Superior Satisfaction: Appropriate Behavior

Colossians 1:9-14

Introduction: When I was at school, I was apart of an gospel outreach group that was simply called “Bible Club”. We traveled every Saturday from campus to Anderson, SC to a housing complex. It wasn’t a very big community so we were able to canvass quickly to see if any children wanted to come with us for the afternoon for games and instruction from God’s Word. After we got the kids, we would play a rousing game of kickball to try to get them a little less-wired, more often than not the leaders would end up enjoying the game more than the kids. After the game we would gather over in another part of the field and begin Bible Club. After prayer, we would get out the “Bible Club Rules and Penalties”. This was a list of 3 do’s and don’t’s and the penalties accompanying the don’t and the prizes accompanying the do’s. In a sense, God has set before us tonight the Christian life’s do’s based upon the relationship that we must have toward His Word. Therefore. . .

Thesis: The believer’s right thinking about God leads to right living.

Right Thinking (v.9)

The believer develops a right knowledge of God as he cultivates a right relationship with His Word.

The believer discerns God’s Will from His revealed Word (Romans 2:18).

Paul’s context is condemning in nature.

He presents the argument, if you know the truth why don’t you act upon it.

He said this in reference to following after the Law when Christ has come.

Paul sets both phrases right up alongside of each other.

They are able to prove, or test what is excellent because they know God’s Will.

They know God’s Will because they read it in God’s Law, or the Scriptures.

The Scriptures are all that we need for life in this world.

It orders our conduct with the lost. (Matthew 28:19)

It orders our conduct with other believers. (I John 3:23)

It orders our conduct with authorities. (Romans 13:1)

The instructed believer fills up on the knowledge of God’s Will.

The believer, as if stepping up to a giant well, fills his bucket full from the Scriptures about the knowledge of God’s Will.

The term fill, means to make full, to fill up, to fill to the full.

Believers must do what they can to take their full-fill from God’s Word.

The believer fills himself full from the Scriptures about the knowledge of God’s Will.

The root for the term for knowledge from the term from which we get the name for the heresy Gnosticism.

In using this term Paul was telling his audience that this is the true knowledge, it is the knowledge that you should desire.

The believer’s filling comes from the Educated Instructor Who brings comprehension.

Many seek true wisdom but none can compare to the spiritual wisdom found in Christ. (John 14:6)

The believer has in Christ the Holy Spirit and the promise from Christ that He would instruct in us all truth. (John 16:13)

His instruction is tested true and enlightens the once ignorant believer concerning the Will of God.

Right Habits (v.10)

The believer develops right habits that are in agreement with his relationship with the Lord.

The believer purposefully fills up on God’s Word to conduct his lifestyle in accordance with His Lord’s ideal (Christ).

The believer must put on Christ’s mindset. (Phil. 2:5-8)

The believer must put on Christ’s actions. (Col. 2:6)

The believer’s purposeful transformed conduct pleases the Lord.

The believer’s purposeful transformed conduct evidences itself in good works and an increased knowledge of God. (growing relationship)

Right Praise (v.11-14)

The believers redemption in Christ prompts him to rejoice in Christ when facing difficulties.

The believer strengthens himself for trouble in God’s glorious strength.

The strengthened believer in times of trouble praises the Lord, joyfully reflecting on his qualified wonderful inheritance.

The believer inherits deliverance from the kingdom of darkness and transferal to God’s kingdom.

The believer inherits redemption through Christ, the forgiveness of sins.

Conclusion: Tonight God has listed before us through His Word what His expectations are for us as believers in Him. Though the world would say they have true knowledge, no other teaching and truth transforms one’s life completely as do the Scriptures. Let us draw daily from the well-spring of God’s word, fill our buckets to the full and abound in the knowledge of His Will as our Instructor teaches us and brings comprehension.