The Preeminence of Christ
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May 20, 2018 - candidating sermon for Hope Church
The Preeminence of Christ
The Preeminence of Christ
what it means to put Jesus first
When I was in bible college prof said today we are going to study the preeminence of Christ.
What??
Webster defines preeminence as: to be outstanding, having paramount rank, dignity or importance, supreme.
oooook
Preeminence of Jesus def. to be given first priority. God gave him first priority, we must give him first priority in our lives as well.
Not here today to only pass on knowledge but to help us gain wisdom.
Nothing wrong with learning theological vocabulary, but we should take the knowledge and apply it.
Nothing wrong with theology, absolutely necessary, but it is incomplete without putting what we know into practice.
Preeminence as a theological concept is found in the first chapter of Colossians.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
“supremacy” to have first place in everything.
col 1 1
Today I don’t want to dwell on the theological underpinnings of this truth, this is important, and should not be overlooked, but today I am going to assume that most of you re in agreement that Jesus is firstborn, the priority, the supreme lord and master.
Instead I want to get to where this truth intersects where you and I live— the practical outworking of this truth.
So lets agree that Jesus is superior to anyone else, so now what do we do with this? How do we live out this truth?
What is the practical outworking of this truth? How is he firstborn in our daily lives?
As followers we all agree, but then how do we live with this truth?
How is he firstborn or highest priority in our daily lives?
The life of Jesus and the disciples as recorded in the Gospels give us an understandable illustration of what it means to live our lives for Jesus first.
The Gospels of course are historical narrative, they tell a story, recount history. Where as Pauls writings for instance are instructive-information driven- the Gospels are character driven.
Here is a snapshot taken on a sabbath afternoon-Peter Andrew, James and John, four of his followers.
Jesus first in our hearts
Love the lord with all your heart
He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon Peter. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
In this passage, Jesus is found in Capernaum, his northern base of operations-one sabbath he is in Capernaum’s synagogue preaching. Then...
if any is sick call elders
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Jesus is first in our helping
whatever you do, work for the lord
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon Peter. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.
So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
y
Today I want to bring to you wha the lord has laid upon me -I trust it is what you need to hear and you will be built up and encouraged by this.
Those without Christ as their savior are called poor because despite their standing in society, they do not possess the riches of the Kingdom of God.
His ambassadors
His children
His servants
All these are privileges.
And by looking at this short passage in luje we se here some of these privilges displayed for us..
My parents taught me & my siblings manners-Mom a very proper Canadian—one such manner was knocking before entering-bed rooms, neighbors, relatives.
Had a friend whose parents told me I didn’t need to knock-couldt
Had a friend whose parents told me I didn’t need to knock-couldnt bring my self to do it-hybrid-kncked whil i eased the door open!
It occured to me the only door I never had to knock on was our front door. I was privileged to come in at my desire without permission.I was welcomed, wanted loved. Even after being away for months at college, or working or even after I was married and had my own home and our own children-I never needed to knock
Today I want to discuss with you the privilege you and I enjoy because we are His-His children.
In these two verses we see a glimpse of how we are to live as followers of Christ-a lifestyle of putting Christ first in our daily comings and goings.
As followers it is not enough that we say the right words but we must have a will and a mind dedicated to him as well.
What does it mean to recognize the preeminence of Christ, or to live putting Jesus first in our lives?
To begin with, Jesus is first in our hearts.
Jesus is first in our hearts.
Jesus is first in our hearts.
He has first place there-He is more important to us than anyone or anything.
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.
Peter brought Jesus home with him.
It is "safer" to leave Jesus at church-at home is where we truly are ourselves. At home is where we stop pretending. At home is where many of us are who we truly are.
It is "safer" to leave Jesus at church-at home is where we truly are ourselves. At home is where we stop pretending. At home is where many of us are who we truly are.
Home reveals our priorities, the quality of our love, the true picture of where our treasure is stored. (Matt 6:19-20)
Peter was not afraid to allow Jesus see where he lived and how he lived.
Home is where the heart is--
Your heart is where every thought begins.
Your heart is where every action is designed.
Your heart is where every motivation is given birth.
"Don't leave JC at church, we must take him home with us."
A follower of Christ travels with Jesus and Jesus travels with the follower everywhere.
It is "safer" to leave Jesus at church-at home is where we truly are ourselves. At home is where we stop pretending. At home is where many of us are who we truly are.
