Christ: The Centerpiece of Civilization

16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

INTRODUCTION

Last Week:

"Delivered From Darkness...Redeemed to Royalty"

Qualified to Shine

Thankfulness

Don't forget where you came from

Qualified as His "Holy Ones" into HIS FAMILY

No one can take that from us...

Delivered From Darkness

Victims of Rationalism

"If I can't explain it, I don't have to believe it"

"Domain of Darkness" is a REAL KINGDOM with REAL ENTITIES who want to KILL US

Wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers...

Rationalism is "...leaning on your own understanding"

Rationalism with STUNT/HINDER your perception of spiritual reality

if you don't believe Holy Spirit is still working, you don't really believe in demonic spirits working & VICE VERSA

Redeemed to Royalty

"Transferred" = Transposed

Jesus changed our TUNE

TODAY:

"Christ: The Centerpiece of Civilization"

Christ Over Creation

Christ Over The Church

Christ: The Centerpiece of Civilization

Christ Over Creation

Bible Passage

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV - English Standard Version)

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Explanation

"He is the image of the invisible God..."

"Image" = Nikon (i-kone) = icon; the resemblance

Similar in nature to being called the LOGOS; different word though

"The Invisible God"

Exodus 33:20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!

Jesus is the very EXPRESSION of the ESSENCE of God

When we see Jesus' face, we SEE the FACE OF GOD!

When we see Jesus move, we see GOD move.

When we hear Jesus speak, we hear GOD speak.

When we see Jesus WEEP, we see GOD WEEP.

He has REAL emotions.

He is NOT stoic.

When we see Jesus, we see the WHOLE Godhead in an earthsuit.

"The Firstborn of all creation"

Other religions will take this passage and use it to try and "prove" that Jesus, the 2nd Person of the Godhead was CREATED because it says "firstborn"

"Firstborn"

Does NOT mean that Jesus was the first CREATED being.

Principle of the "firstborn"

Comes before all other children in the "household"

Rights to Kingship

The firstborn has all of the first rights to the Family INHERITANCE

"All Creation"

All = pas

Some of all types

Every single

"For BY HIM all things were created..."

in heaven and on earth

heaven = the universe and all of the layers of dimensions we haven't explored

to the edge of creation

earth = everything on this earth; land and sea

visible and invisible

visible = capable of being seen

invisible = unseen

whether thrones or dominions

Those who sit among the Divine Councilof loyal sons of God

Psalm 89:5-7 "Let the heavens praise your wonders, O YAHWEH, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For WHO IN THE SKIES can be compared to YAHWEH? Who among the sons of God is like YAHWEH, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome able all who are around Him.

Job 38 "...where were you when I laid the foundations of the world and the sons of God clapped their hands and shouted for joy?

Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.

rulers or authorities (principalities or powers)

Principalities = those in charge of and responsible for a particular realm or space

powers = those who execute the commands of the ones in charge of the particular realm

"exousia" = power that enforces

same word that is used for the power of Holy Spirit

power to execute what God has asked; enforcement

all things were created through Him

There is not one thing that was made that wasn't made through HIM; His speaking

and for Him

Everything is at His disposal to be used for His glory and purposes

He is GOOD

"He is BEFORE ALL THINGS"

The relationship between Christ and everything that is NOT Christ is TOTALLY DIFFERENT than the relationship between YOU and everything that is NOTYOU.

Many of us would consider ourselves to be CREATIVE

God is creative in a way that you and I are not.

He SPEAKS and things COME INTO BEING

When we "create", we rearrange things that have ALREADY BEEN CREATED

We mix certain things to make other things

People make cakes out of ingredients that were already created

People make bug spray from mixing chemicals that were made from something we cannot create

WE DO NOT CREATE THE SAME WAY GOD CREATES

We MAKE from something. He CREATES from NOTHING.

We are NOT the same.

Application

Why does this matter to us??

Understanding these things puts us into the CORRECT perspective when processing this world.

He is BEFORE ALL THINGS and He is KING of ALL THINGS because he CREATED ALL THINGS.

WE ARE NOT.

We don't understand 1% of 1% of everything there is to comprehend

but we find ourselves thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think

We get into these modes where we believe we are AWESOME

We get into our heads and believe we "know what we're doing

We are all under 100 years old and believe we know something of these realms surrounding us...

in comparison to the Ancient of Days, YAHWEH

or even the sons of God and/or the fallen/apostate sons of God who were here when the foundation of the earth was laid

Moral of the story: We need help. What better help than to ask YAHWEH??

Christ Over The Church

Bible Passage

Colossians 1:18 (ESV - English Standard Version)

18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Explanation

"And he is the head of the body, the church."

WHO ultimately leads the Church??

Pastors?? Prophets?? Apostles??

JESUS

He arranges the parts of the Body as He sees fit

HE BUILDS HIS CHURCH

NOT our "great ideas"

NOT our church strategies

NOT our methods

Jesus builds His Church through the proclamation of the Gospel

through His Bride loving Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength

and us loving our neighbors in the same way we love ourselves.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation

"Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words."

Is heresy.

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17)

Jesus is responsible for The Church

He is the Master/The Chief/The KING

The shepherds are responsible to Jesus for how they care for and watch out for His Bride

Application

We need not ever get in the way of God building His Church

We do not SAVE people

but through our faithful proclamation, God saves

We do not grow the GENUINE Church by our methods

but through our faithful loving God and others by the Gospel, FAMILY is FOUND and is GROWN

Take the weight of Gospel Results OFF YOUR SHOULDERS

The results are NOT our responsibility

Our FAITHFUL, GENUINE, GOSPEL LOVE is our responsibility.

When selfish flesh is crucified daily, we are FREE TO LOVE daily.

Jesus will build His Church and will move the parts Himself.

Christ: The Centerpiece of Civilization

Bible Passage

Colossians 1:18 (ESV - English Standard Version)

18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Explanation

"...that in everything he might be preeminent."

"everything" = pas = all

some of all kinds?

Every single thing?

Illustration

In many areas, if not EVERY area of our lives, we set PRIORITES.

We are always making decisions about what we should do next

We have so many categories in our lives

Church

Family

Work

School

Friends

To do lists

Wish lists

Relaxing

We are always setting priorities of what should come first in all of these areas

we act on them daily

QUESTION: Where have you placed God in these areas of your lives?

Application

For priorities, I tell folks all the time:

God

Spouse

Children

Ministry

You will hear MANY preachers tell you to "make Jesus NUMBER ONE in our life...make Him number one on YOUR LIST...

JESUS IS THE LIST. He is the WHOLE LIST.

Church...HE IS THERE

Family...HE IS THERE

Work...HE IS THERE

School...HE IS THERE

Friends...HE IS THERE

To do lists...HE IS THERE

Wish lists...HE IS THERE

Relaxing...HE IS THERE

When you believe that you are ALL alone...HE IS THERE

Jesus is NOT just someone whom we pickup whenever we want to "hang out"

He never leaves us or forsakes us

He is always listening to you as His child

Jesus IS the CENTERPIECE OF CIVILIZATION.

He has ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth

He is your Older Brother

He is your Savior

BECAUSE OF HIM, we have the same Father

Conclusion

THE MOST HIGH GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU NEAR TO HIMSELF to have the CLOSEST of relationships with YOU

What are you going to do with that from now on??

He's not lacking on His efforts to communicate

Are you??

Spend time with Him.

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