   The 14 Pauline Epistles are: Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews.
   I will list the studies for each of these books and add them as I complete them, but if you see a study title you would like me to do, or have a special request for one please feel free to pass it along. I will answer all requests as I am able to get to them. Just search by topic or by verse reference and you should find what you are looking for.
   Below is a list of the books for this portion of Scripture and the studies I have identified or completed for them so far:

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

Studies in this book include:

Thanksgiving and Prayer – Colossians 1:1-14 (Amplified)

The Supremacy of the Son of God – Colossians 1:15-1:23 (Amplified)

Our Labor for the Church – Colossians 1:24-2:5 (Amplified)

Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ – Col. 2:6-23 (Amplified)

Rules for Holy Living – Col. 3:1-17 (Amplified)

Rules for Christian Households – Col. 3:18-4:1 (Amplified)

Further Instructions – Col. 4:2-6 (Amplified)

Final Greetings – Col. 4:7-18 (Amplified)

The studies that are currently completed may be found below

Thanksgiving and Prayer – Colossians 1:1-14 (Amplified)

What is thanksgiving all about? We have an entire day set aside for Thanksgiving here in the United States every November. But do we truly understand the depth and breadth of this observance? Also, is it something we do only once a year, or should it be an ongoing part of our lives? And how does prayer fit into it? Is it just a time to buy, prepare, and clean up the dishes? Is it just a time to pig out and sit around watching sports while others clean up your dirty dishes?

Where did our annual tradition of thanksgiving come from, and why? The Pilgrims declared a three-day feast, starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. While this was not the first Thanksgiving in America (thanksgiving services were held in Virginia as early as 1607), it was America’s first Thanksgiving Festival. http://christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g007.html . Nearly 200 years later we managed to kill or move our Indian “friends” to land nobody wanted. And after that the majority of the United States seems to be more interested in overindulging on food and sports that in giving thanks to the one who made it all possible. All this being true, what is real thanksgiving all about, and how should it be done?

After his introduction in the first two verses, Paul’s letter to the Colossians starts out with the issue of thanksgiving and prayer; therefore it must be a pretty important:

1. The apostle Paul establishes that he and Timothy are both brothers in Christ.

Col 1:1 PAUL, AN apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother,

a. Paul establishes his authority to the Colossians from the very beginning as an “apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah)”

b. He also states that Timothy, who was with him at the time, was a brother in Christ too.

2. Paul then establishes that all believers; both male and female, are saints.

Col 1:2 To the saints (the consecrated people of God) and believing {and} faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace (spiritual favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father.

a. Paul goes on to state that those he is writing to in Colossae are also “saints (the consecrated people of God)”. All believers; all those saved by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are saints. Both then, and now.

b. The Greek word for brethren (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in Col. 4:15.

c. Wishing “grace and peace from God our Father” was common in Paul’s day, but today unfortunately many people look at you strange if you say it. Saying “good luck” (may random chance smile on you and grant you accidental favor) is acceptable. But to say a quick prayer out loud asking God to bless someone from His never-ending supply, His unlimited power, and total love for them, for some reason, seems inappropriate today.

3. Giving thanks to God the Father through prayer should be a continual part of our prayer life.

Col 1:3 We continually give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), as we are praying for you,

a. Everything we have, every blessing, comes from God the Father alone. Therefore we owe thanks to Him.

b. While it is not wrong to devote a special day to thanksgiving, it should not be restricted to just one day.

c. Even if you do give thanksgiving to God only one day a year, it is important not to forget to do so.

d. Thanksgiving should be a continual reflex. Every time we pray we should thank God for what He has done for us.

4. Give thanks to God for any and every blessing, even if it came to someone else.

Col 1:4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God's consecrated ones),

a. Whenever we hear of a believer or believers’ spiritual growth or special blessing from God we should thank God for it.

b. Thanksgiving isn’t about any one individual’s successes or wealth, it’s about everyone’s favor with God due to their continual walk with Him.

c. The unconditional love of God that we show, or that is shown to us not only by Him, but others as well, is also a great cause to give thanks.

5. Because of the great riches we know God has laid up for us in Heaven, love and thanksgiving should be automatic.

Col 1:5 Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel,

a. Hope, in the Bible, means absolute certainty. It is faith in seed form and is based on a promise of God.

b. Mark 10:21 and Matthew 6:20 are two of the gospels in which the treasures are promised to us by God.

c. The wealth and riches we have here on Earth only scratch the surface of what God has provided for us.

6. The Gospel of Christ is a living and active source of spiritual growth and change.

Col 1:6 Which has come to you. Indeed, in the whole world [that Gospel] is bearing fruit {and} still is growing [by its own inherent power], even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know {and} understand the grace of God in truth. [You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality, deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it.]

a. It was not only true 2000 years ago when Paul wrote this, it is still true today. The Gospel of Christ is still alive and growing. Indeed, the Word itself is alive (Heb. 4:12).

b. It is impossible for anyone who exposes themselves to the living Word of God, with the desire to learn and grow from it, to come away unchanged in some way.

c. The more time we spend reading and studying the Scriptures the more we grow and change into Christ-likeness.

7. Spreading this truth about the spiritual power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives others cause for thanksgiving.

Col 1:7 You so learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ in our stead {and} as our representative {and} {yours}.

a. After learning about it ourselves, we are to teach it to others.

b. This is one of our responsibilities as Christians.

c. Every Christian is a representative of Christ on the Earth today.

