29/01/2023
Epaphras: An example in Faith - Colossians 1:4, 7
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ.
As believers, the scripture wants us to model Christ to unbelievers and the church in light, thought, word and actions and literally in all our ways. Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
And, this is not even limited to the fact that one must be dead before we become examples to those whom are living.
If every time we talk, we reference those who are dead and not irrelevant worldly men than we mention the godly virtues you exude as a believer, then, something is already amiss in you.
Epaphras wasn't dead before Paul mentioned that the church in Colosse learned of him - Col 1:7
God isn't looking for men who makes excuses, he wanted ready men, those who have made themselves ready to fall into His eternal plans for He says, 'I sought for a man' that is examples; men exceeding in labor, diligence, character, men who are able to tame their tongues and not wag it in shame and reproach upon the Lord's paths.
Those who have covenanted their belly to God, men who have conquered their appetite for food and s*x. Men who would rather get killed than burn, bow, bend or budge to evil.
These will be examples of faith, hope, consecration and love.
Would you rather be an example to men for Good or an evil reference!?
Men who are ready good examples understood that in whatever they do, it must be to God's glory and accordingly to his will notwithstanding.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
We've seen how God warned us and wanted us to show examples to fellow unbelievers and even to believers within the church.
1. Through Faith
2. Through Prayer
3. Through Service - Fellow servant
4. Through Diligence - Handwork
We'd practically and prayerfully gone through the first 3 in previous weeks and let's consider how to be an example in diligence.
Acts 20:34-36 says:
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
Being in ministry isn't and shouldn't be an excuse to any one for been lazy or weak in diligence or making provisions for oneself and house.
Let me conclude here
1 Timothy 4:12-16
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Happy Sunday.
I Call You Blessed!!
