“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”
Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” hit home in unique ways. He can take a passage of Scripture and bring home, home where it hurts…or…home where it moves us.
How many times do we view hardship as a growth process? Paul and the Apostles seem to look forward to hard times…over the course of their ministries they came to conclusion. It’s the kind of lesson that can be only learned by suffering. So here we are two thousands years later and we are still the same frail human beings we have always been. How many of us hit hard time and the first thing we do is look for ‘options’. We pray only after we have exhausted all other means and you no where else to go…turn to God.
The problem is when we finally turn to him we are only “worrying our prayers”…we still keep all of our “options open”. In other words we don’t trust God to come through. I mean he is invisible. He doesn’t always answer prayers the way you would think…he gives us every reason not to trust or believe in him right? But do you see the failure in this line of thought?
Many of us struggle in hard times because we do not have a ‘daily’ relationship…we have never fully lived Christ. Oh on Sunday morning we might get as close as we can get for the week. But for most once the key touches the ignition switch of our car in the church parking lot the relationship ends until next Sunday morning.
Trust God means trusting God…it takes time to build…a lifetime for some. But it means we have to trust God with our lives, families, and our money…with everything. We have forgotten how to trust God in our nations…the giving of our time and money are at all times lows, and the same time we deeply desire a walk with God. So many people are without hope…without forgiveness….
So are you serious about your relationship….are you willing to start living the gospel, to start trusting in God. It’s starts with the small things…spending time with God in the morning…praying and reading your bible. It starts by taking your concerns to God and knowing he is listening and wants to help you. It’s all about trusting….In God we trust!
Start small and work up…you will not be disappointed.
-ps
Friday, November 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Dad is here…
Today I drove to San Francisco International Airport and picked up my father, who flew in from Atlanta. He is staying with us for the next three weeks. It’s good to have him here. I have never shared this on the blog…but the early part of my life, my father and I didn’t get along. In fact there was an eight year period in which we didn’t talk. But later in life through Christ we where able in mend our hearts and build a relationship.
It’s amazing how ‘forgiveness’ is so powerful in our lives. It starts with Christ…we forgive because Christ forgives us. The power of forgiveness is underestimated in our culture…the need to forgive and the need for forgiveness. For many years I carried the burden of ‘hating’ my father. I blamed him for all that had gone wrong in my life, later in life I stood face to face with him and he asked me to forgive him for what he had done.
I remember at first being shocked, and the same time relieved. It was a freeing experience that opened the door to a deeper relationship with God and my father. People ask me where are the ‘miracles’ pastor…how about the miracles of healing relationships, mending broken hearts and taking the burden of carrying the ‘unforgiving’.
I hope, if you’re reading this and God has tugged at your heart about someone you haven’t forgiven…that you would ask the Lord to help you forgive that person. No matter who the person is or what they have done…God can help you forgive. I’m speaking from experience; I have had to forgive some people in my life, whom many would consider ‘unforgivable’. But how am I the ‘chief’ of sinner, whom God forgave of all my sin…how can I not forgive those who have wronged me.
-ps
It’s amazing how ‘forgiveness’ is so powerful in our lives. It starts with Christ…we forgive because Christ forgives us. The power of forgiveness is underestimated in our culture…the need to forgive and the need for forgiveness. For many years I carried the burden of ‘hating’ my father. I blamed him for all that had gone wrong in my life, later in life I stood face to face with him and he asked me to forgive him for what he had done.
I remember at first being shocked, and the same time relieved. It was a freeing experience that opened the door to a deeper relationship with God and my father. People ask me where are the ‘miracles’ pastor…how about the miracles of healing relationships, mending broken hearts and taking the burden of carrying the ‘unforgiving’.
I hope, if you’re reading this and God has tugged at your heart about someone you haven’t forgiven…that you would ask the Lord to help you forgive that person. No matter who the person is or what they have done…God can help you forgive. I’m speaking from experience; I have had to forgive some people in my life, whom many would consider ‘unforgivable’. But how am I the ‘chief’ of sinner, whom God forgave of all my sin…how can I not forgive those who have wronged me.
-ps
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
So what’s been going on…
Let’s see…we started family night on Wednesday nights. We provide a meal and a Bible study for everyone….K-Living. I love it! Tonight we had 22 people show up for the very best ‘Spaghetti alla Bolognese’ I have ever had. The sauce of was made by Doris aka “Na-na”, mother of PJ and mother-in-law of Don. We followed-up the meal with a bible study class and prayer. Overall I would judge the last weeks as very exciting and I can’t wait to see how God plays this out.
