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Todd's
Tips For Tough Times: Untangling Today's Twists With Timeless Truth
From The Bible Teaching Ministry of Todd M.
Freeman
Colossians 1:8, 4:12
Have you ever pondered the strengths of different Bible
characters? We can learn so much from other believers who have gone
before us. I want a heart like David. Acts 13:22 After removing Saul,
he
made David their king. He testified concerning him: `I have found David
son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him
to
do.' I want an attitude like Moses. Numbers 12:3 (Now Moses was a
very
humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) I
want to pray with boldness like Abraham. Genesis 18:27 Then Abraham
spoke
up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though
I
am nothing but dust and ashes... I want to be generous like Barnabas.
Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called
Barnabas
(which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and
brought
the money and put it at the apostles' feet. You get the idea. I want
to
introduce you to the influence of a little known Bible character who
had a
big impact in the life of his church family.There are many wonderful
believers around the world that are not known outside of their local
fellowships, but they are priceless to those churches in which they
serve.
This was the kind of influence Epaphras was. He was deeply
loving
and loved in the church at Colossae. Colossians 1:7 You learned it
from
Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ
on
our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. Paul is
paying Epaphras the highest of compliments. The believers in this
church
learned some great lessons from this present day little known saint.
What
did these early believers learn from Epaphras? The previous verses of
chapter one reveal three important lessons. It is noteworthy that
these
believers were the type of people that Apostle Paul was constantly
thankful for. COL 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, when we pray for you... The traits that filled the powerful
apostle and his apprentice, Timothy, with gratitude were taught to
these
early believers by Epaphras.
First, they learned faith in Christ. Colossians 1:4a because we
have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus... How did they learn it?
They
watched Epaphras. He walked by faith and not by sight. Many of life's
most important lessons are caught instead of taught. Someone has said,
"I
would rather watch a sermon than hear one." These come not from a
structured lesson, but from a committed life. This man trusted Jesus
as a
way of daily life and the result was the growth of a congregation.
Saint
Francis of Assisi used to say, "Preach the gospel, and if necessary,
use
words." This man's life preached Christ.
Second, they learned love. Colossians 1:4b ... and of the love
you
have for all the saints. His authentic love rubbed off on the
believers
around him. His concern was not contrived but from the heart. They
didn't wonder if he cared about them; they enjoyed his active
involvement
in their lives. When they hurt, he hurt. When they celebrated, he
celebrated. When they had a need, he sought a tangible way to meet it.
Love is more than some gushy concept; it is relational. We all
desperately want to be loved and need to know that we are loved. PR
19:22
What a man desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.
I also want you to notice that their love was inclusive. They
didn't pick and choose who to love, but loved all the saints. We all
hungry to be accepted and it is an incredible blessing when people
accept
us warts and all. Their love was condition free. They didn't withhold
their love until certain qualifications were met. They loved each
other
regardless of their differences.
The source of their faith and love was Colossians 1:5 the faith
and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven
and
that you have already heard about in the word of truth They were
energized by a glorious hope stored up in heaven and heard about in the
word of truth. Sometimes, we are so earth bound that we forget we are
heaven bound. Epaphras demonstrated faith and love that sprung from
the
eternal hope of the finished work of Christ at the cross. Such hope is
contagious and needs to be reiterated time and time again. We need to
be
reminded of what awaits us instead of being consumed in what constrains
us.
Third, they learned that the gospel is a universal message that
grows in people all over the world. Colossians 1:6b All over the world
this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing
among
you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its
truth. A healthy church is grounded in the good news of Jesus Christ.
Lives are changed (bearing fruit) and deepened (growing) when the
people
of God live in the simplicity of the good news of Jesus being the one
true
hope of the world. Epaphras longed for people to hear and understand
God's
transforming grace in all its truth.
I believe that Epaphras understood that the gospel's power reached
beyond
his local congregration. This belief is supported by the fact that
this
man stayed in touch with the missionary/writer Paul. Philemon 1:23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
Epaphras obviously impacted the life of Paul. Paul describes him as a
prisoner in Jesus Christ. His passions and pursuits were single
mindedly
directed to our Lord. Therefore, it is only natural to surmise that he
was sacrificially involved in world missions and the advancement of the
Great Commision. The beauty of his life is that it spread beyond him.
The
church at Colossae imitated this godly man and put into practice these
three powerful lessons.
I encourage you to apply these lessons one of two ways. Either
look for someone who is modeling these traits and build a relationship
with that person so that you can learn from him or her; or be that type
of
person so that others can learn from you. We grow either from modeling
the Christian life or watching others who model it. Either be an
Epaphras
or find one to become like.
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