WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:09.339 Located in Ontario, 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:11.279 Oregon, Pastor Patrick Daly 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.839 preaches insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.920 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:22.420 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:26.160 It is great to be with you this morning. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:33.299 The conclusion of VBS and just seeing all the kids just full of energy, 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:37.579 playing the games and just all that was just wonderful. 00:00:37.579 --> 00:00:42.620 I'm just reminded of how scripture says that children are a gift from the Lord. 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:47.460 A lot of people say they are the next generation and they absolutely are, 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:53.820 but they're also the current generation in which we have to make sure that our children come to know the Lord, 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:56.500 they come to know the Word of God. 00:00:56.500 --> 00:01:01.299 They grow in faith and just seeing them grow is just a wonderful thing. 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:07.739 So today we are concluding our sermon series on the book of Colossians. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:08.980 Can you believe it? 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:11.539 We're finally finishing this book, 00:01:11.539 --> 00:01:13.299 this biblical exposition, 00:01:13.299 --> 00:01:16.420 this verse by verse, line by line, 00:01:16.420 --> 00:01:23.060 this sermon series on the book of Colossians from the apostle Paul. 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:27.900 We have uncovered truths about the preeminence of Christ, 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:33.700 that Jesus Christ is all that we need and is in everything. 00:01:33.700 --> 00:01:42.140 Paul urges us to put to death the former self and to put on the new self in Christ, 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:43.980 the new attributes, right? 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:50.140 The things that are on God and to set our minds on the things that are higher and not the things that are lower. 00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:59.620 We have learned that in knowing the Lord, there is transformation that comes from the inside and it goes out. 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:02.700 We continue to grow in our walk with Him. 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:07.299 And I'm here to remind you in this entire sermon series, 00:02:07.299 --> 00:02:13.060 let us be reminded that salvation is the beginning of your story. 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:14.699 It is not the end. 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:18.699 It is the beginning of your walk in the Lord. 00:02:18.699 --> 00:02:22.979 Christ wants us, He calls for us to become more holy, 00:02:22.979 --> 00:02:28.099 to be more like Him, to follow in the footsteps of Christ, 00:02:28.099 --> 00:02:31.739 and to live a life that honors and glorifies Him. 00:02:31.739 --> 00:02:38.179 And today at the end of Colossians, you'll find in your notes, there's all of these people. 00:02:38.179 --> 00:02:43.259 As a kid, I always thought, man, who are all these people at the end of the letter? 00:02:43.259 --> 00:02:45.659 What exactly is going on here? 00:02:45.659 --> 00:02:50.859 And today we're going to be examining every person who's mentioned at the end of this letter. 00:02:50.859 --> 00:02:56.259 We must come to understand who these people are, at least have a basic understanding. 00:02:56.259 --> 00:03:00.259 Because all of these people contributed to early Christianity. 00:03:00.259 --> 00:03:06.060 They contributed to the spreading of the gospel, the spreading of the good news. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:12.060 The Lord felt that it was important that these names, these people, these individuals, 00:03:12.060 --> 00:03:16.060 would be in the pages of Scripture. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:24.460 And further, just as God used all of these people, ordinary people, everyday people, 00:03:24.460 --> 00:03:32.259 for extraordinary purpose, in the same way God calls each and every one of us, 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:35.860 to know Him, to grow in Him, to do good in His name. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:41.659 But all of that to say, we are all called for extraordinary purpose. 00:03:41.659 --> 00:03:46.060 And at this time, I'd like for us to open in prayer and let's delve further in. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:49.060 Will you pray with me? Let's pray together. 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:55.659 In gracious Father, we thank You for giving us this time and this opportunity to sing praises to Your Holy Name, 00:03:55.659 --> 00:03:57.460 to worship Your Name. 00:03:57.460 --> 00:04:02.259 We worship who You are, that You are the living God and You have given us Your Word. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:07.159 Today, as we're going through the end of this book of Colossians, 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:10.259 Heavenly Father, we ask that You are with us. 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:12.859 We pray that truth is spoken here. 00:04:12.859 --> 00:04:16.659 We pray that lives are transformed from the inside out. 00:04:16.659 --> 00:04:22.860 And we pray that we can learn about who these people are for You had a plan and a purpose 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:24.860 for each and every one of those people. 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:29.060 And in the same way, You have a call for each and every one of us. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:31.659 You have a plan and a purpose for us. 00:04:31.659 --> 00:04:36.659 May we not only be hearers of the Word, but also doers. 00:04:36.660 --> 00:04:41.060 We pray that we can be encouraged from these people. 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:45.260 You call all of us to enter in that relationship with You and to grow in faith, 00:04:45.260 --> 00:04:52.860 to set aside the former things, to focus on the things above and put on the new life in You. 00:04:52.860 --> 00:04:54.860 May we grow in this faith. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:56.060 May we know You. 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:57.260 May we get baptized. 00:04:57.260 --> 00:04:58.860 May we grow in this faith. 00:04:58.860 --> 00:05:05.460 May we be hungry for Your Word and live out this faith each and every day. 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:07.259 Be with us. 00:05:07.259 --> 00:05:09.859 We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:05:09.859 --> 00:05:13.060 We pray and we all say together, Amen. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:17.459 And so what we're going to do today is a little bit different than what we typically do. 00:05:17.459 --> 00:05:23.259 Normally I show the title of the verse, then I show you the verse on the slide, right? 