What else, school, football…I am in a Biblical ethics class and it’s been very interesting I will have to share some of what I have learned as soon as I can digest it. It’s like ‘drive by learning’. Last week we had over three hundred pages to read and write on.
Football has been fun…I haven’t coached in years and I get to spend two days a week coaching my son. Who by the way is turned in a real ‘force’ to be dealt with. I love his attitude most of all he plays where you ask him and he gives 100%...and lights people up! I have to say I have enjoyed this year watching more than ever.
Saturday morning I meet with my accountability ‘team’. I have learned to love these two men in way I have only started to understand. I say that because God has brought us together and we are bonded together by a common desire to know Christ deeper and to share that love with others. We all want the same thing and we are helping each other to accomplish that end. I have become so dependant, I need them in my life. I thank God for them…
Sunday morning I meet with the Deacons and the men in training, five of us right now. This group too has started to steal my heart…I have watched them grow spiritually and I have enjoyed watching them serve. All of this has been very humbling…I can see working all around me and I have to wonder why at times….I am so undeserving to have any part…yet that is what God does for all of us…we all don’t deserve his love or grace…and yet ‘while I was a sinner, Christ died for me’…It is too much for me to understand!
I love you Lord!
-ps
What else, school, football…I am in a Biblical ethics class and it’s been very interesting I will have to share some of what I have learned as soon as I can digest it. It’s like ‘drive by learning’. Last week we had over three hundred pages to read and write on.
Football has been fun…I haven’t coached in years and I get to spend two days a week coaching my son. Who by the way is turned in a real ‘force’ to be dealt with. I love his attitude most of all he plays where you ask him and he gives 100%...and lights people up! I have to say I have enjoyed this year watching more than ever.
Saturday morning I meet with my accountability ‘team’. I have learned to love these two men in way I have only started to understand. I say that because God has brought us together and we are bonded together by a common desire to know Christ deeper and to share that love with others. We all want the same thing and we are helping each other to accomplish that end. I have become so dependant, I need them in my life. I thank God for them…
Sunday morning I meet with the Deacons and the men in training, five of us right now. This group too has started to steal my heart…I have watched them grow spiritually and I have enjoyed watching them serve. All of this has been very humbling…I can see working all around me and I have to wonder why at times….I am so undeserving to have any part…yet that is what God does for all of us…we all don’t deserve his love or grace…and yet ‘while I was a sinner, Christ died for me’…It is too much for me to understand!
I love you Lord!
-ps
Monday, September 24, 2007
Book Review: The Character of Leadership
Let me say one thing to start things off...WOW!
I was getting ready to preach Sunday morning and my mentor Pastor Neely pressed this book into my hands and said, 'it's a must read'. He has never said that to me before and so I couldn't wait to get home and explore this "must read". I started reading and couldn't stop, until my body shut down...and I woke up this morning and finished it. It is only the second book I can remember in which this happened.
First let me say as a Pastor this is a 'must read'...he speaks clearly and from the heart. This is something I really appreciated…so many leadership books speak downward and I felt this was from the gut level, he was speaking from experience. Also in each chapter he gave particle advice that can be applied…it wasn’t something abstract or a twenty step process…, but reasonable attainable goals and exercises.
Secondly, this would be a good book for a pastor to go through with his leadership teams, deacons…anyone he is developing for future leadership positions. It gave a good picture of what is expected for all church leaders. It also helps those supporting pastors to better understand the pastor position and expectations (realized or not realized) demanded by the nature of the position.
It is an easy read, excellent....I want to recommend this book for several people…Dave, Bob….Cammille, Mike, Don, Dwight and John to name a few.
-ps
First let me say as a Pastor this is a 'must read'...he speaks clearly and from the heart. This is something I really appreciated…so many leadership books speak downward and I felt this was from the gut level, he was speaking from experience. Also in each chapter he gave particle advice that can be applied…it wasn’t something abstract or a twenty step process…, but reasonable attainable goals and exercises.
Secondly, this would be a good book for a pastor to go through with his leadership teams, deacons…anyone he is developing for future leadership positions. It gave a good picture of what is expected for all church leaders. It also helps those supporting pastors to better understand the pastor position and expectations (realized or not realized) demanded by the nature of the position.
