WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.120 All right, if you want to turn to the book of Colossians, the book of Colossians is where we'll be. 00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:19.519 And then if you have, there's little handouts here that's kind of, I'll follow through that. 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:21.339 You can fill in the blank. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:26.160 The church that I used to preach at, there was always a challenge to see if you could guess the next word. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:28.000 That's where the first letter was there. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:33.840 And I enjoy watching when you get the word right because I know it because you smile at me when I say it. 00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:38.780 And then I can tell when you've miscalculated because you do that and I see you scribble it out. 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:41.179 But that's there for you if you want to follow along. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:42.079 It helps me. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:44.340 I preach kind of through this outline here as well. 00:00:45.400 --> 00:00:49.019 And let me say thank you for your hospitality so far. 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:51.560 We have felt so welcome right away. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:57.359 Ross and Joy have taken care of us and incredibly so we have landed in paradise. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:05.120 I mean, I'm pinching myself wondering if maybe I didn't die and end up in heaven already, which would be awkward to be preaching in heaven, but okay. 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:11.000 But it's just, you've been so great to us getting the car and a place to stay. 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:12.700 The kids have adjusted well. 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:16.219 So thank you so much for all the hard work that you've done in getting us here. 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:21.980 And we'll be in the book of Colossians this summer, 12 weeks in this book of Colossians. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:27.879 So pretty slow, which will allow us to get a little deeper than we would if we were going quick. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:31.539 And so today we're just going to cover verses 1 and 2. 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:34.719 Colossians chapter 1, verses 1 and 2. 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:38.219 And I'm going to read those and then pray and then we'll get started. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:40.340 I hear now the word of the Lord. 00:01:40.340 --> 00:02:00.859 Let's pray. 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:07.780 Lord, we thank you for the privilege of being able to hear from your word. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:11.139 We thank you for the fact that we have your word. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:17.240 We ask now that you would open our eyes, that we would see, that you would open our ears, that we would hear. 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:26.280 God, would you help us to resist the temptation to change your word to match our theology or to change your word to what we want it to be, Lord? 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:31.960 But would you by your spirit, through your word, conform us more to the image of Christ? 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:38.979 Would you be glorified through your own word for your praise and in Jesus' name, Amen. 00:02:40.740 --> 00:02:43.259 Well, it's just a little passage, isn't it? 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:43.960 Just two verses. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:45.439 It makes up one sentence. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:50.740 And you might be tempted to just kind of blow through it as you read the book of Colossians. 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:52.719 And I'll be honest, I was. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:58.359 The first five or six times even that I read through Colossians, getting ready for the summer, 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:05.300 I just went right through the introduction and originally was going to preach verses one through eight this week. 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:09.939 And so it wasn't even on the original schedule that I sent to the elders here. 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:12.340 But what happened was a couple things. 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:15.900 One, I began to listen to the book of Colossians. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:18.060 And I would highly recommend that to you. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:19.740 You can get an app. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:20.780 I'm sure there's several. 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:25.099 I was able to download one over here so I know it's possible. 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:28.039 Bible.is was the name of the app. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:31.759 And then I could select New International Version in English. 00:03:31.979 --> 00:03:34.300 And I could just listen to Colossians. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:42.300 And the reason I recommend that is because this is how the recipients of this letter would have heard it the first time. 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:47.460 It was written by Paul and Timothy, as they say in the introduction. 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:50.599 And then they would have given it to a messenger, a courier. 00:03:51.140 --> 00:03:55.700 And that person would have taken this letter, which takes about 15 minutes to listen to. 00:03:56.219 --> 00:04:03.320 And they would have gone from wherever they were sent, probably Rome, where Paul, we think he was at the time, to Colossae. 00:04:03.860 --> 00:04:05.740 And they would have practiced it the whole way. 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:11.319 This was their job to get there and to present the Apostle Paul's letter to this church. 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:17.219 And so when you listen to it, it's a bit different listening to the whole thing at one time. 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:21.279 I would encourage you to do that this week or even once a week. 00:04:21.420 --> 00:04:24.319 Go for a 15-minute walk and listen to it. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:27.779 And it kind of comes together a bit differently. 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:29.980 And so that was one thing I started doing. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:38.160 And the other is I started going just piece by piece and taking almost one key word per day in a devotional sort of way. 00:04:38.900 --> 00:04:44.160 And as I really slowed down, I started to see what Paul was doing. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:46.480 And he was being quite clever in this introduction. 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:51.620 He's presenting an idea that he's going to carry through the whole letter. 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:55.439 And he's crafted this introduction in an amazing way. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:07.360 He's given us this big idea, which we've got here, that to begin with, by God's will and through His grace, 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:12.060 we can live as His people in this world. 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:20.560 So by God's will and through His grace, we can live as His people in this world. 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:25.279 And we'll explore that idea today by looking at three things here, three truths. 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:28.800 First, we'll look at a life lived in two kingdoms. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:32.579 And then a life lived because of grace. 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:35.540 And a life lived by the will of God. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:40.439 A life lived in two kingdoms because of grace by the will of God. 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.740 So first, a life lived in two kingdoms. 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:44.540 And here's where Paul presents this idea. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:47.040 It's just in verse 2, the first half. 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:48.560 He says, 00:05:48.699 --> 00:05:54.319 To God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:02.180 To God's holy people, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:06:02.259 --> 00:06:06.620 These are the people that live life in the kingdom of God. 00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:12.000 And this word holy is probably not a common word. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:19.540 You probably don't use holy all throughout your day, unless you're different than I am with your use of language. 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:23.020 There's probably words you use quite a bit through the day. 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:24.620 And holy is probably not one of them. 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:25.100 Am I right? 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:29.700 We use, we were laughing before we came here, we use the word dude in California. 00:06:30.220 --> 00:06:32.420 Is there a stereotype about Californians? 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:33.660 And that's true. 00:06:33.780 --> 00:06:34.879 We use dude for everything. 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:35.540 It's singular. 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:36.980 It can be a greeting. 00:06:37.100 --> 00:06:38.020 Hey dude, what's up? 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:39.680 That's pretty normal for California. 00:06:40.080 --> 00:06:40.820 It can be plural. 00:06:40.960 --> 00:06:42.020 Those dudes over there. 00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:43.200 It can be masculine, feminine. 00:06:43.640 --> 00:06:44.400 It can be an adverb. 00:06:44.520 --> 00:06:45.680 Dude, what happened right there? 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:47.439 We just use the word dude all the time. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:49.660 And dude is normal. 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:52.420 Holy is not a common word for us in California. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:07:01.259 And so we want to spend just a few minutes looking at what is meant here when Paul calls them God's holy people. 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:03.639 And we see two things. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:07.360 First of all, they are set apart for God. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:15.800 But the Christians in Colossae are people who, through Christ, have been set apart for God. 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:18.939 And then the same is still true today. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:25.600 Out of the seven billion some people on planet Earth, not all are considered holy, unfortunately. 00:07:26.520 --> 00:07:30.939 But some are and have been set apart for God. 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:43.220 I think Peter says here to the congregation he writes to in 1 Peter, he says that they are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:44.699 I like how Peter says that. 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:46.660 They are God's special possession. 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:48.720 He has set them apart. 00:07:50.159 --> 00:07:56.019 And then secondly, we see that holy means that they are able to approach God. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.519 Able to approach God. 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:03.219 And now this, to a first century citizen, would be absolutely mind-blowing. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.000 And it should really be mind-blowing to us today. 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:12.000 Someone is able to approach a divine being. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.579 In the first century, that just did not happen. 00:08:16.039 --> 00:08:18.259 Not until you'd made the right sacrifices. 00:08:18.799 --> 00:08:20.240 Not until you'd done everything. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:21.459 You'd purified yourself. 00:08:21.659 --> 00:08:26.939 You'd been through the rites of initiation, which we'll see later in Colossians, are still a big deal to them. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:34.799 This idea that I could just approach a divine being would be absolutely foreign to a first century citizen. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:40.519 And in fact, maybe we take that for granted a bit today, don't we? 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.659 I do at times. 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:47.320 I mean, I wake up, and before I've even brushed my teeth, I can just talk to God. 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:49.440 Morning breath and all. 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:51.100 It's kind of crazy if you think about it. 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:57.300 I can just approach God Almighty because of who I am in Christ. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:06.860 I can just begin a conversation with the God who created everything that I see, including me, including the air I breathe. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:15.080 I can, because He has set me apart in Christ and called me holy, I can just approach Him and enter into conversation with Him. 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:23.080 And Paul, by opening his letter with this, he's saying, I'm talking to a group of people, 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:27.580 he's saying, but I'm talking to a very specific and very special group of people. 00:09:27.800 --> 00:09:32.920 I'm talking to a people who are living life in the kingdom of God. 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:39.600 A people that God has set apart, His own special possession, who can approach Him. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:45.340 Yet, who are still in Colossae. 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:48.639 And this is fascinating as well. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:53.379 He says, right in the middle there, to God's holy people in Colossae. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.740 So while they're citizens of the kingdom of God, 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:02.180 they are at the same time living life in the kingdom of man. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.720 And this concept too would be weird. 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:11.639 Most people, even still today, aren't citizens of one country living in another. 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:14.620 And in Roman times, this would be even crazier. 00:10:15.660 --> 00:10:20.019 You wouldn't be a citizen of another kingdom and live in Rome, 00:10:20.060 --> 00:10:22.720 unless something had, frankly, just gone wrong. 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:24.840 That wouldn't happen. 00:10:25.460 --> 00:10:30.060 And you certainly would not, as king of a nation, 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:34.100 take your citizens and place them in someone else's nation. 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:37.940 It would be absurd to think of doing that. 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:42.659 But what Paul says is what God's done here is He's taken His people, 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:48.159 His holy people, and He has placed them in the kingdom of man, 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:50.300 specifically here in Colossae. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:53.820 And there's a reality to that. 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:56.740 And it's very important for us to understand 00:10:56.740 --> 00:11:01.379 what that would be like for these people receiving this letter. 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:06.460 We have to ask, what would life in Colossae look like? 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:09.000 And we have to remember a few things. 00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:12.320 The recipients of this letter, they're not Irish. 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:13.019 Okay? 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:15.600 So we don't expect the letter to sound Irish. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.039 Right? 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:18.639 The recipients of this letter, they're not Americans. 