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Sunday 10/12/25
Title: The word of Your Testimony
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The word of Your Testimony
Today we are wrapping up Paul’s letter to the Colossians which will springboard us into a study on living out the great commission.
I told you last week that in light of all we have learned over this past year beginning at Easter, I am commissioning you to go out and be witnesses of Christ.
We all have a sphere of influence and authority and it is IN that sphere that we are commanded to be lights and salt to the world.
We know that being lights and salt require FIRST that you, yourself have been and are continuing to be transformed into Christ’s likeness. That encountering Christ initially in salvation and daily since, produces a transformed life which is itself a witness. But it also creates a platform upon which to proclaim your freedom in Christ to those still bound in sin and death. Extending your experience in Christ to others as a life line out of the world and into God’s kingdom!
We also looked at James who tells us that true worship of God is seen in control over your mouth and in extending yourself to those in need – offering orphans and widows as his token examples.
So this week I am pressing you on this all the more.
Colossians 4:1-18,
“(1) Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
(2) Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
(3) At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— (4) that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
Your witness…
“(5) Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. (6) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
This is always timely and solid instruction to Christians of any era.
I was reading just yesterday a passage which, to me, confirmed one of my concerns with this generation of believers. As I’ve told you many times, it is FAR easier to get a modern Christian from the western world active in political matters than in matters of the kingdom and I believe this is true!
Those of you who are here early enough for Sunday morning prayer, know that I always open us up with prayer for world rulers according to the pattern Paul gave us. That we might live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and sincerity. I often follow this by a commitment that we, in this church will live that way regardless, but that it is our request that God work in the hearts of rulers to not afflict or persecute those who so live.
Well yesterday I ran into a verse in 1 Thessalonians which says something very much like that, but also confirmed to me that my concerns over too much political involvement is both unwise and counterproductive for our testimony of the gospel.
1 Thess 4:9-12, “(9) Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, (10) for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, (11) and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (12) SO THAT you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
The guidance Paul gives in this passage also provides a way to love others inside and outside the church. We read that we are to “aspire to live quietly, and to mind [our] own affairs” (v. 11). The words in this verse are used elsewhere in Greek literature to commend not making trouble in society. Essentially, Paul tells us to be good neighbors, to mind our own business, and not to be nuisances in the community.
Christians must not cause unnecessary social problems. We dare not look for trouble with others or with the culture’s institutions, though we must seek justice when necessary.
We need to be FAR more involved in living the kingdom before the world, preaching it where we are able and to provide answers when we are asked than trying to force the ungodly to live godly through legislation.
Next Paul begins to close out his letter but even in this there is instruction. We see the sweet and familial nature of the body of Christ in the first century. As we read this I want you to remember that these people had never seen Paul personally, and yet, you’d think they had by all that is said here.
“(7) Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. (8) I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, (9) and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
(10) Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), (11) and Jesus who is called Justus.
These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
(12) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, ALWAYS STRUGGLING ON YOUR BEHALF IN HIS PRAYERS, THAT YOU MAY STAND MATURE AND FULLY ASSURED IN ALL THE WILL OF GOD.
(13) For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.”
This is part of our witness to those “outside”. The loving care and involvement we have for one another and our maturity into Christ’s likeness speaks of God’s kingdom before the world. As we will likely reference later this morning, our Lord told us that this love we have and freely express among the body of Christ is how the world will know us.
“(14) Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
(15) Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. (16) And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
(17) And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
(18) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”
So being in the Kingdom not only has privileges but also its responsibilities. First and primary among them is that which we have for our fellow Christian. This is not a secondary issue but a primary one! THEN our testimony before the world.
As I said earlier, it is sadly easier to get a Christian active in the political arena regarding pride of native earthly country than it is to mobilize them out of devotion to their spiritual King and Kingdom.
That is NOT what our sacred gatherings are for. We are NOT here to feed only, but to be trained and equipped for kingdom work. We gather for encouragement, instruction, community and impartation and reception of grace through one another SO THAT we might be emboldened to be living witnesses before those who are OUTSIDE.
Being witnesses
Acts 1:6-8, “(6) So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (7) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 2:37-47, “(37) Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (38) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
(40) And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
(41) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (42) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
(43) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (44) And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
(45) And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
(46) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
The first part of our witness before the world is our love for our fellow Christian
John 13:34-35, “(34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (35) BY THIS ALL PEOPLE WILL KNOW that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
According to Jesus, the world has a love for its own, but this is nothing more than a communal friendliness towards others of like mind. The world possesses no ability to give of themselves sacrificially solely for the benefit of others. That requires agape which is that love that comes from God and only those who Know God in relationship through Jesus can possess it.
Jesus’ command to the Jewish people of His day regarding their special position as the lights of the world. Paul said that the Jews had an advantage in every way, since it was to them that God gave the Law and the Old Covenant promises. So when the Messiah came into the world, they were the lights to the world, which should have pointed not only themselves but the Gentiles to Jesus as Messiah.
But Jesus’ words transfer nicely to us now under the New Covenant, since we are now as they were then.
We are God’s covenant people and it is to us that the promises of that covenant were given.
Matthew 5:13-16, “(13) You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (14) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Inward godliness makes you a light in a dark world –
Philippians 2:12-16,“(12) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (13) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (14) Do all things without grumbling or disputing, (15) that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (16) holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Paul told those in Corinth that they should not require letters of commendation to or from them, because their very lives are proof of their apostleship and to the gospel they preach.
2 Corinthians 3:1-6, “(1) Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? (2) You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, TO BE KNOWN AND READ BY ALL. (3) And YOU SHOW that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (4) Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. (5) Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, (6) Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
Our testimony is not only a life lived but one proclaimed…
Luke 12:8-12,“(8) And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, (9) but the one who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (10) And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (11) And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, (12) for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
You testify to what you know, what you have experienced in Christ, even as Paul did and was told he would do – Acts 22:12-15,
“(12) And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, (13) came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. (14) And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; (15) for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:15-20, “(15) But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, (16) saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. (17) But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” (18) So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, (20) for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
To the 11 apostles – Mark 16:14-20,
“(14) Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. (15) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (16) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (17) And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (18) they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (19) So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (20) And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]”
Blessings!
Tri
