Two Overwhelming & Controlling Forces in the Christian’s Life

True Fellowship Part3

Colossians 3:12-17

“Two Overwhelming & Controlling Forces in the Christian’s Life”

I.          THE PEACE OF GOD RULING IN YOUR HEART. Vs.15

                        Peace = Rest, quietness, exemption from the rage & havoc of war.

            A. What you should know about this peace.

                        1. That it is unknown by the unsaved world.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

                        2. That it is the essence of faith.

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

                        3. That it is of the nature of God.

                                    Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

            B. What you are to do with it.

                        1. Allow it to rule in your hearts

                                    a) Overcoming every obstacle that gets in the way of a peaceful heart.

                                    b) Striving to keep the peace in the spirit of unity.

                        2. Allow it to nourish your understanding of fellowship.

            C. What affect it should have on you. (Thanksgiving)

                        The attitude of thanksgiving is one we are not a little familiar with.

                        1) For each other.

                        2) For refreshment from the world.

                        3) For true Christian love to be exhibited in you.

II.        THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELLING IN YOU RICHLY.  Vs.16

“The word of Christ” is the word spoken by Christ. This expression is not limited to His utterances while on earth in His humiliation, but refers to the entire body of truth as given through the n.t. writers.[1]

The word oikos (οἰκος) means “a home.” Oikeō (Ὀικεω) means “to live in a home.” The exhortation is to the effect that the Christian is to so yield himself to the Word that there is a certain at-homenes of the Word in his being. The Word should be able to feel at home in his heart. The saint should give it unrestricted liberty in his life. “Richly” is plousiōs (πλουσιως), “abundantly.” Not only must the saint be yielded to the Word, but he must have a good knowledge of it.[2]

            A. Let Christ’ Word be at home in your heart.

                        1. The believer needs to have a good and proper understanding of it.

                        2. The believer must allow it to fill him or her with …

                                    a. A deeper desire for the good things of God.

                                    b. A craving to have more of the same.

                        Practical Admonitions:

                                    1)) Set a place for it at the dinner table.

When it’s dinner- time do we not set the table, prepare the meal, Pray over it, and then fully enjoy it? And yet, we will be hungry and thirsty again.

But Jesus, said to the woman at the well, “I have water to drink that will quench your thirst once for all.” And to his disciples afterward, “I have food to eat that ye know not.”

                                    2)) Turn it on rather than the tube.

Our spirit is so weak because of the flesh. We love to spend endless time scanning the stations with the remote to finally settle on garbage, when we could open the pages of life!

B. Let Christ’ Word change you.

            Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

            If you allow the Word of Christ to dwell within, you will sing a new song.

(see Revelation 5:9;14:3)

                        1. There is a euphoric feeling when it is present that represents itself in song.

                        2. There is a tempering of the soul through this spiritual nourishment.

Conclusion: The peace of God and the Word of Christ. These two forces can change you for the better, if you    want them.

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[1]Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997, c1984). Col 3:16.

[2]Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997, c1984). Col 3:16.

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[1]Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997, c1984). Col 3:16.

[2]Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997, c1984). Col 3:16.