8. Give some feedback to your mentors of how the Gospel has blessed others you have taught.

Col 1:8 Also he has informed us of your love in the [Holy] Spirit.

a. Informing your mentors about the responses you have witnessed to your teachings about Christ’s Gospel gives them an opportunity for thanksgiving as well.

b. Never take credit for yourself about the spiritual growth others experienced due to your instruction, the credit belongs to God alone.

9. Thanksgiving to God and prayer for others should go hand in hand in every Christian’s life.

Col 1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray {and} make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding {and} discernment of spiritual things—

a. As a mentor receiving feedback of your student’s blessings and successes in their own life and in the lives of others they have mentored, you should not take credit for it either.

b. Not only give thanks to God for the blessings and the Gospel’s success in those who have heard it, pray for their continued spiritual growth as well.

c. This sets up a full circle of thanksgiving and prayer among all parties involved. All giving thanks to God and praying for each other.

10. There is a threefold blessing connected to the growth to spiritual maturity of every Christian.

Col 1:10 That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him {and} desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing {and} increasing in {and} by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition].

a. The first blessing is that we will (walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord,)

b. The second blessing is that we will be (fully pleasing to Him {and} desiring to please Him in all things)

c. The third blessing is that we will be (bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing {and} increasing in {and} by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition])

11. Let all you are praying for know you are praying for them so that they may give thanks to God as well.

Col 1:11 [We pray] that you may be invigorated {and} strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,

a. Praying for God to bless others with the continued strength to grow to spiritual maturity not only identifies God as the only source of this strength, it removes all others from taking credit for it too.

b. Growth to spiritual maturity always brings with it great joy, both in those who reach it and in those who helped guide others to it as well.

12. God the Father alone is the source of all spiritual growth and blessing.

Col 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.

a. The grace (free gift) of God has made it possible for us to know and grow to spiritual maturity.

b. Along with grace, His unconditional love for us makes it available to all who desire it.

c. Therefore we cannot take any credit for our ability to grow either; everything comes from God as a free gift, from His unconditional love, to us who do not deserve it in any way.

13. As Christians, we have been transferred by God the Father out of satan’s kingdom and into His. This is a great cause for thanksgiving in itself.

Col 1:13 [The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

a. All Christians at one time were hopeless members of satan’s kingdom of darkness until God the Father intervened.

b. He drew us to Himself; we didn’t even have the ability to come to Him until He drew us.

c. So even our ability to choose God’s kingdom of light and love, as an alternative to satan’s kingdom of darkness and hate, comes from God and is another thing we should thank Him for.

14. Jesus Christ made all of this possible through His death on the cross and the forgiveness of our sins.

Col 1:14 In Whom we have our redemption {through His blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

a. We owe an eternal debt to Jesus Christ for what He did for us on the cross.

b. This is a debt that can never be repaid.

c. The supreme authority of Jesus Christ as both perfect man and perfect God in one person forever, is the reason we can grow to spiritual maturity and serve Him as Christians.

Conclusion and Summary: Thanksgiving and Prayer

All Christians, both male and female, are saints (set apart unto God), adopted brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ. As His children, we receive many blessings from Him. As a result, thanksgiving to God through prayer should be a regular part of our walk with Him. Any and every blessing from God, no matter how big or small, and no matter who receives it, is an opportunity for thanks to God.

Because God has blessed us so abundantly, both here now on Earth, and in the future in Heaven, our thanks to Him should be an automatic reflex. God’s living Word, the Bible, is the tool we can use to spread His blessings to anyone who will receive it. This not only spreads His blessings, it multiplies the opportunities for Him to receive thanks for them.

As students of God’s Word, giving feedback to our mentors of our growth and blessings can further multiply the thanks God receives. This means that thanksgiving and prayer, going hand in hand, is a mutually beneficial, interactive and dynamic exercise that blesses both God and man. And all of the credit belongs to God alone. His plan as the Father, His work on the cross as the Son, and His indwelling and empowering us as the Holy Spirit makes all of it possible. We owe a debt of gratitude to Him for all of this that can never be repaid. Our continued prayers and thanksgiving to Him and for others, coupled with undying devotion to the supreme authority of Jesus Christ, His Son, is the very least we can do in return for all He has done for us.

The Supremacy of the Son of God – Colossians 1:15-1:23 (Amplified)

What is it that drives us as Christians? What makes us so different from all other “magic solutions” for life’s problems? Seafaring tradition holds that the Captain must go down with his ship. What is it that makes him the last to leave a sinking ship and the rats the first to jump off? It is merely devotion to duty, or is there a higher calling? The rats’ duty is to feed themselves and reproduce, when conditions make that impossible they leave; no regrets, no hesitation, and no looking back. The captain’s duty on the other hand is to look out for the welfare of all crewmembers and passengers on the ship. When the ship makes that impossible for him to do he gives orders to abandon ship. Every crewman under his command is expected to help save the passengers first, then themselves. To assure that his orders are carried out and therefore fulfilling his duty, the captain remains and is the last one to leave. Every person on that ship looks to the captain as the supreme authority. Each one knows that he holds their life in his hands.

The earth is a sinking ship thanks to sin and the devil. We as Christians are the crewmen, unbelievers are the passengers. It is our duty as crewmen to be sure as many of the passengers as possible are saved before the ship goes down. Jesus Christ is our captain, our supreme authority. He holds our lives in His hands. We all look up to Him knowing His devotion to duty will keep Him with us till the very end. We all know that He has entrusted us with the safety of the unbelieving passengers who would rather party on the lido deck until they drown instead of getting into the lifeboat of salvation and be saved. The success of the entire operation hinges on the supremacy of the captain, the Christ, our Lord and Savior.

