Colossians- Week 5

All in the Name of Jesus

Colossians 3:16–17 (ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Now, why did God make you? Why did God create you? Well, you say, “God made us to serve Him.” Well, if that’s why He made us, that was not that wise of a thing to do, because He could have made angels that would have done a much better job of service than we do—far better, more obedient. Now, we are to serve Him, but that’s not our chief purpose.

Why did God make us? God created us to worship Him. Why does God want us to worship Him? Because, God is love, and love is a reciprocal act, where God loves us, and we love Him back. And, that love is called worship.

And, in order to be loved, love has to have a recipient. And so, God created us, that He might pour His love out to us, and that we might pour our love back to God. And, that’s the greatest thing that we can give God—is our love.

If we give God our riches, He’s no richer. If we give God our strength, He’s no stronger. If we give God our wisdom, God is no wiser. If we give God our glory, God is no more glorious. If we give God our power, God is no more powerful, because God has everything. There’s nothing that could be added to any of the attributes of God. But, when we give God our worship, when we give God our love, that meets the desire in the heart of the Father.

Now, here’s some wonderful news for you: There are others that may be able to give God more riches than you; there are people who may be able to give God more wisdom than you; there are people who may be able to give God more power than you are able—but nobody can love God better than you can.

Is that not great? Nobody has cornered the market on worship. If you want to worship God, have at it. You can do as good a job as anybody else. And, verse 16 is speaking of worship.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly”— that’s preaching—“in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Now, that’s a church service; that’s worship. We have worship here at FBC, and I love it. But Worship does not end there; it goes on.

And, notice, now, the next and—“And whatever you do…”—now, there, he’s made his translation between preaching of the Word—teaching, ministry of the Word, singing, and so forth. Now, watch this—“And whatever you do in word or deed,”—what you say or how you act—“do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”

Now, verse 16 speaks of worship, but verse 17 is still speaking of worship. That means our worship does not end when we leave these doors and go out there into the world. We take our worship with us.

And, when we come to church, we don’t merely come to church to worship; we bring our worship with us to church. We bring our worship to church. Real worship—please listen to this, real worship involves all of life. Real worship involves all of life—everyday, every place, whatever we do we do in the name of Jesus. Because, what is worship? Worship is doing things in the name of Jesus, doing “all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). So, that takes worship, and it adds worship to every area of life.

Let me give you two other verses,

1 Peter 4:11 ESV

whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

so, as I speak today, not in my own strength, but with the ability that God gives. You see, everything that I do everything that you do, ought to glorify God, “in order that in everything God my be glorified.” Now, if God is being glorified in all things that I do, then all things that I do are worship, because worship is glorifying God. Are you following me?

Now, you might think I’m trivializing worship. I am not trivializing worship. What I am doing is magnifying our daily life. You see, we bring our worship to church. We carry our worship with us. And, when we get outside the doors of this church, we’re still worshipping.

Let me give you another verse. Listen to this one; it is a key verse in all of the Bible—1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 31—listen to it:

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Now, boy, that’s going to eliminate some things, isn’t it? “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”

That means your dinner is to be an act of worship, and washing the dishes after dinner is to be an act of worship. Somebody told me that Mrs. Billy Graham has a sign over her kitchen sink that says, “Divine services held here three times a day”—washing dishes to the glory of God—whatever you do.

people said, “You know, God has one-seventh of my time and one-tenth of my income.” And, they were saying, “It’s like a pie, when you slice that pie up. And, one-tenth of the financial pie belongs to God, and one-seventh of the calendar pie belongs to God.” So, God gets one day a week, and God gets 10% of our money.

Now, that is a non-biblical concept. Listen to me: The whole pie belongs to Him—not one-tenth. It all belongs to Jesus—not one day; every day belongs to Jesus. We don’t do some things that are religious and other things that are not religious. God’s not going to lift out one piece of pie and judge it. God’s going to judge what you did with every penny that He’s trusted you with. God is going to judge what you’ve done with every moment that He has given you.

