Christ: Exalted (Col 1)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Covid has changed our lives drastically over the past year. What something that you did before Covid that you miss?
Have you become a-custom to some of the changes that Covid has brought about. I know we all hate wearing masks and virtual schooling, but I think we’ve gotten used to certain things brought about by Covid. Maybe you can think back to some of the things we did before Covid, maybe its shaking hands with everyone in the auditorium or not ordering you food on an app, or maybe some of you actually started washing your hands on a regular basis.
I was on tik tok one day, and I saw a video of the Texas Rangers stadium. Texas had just gotten rid of all its covid mandates. And that stadium was packed out!
I loved it! but it was kinda weird seeing all those people in a stadium for the first time in over a year. We’ve gotten used to it.
But, in reality, our society loves to be entertained. It love to worship and exalt celebrities. We all buy our favorite sports gear and we all sit around a tv to watch our teams play. (sorry ladies if this doesn’t apply to you).
Either way our culture is obsessed with fame!
often, They exalt people who lived a lifestyle contrary to what we find in Scripture.
However, In Scripture, we find someone else exalted. Someone in whom every knee will bow too. This someone, of course, is Jesus Christ.
In the book of Colossians, we find a specific emphasis on the person of Christ. Christ is exalted in the book of Colossians
Read Colossians 1:9-13
The Desire of Paul (vv. 9-10)
The Desire of Paul (vv. 9-10)
It is amazing to see the burden has for those that he ministers to. Throughout the NT we see the prayers Paul has for the churches he has planted. The Church at Colossi is no different. Paul has a God-given desire for the growth of believers. When Paul expresses these desires, we should listen.
So what does Paul desire for the Colossian people?
Be filled with knowledge - recognition of certain information.
Knowledge of His Will
This is not just general knowledge, but knowledge of what God desires for us.
Note: Paul is desiring that we know what God desires!
However, it is not enough to simply know things about God, there must proper handling of this knowledge.
Wisdom - knowing how to apply knowledge to a certain situation. Discernment
Spiritual Understanding - we should have spiritual insight into what the information means.
Note: It is not enough to just know facts, we must understand what those facts mean. This comes through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We are to be filled with this! It is not enough to just have part of our live filled. Our whole lives need to be filled with the knowledge of His will. Our lives must be centered on our relationship with God. Our relationship with God is not just for Wednesday nights and Sundays. It is a all day, every day relationship.
If you were to go a whole week without talking to your earthly father, you could expect something is wrong with that relationship. If you went a whole week acting like your dad wasn’t actually your dad, something would be up. Does it please our Heavenly Father when we ignore Him? Disobey Him? or Worship other things? No!
God wants your heart! He wants to fill you with knowledge of His will. He wants you to understand it and apply it to your lives!! Are you giving your heart to God are growing in your knowledge of Him? We all know this comes from time in God’s Word. Are you in His Word?
Note: We are filled with the knowledge of His will...
In order that you might walk worthy of the Lord - God wants us to act like who we are. We are redeemed. We have a new identity. So act like it!
If we apply God’s Word like we should, we will walk worthy of the Lord.
This will lead is to
fruitfulness
Increasing in knowledge
being filled with knowledge is not a one time thing, It is a constant process. That is why we never stop reading God’s Word. If you think you’ve arrived you have not! Just go back and read Romans a couple more times, and I’m sure you will find some more questions.
God wants us to live a life that is pleasing to Him. The way that we do this is by filled with the knowledge of His will.
Get in the word, and apply it to your lives. Build your relationship with God. Make Him first place in your heart.
But you might say, Addison, I’ve tried to live for God. Ive tried to do whats right, but I just keep failing!
I know, its not always easy to live for God. Its hard. It really isn’t complicated, its just hard. And God understands that, but he also gave us a solution he gave us His Power!
The Power of God (v. 11)
The Power of God (v. 11)
King James Version Chapter 1
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
We are fully strengthened to accomplish God’s will
God did not just give us a bunch of commandments that we are unable to fulfill. He gave us power. But what does it mean? You obviously don’t wake up after getting saved with super powers. Reading the bible is not like a physical steriod that as you read your muscles get bigger. What does it mean to strengthened with all might according to his glorious power?
Here are some other passages that talk about the power of God… (Have others read passages)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
He giveth power to the faint;
And to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run, and not be weary;
And they shall walk, and not faint.
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
God promises power. We are one with Christ, and This power comes from Christ. This power flows through us through the Holy Spirit’s filling.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
This is the power to do God’s will. This is power to speak boldly the name of Christ; This is power to overcome trials we face; This is power to change into the image of Christ. Whatever God lays before you, he has ordained for you, and He will give you the power to overcome it.
This is not about having supernatural ability; but God may use you supernaturally. This is not about never facing hardship; but God may use hardship to accomplish His will. To make you more like His son.
God’s power results in...
1. patience.
Patience is endurance, but endurance that is done with...
joyfulness!
Some people can just put their heads down, and get through something. However, true, godly patience is done in joy. Not necessarily happiness, but joy.
The Blessing of Christ (vv. 12-14)
The Blessing of Christ (vv. 12-14)
Paul sums up his thoughts here with a reflections of the blessings that come with knowing Christ.
We give thanks! Thankfulness should be a major characteristic of a Christian. The Bible commands us to give thanks, it says it is the will of God.
Verse 12 tell us we actively give thanks to the Father for...
Made us worthy of the inheritance
Salvation - this is the greatest blessing we have
“meet” - sufficient
Note: God wants us to walk worthy, because he has already made us worthy. We are worthy because of the saving work of Jesus Christ. It is all him
We have redemption
This comes with a future inheritance
One day we will shed off this flesh and have a glorified body.
We will spend eternity in a new heaven and new earth
(Talk about those befits if time allows)
delivered us from the “power” of darkness
We no longer live under the power of sin. We do not have to fear death, we have liberty to do what is right.
We are placed in the kingdom of his Son
We are a part of the kingdom of Christ now. It is his kingdom, and Christ paid the ultimate price for us.
Our sins are forgiven, and we are a part of a different country now. We all love America in here, but it is not home. Our residence is not on this earth, it is with Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Today we looked at the Desire of Paul, The Power of God, and the Blessing of Christ.
Paul lays out a purpose in writing to us, but we will soon find out that it is based on who Christ is. We will see Christ exalted as Preeminent Lord over all. And we can rejoice in His love that He has shown to us.
So, are you serving Christ. Are you walking worthy of the Lord, and are you trusting in His power? These are all intentional decisions that we have to make! Start knowing your God and walking with him.
I close with this verse.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
