Jesus is Enough

Colossians 1:15–20 NKJV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Jesus is Enough

DO YOU EVER GET THE FEELING THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HAVING ENOUGH IN OUR WORLD?

WE LIVE IN A CULTURE WHERE THERE IS AN PRESSURE TO ADD ON TO EXISTING THINGS.

THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO JUST HAVE TO ADD THEIR OWN PERSONAL COMMENTS TO A POST ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK.

AND WHETHER YOU FIND YOURSELF DINING IN A FINE RESTAURANT OR SITTING AT A FAST-FOOD DRIVE UP WINDOW, YOU ARE ALWAYS PRESSURED TO ADD SOMETHING TO YOUR ORDER.

• DO YOU WANT FRIES WITH THAT

• DO YOU WANT TO SUPER SIZE YOUR ORDER

• IT’S AS IF THE STATUS QUO IS NEVER ENOUGH!

THERE IS NO BETTER EXAMPLE OF THIS THAN IN THE USE OF ADDITIVES OVER THE LAST THIRTY YEARS.

ADDITIVES ARE JUST WHAT YOU THINK THEY ARE - THEY ARE THINGS ADDED TO PRODUCTS THAT MAKE THEM STRONGER - LAST LONGER - OR LOOK BETTER. ADDITIVES ARE IN EVERYTHING —

• FROM GASOLINE

• TOOTHPASTE

• MAKEUP

EVEN FROZEN VEGETABLES …..FOOD LION

EVEN THOUGH WE OFTEN DON’T THINK ABOUT IT, WE CONSTANTLY PUT ADDITIVES INSIDE OUR BODIES. THERE ARE - -

• PRESERVATIVES IN BREAD AND CHEESE TO MAKE THEM RESISTANT TO THE GROWTH OF MOLD

• FOOD COLORING IN MARGARINE TO MAKE IT LOOK MORE LIKE BUTTER

• ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS IN SOFT DRINKS TO MAKE THEM CALORIE-FREE

• IN OUR COFFEE WE ASK FOR THE BLUE PACKET OR THE YELLOW PACKET – CONTAINING ARTIFICIAL SUGAR

AND WHILE THESE ARE ALL SEEMINGLY ACCEPTABLE INGREDIENTS, THERE COMES A POINT WHERE ADDING TO SOMETHING ACTUALLY SUBTRACTS FROM ITS VALUE.

ADDITIVES OFTEN BRING DAMAGING SIDE EFFECTS, AND WITH THAT AWARENESS THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT TO RETURN TO NATURAL PRODUCTS.

COMPANIES ARE NOW MAKING SODA FROM REAL CANE SUGAR BECAUSE NATURAL SUGAR IS BETTER FOR YOU THAN HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP OR THE CHEMICALS FOUND IN DIET SODA.

AND NUTRITIONISTS HAVE FOUND THE NATURAL FAT FOUND IN BUTTER IS HEALTHIER FOR YOU THAN THE ADDITIVES THAT MAKE UP MARGARINE.

THE WORLD HAS BEGUN TO REALIZE THAT SOME THINGS ARE BEST WHEN THEY ARE LEFT IN THEIR NATURAL STATE.

WHILE THIS MOVEMENT BACK TO NATURAL, ORGANIC ROOTS HAS HAPPENED IN THE WORLD OF FOOD, IT HAS NOT YET FULLY HAPPENED IN THE REALM OF FAITH.

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF PEOPLE SAW THE BIBLE AND THE GOSPEL IN ALL ITS RICH CLARITY AND REALIZED THAT CHRIST ALONE IS SUFFICIENT FOR SALVATION AND FOR EVERY SPIRITUAL NEED OF THE HUMAN SOUL.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY WHAT HAPPENED THIRTY YEARS AGO IN THE COMMERCIAL WORLD

HAS INFILTRATED THE CHURCH AND HAS CREATED A MINDSET AND ATTITUDE THAT IS AN INSULT TO GOD - PEOPLE ARE BRINGING ADDITIVES TO THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.

BUT THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR THAT JESUS WAS AND IS THE “PLAN OF ENOUGH” AS SET OUT FROM GOD.

• PAUL IS SAYING MAKE NO MISTAKES –-- JESUS IS ENOUGH!