So just what is it that makes Him so supreme? Paul explained it for us in his letter to the Colossians:

1) When we see Jesus, we have also seen the Father.

Col 1:15 [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.

a. Jesus IS an exact representation of what God the Father is like. (not WAS because He is still alive with the Father working for, and in, and through us.)

b. We can still learn about Jesus through study of the Bible just as the disciples learned about Him by walking with Him.

c. Therefore, by learning about Jesus, we also learn about the Father.

d. This makes it clear to us that He is a real loving and caring Father who looks out for our welfare in everyday life, not the unknown terrifying and uncaring image the devil wants us to have of Him.

e. Being “the firstborn of all creation”, just as in human families’ means:

i. He existed before anything else was created and will always exist eternally.

ii. He is the first one born into a family, and all other siblings that follow Him are His brothers and sisters by the same parents.

iii. This means, as Christians we are all not only a brother or sister to all other Christians, but to Jesus Himself as well. We are both a brother or sister to Jesus, and also a son or daughter of the Father.

iv. Just as Jesus was born physically of one parent, the Virgin Mary, from an already existing spiritual state, we are spiritually born again of one parent, God the Father, from an already existing physical state.

v. His resurrection made Him the firstborn perfect physical and spiritual being, and He promised that all who believe in Him will be saved and also one day become perfect spiritual and physical beings just like Him.

2) No authority, spiritual or natural, can exist without Jesus’ permission.

Col 1:16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created {and} exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in {and} for Him.

a. Things created “in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen” refer to both all things natural (physical) and supernatural (spiritual).

b. No authority on earth or in heaven, whether good or bad, can exist or operate without Jesus’ permission. He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and therefore Ruler of all

c. He serves others through the good authorities in both realms, and intervenes to bring good through the evil authorities who intend to do us harm in both realms.

d. All of this is not only for our benefit, it is so that His will and His plan that He is following from the Father will be completed exactly as the Father wants it to be.

e. Nothing in the spiritual or physical realms has any authority or ability to change or cancel anything He wishes to exist or occur.

3) In fact, nothing in creation (natural or supernatural) can continue to exist without Jesus’ permission.

Col 1:17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).

a. Repeats the fact that He existed before anything else in creation existed.

b. Since this passage covers both things spiritual and physical, it states that He existed even before the angels and the angelic realm.

c. Before anything in creation existed the only possible thing that could exist is God Himself, therefore Jesus IS God himself. The second member of the trinity (Father, Son, Spirit)

d. This explodes any myth about him being only a man born of a woman, an angelic being in the role of savior, or any other attempt by false religions to explain Him as anything other than God Himself.

e. The only way Jesus can be both God and “firstborn of all creation” is by God the Father appointing Him as savior of all mankind even before the heavens and earth were created (Gen. 1:1) and planning for him to be born as a man to fulfill that purpose.

f. This means that Jesus is both 100% perfect God, and 100% perfect man in one person forever as our 100% perfect Lord (deity) and Savior (humanity).

g. Before He was born of a virgin, while He lived on earth as a man, and after His resurrection and sitting at the right hand of the Father until the end of all creation, He is the one holding everything together, both in spiritual and physical creation.

h. Therefore, nothing can be stolen, killed, or destroyed, without Him allowing it to be. Even our bad choices which lead to negative consequences can either be allowed for our benefit, or reversed through His intervention to prevent our destruction.

i. The challenge for us in everyday life is to figure out which one is taking place, strengthening toward maturity, or an opportunity for him to show His love for us through deliverance.

i. Regular Bible study will equip us with the tools for growing to maturity. This amounts to expressing our love for Him through the desire to get to know Him better, a key foundational principle for all good relationships.

ii. Prayer keeps us in touch with Him about our situations and needs. Since He knows everything we need before we even ask it, prayer is not to give Him information He doesn’t know, rather, it is our expression of reliance, trust, and therefore love for Him as the only one able to meet our needs.

iii. He responds to both expressions of love toward Him by loving us back through giving us the ability to understand, and know Him better, and delivering us from harmful things.

iv. Even the lack of deliverance from harmful things (as in terminal diseases, handicaps, or accidents) are an example of love from Him to us, and through us to others in similar situations by using us as an example of how we can still love God, and ourselves, and each other in spite of whatever situation we find ourselves in.

4) Jesus is the supreme authority of the church and our example for living.

Col 1:18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything {and} in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent].

a. Just as our head (mind) determines the words and actions of every other part of the body, Jesus is the controlling part of His body—the church.

b. Jesus’ resurrection made Him the firstborn of what we all are to be one day, and as His brothers and sisters we all look up to Him and strive to be like Him as any child looks up to and tries to be like their older brother or sister.

c. As the first and finest example of what we should be, He alone is the pattern and authority we should accept and follow for our lives
.

5) God the Father is well pleased with the perfection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Col 1:19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently.

a. When we are well pleased with things our children do that reflect how we raised and trained them, we rejoice with and dearly prize them for their obedience to our instruction.

b. Similarly, God the Father rejoices with and dearly prizes His Son Jesus for all He has done for us in obedience to Him, His Father.

c. In like manner, when we take on the same obedience to God’s will that Jesus did, He will also be well pleased with and dearly prize us as well.

6) Jesus’ death on the cross made peace and fellowship with God the Father possible for all of us.

Col 1:20 And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

a. Because of sin in our lives, we are hopelessly condemned to eternal punishment.

b. God the Father’s plan was for His Son Jesus Christ to serve Him and intervene on our behalf so that the punishment would be taken off of us and put on Himself.

c. The resulting payment by Him of our sin debt forever released from condemnation all who believe in who He is and what He did for us. (Rom. 8:1)

d. This parole from eternal punishment applies to all, whether on earth or in heaven.

i. “On earth” means all who are alive on the earth after Jesus paid our sin debt to the very end of time when He returns.

ii. “In heaven” refers to all the Old Testament believers in the coming messiah that died before the sin debt was paid. Their faith in what He would do saved them just as our faith in what He did saves us now.

e. Jesus’ death on the cross was the payment required to cancel the sin debt for all of us. He lived a sinless life, took our sins on Himself as His own, and died in our place. (For the wages of sin is death” Rom. 6:23)

f. The obvious conclusion here is that no other person, place, thing, thought, or action by anyone else can ever erase our sin debt to the Father. Jesus is the only one, and the only way. (Jn. 14:6)

7) Jesus is the only one who was born and lived in complete, perfect fellowship with God the Father.

Col 1:21 And although you at one time were estranged {and} alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities,

a. All of us, at some point in our life (before our salvation), were separated from and hostile to God and everything He stands for, doing only what suited ourselves with no thought for anyone else.

b. This wicked attitude in everyone’s life forever disqualifies anyone else but Jesus Himself from fulfilling the role of God and Savior of all mankind.

c. Anyone else claiming another truth, another way, or another way of living in order to earn or deserve salvation other than way Jesus provided, the truth He revealed, or the life He lived for us is a liar and is not to be believed, much less followed as the god or leader of a religion they build around those lies, even if they try to use His name to validate it. (2 Cor. 11:4)

8) Jesus’ service to God of sacrificing Himself in our place makes Him the only one able to bridge the gap between sinful man and sinless God.

Col 1:22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence.

a. “Jesus” \j(e)-sus\ as a boy's name is pronounced JEE-zus, or hay-SOOS. It is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Jesus is "the Lord is salvation". Short form of Joshua, from the Hebrew name Jehoshua. This name refers to His being God Himself, the second member of the trinity.

b. The name “Christ” (Latin Christus) is from Greek Khristos, a derivative of khriein ‘to anoint’, a word borrowed from the Hebrew mashiach ‘Messiah’, which likewise means literally ‘the anointed’ (dedicated to the service of God). This refers to the human form he had while on earth.

c. Jesus, being God cannot be in service to himself, therefore “Christ” can only apply to His humanity.

d. He took away our imperfect sinful position before God and replaced it with His own perfect sinless position before God. When God the Father looks at us He no longer sees our disobedience or imperfections, He sees His Son Jesus Christ’s obedience and perfection.

e. Through the death of His flesh in service to God the Father Jesus Christ was able to present us “holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence.”

i. Holy – dedicated or devoted to the service of God the Father, just as He is.

ii. Faultless – free from existing faults, flaws, or defects; perfect, just as He is.

iii. Irreproachable – free from future faults, blame, or causes for disapproval, just as He is.

9) The Supremacy of Christ and what He did for us is what drives us in our service God through Him.

Col 1:23 [And this He will do] provided that you continue to stay with {and} in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled {and} steadfast, not shifting {or} moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister.

a. With our salvation certain and secure through Christ’s work on the cross, and with our sins and faults erased from God’s sight, all that is left of us for Him to see is whatever we do as a Christian that reflects what Christ did on earth as our example for living.

b. Salvation guarantees that we will be in Heaven with God forever. But whatever portion of those believers in Heaven that Jesus will present to the Father as holy, faultless, and irreproachable depends on the decisions those believers make in their everyday Christian lives:

i. Their faith will be constant. They will “continue to stay with {and} in the faith [in Christ]”

ii. Their hope will not waver. They will stay “well-grounded and settled {and} steadfast, not shifting {or} moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel

iii. Their love will drive them onward. They will be so passionate about spreading the good news (the Gospel) of what Jesus did for us that every part of their lives will be a reflection of Jesus Christ Himself. Our example, our words, our actions, will reveal our thoughts about Him, and the results all this has on our lives creates a hunger in others to have what we have.

Conclusion and Summary: The Supremacy of the Son of God

Jesus Christ is the visible, physical reality of our invisible, spiritual God. Everything that exists comes from Him, and nothing can exist without him. He is the head of the church, and all believers are the body of the church. Together, With Him as the leader, we are one unstoppable force for good forever. His perfect life made possible His ability to claim our sins as His own for our forgiveness by God the Father. His death paid the sin debt we owed to the Father. His resurrection gives us the reality of what we will also one day become. No person, place or thing can ever equal what He did for us. He is the only one through which salvation is possible. This supremacy of Christ above all others is what should drive us in our faith, hope, and love for God (Father, Son, and Spirit) in our service to Him in and through the church, the body of believers all working together as a unified force for the same purposes that drove Christ while He was on earth.

Understanding the supremacy of Christ supplies the information we need to understand the next message Paul was communicating to us in Colossians, namely, our service, our labor, and our ministry for the church as the body of Christ.

Our Labor for the Church – Colossians 1:24-2:5 (Amplified)

What does it mean to be a "Christian"? Do we have a job description to refer to for the Christian life as in career life? In an article by Shashank Nigam on March 16th, 2008 titled “Happy Crew = Happy Passengers = Great Brand” at http://simpliflying.com, he reveals the secret to success for the suffering airline industry. He states, “…it is an established fact that if the working conditions are good, the crew is happy, and that rubs off onto the passengers so that they too are happy. The fact of life is if you treat a human with dignity and respect, most people will go an extra mile for you. JetBlue in the US, Virgin Atlantic in Europe and AirAsia are prime examples of airlines that are known to take good care of their staff, who in turn go the extra mile in keeping the brand Xperience top-notch.”

What is odd is that it has taken nearly 2000 years for us to rediscover the same fact that God gave to us in the Bible. If the crew is well taken care of and are happy, the passengers are as well. Only when the needs of the crew are met by the commanders in charge, and the crew itself works together as a team, looking out for and helping each other, are they in the position to meet the needs of the passengers in their care. We as Christians are charged with the same responsibility. We are not just to look out for ourselves, but our fellow Christians as well. Only then are we able to serve the unbelieving masses on earth that are heading for certain doom on this sinking ship called Earth.

God, through the apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians posted the job description and responsibilities for being a Christian just as we post them for other careers today. The supremacy of Christ, coupled with our love for our fellow man should keep us motivated to fulfill each one of these requirements for being one member, one cell, in the church, the body of Christ, a unified collection of Christians (cells), each with their own individual function, yet all working together for the same common goal and for the welfare of all other members (cells) making up that body.

The Christian’s job description is as follows:

1) You must help to remove other’s burdens by taking them on yourself.

Col 1:24 [Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking {and} remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ's afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.

a. When one part of our body is injured or is suffering, all other parts of the body suffer too, and do whatever is necessary to promote healing of the injured part. The same principle should mark the character of each and every Christian.

b. Just as Jesus suffered because of who and what He is, the Christ, the Savior, we also will suffer because of who and what we are, Christians, followers of Jesus Christ. To be considered worthy of the same kind of suffering that the God of all creation suffered is a great cause for rejoicing. If we were not part of His family we would not be suffering for the same reasons He did.

c. Jesus, innocent of any sin or fault, suffered in our place so that we may be blessed as a result. It is just as proper now for us to suffer innocently for another in order that they might be blessed by seeing Christ through us and reach out to Him for guidance or salvation.

d. The suffering that would have come to Christ had He not died now comes to us for the very same reason: the devil hates Christ and all He stands for, therefore he hates us too. The suffering for Christ’s sake will not stop till the devil and his demons, and all who follow him are forever punished.

e. Therefore for us to ease another’s burdens by taking them on ourselves, or doing whatever it takes to help them heal or find comfort is one of the highest examples of Christ-likeness we can display.

f. We are to go the extra mile for others, even when we are not shown dignity and respect we are still to show it to others, as long as doing so does not violate God’s principles for living and worshiping Him.

2) You must be a servant to God by being a servant to others.

Col 1:25 In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you]--

a. To be “in accordance with” means to be in harmony with, just as two similar musical notes played together make a beautiful sound, or two kinds of food when put together complement each other.

b. Our ministry in the body of Christ is our service to God and to others (both believers and unbelievers), just as Christ’s ministry was service to God through serving others (us).

c. This duty was entrusted directly to Paul by God Himself, and as Christians we also share the same entrusted duty, the purpose of which is to benefit others.

d. There is no better way to benefit others than to make the Word of God fully known to them. The old saying goes “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”. Helping others with individual needs has short term benefits which are also necessary, but teaching them how to help themselves has lifetime results.

3) You must continually grow toward superior moral and spiritual excellence.

Col 1:26 The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),

a. The key to understanding this verse lies in the Biblical definition of the Greek word “musterion” translated here as “mystery”. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) at http://www.bible-history.com/isbe defines “mystery” in this way:

i. The usual modern meaning of “mystery” is, “something in itself obscure or incomprehensible, difficult or impossible to understand”. This does not accurately define the exact sense of the Greek word musterion,

ii. The Greek definition is, “a secret imparted only to the initiated (people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity), what is unknown until it is revealed, whether it be easy or hard to understand”.

iii. The most common meaning in the New Testament is that of Paul’s, namely,
“a Divine truth once hidden, but now revealed in the gospels”.

iv. "Mystery" and "revelation" are in fact related and almost the same terms. The mysteries of Christianity are its revealed doctrines, the result of Divine revelation and are spiritually discerned.

v. From this it follows that Christianity has no secret doctrines, for what was once hidden has now been revealed.

vi. But here arises a seeming contradiction.

1. On the one hand, there are passages which seem to imply a doctrine of reserve. The mystery revealed to some would seem to be still concealed from others.

a. The doctrines of Christ and of His Kingdom are hidden from the worldly wise and the prudent (Mt 11:25; 1 Cor 2:6 ff),

b. and from all who are outside the kingdom (Mt 13:11 ff and parallel),

c. and there are truths withheld even from Christians while in an elementary stage of development (1 Cor 3:1 ff; Heb 5:11-14).

2. On the other hand, there are many passages in which the truths of revelation are said to be freely and unreservedly communicated to all (e.g. Mt 10:27; 28:19; Acts 20:20,27; 2 Cor 3:12 f; Eph 3:9, "all men"; 6:19 f; Col 1:28; 1 Tim 2:4).

