Colossians Bible Study - Wednesdays @ 7pm

 Key Verse: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are 

complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” Colossians 2:9-10

Background of the Book 

The City …

It was a Gentile (1:21) city, the and smallest of a three city metroplex Laodicea (10 miles)  & Hierapolis (13 miles) (Mentioned 6xs in Colossians (Col 4:13, 16) named after a purple wool manufactured in the area called, “Colossinius”. It was founded in around 3500 BC.  1,500 years before Abraham.  It was at the base of the mountainous region near the Lycus River at the base of the Cadmus mountains.  It was about 125 miles east of the capitol of Ephesus.  Colossea was an important city on the trade route between two places (Ephesus – West & Euphrates Valley – East)

The Church …

Paul heard of their faith (Col 1:4,9) but didn’t visit it personally (Col 2:1).  The Colosse church started as an outgrowth of a 3 year ministry of Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:20:17-38).  Two men likely were involved in ministry that helped start the church.  Epapherus (Col 1:7)  and Philemon.  The church was made up of Gentile membership (1:21

The Correspondence …

Paul wrote this book 6-8 years prior to his death in prison (4:18) by Nero in prison along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon.  Tychicus and Philemon are being sent from Rome carrying both Philemon and Colossians with them (Col 4:7-9).  In Philemon it says the letter was written to be given to Archipus and his wife Apphia (Philemon 2).  Archipus (Pastor or leader in Colossae – 4:17)  Onesimus somehow made a journey 100’s of miles to Rome from Colossae. (Phil 10). 

The Crisis …

Epaphras came to Rome (where Paul was under house arrest (Acts 21:17-28:31) and warned of the false doctrine slipping into the church.  Epaphras stayed with Paul in Rome (4:12-13) Sending back to Colossae both Colossians and Philemon with Onesimus and Tychius (Eph 6:21, Col 4:7-9).  

False Doctrine Was A Mixture Of Eastern Mysticism (Col 2:8) and Jewish legalism (Col 2:11) with a dash of pagan astrology (2:15).   This developed into a special diet for spiritual perfection (2:16, 22-23).  This false doctrine then made the assumption that all flesh was evil and all spiritual things was good.  Even to say that Jesus was just a spirit we could see, but not touch.   These false religions tried to change people from the outside, but Christ does it from within.

Tonight, We Look At …

True Engagement

Paul was not tied to this church by anything other than their Pastor Epaphras came 1,200 miles to Rome to share with Paul his concerns with his church that met in the home of Philemon.  On top of this, he was in house arrest while there. It would be understandable that Paul was not engaged with this church.  He showed his engagement in several ways as we should in the lives of others near and far from us.  We might have not known anything about this church had it not been for their Pastor, Paul, and the engagement they had for it.

1. The CONCERN for the Church (v1)

 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother

2. The CORROSPONDENCE to the Church (v2a)

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse

3. The CHARACTER of the Church (v2b)

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

True Encouragement

We tend to use false encouragement to help motivate others in the faith.  Paul uses two prayers in Chapter one to express true biblical encouragement to believers here in Colosse.  May we also break the pattern of using outside gimmicks, phycology, or rewards to get people motivated and moving.  Biblical encouragement comes down to two different motivations: Praise & Promotion – both is to lift another believer to a higher calling.

1.) Prayer of Praise (v3-5)

Spiritual - Thru Timeless Gifts

             Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 

                 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,       

Scriptural - Thru Truth of the Gospel

            whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

2. Prayer of Promotion (v9-10)

                ^“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be…”       

Filled … With Wisdom (v9b)

be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

 Favored … In Walk (v10a)

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing

 Fruitful … of Works (v10b)

being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God

True Enthronement

The ultimate goal of both engagement and encouragement is to lead other believers to the enthronement of Christ in the life of the believer. Without Christ being on the throne what good is any advice or advancement?  Christ will eternally reign and we have the opportunity to do the same with him which is the source, succession, and success of our work and walk with Jesus.             

Poem of Preeminence         

AUTHOR of Creation (v15-17)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist

 ARCHITECT of Christianity (v18-20)

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Week #2: 4 Essentials For The Power of Prayer - Colossians 1:9-14

What Is Prayer?

It involves 3 things … 

Addressing God our Father, Asking for His intervention, Aligning our will to His will

#1: To Know The Will Of God

May Our Knowledge Of Him Be …

A.) Applied Practically – “wisdom”

”For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (v9)

Wisdom is mentioned 6 times in Colossians ... Way of maturity (1:28), hidden wealth (2:3), 

means of worship (2:23), rich word of God (3:16), A rewarding walk (4:5) 

B.) Assured Personally – “understanding

Understanding Defined: (2:2) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ

#2: To Have A Walk With God (v10)

 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God

Notice words the continuing action words …  “Unto, being, increasing” (We never are finished)

I continually please God by …

Fruitfulness of Good works  

It’s the intent of the Gospel to bring forth fruit (v6)

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Familiarity of God’s ways 

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

#3: To Be A Warrior For God (v11) 

 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Notice how these are coupled together …

“Strength from” Patience  “Developing” - health to advance   "dynamoumenoi"  in Greek

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:8

Might From Longsuffering

“Might” From Longsuffering  “Dominion” – keeping power    " Kratos" in Greek

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (3:12)

Power From Joyfulness

“Power” From Joyfulness “Dynamite” – Conquering force  "Dunamis" in Greek

“Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” Exodus 15:6

Colossians Christians need strength they were fighting Gnostics… (From the world & wackos).   

Jason Bourne doesn’t understand he is a warrior.  When we are born again we face a battle ground.  Battle grounds are good for me.  It clarifies things.  We are in a battleground, not a play ground.

Right before the Spanish civil war writes martin Lloyd jones (a medical dr. turned preacher from England) that in Barcelona and Madrid that the Psychiatric hospitals were full of neurotics.  Something happened that cured them instantly.  It was the war.  Greater anxieties cure lesser anxieties.

3 words … “Strength, might, power”  Dunamis

A little faith will bring your soul to heaven… a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.

#4: To Render Worship To God (v12)

¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

I Render Worship Because I Have Become

Lights With the Saints

Lineage In the Son

Liberated From All Sin