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:29.459 And then the corresponding, the supporting verses that remember context and connections. 00:05:29.459 --> 00:05:33.060 Well, today we're going to go through every name that's mentioned in here. 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:36.660 That's described through these Colossian verses. 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:43.060 So if you want to have a Bible by your side, it's Colossians chapter 4 verses 7 through 18. 00:05:43.060 --> 00:05:48.660 And then also there should be notes that have all of the names of these people. 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:52.660 And where they're found in Scripture, I know it's a lot, but we'll break it down. 00:05:52.660 --> 00:05:58.360 And for all of these people, we can learn something. 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:07.160 And so I want to start off with Tichicus, who is known as the beloved brother. 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:16.160 He is the faithful minister, the fellow servant, and the encourager of hearts. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.460 We begin with Tichicus. 00:06:18.460 --> 00:06:24.460 The Apostle Paul goes on beginning saying that this man is going to tell the Colossians 00:06:24.460 --> 00:06:28.060 about really all that's going on in the ministry. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:30.959 He is a man who is described as the beloved brother, right? 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:34.459 A faithful minister, a faithful servant. 00:06:34.459 --> 00:06:41.860 And this man was active in the early church and was in communication with the Apostle Paul. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:45.660 It says that he was sent for the sole purpose of explaining, right? 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:46.860 How things are going. 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:52.660 But I love the language where it says that he is the encourager of hearts. 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:57.160 We find that in some of the corresponding verses as well. 00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:02.460 That's something that really sticks out to me because very often when as Christians, 00:07:02.460 --> 00:07:05.260 we need people who are encouraging. 00:07:05.260 --> 00:07:12.460 We need people who can encourage our hearts whenever we're going through life. 00:07:12.460 --> 00:07:14.060 And this language here, right? 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:21.360 It's someone who is someone who helps the hearts of the saints, right? 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:22.360 It sticks out to me. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:23.960 Someone who is this encourager. 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:31.259 He's also mentioned in the Ephesians passage and it's appropriate back then as it is now 00:07:31.259 --> 00:07:35.459 to have people who encourage the hearts of the saints. 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:39.659 How many of you have experienced encouraging words from someone? 00:07:39.659 --> 00:07:41.959 Maybe it was a guest speaker. 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:45.060 Maybe it was a brother or sister in Christ. 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:49.259 It was that encouragement that that helped you in your walk with the Lord. 00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:53.359 And this is how we can think of this individual. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:58.160 Especially in the world and the culture that existed back then and the world and the culture 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:00.060 that exists today. 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:05.660 Sometimes we need someone who serves in the ministry, who serves for the cause of Christ, 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:11.560 who can encourage a church, who can encourage a congregation, the pastor, even the staff. 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:15.360 It's something that is wonderfully written to be an encourager of hearts. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.460 Let's go to that next slide. 00:08:16.460 --> 00:08:22.560 You have Onosemis and for those of you who have been here, who have been faithfully attending, 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:27.759 you know we went over the book of Philemon and you have Onosemis who is the faithful 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:29.360 and beloved brother. 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:32.360 He is one of you. 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:34.659 He is the beloved brother, right? 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:41.759 He is what we know from the book of Philemon is that the apostle Paul was writing to Philemon 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:46.559 the master of the runaway slave Onosemis, right? 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:55.359 He was writing, Paul was writing to Philemon to let Philemon know that Onosemis is not 00:08:55.359 --> 00:09:01.919 only a man who came to know the Lord, but one who is a free man in Christ and should 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:09.000 also be rendered as a free man, as in no longer a slave. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:14.000 And that's something that sticks out to me because sometimes you find people asking questions, 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:17.639 well where does the Bible speak about slavery? 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:24.480 Well it's very clear if you read Philemon and Onosemis being a man who was useful in 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.480 the eyes of God, right? 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:30.360 And here he is in Colossians here. 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:34.559 He's not only a free man in Christ, but he should be viewed as free from slavery and 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:38.159 here in Colossians Onosemis is serving in the ministry again. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:43.519 It goes to show that this man was faithful to the Lord and continued in the ministry. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:48.919 Now something in looking at some of these individuals throughout history, it is said 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:55.199 by some historians that Onosemis ended up becoming a pastor at one point. 00:09:55.199 --> 00:09:59.480 Now we don't find that in Scripture, that is outside of Scripture, so there is some 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.319 debate on that. 00:10:01.319 --> 00:10:07.439 But whether he did or didn't become it, this is a man who was changed, right? 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:13.480 He came to know the Lord, he became free from sin, but also became, we have enough evidence, 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.920 evidence to show that he is a free man. 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:19.279 And just a wonderful story in that. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:27.960 So we have Aristarchus, the fellow prisoner, the fellow worker, the companion in travel. 