The American Wisdom Series 
 http://www.americanwisdomseries.com

Presents

Colossians

Chapter 4

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it?  Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
 published at http://www.theseason.org/ 

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

 Now here is our revised study of:

Colossians

Chapter 4

"Doctrinal Correction, as Having Risen with Christ."
"The Effects Seen in the Exercise of Love, as the Bond of all Domestic Relations"

Colossians 4:1 "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven."

This now is directed to those that have employees and have people working for you. We all answer to our Heavenly Father, and it is from Him that all blessings come. Shorting the servants of the just wage, is ill gotten gains to the masters. A laborer is worthy of His hire.

Colossians 4:2 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;"

We are to be persistent in our prayer life. Don't be one of the hot and cold Christians that the only time that you seek help from God is when you are in trouble. There these feeble Christians that tell God, Get me out of this mess and I will never do it again. Then when things have cleared up, off they go to wallow in the same muck that they were in at the beginning. They make vows, and think they are deceiving God, and all they are deceiving is themselves. They live from one emotion trip to another, and their mind is shallow in their thinking and their commitments.

Friend, don't let a day go by that you haven't told God that you love Him, and thank Him for the many blessing that He has given you. Watch what is around you, and be aware of what is required of you so you can be a good servant. When God rewards you for your attentiveness, thank Him for every blessing He gives you, even those special moments where He has allowed you to witness for Him. That is where our eternal rewards come from, so don't let those opportunities pass by and the rewards that come from planting the seeds truth slip away.

The time to plant seeds of His Word is when the Holy Spirit gives you the discernment that it is the right time.

Colossians 4:3 "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bond."

Pray that God will open your ears and then listen for those opportunities to speak to others around you of the love of God. Paul is reminding the Colossians that it is for the witnessing of this mystery of Christ that he is now in jail in Rome and writing this letter. Paul wasn't ashamed of, and Doctor Luke, the author of the gospel of Luke was there in Rome with Paul.

However, it is important that we know the mystery of Christ. That mystery is the events that happened in the first earth age that Paul was very detailed in his letters to the Romans and the Ephesians. It is because of what happened in that first earth age that the elect were judged then, and the rest have free will to turn from sin in repentance in this age of the flesh..

Colossians 4:4 "That I may make manifest, as I ought to speak."

That I may document [manifest] those things that I speak of, and make known. It is by learning that word that we come to know what we should speak and share with people. Remember that there are several levels of understand of the people that we speak to, and we should never crush the little lambs that are trying to understand the very basics of the milk of the word. They are just not capable of understanding and digesting those big chunks of the meat of God's Word. Feed them on the level where they are and pray that what is said will take hold with understanding. Let the Holy Spirit do His work in the mind of these spiritual lambs, without being cluttered with things that just don't matter.

You will never reach the point where you have learned it all. When you get one level digested, it is time to move on to the next level of understanding. The deeper things come to you by being patient and waiting on the Lord. When you are open to them, the Holy Spirit will reveal them to you. Know how you ought to speak to others, and that way is on the level of their understanding. When you are not getting through to them, you will know it by the questions they ask, and the way they look at you. Your talking when the understanding is not getting through, will only place you on your own ego trip. The next thing that comes from this is your own boasting and self-righteousness, and that is not why you witness to others. You witness to bring others to Christ, that they will see God's love for them and be saved.

Colossians 4:5 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."

When you set yourself up as a speaker or teacher to those that want to know of the love of God, what is important is what you can teach that person or child. It is not important how much you know, but what is important is how you can take what you know and put the wisdom of understanding that is in your mind, and place that wisdom in the mind of your listener. How much can you teach that spiritual child is what is important.

We are to pick the right time to plant the seed of the Word of God. This is a difficult thing, however it is always the time when a nonbeliever asks you a question. Verse with them using the Word of God, and stay away from your own opinions. The more preparation you have made for yourself through your study of the Word, that more apt you will be to answer the questions. Then answer that question in a simple manner that they will understand. God did not think it foolish to come to the earth in the flesh to minister to us far below His level, so let this be our example of how we are to minister to others. When you speak to the little one, speak on the level that a child of their level would understand. This is how you will start producing fruit in your work for the Lord.

Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

Make sure that when you are answering the questions for a person that the correct answer will apply to the question asked. Grace is love and unmerited favor, and our answers to these dear souls seeking the truth should reflect the love of God that we have in our hearts for them. However, too much sugar is sickening and can seem artificial and unreal to the person listening. That is why your teaching and instruction must carry with it, a mark of boldness. It is the salt that makes you different then the others, and draws attention to what you are saying. When you put salt in something it is going to change it, so it doesn't hurt to be a little salty at times with the unbelievers for in doing so you will leave a little of God's Word with them to think about. When you are sure of yourself and your knowledge in God's Word you can be bold.

The Word of God will do you no good if you won't share it, for that is why you were given the understanding in the first place. When you constantly take in, and never give out, God will take much of what He has given you away. What this leads to is becoming a self-righteous hypocrite. When God cuts them off, they start to turn within themselves and imagine strange things and call it wisdom.

Paul continues with His closing salutations to the church of the Colossians, giving credit to where it is due.

Colossians 4:7 "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord."

Colossians 4:8 "Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;"

Colossians 4:9 "With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here."

Colossians 4:10 "Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)"

Colossians 4:11 "And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me."

Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of your, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

Colossians 4:13 "For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis."

Colossians 4:14 "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you."

Colossians 4:15 "Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house."

Colossians 4:16 "And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea."

Colossians 4:17 "And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."

Colossians 4:18 "The salutations by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen"