God's Desire for His Church
GOD'S DESIRE FOR HIS CHURCH
TEXT: Colossians 1:9-14
INTRODUCTION: Men have desires and goals for 'their' ministries. Those goals and desires are often much different then God's. Men desire good finances. Good numbers. Glamorous buildings. Even national recognition. God's desires are just a bit different.
I. TO BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL. Verse 9
A. To know God’s will.
1. There is always more to learn about God and His will for our lives.
2. No Christian would ever dare to say that he had “arrived” and needed to learn nothing more
B. To possess wisdom: to possess the basic principles of life.
C. To possess understanding: to have the ability to apply the basic principles of life to everyday living.
1. Because we are His friends, we can know what He is doing and why He is doing it
2. We understand the will of God through the Word of God.
3. The Holy Spirit teaches us as we submit to Him
4. As we pray and sincerely seek God’s truth, He gives us through the Spirit the wisdom and insight that we need
II. TO WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD. Verse 10
A. As becometh
1. Our walk should reflect Christ
2. We should be like Christ
3. Christ is the pattern, and we are the copy. The copy is to be just like the pattern
B. 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.
III. TO BE FRUITFUL IN ALL THINGS. Verse 10
A. If we walk following the Lord we will bear fruit
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. 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. 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. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
IV. TO BE STRONG. Verse 11
A. In temptation
B. In service
C. We have the source
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.
V. TO BE THANKFUL. Verse 12
A. Tell and show it
Psalms 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms
B. Be thankful for His victory
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. In all things
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
CONCLUSION
Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: