Colossians 1:12-14

Joyful Thanksgiving to the Father

Purpose: For the congregation to understand the great love of the Heavenly Father in rescuing us from darkness and transferred us to Kingdom of Jesus, and that understanding may result in Thanksgiving, from Thanksgiving to Worship, and Worship to Service.

The passage is part of Paul’s ceaseless prayer for the believers in Colossae starting in verse 9.

He prayed for them:

A. Mind set on God - To be filled with knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom and understanding (v.9)

B. To Walk in God - to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please God, to bear fruit (v.10)

C. Spiritual Strength that produces Perseverance and Patience (v.11)

D. Joyful Thanksgiving to the Father (v.12)

Colossians 1:12 NIV

and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

The Reason for Joyful Thanksgiving

The Reason why they can set their minds on God.

The Reason why they can walk a life that is pleasing to God

The Reason why they can have patience and perseverance

the reason is found in verse 12,13, and 14

1. God has qualified them to share the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Qualified - fit, adequate. God has “made them fit” for his Kingdom.

God caused them to hear and believe the Gospel…God regenerates the heart of people to believe and to live by faith. To be qualified in the Kingdom is to have a heart of faith in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:13–14 NASB95

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

2. God has done a LIFE CHANGING MIRACLE in the lives of the believers in Colossae;

The Father rescued them from the domain of darkness (Kingdom of Satan)

The Father transferred them to the Kingdom of Jesus (Light)

Redemption - to rescue by ransom, deliverance, to free from harm or evil, to free from imprisonment, to set free, to save.

Transfer - to change side, to transport, to move from one place to another.

The Result of the Father’s Love Through Jesus Christ:

They have received Redemption

They have received forgiveness of Sin

They have received freedom from Divine Judgment (wrath of God)

They have been made righteous / holy

They have been made fit for heaven (qualified, adequate)

Why do they need to be rescued from the domain of darkness?

Why do they need to be transferred to the Kingdom of Jesus?

We need to be rescued because we were once slaved of darkness and sin.

Romans 1:20 NASB95

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Romans 1:21 NASB95

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

For example:

We have set our hearts and mind in the things of the world - money, achievements, entertainment, etc.

We have run away from God because we don’t want to stop sinning and because we enjoy sinning.

We always run away from God because we afraid of his judgments.

We were not Thankful to God, instead we were proud of whatever little we achieve in life.

We need to be transferred because we were hell bound due to our rebellion against God

Romans 3:23 NASB95

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Human Solution:

At some point, we try to come to God whenever we are in need of help..but when everything is well, we go on about our lives and forget God....

So life becomes tiring...little joy, and a lot of sorrow and sadness. The cycle goes on and on...

Dear Brothers and sisters, God is gracious and merciful (repeat).

Paul’s prayer for them is not just a wishful thinking, God has done it and God is continually rescuing and saving people (justification) , changing people (sanctification), bringing people into His heavenly Kingdom...

The Father has done this through His Beloved Son Jesus Christ

Colossians 1:19–20 NASB95

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

The Father felt the pain of His Son

The Father felt the pain of His people

Quote from Charles Spurgeon:

What an achievement was that, when, with their flocks and their herds, the whole nation of Israel went out of Egypt, crossed the Jordan, and came into Canaan! My dear brethren, the whole of it was not equal to the achievement of God’s powerful grace, when he brings one poor sinner out of the region of sin into the kingdom of holiness and peace.

It was easier for God to bring Israel out of Egypt, to split the Red Sea, to make a highway through the pathless wilderness, to drop manna from heaven, to send the whirlwind to drive out the kings; it was easier for Omnipotence to do all this, than to transfer a man from the power of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son. This is the grandest achievement of Omnipotence.

Proper Response:

A. Rejoice in your Salvation

The greatest gift a man will ever receive, far greater than any riches or fame, is the Eternal Life in Jesus Christ.

Do you make it your choice and intention to rejoice in the Lord for your salvation?

Do you look for joy and happiness somewhere else as if God’s joy is not enough?

Rejoicing in your salvation means enjoying the God of your Salvation. It is a choice!

God is the source of joy and when we connect to God we receive joy.

Colossians 1:24 NET 2nd ed.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body—for the sake of his body, the church—what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

it is Paul’s choice to serve Christ, and Christ’s Joy is enough for Paul.

B. Speak of the Father’s Love

Psalm 71:23 NASB95

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed.

A heart that is full of joy and thanksgiving will overflow in the mouth.

Have we tell others about the goodness of God?

What usually comes out of our mouth? Do we include God in our conversations?

C. Live as people belonging to the Kingdom of Jesus.

Col 3:1-4 Col. 3:12-15

Colossians 3:12–15 NASB95

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Put on / put off

Peace of Christ Rule in Your Hearts - submit to Christ

Colossians 3:1–4 NASB95

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Keep seeking and doing things that have eternal value, because we are now citizens of heaven.

Setting your minds on heavenly things includes being actively part of a local church.

Christ is revealed - When Jesus returns, we will be experience His glory, we will experience a much much greater joy!

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Early Church (Come Together as Often as Possible)

Make every effort to come together as often as possible to give thanks and to glory to God. For when you gather together frequently, the powers of Satan are destroyed and his destruction is brought to an end by the unanimity of your faith. There is nothing better than peace by which all war in heaven and on earth is abolished.