WEBVTT 00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:02.850 As a church family. 00:00:03.180 --> 00:00:06.840 We're about to start a new series together called Be Complete from the book of Colossians. 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:10.940 So if you have your Bible with you this morning, I'm going to go ahead and invite you to turn to the book of Colossians. 00:00:11.620 --> 00:00:13.420 If you're using a Bible out of the pew. 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:17.580 at our church, it's on page 157, in the New Testament portion of the Bible. 00:00:18.900 --> 00:00:19.780 You'll be able to find it there. 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:25.760 And I just want to say, as a church, I have been looking for an opportunity to use that song. 00:00:25.820 --> 00:00:26.200 I don't know why. 00:00:26.420 --> 00:00:27.450 It's the weirdest song I ever have. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:28.910 All these songs to make introduction videos. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:33.100 I'm glad I got a chance to use it, so I'm excited about that. 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:38.130 You want to where the video comes from, it's my wonderful creativity at work at its best there. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:38.720 Right. 00:00:38.980 --> 00:00:41.590 So if that kind of music freaks you out, I was happy to do it this morning. 00:00:42.300 --> 00:00:43.590 I'm looking forward to it. 00:00:44.720 --> 00:00:51.760 The book of Colossians is an interesting book found in really towards the middle of the New 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:51.860 Testament. 00:00:55.160 --> 00:00:57.730 Colosse was an interesting city. 00:00:58.940 --> 00:01:02.340 It was once a city of mass amounts of people. 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:09.420 By the time the Apostle Paul showed up on the scene, it had gone to a fallen to a much smaller city than the typical cities 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:10.740 that we saw Paul visit. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:13.220 In fact, you will find within scriptures we study together. 00:01:13.220 --> 00:01:20.400 Many people believe that Paul didn't actually ever visit the city of Colosse, but nonetheless, because Paul journeyed across on 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:24.000 his missionary journeys when on three separate missionary journeys that we know of through the book of acts. 00:01:24.600 --> 00:01:31.600 What we find in the book of Colossians is a church that was established through the work of Paul as he began to preach the to the gospel in surrounding 00:01:31.600 --> 00:01:34.010 cities around the area of Colossae. 00:01:35.660 --> 00:01:39.120 What happened to the city was that it was changed. 00:01:40.850 --> 00:01:45.800 It was changed for the glory of God by the power of the gospel, as it was made known to the people there. 00:01:47.880 --> 00:01:54.940 What I find about interesting about the early church people and the followers of Jesus is that when they sought to administer the gospel, to 00:01:54.940 --> 00:02:00.490 share the truth that God had accomplished in their life, and to give the experience that Jesus brought into their own world with other people. 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:01.680 It came at a sacrifice. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:11.640 This morning, we could begin by asking ourselves, when we think about the idea of truth and the significance of truth in our lives, and understanding what it means to be complete 00:02:11.640 --> 00:02:12.320 in Christ. 00:02:12.820 --> 00:02:17.260 Asking ourselves, how far are you willing to go for the sake of truth? 00:02:19.820 --> 00:02:25.510 We read about the life of Jesus when Jesus showed up on the scene in the first century. 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:30.220 What he was interested in is finding people who wanted to be radically different for the sake of his kingdom. 00:02:32.660 --> 00:02:40.400 He tells us in Luke 923, and he was saying to them all, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take 00:02:40.440 --> 00:02:42.980 up his cross daily and follow me. 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:52.180 The cross creating a picture in their mind of something that's not simply overlooked, but understanding to follow after Jesus was going to take sacrifice. 00:02:52.320 --> 00:02:56.160 So again, I ask this morning, for the sake of truth, how far are you willing to sacrifice? 00:02:58.980 --> 00:03:06.000 Jesus even went on to say in Matthew chapter ten and verse 38, and he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:07.110 worthy of me. 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:16.760 We read about the life of Paul and the man that was instrumental in being used to help spread Christianity throughout the entire known Roman Empire 00:03:16.760 --> 00:03:23.800 at the time, began his journey with God as an enemy directly opposing his kingdom and his work against God's 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:24.600 people. 00:03:25.820 --> 00:03:32.040 In fact, if you were to turn open to the book of acts and read chapter eight and verse verse one, it would say that Paul was consenting unto his death. 00:03:32.040 --> 00:03:36.650 He was excited about the death of the church as he sought out to wreak havoc upon the Christians. 00:03:39.100 --> 00:03:46.120 In acts nine, what we discover is that as Paul began his journey against God as a foe, eventually 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:53.600 he became God's friend, and on the way to Damascus on a journey to punish Christians 00:03:53.600 --> 00:03:55.940 and throw them in jail for following after Jesus. 00:03:56.700 --> 00:04:04.000 Paul experienced his conversion and accepted Christ, and it was on that moment that very quickly in the Apostle Paul's 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:11.140 life that he began, for the sake of truth, a life of sacrifice, a life that's about change, a change that would be carried into 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:15.820 the cities around this world and into the region of Colossae, that the people may know Jesus. 00:04:17.940 --> 00:04:25.180 It says in first Corinthians 1123 more imprisonments, talking about his own life, countless beatings, 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:26.100 often near death. 00:04:26.340 --> 00:04:29.920 Five times I received the hand of the Jews, the 40 lashes less one. 00:04:30.760 --> 00:04:32.240 Three times I was beaten with rods. 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:38.400 Once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked a night and a day I was adrift at sea. 00:04:38.400 --> 00:04:42.040 On frequent journeys in danger from rivers and danger from robbers. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:43.570 And dangers from my own people. 00:04:44.580 --> 00:04:45.560 Danger from Gentiles. 00:04:45.700 --> 00:04:46.660 Dangers in the cities. 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:47.620 Dangers in the wilderness. 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:48.940 Danger at sea. 00:04:48.940 --> 00:04:55.960 Danger from false brothers in toil and hardship through many a sleepless night and hunger and thirst, often without food in cold 00:04:55.960 --> 00:04:57.650 and exposure. 00:04:58.960 --> 00:05:04.860 And perhaps the most shocking verse I find out of the whole passage is Paul talks about his suffering for the Lord. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:11.560 He says, and apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 00:05:13.760 --> 00:05:20.900 If you were to read a commentary on the portion of Scripture as Paul describes the physical abuse that he went through, it says within most commentaries that in verse 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:28.260 28, as Paul desires his anxiety, and he has the anxiety towards the churches, that it's a greater anxiety for the sake of the church than what he's experiencing 00:05:28.320 --> 00:05:30.440 in his own physical punishment as a believer. 00:05:30.820 --> 00:05:37.840 Following after Jesus, he carries the pressure of every church that he's helped to establish in knowing that they need to get closer to God and 00:05:37.840 --> 00:05:41.850 growing with him to experience that change. 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:44.600 I can relate to that. 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:48.320 As a pastor, you wake up in the middle of the night, you pray for your church. 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:50.460 You think throughout the day how to pray for your church. 00:05:50.580 --> 00:05:57.760 You seek to establish and deepen everyone's relationship with the church, to understand what it means to follow after Jesus, to the point where when 00:05:57.880 --> 00:06:05.880 Paul wrote the book of Colossians in chapter one and verse 24, he says to us, well, 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:07.280 this is dramatic. 00:06:07.340 --> 00:06:09.140 Pause. 00:06:09.220 --> 00:06:16.340 Now rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of his body, which is the church, 00:06:17.080 --> 00:06:20.180 in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. 00:06:21.460 --> 00:06:28.540 I mean, it's almost as if Paul is saying, I'm enjoying the opportunity, even if it's costing me anything to stand for you because of the sake of truth and the freedom that it brings, and knowing 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:31.560 Jesus as something that completes you as a person. 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:34.440 And for that, I'm willing to forsake all things. 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:38.730 For your sake that I do this. 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:47.680 See, Paul understood as he began to sacrifice and minister to the churches, he understood that life was at stake and there was a battle 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:49.130 at hand for truth. 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:55.260 Paul, as he wrote the book of Colossians to the church of Colossae. 00:06:55.640 --> 00:06:58.080 He also wrote other books during this time period. 00:06:59.880 --> 00:07:07.100 The book of Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon were all taking place within this same time that he wrote the book of Colossians 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.200 in Ephesians chapter five and verse 16. 00:07:09.200 --> 00:07:13.460 He writes to the Christians, make the most of your time, because the days are evil. 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:22.380 He goes on to say, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers and powers, and against the world forces of darkness, against 00:07:22.380 --> 00:07:25.000 the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:34.360 And as Paul writes these books to the believers Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, he tells us in the book of acts, in chapter 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:41.360 28 of the story of Paul's life, that Paul is now sitting in a Roman prison, sharing with them the 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:49.960 need that they have to get closer to Christ in their life, that they may experience what it means to be complete as people in 00:07:49.960 --> 00:07:51.240 the middle of prison. 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:59.760 Paul writes books like Philippians on joy in the middle of the moments, literally standing in 00:07:59.760 --> 00:08:01.460 bondage for Christ's sake. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:08.760 He tells the Colossians that in verse 24, for your sake I'm enjoying this suffering that you, whatever's lacking in 00:08:08.760 --> 00:08:11.100 you, in Christ, may be filled in your life. 00:08:11.260 --> 00:08:17.390 That's how much it's important for you to understand Jesus and give everything in your life to him. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:25.970 As Paul sits in this prison in Rome, he's visited by a man named Epaphras. 00:08:27.940 --> 00:08:30.140 Epaphras comes from the town of Colossae. 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:34.159 It's a town just 100 miles east of Ephesus. 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:41.460 It was a beautiful place that's described throughout history, one of the largest cities, we said, that has slowly died down. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:48.460 If you were to read the Book of Revelation in chapter two and chapter three, you'll see that as John wrote that book, there's churches that he describes seven 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:53.690 churches within those two chapters of revelation, all of which surround the town and the city of Colossae. 00:08:55.460 --> 00:09:01.380 It was a town of several different beliefs, a town that believed in religion for salvation. 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:03.020 A town that denied the deity of Christ. 00:09:03.420 --> 00:09:04.960 A town that taught in spiritual mysticism. 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:09.240 Angelic worship in a town that was in crisis for truth. 00:09:09.260 --> 00:09:14.580 And as Paul visits or excuse me, Epaphras visits Paul in the Roman prison. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:21.760 He goes there for a specific purpose, and that's to share with Paul the immediate crisis in which the church is facing in Colossae. 00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:27.500 And he says to Paul, Paul, remember the church that we started? 00:09:29.310 --> 00:09:36.560 Well, it's facing some problems now, even to the point that you realize in these moments you're in bondage 00:09:36.780 --> 00:09:40.420 because you have given everything for our sake that we might know Jesus. 00:09:40.640 --> 00:09:46.940 While this church in which we're talking about to you facing some hardships and truth. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:52.340 There are people entering our church, and they're beginning to teach a truth that's opposed to God. 