Serving Christ With Paul

Paul begins with the Tychicus, one of the messengers who would deliver both the Ephesian and the Colossian letters that Paul had written. His name means fateful, destined. His destiny was to be Paul’s beloved companion, fellow prisoner and faithful messenger. Paul sent him to Ephesus, to Colosse, and to Crete.

His name reminds me that our destiny, our purpose as a child of God is to serve. If you are saved, then you must serve. If you are not willing to be a faithful servant then do not blame others if they question your salvation. Just was we see in these examples listed here, the two states, salvation and service, always stand together.

The next servant is Onesimus. The runaway slave that found Paul, was saved and now Paul is sending him back to his master Philemon. Onesimus means profitable servant.

Paul sent him back with his own letter for his former master, Philemon and in it he wrote, “Philemon 1:10-11 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: later in vss Philemon 1:17-18 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

Aren’t we are just like Onesimus? Runaway slaves that by the power of grace have returned to our Lord? Knowing that now, we can quit running and begin to serve our Savior.

Now Paul lists those who are with him in the prison or able to minister to him while he was in bonds. First, he mentions the Jewish Christians who are with him.

Aristarchus is from Thessalonica. His name means “the best ruler.” He is now also a prisoner with Paul, perhaps voluntarily sharing imprisonment with him in order to keep him company, encourage and comfort him during the dark days of being held by Roman authorities.

Aristarchus reminds us that sometimes service to the Lord means just being there when others hurt.  Just taking the time to say a prayer, hold a hand or tell them they are not alone.

Next is Marcus also known as John Mark. He is Barnabus’ nephew and the writer of the Gospel of Mark, though he has not written it yet. His name means “a defense.” And this is the same John mark who deserted Paul and his uncle Barnabus on their very first trip in Acts 15:36-39. When Paul and Barnabus got read for their second trip Paul refused to take John Mark and Barnabus refused to leave him behind and the Bible says that so great was the contention between them that they parted. Paul went one way and Barnabus with another. But now years later Mark is once again with Paul. Not just with him but serving again and Paul is commended him.

Later in Paul’s last days before he was martyred, in his last letter to Timothy he writes in 2 Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” He calls for Marcus whose has now lived up to his name of “Defense” and will come with Timothy to help shore up and fortify Paul before he goes to his faithful death. What an example of forgiveness and reconciliation. What an example of being a true servant of the Lord.

John Mark’s story shows us that God never gives up on us, therefore we should never give up on God and never give up on our fellow servants who even when they stumble, God can still use.

There is Jesus, a Jew, who is called Justus. Probably not hard to see this but his name means, “just.” It was common among early Christians to take on a new name to recognize their new identity, perhaps Jesus, chose this name because he had been justified by the believing the Gospel or perhaps because as a servant he was marked by the way he treated other, fairly and justly.

Next Paul lists the Gentiles and first on the list is Epaphras. We first heard of Epaphras in the first few verse of this epistle. In Colossians 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ. He was a teacher and minister to the church.

His name literally means devoted to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, it was understood as “lovely.” Epaphras has moved from being devoted to a pagan goddess to devoted to the true God and that was truly lovely.

Paul pays him the highest honor by calling him “A servant of Christ.” This is the kind of person Paul has been describing in the last part of this letter. Epaphras, Paul says, Colossians 4:12-13 (Epaphras is) always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Epaphras shows us what is truly lovely in God’s service, a servant who labors in prayer, a servant who has the great zeal, a great desire and yearning, to learn and then to teach others what he has learned of the things of God.

Then comes Luke, Paul’s constant companion and faithful friend, the “beloved physician.” Do you know what the name Luke means? It is translated from the Greek and means "light-giving." Luke’s service was in serving Paul but it was also in bring light to the Gentile as the only Gentile who God used to write two of the books of the Bible. Not only that but Luke’s Gospel and Acts of the Apostles are the greatest volume of words in the New Testament. They are the most detailed and the most exact in their movements and times. It is interesting to think that both John Mark and Luke are with Paul at this time and could have been already taking notes and beginning to write their accounts of Jesus life and the first acts of the church.

Let’s wrap this up quickly, there is Demas which is short for Demetrius. His name means “governor of the people."  We learn later on that he deserted the apostle Paul, when he was imprisoned the last time in Rome returns to Thessalonica. 2 Timothy 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica. We don’t know what become of Demas. I like to think that just like John Mark, he was brought back by a Barnabus or by Luke who had traveled with him for so long.

Those he ask to greet for him in Colosse, Nymphas, his name means “bridegroom.” He was probably a well off Christian in Laodicea because he was able to have a home large enough to hosted the church in his home.

Here is Archippus. His name means "master of the horse." (I don’t think I can apply that name here but if you go to the Cowboy Church, I’m sure they can preach a whole series of sermons from the middle of their rodeo arena on Archippus.) He was actually the pastor of the church of Colosse, possibly the son of Philemon and Paul sends him an encouragement or perhaps it is a warning, “Take heed to your ministry literally “keep an eye on” your ministry. Fulfill your calling. Literally "that thou keep on filling it full."  Paul was telling Archippus, your  calling is for a life-time, therefor guard it carefully that nothing in this world would strip you of the joy of being a pastor and a preacher for Jesus.

Archippus shows us how valuable, how precious is the calling that we all have as servants of God. Keep an eye on your ministry, guard it as the thing most valuable to you. It alone has the ability to translate what you do today with what you reap in eternity. Fulfill you calling and then keep on filling it full. Isn’t that a great phrase. Just keep on filling it full. It is the calling of a lifetime and it will take all our lifetime to fulfill it. You’re not too old, too tired, too young, too inexperience, too uneducated, too ugly, too pretty or too bald to stop heeding your ministry.

Many of you knew brother Bill Watson who served as a pastor in this area for many, many years. He pastored Faith Baptist and Leagueville and I don’t know how many other churches. Long after his physical health and mental health had declined do you know what remained? His desire to continue to keep filling up his ministry. At his funeral the story was told that when he was visited they would find him with his Bible, taking notes and in the course of conversation, he would often say, “I think I still might be able to help out in a little country church somewhere.”

John Newton, the drunkard slave ship captain who became a slave himself, then by God’s grace became a pastor and the hymn writer who penned “Amazing Grace, when he was old and his mind failing said this, “Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” - John Newton

In my own ministry and life there are two things that I fear. No death is not one of them. I’ve been close to death several times now, from the first time when I was almost electrocuted as a 4 year-old and my Dad saved me to the last as a 55 year old suffering a heart valve failure and my wife saved me. There have been several other times in between that due to the stupidity of youth or the illnesses of this world I have thought this is it and I’m going home. Not ever did I fear what would come after death my faith in His promises overwhelmed fear.

No, the two things I fear are coming to the place where due to my increasing age or my failing health, I can no longer serve the Lord as a pastor. I don’t know what comes after that. I don’t want to find out, though I know I must. I want to keep filling my service, my ministry full. It gets harder with each passing year, but the desire never diminishes.

Shouldn’t it be that way for all us? Every one of usn no matter age or education, can never forget the same two things that John Newton remembered. I am a great sinner and Jesus Christ is a great savior. How then can I be anything but a servant to the end of my life. How can anyone who has been touched by grace, saved by the gospel and adopted into the family of God ever be anything but a servant of our sweet Savior.