And so, when you come to stand at the judgment seat of Christ for rewards, do you know what He’s going to look at? Not only the sermons you listened to or lessons you gave, or the songs that you sang, He’s going to look at your home life; He’s going to look at your business life; He’s going to look at your recreation; He’s going to look at your hobbies; He’s going to look at all of your life, because He says, “Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God”

So, that brings us to the main point: What does it mean to do everything in the name of Jesus?

I want to tell you three things that it means to do everything in the name of Jesus.

What does it mean to do everything in the name of Jesus?

I. Is it Consistent with the Personality of Jesus?

Number one, you ask yourself this question: Is this deed, is this act, is this habit—is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? Is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? That means, if I’m going to do it in the name of Jesus, could I sign Jesus’ name to it? Is it consistent with the personality or the character of Jesus?

When little kids get a baseball bat, their favorite baseball player, many times, his name is on the bat, If he’s a great star, the people who sell the bat will get him to put his signature on the bat, or on the glove, or whatever. And, if it’s Michael Jordan, his name might be on the basketball. And so, when these people put their name on that piece of sporting equipment, what they’re saying is, “Look, I endorse this. I, as a superstar, say that this fits what my standard is for this particular piece of equipment.”

when that person puts his name on that, that “this is consistent with who I am.”

Now, when I want to know whether or not I can do something, I don’t have to go through the Bible to find a chapter or verse that tells me I can do it or I can’t do it. Have you ever had anybody say, “Can you show me in the Bible where it’s wrong to gamble?” Sure. Or, “Could you…” somebody will say to you, “Can you show me in the Bible where it’s wrong to go an R-rated movie?”

They’ll ask you questions like that. Listen. The Bible is not a rulebook; the Bible is a guidebook. The Bible is not a book of minute laws; it’s a book of great principles. And, I’m so grateful that the Bible is not a book of minute laws. If the Bible were a book of minute laws, I couldn’t bring mine and carry it into the pulpit, and I’d have to have a wheelbarrow to bring it in here—or maybe a truck—with all the laws that would have to be in it.

No, God gives us principles, not rules. Rules are for kids.

Remember when your kids were little, and, finally, you got to the place where you thought you could go out and leave them by themselves without a babysitter? You know that time—“Should we? Should we not? Will they be all right? Well, we’ll only be gone an hour or two.” You remember when you were leaving them home by themselves? What did you say to them? You got them in, and you began to lay down the rules— remember that? You said to them, “Now, don’t let strangers in the house.” You said to them, “Now, don’t play with matches.” You said to them, “Don’t do this, and do this; and, you be in bed by such-and-such a time.” You gave them a lot of rules. Why? Because, they’re children. Rules are for kids.

Now, if you have grown children in their 20s or their 30s, you don’t say to them, “Now, don’t play with matches. Don’t let strangers in the house.” You don’t say that. I hope you don’t have to say that now. If they have lived with you, if they are mature enough, they have a sense of what is right and wrong. And, basically, in many things, they just sense that from you by the way that you live.

God doesn’t give us a list of do’s and don’ts. Those are for babies; they’re for immature people. And, if God were to give us a list of do’s and don’ts, it wouldn’t apply to us; if it applied to this century, it wouldn’t apply to the First Century. If it applied to the First Century, it wouldn’t apply to this century.

You’re not going to find, in the Bible, anything about not driving through a school zone at 100 miles an hour; that wouldn’t apply. If you were to find a verse in the Bible that says, “Don’t go watch a bad movie” The Colossians would say, “what’s a movie?” No, God gives us a principle. What is the principle? It is the name of Jesus. Could you sign Jesus’ name to it? Could you say, “This is consistent with the personality of Jesus; I could sign Jesus’ name to this”? If you could, then you can do it for the glory of God.

