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Guest (Male): Friends, you can count on. That's next here on Study the Word with Pastor Tom Keller. C. S. Lewis in his book Four Loves asserts that friendship is unnecessary like philosophy or art, but adds while friendship has no survival value, it is one of those things which gives value to survival. So friendship is necessary after all, and it's our focus today on Study the Word. Picking up in Colossians chapter 4, friends are mentioned along with their great value. Starting things off with a story, here's our teacher once again, Pastor Tom Keller.

Thom Keller: Two men, Jose and Bob, applied for a job. Both applicants, having the same qualifications, were asked to take a test by the department manager. Upon completion of the exam, both men missed only one of the 10 questions. The manager went to Bob and said, thank you for your interest, but we've decided to give the job to Jose. Bob replied, why? We both answered nine questions correctly. I believe I should get the job, especially because I've been out of work longer than Jose. The manager said, we made our decision not on the correct answer, but on the question you got wrong.

It told us something about you. He said, you're kidding. How could my wrong answer tell you something about me? Simple, the manager said. Jose put down in question number five, I don't know, and you wrote down, neither do I. They questioned Bob's virtue, didn't they? And rightfully so. In today's lesson, we're going to examine the virtue and character of some of Paul's traveling companions and see how we compare as far as being a friend. So Colossians 4 verse 7 to 18 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a he is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord's work.

I've sent him to you for this very purpose to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus and these are how you pronounce these. I have to work to get them right. Tychicus will tell you everything that's happening here. Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings. So does an easy one, Mark, Barnabas's cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. Jesus, the one we call Justice, also sends his greetings.

These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers. They are working with me here for the kingdom of God, and what a comfort they have been. Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.

After you have read this letter, pass it under the church of Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them and say to Archippus, be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you. Here is my greeting in my own handwriting. Paul, remember my chains. May God's grace be with you. And with that, he closes out the letter. There are a number of very loyal friends that Paul mentions here. First is Tychicus. Tychicus. The name means fortuitous or fortunate. He was a Gentile convert who came to the Roman province of Asia.

He shows up only one time in the book of Acts after the riot in Ephesus over the goddess Diana. And after that, when the Jews plotted against Paul's life, Paul met up with Tychicus in Troas. We find that in Acts chapter 20 it says when the uproar was over, this was over the uh the idol, the goddess Diana. When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. And then he said goodbye and left from Macedonia. And then in in verse four, it says after this going to Macedonia, several men were traveling with him.

They were Sopater of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. So Tychicus shows up a total of six times in Paul's letter. It was Tychicus who Paul enlisted to carry his letter to the Ephesians, to the Ephesian church and beyond. In Ephesians 6:21, we see this again. To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and helpful helper in the Lord's work. And it was Tychicus who Paul enlisted to carry his letter to the Ephesians and the Ephesian church.

Tychicus also delivered to a Paul's other letters, one to the Colossians here and to Ephesus and to Philemon, a total of three letters he carried. He was a faithful messenger, and faithful messengers were valuable to Paul. In Proverbs 25:13, we find this. Like a snow cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him. He refreshes the spirit of his master. Paul knew this all too well. And Paul knew from the book of Proverbs how critical it was to have a faithful messenger. Proverbs 26 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.

The application Imagine a factory where the owner needs to make some very unpopular changes. If he did not convey the message himself, who would he choose to tell the plant workers? He would choose someone who would represent his best interests. Because to send someone who will incite the employees to complain and rebel is as stupid as the owner cutting off his feet or drinking poison. Going on to verse nine, I am also sending Onesimus. I know this is normally pronounced Onesimus, but technically they say it's Onesimus. I'm sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people.

He will tell you everything that's happening here. Now the second person Paul mentions here is Onesimus. This was Philemon's runaway slave who was a subject of Paul's letter to Onesimus's master, Philemon, which we read about in the book, the very short letter to Philemon. In this letter, Paul urges Philemon to welcome back his runaway slave, but not as a slave, but rather as a faithful and beloved brother. And history appears to prove this out. About 50 years after Paul wrote this letter, the great Christian martyr Ignatius wrote a letter and writes much about a wonderful bishop in Ephesus by the name of Onesimus.

Some believe that this runaway slave had actually gone on to be the great bishop of Ephesus, all made possible because of Philemon for giving him and setting him free. You know, there's an application for us here. Is there anyone that you're holding unto, you're holding back, someone you're refusing to believe in, refusing to forgive, refusing to let out of bondage of sorts who may be could go on to be used powerfully by God? You know, I think of the example of Ebenezer Scrooge holding on to Bob Cratchit by wages, by demeaning, by not encouraging, not building him up.

You know, it's compared to a supervisor who hires and trains people with the plan to have them grow out of his department, maybe even grow out of that company. You know, I remember the story of a small church, a very small church. And because they were so small, they just couldn't compete when the when the list came out of pastors to choose from. And so they all all they ever got were the the new pastors fresh out of seminary. And so what they decided they were going to do is there were going to be a a church that would help grow, prepare, nurture these new pastors for larger churches upcoming.

That's the right heart. That's the right spirit. That's the right attitude. Next is Aristarchus, and he also was one of Paul's traveling companions during the Ephesus riot. And he actually was seized by the riding mob. In Acts 19, we read this. And at this, their anger boiled, and they began shouting, great is Artemis of Ephesians, great is Diana of the Ephesians. Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater along with Gaius and Aristarchus who were Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. And he also was there when Paul was put on the ship by the Romans as a prisoner in order to be tried at Rome.

We find that in Acts 27 verse 1 and 2 when the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia. It was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province. So from this account, we are able to determine that Aristarchus was actually on the ship with Paul.

And it appears that nearly all of the men on that ship were prisoners. If you remember when the ship broke up, they wanted to kill them all because they didn't want the prisoners to escape. It appears nearly all of these men on this ship were prisoners, and so it has been suggested that Aristarchus actually enrolled as Paul's slave so that he could make the journey with Paul in order to help him when he was there in Rome. The commentator Elliot says this, quote, it is reasonable to infer that Aristarchus, who had come with Paul to Jerusalem, had remained in Israel during the two years of the apostle's imprisonment.

But now he was intending to return to his native city. But instead of returning to his city, he accompanies Paul to Rome in a prison ship. And we find him there with Paul in Colossians for sharing his imprisonment. Barnes, the commentator, says this, it was doubtless a great comfort to Paul to have with him two such valuable friends as Luke and Aristarchus. And it was an instance of great affection for Paul that they were not ashamed of his bonds, his chains, but were willing to share his dangers and to expose themselves to peril, they sure did for the sake of accompanying Paul to Rome.

And then we get to Mark. In verse 10, it says Mark, Barnabas's cousin, sends you his greetings. Now if you don't know the story of Mark, it is a fascinating one. He was so close a friend to Peter that Peter actually called Mark his son. 1 Peter 5:13 Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings. So Peter writes this, and so does my son Mark. And again, you may know this, but most believe that the book of Mark was written by this same Mark. And so if you're not familiar with the story, this son of Peter was the cause of a great great argument and division between two of the first church fathers between Paul and Barnabas.

It began when John Mark quit the ministry while serving with Paul, abandoning Paul and going back home. We find that in Acts 13:13 Paul and his companions then less left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. Now Paul didn't say much about this at the moment of Mark's desertion, not that we're privy to anyway, but he did later when Mark's uncle Barnabas wanted to restore Mark back into the ministry, a division occurred. It's an argument. Acts 15 verse 36 says after some time, Paul said to Barnabas, let's go back to visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord to see how the new believers are doing.

Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark, his his nephew. But Paul disagreed strongly since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Now this just might be the strongest disagreement we see among the first century church fathers. So much so that they divided over it. And yet here again, we see Paul 's character leading him to reconciliation and restoration because we find this again in verse 10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings.

