Sermon on Colossians 1:15 — 18

Let us join together as I will be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible today. If you have a Bible I would ask you to read along even if it is another translation. It would be great if you brought your own Bible with you each week so you can take notes and mark in it if you so desire. However, if you don’t have a Bible with you, you can use one of the pew Bibles. Join me in prayer as we prepare to hear the Word of God given to us by our Heavenly Father! Let us pray…

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 

Verse 15 through 17 are unique and somewhat difficult to understand. We see words and phrases like “firstborn,” “invisible,” “everything was created by Him,” “all things have been created through Him and for Him,” “He is before all things,” and “by Him all things hold together.” 

In verse 15 Paul is telling the church of Colossae that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Just what does this mean? Well, no one has ever seen God except for Jesus, so it is saying that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Now does this mean that Paul was saying that by seeing Jesus then God must look like you and me? Or was Paul speaking to Jesus’ nature and His holiness? I do find it interesting in Scripture other than the description of Jesus in heaven found in Revelation 1 we see very little spoken about His physical appearance. As one commentator put it, “In my study it is believed that the intent is not to focus on the appearance of Jesus, but on the Word of God!” I believe this gets right to the point of why we don’t see a physical earthly description of Jesus! We must remember Jesus spoke to the disciples and Philip at John 14:7 — 9 these words: 7 “If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” 8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” There is an intimacy in this conversation between Jesus, the disciples and Philip. Jesus uses the word “know” if you have known me you have known the father. He then goes on to say, “Those who have seen me have seen the Father.” He is saying if you have seen Me then you have seen the Father — we may get so stuck on the physical appearance in these words, but I believe Jesus is speaking to His spiritual nature — His compassion — His love for others — His obedience to the Father — His example of living a life for God!  Jesus reveals God to the world and is the perfect manifestation or revelation of God. He was the exact likeness (the Greek meaning of image) of the very person of God. That is why we need to focus on our life witness and what others are seeing in us. Are they seeing a commitment to our spiritual life — our compassion for others — our love for others — our obedience to God the Father — are they seeing an example in us that points to Jesus? We need to strive to reach this life lived for Jesus — not out of strict rules and regulations, but out of our love for Jesus!

The second half of verse 15 can be somewhat problematic to some where we read, “…the firstborn of all creation.” Wait a minute I thought that Jesus was not created or born — yet we are reading in this verse the word “firstborn”. This doesn’t mean Jesus was born or created, but it speaks to Jesus’ supremacy over creation. Look what it says the firstborn over all creation. Jesus came to earth as our Lord and Savior and the Word says He is the over all creation. But we don’t need to stop there because verse 16 explains it better to us when we read, “For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Let us look at verses 16 and 17 together.

16 For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.

Today we have so many views of how the world was created. There is the theory that the world just sort of appeared out of nothing and out of nowhere.  There is the theory of a big bang took place and the world came into being. Others believe that there was an evolutionary process that took place until the world came into existence. And then there is another theory that some god did create the world, but he is far off and removed from the world (this is the Gnostic view of creation). This view had seeped into the church of Colossae and it is prevalent today — many of these theories I just mentioned are believed today in the secular or humanist world and sadly has seeped into the church as well.

The Scripture text here tells us that everything was created by Him whether in heaven or on earth, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — we see and it is shown to us a second time all things have been created through Him and Paul adds for Him. I love this because in a world that we feel we have no hope because of who is in charge we can rest assured that the thrones and dominions and the rulers and authorities were and are created by Jesus and for Jesus! He is in control and we need not forget that! If we are still unclear about this creation order and firstborn text in today’s text let us look closer at the Scriptures and see what they tell us concerning Jesus and His beginning. Turn with me to John 1:1 and read along with me, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.” We can rest assured that Jesus is still in control of His creation and God is still on His throne! 

As I was ready from the Life Application Study Bible Devotional this week I saw this statement made and it fits today’s text perfectly. The point the author made was, “If Jesus had been just a very good man, his life and death would have provided a great example of how a person should live. We could honor him and learn from his lifestyle. If Jesus had been only a great human teacher or orator, we could be motivated and inspired to work and achieve. But a great moral leader and powerful speaker can’t save us from our sins, can’t change us on the inside. Jesus can. As the divine Creator, He has the power to make us new.” What a great thought to know we have a Savior that can make us new!