Now, if God gives us little laws—minute laws, you can find loopholes in laws, but you can’t find loopholes in a principle. And, one of the great principles in the Bible is we do everything in the name of Jesus. And so, if you’re wanting to know if there’s a habit, an association, an investment, anything that you do—if you want to know what is right or wrong—

Could you sign Jesus’ name to it and give God thanks for it?

Now, think about it. Could you sign Jesus’ name to it and give God thanks for it? Isn’t that what it says?

So, that’s the first principle—to do all in the name of Jesus. Is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? Can I imagine Jesus being involved in this thing? Can it have the smile of Jesus, the character of Jesus?

II. Does it Claim the Power of Jesus?

Not only the personality of Jesus, but does it take the power of Jesus to get it done?

You see, name stands not only for “personhood,” but it also stands for “power” and “authority.”

Now, John 14, verse 14, is a key verse here.

John 14:14 ESV

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). That means, “Anything that has My name behind it, then My power will take over.” He doesn’t say, “If you ask anything in My name, then I’ll give you the power to do it.” He says, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). The Jesus in you will take over.

There is incredible power in the name of Jesus. When you bring your life into saying, “I want to do everything consistent with the person of Jesus, the personality of Jesus,” then you can begin to add His name, and receive His power.

When Jesus was here in His earthly ministry on this Earth, He sent His representatives out to share—to preach— the Kingdom. And, here’s what happened—Luke 10, beginning in verse 17:

Luke 10:17 ESV

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us through your name” (Luke 10:17)—the demons, the devils. Every time you see devils plural, it means “demons.” There’s one devil, many demons. There is incredible power in the name of Jesus. You see, it’s the name that gives authority. We practice that every day.

You have a checking account. All right, now, you write a check. Let’s say it’s a hundred dollars. You write a check for a hundred dollars and give it to somebody. They can take that check that has your name on it, carry it down to the bank, and give it to the bank, and the bank will give that individual some of your money. Why? Because, you put your name on that check. That means I have given the bank the authority to take my money and give it to this individual. See, the name stands for the person that signs the check. Your name represents you. Now, suppose the check bounces. They don’t put the check in jail; they put you in jail.

You see, the check only represents you; the name represents you. When we talk about the name of Jesus, you don’t disassociate the name of Jesus from Jesus. The name of Jesus represents Jesus, as much as your name on that check represents you.

And, when a policeman stands up, stops a vehicle, he may even say it, “Stop in the name of the law.” Now, what’s he stopping that truck with? Now, maybe he’s 150 pounds. He’s not stopping a truck with 180 pounds of skin and bones. He is stopping that truck with authority.

And so, when I live my life in the name of Jesus, it means I don’t do anything that I could not sign Jesus’ name to and give Him thanks for; and, it means, therefore, when I can sign His name to it, and give Him thanks for it, I can do it with the authority and the power that He gives me. And, when I ask things in His name, then He lines up Himself behind me.

Now, let’s look at the next section of scripture, he gives us some of the things that we can do in the name of Jesus.

Colossians 3:18–25 (ESV)

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

What things can I do in the name of Jesus?

*Wives are to submit themselves to their husbands.

Look, now, in verse 18: Now, how can a wife submit herself to her own husband, as it is fit in the Lord? In the name of Jesus—in the name and the authority of Jesus. This is not slavery; this is not subjugation; this is not humiliation to a wife; this is not superiority to a husband.

The word submit is a Greek word that means “to rank underneath”; and, it is a military word—like you have a general; and then you might have a major; and then you might have a captain; and then you might have a lieutenant; and then you might have a sergeant; and then you might have a whatever, coming on down to a private. It doesn’t mean that one is superior to the other; it means that one outranks the other in the chain of command—the line of authority and and guess what men, more responsibility.

Now, the private and the general are of the same worth, but they have a different position.

*Husbands are to love their wives.

Husbands are to love their wives in the name of Jesus. Look, in verse 19: “Husbands, love your wives, and be not harsh with them” (Colossians 3:19). And, this word for love here doesn’t speak of romantic love, although that, certainly, you ought to do that. This is agape love—sacrificing and serving love. Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” It literally means “He gave Himself up for it.”

And so, how am I going to love my wife? As Jesus loved the Church. I don’t have what it takes to do anything as Jesus did it. The only way that I can do anything as Jesus did it is for Jesus to do it in me and through me. Isn’t that right? And, it is the Jesus in me that is to love Jennifer.

*Children are to obey their parents.

Now, what about children? Look, in verse 20: “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).

if we just simply say, “You do this because a good child obeys mother, obeys father.” That’s just half of the equation. Teach them to obey in the name of Jesus. Teach them that obedience is an act of worship. Teach them that we obey, because we can sign Jesus’ name to that obedience. And so, the measure of this obedience is right, and the motive is to please the Lord.

*Don’t provoke your children to anger.

Now, you parents who are wrestling with being good parents, be a parent in the name of Jesus. Look, in verse 21: “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, The same word that’s translated “fathers,” here, is translated “parents” in Hebrews 11, and applies, I believe, both to mother and father. You know, children don’t always have an easy life. And, he says, “Fathers, don’t provoke your children to anger.”

*Serve Honestly, Heartily, and Hopefully.

look, in verses 22 through 24: “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.“ “not a clock-watcher”—“as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;”—now, watch it—“and whatever you do, work heartily as to the Lord and not to men”—verse 22 says you’re to serve honestly; verse 23 says you’re to serve heartily; verse 24 says and you’re to serve hopefully—“knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward…”—folks, when you work, and you work for your boss this way, there’s a hidden paycheck, and you have to wait until you get to Heaven to collect it—

When you work, you’re not working for the person who gives you your paycheck. You are serving Jesus. I hope you believe that. I tell you that will put more joy in your step tomorrow. If somebody barks at you, you can say, “Well, I’m suffering shame for Jesus’ sake.” If it gets tiresome, you’re saying, “Lord Jesus, I’m going to stick it out. I’m going to have patience—endurance—for Your sake. I am doing this, Jesus, in Your name.”

III. Does it Culminate in the Praise of Jesus?

Now, here’s thirdly—here’s the third thing it means to do it in the name of Jesus.

Number one: You ask yourself, “Is it consistent with the personality of Jesus? Can I see Jesus doing it, smiling on it, approving it?”

Number two: Does it require the power of Jesus to get it done? Does it claim the power of Jesus?

Number three: Does it culminate in the praise of Jesus? That is, if we do it in His name; that means, for His glory.

Now, I want to ask you a question: Does your life—will your life tomorrow morning and all day Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, before you get to church—will your life bring honor to Jesus Christ? You see, the reputation of Jesus Christ is at stake in your life.

What if…the only Jesus this world knows was the Jesus in you?

Did you know, the only thing you know about me, you know through my body? You say, “Well, I know something about you through your words.” My body speaks those words. You say, “Well, I know something about you by your attitude.” The only way you can tell anything about my attitude is the way I look, or what I say, or what I do.

The only way you know anything about Mike is his body has somehow let you know something about the man inside, right? Did you know the only way this world knows anything about Jesus is through His Body? We’re His body. There’s no other way this world can know anything about Jesus Christ except through His body.

We are here to minister Jesus Christ. We are His body. The Christian is the visible part of the invisible Christ, and Christ is the invisible part of the visible Christian. And, therefore, the reputation of Jesus Christ—the reputation of Jesus Christ—is wrapped up in us, the way we live.

Conclusion

Now, that’s what it means to do everything in the name of Jesus, where it’s consistent with His personality, demanding His power, and resulting in His praise and in His glory. And, when we do that, then we’re going to be worshipping seven days a week, in every place, giving God glory and thanks. And so, don’t stop coming to church on Sunday, but bring your worship when you walk in these doors this coming Sunday.