PAUL’S PARTING WORDS

COLOSSIANS 4:2-18                                                        

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS [v. 2-6]

1. Specific Instructions Concerning Prayer [v. 2-4]

-persevere in prayer (“continue” means to give constant attention to a thing) [v. 2, I Th. 5:17]

-watch in prayer (“watch” means to give strict attention to) [v. 2]

-add thanksgiving to prayer [v. 2]             

Paul, Oliver B. Greene, John Rice, and others point out that thanksgiving is not prayer but it should

often accompany prayer. Prayer is asking.

Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

-be specific in prayer [v. 3-4]

2. Specific Instructions Concerning your Christian life [v. 5]

-walk in wisdom (to order one's behavior) [Eph. 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise]

-walk as a testimony [1 Th. 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without...]

-walk as a redeemer of time (buy up the opportunity for oneself) [Eph. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.]

3. Specific Instructions Concerning your speech [v. 6]

"A judge says a few words, and a man's life is saved or condemned. A doctor speaks a few words, and a patient either rejoices ecstatically or gives up in despair. Whether the communication is oral or written, there is great power in words. I am told that for every word in Mein Kampf, 125 persons lost their lives in World War II." -Warren Wiersbe

-speak with grace (en chariti -gracious, pleasant)

-season it with salt (salt prevents corruption & flavors items) [Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.]

-use wisdom (Pr. 26:4-5)

II. SUPPORT PERSONNEL              No-one, not even Paul, could do it all alone!

1. Tychicus & Onesimus- communicators [v. 7-9]

2. Aristarchus, Marcus & Justus- Jewish coworkers [v. 10-11]

3. Epaphras- prayer warriors [v. 12-13, 1:7-8]

4. Luke & Demas- helpers [v. 14]

III. SINCERE SALUTATIONS

1. Greet the Brethren [v. 15]

2. Share the Word [v. 16]

3. Encourage the Servant [v. 17]

4. Remember the Bound [v. 18, Heb. 13:3]

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.