It is an easy read, excellent....I want to recommend this book for several people…Dave, Bob….Cammille, Mike, Don, Dwight and John to name a few.
-ps
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Things have been busy..
Ok…I promise to post more this week. I was sick last week and got behind ‘stuff’…I also had finials due this last week…which are done. So all the excuses out of the way…
This morning we had about 60 in attendance and the message was about being thankful. I have been preaching out of Colossians…Col. 3:12-17…the last verse being
“and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
What I love about chapter 3, it builds to this point…you see in verse 1-3 our eyes are to be one Christ…our hearts and minds are to be set on things above. We have been raised with Christ (v.1), you have a new life, and you are a ‘new creation’…you get a new start with Christ…so set your eyes above.
“Put to death” v.5…notice it doesn’t say wound it and let live in your life, cowering in the corner…have no mercy on ‘sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed”…but you can only kill these if your heart and minds…your eyes are on Christ. He is the one who enables you to destroy these sins….
After these…’rid yourself’ of anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language…do lie to each other….Paul is working down a list…it starts with Christ…look up…then look in to get rid of those things that keep you from looking up…
Now he is working on the relationships within the church…God representation on earth….’Christ is all, and is in all’ v.11
We are God’s chosen people…holy (set apart, for the glory of God) and dearly loved by the Lord v.12…we are to make every effort (clothe yourself) with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…with in the church (which should naturally carry outside the church)…but we have to work on these very things so we can “bear with one another…and forgive one another v.13. Have you every had to serve with some tough people in church…people in church can and will hurt you…but we have to forgive…because Christ forgave us. We cannot serve God and have hatred in our hearts…the two cannot co-exist with one another…you have to choose which one you want to keep…
But most of all you have put on ‘love’….without love the above will not work…love binds us and unites us…we love because Christ first loved us…and we are to love others…especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“let the peace of Christ rule in your heart" v.15…we all seek peace and only Christ can give us peace that surpasses all understanding…only Christ can take away our fears….but we have to submit…or allow him to rule in our lives…it’s like submitting to a umpire at a baseball game…the players submit to the umpires authority…he says who is safe and who is out…but the players have to agree to his authority…look what happens when we do submit…
We have peace and we can be ‘thankful’…then we can accept the word and the teaching of Christ and they will fill your life…your relationship with other believers starts to grow where you can spur one another on…you can teach and admonish one another…singing hymns and psalms will take on a new life…your hearts will be glad…filled with ‘gratitude’ v.16…
Finally you reach “and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
So if you read through this and now I have to ask you question…what are you thankful for, is Christ in your life and are you truly thankful….are you thankful for your church family…right now pray a prayer of thanks giving…
Be thankful…
-ps
This morning we had about 60 in attendance and the message was about being thankful. I have been preaching out of Colossians…Col. 3:12-17…the last verse being
“and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
What I love about chapter 3, it builds to this point…you see in verse 1-3 our eyes are to be one Christ…our hearts and minds are to be set on things above. We have been raised with Christ (v.1), you have a new life, and you are a ‘new creation’…you get a new start with Christ…so set your eyes above.
“Put to death” v.5…notice it doesn’t say wound it and let live in your life, cowering in the corner…have no mercy on ‘sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed”…but you can only kill these if your heart and minds…your eyes are on Christ. He is the one who enables you to destroy these sins….
After these…’rid yourself’ of anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language…do lie to each other….Paul is working down a list…it starts with Christ…look up…then look in to get rid of those things that keep you from looking up…
Now he is working on the relationships within the church…God representation on earth….’Christ is all, and is in all’ v.11
We are God’s chosen people…holy (set apart, for the glory of God) and dearly loved by the Lord v.12…we are to make every effort (clothe yourself) with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…with in the church (which should naturally carry outside the church)…but we have to work on these very things so we can “bear with one another…and forgive one another v.13. Have you every had to serve with some tough people in church…people in church can and will hurt you…but we have to forgive…because Christ forgave us. We cannot serve God and have hatred in our hearts…the two cannot co-exist with one another…you have to choose which one you want to keep…
But most of all you have put on ‘love’….without love the above will not work…love binds us and unites us…we love because Christ first loved us…and we are to love others…especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“let the peace of Christ rule in your heart" v.15…we all seek peace and only Christ can give us peace that surpasses all understanding…only Christ can take away our fears….but we have to submit…or allow him to rule in our lives…it’s like submitting to a umpire at a baseball game…the players submit to the umpires authority…he says who is safe and who is out…but the players have to agree to his authority…look what happens when we do submit…
We have peace and we can be ‘thankful’…then we can accept the word and the teaching of Christ and they will fill your life…your relationship with other believers starts to grow where you can spur one another on…you can teach and admonish one another…singing hymns and psalms will take on a new life…your hearts will be glad…filled with ‘gratitude’ v.16…
Finally you reach “and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
So if you read through this and now I have to ask you question…what are you thankful for, is Christ in your life and are you truly thankful….are you thankful for your church family…right now pray a prayer of thanks giving…
Be thankful…
-ps
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Sick and the big thought....
I have been sick now for about three days now…I have not enjoyed it at all. But I have started reading another book, “The Spirit of the Disciplines, Understanding How God Changes Lives” By Dallas Willard.
I had heard about this book originally written in 1988. The people I have talked to said this book changed their lives, so I thought I’d read it. I am on page 38 and this big thought has started to emerge. The cross…did you know the symbol of the cross wasn’t really used until much later in church history. Here is the idea…The cross wasn’t the central theme of the early church…today we focus on the cross because it represents the forgiveness of sins…which of course is important...(the cross became a symbol of choice when the church because responsible for dispersing forgiveness in the middle ages) But was the cross the focus of Christ life or was the resurrection. Was the early church focused on forgiveness and that was it or did they live a changed life, based on the thought of this new life in Christ? Where they fearless because of the forgiveness of their sins or because they knew they would rise again?
See here is where I am really starting to struggle…I read verses like ‘you are dead to sin’, “I come that you might have life more abundant”…I am a new creation the old is gone the new has come….and I think what am I missing? Have I set my sights too low…why do I still struggle with sin like I do…where is the new life Paul talks about.
I know I have talked this way before and I really want to understand and to know Christ more than anything. I read Paul’s writing and I think ‘no way’…but is that because I have taught this is something we will attain later. See I am beginning to think we sell our faith short.
Listen Christ lives in us “Even when we were dead through our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ, Ephesians 2:5. Did Christ intent for us to just live our faith for a few hours on Sunday morning and maybe Wednesday night…did he intent for us to live in defeat all week spiritually…or did he intend for us to live in victory, a changed person…a light…Christ in us…transformed by the resurrection. We died to the old ways and we walk in the newness of life!
I don’t know about you but I want to experience the life Christ talked about, the life he lived! The life the disciples lived…how do I get there, I’m not sure…But Scripture talks about a new life…being clothed in Christ…over and over we see this picture of new life.
All of this begs the question…should we live focused on the cross where we received forgiveness of sin…and leave it at that? Or should the forgiveness of sin and the resurrection spur us to be changed…to live our lives differently…to put our faith into action? I’ll keep reading…Dallas has my attention….
-ps
Monday, September 3, 2007
Book Review: 3 Seconds by Les Parrott
One of the very cool things that has happen to me since I started blogging is Zondervan has ask me to be a book reviewer. So they send me a book and I get the pleasure of reviewing it. Problem is I have so much to read with school and church.
The first book I am going to review is "3 Seconds" it's about giving your first impulses a second thought, before all your negitive thougts take over. At first glance of this book you really don't see anything new, but Dr. Parrot has packaged this little book with lots of motivation. Many times we sit on things or dismiss ideas out of hand...in 3 seconds he is saying wait and think again. In the first chapter he tackles our initial impulse to: Give up before trying....because we feel helpless, Shun a challenge....because it seems daunting....etc. There are loads of good quotes tucked along the pages with a self assessment at the end of each chapter. This book would be good to go through with a mentor or a friend.
So if your looking for a book that is an easy read, its clear with motivating illustrations....this is a good book for you. Maybe your stuck in life or your job and your looking for something to kick start your 'motivation' again this book is for you.
-ps
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
No temptation…
I have been for sometime struggled understanding how to relate to life described in the bible. It’s true I have struggled with verses that say “You have died to sin”…If I have died why do I still struggle with sin?
Have you ever felt this way? As I move along in my faith, one thing that keeps come up is it not what I ‘do’ but has been ‘done’ for me. If I struggle with something it is because I have tried to correct it myself. By doing so I sin more! But if I look to Christ and focus on Him something different happens….