In verse 17 we should notice what this verse says — He is before all things (He has always been — no beginning and no end — the Alpha and the Omega). He also holds all things together which means He is an active and living God within His creation which would discredit the Gnostic view of a God who was far off and not active in His creation. He is not someone who is sitting back waiting for things to come to an end, but actively watching over you and me and His world. God is in control.

Today as we leave I want us to look at the world around us. In the last year and a half our world has been turned upside down. Just when we seem to get a good handle on COVID the Delta Variant comes along. Now many leaders are wanting us to go back to masks and some churches are even shutting down again. The economy is going crazy with prices skyrocketing in so many areas. Read the newspapers (if you dare) and you will see our cities have become a cesspool of crime and violence. The morals of the world has become so decadent, corrupt and sinful that it isn’t even funny. People are being pitted against one another like never before and it seems many want to stir the pot to keep the world in chaos. Yet, even with all these things happening all we have to do is rest our faith on these 3 Scriptures from today’s text. 

So let us go away with these points from today’s Scripture that we can have hope and assurance instead of worry and fear (these are found in your bulletins):

It is through Jesus Christ who reveals to us who God is to the world and we are to strive to become more and more Christ-like in the way we live for Him so we can reveal Jesus Christ to those around us!

Jesus created this world and it was created by Him and for Him! So no matter how bad things look He is not asleep at the wheel, but He is actively watching — I am sure He is sad about how things are going, but He is still in control. 

God is not a god (with a little g) among other gods who is not actively engaged in His creation! God is actively and passionately involved in His creation.

Jesus holds all things together and is in control — God is still on His throne and Jesus is at His righteous right hand interceding on our behalf!

What hope we have to know that in this world, no matter how bad things get, we have a God who loves us and is walking with us in every step we take! He loves us and desires for us to have eternal life found in Jesus Christ!

If I could give one bit of advice to all those here today in our worship room and to those watching via the Internet is to start praying. Do what 2nd Chronicles 7:13 — 15 teaches where we read, “13 If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence (COVID or Delta Variant) on My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 My eyes will now be open and My ears attentive to prayer from this place.” Let us make this our prayer each and every day from now on!

Let us pray… Pray 2nd Chronicles 7:14 repenting of our nations sin as Job prayed for his children and Daniel prayed for the Jewish people while in exile!

Scripture used is HCSB -  The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 9:8–10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Colossians 1: 9 — 14 Sermon August 1, 2021

⁹ For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

Paul now turns his attention to another thing that they have been praying for the Colossians and that is that the church of Colossae would have the knowledge of God’s Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is a prayer we should be praying for each other and the leaders of this church and myself should be praying for the church. When Paul and his disciples prayed for the people of Colossae to be filled with the knowledge of God’s Will, they are asking that the church of Colossae be totally and completely connected to God. In addition, they are asking that the church be  filled with all wisdom and understanding from God Himself through the Holy Spirit. They are praying that the church people have a wisdom, but they don’t stop there because they are also asking that this wisdom consist of spiritual understanding. Not just human wisdom but a spiritual understanding of God’s mysteries found in Scripture.

We need to understand that we do not receive this ourselves from our own knowledge, but from the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit! In all we do we need to pray for this teaching and guidance seeking God’s Will in everything we do leaning on the Holy Spirit for direction! How many of us do that here today? I know I fail at this because I get so full of myself that I think I know what to do — but in reality when I get in that mindset I begin to play God or at least take God out of the picture. That is why I feel this needs to be the prayer of the church today — to ask that God will fill us with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding — being connected as one with Him and seeking godly or spiritual wisdom and understanding over and above our own.

¹⁰ so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.

Paul asks for this spiritual understanding and wisdom so that we may walk worthy in the Lord; please God, bear fruit and grow in the knowledge of God. 

There is a lot to unpack in this verse so let’s take them one by one. When we come to have the spiritual understanding and wisdom as we walk in the Will of God we will walk worthy of the Lord. Why is this so? Because we are seeking God in all that we do — we are living for Him and not ourselves. Our attention is not on us or the glory we can receive but on our Lord and Savior and what glory and honor He will receive by the life we live for Him.