3. The explanation is that the communication is limited, not by any secrecy in the gospel message itself or any reserve on the part of the speaker, but by the willingness of the hearer to receive it:

a. In the case of the carnally-minded, moral ignorance or worldliness makes them blind to the light which shines on them (2 Cor 4:2-4).

b. In the case of the "babe in Christ," the apparent reserve is due merely to the educational principle of adapting the teaching to the progressive willingness of the disciple to receive it (Jn 16:12 f).

b. In other words, God puts the truths He wants us to know in a form that our current stage of spiritual growth can readily understand.

i. When we grow more He will reveal a deeper, more complex level of those truths. It is much like graduating from elementary school to high school, then to college.

ii. There are no obscure doctrines or intentional holding back of truths in the New Testament, just varying levels of understandability due to the spiritual growth and willingness of the learner to receive the truths as they are revealed.

c. Christ’s birth, His ministry on Earth, His death, and His resurrection was not understood by angels or by men until it actually happened. Not because the truth was kept from them, but because they either didn’t have the level of spiritual growth to fully understand it, or the willingness to accept it. In fact, even today, the Jewish people still refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah, as do many other religions.

d. God holds no knowledge back from us; He has revealed all of His truths to, “His holy people (the saints)”. But just who are these “saints”? The ISBE defines them for us this way:

i. Both the Old Testament Hebrew and the New Testament Greek define a saint as “one whom God has set apart for His own”, in other words, “God’s people”, Christians.

ii. Being a saint is not a result of personal character, or approval by God of superior moral achievements already made. Our level of spiritual growth has nothing to do with it, nor can any man vote in or vote out people as being saints as the Catholics do. God alone reserves that right.

iii. All born again believers are saints in God's eyes. Those voted in are not necessarily.

1. (Rom. 1:7) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be SAINTS: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. (1 Cor. 6:2) Do ye not know that the SAINTS shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by YOU, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3. (Rev. 14:12) Here is the patience of the SAINTS: here are THEY(Meaning EVERYONE) that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus

iv. We have it backward when we think that we must attain some level of superior moral and spiritual excellence before God will accept us as, or call us a saint. Rather, the ISBE says that being a saint is from the beginning an absolute duty. God sets us apart as His own, classifies us as saints, and as a result, through our willing diligence, we begin to grow toward superior moral and spiritual excellence.

4) You must diligently and consistently seek the magnificent treasures of wisdom contained in God’s Word — the Bible.

Col 1:27 To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within {and} among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.

a. In the Bible, there are two types of people: God’s people, the chosen ones, all of Israel, and Gentiles, all other people on earth who are not of Israel. We still have these two types but because of Christ the terms have changed to saved and unsaved, or believers and unbelievers, Christians and non-Christians.

b. All believers in Jesus Christ are considered by God to be His chosen people, His “Israel” or “Abraham’s seed”.

i. The name Israel, according to Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary means one “who prevails with God (who wins by means of God). And through Christ’s work on the cross and our acceptance of Him and what He did for us, all Christians are winners by means of what God has done for us.

ii. As proof of this look at (Gal. 3:26-29, Amplified) “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed], then you are Abraham's offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.”

c. Who are “Abraham’s seed”, and what is the promise? This is revealed in Rom. 9:6-8 (Amplified).

i. Abraham’s descendents – (Rom 9:6-8) “However, it is not as though God's Word had failed [coming to nothing]. For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to [the true] Israel. And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, [the promise was] Your descendants will be called {and} counted through the line of Isaac [though Abraham had an older son]. That is to say, it is not the children of the body [of Abraham] who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted [as Abraham's true] descendants.

ii. The promise – The original conditional covenant stated that if Abram would obey God, then God would provide 7 physical blessings, with the last one also being a major spiritual one that refers to Jesus Christ. Eventually all people and all of the spirit creation will be blessed because of Christ's acceptable sacrifice.

1. The promise is found in Gen. 12:1-3, and it says: “NOW [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father's house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous {and} distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses {or} uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families {and} kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].”

2. The promise applies to all who leave from where they are and follow God, “Repent” carries the same meaning: it is a verb, an action word meaning “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life”

3. God’s promise breaks down into 7 parts, all of which also apply to Christians:

a. I will bless all families of the Earth through you – (Matthew 28:18-20) the great commission.

b. You shall be a blessing – (Lk. 6:38) God’s command for us to give, or bless, others. (Rom. 12:14) His command for us to bless those who persecute us.

c. I will bless you – (Lk. 6:38) How God promises to bless us if we do. And again in (Jn. 14:13) He will give us whatever we ask in His Name.

d. I will bless them that bless you – (Lk. 6:38) God blesses those who bless others.

e. I will curse them that curse you – (Rom. 1:18) God’s wrath on those who oppose and hinder God’s truth from being operative through us to them.

f. I will make of you a great nation – (Gal. 3:26-28) we are all now one people.

g. I will make your name great – (Rev. 3:12) God will give us a new name

iii. All believers are therefore adopted sons of God, regardless of their genetic background.

d. It delights God to reveal to unbelievers through us, His saints (all Christians), the riches of the glory of His revealed truth, this truth being that Christ lives within and among us (within believers and therefore among unbelievers)

i. The “riches of the glory of His revealed truth” can be better understood by simplifying and restating it as the “treasures of the magnificent wonder of the Biblical truths He has freely given to us”

ii. Christ IS the hope (our certain expectation) of understanding and appreciating the magnificent wonder of the treasures His revealed truth (the Bible) contains. The better we know him, the better we understand His truth, because He IS the truth (Jn. 14:6).

5) You must grow to spiritual maturity, and you must pass on your training to others that they too may become spiritually mature.

Col 1:28 Him we preach {and} proclaim, warning {and} admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).

a. To be “in Christ” simply stated means to be a dedicated disciple of Christ (Jn. 15:5).

b. As Christians we have several duties when it comes to training new believers to be disciples of Christ:

i. We are to preach Christ – accurately teach the truths about Christ from the Bible to others

ii. We are to proclaim Christ – publically state who He is, what He did, and why.

iii. We are to warn everyone of the ways and purposes of God – reveal what the consequences are for those who reject God’s ways and purposes.

iv. We are to admonish everyone of the ways and purposes of God – attempt to correct those we teach whenever we see error in their accepted beliefs.

v. We are to instruct everyone in the ways and purposes of God – teach the ways and purposes of God to all who desire to know them.

c. Our duties as Christians (Col. 1:28) match up perfectly with (1 Tim. 3:16-17) where the purposes of God’s Word are revealed:
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof {and} conviction of sin, for correction of error {and} discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete {and} proficient, well fitted {and} thoroughly equipped for every good work.

i. To instruct us = instructing everyone in the ways and proposes of God

ii. To reprove and convict us of sin = warn everyone of the ways and purposes of God

iii. To correct errors in our beliefs and discipline us in obedience = admonish everyone in the ways and purposes of God

iv. To train us in the ways of righteousness = Proclaim Christ

v. To thoroughly equip us for every good work = Preach Christ

d. To whom would it matter that we should present spiritually mature disciples but to God alone? The implication here is that God will recognize us and hold us accountable for the training we have given to those we have trained. Not specifically for how much they have learned or even how much they have grown; that is each student’s own responsibility. What we will be held accountable for is our willingness and diligence in training them and the accuracy of the truths we have taught.

e. How will we know if those we teach have reached spiritual maturity? Paul give us the answer to that as well:

i. They will be fully-grown – Just as physical maturity is obvious to others, so is spiritual maturity. Disciples who are no longer spiritual children will:

1. Know and teach the ways and purposes of God. (instruction).

2. Avoid and warn others of the results of sinning (reproof).

3. Correct false beliefs in themselves and others (correction).

4. Have certain knowledge that they are saved and pass that knowledge on to others (training in righteousness).

5. Be thoroughly equipped to do good works due to patterning their life after Jesus’ example, and helping others to do the same (equipping)

ii. They will be fully initiated – It will be obvious even to casual observers that they have received a tremendous amount of revealed knowledge from God’s Word.

iii. They will be complete – They will have all five of the above indications of spiritual maturity present in their lives. Not one will be missing.

iv. They will be perfect – They will always do the right thing at the right time. This is not to say that it is possible to reach sinless perfection in our everyday lives. Even the most mature Christian is guilty of sin and error from time to time. Not even the Apostle Paul who wrote 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament was immune to it (Rom. 7:15-8:1). Even when having done what is wrong they will correct it through confession and repentance and get back on track. (1 Jn. 1:9)

6) You must rely on God’s strength, not your own, to accomplish these responsibilities of Christianity.

Col 1:29 For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles {and} works within me.

a. If it were possible for us to do all of this out of our own strength we would have cause to boast before God and man about our abilities, and power, and accomplishments. The Bible makes it very clear that our own efforts have nothing to do with our spiritual accomplishments (Eph. 2:8-9)

b. Instead, God “enkindles and works” superhuman energy within us to accomplish all that He has planned for us.

i. “enkindles” has three shades of meaning, all of which reveal something about what the power of God in us does:

1. It means to set on fire, to light – as a person would light firewood with a match. The firewood cannot take any credit for the resulting fire; it is the work of the match that does it. Likewise, we cannot take credit for the power we receive to do God’s will, He ignites that fire of dedication in us.

2. It means to excite to activity or eagerness – We can work up enough interest in most anything we want to do, but sooner or later we get bored with it and move on to the next pursuit. When God’s power is at work in us we have an eagerness that is unending. Yes we stray from time to time, and try other things, but eventually we will come back and discover so much untapped power that we cannot understand why we ever strayed in the first place.

3. It means to make luminous and glowing – as in turning on a lamp. You can turn on a lamp all day long, but if it is not plugged into a source of power it will never fulfill the purpose it was designed for, to give light to all around it. We as Christians are no different (Matt. 5:15; Lk. 11:36). Our “light” is God’s truth; He puts it into us as a power source, not to be hidden, but to shine and bring that light, that truth, to all around you. And in the Bible we have a never-ending source of this light.

c. The only part we play is to make use of it to the point of exhaustion, as Paul says in Col. 1:29.

i. God’s power coming to us is of course inexhaustible, it is our own flesh that has limits.

1. Jesus knew that our flesh had limits (Matt. 26:41).

2. Jesus Himself, because He took on the form of a man, needed time to rest and sleep (Matt. 8:24).

3. We too need rest; time to recharge and restore our passion for doing God’s will.

ii. An unswerving passion to do God’s will should be the norm, not the rare exception among all of who call ourselves “Christian”.

7) You must also have a strong desire to serve all believers, whether you know them or not.

Col 2:1 FOR I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you [how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you] and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen my face {and} known me personally.

a. Paul’s tremendous love and desire to care for the believers in Colossae is what drove him to weariness in serving them.

b. An inward struggle is ever present between the unfathomable wisdom and endless power that God blesses us with, and the weak flesh we are born with.

c. It is up to each believer to decide which will rule his life, the Spirit or the flesh; always keeping in mind our limitations, and getting rest when needed to recharge and resume our ministry.

d. Paul drove himself, not just for those he knew, but for all believers, even those he had never met. This includes everyone who has ever read his letters; this includes you and me.

e. This single-minded desire to serve believers in the Church, whether we know them or not, should mark the character of every single believer in Jesus Christ.