The Bible says…”No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Several points….God has to be involved….No where in this verse does it say “Steve will provide”…it says God will provide. He has to be where our focus has to be…which means we must invite God into our lives and our struggles.
If God is involved…he will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear…think about that for a moment…God doesn’t take the temptation away, he allows you to be tempted and provides you a way out. Does God tempt us? No, but in our world temptation surrounds us and with God on our side we are given a way out.
No God….without God we are stuck…temptation will over take us and we will give into the very thing we are struggling against. It is impossible tackle sin on our own…there will be no way out, there will be no way to stand up to the weight of our own inherited weakness.
God is faithful…put your trust in his faithfulness. He will be the one who protects you from ‘weighty’ temptations…he will provide a way out every time. When tempted ask God to show you the way out, show me the door Lord! And I promise God will provide a way…He has never failed me if I’m looking!
-ps
Have you ever felt this way? As I move along in my faith, one thing that keeps come up is it not what I ‘do’ but has been ‘done’ for me. If I struggle with something it is because I have tried to correct it myself. By doing so I sin more! But if I look to Christ and focus on Him something different happens….
The Bible says…”No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Several points….God has to be involved….No where in this verse does it say “Steve will provide”…it says God will provide. He has to be where our focus has to be…which means we must invite God into our lives and our struggles.
If God is involved…he will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear…think about that for a moment…God doesn’t take the temptation away, he allows you to be tempted and provides you a way out. Does God tempt us? No, but in our world temptation surrounds us and with God on our side we are given a way out.
No God….without God we are stuck…temptation will over take us and we will give into the very thing we are struggling against. It is impossible tackle sin on our own…there will be no way out, there will be no way to stand up to the weight of our own inherited weakness.
God is faithful…put your trust in his faithfulness. He will be the one who protects you from ‘weighty’ temptations…he will provide a way out every time. When tempted ask God to show you the way out, show me the door Lord! And I promise God will provide a way…He has never failed me if I’m looking!
-ps
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Sermon: The Triumph of the Cross
This morning we are going to continue in Colossians. So far this is the 6th sermon out of this letter. If you remember the first sermon was “Thanksgiving and Prayer”….then we looked at the “The Supremacy of Christ”…in that sermon we looked at four things about Christ…His relationship with God (v.15), His relationship with creation (v.16,17), His relationship with the church (v.18), His relationship with us (v.19-23).
Next we looked at ‘Why Church Part I and Part II’…In part one we said we exist as the church Firstly to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the world…Secondly we exist to present every believer ‘perfect in Christ’….we do this through discipleship, through serving and worship…Thirdly we have to learn as Paul did…to rely on God. We have to allow God to work through us “Powerfully”…
In part II we expanded on the “rely on God” we saw how Paul prayed for the Church to be encouraged in heart and united in love…he was showing us his dependence on the Holy Spirit and if we are to proclaim the Gospel to the world we need to do the same.
Last sermon "In Christ all the Fullness" we said…Live in Christ…be rooted, built up and established in Him…overflowing with thankfulness…for in Christ the fullness of divinity lives…There is no one like Him…no one! There is nothing else we need!
This is where we pick up…it’s been an interesting ride and we’re only part way through Chapter 2…there are four chapters all together. So Chapter 2:10-15…
“We have been given the fullness in Christ”
Last week we talked about needing nothing more than Christ. If you add anything to Christ…remember Christ + something= nothing…Paul is still telling us we need nothing more…we have perfect standing in Him as Christians…this is a marvelous expression of grace of God that the truth of verse 10 should flow from verse 9. In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and the believer is complete in Him.
This verse (10) teaches us is that the believer has in Christ all that is needed for life and godliness. Spurgeon gives a good definition of our completeness. He says we are (1) Complete without the aid of Jewish ceremony. (2) Complete without the help of philosophy. (3) Complete without the inventions of superstition. (4) Complete without human merit.
Jesus in whom we have given fullness is the head of every power and authority.