When our life is center on our faith in Jesus Christ and our life revolves around Him being the center of our life then this will please our Heavenly Father because we are living our lives for Him. And when we live our life in this manner we will bear fruit for Him and people will see Jesus living in and through us. They will see such traits as: ²² love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, ²³ gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22 — 23). Notice how these all flow together starting with our love for others. Love brings joy, which brings peace, which brings us patience, which then leads to kindness, then goodness, then faith, then gentleness and finally self-control. There is a progression to these traits or fruits of the Spirit. We must start with love, understanding love is not always agreeing with how one lives, but loving them because they are a child of God. We tend to think of one does not love another person if they disagree with their lifestyle or their sinful nature. This isn’t true we must love them but pray for a revelation in their life to show them their sin. Jesus did not condemn the prostitute, but did tell her to go and sin no more!

¹¹ May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy

Paul and his disciples are praying for a lot of different things concerning the church of Colossae. In verse 11 they pray the church may be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. Now notice this isn’t just any power but God’s glorious might. Paul has asked in prayer for them to have full and complete wisdom and spiritual understanding and now he tells why they need this godly wisdom and knowledge to be strengthened by God’s power and glorious might and that is to help them and us here today with all endurance, patience and joy. Which leads us to give total and complete thanks to the Father for it is by His doing that has enabled us to share in the eternal life found in Jesus — not us ourselves! We cannot achieve this lasting power without endurance and patience which leads to joy — the joy of obtaining eternal life. We are seeing it now how the church is not enduring or keeping patient when it comes to our Lord and Savior! Many churches are caving into the whims of society and the pressure to conform to what the world says we should believe and not believe. I am so concerned for our young people — they are going to be attacked so hard for their faith and if their faith is not solidly rooted in the purity of God’s Holy Word they will be swayed to follow whatever the world wants to teach them. And sadly this isn’t just happening to the youth of the world, but all other age groups. I have watched pastors and people profess to be Christians who totally reject the Word of God in they preaching and teaching of the Word and how they should live it out. Brothers and sisters we should be on our knees daily asking God to intervene and help us to stay true to His Holy and Sacred Word!

¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

Paul continues in verse 12 to finish the thought of verse 11. He gives the rightful thanks to the Father who has enabled us to share with the fellow believers an inheritance (eternal life) in the light. We know or should know that we cannot receive eternal life on our own accord or by the things we do or say. We need a Redeemer and that Redeemer is Jesus Christ! He died on the Cross of Calvary to bear our sins upon His body and God raised Him from the dead to give those who asks Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savor the inheritance of eternal life! We can achieve this only by the grace of God and the love of Christ! Only through Christ can we obtain our salvation and eternal life!

¹³ He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.

I love the visualization of this verse. I can see darkness versus light — good versus evil. Because of what Jesus did we are rescued from the domain that was planned for Satan and his evil angels [Hell] (darkness) and transferred to the kingdom of light to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ! I love the word “rescued.” Rescued’s meaning in the NT is always “to save” with God as the subject and people as the object. In other words God is the one saving us — not we saving ourselves.

I feel so helpless when it comes to my salvation until I realize the meaning of John 3:16. For God so loved the world (you and me are included in that) that He gave (of his own choosing) His Son, that whosoever (anyone who) believes in Him will not perish (they will not die and be sentenced to Hell) but have everlasting and eternal life (a life spent in the presence of the Almighty). What a wonderful and amazing thought that verse is! God did not have to do this but chose to do so, so that we could have an eternal relationship with Him in His presence — that is too wonderful for me to comprehend!

¹⁴ We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.

Verse 14 solidifies verse 13 when it says we have redemption and forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross we have forgiveness of sins and we are rescued (saved) from the domain of darkness (hell) and we are transferred to be given the gift of eternal life by the love and mercy of God the Father and Jesus His one and only Son who bore our sins on the cross of Calvary!

What an amazing thought to wrap us today’s message! Because of Jesus we have the hope of eternal life! 

So are we praying these verses daily for each other, for the church, for our loved ones, for the world and those who don’t know Jesus Christ? Paul and his followers did — we need to do the same!

Scripture used is HCSB -  The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 9:8–10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Sermon Series on Colossians - Colossians 1:3 - 8

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. 

1. 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. 
2. We must love each other, but also must love all those who are followers of Christ! 
3. 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.

The Word of God

It has been a while since I wrote in my blog but today I am making an effort to each Monday write a 

new edition to my blog.