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:21.159 So we don't expect it to sound American. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:25.980 We expect there to be some amount of a foreign nature to the letter, 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.659 because they're different people than us. 00:11:27.940 --> 00:11:29.259 They're not modern people. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:34.779 So the first recipients of this letter, a cell phone would blow their mind. 00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:37.580 And they would probably think it completely useless. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.159 What would you do with the little square? 00:11:40.439 --> 00:11:43.720 They'd probably try to hammer something with it, would be my imagination. 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.939 They have never flown on an airplane. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.919 They have never ridden on a train. 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:51.340 They don't have electricity. 00:11:51.340 --> 00:11:56.160 And in an interesting way, specifically in Colossae, 00:11:56.680 --> 00:12:01.120 they are considered by the Roman Empire a very unimportant people. 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:05.220 Colossae is about, if we have the map, yeah, we have the map here. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:08.519 It's about 200 kilometers inland from Ephesus. 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:14.060 And that's important to note, that they're 200 kilometers inland from Ephesus. 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:19.599 Because in the Roman Empire, everything happens along the Mediterranean Sea. 00:12:20.119 --> 00:12:22.419 All the shipping is by the Mediterranean Sea. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:25.979 And all the commerce really occurs on the Mediterranean Sea. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:31.679 And so if you're not a coastal city, you become less and less important 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:34.199 the further you move away from the coast. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:41.060 And the Roman Empire, they really only cared about 200 kilometers inland from the sea. 00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:42.580 After that, they didn't really bother. 00:12:44.180 --> 00:12:47.640 So Colossae is on the edge, on the fringe of the Roman Empire. 00:12:49.020 --> 00:12:51.580 They're not thought highly of. 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:55.140 They are considered the breadbasket. 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:56.620 That's really all they are. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:58.440 They're a farming town. 00:12:58.540 --> 00:13:00.379 They have farms and they have sheep. 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:06.120 And Rome considers them people who produce food and clothing for the coastal cities. 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:07.600 And that's all they are. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:11.879 In the eyes of the Roman Empire, in the eyes of Ephesus, 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:16.340 in the eyes of anybody that's anybody in the kingdom of man at this time, 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.340 these are an unimportant people. 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:21.899 And yet, interestingly enough, 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:27.080 these unimportant people who provide bread and clothes to the Roman Empire 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:33.980 have amongst them in their city citizens of the kingdom of heaven walking about. 00:13:37.540 --> 00:13:41.860 I think that's interesting to see right away 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:47.780 that God's design is that in Christianity, 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:51.700 there is within the city of man 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:57.000 kingdom of heaven citizens strategically placed all around. 00:13:58.040 --> 00:14:01.300 That there is in Karageline Christians, 00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:03.740 citizens of the kingdom of heaven, 00:14:04.180 --> 00:14:07.360 holy people that God has placed here. 00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:09.980 That there is in County Cork, 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:11.060 that there is in Ireland, 00:14:11.280 --> 00:14:12.720 that in San Diego, 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.500 and anywhere you go, 00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:17.860 there's God's holy people, 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.080 citizens of His kingdom, 00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:23.860 placed in the kingdoms of man. 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:29.700 And so it's worth noting that God wants His people 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:31.899 in the cities of the world. 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.419 He wants His people 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:37.300 in the kingdoms of man. 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:39.220 When I saw Polo, 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:39.960 I think you call it, 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.879 Parents of Little Ones, 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.680 am I getting that right? 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:44.340 And then the Rock camp Friday night, 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.740 it's perfect. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:47.360 It's wonderful. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.919 Because we have citizens of Karageline 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.800 that are interacting with citizens 00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:55.440 of the kingdom of heaven, 00:14:55.800 --> 00:14:56.720 God's holy people. 00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:57.500 And we got to see, 00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:58.379 I was 30, 00:14:58.460 --> 00:15:00.399 35 children or something on Friday night, 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:03.320 and only about a third are from this church, 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.840 which meant there were roughly 20 kids 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:07.480 from Karageline 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:10.580 interacting with God's holy people. 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:12.460 Kids who cannot right now 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.560 approach God 00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:15.020 interacting with people 00:15:15.020 --> 00:15:17.720 who are able to approach God Almighty. 00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:20.320 This is God's design. 00:15:21.160 --> 00:15:22.840 This is God's plan for the church. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:26.580 And the kingdom of man needs Christians. 00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:30.340 And I think it's worth pausing and saying, 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:30.639 why? 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:33.060 Why would God put His citizens 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:35.460 in man's kingdoms? 00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:37.720 And we have two things that we bring 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:38.600 as God's people. 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:40.840 We bring an understanding of what is true. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.139 And we bring an understanding 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.000 of what is temporary. 00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:47.639 We bring an understanding of what is true 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:49.200 because we have God's word, 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.340 which is truth. 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:53.060 And we bring that into a culture 00:15:53.060 --> 00:15:55.779 that is desperately seeking truth. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.519 And I'm sure if you sit 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.920 and you just take a little bit of time 00:15:58.920 --> 00:16:00.200 and you think through the relationships 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.879 that God has put you in, 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.540 you can quickly think of people 00:16:03.540 --> 00:16:05.519 who have no idea what is true 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.940 and are desperately seeking for truth. 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.960 I can Google. 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:10.820 I think this is crazy. 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:13.340 We can Google what is true. 00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:16.420 And there's websites 00:16:16.420 --> 00:16:18.580 that people can go to. 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:20.240 More than one. 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.600 And more than one person a day 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:24.759 literally Googles what is true. 00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:28.800 And God has placed citizens of His kingdom 00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:30.680 around those people in their midst 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:32.560 who know truth, 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.420 who can point them to truth, 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:37.240 who can read truth to them. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.839 And so God has put people 00:16:39.839 --> 00:16:41.539 who have an understanding of what is true 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.379 and God has put people 00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:43.740 who have an understanding 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.979 of what is temporary. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.000 Jesus says, 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:47.879 He says in Mark, 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.799 He says that some people, 00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:50.740 they gain the whole world 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:52.139 and yet lose their soul. 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:55.199 And if Caragalline is anything like San Diego, 00:16:55.319 --> 00:16:56.679 which I think there's some similarities, 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:58.799 there are people in Caragalline 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:00.519 who are literally spending 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.719 all of their time 00:17:01.719 --> 00:17:02.679 and energy 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.719 and resources 00:17:03.719 --> 00:17:04.579 chasing things 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.960 that are absolutely temporary 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.079 and have no eternal value at all. 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.919 And they probably don't know it. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.779 And it's heartbreaking to think of 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:16.940 that's why God put His citizens 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:17.619 right here 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:19.019 in this place 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.740 at this time. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.200 It's because 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.559 not only do we know it's true, 00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.680 but we know it's temporary 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.120 and we know what's eternal 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:25.980 and we have access 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:27.000 to those things 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.400 through God's Word 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.779 and we can be representatives 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:31.440 of the Kingdom of Heaven 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.500 right here 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.680 in man's kingdom. 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.740 And God has given us 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.580 the ability 00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:39.680 to interact 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:42.000 with those people 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.060 who are not yet citizens 00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:43.820 of His Kingdom 00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:46.740 in a gracious way 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.799 and to be, 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.759 as Jesus says, 00:17:48.820 --> 00:17:49.880 the salt of the earth 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.880 and the light of the world 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:53.280 and to live lives 00:17:53.280 --> 00:17:54.440 of grace. 00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:56.100 Namely, 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:56.960 because of the grace 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.580 we've been given. 00:17:57.760 --> 00:17:59.300 And that's our second point here 00:17:59.300 --> 00:18:01.380 is that we live lives 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.800 because of grace. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:05.220 And here's what happens 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:07.200 is because of God's grace 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:07.980 to us, 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:09.380 we can be a people 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:10.040 of grace 00:18:10.040 --> 00:18:11.400 to others. 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:11.740 Okay, 00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:12.780 so Paul picks this up 00:18:12.780 --> 00:18:13.700 in verse 2, 00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:15.100 the second half of verse 2 here. 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:18.000 After he marks out 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.880 who he's speaking to, 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.100 God's holy people 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:21.439 in Colossae, 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.299 he's going to say, 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:24.619 grace and peace to you 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.639 from God our Father. 00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:27.240 And I find that interesting 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.759 because the very last thing 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.339 he's going to write, 00:18:29.419 --> 00:18:30.219 if you go to the end 00:18:30.219 --> 00:18:30.719 of the letter, 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.299 his very last phrase 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.779 is grace be with you. 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:36.019 Paul's gone out of his way 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:37.980 to say grace and peace to you 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.559 and grace be with you. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.719 And what he's saying is 00:18:40.719 --> 00:18:42.480 we live life in two kingdoms, 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.839 we are God's people 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.359 in the cities of man, 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:47.039 and we are God's people 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.480 because of grace, 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.740 the grace that we've been given, 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.680 and because of that grace 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.400 that we've been given, 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.140 we then become a source 00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:56.920 of grace towards other people. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.200 And this is all by design. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.660 This is one of the beauties 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.259 of the Gospel. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.599 And here's how it works. 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.319 We'll go through 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.680 just a few points here. 00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:08.039 We are born enemies of God. 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:10.980 We are not born God's people. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.140 We are not born able 00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:14.079 to approach God. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:16.119 We are born into sin, 00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.919 unable to approach God, 00:19:18.179 --> 00:19:18.859 and frankly, 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.859 unable to do anything about that. 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:21.919 We are so depraved. 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.819 But God, 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:27.339 in love, 00:19:27.439 --> 00:19:28.619 because of His mercy, 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.439 God saves us 00:19:30.439 --> 00:19:31.859 by grace. 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.659 I think even Friday night, 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.899 the leaders of the Rock 00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:35.539 were presenting 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:37.480 the same Gospel outline 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.099 to the children. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.779 It's beautiful. 00:19:39.439 --> 00:19:40.659 We're born enemies of God, 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.240 but then God 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.740 saves us by grace. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:44.000 Paul could be more clear 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:45.059 in the letter of Ephesus 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.500 than he is. 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.400 You have been saved 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:48.440 by grace. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.940 So we go from enemies of God 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.400 to saved by grace, 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.059 and then this grace 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.900 brings us peace, 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.099 which is why Paul will say 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:59.759 grace and peace to you. 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.920 God's grace towards us 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.220 places us in a position 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.400 of peace with Him, 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.519 and then we become 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.839 a source of grace 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.500 towards others. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:11.500 We can point them to truth. 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.220 We can explain to them 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.920 what's eternal 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.920 and what's temporary, 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.380 and we become 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:17.619 agents of grace, 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.839 not in a saving way, 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.759 in a common way. 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.960 We become people 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.359 that God has gifted 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.480 to the cities of men. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:27.059 All of it because of grace. 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.440 And what's beautiful 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.240 about the Gospel 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.700 is that grace 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.839 is what brings us in. 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.519 Grace is what grows us up. 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.839 Grace is then what 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.819 we bring to the cities of men. 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:42.000 And it's not that we become 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.339 a source of grace to others 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:46.139 so that we can please God. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.599 It's not that we do this 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:50.319 so that we can earn God's grace. 00:20:50.679 --> 00:20:51.919 We are who we are 00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:53.000 towards other people 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.279 because of God's grace. 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:57.039 And that's important to note. 00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:57.839 It's very important 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.919 to understand the difference. 00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:01.299 So we don't do something 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.720 like Polo or The Rock 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.319 or Rooted. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.240 Am I learning all that? 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.680 We don't do those 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.460 in an effort 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.759 to please God 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:09.900 so that He will be gracious to us. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.660 We're not partnering with God 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:13.380 so that He'll be gracious to us. 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.019 We're not saying, 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:14.720 okay God, 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.640 we'll meet you halfway 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:16.559 and we'll trust that 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.819 you'll meet us halfway. 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.319 God's not extending His hand 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:19.680 saying, 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.980 okay, you do your part, 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.599 I'll do my part. 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:23.200 God has done the entire thing. 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.900 He's done the entire thing 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.579 all because of grace. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.120 He has saved us, 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:29.940 set us apart, 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.180 made us His people, 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.180 and then placed us 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.859 in the cities of men 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.200 and said, 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:35.059 now you can be gracious to them. 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:39.039 And I think sometimes 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.640 it's also worth pausing to say, 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:43.460 well then who has God put in my life 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:45.559 that needs His grace? 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:49.900 Who has God put in our lives 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:53.759 that is trying to please God 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.779 or maybe even what they've determined 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:57.340 to be God, 00:21:58.340 --> 00:21:59.779 not realizing 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:01.480 that by grace, 00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.380 through faith, 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.900 Christ's active obedience, 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:06.440 Christ's death on the cross 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:08.779 can absolutely bring them 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.700 into God's kingdom 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:11.240 all as a gift. 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:13.539 Not by their works, 00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.559 lest they should boast, 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:17.460 but all by God's grace. 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:21.120 And I absolutely guarantee you, 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:22.960 if you take time this evening 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.640 or this week 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.980 to just pray through 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.880 and ask God, 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:28.140 who in my life needs your grace? 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.940 names will start coming to mind. 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.480 And you will be shocked 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.220 to realize God has put you 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:36.060 here in Karagoline 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:38.020 and surrounded you by people 00:22:38.020 --> 00:22:40.360 who are literally dying to know 00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:42.620 that they can have salvation 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.740 through Jesus Christ. 00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:46.160 Not by their efforts, 00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:49.500 but because of His grace towards them. 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.240 You will, 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:53.440 as you think through people, 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:54.520 as you think through names, 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:56.480 as you start praying for individuals 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.819 that you're in a relationship with, 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.860 I think you'll see 00:22:58.860 --> 00:22:59.900 our final point 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.660 just come to life, 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.120 which is, 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.500 you aren't where you are 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.160 by accident. 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.420 You don't have the friends 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:06.339 you have by accident. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.819 You're not in the relationships 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.720 you're in by accident. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:10.900 All of it is by the will of God. 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:14.839 That's how Paul starts his letter. 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.079 And I have to be honest, 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.620 I went past it so many times 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.180 in my studies, 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:20.460 God had to just put the brakes on me. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.460 But it's right there 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:21.839 in the beginning. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:22.359 Paul, 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:24.139 in verse 1, 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:26.759 an apostle of Christ Jesus 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.919 by the will of God. 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.319 And I have to be honest, 00:23:31.439 --> 00:23:32.419 I didn't even catch it 00:23:32.419 --> 00:23:33.879 until I was going through, 00:23:33.919 --> 00:23:34.579 my kids and I, 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:36.539 we do evening devotions at times, 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.379 we're going through 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.079 the book of Acts, 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.199 and we were just reading, 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:41.099 Paul was a terrible person. 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.099 Oh, 00:23:42.179 --> 00:23:43.619 he was a horrible man. 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.699 When you read him early 00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:46.480 in the book of Acts, 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.399 if you don't know 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:48.159 the end of the story, 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.859 you're ready to lynch the guy. 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.959 He's a terrible, 00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:52.419 terrible person. 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:54.740 He's imprisoning the Christians, 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.959 God's citizens, 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.859 in the kingdoms of man. 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:02.919 Paul is awful towards them. 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:05.219 But then he says here, 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:07.159 oh, now I'm an apostle. 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.919 And if you pause and you think, 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:10.639 who? 00:24:11.699 --> 00:24:13.399 How could Paul be an apostle? 00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.599 He says, 00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:16.399 by the will of God. 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.379 By the will of God. 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:21.140 Which means that if Paul 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:22.260 can become an apostle 00:24:22.260 --> 00:24:23.280 by the will of God, 00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:24.480 as terrible as he was, 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.560 by his own admission 00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.780 as the chief of sinners, 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.320 then you are who you are, 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.480 and I am who I am, 00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:32.060 and we are where we are, 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.880 also by the will of God. 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.460 Do you see that? 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.900 That if you're a school teacher, 00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:38.460 you're not just a school teacher, 00:24:38.520 --> 00:24:39.320 you're a school teacher 00:24:39.320 --> 00:24:40.640 by the will of God. 00:24:41.040 --> 00:24:41.940 And if you have 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:43.360 any other relationship, 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.520 you're in that relationship 00:24:44.520 --> 00:24:45.520 by the will of God. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.579 That person that maybe 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.599 drives you crazy. 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:49.119 That boss that's too hard on you. 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.599 That child that won't stop 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.859 crying or screaming. 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.480 Whatever it is. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:55.079 It's not by accident. 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.460 It's not because you've done 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.099 something wrong. 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.759 It's by the will of God 00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.920 that you have been placed 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.319 where you have been placed, 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.980 in the occupation that you're in, 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.279 surrounded by the people 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.200 you're surrounded by, 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:07.119 so that you can live 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:07.879 a life of grace 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:09.079 towards those people, 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.379 because you're a citizen 00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.379 of the kingdom of heaven 00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:13.099 right here in the cities of men. 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:15.659 All by the will of God. 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.959 It's a beautiful design. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.859 And here's what I find 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:22.339 incredible about God's will. 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.139 Two things. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:26.219 One, it's secure. 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:30.159 God's will is secure. 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.099 I don't know about you, 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.519 sometimes life does not 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.619 feel secure to me. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:35.919 In California, 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.819 we have earthquakes. 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.519 Literally, the ground shakes 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.279 below our feet. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.639 And we were at Ross and Joy's house, 00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:42.139 and I'm looking at, 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.360 there's decorations on the wall 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:44.400 just sitting there. 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.140 And I keep thinking, 00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.060 any moment now, 00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:47.060 the ground's going to shake 00:25:47.060 --> 00:25:48.160 and everything will fall over. 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.660 But it does, 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.560 in California, 00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:52.140 we literally stand on shaking ground. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.140 You just, boom, it moves. 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.780 And you go, okay. 00:25:54.300 --> 00:25:55.220 That reminds me, 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:57.420 it's not so secure at times. 00:25:59.100 --> 00:26:00.420 God's will is secure. 00:26:02.600 --> 00:26:04.120 He, yeah, I love in Deuteronomy, 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:05.600 it says like an eagle, 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:07.140 he spreads his wings 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:08.880 over his people. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:11.580 And when you're in God's will, 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.960 when you are God's people, 00:26:13.260 --> 00:26:15.280 even though we're in the city of men, 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.020 we are secured 00:26:17.020 --> 00:26:19.880 in these cities because of God. 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:22.580 We're secure in what he's called us to 00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.900 because it's by his will. 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.500 So you can't, 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:28.780 you can't move outside of his grace. 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:32.000 You can't be somewhere where God goes, 00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:32.800 how did you get there? 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:33.500 I never saw you. 00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:33.900 Come back. 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.960 No, you can't. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:37.660 You cannot move outside of God's will 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:39.319 because his will is secure. 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:39.940 Jesus says, 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.860 no one can pluck you from his hand. 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:44.039 He holds you tight. 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.000 You are his. 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.480 And then also, 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.319 I see God's will, 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:50.319 it provides a sense of purpose. 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:52.620 Paul's purpose changed 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:54.700 from early on in Acts 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:56.259 to the point that he's writing this letter. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.120 And as we'll see, 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.200 if you can even look at the end, 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.360 you know, spoiler alert, 00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:03.679 he's in prison. 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.240 He's in chains. 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:10.259 He's about to die for the gospel. 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:13.419 And he's completely fine with it. 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:16.699 He's secure in who he is in Christ. 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:19.459 And he knows he has a purpose. 00:27:20.479 --> 00:27:23.119 He knows that he's not a prisoner by accident. 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:27.699 He knows that God still has a purpose in his life. 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:30.479 And he's writing letters to churches. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:33.079 And he probably doesn't even know 00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:34.680 that some 2,000 years later, 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:36.680 we'll still be reading these letters, 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:39.779 written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:42.480 nourishing and feeding our souls, 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:46.140 as we too live as God's people, 00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.680 citizens of heaven, 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.839 in places that Paul had never even heard of. 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:57.639 And so what part of our lives do we need to remember 00:27:57.639 --> 00:28:00.740 is secure and has a purpose in God's will? 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:04.240 Sometimes it's good to just take a moment 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:07.579 and rest and be comforted in that truth. 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:10.579 That we're not here by accident. 00:28:11.459 --> 00:28:14.839 That we're not just wandering purposely around planet Earth. 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:19.799 But that God has placed us in a place, 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.480 in a time, 00:28:21.439 --> 00:28:22.339 as his people. 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:24.819 That he's placed us in relationships 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:27.579 where we can be light and salt, 00:28:27.699 --> 00:28:30.559 where we can be grace to other people. 00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:34.059 And that he's given us a purpose. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:37.299 And we're secure in that purpose 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.819 as his people, 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:41.220 as citizens of heaven, 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:43.860 right here in Cargilline or County Cork, 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.539 all the way to San Diego 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:47.140 and everywhere in between. 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:56.160 That main idea, I think, 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:58.920 is worth just keeping in your mind this week. 