Additional Things
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Introduction
Introduction
(Previous Messages in the Colossians Series)
‘For the Faithfulness of Epaphras’ - Col. 1:1-8
In that message, we looked at how because Epaphras was Faithful to serve the LORD, the gentiles there at Colosse gained:
Faith in Christ
Fellowship with each other
A Future home in Heaven
Fruit for their Labor
And Friends - that would be there & pray for them
‘Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians’ - Col. 1:9-12
Our next message dealt with v9-12 and it focused on Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians.
Paul Prayed for a Filling - of His Will, Godly Wisdom & Biblical Watchfulness
Paul then Prayed for Faithfulness - in their Manner of Life & the Mark to Strive for
Paul then prayed for Fruitfulness - Testifying of who they were in Christ
Then Paul Prayed for Favor - For God to give them Strength & Satisfaction
Lastly Paul Prayed for Focus - Upon God and His Grace
‘The Incredible Christ’ - Col. 1:12-22
Then as Paul began to get into the meat of the letter, we preached a message titled ‘The Incredible Christ’ focused on v13-22 and in it Paul is just bragging about Jesus!
He spoke of the Performance of Christ
The Pardon of Christ
The Picture of Christ
The Power of Christ
The Preeminence of Christ
The Peace of Christ
The Presentation of Christ
‘A Presentation Without Regret’ - Col. 1:20-29
Paul Spoke of:
The Peace through His Cross (v20-22)
The Presentation Desired (v22; 28; 23)
Paul spoke of the fact that everyone was going to stand before God and give account.
The Person God Utilized
Then Paul made clear that God was using him to communicate truth
Now that Paul has laid this ground work, he speaks of himself for the purpose that they would take heed unto what he had to say.
‘A Call to Stand’ - Col. 2:1-10
Paul spoke of:
A Knowledge Imparted
A Course Implored
A Fulfillment Identified
‘Understanding Our Position in Christ’ - Col. 2:11-15
Paul spoke of:
The Circumcision of the Believer (v11)
The Comparison in Baptism (v12)
The Culmination of the Work of Christ (v13)
The Canceling of Our Debt (v14)
The Conquering of Christ (v15)
Given Complete Victory - and He is a Commander to Follow
‘Beware, Lest Ye Be Spoiled!’ - Col. 2:16-23
Beware the Philosophy of the Jews
Beware the False Doctrines of the Gentiles
Be Mindful of What You Are
‘Live Different!’ - Col. 3:1-11
Seek Out Heavenly Things (v1)
Set Affection on Spiritual Things (v2)
Surrender your Life (v3-4)
Subdue your Flesh (v5-11)
Today’s message goes along with the former titled ‘Live Different’, as it gives some additional things in which we are to live our lives moving forward as Christians.
I. Things for Adorning (v12-14)
I. Things for Adorning (v12-14)
Twice in these three verses, Paul encourages the Colossians to ‘put on’. In other words, we should be adorned with these things.
Typically when we adorn ourselves with something, it is visible. (Some aren’t, but most are). These things should manifest themselves to others around us.
A Spirit of Humility (v12)
Notice first the manner to which he says it: As the elect of God - as God’s people should behave who are Holy a beloved by Him. Paul lists five things that I described as falling under the umbrella of Humility.
Bowels of mercies
This phrase I would describe as ‘tender, inward affection, sympathy or compassion’. The best way to describe this (Ill.) Have you ever been in a position where you see or hear of another’s situation or plight and your heart sink? You experience this deep compassion for them? This is how best I could explain it. Maybe another would be ‘Your hurt in my heart’.
We Christians should be compassionate people.
We should have compassion for our brothers & sisters who are suffering
We should have compassion for those who are lost
This is Christ-like:
Mat. 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
Mat. 14:14 “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
Mar. 1:41 “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”
Notice as well that whenever Christ felt ‘their hurt in His heart, it moved Him to do something.
We should put on bowels of Mercies
Kindness
Kindness is not something that is elusive to define. To show kindness (def) friendly, considerate, and generous.
There’s enough nasty people in the world without us Christians stooping down to that level
Humbleness of mind
Notice the verbage used here. It’s not just stating that we be humble (in actions) but that we would have ‘humbleness of mind’ (which is the root of those actions)
To be humble is to not be lifted up with pride as to who we are or what we do (or don’t do). To be humble means that we don’t consider ourselves better than another.
As I thought of this, I thought of a song that goes:
As I walk down the street of a sin-stricken city
I see the misfortunes of men
A man in the gutter lying there lifeless
Clutching a bottle in hand
He was some mother's darling
Maybe some young man's father
But, now he's a prisoner to sin
No hugs in the morning and no family altar
He's gets by the best way he can
Thank God for the preacher, who told me of Jesus
For I'd be a beggar if not for his grace
Lord help me show others, your love and your mercy
Make my life a witness to others I pray
This song illustrates the FACT that where others are, we could be just as easy, if not for the Grace of God! We have no reason to be prideful - for the same God that loves us, loves them just as much!
Meekness
Meek is (def) Mild of temper; not easily provoked or irritated; patient under injuries; not vain, or haughty, or resentful; forbearing; submissive. (def) Gentleness
I once heard someone define meek as ‘power under control’.
This is a staple of Paul’s teachings:
2Tim. 2:25 “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
Tit. 3:2 “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Gal. 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
We Christians need to resist the fleshly temptation to ‘pop off’ and be constantly irritated with others. Both in the church and outside of it.
Longsuffering
In a word: (def) Patient.
We Christians should have more patience than Dr. Oz.
We can have patience because:
We have an advocate on the throne
We know He’s in control
We should have a Spirit of Humility
A Sense of Forgiveness (v13)
We Christians should be the first to forgive. We should seek to extend forgiveness.
Has anyone ever been wronged by another? Have those sins against you been greater in quantity or quality of the sins you’ve committed against God? What someone owes you, is it more than your debt to God?
If you expect God to forgive you, how can you not expect to forgive others?
Jesus said in the model prayer: Mat. 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
We should have a Sense of Forgiveness
Being Steadfast in Lovingkindness (v14)
Here’s that great word ‘charity’ - often translated as ‘love’.
This was my inclination, but as I considered it, I felt the word ‘lovingkindness’ was better suited. Love is too often simply considered a feeling or emotion, however charity describes something greater. Lovingkindness intimates the same, in the it’s love that is kind.
Interesting fact: the word ‘Lovingkindness’ is not in our dictionary today, but it’s found in the KJV 30x.
Psa. 36:7 “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”
Psa. 36:10 “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; And thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”
Psa. 42:8 “Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night his song shall be with me, And my prayer unto the God of my life.”
In every (or just about) instance it is used, it’s used to describe our God! Thus further reason for us to show it in our Christian walk.
We should adorn ourselves with these things. They should be as evident as the clothes which we wear. Secondly, we have Things to Allow
II. Things to Allow (v15-16)
II. Things to Allow (v15-16)
The Peace of God Dominate (v15)
Notice the word ‘Let’ in both v15 & 16. This means to allow. So allow the peace of God to dominate your hearts. Allow it to rule. Let God’s Peace have it’s way in your heart & your life.
‘Well pastor, you just don’t understand all the turmoil in my life right now. Work is aggravating me, my kids are being brats, I’ve got bursitis in my knee, the preacher keeps getting on my toes, all this sickeness is going around…’ Does any of this sound familiar? It sounds like life. Job said Job. 14:1 “Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.”
Yes I understand that life is filled with turmoil - but I also understand that we can have peace in the storm. Mar. 4:35-39 “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
I also understand Joh. 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
In both of these instances, peace was brought by the Words of Christ!
So in order for you to allow Peace to Dominate your Heart, the Word of Christ must Dwell in you.
The Word of Christ Dwell (v16a)
Notice that Paul did not say ‘Hear the Word of Christ’, but that the word of Christ dwell.
For something to dwell, it means to take up residence. It means to be constantly there. Do you want peace? If so, then let the Word of Christ Dwell.
Here’s the thing: In every space available, there is limited capacity. In fact, Hell itself must continue to enlarge itself to hold all the residents there.
In order for the Word of Christ to Dwell, there must be room.
Too often we play the innkeeper in the Christmas story as we just have no room for Jesus. We make room for leisure activities, sports, hobbies, social media, tv time, web surfing, etc. But we have no room for the Words of Christ to dwell, because other stuff has taken up residence.
We must make a place for the Words of Christ to Dwell, and in order for that to happen, we must make time for the study of the Word of God.
The Songs of God be Delivered (v16b)
Music is a tremendously powerful thing. Music moves people like few things do. Some music will move people carnally, some emotionally, some superficially & some Spiritually.
We should steer clear of music that moves us carnally, emotionally & superficially - and sing songs that are Spiritual. And God gives us three types of songs that fall into that category.
Psalms
Characterized as more lyrically & poetically based, music being more or less optional (less of a factor in the composition)
Hymns
Lyrical and melodically based, following a more recognizable cadence (You know it when you hear it)
Spiritual Songs
Non-defined in specificity, but clearly defined in substance. Spiritual being ‘non-carnal’
For them to qualify in this category, they would have to be:
Non-carnal with their lyrics
Non-carnal in their music
For as the Scripture says Gal. 5:9 “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
We should Allow these Things.
Paul addresses Things for Adorning, then Things to Allow, lastly, Things to Do Always
III. Things to Do Always (v17)
III. Things to Do Always (v17)
Represent God in Word and Deed (v17a)
‘Do ALL in the name of the LORD Jesus’
(Ill.) I saw a social media post the other day, and while I didn’t agree with all of it, I did part. rebuke of the ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ the other day. Imagine saying ‘Let’s Go Brandon, in the name of Jesus’. Is that something Christ would endorse?
We should always be mindful of what it is that we are saying and doing, and only do that which you would be pleased to follow up with the words ‘In Jesus name’.
I buy this powerball ticket in Jesus name
I smoke this cigarette in Jesus name
I curse at you in Jesus name
I talk about you behind you back in Jesus name
This should serve as a deterrent to ungodly behaviour.
Represent God in Word and Deed
Recognize His Grace (v17b)
Simply, we have what we have because He’s bestowed the means for us to acquire it. And for thus, we should be ever thankful!
Conclusion
Conclusion