God's Desire for His Church

 "WHY ONE WIFE?"

     WHY ONE WIFE?

     When a 13‑year old girl asked her Pastor‑father,

     "Why can't a man have more than one wife?"

     her daddy told her to open her Bible to Matthew 6:24,

     where she read, "No man can serve two masters...!"

"God's Desire for His Church"

Introduction:

Men have desires and goals for 'their' ministries. Those goals and desires are often much different when God's. Men desire good finances. Good numbers. Glamerous buildings. Even national  recognition. God's desires are just a bit different.

Colossians 1:9‑14 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual u nderstanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according

to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Theme: God's Desire for His church:

I. To be filled with the knowledge of His will. Verse 9

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the nowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual uderstanding;

Psalms 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls f his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Mark 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Theme: God's Desire for His church:

II. To walk worthy of the Lord. Verse 10

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Not sinless perfection, but spiritual maturity.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Theme: God's Desire for His church:

III. To be fruitful in all things. Verse 10

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

John 15:4‑8 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Theme: God's Desire for His church:

IV. To be strong. Verse 11

Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Acts 1:8 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.

Theme: God's Desire for His church:

V. To be thankful. Verse 12

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Psalms 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Conclusion ‑ verse 22

Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

God bless...