Watchful, Thankful, and Supportive Prayer

We read about three purposes of prayer in Colossians 4:2-4.

Prayer increases our watchfulness, thankfulness, and support of others.

Paul’s Sacrifice for the word of God

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.  I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people (Colossians 1:24-26, NIV).

Last Appearance

In Colossians 4:10, we learn that Barnabas was John Mark’s cousin.

Barnabas is one of the unsung heros of the New Testament era.

Review of Colossians

Jesus lived the perfect life, died the perfect death, and rose again.

This changes everything.

Keep living the good life, not through your own strength, but through Jesus’ example.

Master in Heaven

In verse 1, we’re reminded that we are not really in charge.

How would I treat my subordinates differently if I remembered this fact more consistently?

Outline of Colossians 4

1. Masters, be kind
   
2. Live righteously
   
   1. Pray for Paul’s teaching ministry
      
   2. Act wisely toward outsiders (i.e.–non-Christians)
      
   3. Speak wisely
      
3. Personal greetings
   
   1. Tychicus
      
   2. Onesimus
      
   3. Aristarchus
      
   4. Barnabas’s cousin Mark
      
   5. Jesus who is called Justus
      
   6. Epaphras
      
   7. Luke
      
   8. Demas
      
   9. The followers at Laodicea
      
   10. Nympha’s house church
       
   11. Archippus
       
   12. Paul’s own handwriting
       

Verses 1-3

1. “If” means this passage applies specifically to Christians
   
2. Seek things above
   
3. This implies that things “below” are of lesser importance and significance
   
4. Think about Christ
   
5. Reflect upon where Christ is right now
   
6. What is “the right hand of God?” It sounds important and honoring, but I don’t have a handle on what this phrase means
   
7. As a Christian, I have “died”
   
8. If God is good, then only the bad part of me has died, not the part created in his image
   
9. Since I’m human, the bad part of me can’t be completely eradicated.
   
10. This would be like harvesting the wheat with the weeds: both the good and the bad would be pulled up
    
11. My life is “hidden with Christ”
    
12. Does this mean that my sins are not visible to God?
    
13. Does this imply a level of relational intimacy with the Lord?
    
14. I can rely upon Jesus to help me through tough times, not my own strength
    

Colossians 3

1. How to live, self
2. How to live, relationships

Complete

Who doesn’t want to be complete?

In verses 9-10, I’m reminded that Jesus is my head.

Without Jesus, I’m headless! Dopey, but true.

Hollow Philosophies

What hollow ideas do I cling to? If I eliminate them, will I live a more faithful life?

And if I adopt more right thinking, will this lead to more faithful living as well?