The thought that has been bothering me so much lately is understanding the importance of sound

Biblical doctrine. So many believe the Bible is just a book of fiction or a book that was relevant back at

the time it was written, but certainly not today. Let me just say that is a bunch of hogwash! The Bible is

as relevant today as any other time in history. We are told at 2^nd Timothy 4:3 — 4: ³ For the time will come

when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because

they have an itch to hear something new. ⁴ They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. So

many people have turned from allowing the Bible to lead their lives to allowing their lives to dictate how

they read the Bible through the eyes of the world! They want their ears tickle or be allowed to live their

life without any rules or regulations governed by God’s Holy Word. So may just want to pick and choose

which part of the Bible they want to believe in! We must remain true to the whole Word of God! It is

God’s revelation to us! It is how we know how to relate to God in our everyday life! We must surrender

to His Word and live it out in our lives daily!

I will talk more about this in the future but for now — read the Word of God and allow it to change

your life! 

I Wish They'd All Been Ready

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:13)

These words conclude the parable of the ten virgins. Five were ready for the return of Christ and five were not. The five who were not prepared wanted something they did not have (what the five who were ready had - Jesus Christ). When the finally went to get it, it was too late. 

We must be prepared for the return of Jesus Christ. In the parable those who were prepared were allowed into the presence of Jesus Christ - those who were not ready were denied access to the banquet!

We must first be ready for the return of Christ and secondly, we must be looking and prepared for the return of Christ!

A Look at a Successful Church - The Church Of Philadelphia

Thriving As A Christian in a Secular World

The Church of Philadelphia

Paul’s Chapel Revival — Tuesday, September 26, 2017

I want to take this opportunity to thank the fine people of Paul’s Chapel for allowing me to speak at this year’s revival and to Rev. Aaron Long thank you for allowing me to share your pulpit.

With that said let us be about the business of the Lord and join together our hearts in prayer [PRAY].

As many of you know I love to study the end times and recently at the NC Gathering our National Minister the Rev. Jim Barnes spoke on reviving a dying church. During his presentation I was drawn to how mentioned the 7 churches are a great example of what the churches are doing wrong and Jesus then tells them how to correct their mistakes. So many of us focus on the problems going on in the church instead of seeking and finding solutions to correct them. In each church when Jesus pointed out the problems of the church He always told them how to correct that problem.

Tonight I want us to focus on one of the two churches that Jesus did not find fault with, which was the church of Philadelphia. Now this may seem strange that I am focusing on a church that was only commended by Jesus and not condemned, but remember let us look at what they were doing right and not focus on the negative or what a church is doing wrong.

Turn with me to the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ and find chapter 3 and let us read beginning with verse 7 and going through verse 13. This is fascinating material for us gathered here tonight and I hope it will change each individual’s life, as well as the life of the church. Let us begin with verse 7 and I will be reading from the Modern English Version: 

⁷ To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens, says these things: ⁸ I know your works. Look! I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it. For you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. ⁹ Listen! I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie. Listen! I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have kept My word of patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the entire world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ Look, I am coming quickly. Hold firmly what you have, so that no one may take your crown. ¹² He who overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My own new name. ¹³ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

The church of Philadelphia was a church that was at the epicenter of the region and it was strategically located. I come tonight to say that all churches are strategically located within their communities. So no matter where places His Church it is to be active and moving out to share the Good News with the community around them. Philadelphia was such a church. Although they were up against a lot of opposition and struggles because of their size and money issues they thrived in the sharing of the Gospel to those they came into contact. So let us look at how they were so successful and how that impacts the church today.

We think that the world when to pot during our lifetime, but if we study history the world has been evil in every generation. During the time of the church of Philadelphia society was every pressing in on the church, and there were many pagan religions competing for the people’s attention. Sounds familiar doesn’t it! 

Let us focus on one verse tonight that will explain how this church was successful and because of their faithfulness Jesus promised to keep the doors to evangelism and missions open for them. Now many churches make the excuse that they are too small and have too small of a budget. Well after looking at the church of Philadelphia we can no longer make that excuse. 

Let us look at verse 8 together:

⁸ I know your works. Look! I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it. For you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

The first thing we notice is that Jesus knows our works! This should either scare us to death or motivate us to action and I hope we choose the latter! When we realize that Jesus is walking among His church here at Paul’s Chapel and all other churches in the world today it should motivate us to serve in with all our heart! Because of their works Jesus emphatically says, “Look” or “Behold.” Now when we see either of these words in the Word of God to start a sentence has an exclamation mark with it this should send up a red flag in our mind because something important is getting ready to be said immediately following this command! It means to look and take heed to what is being said! Jesus says, “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” This is an amazing promise from Jesus to the church of Philadelphia and to the church of today. If we are faithful and spread the Gospel through our evangelism and missions then He will set before that church an open door that no one can shut! Do we trust this promise from God tonight?

Let us look at the church and how they became such an amazing church in the eyes of our Lord and Savior. The first a successful church or a successful Christian must have a passion for evangelism and mission because that is what was the first mission of the church because that was what Jesus Christ did: He reached out for the lost. Jesus spoke about His mission at Luke 19:10 where we read: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. The angel announced to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 where he tells Joseph that Mary will bear a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. Jesus came to save the lost. He then tells His followers and the church to do the same. Turn with me to John 20:21 and let us read this verse together: So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” We are also told in the Great Commission to…¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ *teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. The church of Philadelphia did this with fervor and a passion to reach the lost. This must be our goal today in order to be successful in a society that is moving away from God.

The second thing they did was the kept Christ’s Word. What does this mean? It means that they were faithful to the Word of God. This means that they studied the Word of God; they lived the Word of God; and they proclaimed the Word of God to believers and unbelievers alike. These three traits are instrumental for a person to be strong in their faith and a church be successful in the world today. It is not about a few doing this but it must become a passion for all of us! We are the church and we must be faithful to our Lord and Savior. How can we get to know Him if we are unwilling to study His Word? How can we witness for Him if we are unwilling to live out what His Word teaches? How can we expand the Kingdom of God with telling others about Jesus Christ? Paul gave Timothy some great advice in 2^nd Timothy chapter 2 and chapter 3. Turn with me to 2^nd Timothy 2:15 and let us read this together: Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  Do we see the very first word in that sentence? It is the word study! We need to spend quality time in the Word of God! Now turn with me to 2^nd Timothy 3:16 — 17 and let us read this verse together: ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We must use the Word of God in all aspects of the church and in all aspects of our individual lives. We not only need to study the Word of God, but we need to live that Word out in our daily lives! And we need to take on the attitude of Peter when he stood before the religious authorities and was asked to not talk about Jesus again. He said and we find this in Acts 4: 18 — 31. Let us read this for our edification tonight: ¹⁸ Then they called them and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot help but declare what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people. For all glorified God for what was done, ²² for the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was over forty years old. ²³ On being released, they went to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they lifted their voices in unity to God and prayed, “Lord, You are God, who has made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ and who by the mouth of Your servant David said: 

‘Why did the nations rage, and the people devise vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth came, and the rulers were assembled together against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 

²⁷ Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were assembled together against Your holy Son Jesus whom You have anointed, ²⁸ to do what Your hand and Your counsel had foreordained to be done. ²⁹ *Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant that Your servants may speak Your word with great boldness, ³⁰ by stretching out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be performed in the name of Your holy Son Jesus.” ³¹ When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. 

We need to share and proclaim the Word of God to all we come into contact with, whether they are our co-workers, our neighbors, our friends, or our family. We need to always be looking for opportunities to witness and share Christ!

The final point that the people within the church of Philadelphia did was they confessed Christ and did not deny the name of Christ! Now this means more than witnessing for Jesus Christ it means that Jesus Christ is the focus and center of all the lives of those who believe in Jesus Christ. It means that Jesus Christ is the focus and center of all the services, meetings, ministries, programs, and activities of the church! The church that is alive and faithful is evangelistic and mission minded; keeps the Word of Christ; and confesses Christ in all that it does, in all of its services, meetings, programs, and activities.

Does that describe this church? Does this describe your life because the church is made up of the people gathered here tonight? This is how a church can be successful — are we willing to follow the church of Philadelphia’s example? Let us pray…

Is God With Us?

                                                           Exodus 17:1 — 7           HCSB

¹ The entire Israelite community left the Wilderness of Sin, moving from one place to the next according to the Lord’s command. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. ² So the people complained to Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why are you complaining to me?” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testing the Lord?” ³ But the people thirsted there for water, and grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” ⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? In a little while they will stone me!” ⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take the staff you struck the Nile with in your hand and go. ⁶ I am going to stand there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; when you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink.” Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites complained, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” 

I love certain reality shows. Not Survivor or the Bachelor, but I like the shows where people are called upon to survive in the wild such as the Alaskan Bush People and Alaska: The Last Frontier featuring the Kilchers. I also like those shows where the people live off the land and one of my favorite is Live Free or Die. If you watch many of these shows where they are living off the land you will see that there is one thing that they must have and that is water! I remember one show where one of the men made a bowl out of a certain type of wood to trade for a water barrel to catch rain water so he would not have to go to the river so much to get water. Water is essential to living.