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:53.460 Opposed to what you taught us. 00:09:53.520 --> 00:09:55.780 Opposed to everything Jesus would want us to know. 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:59.390 And our church isn't found itself complete in Christ. 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:02.360 Will you help us? 00:10:04.170 --> 00:10:11.460 Could you imagine those moments being the Apostle Paul sitting 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:18.820 in a prison saying to God, God, I have given you everything, and yet your children continue to struggle 00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:20.570 in truth. 00:10:22.180 --> 00:10:28.740 God, they continue to struggle to find who you are and live for you, even as they've discovered truth in their own lives and have given their lives to you. 00:10:28.760 --> 00:10:29.580 God, they're not committed. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:32.690 What in the world do you want me to say to this group of people? 00:10:35.020 --> 00:10:39.160 I know how I would respond, you kidding me? 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:42.520 I've given my life for this. 00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:49.840 I've given everything for you all to know Jesus and the best that you can do, as I sit in prison for your sake is to give up on him. 00:10:55.760 --> 00:10:59.940 Question we ask is how would Paul respond to this situation? 00:11:01.880 --> 00:11:09.020 See, Paul was a man of vision, both in goal and understanding his life and 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:10.720 practically living it out. 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:19.480 He knew exactly what Jesus desired for him to accomplish, and regardless of what other people choose in their life, Paul was a 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:21.080 man after Christ. 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:31.460 Tells us in chapter one and verse 28, the very purpose for which Paul, as he composes the book of Ephesians and Colossians, what 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:38.620 he wants to accomplish in the life of the believers there he says to them, we proclaim him, admonishing 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:45.560 every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.800 Be complete. 00:11:48.380 --> 00:11:51.300 The word complete in this passage literally means mature. 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:56.480 When it talks about your spiritual life, you're not lacking in anything meaning to grow with Christ. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.080 You don't have to depend on any man, though. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:59.260 It's good to fellowship with believers. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:02.320 You are mature in Jesus, able to minister for him in this world. 00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:06.700 As it says in Hebrews chapter five and verse 12. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:12.040 Not lacking anything, not having to relearn what's already been taught because you haven't applied the Scripture to your life. 00:12:12.760 --> 00:12:14.750 Paul here is seeking to mature the body of believers. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:21.200 And in fact, as you read on in the book of Ephesians in the very last chapter, it's the same vision that Epaphras has for the church in Colossae. 00:12:23.040 --> 00:12:30.920 He says, Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bond slave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always 00:12:30.920 --> 00:12:34.480 laboring earnestly for you in his prayers that you may stand perfect. 00:12:36.380 --> 00:12:43.500 It's the same Greek word mature, not lacking in anything, and fully assured of what the will of God is in 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:43.860 your life. 00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:51.440 When we talk about being complete this morning, the idea and the truth that we want to carry with us is that we have an understanding of who Jesus is. 00:12:51.520 --> 00:12:54.860 We as believers are going to be mature in Christ. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:57.620 That's what it means to be complete. 00:12:59.040 --> 00:13:04.920 And the battle that rages, that tears us away from following after Jesus is a battle over truth. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:05.360 And we'll see. 00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:08.690 As Paul begins to emphasize the need for truth and the life of believers. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:16.300 In chapter one, he's facing an issue of legalism, Jewish legalism, mysticism, Gnosticism 00:13:16.300 --> 00:13:18.080 which teaches you don't have to live for God. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.420 You just have to know about God. 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:22.850 This book is intended for the local church. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.980 It's written to the local church. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:31.380 It's an opportunity for us as people, as Paul writes to the church of Colossae, to examine ourselves and apply it to our lives and be 00:13:31.380 --> 00:13:35.720 changed by God's power and therefore be complete. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:42.620 Together, we're going to discover and know what's important and why. 00:13:42.640 --> 00:13:48.910 It's important to believe what's false and understanding of Jesus. 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:54.650 How to challenge false teaching as it's presented to us, and how to know and live in truth. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:03.460 Paul says within this book as he identifies, for us there is truth and there is the opposition to truth, and we as people need to live for it. 00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:12.000 Oftentimes within American society, we'll hear repeated among people, it's okay in what 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:15.300 you believe, whatever you believe, it's okay as long as you're a good person. 00:14:17.520 --> 00:14:22.320 Can I tell you that has that has no standing or bearing in the life of Jesus and everything that he taught. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:30.580 What you believe is extremely important because what you believe as a person dictates how you live your 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:34.340 life, and without truth, you will never live the way that God intends for you in this world. 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:38.840 You think about organizations like Nazi Germany. 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:43.220 They didn't wake up one day and decide to massacre millions of people. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.760 It started with a belief. 00:14:46.880 --> 00:14:47.960 And that belief was wrong. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:55.860 And it became late in which when people stood up to finally declare this belief is wrong, brought us all the way to a world war to stop it. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.990 Think of people as such as the Klu Klux Klan. 00:14:58.940 --> 00:15:01.600 They follow a belief, and that belief is wrong. 00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:05.180 To say it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as it's good. 00:15:05.400 --> 00:15:08.020 The only thing that comes in this world that is good comes from God. 00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:11.380 And unless you believe according to God's truth, you're not believing what is good. 00:15:11.900 --> 00:15:13.620 It matters what you believe. 00:15:17.900 --> 00:15:25.320 Think of the area of 911, how important it would be for Christians in that time period, just to be able to find those individuals 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:32.760 before they ram those planes in the building and say, listen, you're about to do something that's stupid, and it's because your belief is wrong. 00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:41.040 Paul begins to combat the truth, and we'll discover this through the four chapters that are in the book of Colossians. 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:48.780 In chapter one, he simply outlines for us the belief, Who is Jesus and what has he done for us? 00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:53.780 He begins to declare to us that legalism isn't the way to go in life and mysticism. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.660 Loving God without living for him isn't the way to life. 00:15:56.680 --> 00:16:01.220 And in chapter three, he then talks to Christians who are living according to their own strength, not trusting in God. 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:03.980 How do we trust in Jesus now that we know him? 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:10.000 What does it mean to practically live that out in our lives and be complete as we demonstrate Jesus to this world? 00:16:12.780 --> 00:16:19.960 In chapter four even begins to address Christians who act foolish among their friends, Christians who are saying stupid 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:27.020 things and offensive things to their non-Christian friends that are actually detracting them away from the name of Christ rather than bringing them in. 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:35.960 If we believe truth is relative, as people only do we deny the truth that God desires for 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:36.910 us to teach others. 00:16:37.140 --> 00:16:39.220 We also push a false doctrine. 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:48.040 It's impossible in this world not to stand for something and not to push some belief on somebody. 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:56.080 By carrying a belief that says, whatever you say, whatever you believe, as long as you do good, it's okay is a belief in itself, and 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:58.380 there's no way not to push a belief on somebody. 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:03.220 And if you're going to demonstrate a belief to someone, it might as well be truth. 00:17:05.190 --> 00:17:13.460 And so what we discover in Colossians is that what God wants from you as Christians, he 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:16.560 first wants your head, the knowledge. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.119 He wants you to have a right understanding. 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:24.480 As you'll see in chapter one of what it is we need to believe in this world and stand for. 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:27.319 Second, he wants your heart. 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:33.840 So God isn't intended just to pack your brain with all these Bible verses and stories that exist within Scripture. 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:38.260 But as you begin to learn the truth of God, it begins to direct your heart towards him. 00:17:38.260 --> 00:17:45.280 And as we gather together and we sing songs to worship God, it isn't something that just happens on Sunday, but it comes from the joy of our life because 00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:47.560 we are certain in knowing him. 00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:57.360 God wants your hands to live that for him to display that 00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:58.160 to others. 00:17:59.560 --> 00:18:06.760 Could you imagine these moments, what it was like for the Apostle Paul to see his precious friends experience 00:18:06.760 --> 00:18:07.860 a struggle, a struggle? 00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:09.580 Excuse me for truth. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.090 How would he address them? 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:20.380 Knowing their temptation, knowing the adversity that they face, experiences that 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:27.460 not only the Colossian Christians were going through, but all the churches that the Apostle Paul had ministered Administered to. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:33.110 Everyone seemed to want to get their hands in it and begin to change it and manipulate the truth in which they stood for. 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:37.760 And it was important for the Christians to understand the truth in which they possessed. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:47.290 When Paul starts this journey not in a way of chastisement, but a way of recalling the change that came to them because of the power of Christ in their lives. 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:56.740 Paul says in the very first chapter in verse one, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, who was with 00:18:56.740 --> 00:19:03.980 Paul, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae, grace to you and 00:19:04.080 --> 00:19:05.190 peace from God our father. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.860 You think about those opening words of endearment expression towards the believers. 00:19:12.800 --> 00:19:18.820 Grace and peace is the only thing that is guaranteed to a Christian that cannot be guaranteed to any other religion in the world. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:28.580 You think about the beliefs that people carry in this world hoping and attempting to live a religious lifestyle that pleases God with some sort of 00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:30.480 work, hoping that God accepts him one day. 00:19:30.580 --> 00:19:38.060 But to be a Christian means that automatically, as you've accepted what Christ has done in your life, you have given to you by the by the mercy 00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:42.120 of God, his grace and peace. 