OUR TEXT FOR EXAMINATION OPENS IN A POWERFUL WAY. WE SEE THE WORD “ALL” THAT TIES THE VERSUS TOGETHER. NOTE THE “ALLS” — FIVE IN THE FIRST THREE VERSES: -

• JESUS IS FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION

• IN HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED

• ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM

• HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS

• IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER

IN JESUS WE FIND EVERYTHING, “ALL” THAT GOD IS, THEREFORE HE’S ENOUGH FOR US

• JESUS IS NOT CREATED BY GOD - HE IS FULLY GOD JUST AS GOD THE FATHER IS FULLY GOD

• THAT IS WHY WE SAY GOD THE FATHER - GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

• THAT IS ALSO WHY JESUS WAS CALLED “IMMANUEL” – OR “GOD WITH US”

• WHEN WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN CHRIST, HE MAKES US COMPLETE – WE DON’T NEED MORE

• WE DON’T NEED JESUS + TRADITION

• WE DON’T NEED JESUS + MONEY

• WE DON’T NEED JESUS + THE RIGHT CLOTHES

• WE NEED JESUS ALONE, AND WHEN HE BECOMES A PART OF OUR LIVES, HE IS ENOUGH

LISTEN CAREFULLY, I’M NOT SAYING WE DON’T HAVE TO CONTINUE LEARNING AND GROWING IN OUR FAITH,

THROUGH STUDY - PRAYER - FELLOWSHIP - WORSHIP - WE MOST CERTAINLY DO - IT IS PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS HIMSELF!

JESUS IS THE LORD OVER ALL CREATION, NOT ONLY IS HIS ETERNAL GODNESS IN VIEW, BUT ALSO HIS HUMANNESS.

THE ETERNAL, INVISIBLE SON BECAME VISIBLE BY BECOMING MAN. THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS FOR JESUS TO BE THE IMAGE OF GOD — IMAGE IS CONNECTED TO INCARNATION — AND THAT SHOULD BE WHAT GIVES US OUR BEARINGS IN DISCERNING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MADE “IN” THE IMAGE OF GOD.

• ALL CREATION IN - THROUGH, - AND FOR JESUS

• JESUS IS THE IMAGE

• WE ARE IN THE IMAGE

HUMANITY MAY HAVE BEEN CREATED LAST ON THE SIXTH DAY, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT, BUT GOD DID ALL HIS CREATING, FROM DAY ONE, IN VIEW OF SETTING UP THE WORLD FOR MAN, AS ONE OF WHICH HE HIMSELF WOULD ONE DAY ENTER INTO HIS WORLD.

SO BEFORE THE FATHER WORKED TOGETHER WITH HIS SON TO CREATE ALL THINGS, HE ALREADY HAD IN VIEW WHAT HIS SON WOULD BE LIKE AS HIS IMAGE IN THE CREATED WORLD, AND HE CREATED ALL THINGS IN VIEW OF HIS SON, THROUGH THE AGENCY OF HIS SON.

• ALL CREATION IS IN JESUS - THROUGH JESUS - AND FOR JESUS

• WHICH MEANS EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE RELATES TO JESUS

• WE OFTEN DO NOT SEE HOW, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH HIS BEING, BUT OUR SEEING

LET ME SEE IF I CAN HELP US SEE THIS POINT MORE CLEARLY -- IT IS ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME WHEN I PUT WATER IN A POT ON THE STOVE, THE WATER STAYS IN THE POT UNDISTURBED.

ONCE I TURN THE BURNER ON, THE SAME WATER I PUT IN THE POT NOW OVER BOILS BECAUSE THE EXCITEMENT OF THE FLAME OR THE HEAT.

• THE AGITATION OF THE WATER THAT HAD FILLED IT UP AND IS NOW TOO BIG FOR THE POT TO HANDLE

• THE ENERGY IN THE WATER MAKES THE WATER TOO DIFFICULT TO CONTAIN

• THAT’S WHAT PAUL WANTS US TO SEE IN THE COLOSSIANS

• THAT’S ALSO WHAT GOD WANTS TO SEE IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US!

• HEARTS OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US, WHICH NEVER EVER DIES AWAY!

• THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT IN OUR LIVES WHERE JESUS IS ENOUGH

O WE NO LONGER LOOK FOR STUFF TO EXCITE US

O WE NO LONGER LOOK FOR THE NEXT THRILL

O WE NO LONGER BECOME BORED FROM DAY TO DAY

O WE NO LONGER HAVE TO BE ENTERTAINED DAILY

O BECAUSE - JESUS IS ENOUGH

JESUS DOESN’T JUST GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED -- JESUS IS WHAT YOU NEED.