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:02.019 It's by God's will 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:04.660 and through his grace 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:07.420 that we can be his people 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:09.240 in this world. 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:11.500 We're citizens of the kingdom of heaven. 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:14.339 We are, like the Colossians, 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.920 we are God's holy people. 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:18.519 Faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.740 In modern day Colossia, 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:25.120 whatever that might be for each of us. 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.660 By grace, 00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.660 at peace with God, 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:32.059 all by the will of God. 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.960 I'll close this in prayer 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.880 and before I do, 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.339 I'll just say, 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.659 if you need, 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.539 if you want to have tea 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.279 or you need time, 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.299 just going back through that. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:44.559 Or you need someone to pray with you 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:46.419 because I think we can all agree, 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.299 it's not easy, is it? 00:29:47.959 --> 00:29:49.859 It's not easy to live in the cities of men 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.480 as citizens of heaven. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:53.119 It's very difficult, 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.919 very challenging, 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.759 very tempting 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:57.339 to fall for what's temporary 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:59.299 or to fall for what's not true. 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:02.059 It's not easy to remember 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:03.639 how gracious God has been to us. 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.579 We need reminded. 00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:06.899 We need to encourage each other 00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.939 through difficult times. 00:30:08.939 --> 00:30:10.899 And it's very easy to feel insecure 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:12.379 and to feel like I have no purpose. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:14.500 So if you need someone to pray with you 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:16.019 or to walk you back through this 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.779 or just encourage you, 00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:18.359 I really am happy to do so. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.879 Happy to do that with you 00:30:19.879 --> 00:30:20.659 anytime this week. 00:30:21.439 --> 00:30:22.019 Let's pray. 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.059 Let's pray. 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:28.059 God, we thank you so much 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:30.619 for the fact that you give us 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.720 through Paul this letter. 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:35.799 That now some 2,000 years later 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:37.720 we can, not as Colossians, 00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:39.740 but as Irish and Americans 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:40.639 and anywhere else, 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.720 that we can look at what Paul wrote 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:45.200 to your holy people in Colossae. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:49.559 That we can read this 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:51.400 and we can be anxious to read more 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.880 and we can want to learn more 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.600 because it's still so applicable 00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.559 to who we are today. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:00.039 God, we thank you that we are secure 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:02.180 and we can be confident 00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:05.480 in the fact that we are citizens of heaven. 00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.900 And oh God, we long for the day 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:09.140 where we get to come home 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:10.380 to our true land, 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.180 our true country. 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:14.880 And yet in the meantime, Lord, 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.180 we know that you have a purpose 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.060 for us right here. 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.820 That by your will, 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.519 through your grace, 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:22.779 you have placed us 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.560 where you've placed us, 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.900 you've put us in the relationships 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:25.740 you've put us in, 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.019 and that you have a plan 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.080 for your glory 00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:31.019 to continue to build your kingdom 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:32.140 right here in Carragalline, 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.660 right here in County Cork, 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.560 right here in Ireland 00:31:34.560 --> 00:31:35.600 and everywhere else. 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:38.180 God, we thank you for the chance 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.200 to be a part of that. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:41.720 We thank you for the chance 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.600 to be your people 00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.759 and we recognize 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:45.039 that it is only by grace 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:46.140 through the precious blood 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.920 of Jesus Christ 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.680 that that has happened. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.279 Would you send us out this week 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.180 with your spirit, Lord? 00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:53.740 Would you continue to conform us 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:55.200 to the image of Christ? 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:56.279 Continue to help us 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.500 to be salt and light. 00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:58.759 When we're tired, 00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.620 would you give us energy? 00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.480 When we're struggling, 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:02.059 would you give us peace, Lord? 00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.759 Would you remind us 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:05.340 of who we are in Christ 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:07.860 and see us through this week? 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:10.419 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:32:11.159 --> 00:32:11.479 Amen. 00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:15.199 Alright, I think if you'd stand with me now, 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:17.219 we have one more song.