Colossians 4:7-17 (TLB)
Verse 17 – “And say to
Archippus, “Be sure that you do all the Lord has told you to.” (TLB)
Verse 17 in THE MESSAGE – “And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, “Do your best in the job you received
from the Master. Do your very best.”
Verse 17 in
EASY-TO-READ –
“Tell Archippus, “Be sure to do the work
the Lord gave you.”
Verse 17 in
KJV – “And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the
ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.”
Who then was this Archippus, who was been
reminded/encouraged/compelled with such instructions? Let’s read Philemon 1:1-2 (KJV).
So Archippus was a believer - a labourer – a
co-labourer with all the other brethren as mentioned in Colossians 4, as well as in Philemon
1:1-2
- With Archippus, a special task was given for him to do by the Lord.
- It was not Paul or the other co-labourers who gave him this work to do; but the Lord Himself; which was a privilege given to Archippus.
- It was a specific work meant for Archippus by the Lord; he is not meant to do some or few of the work but all.
- His very best was required in carrying out this task and it must be fulfilled as the Lord instructed.
- A ministry – a work – a job, given by the Lord; not assumed or undertaken just because it appeals to Archippus; God-appointed, God-given.
- Can we identify this message being passed as a warning or a call of remembrance from Paul to Archippus here? Can this same message be passed to our ‘Archippus of today’ - Men of Courage also, whom the Lord has called for His service?
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV;
ESV; KJV* - “Now
there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences
of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
Praise God that He has given a special task to every man of
His; and to this special task, He granted it with something in Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been
given as Christ apportioned it.”
Let’s look at another general of God whom the Lord also
committed a great task into his hand and He was instructing him to see to the
accomplishment.
Exodus 25:1-9 (ERV), verse 40 (KJV) – Moses
From the above scriptures:
o Did you notice
that God was not compelling everyone to give, even though He was speaking to
all the people of Israel – His people?
o For some of the
gifts He was asking for, He was telling Moses why they were needed and where to
put them.
o The builders who
will build the place for Him to live.
o The exact plan
and how it should look like to be shown to Moses – verse 40.
The Builders – Exodus
31:1-6 (TLB)
Beloved, from the above scriptures, who has appointed?
Who has filled him – Bezalel, with the Spirit of God? Who gave wisdom, ability
and skills? Who knew his capability? Who appointed an assistant for Bezalel?
Who gave the special skills to all the experts? IT WAS GOD – GOD WHO HAD CALLED THEM FOR HIS SPECIAL SERVICE – GOD WHO
HAD GIVEN THEM A DIVINE ASSIGNMENT AND APPOINTMENT, WHICH MUST BE FULFILLED.
With full assurance of the Word of God and what only
Him can do, let us now pray unto Him for His men of courage so that the spark
of thunder and lightning of His revival would commence, so that the showers/downpour/rain
of revival will begin to fall.
- Thank You Lord Jesus for the grace that You have given unto every single one of Your men as You begin to apportion the task/job/work/ministry afresh unto them; thank You that by the help of the Holy Spirit, every necessary power shall fill them to be able to give You their best unto fulfillment – Ephesians 4:7.
- Please Lord, strike and affect their hearts to know that this grace that You have given to them is not measured by the size or proportion of work You have committed unto their hands; but that in little or much, what You desire is a good and faithful steward(ship).
- Romans 12:5-8 – May they not be like the ‘unfaithful servant’, to misuse the grace and the gifts that You have apportioned to them. Help them to appreciate and to know that though the gifts may differ, but as members of the Body of Christ, they have a function to fulfil and a job to do.
- Not hesitating; not questioning; with perfect obedience and diligence, help Your men to render their service with full wholeheartedness unto You, O Lord!
- Our Strong Tower, please be the strength in them both physically and spiritually; that when the body or the mind is faint/weary in that which You have commissioned unto them, they will receive divine urge to carry on for the glory of You - their Master (as You brought glory to Your Father here on earth by doing everything He told You to – John 17:4).
- Lord, please take away every lukewarmness, trials and temptations that easily besets a man and that only comes from the accuser (whose lifestyle is to kill, to steal and to destroy); so that they can declare as Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, finished the race and still kept the faith” [maybe this was why Bro Paul was encouraging Archippus to be faithful]; so Lord Jesus, give unto them Thy faithfulness unto the end.
- 2 Timothy 4:5 – “Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Bring others to Christ. Leave nothing undone that you ought to do.”
Grace O
Lord, grace for them to stand steady in Christ, not shifting, not shaking –
- Grace for them
not to be afraid of the persecution/suffering for the Lord, but looking forward
to the glory and hope that is ahead.
- Grace for them to
bear and bring harvest for Jesus [be it fifty; sixty; hundreds; thousands,
millions] till Your Kingdom is full.
- Grace for them to
bring glory unto You by doing everything according to what You have instructed
them, as You allowed Calvary and the Cross to reveal Your service to God Your
Father.
