Look unto Him

[0:00] Colossians 1, talking around the Lord's table this morning and really just some exaltations!

[0:30] So good prayer request there, isn't it?

[0:45] If you look there through verse 9, knowledge, wisdom and understanding. They're all jam-packed in that verse. Paul desires and prays for the people.

[0:57] And he goes on, verse 10, that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience among suffering with joyfulness.

[1:14] There's a lot of filling there. Walking worthy, a lot of filling. He talks about fruitful. He talks about joyful. Filled with knowledge of his will. Filled with the knowledge of God.

[1:26] Filled with fruit. Filled with joy. We ask, be strengthened, it says, with all might according to his glorious power. Notice there's three things there again. Strength, might, power.

[1:38] Unto all patience, long-suffering, joyfulness. We could all use some of that, couldn't we? We could use some patience. We could use some long-suffering. We could use some joyfulness.

[1:49] I know I lack that sometimes. These are good things to pray for. Verse 12. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in life.

[2:01] God has made us fit to be partaking this morning. To be giving thanks to the Father. Partaking together as joint heirs with Christ.

[2:13] It goes on, verse 13. Notice there.

[2:28] Delivered, translated, redeemed. Through his blood. He's delivered us. He's disempowered the darkness and he's translated us into the kingdom.

[2:41] A whole new sphere of life. Of life. He's redeemed us. He's forgiven us. And the redemption is through his blood. Verse 15. Of our Saviour he writes, Who is the image of the invisible God.

[2:56] The firstborn of every creature. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible. Whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

[3:11] All things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things. And by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.

[3:25] That in all things he might have the preeminence. He is the image of the invisible God. That's the one we're talking about today. Our Saviour. The image of the invisible God.

[3:37] He's the creator. And in this verse it says, Even of the invisible things. It says he's created the things visible and invisible. So it covers everything, doesn't it?

[3:48] It's the total, hold us, bold us, everything. He's the creator of everything. Invisible. Magnetism, electricity. The things we can't even see.

[4:00] The image of the invisible God. The creator. And he's the sustainer of all things. In him. By him. They consist. And it goes on. He's the head of the body, the church.

[4:12] He's the beginning. He's the firstborn from the dead. He's due the preeminence. And that's what we want to focus on right now as we think of him. The one who is the head. The head of the body.

[4:24] The church. The beginning. And the firstborn. And verse 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. And having made peace through the blood of his cross by him.

[4:37] To reconcile all things to himself. By him, I say. Whether they be things in heaven. In earth. And you that were sometimes alienated.

[4:48] And enemies in your mind. By wicked works. You know, it covers everything again. The all-encompassing reach. I know I was looking sometimes ago.

[4:59] How it talks about every knee shall bow. Whether things in heaven. And things in earth. And things under the earth. Now we had some occasions to go into a cave.

[5:10] Of late. We went to a narrow court. And we went under the earth. And there was things under the earth. And even those things will bow to Jesus' name. Isn't that wonderful to think?

[5:21] That everything. Everything. Not just the things on the earth. But the things under the earth. Everything will bow down unto him. And you that were sometimes alienated.

[5:34] And enemies in your mind by wicked works. Even you. He writes. Yet now have you reconciled. Isn't that good news? This morning. That's why we can join together.

[5:44] Yet now. Have you reconciled. Its presence ends. It's here and now. In the body of his flesh. Through death. To present you. Holy. And unblamable.

[5:55] And unreprovable. In his sight. If you continue. In the faith. Grounded. And settled. And be not moved away. From the hope of the gospel. There's peace. Because of the blood of the cross.

[6:06] This morning. There's peace. Through the blood. Of his cross. And friends. We can join together. There is one. Those that trust him. Are welcome to partake.

[6:18] To be a partaker. This morning. Yet now. Have you reconciled. You. Who are once. Alienated. And enemies. In your mind. By wicked works. That includes you.

[6:29] And me today. And his desire. Is to present you. Holy. And unblamable. And unreprovable. In his sight. I'll call it. Usher's now.

[6:39] I'd like to invite. You to join with us. As you. Feel there. To partake. Thanks fellas. You've got three there. That's sufficient. And.

[6:51] Our practice is to pass. And hold together. And partake together. So please. Feel free. To prayerfully. Prepare your hearts. The word tells us to. Examine.

[7:04] Yourself. And so. Eat. And drink. And it's our privilege. To do that.

[7:15] Our privilege. To. Consider him. Who has redeemed us. By his blood. He's made peace. By the blood. Of his cross.

[7:27] He's reconciled. You who are sometimes. Alienated. And enemies. In your mind. By wicked works. Yet now. Have you reconciled. In the body.

[7:39] Of his flesh. Through death. To present you. Holy. And unblameable. And unreprovable. In his sight. Just. I know.

[7:49] I was prayed earlier. About the presence of God. We can come boldly. Into that very presence. Today. And friends. There's no. No cause for trepidation. If you trusted. If you trusted Christ.

[8:00] There's no cause for trepidation. Certainly a holy fear. But he's welcoming you. And there is access today. Because of the blood. I love that scripture.

[8:17] That says. Having therefore brethren. Boldness. To enter into the holiest. By the blood of Jesus.

[8:29] By a new. And living way. Which he hath consecrated for us. Through the veil. That is to say. His flesh. And having a high priest.

[8:41] Over the house of God. Let us draw near. With a true heart. In full assurance of faith. Having our hearts sprinkled. From an evil conscience. And our bodies washed.

[8:52] With pure water. Let us hold fast. The profession of our faith. Without wavering. For faithful is he. That promise. Having therefore brethren.

[9:03] Boldness. To enter into the holiest. Just think. If there was such a. And there is such a place today. If there was a holy of holies.

[9:14] That. In times ago. Was reserved. Only for the select. Only for those. Of a certain. A certain lineage. Of a certain.

[9:26] A certain tribe. And. Only one. The great high priest. Could enter in. Yet for us. We that trust him. It's. It's our holiest place.

[9:39] That we can enter in. Right now. Into the very presence. Of our Lord and Savior. He's made it. By a new and living way. Through the veil.

[9:50] That is to say. His flesh. As the flesh was torn. So was the veil. So was that. Barrier. Between. God and man. In Christ.

[10:02] It was made. Open. God. and we've got that privilege today to come to he who is the head of the body the church, who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence I want to ask Michael to pray as we think about the body of our Lord that was marred and bruised for us dear heavenly father Lord we come to you this day too to praise your name to give you thanks we can't imagine the pain you felt that you went through on the cross Lord we thank you that through your blood that was shed through your body that was shed Lord that we can be free from sin Lord we thank you that you don't call us slaves Lord but you call us with all as friends Father we look up to you and we praise you for all that you've done we ask that you give us boldness and faith to have faith in things that are unseen Lord and not things that are of this world unfortunately things of this world are attractive and will distract us from you and all we need Father is you in our lives give us this time Lord to focus on you this day and to ask for the blessings upon this church and through all this to travel through and keep you mindful and serve you Father in our hearts yes thank you let us partake

[11:29] Amen last Ralph to praise we think about the blood of our Lord and Saviour your Father we thank you so much for our dear Lord and Saviour you shed his blood so freely that it has washed us clean by his blood through faith in his blood we are saved Lord we just praise your holy name as we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ who truly suffered and died that we may have eternal life Father we thank you through our will and Saviour Amen Amen that's true Amen