00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:50.540 And he starts with the chains that existed, recalling the chains that existed in Colossae by reflecting on the grace and peace that is 00:19:50.540 --> 00:19:53.020 brought to them by Jesus alone. 00:19:56.360 --> 00:20:03.300 The reformers in the 15th century would often remark, it's by grace alone, through faith alone, that you're saved. 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:05.880 But we know that grace doesn't need the word alone. 00:20:06.300 --> 00:20:08.000 Grace by itself is always alone. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.420 Otherwise it's not grace. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:13.240 God has given you his favor. 00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:15.480 In Christ we have. 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:19.040 People have done nothing to deserve it because Jesus desired a relationship with you. 00:20:19.040 --> 00:20:22.120 While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:24.840 And if we've accepted him, We've begun to experience that grace. 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.420 But not just grace. 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:33.000 Also, along with grace, we begin to have the peace of a relationship with God. 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:39.960 It's been said that peace consists not in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God. 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:43.680 You think about people in this world who may have lives of peace. 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.870 They may have financial security. 00:20:45.020 --> 00:20:46.760 They may have all all their needs met. 00:20:46.760 --> 00:20:50.400 There is some sort of tranquility there, but within their soul they find no rest. 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:56.320 They find no peace because they have no presence of God. 00:20:56.420 --> 00:21:03.700 But yet, in the midst of prison, Paul can write the book of Philippians on joy, and he can express to the believers in Colossae 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:09.960 grace and peace, because he's experiencing within his life, even in the midst of trouble, the presence of God. 00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:19.040 The peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but rather it's the confidence that he is there with you always. 00:21:21.930 --> 00:21:27.700 So it's when relationships begin to experience that peace that God promises to us. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:35.040 That we begin to hear and live the way that God desires to teach us and direct us. 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:43.840 Because when we have a lack of peace in our relationship with God, it robs us from experiencing heaven's 00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:45.960 joy in our lives here today. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:53.240 And apart from grace and peace, we become no different than any religion in the world. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:55.930 But because we know Jesus, we can experience it. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:04.720 Paul goes on to say, these Colossians were able to change their city because they had the grace and peace 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.160 of God. 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:12.960 But also in verse three he goes on to say, we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you since 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:19.960 we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:22.950 of which you previously heard in the word. 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:25.410 There's the word of truth, the gospel. 00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:28.480 Colossians. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:30.730 How have you been able to live for Jesus thus far? 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.300 First, you understood grace and peace. 00:22:32.300 --> 00:22:38.980 Secondly, you've been able to share the hope that you have for Jesus because your hope is placed in the right, in the right place which is in heaven. 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:44.060 It tells us in verse five, grace and peace to you in the hope of heaven, for you changed. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:48.600 Colossians and the book Mere Christianity C.S. 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:51.420 Lewis remarks about heaven a few times throughout the book. 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:58.540 He says, if you read history, you will find that Christians who did the most for the present world were those who 00:22:58.540 --> 00:23:00.040 thought most of the next. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:09.320 Since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world, that's why they have become so ineffective in this one. 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:18.220 If I find myself, he goes on to say, with a desire that no experience in this world can satisfy. 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:24.420 The most probable explanation is that I have been made for another world. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:30.700 These colossian Christians live like God's kingdom is the only thing worth living for. 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:37.690 What you truly believe to be true, you will follow. 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.490 What you believe. 00:23:42.780 --> 00:23:43.440 You will obey. 00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:51.700 And if you believe heaven has the greatest opportunity for you, far more than anything this world could offer. 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:58.860 If you truly believe that you will live for God's Kingdom, what you really hope 00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:00.700 in determines how you'll really live. 00:24:02.020 --> 00:24:08.900 Said another way if you have a stock portfolio that seems more attractive than your heaven portfolio, it tells you what you're living for in this world. 00:24:09.780 --> 00:24:17.380 If you're interested in making an impact for God's kingdom and living in this world according to the way God desires, your hope has to be directed towards 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.380 heaven. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:26.500 If you feel like you're not loving God's people rightly, maybe it's because you really don't have a hope heavenly plan 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.550 for it. 00:24:28.290 --> 00:24:29.080 Make your home there. 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.660 Live for it. 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:35.260 Enhance your sweet by and by. 00:24:36.260 --> 00:24:38.380 By living for others in the nasty. 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:38.680 Now and now. 00:24:39.760 --> 00:24:40.060 That's good. 00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:42.360 Read that in a book this week I like it. 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.500 Nasty. 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:43.680 Now? 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:46.760 Now who can say the word nasty and be godly? 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:47.720 We can. 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:47.840 Right. 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:55.290 There is a story about the idea of heaven and the significance it brings in the life of a child. 00:24:56.300 --> 00:25:03.360 It came out of a book written by a hospice nurse, and she was living and staying in this home, taking care of this young five 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:06.560 year old child who had lung cancer. 00:25:08.600 --> 00:25:14.680 Lung cancer is a horrible thing to have as you begin to deteriorate from that in your body. 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:17.690 Eventually, your body fills with lungs until literally you suffer. 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:21.380 Or your, excuse me, your lungs fill with fluid until literally you begin to suffocate. 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:30.200 This hospice nurse wrote within this book, on this occasion, about this mother who would come in and visit 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.030 her young son. 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:40.460 She says as his time came near and he began to approach his eternity with God, she began 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:42.110 to hold him and cradle him near. 00:25:42.280 --> 00:25:44.440 And he kept saying, mom, I hear the bells. 00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:47.280 I hear the bells, mom. 00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:55.940 Eventually, the nurse would get out of the room and she would come back in as the mother just continued to cradle her child and she would hear him say 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:57.690 again, mom, I hear the bells. 00:25:59.260 --> 00:26:05.900 The nurse finally got fed up that it must be affecting or bothering the mom, that the son keeps repeating this statement over and over. 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:09.040 And so she says to the mother, don't worry. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.120 He's just in the final stages. 00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.200 He's about to go. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:18.200 He's beginning to hallucinate because of the drugs and the cancer that's affecting his body, of which the 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:25.240 mother remarks, no, he's not, because I told him when he gets close to the 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:32.700 end, knowing that it was coming soon, if he gets scared and he can't breathe in those moments, just 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:37.580 be calm and listen for heaven's bells coming to take you. 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.500 The boy continued to reflect. 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.840 Mama, I hear the bells. 00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:47.180 And later that evening he passed. 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:49.000 Faith like a child. 00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.710 That's the hope we lay to heaven. 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:58.360 As people we tend to complicate things. 00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:04.500 But what God desires in our lives is knowing that he has brought us grace, and he has brought us peace. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:08.120 And that grace and peace will only get better as we begin to experience him more closely. 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:11.630 Until one day we intimately live with him in the hope of heaven. 00:27:13.300 --> 00:27:16.240 How could the Colossian Christians change this world? 00:27:16.260 --> 00:27:21.040 By understanding what God has brought into them and living for the world to come. 00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:24.410 I'm going to get rid of that. 00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:31.160 Six verse eight. 00:27:33.630 --> 00:27:35.260 Chapter six and verse eight. 00:27:35.340 --> 00:27:37.700 How did the Colossian Christians continue to work for God? 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.000 Sorry. 00:27:43.310 --> 00:27:44.790 Remind me to cut that from. 00:27:47.020 --> 00:27:53.080 Chapter six and verse eight he says, which has come to you just as in all the world. 00:27:53.120 --> 00:28:00.240 Also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:07.240 of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow Bondservant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and has 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:10.340 also informed us of your love and the spirit. 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:17.830 How was the Colossian Christians able to help change their areas because they allowed the gospel to work through them. 00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:25.400 It's important for us to recognize Paul never visited visited the city of Colossae. 00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:29.060 Paul never visited there. 00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:29.620 But who did? 00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:33.440 It tells us in this passage scripture in verse seven, just as you learned it from Epaphras. 00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:42.440 It's an understanding that Epaphras likely journeyed to the city of Ephesus, and while he was in Ephesus, he heard the Apostle 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:42.800 Paul preach. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:45.620 Epaphras was just a regular guy. 00:28:46.800 --> 00:28:50.540 Epaphras then went back to the city of Colossae with an understanding of this gospel. 00:28:50.540 --> 00:28:55.880 Once he heard the Apostle Paul preach, which transformed his life, and he began to serve the people through it. 00:28:57.300 --> 00:29:00.360 It tells us that this truth was preached by Epaphras the gospel. 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:05.220 The man from Epaphras, from the city of Colossae administered the gospel to his people. 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:11.760 And not only did does this stop with Epaphras, it began to work within the city of the Colossian Christians. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:15.460 They, as they accepted Christ, began to share the gospel. 