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:31.720 So what's interesting about him is the fact that he, right, he would travel with the apostle 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:38.240 Paul and he was there during a riot that broke out in Ephesus and you find that in the corresponding 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:42.840 passages of Acts 19 and Acts 20, verse 4. 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:45.960 So what was happening there, right, you're seeing that there's the mention that he's 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:46.960 there. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:52.840 But what's very interesting about him is, Aristarchus is that he, there was a decline 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:56.280 of sale of idols, right? 00:10:56.280 --> 00:11:00.180 And the people who were selling the idols were getting very upset that people were coming 00:11:00.180 --> 00:11:02.160 to know the Lord. 00:11:02.160 --> 00:11:09.200 And so this riot broke out and Aristarchus was with the apostle Paul and other people 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:10.200 at that moment. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:15.960 So it's a very interesting one if you ever go into the Acts of the Apostles in there. 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:22.800 We also come to Marker, who's also known as John Mark, who is the cousin of Barnabas, 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:27.000 one who is useful for ministry and the fellow worker. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:30.800 So John, who is known as Mark, or John Mark, it gets confusing. 00:11:30.800 --> 00:11:33.040 There's all these Johns and whatnot. 00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:34.640 Just think of him as Mark. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:41.399 That'll make things a lot easier because he is viewed upon as the writer of the Gospel 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.399 of Mark, right? 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:47.439 It's traditionally seen that this is the same man who wrote the Gospel accounts. 00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:51.879 Mark had a very close relationship with the apostle Paul and he was very useful for ministry. 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:55.720 When you see that language, just like what was used for Onesimus, that he is useful to 00:11:55.720 --> 00:12:03.039 the apostle Paul, it means that the work that was being done for the ministry was of great 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:05.159 significance, right? 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:06.159 So he's useful for me. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:08.319 He's like, hey, he's a very critical part. 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:12.159 He's of great importance, of great significance. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:18.399 So this language is speaking of someone who was useful to the ministry of the early church. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.519 And now we come to the next person, Jesus, who is known as justice. 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:32.360 Now I always love how in Scripture you find all of these names, right? 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:34.759 You find names of like the apostle Paul, right? 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:38.919 You find Onesimus, all of these individuals. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:46.080 It's nice when you see these people in other books of Scripture. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:50.440 What's very hard is when you find someone who's mentioned once and you never see him 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.700 again. 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:55.000 And this is the case for justice. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.879 His name is Jesus, but he wanted to be known as justice. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.720 I'm pretty sure I think I can know why he wanted to be called justice instead of Jesus. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.279 Let's be honest here, right? 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.759 What a name to live up to, right? 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:08.559 When you have Jesus of Nazareth, right? 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:12.639 And you yourself, you might have been named Jesus and you're like, well, I'm a follower 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.600 of Jesus of Nazareth, but I can never live up to that name. 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:20.279 So I tend to think that's why, but that's just my own thoughts on that. 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:24.639 But what's very interesting about justice is that he's a fellow worker for the kingdom 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:28.080 and he is of the circumcision, right? 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:32.000 So again, this is not Jesus of Nazareth. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.040 We have to make that very clear. 00:13:34.040 --> 00:13:35.800 But it's someone that is different, right? 00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:41.800 This is, Jesus was a common name at the time and justice probably preferred being called 00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:48.120 justice to avoid confusion and he can't live up to the name of Christ, right? 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:54.720 What's interesting though is in verse 11, that's the only time that you find that name, 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:57.160 Jesus known as justice. 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:58.439 That's it. 00:13:58.439 --> 00:14:02.279 And I have to tell you when I'm preparing for these sermons, I look at the context, the 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:03.759 connections and scripture. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:08.559 I also like looking up history, especially when you have all these names. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:10.199 Where else were they find? 00:14:10.199 --> 00:14:15.120 Is there an emperor or is there something that's outside of scripture that maybe shows 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.600 something that's going on? 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:19.679 I can find nothing on this guy. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.600 Absolutely nothing on him. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:24.480 He's only referenced once in him. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:30.759 Now some of us may say, well, wait a minute, aren't there, isn't there another justice 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.759 in scripture? 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:34.480 In fact, there's three justices in scripture. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.120 You'll find that in your notes here. 