16
To their family's
39:17
Well-being and health
39:18
56% of pastors' wives
39:21
Say they have
39:22
No close friends
39:23
70% of pastors
39:26
Don't have any
39:27
Close friends
39:28
75% report
39:30
Severe stress
39:31
Causing anguish
39:32
Worry
39:32
Bewilderment
39:33
Anger
39:33
Depression
39:34
Fear
39:34
And alienation
39:35
80% of pastors
39:37
Say they have
39:37
Insufficient time
39:38
With their spouse
39:39
80% believe
39:40
That pastoral ministry
39:41
Affects their families
39:42
Negatively
39:43
90% work
39:44
More than 50 hours
39:45
A week
39:45
Which I don't think
39:46
That's that big a deal
39:46
That sounds whiny
39:47
94%
39:49
94%
39:53
Feel under pressure
39:54
To have a perfect family
39:55
You get that
39:55
94% of pastors
39:57
Feel
39:57
Of these 1500
39:58
Feel under pressure
39:59
To have a perfect family
40:01
Everything's always
40:02
Put together
40:02
84%
40:04
Say they're on call
40:05
24 hours a day
40:06
80%
40:08
Expect conflict
40:09
In their church
40:09
80%
40:11
Expect
40:11
That the church
40:13
Is going to be
40:13
A disaster
40:14
54%
40:16
Find their role
40:17
Of pastor
40:17
Frequently overwhelming
40:19
!
40:19
And the last one
40:20
53%
40:20
Are often
40:21
Concerned
40:22
About their family's
40:23
Financial security
40:24
That shouldn't be so
40:26
In the church
40:27
Just should not be
40:28
The case
40:29
And so much of this
40:30
Is the result
40:31
Of
40:32
A pyramid
40:35
Scheme of sorts
40:36
We put the pastor
40:37
At the top of
40:38
So much of this
40:39
Is about pedestalling
40:40
A pastor
40:41
Making them
40:42
The perfect one
40:43
In which we should follow
40:44
So many churches
40:46
Are cults
40:47
Of personality
40:47
And hear me carefully
40:49
About this
40:49
People attend a church
40:51
They're in fellowship
40:52
With a group of believers
40:53
Because of who the pastor is
40:54
Not because of Christ
40:55
And this is so dangerous
40:58
And from the very outset
41:00
Of Christ family church
41:01
Existing
41:02
We have always said
41:03
It's been the great desire
41:05
Of my heart
41:05
That I could cease
41:06
To exist
41:07
That this afternoon
41:09
I get in a horrible accident
41:10
And I'm gone
41:11
And this church
41:12
Does not fall apart
41:13
If anything
41:14
This church is bound
41:14
Together further
41:16
You have my permission
41:17
To take a Sunday off
41:18
And mourn
41:19
And you better get back
41:20
In the mix
41:20
And we have men
41:21
In this church
41:22
Who are gifted preachers
41:24
And should be up here
41:25
And should be talking
41:25
Instead of me
41:26
Just get back in it
41:27
And pull together
41:28
And soldier on
41:29
Because you don't follow me
41:31
You follow Jesus Christ
41:32
The very greatest thing
41:34
That I can do for you
41:35
Is show you
41:36
My great need of grace
41:37
And constantly push you
41:39
Towards the cross
41:40
You don't need me
41:42
You need Jesus
41:42
I'm a man
41:45
And I have
41:46
Just natural failing
41:47
I have natural limits
41:49
To what I'm able to do
41:50
Take my introversion
41:52
As an example
41:53
I'm a horrible small talker
41:54
And probably all of you
41:56
Have experienced
41:56
Some moment of weird
41:57
With me
41:58
Where I just didn't know
41:59
What to say
42:00
And I'm working on it
42:01
And I think that
42:02
This is a thing
42:03
That can be redeemed in me
42:04
That the spirit
42:05
Can in fact
42:06
Change my personality
42:07
And so
42:08
I pray for that
42:09
And I work for that
42:10
But I know that
42:11
Sometimes I'm just
42:12
Awkward
42:13
I'm not the guy
42:14
That gets in the middle
42:15
Of a new people
42:17
Social setting
42:17
And pulls it all together
42:18
And makes it feel great
42:19
It's just not me
42:20
I'd really rather
42:21
Stand against the wall
42:22
In the corner
42:22
And watch a room
42:24
Than be the center
42:25
Of attention
42:25
In a room
42:26
So I have limitation
42:28
To who I am
42:29
But I'm just
42:30
A part of the body
42:31
Who's the head
42:32
Of the body?