We must trust Him enough to give him control of all of us in every situation, in every room of our hearts.
pretending. At home is where many of us are who we truly are.
Ambassador for Christ everywhere-Ben
Character is who we are when no one is looking.
We must trust Him enough to give him control of all of us in every situation, in every room of our hearts.
By putting Jesus first in our hearts, we allow him access to every room of our lives, leisure activities, our closest relationships, our priorities.
The demons "knew" him but they did not trust him
The idea here is that Jesus has access to everything we think and do, not just the religious compartment in our lives, but everywhere.
Many people in the Gospels wanted Jesus in only certain areas of their lives:
They wanted His healing but not his Lordship.
They wanted Him in their religion, but not in their pocketbooks (rich young ruler).
“The life of Christianity consists in possessive pronouns.” —Martin Luther
“The life of Christianity consists in possessive pronouns.” —Martin Luther
It is one thing to say “Christ is a Saviour.” It is quite another to say “He is my Saviour and my Lord.” The devil can say the first. The true Christian alone can say the second. Ryle, J. C.
In fact the demon did call Jesus “The Holy one of God” in v. 34.
Jesus taught that we are to give over every area to His control:
The demon, twice acknowledged who Jesus was,
He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,
“Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Yet, the demon did not trust in Christ.
But putting Jesus first, not only means we give him control of our minds, soul and heart, the invisible parts of us.
This is the plight off the lost, they have some knowledge, but yet they do not believe. rom 1?
But we are also to give him the visible part of ourselves as well, our bodies.
We are privileged to be called "Children of God!
We have been transferred out of darkness into the Kingdom of light.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
?seek out
?sacrifice for
Jesus is first in our healing.
Jesus is first in our healing.
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.
We have the privilege to trust and seek Him ()
So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
lk
Here is the preeminence and the power of Christ displayed!
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Which means he also has the power to break things apart, like sickness, in this case fever.
None can relieve us so effectually as He can. None is so compassionate, and so willing to relieve. Ryle, J. C.
SO DOEsN’T NOW MAKE SESNSE THAT THE FIRST PLACE WE TURN WHEN SUFFERING IN OUR BODIES IS TO THE firstbornN, THE SUPREME CREATOR jESUS?
A sign of recognizing Jesus as our first priority is to seek him immediately when we have a need.
So doesn’t it now make sense that the first place we turn when we are suffering in our bodies is to the firstborn, the supreme creator Jesus?
“To what remedy a Christian ought to resort first, in time of trouble. He ought to follow the example of the friends of Simon’s wife’s mother. We read that when she “lay sick of a fever,” they “told Jesus of her.” Ryle, J. C.
Does this mean before we take ibuprofen for a headache, we need to ask God to take it away first?
No! Ibuprofen is of God just as his touch is, but we can certainly thank God when we do swallow the pills.
From a cancer diagnosis to headaches, from hangnails to surgery, take it all to Jesus first.
To what remedy a Christian ought to resort first, in time of trouble. He ought to follow the example of the friends of Simon’s wife’s mother. We read that when she “lay sick of a fever,” they “told Jesus of her.” Ryle, J. C.
The Bible commands and encourages us to take our cares, spiritual, physical and emotional to the One who can cure them.
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
lk
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
lk 4 38a
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Does this mean before we take ibuprophen for a headache, we need to ask God to take it away first? No! I buprophen is of God just as his touch is, but we can certanly thank God when we do swallow the pills.
Ca diGNOSOS TO HEADHACHES, FROM HANGNAILS TO SURGERY, TAKE IT ALL TO gOD
What a privilege to access His power and might and to then cast our needs and cares upon almighty God at any time!
to what remedy a Christian ought to resort first, in time of trouble. He ought to follow the example of the friends of Simon’s wife’s mother. We read that when she “lay sick of a fever,” they “told Jesus of her.” Ryle, J. C.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Also, we see here another truth-the first thing to be done, is to cry to the Lord Jesus Christ for help. None can relieve us so effectually as He can. None is so compassionate, and so willing to relieve. Ryle, J. C.
A sign of trusting Jesus is to seek him immediately when we have a need.
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
Does this mean before we take ibuprophen for a headache, we need to ask God to take it away first? No! I buprophen is of God just as his touch is, but we can certanly thank God when we do swallow the pills.
