Scripture Colossians 1: 3 — 8 (HCSB)
In today’s message and the messages to come we are going to learn a lot about the church at Colossae. We are going to learn from Paul’s letter about their faith within their own little church, but also their faith would be known to the world around them. We are going to learn about how they lived their life out is a world that was pagan and godless in nature much like our world is today. So let’s jump into the Scriptures and learn what God has planned for us to learn today!
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints
Paul starts out by saying, “we always thank God the Father of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ” when “we” pray for the people of Colossae. We need to come to grips with the fact that Paul and his disciples are praying constantly for churches who are part of the Christian church; even the ones Paul has not been in the physical presence of like the church of Colossae.
Paul then in verse 4 tells us why his fellow workers for Christ and himself thank God in their prayers for the church of Colossae — it is for their faith and because of the love they have for all the saints. Let us not miss the fact that their faith is strong, but we will learn later on in Colossians that it is being tested. Our faith gets tested as well so we are no different from the church of Colossae and we can learn from what Paul is telling them. In addition, do not miss the fact that their love of the saints (fellow believers of Jesus Christ) is known beyond their small church because Paul has heard of the love they have for all the saints throughout the world. Did you get that? Not just the love for the local saints within the church at Colossae, but their love for all saints all over the world (vs. 6). How many of us have that same love for others? I know when we have gatherings where our churches do coordinated events many times the church people will sit with their own members at the fellowship time and during the service. I get it — that is what makes us comfortable. However, the church of Colossae would love the saints in their church, but I feel sure they would have been mixing and fellowshipping with the other churches with love for them.
I have a few questions and this is some serious questions we need to consider this carefully — have people heard of your faith, have they heard of my faith, and have they heard of Emanuel Church’s faith? Does people even know about Emanuel Church in this area? We have been around 208 years but many of the people in this community doesn’t even know who we are and where we are located? Is it because of our walk of faith or because we have not been on fire for Jesus that many don’t know who we are and where we are located? Do people know that this church is committed to the Word of God and exemplifies the love of Jesus Christ?
I ask all of us does our Christian walk allow people to see our faith? Does what this church does within these 4 walls and in our community and throughout the world allow people to see our faith and point to Jesus? This is not a “here look at me and what I did attitude,” but it is a “here is Jesus and look what He is doing in my life and the life of Emanuel!” Sadly, this is something many people and churches don’t care about today — all they care about is numbers, bringing in more people, the hot next program on the market — in other words they are pointing to themselves instead of the Savior (hey look at us — look what we are doing [where is Jesus in those two statements] — many churches are busy, but are they making disciples)! Let us commit our lives to pointing to our Savior Jesus Christ — Jesus Christ told us at Matthew 6:33 — But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. If we will only seek a life lived for Jesus Christ and His teachings and righteousness, then all the other things will come to fruition. That is how the early church operated — not on budgets and buildings (although they are important), but on how to bring people to Christ by living for Him!
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints
Verse 5 — 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel
In this verse Paul names the incentive that stimulates the Colossians faith and love. That incentive is the hope reserved for them in heaven. We have that same hope here today!
The word “reserved” in Greek means “to be laid up” — so we know from this word that the people who are set apart (the saints) has their hope focused on heaven.
Paul then tells them where they heard about this hope and what they heard about concerning this hope and what this hope is? The Colossians (as we are) have heard about a hope in the message of truth, which is the gospel. This hope spoken of here is the eternal life found in Jesus Christ! It is our hope that we too who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior have this morning — and that hope is eternal life found not in ourselves or of our own doing, but in Jesus’ by His death on the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection from the grave! He is the first-born from the dead and we too have the same opportunity afforded us because of His resurrection.
Do we live our lives as if we believe that our eternal future is secure and our hope is not here on earth, but found in heaven? We may have heard the message of truth, which is the Gospel, but have we really understood and comprehended what this Gospel is really telling us concerning our eternal future that is laid up or reserved for us in heaven? If we have heard this message of truth and understand it then our lives should reflect that we know, that we know, that we know our eternal future is secure by the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary!
Verse 5b — 5b You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel
Verse 6 — 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and recognized God’s grace in the truth.
Paul then begins to tell us that when we have heard and comprehended the Gospel then we will see it bearing fruit in our lives and it will be growing all over the world! If we accept the Word of God then we will bear fruit. In the parable of the sower found at Mark 4:20 Jesus said: “But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.” So as we see when we hear and understand the Word of God and live it out in our lives then we will bear fruit not because of what we are doing but because of what Jesus is doing in us and through us!
Now also notice that this bearing of fruit cannot be contained — it is like a wildfire spreading quickly and rapidly from the point of origin to the surrounding area! Brothers and sisters we need to be set on fire by the power of the Holy Spirit and become a wildfire for Jesus to the world around us — a wildfire that loves Jesus so much we desire everyone we know to know Jesus no matter what the cost is to us! Are we ready to make a commitment in our life to be this light to the world around us for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior?
7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow slave. He is a faithful servant of the Messiah on your behalf, 8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.
Finally, Paul tells the church of Colossae and anyone who will listen — you have had a great example in Epaphras who has taught you. He is a fellow slave for the Messiah — he is a faithful minister — and he is a messenger for the church of Colossae concerning their love in the Spirit. He has been a great role model for them to follow, but also he has been someone who has taught them the truth of the Gospel and how this truth must bear fruit beyond the four walls of their small church! He has shown and taught them how to love the saints beyond their small church! He has discipled the church of Colossae and they have been willing to be discipled! So Paul is saying to the Colossians — you have had a great teacher and I see that you have been putting into practice what you have been taught and must continue to do so.
Brothers and sisters we are members of the family of God!
Is our faith heard of beyond these four walls we gather behind each week?
Do we take the Word of God with us each and everyday of our life to the world around us and not just have a faith that consists of 2 hours on Sunday morning?
Do we share the love of Jesus with everyone we come into contact with?
Do people even know we are followers of Christ?
Has the message of truth, the Gospel, affected us in the manner that we are bearing fruit and is it causing shock waves in the world around us?
Just what does our faith look like to an outsider beyond the front door of this church?
The church of Colossae gives us an example of how this faith looks like this morning.
- Our faith must be solid in the knowledge of the Word of God and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and the only way to heaven.
- We must love each other, but also must love all those who are followers of Christ!
- We must be fruit bearers and growing in our faith so that this fruit will allow Jesus Christ and the Gospel to grow all over the world!
What a challenge, but one we must be willing to take on!
Let us pray…
Scripture used is HCSB - The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 9:8–10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
No comments:
Post a Comment