42:33
Christ
42:34
I'm not the head
42:35
I'm needy
42:38
I need you
42:40
And you're needed
42:42
For this very reason
42:44
And you're needed
42:45
Ultimately
42:46
Because you're needy
42:47
So get that
42:49
Because we need Christ
42:51
That's what makes us needed
42:53
If we do it well
42:54
We are constantly
42:55
Showing people
42:56
The gospel of Jesus Christ
42:57
We're constantly
42:58
Showing them
42:59
The way it works out
43:00
In our lives
43:00
But it doesn't have
43:01
To work out perfectly
43:02
Because we're people
43:02
So stop thinking
43:04
That you're not good enough
43:06
Many of you think
43:07
You're not good enough
43:07
To serve others
43:08
And to serve the church
43:09
And ultimately
43:10
You're not insulting yourself
43:12
You're insulting our God
43:13
Who's changed
43:15
Who you are
43:16
He's changed your heart
43:17
He lives inside of you
43:19
And you're saying
43:20
He can do nothing
43:21
With me
43:22
You are needed
43:24
Because you're needy
43:27
Minister in the church
43:28
Point people
43:29
To the cross of Christ
43:31
So often I hear people say
43:33
That they don't have time
43:35
To do this
43:36
Now listen
43:37
You may not have time
43:38
To be in the cleaning rotation
43:40
To come up to the building
43:41
And clean
43:41
That's okay
43:42
You may not have time
43:44
To come up here
43:44
And cut grass with us
43:45
That is okay
43:46
Right
43:47
You may not have time
43:47
To come to our picnics
43:49
We had one yesterday
43:50
Some of you weren't there
43:51
That's okay
43:52
These are extra things
43:54
The grass could be
43:55
Three feet tall
43:56
I don't care
43:57
If this church is
43:58
Functioning spiritually
43:59
Together
44:00
It's okay to not have time
44:01
For those things
44:02
But
44:02
If you don't think
44:03
That you have time
44:04
To make disciples
44:05
This is what God
44:07
Has called you to
44:09
Then you either
44:10
Don't understand
44:11
The importance of it
44:12
That's possible
44:12
You just haven't seen
44:13
That being a follower
44:14
Of Jesus Christ
44:15
Means
44:16
That I make disciples
44:17
That I'm about
44:18
Sharing my faith
44:19
With other people
44:21
Or
44:22
You don't have
44:23
Your priorities
44:23
Set right
44:24
They're all askew
44:25
Right
44:26
You serve yourself
44:27
Much more
44:28
Than the living God
44:30
Set your face
44:32
Towards God
44:32
Ask what he would
44:33
Have you do
44:33
With your days
44:34
And I can promise you
44:35
It'll have very little
44:36
To do with you
44:37
And it'll have much
44:38
To do with serving him
44:39
By serving the church
44:41
And when I say that
44:42
I mean those who are
44:43
Yet to be part of it
44:44
As well
44:44
God is calling together
44:46
Christ died
44:47
For the church
44:48
And he is calling
44:49
Its number together
44:50
And when it's completed
44:51
He'll come back
44:52
Praise God
44:53
Come thou fount
44:55
Of every blessing
44:55
And then verse 18
44:58
So we are needy
45:02
And we are needed
45:03
And he closes it out
45:07
I Paul
45:07
Write this greeting
45:08
With my own hand
45:08
He often was speaking
45:09
To somebody
45:10
Who was transcribing
45:11
For him
45:11
He takes the time
45:13
I'd love to see
45:14
That original manuscript
45:15
I wish we could
45:16
That original handwriting
45:18
Remember my chains
45:20
Don't forget that
45:21
I am in prison
45:21
For the gospel
45:22
Of Jesus Christ
45:23
Back at the beginning
45:23
Of chapter 4
45:24
We talked about
45:24
Praying for opportunity
45:26
To share the gospel
45:27
To be opened up
45:28
And then he says
45:28
Grace be with you
45:30
And this is a common
45:31
Closing salutation
45:32
You see it at the end
45:32
Of Romans
45:33
Into 1st and 2nd Corinthians
45:34
The end of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians
45:36
1st and 2nd Timothy
45:37
Titus
45:38
Very common closing
45:40
Salutation
45:41
Grace be with you
45:43
And really that little phrase
45:44
Is kind of the summary
45:45
Of Paul's letter
45:46
To the Colossians
45:46
Salvation comes
45:48
By grace alone
45:49
Through faith alone
45:50
And the all sufficient
45:51
Supreme work of Christ
45:53
Alone
45:53
And the Christian life
45:54
Is sustained
45:55
By the same
45:57
And so as we talk
45:58
About being
45:59
Needy and needed
46:01
It is the grace of God
46:02
To us in Christ
46:03
Like put into play
46:05
By the work of his spirit
46:06
By the word of God
46:07
Right
46:07
That sustains us in this
46:09
And encourages us
46:10
In the right way
46:11
That we should go
46:12
And so
46:12
As you're considering
46:13
These things
46:14
I want you to recall that
46:16
I want you to remember
46:17
That it is God
46:18
Who is at work
46:19
In you
46:20
To accomplish
46:21
These things
46:22
And I want you to
46:23
Do so by
46:25
Reflecting with me
46:26
On 1st Corinthians
46:27
Chapter 15
46:28
Verses 8 through 11
46:29
I'll read it carefully
46:30
To you
46:31
Paul has been talking
46:33
About the resurrection
46:34
Of Jesus Christ
46:35
And his appearing
46:36
To varying groups
46:37
Of people
46:38
And in verse 8
46:38
He says
46:39
Last of all
46:40
As to one
46:41
Untimely born
46:42
He appeared also
46:44
To me
46:45
For I am the least
46:47
Of the apostles
46:47
Unworthy to be called
46:49
An apostle
46:49
Because I persecuted
46:50
The church of God
46:51
But by the grace of God
46:53
I am
46:54
What I am
46:55
And his grace
46:56
Toward me
46:57
Was not in vain
46:58
Right
46:59
So he was converted
47:00
From one who was
47:01
Persecuting the church
47:02
Of Jesus Christ
47:03
Into one who served
47:05
The church
47:05
Of Jesus Christ
47:06
And he says
47:07
By grace
47:08
This happened
47:09
This grace for me
47:10
Was not in vain
47:11
On the contrary
47:11
I worked harder
47:14
Than any of them
47:15
Though it was not I
47:16
But the grace of God
47:18
That is with me
47:19
Whether then it was I
47:20
Or they
47:21
So we preach
47:22
And so you
47:24
Believed
47:24
Let's pray together