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:18.760 It goes on to tell us even in the book of acts. 00:29:18.760 --> 00:29:19.240 Listen to this. 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.410 Acts 19 and verse ten. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:28.440 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:31.240 Jews and Greeks. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:38.480 Imagine the transformational power that took place through this gospel that they could say within a couple of years, people believed in Jesus 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:45.580 so powerfully that they began to preach this message throughout all the region, until all of Asia heard the gospel 00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:48.580 through a regular guy. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:51.360 Epaphras. 00:29:51.520 --> 00:29:52.720 All of Asia was changed. 00:29:55.280 --> 00:29:58.200 It tells us in verse four and verse eight, we see it here. 00:29:58.680 --> 00:30:00.920 And he also informed us of your love in the spirit. 00:30:02.520 --> 00:30:07.500 Can I tell you, in the first eight verses of this chapter we find the Trinity mentioned both the father and the son in verse eight. 00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:13.200 The spirit talked about it's the only time that all three are mentioned within this passage, but it's their love and the spirit that Paul recognizes. 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:14.280 Meaning this. 00:30:14.760 --> 00:30:18.680 Here's how you know when the gospel is working in your life, it begins to connect you to others. 00:30:19.780 --> 00:30:26.860 Not only does it reconcile you in relationship to God, it tells us it unites us as a body of believers in the gospel works on a playing field both vertically and 00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:28.630 horizontally among his church. 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:37.240 The gospel is present in the life of the believers, because the love that they are experiencing among one another is having accepted Christ. 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:45.460 And it tells them in verse six, even, as a body of believers that this, that this gospel is constantly bearing fruit and increasing among the whole 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:46.340 world. 00:30:49.520 --> 00:30:52.220 The whole world is preaching it, and you're not alone. 00:30:54.820 --> 00:31:00.300 The message to us, maybe as Christians, is stop living in fear of what people might think. 00:31:00.320 --> 00:31:04.820 If we share the gospel and start focusing on the love that we have for them. 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:09.220 The Bible tells us perfect love casts out fear. 00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:16.380 And I believe as Christians, even though sometimes sharing your faith may be fearful if we just stop focusing on the fear and the love that we have 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:22.210 for that person, just to know Jesus will begin to share that precious message more often. 00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:30.600 The gospel was a battle that was taking place for truth, and all we recognize throughout this portion of Scripture. 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:38.280 And as we've continued to see throughout history that all the mediums and all the clever ways people have come to minister and share the gospel, there 00:31:38.280 --> 00:31:44.150 is nothing more powerful than the testimony you yourself carry about the power of Christ in your own life. 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:47.740 We see all kinds of commercials today as people. 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:54.630 Were those people behind advertising are always interested in the new way of appealing to us, how to get us to buy their product. 00:31:54.860 --> 00:32:01.960 But what we know time and time again, that there's nothing more powerful in getting someone to buy a product than the testimony of someone close 00:32:02.100 --> 00:32:02.760 to them that they love. 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:10.640 There is nothing more powerful than seeing someone come to know Jesus than the testimony of someone that they love. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:15.700 The Colossian Christians were changed by grace and peace. 00:32:15.800 --> 00:32:18.520 The Colossian Christians were changed by the hope of heaven. 00:32:18.580 --> 00:32:24.500 The Colossian Christians were changed by the power of the gospel and living that and sharing it as it was going through the whole world. 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:26.510 Let me just get to the last point this morning. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:33.700 The Colossian Christians were changed through prayer. 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:35.640 How many of you like to pray? 00:32:37.340 --> 00:32:37.640 Me. 00:32:37.780 --> 00:32:38.920 How many of you do pray? 00:32:39.300 --> 00:32:40.600 It doesn't just like pray, right? 00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.180 Prayer is important. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.300 Prayer is powerful. 00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:46.130 If you believe it is, then you'll pray. 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:54.260 What I like about the Apostle Paul's prayer when he thinks about the people of Colossae is just the content that's possessed within this 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:57.060 portion of scripture as he mentions his prayer to the believers. 00:32:58.440 --> 00:33:04.440 So many times when we talk about the area of prayer as a church, what we pray for is my broken kidney or my hurt foot, right? 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.380 Those things are good. 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.660 Physical elements of the body are good to pray for. 00:33:08.840 --> 00:33:15.980 We should pray for the needs that we have for all the saints, regardless of what it is, but what Paul tends to focus on again and again throughout all the Scripture isn't the 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:17.670 physical need that people possess. 00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:23.040 Though he sits in prison, though, the Colossians no doubt, are beginning to be persecuted for following after Jesus. 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:24.540 He doesn't pray for any of that. 00:33:24.860 --> 00:33:26.640 He prays for the spiritual need. 00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:36.740 Leading me to think that if we truly had the grace and peace being experienced in our lives and relationship with God, if we can just get that right, we can 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:39.880 handle any adversity that comes in our lives as believers. 