So does Mark, Barnabas's cousin. So apparently Mark is with him because he sends his greetings. As you were instructed, Paul turned the corner. Make Mark welcome if he comes your way. And then verse 11 mentions Jesus or Justice. Jesus, the one we call Justice, also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers. They're working with me here for the kingdom of God and what a comfort they have been. Of this man, we know nothing. Jesus called Justice. Going on to verse 12 and 13. Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.

He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident. Listen how he prays. He prays always, prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect. This is how he prays for his church. He's the pastor. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis where he also had his charge. Now this Epaphras was apparently the overseer of the Colossian church as well as the churches in Hierapolis and Laodicea.

Colossians 1:7 says you learned about the good news from Epaphras, a our beloved co-worker. He is Christ's faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. And note what Paul highlights to the members of Epaphras's churches. Verse 12 and 13. He says second sentence, he always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect. This is how he prays for his fellowship. Fully confident that you will be following the whole will of God. And I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

And you know, this is one of the primary roles of a pastor, of an undershepherd, to pray for the flock that God has entrusted to his care. Now as a pastor, I do see this as a part of my calling. I do pray for many of you by name. I've been doing that for 20 years. And after two decades of doing this, if you would let me, I'd like to share just some impacts that I've seen in my own life from praying for you. Number one, and this is so clear. It makes me love you more.

It just does. You know, I was asked to talk to some new pastors one time, and they said, what are some of the keys in being a pastor? I said, here it is. Number one, remember people's names. Number two, pray for them. Start there. Teach. Start there. It makes me love you more. Number two, it makes me more aware of my responsibility to care for you personally and individually. It makes me more aware of my responsibility to teach you carefully, personally, and individually. You know, it's like the difference between a shepherd who has 1,000 sheep and never goes into the sheepfold, never takes time to take the sheep or picture them taking the sheep to the doctor.

All he is ever going to see his sheep as is a group, a flock of 1,000 sheep, one unit. Prayer invisibilizes that relationship. It does. Number three, God uses this prayer time to prompt me to call you, to text you, to pray specifically in certain times and certain areas. I can't tell you how many times when praying for the flock God has prompted me to call someone. And many, many times when I call, I can and this is not a surprise to you, but God shows me why. I have he just prompts. I call it a tickle.

He tickles you. And many times when I did not respond and I do that way too often, it is very common, very apparent in a day or two why it was that he prompted me and that I blew it. I pray a few select prayers over you as a group, binding Satan being one of them as your one of your spiritual authorities. But my favorite prayer for this flock, and I've shared this before, is Colossians 2 verse 2 and 3. This is my life verse for this church. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.

What I hate about this COVID thing, I hate that about it. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan which is Christ himself in him, in Christ. By hitting all the treasures of wisdom and understanding. That's so beautiful. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence. And that's through the study of the knowledge of the getting to trust the word of God, to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan which is Christ himself.

In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And because of Epaphras's faithfulness and prayer for his flock, I have great respect and admiration for Epaphras as a fellow undershepherd. Going on to verse 14. Luke, the beloved doctor, sends you his greetings, and so does Demas. Dr. Luke. It is from this one single verse alone that we find in the Bible, the only one in the whole Bible where we discover that Luke was a physician. If Paul had not included that in this verse, we would not know that. This is the same Luke that will go on to write the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.

Luke was a mature, gifted, and devoted friend of Paul's, devoted to Paul to the very end.

Guest (Male): Luke was not only a friend to Paul, but to us today by his inspired writings. We'll hear more about Luke and these friends of Paul and us next time on Study the Word. This message from Pastor Tom Keller is titled Friends You Can Count On and part of a study in Colossians. Would you like to give this a second listen? Either go to our website at ccleb.com or visit our YouTube page. Simply subscribe to our channel at Calvary Chapel Lebanon, and you can watch our services live or on demand. That includes this series in Colossians.

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We'll finish up Colossians next time we're together for Study the Word with Pastor Tom Keller. It's the radio ministry of Calvary Chapel Lebanon, Pennsylvania.