From a Ca diagnosis to headaches, from hangnails to surgery, take it all to Jesus first.
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;
1 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1
1 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
We can draw strength to take it to the Lord by remembering the preeminence of Christ.
It needs no prophet’s eye to foresee that we shall all shed many a tear, and feel many a heart-wrench, before we die.
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Let us be armed with a receipt against despair, before our troubles come. Ryle, J. C. (1859)
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Let us be armed with a receipt against despair, before our troubles come. Ryle, J. C. (1859)
What a privilege to access His power and might and to then cast our needs and cares upon almighty God at any time!
Jesus is first in our helping.
Jesus is first in our helping.
So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
Motherr’s day tea=servants- decoratinons tea service-three tier stands, round tables, padded chairs, clean bright room-all speak of love for Christ and for those who need to know him—breaking down barriers!
We don’t know if she was a great evangelist, or started a church in her home,
We only know that this older lady was sick and when Jesus healed her she used her abilities to serve him.
She may have still been weak, but she served
She may have still been weak, but she served
She went about her work and served her savior in her own way of serving.
She went about her work and served her savior in her own way of serving
Using the abilities she had.
Using the abilities she had.
Her service, a simple meal was recorded for eternity in the Bible! We’re still talking about it today!
Her service, a simple meal, was recorded for eternity in the Bible!
We’re still talking about it today!
We should never consider our service for Him as insignificant or of little value. God never overlooks sincere service when He is the object of what we do.
I looked on the website and viewed pics of the AW Mother’s Day Tea last Saturday
What a wonderful example of service to the glory of God-all the attention to detail, cups, three-tired serving trays, decor, round tables, padded chairs!
All done to make it special to remove barriers, in order to bring glory to Jesus. I am very proud and moved by that ministry.
Why do we do what we do?
We live to labor for the King and His Kingdom.
She went about her work and served her savior in her own way of serving
Using the abilities she had.
This is because He is Supreme, of paramount importance, preeminent.
When we are forgiven, we are forgiven to begin again our service to him.
Service glorifies him
The Apostle Paul worded it like this:
Service will be rewarded in Heaven
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
Paul saw his purpose while still alive, to work for the Kingdom.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Ryle, J. C.
Their strength shall be according to their day. The difficulties they now fear shall vanish out of their path. The lion in the way which they now dread, shall prove to be chained. The same gracious hand which first touched and healed, shall uphold, strengthen, and lead them to the last. Ryle, J. C.
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
Their strength shall be according to their day. The difficulties they now fear shall vanish out of their path. The lion in the way which they now dread, shall prove to be chained. The same gracious hand which first touched and healed, shall uphold, strengthen, and lead them to the last. Ryle, J. C.
Their strength shall be according to their day. The difficulties they now fear shall vanish out of their path. The lion in the way which they now dread, shall prove to be chained. The same gracious hand which first touched and healed, shall uphold, strengthen, and lead them to the last. Ryle, J. C.
We don’t know if she was a reat evangelist, or started a chuech in her home, we only know that thos older lady was sick and when Jesuas healed her she used her abilities to serve him, and her service, a simple meal was recorded for eternity in the Bible! We’re still talking about it today!
We should never consider our service for Him as insignificant or of little value. God never overlooks sincere service.
When we are healed we are healed to continue in our service to Him.
she may have still been weak, but she served
She went about her work and served her savior in her own way of serving
Using the abilities she had.
Jesus is the reason we help, serve, work, this is our way of recognizing His preeminence.
When we are forgiven, we are forgiven to begin again our service to him.
Service glorifies him
Service will be rewarded in Heaven
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
phil 1 22-
Jesus is the reason we help, serve, work, this is our way of recognizing His preeminence.
What a privilege to serve an almighty God. And then to be delivered to Him when our service is done!
Savior Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King(work till he comes back).
Take this with you...
Take this with you...
I may be alone, but Christ is with me.
Am I recognizing Jesus' preeminence in every minute of my day?
In trouble, have I developed the habit to immediately take the issue before the awesome and powerful Creator?
Do I truly believe he posses all power, to heal, provide, bless, etc?
I may be sick, but Christ can heal me,
I may be worried but Christ can bring peace to my mind and heart.
Have I accepted my role as his servant?
I may be insignificant to some, but Christ can use me for great purposes in His Kingdom.
He deserves to be the reason I do what I do.