YOUR HEART WAS CREATED BY HIM, FOR HIM. YOU CAN FIGHT AND CLAW TO GAIN THE WORLD, BUT WITHOUT JESUS, YOU WILL NEVER BE COMPLETELY SATISFIED.

IF THERE IS A GROWING DISCONTENT DEEP INSIDE YOUR HEART — A HUNGER THAT HASN’T BEEN COMPLETELY SATISFIED BY THE PEOPLE - PLEASURES - PARTIES - MATERIAL THINGS - OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS — TODAY IS THE DAY TO OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE IDEA THAT IT IS JESUS THAT YOU WERE MADE FOR.

BUT YOU HAVE TO WALK AWAY FROM “LESS,” AND ASK HIM TO BECOME YOUR “MORE.” JESUS IS ENOUGH FOR YOU.

• JESUS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU AND I NEED

• HE IS EXACTLY WHAT A HURTING AND BROKEN WORLD NEEDS

• JESUS IS ENOUGH!

• ENOUGH LOVE

• ENOUGH PEACE

• ENOUGH STRENGTH

• ENOUGH CONTENTMENT

• ENOUGH JOY

WHEN YOU’RE STRESSED OUT BY THE CARES OF THIS LIFE – JESUS IS ENOUGH.

• WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE HAVING A “LET’S DRIVE MOMMY AND DADDY CRAZY” DAY – JESUS IS ENOUGH

• WHEN YOU NEIGHBORS ARE LESS THAN NEIGHBORLY – JESUS IS ENOUGH

• WHEN THE NEWS FROM YOUR DOCTOR IS UNSETTLING – JESUS IS ENOUGH

• WHEN THE NEXT REPORT OF MASS SHOOTINGS HITS THE NEWS – JESUS IS ENOUGH

• WHEN LIFE GETS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN – JESUS IS ENOUGH

• I WANT TO REPLACE EVERY ANXIETY RIDDEN DISSATISFIED THOUGHT WITH THESE WORDS -- JESUS IS ENOUGH!

I KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS THINKING RIGHT NOW. “PASTOR, THAT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WE LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD.”

• WE STILL FOOLISHLY TURN OUR FOCUS TO CURRENT EVENTS — GLOBAL AND/OR PERSONAL

• IT’S HARD TO FOCUS ON JESUS, WHEN WHAT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR NOSES IS SCREAMING FOR ATTENTION

• WE STILL FOOLISHLY TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT OF OUR NATION THAT SEEMS TO EMBRACE A LIE RATHER THAN THE TRUTH

• IT’S HARD TO FOCUS ON JESUS WHEN IT SEEMS OUR NATION IS FALLING APART AND SCREAMING FOR ATTENTION

• WE STILL FOOLISHLY TURN OUR FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND BUSINESSES CLOSING ALL AROUND US

• IT’S HARD TO FOCUS ON JESUS WHEN IT SEEMS OUR NATIONS ECONOMY IS SCREAMING FOR ATTENTION

• WE STILL FOOLISHLY TURN OUR FOCUS TO OUR FINANCES AND DIFFICULTY MAKING ENDS MEET

• IT’S HARD TO FOCUS ON JESUS WHEN IT SEEMS OUR NATION IS SUFFERING WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

LET ME ONCE AGAIN REASSURE YOU - BELIEVING THAT JESUS IS ENOUGH INVOLVES RESTING IN GOD’S PROMISES NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND US.

• AS WE REST IN GOD’S PROMISES, WE ADMIT WE ARE NOT GOD

• TRUE REST IN JESUS CHRIST IS CENTRAL TO THE BIBLE’S TEACHINGS

• IF WE PUT OUR TRUST IN JESUS NOT IN SOME THINGS BUT IN “ALL” THINGS WE WILL FIND – JESUS IS ENOUGH

MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE JESUS IS ALL THEY NEED UNTIL JESUS IS ALL THEY HAVE.

• WE HAVE IT ALL IN CHRIST

• WE ARE MADE ALIVE, ONCE BEING DEAD IN SINS

• WE ARE CLEANSED OF OUR SINS AS IF WE HAD NEVER SINNED AT ALL

• WE ARE REMADE INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AND RAISED AS NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST

• YES, JESUS IS ENOUGH

• A HAPPY HEART IN CHRIST EMPOWERS THE BELIEVER TO OVERCOME SIN AND DEDICATE HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO THE SERVICE OF HIS LORD AND REDEEMER

• IT IS IN THIS DEDICATION THAT BRINGS US TO THE POSITION TO UNDERSTAND JESUS IS ENOUGH

IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU THIS MORNING…

• MANY BELIEVERS ARE IN LOVE WITH THE THINGS OF THE LORD - BUT THEY ARE NOT IN LOVE WITH THE LORD HIMSELF

• THEY ARE SEEKING THINGS – WORDS - PROPHECIES - TEACHINGS - VISIONS - DREAMS – BUT THEY ARE NOT SEEKING THE LORD HIMSELF

• ALWAYS WANTING MORE OF THIS OTHER STUFF – BUT NOT REALLY WANTING MORE OF JESUS

IF WE ARE HONEST - WHEN THE SAINTS GATHER TOGETHER MOST OF THE ACTIVITY IS FOCUSED ON “ONE ANOTHER.” THIS IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

• FELLOWSHIP IS GOOD - BUT IS JESUS ENOUGH?

• GATHERINGS ARE GOOD - BUT IS JESUS ENOUGH?

• SPECIAL SPEAKERS AND SPECIAL SERVICES ARE GOOD - BUT IS JESUS ENOUGH?

EVEN WITH PRAISE AND WORSHIP IT IS POSSIBLE TO SING “ABOUT” JESUS AND NOT TRULY WORSHIP JESUS.

CAUGHT IN WORSHIPING WORSHIP INSTEAD OF WORSHIPING THE LORD!

THE REASON THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH HAD POWER WAS NOT BECAUSE THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES - OR HELD MEETINGS IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS - OR HAD A CERTAIN SYSTEM FOR PLANTING CHURCHES. THE SECRET WAS THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

• WHEN WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED JESUS FOR OURSELVES

• WHEN WE HAVE TRULY MET THE SAVIOR FOR OURSELVES

• WHEN WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS

• WE WILL THEN DISCOVER

• JESUS IS ENOUGH

--WHEN APOSTLES LOVE CHURCH PLANTING AND MISSION WORK MORE THAN JESUS -- THEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT JESUS IS NOT ENOUGH

--WHEN EVANGELISTS LOVE TRAVELING, PREACHING, AND HOLDING MEETINGS MORE THAN THEY LOVE JESUS - THEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT JESUS IS NOT ENOUGH

--WHEN PASTORS LOVE THEIR CHURCH SERVICES AND BUILDING PROGRAMS MORE THAN THEY LOVE JESUS - THEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT JESUS IS NOT ENOUGH

--WHEN TEACHERS LOVE THEIR TEACHINGS MORE THAN THEY LOVE JESUS - THEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT JESUS IS NOT ENOUGH

--WHEN PREACHERS LOVE THEIR PREACHING MORE THAN THEY LOVE JESUS - THEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT JESUS IS NOT ENOUGH

--WHEN MINISTERS LOVE THEIR MINISTRY MORE THAN THEY LOVE JESUS - THEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT JESUS IS NOT ENOUGH

--WHEN MUSICIANS LOVE THEIR MUSIC MORE THAN THEY LOVE JESUS - THEN THEY ARE SAYING THAT JESUS IS NOT ENOUGH

--BUT, I AM GLAD THIS MORNING THAT I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF AND I STOPPED BY 201 WAYNE STREET TO TELL YOU – JESUS IS ENOUGH

--SIN IS HELPLESS BEFORE JESUS – HE IS ENOUGH TO DEFEAT IT

--JESUS IS ENOUGH BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS

--JESUS IS ENOUGH BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE

--JESUS IS ENOUGH BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS READY TO DO

--JESUS IS ENOUGH

--AND THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE, IT IS WHAT PAUL IS SAYING TODAY

--YOU DON’T NEED JESUS PLUS THIS

--YOU DON’T NEED JESUS PLUS THAT

--YOU NEED JESUS

--I’VE GOT JESUS AND THAT’S ENOUGH

--MY BANK ACCOUNT MIGHT BE LOW – BUT I’VE GOT JESUS AND THAT’S ENOUGH

--I’VE GOT DAILY ACHES AND PAINS – BUT I’VE GOT JESUS AND THAT’S ENOUGH

--MY FRIENDS MAY BE FEW – BUT I’VE GOT JESUS AND THAT’S ENOUGH

--MY LIGHT BILL MIGHT BE DUE AND MY GAS BILL TOO – BUT I’VE GOT JESUS AND THAT’S ENOUGH

--JESUS IS ENOUGH