8) You must be a close-knit brother or sister to all others in the Church, ever growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 2:2 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth {and} blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with {and} may know more definitely {and} accurately {and} thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One).

a. Paul’s main concern was that all believers’ hearts, or mental attitudes, would be one of encouragement while they are being “knit together in love” as one Body of Christ (the Church).

i. The Greek word for “knit together” (symbibazō) means “to unite or knit together in affection, or friendliness”. We get our English word “symbiosis” (an interdependent, or mutually beneficial relationship between two persons, or groups) from this Greek word.

ii. A better translation for the Greek “in love” (en agapē) would be “by brotherly love”, as in sibling relationships.

iii. Therefore, Paul wanted all believers to have a positive mental attitude of encouragement while they are being united into one Body of Christ by means of brotherly love. (“brotherly” applying to both men and women)

b. The reason Paul wanted all believers to treat each other as brothers and sisters was because he knew that: it would result in:

i. First, “abounding wealth {and} blessings of assured conviction of understanding,”

1. The Greek word for “abounding wealth” (ploutos) means an abundance of external possessions.

2. The Greek word for “assured conviction” (plērophoria) means full assurance, a most certain confidence.

3. Therefore, an abundance of external possessions resulting from a most certain confidence of understanding the truths from God, His Word.

4. This is not to imply that great fame and fortune will automatically follow he who follows God. Being a Christian a get rich quick scheme. Rather, God has promised to give us all that we ask of according to His will and purpose (Heb. 4:16; 1 Jn. 5:14; Jas. 4:2; Jn. 14:13)

5. Whether it is our time, truth, talent, or things, God has promised to give us an abundance of whatever we need to bless others we encounter in our daily lives. This is also why we are not to selfishly hoard our blessings, not passing them along to those in need (Lk. 12:13-21). God is a rewarder, not a hoarder, we are to be also.

6. Joseph in the Old Testament is a better example of how we are to store abundant blessings with the intent of helping those in need (Gen. 41:49-57).

ii. Second, a progressively more intimate acquaintance with Christ that is based on a full understanding of who and what He is (the Anointed One). This sets up a cycle of blessing that is never ending and unlimited. Better knowledge of God’s truth brings blessings and a closer relationship with Christ, which in turn brings better understanding of God’s truth (because Jesus Christ is the Word – Jn. 1:1) and more blessings, etc..

9) You must consider Christ alone as the source of all true wealth.

Col 2:3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge {and} enlightenment are stored up {and} lie hidden.

a. All the treasures of truth – knowledge and wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) – are in Christ. These two things (knowledge and wisdom) are true wealth. Everything else we call wealth (our time, talent, and things) are just the tools we use in applying knowledge and wisdom.

b. 'Knowledge' is information of which someone is aware. Knowledge is also used to mean the confident understanding of God’s Word, potentially with the ability to use it for a specific purpose. Knowledge is learned and changes over time.

c. 'Wisdom' it is the timeless ability to make correct judgments and decisions based on knowledge learned. It is an intangible quality gained through experience.

10) You must therefore avoid the pitfalls of deception that accompany a lack of knowledge and wisdom.

Col 2:4 I say this in order that no one may mislead {and} delude you by plausible {and} persuasive {and} attractive arguments {and} beguiling speech.

a. Satan, through his lies and demonic influences are constantly trying to lead us away from God and the ways of all truth. If he can’t mislead us directly he will mislead others so that they can mislead us.

b. Satan uses plausible arguments to deceive us. These are mental temptations; reasonable and believable things that make sense and seem possible until examined more closely to reveal the twisted truths involved.

c. Satan uses persuasive arguments to deceive us. These are soul temptations; influential or convincing lies that we accept because it comes from a respected authority, or from some source of motivation, as in a pep talk or type of encouragement that is based on false truths.

d. Satan uses attractive arguments to deceive us. These are physical temptations; eye-catching lies that we sometimes see as wrong from the beginning but we accept because they appeal to our fleshly appetites for pleasure, power, prosperity, or popularity.

e. Satan uses beguiling speech to deceive us. These are emotional temptations; aimed at provoking or appeasing certain feelings we have or desire to have. Flattery misused is one form of this. Fear and worry are two others.

11) You are to delight in the ever growing spiritual maturity of all members of the Body of Christ, both individually and collectively.

Col 2:5 For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness {and} the solid front {and} steadfastness of your faith in Christ [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

a. Letting all other brothers and sisters in Christ that you come into contact with know that you love them, support them, and appreciate them and their continued spiritual growth is a great source of mutual encouragement.

b. The Body of Christ, united, each member performing their own particular purpose for their life in an interactive effort to do God’s will on Earth is an unstoppable force for good.

Conclusion and Summary: Our Labor for the Church

Easing the burdens of others is the first and foremost duty of every Christian. We do this by being God’s servant, and being God’s servant means being the servant of all around you (Matt. 23:11). To do this we must continually grow toward moral and spiritual excellence (spiritual maturity). Diligently and consistently seeking the magnificent treasures of wisdom contained in God’s Word — the Bible. And on our way to spiritual maturity we are to pass along what we learn and help others to grow to spiritual maturity as well. God’s limitless strength and power will be within us always to help us accomplish all of these things; all that is required on our part is the willingness to do so. We must have a continual strong desire to serve fellow believers, whether we know them or not. We must unite together as one body (the Church) with the common goal of serving God in our own individual way, yet interactively with all believers, regardless of certain theological disagreements and differences. Great wealth of knowledge and wisdom are promised to us by God, along with whatever else we need to apply His wisdom to our needs and the needs of others. While doing this we must always be on our guard to avoid the deceptive temptations of the devil which are targeted at our mind, soul, body, and emotions. Success in all of this unifies all believers into one unstoppable force for God, and for good, in the world today.