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:38.639 You have Jesus called justice. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:45.000 You have Joseph called Barsobus justice or Tideus justice. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.879 So there's three different justices there. 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.440 And there can be some confusion. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:50.879 Some think it's the same person. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:56.159 But for this case, I'm not convinced, I'm thinking these are just the three different 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:00.759 individuals, three people who are known as justice. 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:07.000 What's encouraging though is that even though justice here, Jesus known as justice, who 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:12.519 was not found anywhere in scripture, in fact, there's no other historical documentation 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:19.639 or anything about this guy, what is so critical is that he was in the Word of God, that the 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:25.840 Lord thought it was so important for him to be in the pages of scripture. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:27.639 And that's interesting, right? 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:34.799 All we know is that justice was a Jewish convert, one who is of the circumcision, right? 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.879 You see that language in there. 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:44.159 Now what's interesting in scripture, you find that justice, or Starkas and John Mark, are 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.960 all Jewish converts. 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:50.080 Whenever you see that language, they are of the circumcision. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.639 These are people who were once Jewish and they had converted to Christianity. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:58.519 It is said that the apostle Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles. 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:02.660 Well, yes, he is the apostle to the Gentiles, like to us. 00:16:02.660 --> 00:16:07.160 But also, in cases like this, there were people who were Jewish. 00:16:07.160 --> 00:16:12.560 That's just part of how Christianity was spreading. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:19.559 And so it's great to know that justice and Aristarchus and John Mark, you see cases of 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:25.399 people who were once Jewish, once of the circumcision who became Christian. 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:31.439 So now we go to Apaphras, the servant of Christ, the prayer warrior, the hard worker for those 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:33.439 in Laodicea in Hieropolis. 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:37.199 Well, I like this guy already, right? 00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:40.599 He's a hard worker, he's a prayer warrior, right? 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.639 That's like a good guy to know, right? 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:47.480 This was a person who believed in the power of prayer. 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:50.800 And he was constantly praying for fellow believers. 00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:56.200 He was a servant of Christ and one who was constantly in prayer. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:01.800 For some of us, we may identify with this individual, someone who is constantly praying 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:05.200 for those who are in need, right? 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:11.680 One who, or maybe you identify with his work ethic, one who was known to the degree, known 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:16.880 to the point where he was recognized for his work in Laodicea in Hieropolis. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:21.920 And certainly today, the idea with all of these people, I want you to keep in mind, 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:26.519 is all of these people played different parts in the body of Christ. 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:31.720 Much like how we today all have our gifts, our talents, and our abilities to serve the 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.759 living God. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:36.000 We are all part of the body of Christ. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:39.160 We need people today who are praying. 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:44.960 We need people who are praying for our church, for churches in the Treasure Valley, for 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:49.819 congregations, individual, for healing, for revival in this land. 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:51.779 We need people who pray. 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.240 How is your prayer life? 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:57.200 It's just something that I felt very convicted when I was, well, I want to be known as someone 00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:00.099 who prays to the Lord. 00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:02.599 Maybe this is an encouragement for you as well. 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:07.959 Let's go to Luke, the beloved physician, the writer of the Gospel of Luke, the fellow 00:18:07.959 --> 00:18:08.959 worker. 00:18:08.959 --> 00:18:11.919 He's also found in 2 Timothy and Philemon. 00:18:11.919 --> 00:18:13.759 The beloved physician, right? 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:17.759 A fellow worker, one who was useful for the ministry. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:23.199 And what's really cool about this is sometimes you see people who serve in different occupations, 00:18:23.199 --> 00:18:24.199 right? 00:18:24.199 --> 00:18:28.459 People who, you might work in the real world, right? 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:33.519 You might have a profession or be a professional. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.799 You can still serve the Lord. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:39.400 You can be a, you know, you can be the mayor. 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:45.160 You can be serving at the, working at the college and still exhibiting the light, love, 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:47.279 and truth of Christ. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:51.079 So when we see Luke like that, known as the beloved physician, it just kind of reminds 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:56.960 me of the importance of knowing that you can have an occupation and serve the Lord. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:59.360 Some of us are called into full-time ministry. 00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:01.799 Some of us are called to bivocational ministry. 