WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.520 It's Colossians 1, verse 1 to 14. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:08.540 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy, our brother, 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:12.519 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae, 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:16.179 grace to you and peace from God our Father. 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:21.900 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:27.100 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:30.220 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 00:00:31.080 --> 00:00:37.060 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:41.140 as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing, 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:47.280 as it also does among you since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:51.160 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:58.699 He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 00:01:00.379 --> 00:01:03.899 And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, 00:01:04.479 --> 00:01:09.859 asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:14.620 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, 00:01:15.199 --> 00:01:19.019 bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:23.899 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, 00:01:24.539 --> 00:01:27.140 for all endurance and patience with joy, 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:33.280 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:39.699 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:43.039 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:01:43.039 --> 00:01:43.299 Amen. 00:01:49.019 --> 00:01:56.459 Well, I think the cultural air we breathe keeps telling us the message, 00:01:56.619 --> 00:01:58.199 be true to yourself. 00:01:59.179 --> 00:02:04.060 Look within you to know who you are and what you want and what your purpose is, 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:09.120 and then be authentic in expressing who you are and seeking what you want. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:13.180 Let me give you two examples of what I mean. 00:02:13.579 --> 00:02:16.979 Consider what we're teaching our children in our culture. 00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:20.500 There's the kids' Pixar movie Turning Red. 00:02:20.799 --> 00:02:21.739 I don't know if you've seen it. 00:02:22.619 --> 00:02:24.079 I'm hoping I won't spoil anything. 00:02:24.179 --> 00:02:25.280 I don't think I am. 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.979 I'm not sure if I don't want to give you permission to block your ears during a sermon. 00:02:31.519 --> 00:02:39.479 But Turning Red, it's about an adolescent girl who's growing up and she turns into a big red panda. 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:47.560 And basically it's about the weight of family expectations on her and the weight of cultural expectations on her. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:57.299 And she's repressing who she is, not free to let the panda out, her true feelings. 00:02:57.539 --> 00:02:59.439 She's repressing her happiness. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:08.780 And the whole moral of the story of the movie turns on this girl needing to accept who she is inside, 00:03:09.539 --> 00:03:13.379 and the good and the bad, and expressing it. 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:16.639 And her parents need to learn to accept it as well. 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:21.539 In other words, don't let external expectations define who you are. 00:03:21.659 --> 00:03:24.579 Look within you to know who you are and be true to yourself. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:26.419 That's what we're teaching our kids. 00:03:26.419 --> 00:03:30.599 Or I'll give you another example. 00:03:31.739 --> 00:03:37.560 Let's look at what should be one of the most self-sacrificing jobs in our country. 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:42.879 Have you noticed what the recruitment advertising is like for the Australian Defence Force? 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:47.699 I'll just give you a glimpse from their website. 00:03:48.339 --> 00:03:52.399 The first thing you read in bold when you open the website is, 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:56.980 find your ideal role in the Australian Defence Force. 00:03:58.360 --> 00:03:59.680 Do you find that strange? 00:04:00.480 --> 00:04:01.599 I find that strange. 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:05.140 It doesn't say, what can you do for your country? 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:09.099 It doesn't say, protect the ones you love. 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:10.860 It doesn't say that. 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:12.840 You scroll down further and you get this. 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:19.540 Explore all the financial, career and lifestyle benefits of working for the ADF. 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:26.400 In the ADF, you'll enjoy a rich and rewarding blend of career and lifestyle opportunities, 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:31.300 plus fulfilling, well-paid work, job security and numerous benefits. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:36.600 I'm not trying to criticise the ADF. 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:41.800 I'm saying, if the marketing team came up with that, that that works, 00:04:42.460 --> 00:04:45.480 that's a sign of the cultural air we're breathing. 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:51.840 The appeal to the self, to fulfil yourself. 00:04:55.840 --> 00:05:01.439 I think the issue is kind of like this photo I came across. 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:04.520 Koo, if we could bring up that photo now. 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:15.279 I think it's kind of like this, with this lady in this beautiful setting, 00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:16.979 but holding up a mirror. 00:05:18.019 --> 00:05:19.919 I think our culture is telling us to do this. 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:23.759 Look within yourself to be happy, to be full. 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:29.659 Now, there's something about this image that is actually really cool artistically. 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:35.680 But the message of it is, I don't think it works. 00:05:37.020 --> 00:05:43.160 It's disregarding external things and looking within us, our own desires and feelings, 00:05:43.280 --> 00:05:44.840 and that's when we'll find who we are. 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:47.740 That's when we'll find our purpose, the full life. 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:51.560 Let me try it one other way. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.920 Imagine we had the Apostle Paul right here and we interviewed him. 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:58.699 And it's like, Paul, what do you love about being an Apostle? 00:05:59.560 --> 00:06:04.040 And he says, well, it's given me opportunities to travel the world. 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:06.500 Like, I've seen some in amazing places. 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:08.879 And it's really given me a sense of purpose. 00:06:09.020 --> 00:06:13.379 I mean, a lot of people and a lot of churches rely on me and what I say. 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:17.400 And yeah, there's some hard bits, like being flogged and put in prison. 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:25.439 But overall, I feel I've got an important job that stretches and challenges me intellectually. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:31.939 The pay isn't that great, but I just couldn't imagine what I would do if I wasn't an Apostle. 00:06:34.179 --> 00:06:37.659 Now, I hope that kind of answer sounds just ridiculous. 00:06:39.299 --> 00:06:41.779 But how far is it from the way we think? 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:46.839 I think if that's the cultural air we're breathing, 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:55.019 I think it's safe to assume that it's seeped into us individually and as a church to some degree or another. 00:06:58.819 --> 00:07:05.719 I'm going to point to just one indicator of evangelical churches generally 00:07:05.719 --> 00:07:10.879 that I think this kind of thing, this self-fulfillment thinking has seeped in. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:16.819 If we consider the reasons people have for changing churches. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:21.100 Now, let me just quickly say there can be good reasons to change churches. 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:26.620 Maybe the Bible is barely being opened and taught over a long period of time. 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:29.459 Maybe geographically moving. 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:31.639 Maybe it's strategic for the kingdom. 00:07:31.899 --> 00:07:32.860 There can be good reasons. 00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:37.000 Now, I'm not going to go into other reasons people offer. 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:42.180 I think there's a deeper symptom that we've absorbed this self-culture. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:45.800 And let me put it to you in a question. 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:53.600 If you were thinking of changing churches, would you see it as your decision and yours alone? 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:58.879 Or would you genuinely seek the advice of your brothers and sisters? 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:03.660 Or seek the advice of your shepherds before making that decision? 00:08:07.340 --> 00:08:09.520 Do you see it as yours and yours alone? 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:15.320 Or would you see it, would you welcome the advice of others? 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:22.740 Because making such a big decision as breaking fellowship with other believers, 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:26.779 if you just look within yourself, your own thinking and your own desires, 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:30.719 I'm going to suggest to you that's not the Holy Spirit guiding you. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:35.600 I think that's the social spirit, the spirit of our age guiding you. 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:41.379 Now, I'm talking evangelical churches generally. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:43.240 We're not excluded from that. 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:47.080 But we think it's just our decision, our fulfilment. 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:51.060 Let me put it more positively. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:53.940 Let me contrast it with a positive example. 00:08:54.279 --> 00:09:01.519 If you were having dinner with your family and someone walked in and said, 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:02.480 what's going on here? 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:11.460 Would you answer, well, it's just something I have to do, being with my family, eating? 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:16.160 Or maybe you'd say, sometimes I enjoy it, sometimes I benefit from this meal. 00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:19.700 Or if someone walked in and said, what's going on here? 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:21.360 Would you be a bit confused by the question? 00:09:22.280 --> 00:09:23.460 What do you mean what's going on here? 00:09:25.300 --> 00:09:26.340 I'm with my family. 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:28.460 This is who I am. 00:09:28.540 --> 00:09:30.019 This is just what we do. 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:38.220 Right now, what we're doing right now, as you look around, if someone said, what's going on here? 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:43.220 Would you be like, oh, it's just something I have to do? 00:09:44.319 --> 00:09:46.600 Or would you be like, oh, sometimes I benefit from it? 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:49.579 Or would you be a bit confused by the question? 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:50.639 What do you mean what's going on? 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:52.840 This is who I am. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:57.360 I'm with my family. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.159 I'm a bit confused. 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:00.360 What are you asking me? 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:02.980 Do you see that? 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.240 Anyway, let's move on. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:09.059 We're starting a series today in the book of Colossians. 00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:17.960 And like the woman in the photo, if she would just put the mirror down and see the glory beyond her, 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:20.600 that's when she would be filled with joy. 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.379 That's when she would actually find herself. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:29.200 If she saw the glory beyond her and finding her place in that glory. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:32.560 And that's what we're going to do in Colossians. 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:38.780 Colossians is going to help us see that greater thing beyond ourselves, which is Christ. 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:45.620 It's going to help us see how all the fullness of God, all the fullness of life is only found in Christ. 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:58.700 The more we know who we are in connection to Christ, the more he will transform how we live in this church. 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:07.980 And it's going to transform every aspect of how we live, from the family to how we approach our work, everything. 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:17.800 Fullness is in Christ, and knowing we are in him, that is what will produce the full life that is pleasing to God. 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.000 So that's what we've got to look forward to in Colossians. 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:23.420 I hope you're looking forward to it like I am. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:31.460 What we're going to do in the sermons and in small groups is we're going to be asking two big umbrella questions 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:34.460 to help us go deeper in Colossians. 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:40.440 So the question is, what fullness is found only in Christ? 00:11:40.800 --> 00:11:43.360 That's what we're going to be spending the majority of our time on this morning. 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:50.820 And then we'll ask, okay, so if fullness is in Christ, what is preventing us individually and as a church 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:54.080 from experiencing that fullness to a greater degree? 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:58.300 Today we're going to see verses 1 and 2. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.259 Fullness is only found in Christ. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:03.400 We can know who we are in Christ. 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:09.820 And then verses 3 to 8, Paul thanks God for the fruit that the gospel is producing. 00:12:11.300 --> 00:12:18.160 Fullness is in Christ because Christ is recreating humanity to be characterised by his love. 00:12:18.780 --> 00:12:21.840 And then in 9 to 14, we've got a prayer. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:30.740 Paul prays that the believers would experience more of the full life in the life of the Son. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:40.840 So if you haven't already, open your Bibles to Colossians and let's have a look. 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:43.840 What fullness is found only in Christ? 00:12:46.160 --> 00:12:48.139 Let's not skip over verses 1 and 2. 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:53.879 It's not like the start of an email, like, hope you're well, but here's why I'm really writing. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:58.980 It's, oh, hopefully we actually mean that introduction. 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:01.179 But Paul means this introduction. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:04.100 This is jam-packed, these two verses. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:07.519 In a sense, they contain everything that the letter will go on to say. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.179 They tell us who Jesus is. 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:11.139 He is the Christ. 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:14.500 He's the promised saviour and ruler of the world. 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:16.399 They tell us who we are as Christians. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:17.639 We are holy ones. 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:20.299 We are faithful ones in Christ. 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.840 They tell us how we come to belong to Christ. 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:30.120 It's through the apostolic teaching who told us the gospel, that is the scriptures. 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:33.940 They tell us the benefits of being in Christ. 00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:39.320 A new family that is closer and stronger than the biological family. 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:41.660 With God as our father. 00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:47.400 With Timothy and Paul and all believers as brothers. 00:13:48.520 --> 00:13:50.340 A new family is created. 00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:54.320 It has the blood of Jesus uniting it. 00:13:55.380 --> 00:14:03.320 And in this new family, in Christ, we can be assured that we do have now and we always will have God's grace and peace. 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.960 There's a lot in here. 00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:11.840 I wear lots of identity hats. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.260 I'm a man. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:13.860 I'm a husband. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:14.580 I'm a father. 00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:15.720 I'm a son. 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:16.340 I'm a brother. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:18.880 I'm a brother and son-in-law. 00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:19.680 I'm a pastor. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:20.420 I'm an Australian. 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:21.500 I'm a Liverpool fan. 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:22.820 I'm someone and someone. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.760 All these identities. 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:29.220 But if you strip those things back, which one is at the basis? 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.320 Who am I? 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:36.940 Or another way of asking is, is there anything that unites all of those identities? 00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:41.960 And do you see what the answer is in verses 1 and 2? 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:51.320 To the saints and faith or holy ones, faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:57.519 So we have a physical location for the church back then. 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.340 It's in Colossae. 00:14:58.560 --> 00:15:03.500 For us, Newcastle or wherever you live, let's just call it Hunter. 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:07.220 We have a physical location, but we have a spiritual location. 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:08.700 We are in Christ. 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:15.300 The spiritual location is what guides us in our physical location. 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:18.240 We are in the sun. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:21.399 And this changes everything. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.480 It changes our complete identity. 00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:26.840 Let me just give you an example from the end of the letter to the Colossians. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.259 There's a slave. 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:32.060 A slave called, I don't know how to pronounce his name. 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.879 I should have looked this up. 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:35.940 But one simmius, I'm going to call him. 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:43.480 He's a slave and he ran away from his Christian master, which is a really serious crime in the Roman world. 00:15:44.280 --> 00:15:51.140 But at the end of the letter, Paul urges the church, welcome one simmius as a brother. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.220 The gospel changes his identity. 00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.900 He's not a slave. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:57.640 He's not a criminal. 00:15:58.060 --> 00:15:58.680 He's a brother. 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.580 Treat him as a brother. 00:16:02.260 --> 00:16:04.240 That is who we are. 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.480 We are in Christ. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:10.879 And that is our fundamental identity. 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:13.259 It's what unites all our other identities. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.840 I am in Christ. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:20.200 I'm a child of the Father because I'm in the Son. 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:24.519 You don't need to find who you are within you. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.840 You'll find who you are within Christ. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:41.780 And then in verses 3 to 8, Paul, he hasn't met the Colossians, but he's heard through Epaphras the genuine fruit that the gospel is creating in them. 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:45.040 The faith, the hope, the love. 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:48.580 And so he's full of thanks to God for that. 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:54.560 And so here we see another huge reason why fullness of life is only found in Christ. 00:16:55.620 --> 00:17:06.039 Paul's going to say this more explicitly later, but he gives a really strong hint here that Christ is completing the very purpose for human existence. 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:08.619 It's a big claim. 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.180 Look at verse 6. 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:22.059 The gospel message which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing, as it also does among you. 00:17:22.159 --> 00:17:25.680 And that phrase gets picked up again in the prayer in verse 10. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:33.960 The prayer that bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:38.200 Bearing fruit and increasing, does that remind you of somewhere in the Old Testament? 00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:43.000 Genesis 1. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:46.539 After God creates mankind, what does he say? 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:54.120 God blessed them and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply, increase. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.960 Sin has disfigured humanity. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.920 We don't represent the character of God as we're meant to. 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:08.240 Who would say that love characterises humanity across cultures, even within a culture? 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:11.779 Sin has marred the image of God. 00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:20.779 But what Christ has done on the cross recreates people from the inside out and therefore recreates humanity, 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:26.639 a new society that is actually characterised by love for God and love for people. 00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:29.519 The gospel is producing this fruit. 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:37.819 It is spreading throughout the world, numerically, and it's going deeper in people's lives as we grow in love for God and love for one another. 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.139 The gospel is doing that. 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:43.639 Christ is fulfilling the very purpose of human existence. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:47.759 Amen. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:54.740 The gospel produces hope. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:05.099 When we put our confidence in Christ, it produces hope because the gospel says he will complete it. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:08.879 He is going to recreate all things. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:13.839 Just as he rose from the dead, he is going to raise us with him in glory. 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:15.879 He's going to raise everything. 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:30.060 So there is a sure hope that he's going to get rid of all sin, all evil, that that community of love for God and love for one another will be here one day. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:38.100 I don't know if you pause every now and then and just go, that will be my present reality one day. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.520 It's coming. 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.020 That hope. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:45.099 Do you see why it produces love? 00:19:47.000 --> 00:20:00.559 Because if we know the hope in the gospel that Christ will fulfill the purpose of humanity, he will recreate all things, that community of love, we will want to be now what we will be later. 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:04.839 We will want that community expressed in love now. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.160 And we are that now. 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:11.640 We are already raised with him, Paul says later on. 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:26.360 To use the language of this series, that future culture of heaven, it will invade our present culture here because the spirit is already with us. 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:32.259 As we hope for that future culture of love, we will start to act like that. 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:37.599 I think we see it in the ordinary things. 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:43.339 It's those unseen prayers that you pray for people in the church and beyond. 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:47.440 It's the vacuuming the floors with joy. 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:51.640 It's the unseen financial sacrifice. 00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:55.240 It's the opening your home and possessions. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:00.640 It's the sharing the concerns of those in your small group, not just filled with your own concerns. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:08.220 It's the extra hour of music practice that no one sees so that we might praise Jesus together. 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:15.259 It's the taking the deep breath and holding your brother accountable for a clear sin in their life. 00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:24.960 It's finding the resources in Jesus to offer that forgiveness, to find that new affection for your sister. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:29.700 It's the glad sacrifice for the sake of the spread of the gospel. 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:32.360 That kind of love. 00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:35.920 That's the fruit of the gospel. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:41.940 Jesus is remaking us in the image of God to be who we were always meant to be. 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:49.960 And so that's why Paul prays for more, verses 9 to 14. 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:55.960 He wants us to experience that fullness of life more and more. 00:21:55.960 --> 00:22:05.960 Now, I think when we first read this, it can sound a bit overwhelming, like just jam-packed of religious jargon. 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:07.940 But we need to slow down and understand this. 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:11.539 This is a description of what the full life looks like. 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.500 So we need to understand it. 00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:20.299 Verses 9 and 10, I think, is like a big umbrella prayer. 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:27.259 And then later on we get four characteristics of what the full life looks like. 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:34.779 So the prayer is that the Colossians, that we would be full. 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.839 Well, let me just read it. 00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.419 Where's verse 9? 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:44.740 That you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.659 So it's God. 00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:49.839 It's God's spirit who's doing the filling here. 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:53.679 This language actually picks up Exodus 35. 00:22:54.539 --> 00:23:01.939 So when God was creating the tabernacle where God would dwell, he doesn't just give commands of how to create it. 00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:07.379 He actually fills a certain individual, Bezalel. 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.720 This is what it says in Exodus 35. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:16.879 He has filled him with the spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, with all craftsmanship. 00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:19.779 So one commentator put it like this. 00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:29.359 Paul is praying that God would fill believers with the spirit in order that they would build their ethical lives skillfully. 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:32.799 Like, do you want to build your life skillfully? 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:38.579 If you do, you need spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:48.299 As you go deeper in your understanding of the gospel, that is when verse 10 happens. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:54.000 So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:24:02.339 We need spiritual wisdom and understanding in order to live the full life to please God. 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:12.579 Be filled more with Jesus in understanding the gospel and you'll live more and more like Jesus and that will please the Father. 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:14.539 That's what Paul's praying for. 00:24:19.139 --> 00:24:21.879 Who is this Father that we're trying to please? 00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:23.319 Why is that the goal? 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.599 Who is this Father? 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:28.619 I think if we jump to verse 12b and 14. 00:24:30.199 --> 00:24:32.679 This is the Father who has qualified you. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.179 Just let that sink in. 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:38.779 He has qualified you. 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:45.519 If you have put your trust in Jesus, to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:54.759 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:59.420 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:02.960 He has qualified you. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:12.000 Not because of what you have done, but because you are united to Jesus and his death and resurrection has done it all. 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:16.480 There's two things we share in common in this room, what unites us. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:21.820 We were once all in spiritual darkness, not knowing God, not wanting to. 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:30.859 But now the Father, by his grace, has joined us to his Son, and we have full life and forgiveness in him. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.200 That's what unites us. 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:35.559 There's zero room for pride. 00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:39.539 You can't break that unity. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:42.799 It's beyond us. 00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:44.539 He's done everything for us. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:49.919 That's your qualification for belonging here in this church, in Jesus. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:54.420 Jesus alone, not Jesus plus anything else. 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:57.580 That's the kind of Father we want to please. 00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:00.300 And there's so much grace to us. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:08.120 So what does a life lived worthy of the Lord, pleasing the Father look like? 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:10.259 That's where we get those four characteristics. 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:13.460 It looks like bearing fruit. 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.600 That is every good work. 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:23.939 So first reading this, I thought, okay, so doing good will produce good results. 00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:27.419 But that's not the grammar of this. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:31.279 It's saying the fruit is the good work. 00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:34.799 So any good we do in Jesus, that is the fruit. 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:38.839 In Jesus, you can actually do good now. 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:43.220 You can have a fruitful life. 00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:47.720 The second characteristic is increasing. 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.819 That is in the knowledge of God. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.439 Fruit doesn't come from nowhere. 00:26:53.179 --> 00:26:59.899 It comes from the increasing in knowing who God is and therefore knowing what he is like 00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:03.599 and motivated to want to be like him. 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.779 That is what produces the fruit. 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:12.059 So increasing in knowing God bears good works. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:19.579 And the third characteristic is being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.539 Just a fair bit of power. 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:25.639 For all endurance and patience with joy. 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:32.800 When we were in darkness and didn't know God, we could only rely on our own resources, which ran out pretty darn quick. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:37.520 But we also didn't need to be patient because we were trying to find life here and now. 00:27:37.800 --> 00:27:41.460 There's no need for patience because we had no hope. 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:49.340 And we didn't have internal, external threats on our confidence in Jesus because we didn't know him. 00:27:49.339 --> 00:28:01.159 But now, according to his glorious might, we have everything we need to endure and be patient and with joy. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:10.859 It's not enduring the trials of life, increasingly getting bitter, getting angry at the world. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.720 That's not what it is. 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.279 It's still with joy. 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:20.200 Out of the gratitude of the grace we've received, out of the hope knowing our future is only bright, 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:24.860 out of knowing that our Lord Jesus is present with us in our sufferings, 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:29.220 that there is a point to them, trusting there is a point to them for ourselves and for others, 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:31.600 that he is empowering us. 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:34.259 We can have joy. 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:37.179 We can keep trying to bear fruit. 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:44.859 So bearing fruit, increasing in knowing him, enduring with joy, 00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:50.659 and the fourth, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you for eternal life. 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:56.719 We have always, whatever's going on in your life right now, 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:59.119 we always have reason to thank the Father. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:01.279 He has qualified you. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:07.559 Now, I think, I want to give you an example of what this can look like. 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:12.519 These four things. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:17.059 I was listening to Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place. 00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:19.139 Lots of people have already heard of it. 00:29:19.199 --> 00:29:23.119 If you haven't read it or listened to it, man, it is so encouraging. 00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:26.619 I'll just describe a few things that happened. 00:29:26.719 --> 00:29:27.599 They snuck in a Bible. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:30.319 If you don't know the story, Corrie and her sister, Betty, 00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:35.819 in Germany in concentration camp at World War II. 00:29:36.419 --> 00:29:41.619 They snuck a Bible in, and in their dormitory, 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:43.439 that's probably not the right word for it, 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:45.279 they were crammed in like sardines. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:47.379 But they had a Bible snuck in, 00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:49.740 and they would have little worship services through the light, 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.359 through the window. 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:52.819 So that Bible was their life. 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:57.619 The way they described it was, that was the reality. 00:29:58.859 --> 00:30:01.740 Sometimes we think, how do you apply this to life? 00:30:02.199 --> 00:30:03.179 They didn't see it that way. 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:06.779 It was just the Bible was, that was what was sustaining them. 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:15.000 And then they go to this new dormitory, and it's infested with fleas. 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:18.920 Like, as bad as it is, you could imagine what the conditions are like, 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:21.720 and then they go to sleep with fleas. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:26.759 And then Corrie's sister, Betty, is like, we should thank God. 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:30.940 And we start thanking God for things like, thank you that we're together, 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:31.640 at least. 00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:35.040 And then Betty goes, thank you for the fleas. 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:39.340 And Corrie's like, no, no, that's too far. 00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:42.640 I'm not, that can't be right. 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:44.759 I'm not thanking for the fleas. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:52.360 But later on, like weeks later, Betsy has this smile on her face, 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.880 and Corrie asks what's going on. 00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:55.280 And what's going on? 00:30:55.280 --> 00:30:59.740 She found out that the guards would avoid that dormitory 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.920 because of the fleas. 00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:05.300 It actually gave them the space to open the Bible 00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:07.500 and have those worship services together. 00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:09.800 The fleas did. 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:11.240 Anyway, super encouraging. 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:16.680 And then another time, like, Corrie and Betsy are working, 00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:21.120 and they see a group of sick women being marched off to the gas chambers. 00:31:21.780 --> 00:31:25.820 And Betsy is like, oh, how sorry I am for them. 00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.640 How sorry I am for them. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:34.200 And then Corrie realises hours later she wasn't talking about the women. 00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:35.680 She was talking about the guards. 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.340 How sorry I am for them. 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.820 Who thinks like that? 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:50.960 What endurance and joy makes you think of the guards sending off to the gas chambers? 00:31:53.639 --> 00:31:56.220 That is a dark place. 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:59.299 I'm not sure any of us will ever experience a darkness like that. 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:05.960 But do you see, that is a life pleasing to the Father. 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:11.920 However, these two imprisoned women were a bright light, the image of God, 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.779 in that great darkness. 00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:26.620 So let's consider very briefly what prevents us then, individually and as a church family, 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:29.440 from experiencing this fullness to a greater degree. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:36.240 I just want to focus on one thing I think could be preventing us. 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:39.320 I've given, in the sermon outlines at the bottom, 00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:43.519 a bunch of questions you can consider in your own time or a small group. 00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:51.980 But this one I want to talk about, it has the potential to be like a blood clot in the heart 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:54.880 that just stops the flow to the rest of the body. 00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:58.099 Here's my question for you. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.519 Do you believe, verse 9, 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:13.059 or praise that you, well, our desire should be that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:17.720 in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:22.480 Do you believe that that is your greatest need, 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:27.539 to be filled with the knowledge of his will, spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:32.740 Paul is saying that the gospel, the word of God, is the source, 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:36.960 it's the nourishment that produces a life that pleases the Father. 00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:42.839 We cut that nourishment off and the whole life, the whole body suffers for it. 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:50.480 I wonder if there's a part of us that is a bit suspicious 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:56.359 whether all this gospel talk really is going to help in our week coming up. 00:33:57.959 --> 00:34:02.859 Like the lingering guilt and shame that you just can't shake off. 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:08.440 Perhaps whatever responsibilities you have, it's just overwhelming you. 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:11.159 You feel like a failure, that you don't have it in you 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:15.199 to fulfil what God has given you to do as a parent in your studies, 00:34:15.319 --> 00:34:16.519 in your work, in ministry. 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:21.659 Perhaps there is such misery and hardship in your life, 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:25.119 you lack the strength to seek to do good, let alone do it with joy. 00:34:27.339 --> 00:34:31.819 Perhaps you feel crippled for what the evil things others have done to you. 00:34:31.820 --> 00:34:41.820 I want to finish by just showing the transforming power of the gospel 00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:44.700 in the life of Paul, just very briefly. 00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:48.019 Let's consider Paul's past. 00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:50.019 He was a persecutor of Christians. 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:52.940 He had blood on his hands. 00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:59.200 And yet he doesn't see himself in terms of his gross sins. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:01.859 That's not his core identity. 00:35:03.339 --> 00:35:06.939 When he says there's forgiveness in the Son, he means it. 00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:12.019 He sees himself as he now is, a holy one in Christ. 00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:14.399 His sin doesn't define him. 00:35:15.399 --> 00:35:16.079 Christ does. 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:18.139 And that frees him to serve. 00:35:19.819 --> 00:35:23.259 Imagine if we saw our sin as dealt with, 00:35:23.399 --> 00:35:25.259 our identity in Christ. 00:35:25.260 --> 00:35:27.500 It would be freeing. 00:35:28.560 --> 00:35:30.400 The more we can understand that. 00:35:31.560 --> 00:35:32.780 Well, consider Paul's present. 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:34.540 He's writing this letter from prison. 00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:37.600 And this isn't like our prisons. 00:35:38.140 --> 00:35:41.400 The death sentence could come swiftly any day. 00:35:42.420 --> 00:35:43.120 He is innocent. 00:35:44.540 --> 00:35:46.040 He's just been proclaiming the gospel. 00:35:46.740 --> 00:35:47.260 And yet he's unchanged. 00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:50.020 But he doesn't see himself as a victim. 00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:55.420 He's not full of self-pity turned in on himself because of the injustice, 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:57.079 which was a gross injustice. 00:35:58.199 --> 00:36:00.480 Instead, he makes a radical claim, 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:03.900 which we're going to have to unpack in future weeks, 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:06.139 in chapter 2, verse 24, 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:08.539 I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, 00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:13.639 and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions 00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:15.360 for the sake of his body. 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.900 That is a huge claim. 00:36:17.900 --> 00:36:22.500 He sees himself as filling up the sufferings of Christ. 00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.660 He's not a victim. 00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:31.380 He's participating in the sufferings of Jesus for the building up of the church. 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:35.700 Imagine if we saw our trials as in Christ. 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:40.840 Consider Paul's calling as an apostle. 00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:42.119 He's in prison. 00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:47.220 He doesn't doubt Jesus' lordship over this situation. 00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.839 He's not throwing up his hands saying, 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:50.819 how can I be an apostle here in prison? 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.839 He's not doing that. 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:55.299 He's trusting that this is where God wants him right now. 00:36:55.819 --> 00:36:58.480 And so he seeks to thrive as an apostle. 00:36:59.139 --> 00:37:00.339 He's doing what he can. 00:37:00.439 --> 00:37:01.659 He's struggling in prayer. 00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:04.739 He's thinking about how to write this letter, 00:37:04.779 --> 00:37:05.779 and he sends this letter. 00:37:05.939 --> 00:37:07.819 He's full of concern for the church. 00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:12.320 The task of building the church is beyond him. 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:17.039 Like, I don't know if you feel your task as a parent or your task at work is just, 00:37:17.300 --> 00:37:18.039 it's too much. 00:37:18.140 --> 00:37:19.480 You don't have it in you to do it. 00:37:20.240 --> 00:37:22.240 I'm sure Paul felt the same way. 00:37:23.140 --> 00:37:24.840 He doesn't have what's in him to do it. 00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:28.340 But then that's not how he sees it. 00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:33.740 In chapter 1, verse 29, in his calling and as apostle, 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:39.600 I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:46.420 Imagine going deep in knowing who we own Christ can actually empower us 00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:48.420 for what God has called us to do. 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:54.460 So I just want to leave us with this challenge. 00:37:55.960 --> 00:38:00.820 What are you doing to make sure you're being filled with all spiritual wisdom 00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.559 and understanding? 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:08.960 For starters, how will you make the most of our time in Colossians this term? 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:15.000 Our world says be true to yourself. 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:17.760 Look within yourself to find who you are. 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:20.159 To find the full life. 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:23.019 The fullness isn't within us. 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.760 It's within Christ. 00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:29.559 Let's put the mirror down. 00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:33.599 Because fullness isn't within us. 00:38:33.720 --> 00:38:35.159 It's within Christ. 00:38:36.200 --> 00:38:37.220 Knowing who we are. 00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:43.079 Knowing that in him we fulfill the purposes of why we were created. 00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:46.700 Knowing that in him we can produce good fruit, 00:38:46.699 --> 00:38:48.199 increase in knowing God. 00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:49.699 We can endure with joy. 00:38:49.899 --> 00:38:51.039 We can be full of thanks. 00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:53.639 Fullness isn't within us. 00:38:53.779 --> 00:38:54.960 It's within Christ. 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:58.099 That's what we're going to be just soaking in, 00:38:58.279 --> 00:39:00.399 swimming in, this term in Colossians. 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:04.079 So let me pray now that we would do that. 00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:05.440 So let's pray. 00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:13.079 I'm going to use the words of Colossians to pray. 00:39:15.139 --> 00:39:17.180 Father, I pray that as a church family, 00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:23.759 you would fill us with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom 00:39:23.759 --> 00:39:25.419 and understanding in the gospel, 00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:30.460 so that we might walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:33.159 fully pleasing to you, 00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:36.000 bearing fruit in every good work 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:38.599 and increasing in the knowledge of God, 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:42.219 being strengthened with all power, 00:39:42.219 --> 00:39:46.480 according to his glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy, 00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:48.699 and giving thanks to the Father, 00:39:49.480 --> 00:39:53.119 who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in life. 00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:58.159 Father, we thank you for delivering us from the domain of darkness 00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:02.359 and transferring us to the kingdom of your beloved Son, 00:40:02.779 --> 00:40:05.559 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:12.960 Lord, take us deeper into Christ this term as your church. 00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:16.059 For our good, your glory. Amen.