Worship Service 8-25-19

Hallelujah, no other name but Jesus I got to take a moment to collect myself. Amen. Certain songs when you hear them. They remind you just how great God is and how undeserving we are of his grace.

Father we thank you. We thank you. We thank you. We had 10000 tongues we could not. Thank you enough. Father God I thank you that you taking us out of the Miry clay father God you fashion and u-shaped us and you've molded us you place your spirit in that spot face bother. And father God we thank you that the work is not yet fully completed. There's still much for us to do as we honor you father God, but we know that father got that when you got up off out of the grey father God you said it is finished. And so we walk by faith and not by sight for we know that there are many things that we would encounter in our experiences that we speak negatively against the reality or what you have done for us God. It applies to individuals the fastest congregations. It applies to Nations for Father God. We thank you that your wishes let every man be a liar, but your word is forever settled in heaven and your word is yes, and amen. Going to be with me this morning. The things I've composed on this paper being led by your spirit God, but I'm willing to throw it all away just to let you speak clearly. To your sheet father God. I wish I am two in one. So we just thank you Father God we ask that you inhabit the Praises of your people that our minds be settled and undistracted. Is it for the sport for in Jesus name? We pray. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah this morning. We will be continuing our series on Colossians. Amen after brik brief Hiatus from last week. We know that God is faithful in his good. Amen. And I'm so glad that God has a purpose for your existence in my existence. Amen. Because I know where I would be without him a man and it's not a pretty place. It's not a place of comfort is not a place of these but it would be a place of torment and destruction. Yet this morning. I have an opportunity to share with you that our God who is the deliverer is greater than all that you and I have ever experienced. Amen. And so as we continue the series on Colossians, we've talked about how Colossians was not a very big place a man pass a cat reminded us of that a minute that it has seen better days. Amen and yet still the Chrono God's presence was that we then went on to talk about how it is that the True Heart of a Shepherd is Paul exhibited to them how he prayed for them, even though they were in a great stature in the odds of mini. He understood that there was something great in them because God had deposited his spirit in the Church of colossi and because of that amen, he was praying and expecting them to throw to afford a tortie in the things of God Amen and he said that ever since we heard of your faith will not cease to pray for you. Amen. He demonstrated that his heart was just like the heart of his savior. Amen and that he always had the saints of God on his mind this morning. I would have talked about this save your amen because oftentimes we can find ourselves even as Believers in a situation where we Can know the name of Jesus and still yet be lacking in certain understandings concerning who he is and what he has done for us and who God has made him to be so this morning. This message is titled the preeminent son reconcile Sinners and proclaiming Stewart's because In this passage of Colossians, 1:15 through 29, we're going to see the pre-eminence of God's plan. Amen. We're going to see the act of him having reconcile Sinners to himself. And we're going to see the proclaiming of his stewards of his goodness by his Stewart's namely Paul and his companions. So if you have your Bible, please turn with me to Colossians 1:15 through 29. When you have it say Amen.

You know, sometimes I have this. Cell phone and I have my study software on it and I'll read and you know, it's easy to click on stuff and get distracted on your cell phone. But when I really want to spend quality time with God I go back to the the written word. Amen. It's something about this that makes you focus a little more and you know, you have to get all the other distractions out the way you say Lord speak to me by your spirit through this word. Amen speaking to the Colossians said these words to them because after telling them how he had not cease to pray for them for the work. They got it done in them. He didn't begin to explain to them how great the Son of God really is there would be no confusion. He says to him them inverse starting at verse 15. He meaning Christ is the image of the invisible God the firstborn of all creation for by him all things were created in heaven and on Earth visible and invisible that includes a bacteria that we can't see with our eyes in the virus. Is that float in the air, you know, we might think of them negatively, but they serve a purpose even in the kingdom of God. He said whether Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him and he is before all things and in him all things hold together. In other words. He is the glue that holds all things together and he is the head of the body the church is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that and everything. He might be pre-eminent having Premier status for in him verse 19 says all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell at through him to reconcile to himself all things weather on Earth or in heaven Making Peace by the blood of his cross and you Google wants alienated and hostel in mind doing evil Deeds. Holy and doing evil Deeds. He is now reconciled in his body of Flesh by his death in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him if indeed you continue in the faith stable and steadfast not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard which has been proclaimed in all creation under Heaven by which I Paul became a minister now, I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh. I am filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body. That is the church. I wish I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you. To make the word of God fully known the mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his Saints to them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory him. We Proclaim warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ for this I toil struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works Within Me.

There's no doubt that Paul was a master communicator. But it wasn't just that he had the right floors with his words or he knew exactly where to put certain things are in presenting his arguments, but it was because he was so full of the spirit of God that it was literally giving him inside Revelation and understanding that will not only help the church at colossae along but thousands of years later that you and I can look at and we could glean from the truth of the scriptures encouragement for your soul and my soul. So that three points I want to talk to you about this morning and they were in my title in that is this what?

The preeminent son I want to start there and verses 15 through 19. Because one of the challenges that we have today in our society is that men off that she got Jesus as a good man or a good teacher or a rabbi, but they tend to struggle with the reality that Jesus himself is God come in. The flesh. Paul did not want the Colossians laboring under the illusion that Jesus was less than what he really was and less than who he really was? It's all about him being preeminent talks about how he was creating all that we see in all that we perceive because we know that it is attributed to God the father as far as the act of creation of the heavens and the Earth in the beginning was the word with Johnson in the beginning was the word. Amen is Pastor capitalized about previously that the Jehovah Witnesses try to make it a word. No vs Belle were they meant because the reality is is that if you get the issue of who Jesus really was and is wrong your salvation is in jeopardy. Paul did not want them wrestling with these kind of doubts concerning who the Christ is. But they want the first ones or wrestle with this issue. Even the disciples will walk with Jesus was a little confused about seeing the father. Jesus talked like he always did the will of the Father John 1469 record when Jesus and Phillip were having a conversation. She said told him he's going to prepare a place for them and we hear these words that Jesus said to Amina Philip. I am the way and the truth and the life no one comes to the father except what threw me if you had known you would have known you would have known my father also from now on you do know him and have seen them. Philip said to him Lord show us the father and it is enough for us and Jesus said to him. Have I been with you so long you still do not know me Philip. Whoever has seen me has seen the father. How can you say show us the father? See the reality is that sometimes because of our four-night minds even filled with the Holy Spirit we tend to come up short and understanding the gravity of who Jesus is in all that he represents. Amen. We still wrestle with that today. That's why so many theola. I can't even get my words out this morning. Thank you very much. wrestle with this issue of the godhead How can you be the Father the Son and the spirit at the same time?

You are not the first one to wrestle with this mystery. Yet the scriptures record undeniably that it is true. Did Jesus the son and God the Father are one?

Call wanted to be clear to the Colossians. That's every Power every principality every human authority. Every Angelic being every demonic force is subject to the power and the authority of Jesus Christ. Now when you read verses 15 through 19, it's kind of interesting because sometimes when they have written down the Canon of scripture will see them placing commas in certain places for emphasis and those commas or those periods or those other places a grandma can really change the meaning of what will read if we're not careful now watch this. I want to go down to versus 17 through 19 and it says this and he meaning Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together or glue together. Has anyone heard about the Higgs boson particle? They had this super collider particle accelerator over in Europe. And they said we found that which is the glue of the universe. No, you haven't because as long as you're looking at that which has been created, you're still lacking an inside wisdom and understanding and your creation to Blind chance or a set of laws that are somehow came into existence, but we know the scriptures teaches us that God through Christ is the creator of all things. When you go looking for where life began you start with the father you continue with the son and you don't end with and then you in with the spirit. Amen. But the world has a problem grass than that. And we as Believers cannot afford to fall into that same trap what we just simply make Jesus a good old friend or someone that although he had our our likeness and our families that he was merely human. He was so much more then and now a man because just because of the fact that he died does not mean that it is not allowed because the scripture tells us that God raised him by the power. The holy spirit. Amen from the grave. and that same power is able to Quicken you and I says all things are held together by him and he is the head of the body. The church is the beginning the firstborn from the dead and all the words. Jesus said he had to go to the Cross he could bring to the father what many sons and daughters Jesus was dying. So that as the first in this process of being resurrected from the dead that you and I would be able to be considered Sons and Daughters of the most high God by faith.

Our faith teaches a lot of things that are not always easy to be understood as we talked about in the men's bible study on Wednesday night that Peter one of the founding Apostles of the early Church by the grace of God and by the Church of God talked about the things that Paul writes and he said some of these things are hard to understand that the ignorant and the unlearned Russell what he said and I even struggle with some of these things.

He said but yet it is still true. And it's still real it is powerful. Too often men want to take credit for the church's activities when the reality is, is that the church confunkshun? No way. No shape no form without Christ as his head. It is impossible Watchman Nee one of my favorite writers. And if if any of you know me, and that talked to me for any length of time. I love Oriental or Asian writers and and write it from other countries. It seems that they just had this habit of digging deeply into the things of God and encouraging our faith. I'm not saying that other cultures don't but that's what does it for me a man because when I read some of that commentary on the scriptures and then I look at the scriptures I say wow God you gave them that Insight from those words. Be faithful to your humble servant father. God didn't give me a spirit to be humble before you. What does issue of who's church is it should never be in dispute? Is not Pastor Capps church is not past the Masons church. It's not our church and maybe our fellowship and which we are part of but it is his church. And it is to him that we give an account for all that we say and we do in this body.

we told us where in the scripture that if Christ is not raised from the dead then we are yet in our sins and our faith is in vain. This challenge that has been presented to the church in these last days where people want to say that they are a fellowship of the ekklesia the community The Fellowship Of God and yet they deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a bold-faced Lie from the pit of Hell. You cannot be a fellowship in a church. According to the standard of scriptures in the word of God without having Christ risen from the dead.

This is something that Paul did not want them to get wrong. Because if they got this issue wrong the pre-eminence of the Sun. They have futile faith. And sooner or later they will run into a trial that would show the fertility of what they have believed. Because it's only a truly believe in what God has done through Christ and raised him from the dead that we are anchor that we are strengthened that we are emboldened in the true that we declare.

The world wants us to shut up. But I'm so glad that Paul was encouraged in the Colossians. This is what we affirmed wish from it loudly with Firma clearly will from it unashamedly. as followers of Christ

He said that in everything he made me free eminent as a worship and praise the praise and worship team saying there's no other name. the name of Jesus and it's not like a a mantra or chant. We don't just say Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus because we don't have anything else to say when we call upon that name will recognize in the embodiment of the fullness of the presence of God and the will and the purpose of God in that name. For not only those of us who have been redeemed and set in The Fellowship Of God, but for those who have yet to call upon that name we send the signal that this is the name you call on. When you need newness of life, this is the name that you call on when your mind is confused. This is the name that you call on when your body has been broken in your dreams have been dashed it. Is this name of Jesus it is this name that you call on when you're going through a period of suffering and it's not have your own doing and it's not because of your own sin is this name that gives us the ability to walk with stealing our back and should have been flimsy in wishy-washy when circumstances come down the pike it is this name that we call on when society says that no, there's no more right or wrong. Everybody can just subjectively do what they want to say. That's a lie, Jesus name in Jesus life shows me into class to me as a follower of Jesus Christ that there is a standard that is a Plumb line and it's not subjected but it is objective according to the word in the standard of God. He is preeminence. I don't spend time fighting people over the validity of Jesus and what he's done. Just dropped the word and let them fight the word. No one can beat the word that scripture says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that they can fight it their whole life today to the demise, but when it's all said and done They will yield. Weather on this side of Eternity or on the other side doesn't matter Jesus name will be extolled and exhausted. is shown to be The name above all names.

this preeminent son Who powers and principalities house to bow down to? I love the fact that Drew chances that win. Satan was disputing over the body of Moses with the other Angel the angel didn't even say I rebuke you Satan. Sometimes as Believers we want to rebuke Satan. I'll leave that up to the father. He said the Lord God rebuke you amen because one of the things I understand that the power is in God, he made a portion of delegate Authority. But when you standing against something hot and heavy you go to the Lord himself and say Lord I ask that you fight this battle for me because I'm not wise enough or not skillful enough. I'm not strong enough to win this battle apart from you hit in the charge. No, show me how you are the captain of the Lord's army. Break down every stronghold and every barrier with its internal or external. What is of my own doing or whether it's the doing of someone else Lord help me to know how to call upon that name of Jesus. Not just when we in a fellowship like this, but in my quiet times help me to have a place where I go in there and I just encounter the presence of the Living God and he talks with me and he walks with me. Amen, and he reminds me that I am his own. Because God loves us.

And although he shows up in corporate Fellowship. He also designed to show up in private worship.

And when you know the value of the name of Jesus Worship You Will and worship I will.

Call goes on and explain to them. He says since he is pre-eminent everything. He says and him and remember I talked about this, and my my my scriptures that says for and him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, And through him to reconcile to himself all things weather on Earth or in heaven Making Peace by the blood of his cross. So of Jesus God was choosing to dwell and that through Jesus God himself is reconciling all things back to himself. The reality is because I said that you know what the scripture says that he has made every one of his enemies. He says he has the father. Joe things are going back to right relationship with the father through the sacrifice and Obedience of the Sun.

You said Making Peace reconciliation Harmony? A word that speaks to the original language warring factions causing warring factions of cease to have a reason to fight.

Sound like if you and I are both hungry and haven't ate for a week. And one morsel of bread is there. And what fighting over that morsel of bread and then someone comes in from a bakery? With a plate full of bread and they said in front of us. There's no longer any reason for you and I to fight. The issue has been mediated. It has been dealt with. and Jesus the bread of life has done just that for you and I he's caused there to be peace between God the Father And You And I Paul explains what their condition was because sometimes it seems we can forget what wretches we were. Anybody find yourself looking down your nose in somebody else's there wrestling with sin sometimes or am I the only one? And I have to be reminded that it is the grace of God and me and the desire of the grace of God for them that will sustain both me and sustain them to the church of Colossians 21 and you who were once alienated and hassling mind doing evil Deeds.

I'm sure they just like an all-day that there was a multitude of different types of Sinners coming to the cry to the church placing their faith in Jesus Christ the prostitutes. The whoremonger age that don't arrest the fornicators the drunkards that these the pedophiles the homosexuals are liars. It's the cheats the swindlers. the gossipers they were all part of this and you who were once alienated. Those who are so sophisticated in their thinking that they thought they knew better than God. How life operates to hostel in your mind and hostel in your Deeds. He said you were alienated separated you a distance from the love of God. Because of how you thought how you lived but Paul says that you've been reconciled. And it happened by the sea is now reconcile in his body of Flesh by his death.

He's now reconciled in his body. Flash by his death in order to what present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. The fullness of God dwells in Jesus so that you and I would be reunited with the father so that there would be no reproach that there would be no send note saying no shame. No guilt that could cling to us any longer. Seeing that yet because we're still in this flesh and we know that the Motions of sin and death still operate in the flesh anybody ever been in a situation where you know, you were Mighty High you were riding high with the the praise and worship of God and all of a sudden you get hit with a Temptation or thought and all of a sudden you just want to crawl under a rock like where that come from or how could I think about that right in the midst of praising and honoring God these things happen? And yeah, we don't have to skulk on the Rock. We don't have to be ashamed because God has given us the new Mine He's giving us the new spirit by faith in Christ and through a relationship with him. He's giving us a new heart. What about we can say that I know I was once under condemnation. But now therefore there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen because we have the mind of Christ.

He said he reconcile sinners. Do the sacrifice of Christ on the cross?

How many you looking forward to the day when you're blameless? Husbands you ever say the wrong thing to your wife. Singles you ever act in her home with a with your with your girlfriend or your significant or your boyfriend or significant other children? Have you ever despised your parents, but they didn't know it because you didn't give your voice to the thought but in your heart you were staying in about something that said or some decision that they were trying to make for you or some correction. They were trying again.

He said that he's going to present us despite our capacity for all these things as without reproach and without. Who would want to serve a God Like That? identify with him

He says this. That they were reconciled to send in verse 23 says if indeed you continue in the faith stable and steadfast not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard which was has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven and of which Paul I Paul became a minister some people.

That's not what is teaching. You said that if your faith is genuine, you'll stay anchored. Because the challenges to make sure that we're anchored because our faith is genuine. He says that if you move away from the face. If they remove guess what that's evidence that you were never anchored in him anyway. We struggle with this concept because we have heard and we've had preached to us that once saved always saved in this is the reality the thing that we struggle with this am I really in the Kingdom of Christ in the kingdom of God, and if I am there from that point for there is no going back. I love the fact that it says that they went out from among they were with us, but they were not of us. So therefore they were able to leave why because they had never said

enable them to walk away from the goodness of God because it had never fully tasted the goodness of God. They have seen it from a distance, but they have never been there. I can get excited about the Redskins when they win one game a year has his fans. But I'm not out there trying to score the touchdown. I'm not carrying the rock in the backfield so I can talk all I want about X's and O's and until I shoot up and get out. There. It is in. ins prison I don't have

and he said to them stay steadfast.

You're okay and you'll know you're okay because you're not moving from the hope of the Gospel.

Is it was preaching it was it was told to us about some Believers that are saying now I no longer Believe In Christ and I never I no longer believe in the work of the church what they no longer believe in is the coach of the day found himself in Austin. But the truth of the Gospel is real whether you want to hold onto it or not, whether I want to hold onto it or not. They have been many men and women who have stood behind pulpit and share the word of God and found themselves then decided that maybe I was wrong. It's not that you're wrong. You just whenever right?

This is the thing that the scripture teaches us. Because Jesus said I will not lose any I have not lost any. Dennis entrusted to his care none except for this position to the word of God.

So the devil then just say I got one over you Jesus. Hahaha. No no no. God prophesied that that would happen.

The third point after dealing with the preeminent son in the reconcile centers. And before I moved to the third, let me see these scriptures really really quickly with you when talking about reconcile sentence because Romans 5 10 through 11 says these words for if while we were enemies were reconciled to God by the death of his son.

So if God did right by you when you were decrepit and living foul, and I was decrepit and living file. How much more is it going to do for us now that we've been trusted on life to him by faith.

We're not still trying to make it up the Rough Side of the Mountain. When I still try to do our best to make it in. Within by faith Within by the sacrifice of Christ, we are reconciled he says more than that, we also rejoice in God verse 11 through our Lord Jesus Christ whom we have now received reconciliation.

Movie Joy, see how many you rejoice over what God has done for you.

I'm glad God is not for me anymore. I'm not saying he's not still pursuing us because he is because he loves us. But what I'm saying is he's not out or after us and he's not aiming his rap Toys R Us. Because Bob said that if we still abide in our send the rapper, God still what remains on us. We passed that that ship has sailed for us. Amen. It shows in the most high God Amen show. Yes, daddy. Will whip us from time to time. But we don't despise the chastening of the Lord. Why because we know that we are his

he loves the 2nd Corinthians 5 18 through 19 said these words and all this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That is in Christ. God was reconciling the world to himself.

It was a far.

Now I want to clarify something because this is very fine distinction when we talked about Jesus the man and the sacrifice that he's he's he did on the cross. It was the means by which guy use when we talked about the reconciliation. It is the Christ. It is the Dual nature. Both of the god man-god covered all the bases both on the the side for that be a human a human being that would be without sin. Who is this son? And he cover the bases on the side of that there be a messiah who can reconcile us back to himself.

I like to see this God as a bad boy.

Hope I'm not being Blessed Assurance by saying that but that is High Praise. In a community where I grew up you said that's a bad boy right there. You understood anybody see it like a drag cars Dragsters funny cars. When you see him go down the strip flames shooting out do quick one a clutch or females nowadays quick on the clutch and they smoke the competition say that's a bad boy. Because you understand that you seen something special. There's nothing more special than our savior. And Paul is making it clear to the Church of colossi. You got reason to Rejoice. You got reason to praise because you have been reconciled. The third point is is that verses 24 through 29 show that Paul and his companions were proclaiming Stewart's He wanted the Church of colossae to understand that what I'm sharing with you what you've come to understand is that which God hidden in times past which holding the scripture that? prophet

because it was a later time intended by God for us to come into the fullness of his knowledge. So they were declaring words. Have you ever read the book of Ezekiel? You want talk about a head scratcher? Ezekiel is a Toughbook. What is a magnificent book with so many parallels of the glory and the Holiness of God? Not only does he deal with the disciplining of Israel and the restoration of Israel, but he also deals with the use of foreign Nations to be used by God and God putting them on a mission which shows that he's a god of the nation's whether you're in relationship a covenant with him or not. He still can use you for his glory and for his purpose. That's what he did with Babylon. He said there are some Nation. But then he said but I'm going to judge him by another field nation whose countenance is going to make them squirm. So what we understand, is that God. It's such a great God and Paul said that what was Sharon with you now is a mystery that was hidden in times past. Sometimes you hear her say that in the Old Testament Christ is hidden in the New Testament. He is revealed always a concealed and the the Old Testament revealed in the New Testament. Why because the shadow of him operating was in the Old Testament? But the reality of his presence as seen in the New Testament and very real and very profound and tangible ways.

Call one of the church at colossae to understand that what was sharing with you is not something that we made up. Sometimes you when you encounter all the individuals they say well, that's what you believe, but that's not what I believe. As if it's just a matter who can believe the most it's not. The scripture says even the devil's believe and tremble. So is all you do is believe and you never yelled and you never submit your doing nothing better than the demons. He said but when you believe and you yelled and brings transforming power to your life. Part one of them to understand that your faith is not on a bunch of fairy tales what we're saying with you is not because we felt like we had something nice.

but if you

And God is called with Paul and his companions because Paul said listen.

It's not something that I picked up as I said before he's not self called he Spirit call. God call Christ call. inlad

call one of them to understand it those that you follow take seriously the gospel. Leashes and 1st Thessalonians to avoid stairs or just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. So we speak not to please men but to please God who tests or heart.

Paul understood that the reason why I have been entrusted was not to please men but to please God Universe 2090 says that she says and I work diligently I'm working today.

It's not because I just don't have anything better to do. It's not just because I'm spinning my wheels. He said but I'm working with the energy and the efficiency and the power and the authority that he has invested in me. And you Colossians all the beneficiary? You carry International Christian Church are the beneficiaries? One of the things I love about the word of God is that you don't have to have a title. People playing the word of God to be a steward of the word of God.

When scripture says that we should always be ready to give an account for the hope that we have. It's rightly divide the word that is us be students of the word of God. sharing with others Who he is and what he's done in this reset all the Agents of reconciliation, then not only has God reconciled us back to himself through Christ. But then he is giving us his stewardship in this opportunity this charge this command not the volunteer but the cement into a bay and reconcile others back to himself. This is why we witness. This is why we Proclaim because we understand there were just simply doing what our savior has done. The church in colossae was blessed. They have Paul sharing these words with them they had. That caliber ministers and their presents not the puff up The Minister's but rather to come into a full knowledge of the word of God. His boss says I've come and got it in trust me so that I can make more fully known the truth of this mystery. Let's not like a mystery like, you know, the Elks Lodge or or the Masonic temple or some of the other places that want to say you were initiated into this this mystery and you know, it's really nebulous. You really can explain it or understand Paul and saying that it's not a mystery in the sense that nobody can know it but rather it was a mystery that was him until this coming time. But now that the fullness of time is come amen. And God is revealed his salvation through his son. We are now able to understand things. The people who have much deeper experiences with God than we had. Didn't understand and comprehend.

So we should rejoice. Like they were told to Rejoice because of who God is and what he's done. So just remember that whenever you read Colossians 1 15 to 29. 15229 think about the pre-eminence of the Sun the reconciliation of the centers. NFL claiming of other stores I know that these things were written aforetime for your understanding in my understanding that help your faith and to help my faith that we might grow International statue in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I want to take a moment to extend an invitation.