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:04.920 Some of us are called to be a prayer warrior. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:10.440 Some of us are called to exhibit the love of Christ in our everyday dealings, in our 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:14.360 businesses, in our professions, whatever that may be. 00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:18.039 It may look different from the one person to the next. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:20.840 Let's go to Demas. 00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:22.400 He greets the Colossians. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:28.680 And if you look in your Bible, you see on there, there's the mentioning of Luke, right? 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.160 What's it say about Demas? 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:35.640 I'm curious if anyone still has a Bible open. 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:38.280 Right? 00:19:38.280 --> 00:19:40.560 That's it. 00:19:40.560 --> 00:19:43.240 So it's just a real brief mentioning of Demas here. 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:46.200 And he greets the Colossians, right? 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:52.440 We come to Demas who, we only find this person three times in Scripture. 00:19:52.440 --> 00:20:00.519 And this is one person that we can, you see a lot of positive, seeing a lot of the good 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:03.360 work that they're doing, the prayers, right? 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:06.080 The hard work and being the beloved physician. 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:09.360 But here you find someone in the negative light. 00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:13.480 You may not see it specifically here in Colossians, but if you're looking at the bulk of Scripture, 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:16.759 you have the story of Demas. 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:20.680 It's a person who is referred to as a fellow worker in Philemon. 00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:24.319 He's briefly mentioned as greeting the Colossians. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:29.799 And he's mentioned in a negative way in the corresponding verse of 2 Timothy chapter 4, 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.200 verse 10. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:35.799 And I want to make it very clear that when you're seeing Demas here, this is a person 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:38.400 who was serving in the ministry. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:45.600 And then slowly it seemed like it kind of was going off the deep end, so to speak. 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:49.759 It's someone who served the Lord and served for the cause of Christ, but eventually fell 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.759 away. 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:54.480 It's a person who fell in love with this present world. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:59.600 And that kind of begs the question, well, what ended up happening to Demas? 00:20:59.600 --> 00:21:04.880 I can tell you that based on the Scriptures, it looks like that he made a decision to turn 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:09.600 away from the Lord and to be active and to be in love with the present world. 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:11.280 And we hear that. 00:21:11.280 --> 00:21:15.000 Is that focusing on the things that are higher or the things that are lower, the things of 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.500 the earth? 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:21.120 And it seems to me that this person, only God knows. 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:23.160 Did he turn it around after the fact? 00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:25.120 We don't know. 00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:26.160 Did he repent? 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:28.640 Did he? 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:34.760 All we know is that this man served the Lord and he fell into the ways of the world. 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:42.960 That is enough for us to be reminded that we stay strong in the Word of God. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:47.440 And when we meet and we find people who are struggling with their faith, maybe they've 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:51.279 been hurt, you pray for them. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:54.200 You encourage them. 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:59.839 I know that's a very, I can imagine for someone like the Apostle Paul, having someone serving 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:06.480 for the cause of Christ, feeling that sort of betrayal, that sense of loss of someone 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:09.599 falling into the ways of the world. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:14.240 And so if you know someone who is like Demis, by all means pray for them. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.639 Pray for their return. 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:22.159 Pray that they know the Lord, for there is salvation in him. 00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:24.399 Was Demis like the prodigal son? 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:26.119 We don't know. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:31.479 But what we do know is he was not on a good trajectory in that. 00:22:31.479 --> 00:22:36.039 To be in love with the present world, it indicates right someone who is in love with the former 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:41.839 life or maybe they never came to believe in the Lord to begin with. 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.819 There is some debate for that. 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:48.799 But in any case, let this be a reminder for us to not get caught up in the ways of the 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:57.399 world, not to be caught up in living in sin, living in doing the wrong thing. 00:22:57.399 --> 00:23:03.440 If you walk away from sin and your former life and you put on the new self, why would 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:08.480 you set aside the new life and go back to the way in which you came? 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:11.039 Why would you do that? 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:16.480 So even though it's such a small passage, right, it's part of a greater story in knowing 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:24.120 of how important it is to remain faithful to God and faithful to his word. 00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:27.519 It reminds me again of a great deal of people who have fallen away. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:32.279 And I pray that for each and every one of us that we know who Jesus Christ is as the 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:36.640 son of the living God, I pray that all of us will grow in faith. 