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:49.400 He says in verse nine, for this reason, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:55.360 you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:33:57.200 --> 00:34:01.910 It's as if Paul is saying, we want God to give you an understanding of what he wants you to do, and keep doing that in your life. 00:34:04.340 --> 00:34:11.360 In verse ten he says, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.159 of God. 00:34:13.540 --> 00:34:15.590 He's saying, the believers, I want you to keep following after Jesus. 00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:16.420 We're going to bear fruit. 00:34:16.620 --> 00:34:17.719 You're going to serve other people. 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:26.159 And in doing that, you're going to increase in your knowledge and understanding and relationship of your own personal life and walk with God. 00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:33.780 Verse 11, be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience, joyously 00:34:33.780 --> 00:34:40.820 saying, I want God to empower you for the journey that he has before you, whether it's joy or patience that 00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:41.500 you need to handle it. 00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:43.969 We want God to meet that need in any circumstance. 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:48.389 Not to take the circumstance away, but experience his joy through it. 00:34:49.520 --> 00:34:50.000 Verse 12. 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:59.090 Remembering always in Christians, giving thanks to the father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 00:35:01.140 --> 00:35:01.720 Your prayer is important. 00:35:04.040 --> 00:35:11.460 When Paul says, for this reason, he prays for the body of believers that they may stand really for Jesus in the midst of any circumstance, walking 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:16.440 in his will, growing in his knowledge, understanding what it means to be complete in him. 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:25.730 God change Colossae because of the relationship that they experienced with him. 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:30.520 And so Paul concludes the portion of Scripture in verse 13 and 14. 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:38.640 And anytime we have adversity, in any time we have need, and anytime we have a challenge towards truth, the answer to all those circumstances, 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:43.900 or push us closer to Christ and all things that we may understand what he wants to accomplish in our world. 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:51.100 And so Paul says in verse 13 and 14, For Jesus, he rescued us from the domain of darkness, 00:35:51.100 --> 00:35:56.300 and he transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:35:59.720 --> 00:36:02.560 Jesus in this passage isn't inviting us to another religion. 00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:06.860 Jesus in this passage is inviting us to himself. 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:15.900 And Paul builds an understanding of the life of the believers that will go on and see throughout the rest of Scripture that it's the supremacy of Christ and 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:20.640 His glory in our lives through all things that complete us as believers. 00:36:23.680 --> 00:36:26.200 Jesus is inviting us to him. 00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:35.420 He wants you to elevate Christ and continue to be reminded that Jesus is the one that we need to press to for belief to reflect and display 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:37.900 what he wants to accomplish in our lives. 00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:43.330 And so we leave with a final thought or concluding question. 00:36:46.020 --> 00:36:48.980 How far will you sacrifice for truth? 00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:52.730 If you look in your notes this morning. 00:36:52.840 --> 00:37:00.160 There's just four ways of challenging that we've seen within the scriptures to be changed, to live, change and encourage others to experience the change 00:37:00.160 --> 00:37:01.540 in Christ, I will. 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:12.540 Maybe as a believer this morning, you need to understand what it means to have the peace of God's presence in your life, even in the midst 00:37:12.640 --> 00:37:13.140 of adversity. 00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:19.620 The absence of adversity doesn't guarantee the presence of God, but in the presence of God we may find peace. 00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:22.980 How this week can you focus on him? 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:31.840 Second, how can you arrange your life in such a way that declares not only to yourself, but those around you, that your hope is toward heaven? 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:35.720 That your joy and world to come is what you're living for. 00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:37.470 What change can you make? 00:37:38.720 --> 00:37:40.020 What about the gospel? 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:45.490 When's the last time you shared that change that God has made in your life? 00:37:47.680 --> 00:37:51.320 Share the gospel with others that they may be changed and grow with Christ this week. 00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:53.510 You'll do it when we talk about sharing the gospel. 00:37:53.700 --> 00:37:56.190 Who's the first person that comes to mind in your head? 00:37:58.270 --> 00:37:59.940 What about prayer? 00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:06.650 We think about the Apostle Paul and how he prayed for the life of the other believers. 00:38:07.060 --> 00:38:10.400 When's the last time you began to pray for the life of other believers? 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:12.100 Maybe this morning is a challenge to you. 00:38:12.140 --> 00:38:12.600 Maybe not. 00:38:12.600 --> 00:38:19.760 Think of the whole church, but begin to think of individuals within your own church that they may begin to experience the spiritual joy of walking with God, though they may have 00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:20.480 physical needs. 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:23.290 How can you begin to pray for them to meet their spiritual needs? 00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:25.560 And how can you begin to pray even for yourself? 00:38:28.700 --> 00:38:31.520 So the book of Colossians is about being complete. 00:38:31.540 --> 00:38:33.760 It's not about just us as individuals being complete. 00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:39.820 It's about finding completeness as a city, as a people, and following after Christ in our own lives. 00:38:39.820 --> 00:38:42.280 How can we find that completion in the lives of other people? 00:38:44.740 --> 00:38:48.640 The answer is by standing in truth and the change that Jesus has brought.