Today is the third Sunday of Lent and we come to a time in our journey through Lent where we see the need of water. People can live without food, but people cannot live without water. Water is a life-sustaining liquid that all of us need to survive. The people of Israel have been on a journey in the wilderness that we know as the Exodus. They have had their ups and downs and have questioned God and put Him to the test numerous times. Today’s passage is another one of those times. Let us look at this passage a little closer this morning.

Read verse one along with me:

¹ The entire Israelite community left the Wilderness of Sin, moving from one place to the next according to the Lord’s command. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

There is some really good stuff in this verse that many times we will pass over. First, we are told that the entire Israelite community got up and left the area they were staying, moving from one place to the next by being obedient to God’s command to move. Remember our sermon last week that when we are called to “Get up and go” we must be obedient to the Lord. So we learn right off that the people of Israel are being obedient to the Lord. Second, we see that they camped at Rephidim. Now in the Bible names mean something and the place they camped at was called “resting place.” That is what Rephidim means a resting place! Also it means a place to refresh. Now this was not a name that Moses gave it; the place was already there and had a name! So in this first verse we see that the people were obedient to the Lord and He brought them not only to a place of rest, but also to a place to refresh. 

Then we are told there was not any water for them to drink. So let us see how the Israelite people handled this problem. Read verses 2 and 3 with me:

² So the people complained to Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why are you complaining to me?” Moses replied to them. “Why are you testing the Lord?” ³ But the people thirsted there for water, and grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

I love how the Scripture speaks into our lives today. We are told that the people when they did not have water complained to Moses. When I was studying for today’s message one thing that the Holy Spirit laid on my heart was the Israelites’ attitude. Notice, although they had been obedient to the Lord in moving when He said move and He had provided for them every time they were in need, they still came to Moses with a complaining attitude. Instead of prayerfully asking Moses to seek God for help and trusting that God would provide for their needs you can hear their complaining tone when they said to Moses, “Give us water to drink. Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Notice their selfish mentality and their GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME cry! Brothers and sisters aren't we a lot like that today. Instead of seeking God, following Him, and trusting Him to lead and provide we tend to look at our own weaknesses and understanding. Many times in the difficulties of life we tend to see the reality that stares us in the face and that is so understandable, but we never should forget that nothing is impossible with God. If we would sit back and reflect on the times that God has either provided or step in during a crisis or a time of chaos and turmoil in our life and lifted us up out of the Pit we would come to the realization the He is sovereign and in control of what we are dealing with. Where in your life are you without water today? Seek Him and He will provide that Living Water that will supply all our needs.

We mustn't forget Moses in this pericope. He told the people they should not be testing God, yet notice his attitude when He comes to the Lord for the people of Israel. Let us read verses 4 through 7 together:

⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? In a little while they will stone me!” ⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take the staff you struck the Nile with in your hand and go. ⁶ I am going to stand there in front of you on the rock at Horeb; when you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink.” Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites complained, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” 

Moses immediately went to the Lord in prayer frustrated with the people, but also seeking God’s help. We call that standing in the gap. Moses was standing in the gap between God and His people. How many times during the Exodus did God want to destroy the Israelites and Moses stepped in to remind God of His covenant with Abraham? Moses, unlike the Israelite people, came to God placing his trust and focus on God to provide the answer to the situation that laid before the people of Israel. Notice that Moses attitude was one that was prayerful and not selfish or self-consuming. He knew that God had provided for His people and He would in this situation. So when God said go and strike the rock and water will flow, Moses did exactly what God asked Him to.

Today many of us are at the place the people of Israel were in our passage. We are wondering “Is God With Us?” Does He really care what I am dealing with? Can He really help me or provide for me in my time of need? We see the answer to that question in today’s text and it is a resounding YES! God desires to meet your needs and provide for you, but you must first trust Him and come to Him expecting Him to answer your prayer! So I ask which attitude do you have during the difficult times of your life: The Israelite attitude of selfishness and self-centeredness complaining to God or to others about what you need and why hasn't anyone stepped up to help you? Or is your attitude that of Moses who came to God asking and believing that God will provide. Moses knew God was with the people of Israel and today I can assure you GOD IS WITH US! Let us pray…