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:42.360 And even should we stumble or sin or falter or fail, maybe we remain in Christ. 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:46.959 Look, we're never going to be perfect in this life, but that's very different than I'm 00:23:46.959 --> 00:23:51.799 going to intentionally choose to live a life of sin. 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:57.839 So I pray for all of us that we know the Lord, we grow in him and we are moved to do good 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:00.679 in the name of Christ. 00:24:00.679 --> 00:24:07.319 Let's go to Nympha, the hostess of a house church, also not mentioned anywhere else 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:09.719 in scripture. 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:17.640 Theologians and pastors and historians, non canonical books, nothing on Nympha, just 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:21.360 like how there's nothing on Jesus called justice. 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:27.400 But what is important is that Nympha is mentioned in scripture. 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:32.519 The hostess of a church at her house, when we think of the early church, we think of 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:36.720 someone who, we think of early Christianity. 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.640 We don't always think of church buildings like this. 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:40.960 We think of people who gathered in homes. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:45.600 And if you had a large enough home with many rooms in it, you could have church service 00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.600 in it. 00:24:46.600 --> 00:24:58.160 So this person, Nympha, she played a pretty big role in being a hostess and having the 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:00.560 early Christians, the early church gather at her house. 00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:05.000 That's something to be, it's hospitality. 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:09.400 I mean, I want to, how many of you want to be known for your hospitality? 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:13.640 You don't have to raise your hand here, but it's very different. 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:16.480 House churches were more common in early Christianity. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:20.319 And in the case of Nympha, we don't have anything else. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:24.160 I'd like to know more about who she was, more about her hospitality. 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:29.000 But all we have is what God has given us in His word. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:33.119 Not only was it important for the Colossian church back then to recognize people that 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.119 are hospitable. 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:39.599 But we too should be encouraged to be hospitable and ask yourself the question, are you a hospitable 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.599 person? 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:44.859 That's a wonderful question to think about. 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:49.939 We go next to Archipous, or Archipous, the minister. 00:25:49.939 --> 00:25:53.679 He is called to fulfill the ministry of the fellow soldier. 00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:55.639 Now this one hits home. 00:25:55.639 --> 00:26:00.839 He is called by Paul to fulfill the ministry that he received from the Lord. 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:05.720 And in Philemon, we find that he was someone who was referred to as the fellow soldier, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.959 very military-like language. 00:26:07.959 --> 00:26:16.519 And it's because, most likely, he suffered many spiritual battles, spiritual warfare, 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.679 perhaps attacked from the enemy. 00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:21.319 I wish I could know more details of what that looked like. 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:26.119 But what we do know is that he did struggle in that way. 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:30.079 That's what the language is implying here. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:35.960 Perhaps he was suffering, continuing to suffer from spiritual battles. 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:39.359 Maybe he needed encouragement from the apostle Paul. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:46.000 And Paul is giving his word, Archipous, remain focused and fixated on the ministry. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.599 You keep doing what you're doing. 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:51.199 And what a great encouragement. 00:26:51.199 --> 00:26:57.119 Should any of us ever have a spiritual battle, or an attack from the evil one, or discouraging 00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:05.479 words from the world, how powerful are words to continue doing what you're doing? 00:27:05.479 --> 00:27:09.479 Remain in the Lord and continue on your trajectory in him. 00:27:09.479 --> 00:27:13.399 Unfortunately, we don't know much more about what happened. 00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:16.079 And so finally, we go to the apostle Paul. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:20.679 And that's found in numerous references throughout Scripture. 00:27:20.679 --> 00:27:22.000 It's in your notes as well. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:26.839 Romans, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, and so on. 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:32.799 But what's really nice is at the ending, Paul is saying that he is writing with his own 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.480 hand. 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:41.079 And at this time, Paul, he most likely dictated the words that were to be written down to 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:48.240 describe, right, to someone who would take notes to write down the letter here. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:55.759 Well, with the exception of verse 18, he is saying he is writing it with his own hand. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:28:02.119 Perhaps he was weak, perhaps he maybe something happened to his hand. 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:06.519 But how wonderful, it's kind of like how we would look at signatures today, right? 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:10.960 How many of us hand write letters anymore? 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:13.240 You don't have to raise your hand, right? 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:18.680 Some of us hand write letters, I know for a lot of us we might print out letters, right? 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:22.200 Writing with your own hand, that's a very similar idea here, right? 