This brings us to the next verse…
11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ"
Circumcision was a typical rite of Judaism. It was a minor surgical operation in which a knife was applied to the flesh of a male child. Spiritually this signified the death to the flesh…or putting off the evil, corrupt nature of man. Unfortunately, what happen was they lost the spiritual meaning and it became a “ceremony”…it became a rite of works in which they where trying to gain God’s favor…
In this verse Paul is bring us back to the spiritual meaning of circumcision…the circumcision done by Christ refers to his death on the cross…the thought is this…Jesus died on the cross…like Jesus the person putting their faith in Christ also dies. They die to sin, to the law, to self and to the world. It isn’t done by human efforts…it’s accomplished by God…there is no way to earn it.
So when a person puts their faith in Jesus, they become associated with Christ in His death, by doing so they have recognized there is no way of earning of deserving salvation through human efforts….”it’s a gift from God”
This sets the stage for the next verse…
12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Paul now focuses on baptism…and just as circumcision speaks of death to the flesh…baptism speaks of the burial of the old self. Paul is saying we haven not only died with Christ…but we have also been buried with him which is symbolized in baptism. All of this took place at our conversion…the moment you accepted Jesus, you died to your old self…
If we have been crucified with Christ and buried with Him, we have also been raised with him…to walk in the “newness’ of life! All of this happens at conversion and is symbolized by baptism. Water cannot save us…only Christ can…but out of obedience to Christ we publicly display our confession…by lowering into the water (death), underwater (burial) and rise out of the water (raised) and walk in a new way…
Why is this important to understand…
13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Paul swings the conversation back to us or better the Colossians and we can apply it…at one time we were dead because of our sins…we were spiritually dead towards God…there was no movement in our spirits towards God and there was nothing we could do to earn God’s favor. But once you heard the gospel and believed you were “made alive” with Christ…and ‘He forgave us all our sins’…For the Colossians everything changed…for us everything changes…we are new creatures in Christ…
Paul continues saying all the written law, the ceremonial laws…religious rituals of the Jewish people…all which was there to show us how short we had fallen…we could not keep them ‘perfectly’…and there was a tab…a bill that had to be paid because of it and Jesus paid for in full having “nailed it to the cross!” Our debt is paid….Paul's language here refers to an ancient practice of nailing the written evidence of a canceled debt in a public place as a notice to all that the creditor had no more claim on the debtor.
What an incredible picture…but it get better…
15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
By His death on the cross and His resurrection and ascension, the Lord Jesus has conquered evil powers, making a public spectacle of them, and triumphing over them by the cross…the cross, the instrument of defeat…Jesus gains victory…
Upon a great Roman victory the defeated army would be disarmed and parade throughout Rome for all to see. They where no longer a threat…Rome was firmly in control…One day Jesus will parade Satan and his angels…but he will also parades death, pain and suffering…sin…all of the power and authorities will be made a ‘public spectacle’ and in the end will be forever banished!
We have the life of victory! Because we have been given the “fullness” of Christ…This should change the way we live…we have been freed from the bonds of sin…it no longer owns us….
There isn’t a past sin that should be holding you back…past guilt has been buried…let go of it…
If you’re struggling with a sin this morning claim the victory, stop trying to defeat it on your own power and let Jesus have the victory! He has won…
As Christians we shouldn’t live the life of defeat…but one of victory…no matter what the situation…is it going to be easy…no, will you struggle, yes. But in the end, when it is all said and done…we will be victorious…Jesus has won the victory through the cross…
My body is going to fail me, my friends are going to fail me…my family will fail me…life will fail me in the end…but Jesus will never fail me…through Jesus I have live, love, hope, and victory…
Pray with me…
-ps
Next we looked at ‘Why Church Part I and Part II’…In part one we said we exist as the church Firstly to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the world…Secondly we exist to present every believer ‘perfect in Christ’….we do this through discipleship, through serving and worship…Thirdly we have to learn as Paul did…to rely on God. We have to allow God to work through us “Powerfully”…
In part II we expanded on the “rely on God” we saw how Paul prayed for the Church to be encouraged in heart and united in love…he was showing us his dependence on the Holy Spirit and if we are to proclaim the Gospel to the world we need to do the same.
Last sermon "In Christ all the Fullness" we said…Live in Christ…be rooted, built up and established in Him…overflowing with thankfulness…for in Christ the fullness of divinity lives…There is no one like Him…no one! There is nothing else we need!
