In Christ We are Winners
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Colossians 1:24–2:15 (NKJV)
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Paul suffered dearly for the ministry
AS a Pastor Sufferings comes with the Joy and with the blessings, WE are in effect a part of Christ and share in His sufferings
Jesus Told us We would have trouble in this life
What Life?
The life of one commited to Christ
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Few things that Paul and Christ are saying Here
There will be hard times Rejection, spiritual warfare and even persecution for following Christ
We can look to Paul's life as a example
Shipwrecked beat harassed and finally killed for His faith and teaching of Christ
Jesus life too
Stephen
Peter
Matthew they all sufferer for Christ and many since have gone to be added to the long list of maryters for Christ
For when Christ Said there will be trouble
In effect we are a extension of Christ and therefore the World hates us and we too have a cross to carry
Notice Paul's Words though I Rejoice
I rejoice what How can one humanly rejoice over trials in ones life
Look at Jesus words That You may have peace........... and be of good cheer .................
Tie James into this
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
That you may be perfect and complete
Christ said be holy for I am holy that can be rendered be perfect for I am perfect
How does The Lord our wondrous potter mold the clay through Trials
You can be of good cheer you can rejoice why?
Because by this you know the Lord loves you and by that you know you are a child of God Remember He said we are partakers of His inheritance Now that something to praise God about this morning
Look it says Christ is in You He is in You remember 1 Jon If you abide in Him he will abide In You Christ is not so far off that he cannot relate to you
He is not so disconnected that he doesn't know what you are going through , He is not so far off you can go it alone. No it says here if you are saved Christ dwells within you
This is how we cave power over Sin Because He leads you He convicts you He changes the desires of your heart He enables you and equips you then Strengthens you to purify your self to wash your hand of the sin in your Life Its only can happen because He now lives in you
Now if He lives in you we have no excuse to continue in our sin No not at all fopr we have the Keys to heaven the Power of Christ to break every chain that has so easily ensnared us. So lets rise up and call on Christ to break you free of Sin
Sin of lies,, bitterness unforgivness adultery ,,thievery ,,, drunkeness,, drugs,, lust,,, Call on Christ and trust in Him and He will break those and set you free
Vs 28
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily
warning every man teaching every man that we may present them to Christ perfect
Sometimes I'm hard I get it
But If i love you I must warn you
its my desire none shall perish but that when we reach the Lord we will each hear well done my good and faithful servant
Look at vs 24
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
Paul went through allot for the Churches
matter of fact he went through allot even for us today , if it not been for his persecution we would not have this letter today
look He says i want you to be encouraged I want you to be knitted to gether in Love
I want you to have the rich assurance of understanding
This was said because of the Gnostic teaching that had become to influence the church they by denying the deity and humanity of Christ caused many to be concerned that there was more mysteries to be known and only the gnostics could teach,Paul is saying don't listen to that listen to me I want you to have the full assurance of Christ Jesus and all His understanding that you can know you are a child of God.
Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
He is saying there are deceivers /False teachers , but remain steadfast to the Gospel you first heard and Walk in Him being Rooted in Him alone not into the mysteries but in Christ
That you may be overflowing with Gratitude
For in Christ alone have you been made Complete
In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
In Him He has forgiven every sin
Every Sin
He nailed the Law that condemned every one of us to the Cross for those who would just believe in Him
By doing this He disarmed the great adversary the devil
and Won the final battle
Praise the Lord
Paul a minister of the Gospel Labored much for the Kingdom of God, Lots of sweat blood and tears, truth is many of us are not willing to suffer for Christ even though christ has won the battle, He tells us to take up our cross and follow hi, we ask how heavy is it, how far do i need to carry it, will there be a padded rest or air conditioning
Brothers sisters you are missing out on the fruits of the ministry there by missing out on the blessings of the Lord because we want comfort, Trust me my dear friends Serve Him today with all your heart body mind and Soul and you shall find comfort in him serve Him today with every last strength you have and you will find Rest in Him
Let us today recommit ourselves to the service of Christ that we shall rejoice in Him and in the Fruit and blessings He shall provide through our obedience and faithfulness to Him
Let us Pray