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:26.799 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand just to kind of verify this is me, right? 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:29.400 So that's something that's really great. 00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:33.840 He's letting the Colossians know to remember his chains and to remember that he is in prison 00:28:33.840 --> 00:28:39.960 and he finishes off by saying, the grace of God our Father be with them always. 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:45.759 And it's such a powerful ending to this, to know that the apostle Paul was somehow unable 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:51.039 to write this letter, but at the end he wrote with his own hand. 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:54.480 And that's something that is wonderful to see. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:29:02.000 And I want, as we conclude with all of these people, all of these people, they came from 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:04.879 different backgrounds, right? 00:29:04.879 --> 00:29:11.220 They had their own backstory and how they came to know the Lord and their own capacity 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:14.200 in which they served, right? 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:18.799 One of the most significant things that we can take away from these verses is that God 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:22.680 had a plan for every single one of these people. 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:25.359 I want you to think about that. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:28.559 God calls each and every one of us, right? 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:34.799 He calls us to know him, to have that relationship with him and to be transformed by the renewal 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:37.159 of our mind, the transformation of our heart, right? 00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:39.639 A renewed spirit. 00:29:39.639 --> 00:29:42.879 Be saved by believing in the Lord. 00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:47.240 The wonderful thing is here, the different backgrounds, the different people, all parts 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:50.279 of the body of Christ. 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.599 Think about it. 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:57.400 God calls everyday people for extraordinary purpose. 00:29:57.400 --> 00:30:04.759 God knew us before the foundation of the world and he gives us this very life. 00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:13.519 Every day is an opportunity for us to come to know him, to believe in him, to be baptized, 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:18.799 to live the former life and to be on a trajectory, a path of holiness becoming more like Jesus 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:21.599 Christ. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:25.639 With the exception of Demis and here unfortunately, we can see that all of these people were 00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:29.400 on a path and a trajectory to live out their faith. 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:34.240 And I'm reminded of that famous verse that faith without deeds is dead, that we are called 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:38.879 to be doers of the word to have an active faith and not a dead faith. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:44.560 And as you can see from all of these people, some of them exhibited hospitality, some of 00:30:44.560 --> 00:30:50.280 them opened up their home to minister in one capacity or another, some of them were encouragers 00:30:50.280 --> 00:30:55.920 of hearts, some of them were known for lifting up people's spirits. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:31:01.200 And some of these people, they came from different socioeconomic backgrounds. 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:04.960 Are we all from the same, are we all the same heights? 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.320 Are we all the same skin color? 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:09.359 Are we all from the same socioeconomic background? 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:11.759 Or do we have the same education level? 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.759 The answer is no. 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:16.759 And if we were all the same, I'd be a little terrified at that, you know. 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:19.200 But the reality is, we are all different. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:21.119 We all come from different backgrounds. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:28.019 And it reminds me that we are all to be on a path and a spiritual walk in the Lord. 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:33.480 The most important thing that you can do is to come to know Jesus Christ and be on this 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:36.279 path of living out your faith. 00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:41.599 What God has called for you is to be in that relationship with Him. 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:49.039 Now what your ministry, how you minister, how you reach out and communicate with people, 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:51.240 that may be different, right? 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:54.119 I always think of the language of the body of the Christ, right? 00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:58.639 You might be an ear and you know, someone else might be a tooth. 00:31:58.639 --> 00:32:03.579 You have different parts, but they all are of equal importance in the eyes of God. 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:06.960 Maybe your calling is to be a prayer warrior. 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:11.839 Maybe you're called to be a doctor or a business person and to serve the Lord in your everyday 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.839 dealings. 00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:15.799 It is a great reminder and a great encouragement. 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:22.639 Again, know the Lord, grow in Him and do good in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:32:22.639 --> 00:32:30.359 May you be encouraged by these people to know that the work that you do, right, we're saved 00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:32.599 by grace through faith, right? 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:38.639 But the things that we do in the name of Christ, they matter in the eyes of God. 00:32:38.639 --> 00:32:42.159 It doesn't matter what your skin color is. 00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:44.599 It doesn't matter how old you are or how young you are. 00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:46.000 It doesn't matter if you're tall or short. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:51.519 It doesn't even matter what your theology or how you view revelation is. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:53.639 What matters is that you grow in the Lord, right? 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:57.039 And you do good in the name of Christ. 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:59.839 Hear the preaching and teaching of the word. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:05.799 Repent, change your mind about Christ and believe in Him. 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:08.119 Maybe you identify with one of these people. 00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:12.679 Maybe you even identify with someone like Demas. 00:33:12.679 --> 00:33:18.119 Maybe you've come to know the Lord and you decided or you fell into sin and you've been 00:33:18.119 --> 00:33:20.919 living a life of sin. 00:33:20.919 --> 00:33:28.319 Maybe this is a call for you to turn it around, come back to the Lord and be restored and 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:31.159 be healed. 00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:33.919 Maybe that's a call for you. 00:33:33.919 --> 00:33:36.839 Sometimes we have our own spiritual battles. 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:41.679 Sometimes we face attacks from the evil one or sometimes even attacks from each other. 00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:43.439 Let's be honest. 00:33:43.439 --> 00:33:45.079 Sometimes we've had that. 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:48.879 Maybe this message is a call for you to come to know Jesus. 00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:52.200 Maybe it's a call for you to return to Jesus. 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:56.779 Maybe it's a call for you to set aside the sinful life in which you live in. 00:33:56.779 --> 00:34:00.519 In other words, put to death the former life. 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:04.559 Maybe it's a call for you to put on the new life. 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:08.159 Maybe it's a call for you to live out your faith in all that you say and all that you 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:10.559 do. 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:12.119 Maybe it's a call. 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:17.119 I hope that as we are closing the sermon series that you're encouraged by the letter 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:19.119 of Colossians. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:25.960 Just as God called ordinary people in Colossians for His divine plan and His divine purpose, 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:29.599 He calls for all of us for His purpose. 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:32.199 God has a plan for you. 00:34:32.199 --> 00:34:39.920 God called Ezra and the Israelites to rebuild the temple despite adversity. 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:46.480 And I would encourage us to come together as the body of Christ to be united on the things 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:49.639 that matter and not the things that divide us. 00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:55.920 As we have learned and we've studied in Colossians that Jesus Christ is all that we need. 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:58.599 And He is in everything. 00:34:58.599 --> 00:35:03.559 Our next sermon series is going to be from the book of Ezra. 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:06.840 It's titled, Stronger Together. 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:10.599 It's our biblical exposition of the book of Ezra. 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:16.760 We'll learn about the building of the temple and the adversity that these people faced. 00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:22.880 Much like how when we are building community, we will face adversity at times. 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:27.559 When we become a Christian and we grow in faith, we will face adversity. 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:32.640 Sometimes people are just completely in shock about what you believe in. 00:35:32.640 --> 00:35:36.440 Maybe they just don't understand or they don't get it. 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:38.360 And that's okay. 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:43.079 Because just as we're learning here at the end of Colossians and as we're shifting over 00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:52.599 to Ezra, which will start on July 7th, remain in the Lord despite adversity. 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:59.599 What a wonderful parallel and connection we can see about rebuilding the temple, but also 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:05.920 for building church community despite adversity and opposition. 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:13.639 So as we close, let us remember when you think of Colossians that Jesus Christ is all that 00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:16.639 we need and is in everything. 00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:18.559 Can we say that together? 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:24.400 Jesus Christ is all that we need and is in everything. 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:26.400 That's how you remember Colossians. 00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:31.279 So with that, let's pray together. 00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:35.199 Dear Jesuses, we are closing this sermon series and our time here together. 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:38.079 We ask that you remain in our hearts. 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:42.960 We ask that we can be encouraged by the lives of these people and learn the lessons from 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:46.679 them who were in the book of Colossians. 00:36:46.679 --> 00:36:51.039 May we be like the Colossian church that was faithful to you and exhibited the love of 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:53.480 Christ to others. 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:55.919 May we believe and live for you. 00:36:55.919 --> 00:36:58.480 May we follow in your footsteps. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:02.480 We thank you so much for our friends and our families and our children and this church 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.819 community. 00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:12.279 We pray that as we go from this place and we sing this song, we pray that may we be encouraged 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:19.560 by the book of Ezra to build a church community despite any opposition that we may face. 00:37:19.560 --> 00:37:24.240 It is in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God that we pray and we all 00:37:24.240 --> 00:37:27.560 say together, Amen. 00:37:27.560 --> 00:37:31.519 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church Sermon Podcast. 00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:35.860 For more about our church and how you can get involved or support our mission, please 00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:39.480 visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:37:39.480 --> 00:37:43.480 May God's blessings be with you.