This is where we pick up…it’s been an interesting ride and we’re only part way through Chapter 2…there are four chapters all together. So Chapter 2:10-15…
“We have been given the fullness in Christ”
Last week we talked about needing nothing more than Christ. If you add anything to Christ…remember Christ + something= nothing…Paul is still telling us we need nothing more…we have perfect standing in Him as Christians…this is a marvelous expression of grace of God that the truth of verse 10 should flow from verse 9. In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and the believer is complete in Him.
This verse (10) teaches us is that the believer has in Christ all that is needed for life and godliness. Spurgeon gives a good definition of our completeness. He says we are (1) Complete without the aid of Jewish ceremony. (2) Complete without the help of philosophy. (3) Complete without the inventions of superstition. (4) Complete without human merit.
Jesus in whom we have given fullness is the head of every power and authority.
This brings us to the next verse…
11In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ"
Circumcision was a typical rite of Judaism. It was a minor surgical operation in which a knife was applied to the flesh of a male child. Spiritually this signified the death to the flesh…or putting off the evil, corrupt nature of man. Unfortunately, what happen was they lost the spiritual meaning and it became a “ceremony”…it became a rite of works in which they where trying to gain God’s favor…
In this verse Paul is bring us back to the spiritual meaning of circumcision…the circumcision done by Christ refers to his death on the cross…the thought is this…Jesus died on the cross…like Jesus the person putting their faith in Christ also dies. They die to sin, to the law, to self and to the world. It isn’t done by human efforts…it’s accomplished by God…there is no way to earn it.
So when a person puts their faith in Jesus, they become associated with Christ in His death, by doing so they have recognized there is no way of earning of deserving salvation through human efforts….”it’s a gift from God”
This sets the stage for the next verse…
12having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Paul now focuses on baptism…and just as circumcision speaks of death to the flesh…baptism speaks of the burial of the old self. Paul is saying we haven not only died with Christ…but we have also been buried with him which is symbolized in baptism. All of this took place at our conversion…the moment you accepted Jesus, you died to your old self…
If we have been crucified with Christ and buried with Him, we have also been raised with him…to walk in the “newness’ of life! All of this happens at conversion and is symbolized by baptism. Water cannot save us…only Christ can…but out of obedience to Christ we publicly display our confession…by lowering into the water (death), underwater (burial) and rise out of the water (raised) and walk in a new way…
Why is this important to understand…
13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Paul swings the conversation back to us or better the Colossians and we can apply it…at one time we were dead because of our sins…we were spiritually dead towards God…there was no movement in our spirits towards God and there was nothing we could do to earn God’s favor. But once you heard the gospel and believed you were “made alive” with Christ…and ‘He forgave us all our sins’…For the Colossians everything changed…for us everything changes…we are new creatures in Christ…
Paul continues saying all the written law, the ceremonial laws…religious rituals of the Jewish people…all which was there to show us how short we had fallen…we could not keep them ‘perfectly’…and there was a tab…a bill that had to be paid because of it and Jesus paid for in full having “nailed it to the cross!” Our debt is paid….Paul's language here refers to an ancient practice of nailing the written evidence of a canceled debt in a public place as a notice to all that the creditor had no more claim on the debtor.
What an incredible picture…but it get better…
15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
By His death on the cross and His resurrection and ascension, the Lord Jesus has conquered evil powers, making a public spectacle of them, and triumphing over them by the cross…the cross, the instrument of defeat…Jesus gains victory…
Upon a great Roman victory the defeated army would be disarmed and parade throughout Rome for all to see. They where no longer a threat…Rome was firmly in control…One day Jesus will parade Satan and his angels…but he will also parades death, pain and suffering…sin…all of the power and authorities will be made a ‘public spectacle’ and in the end will be forever banished!
We have the life of victory! Because we have been given the “fullness” of Christ…This should change the way we live…we have been freed from the bonds of sin…it no longer owns us….
There isn’t a past sin that should be holding you back…past guilt has been buried…let go of it…
If you’re struggling with a sin this morning claim the victory, stop trying to defeat it on your own power and let Jesus have the victory! He has won…
As Christians we shouldn’t live the life of defeat…but one of victory…no matter what the situation…is it going to be easy…no, will you struggle, yes. But in the end, when it is all said and done…we will be victorious…Jesus has won the victory through the cross…
My body is going to fail me, my friends are going to fail me…my family will fail me…life will fail me in the end…but Jesus will never fail me…through Jesus I have live, love, hope, and victory…
Pray with me…
-ps
Friday, August 17, 2007
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