Well, good morning.
Open up with me, if you would, to Colossians.
Colossians chapter 1.
If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 983.
I kind of wondered where we were going to go in kind of our next sermon series that we're working through.
And having worked through the book of Job this summer,
I'm going to move to the New Testament and kind of pick up the pace, as it were,
in terms of understanding the significance of thanks in prayer.
The significance of thanks in prayer.
Many of you have probably heard about the name D.L. Moody
and what God was able to accomplish through his life in ministry back in the 1800s.
But many of you may not be aware of kind of the humble beginnings of D.L. Moody
and how unexpected really his time of ministry really would have been,
considering where he came from.
D.L. Moody dropped out of school when he was 13 years old.
But he ended up being used by God to inspire students at Cambridge throughout his life in ministry.
D.L. Moody, when he got started, preferred to teach children.
He understood and appreciated the receptivity of their hearts.
And so his focus early on in his ministry was Sunday school ministry to children.
And yet God would use him then to speak to crowds of individuals,
numbering in the thousands, men and women, boys and girls.
And God would use this man in a mighty way.
He was a man who grew up in a farm in Massachusetts.
He came from very meager beginnings, a poverty-stricken family,
a mother who was devout to Jesus, a father who was an alcoholic.
His early life he was one who was given to money, had a love for money,
but the Lord kind of changed his perspective.
And while he was in Chicago wanting to make as much money as he could,
he would be this up-and-coming businessman,
God worked in his heart to change his life
and help him understand the significance of gospel ministry.
He was a man who was led to Christ at age 17 by a man by the name of Edward Kimball.
Kind of a guy in the middle of obscurity,
but used by the Lord through faithful ministry of this man.
Moody would build a foundation of evangelistic crusades
and thousands of people would come
and the newscasters and the media who would show up to these events
were just awestruck at the fact that
how do so many people assemble
when the person up front is speaking at a fourth-grade level?
The ministry of the Word of God that was working and moving through D.L. Moody
and his frailty, his humility, and his dependence on the Lord.
It was while D.L. Moody was in England
and he was there under the ministry of an individual named Henry Varley.
And in that message, Henry Varley would say,
the world has yet to see what God can do
through a man who has totally yielded to him.
And those words inspired D.L. Moody
and he wondered, can I be that man?
Can God use this meager man
to make much of himself in terms of ministry?
And by God's grace, I will be that man.
And so when he died in December of 1899,
thousands of people would come
not to celebrate the one who had fashioned an empire,
who had made lots of money,
but one who had devoted himself entirely to the Lord
and had been used by God in significant ways.
His life really is a clear testimony of what God can do
in the life of an individual, a man or a woman,
who commits themselves,
devotes themselves to faith and prayer,
to thanks and prayer.
And over the course of the next three months,
that's where we're going to go.
That's what we're going to focus on and concentrate on
as we come to the book of Colossians,
this little letter,
and thanks and prayer kind of permeate their way
through this little letter.
And it's my prayer that if God can do this
in the life of an individual,
what might God be able to do
in the life of a congregation,
a life of a people,
a life of a body of individuals
who have joined themselves to this objective.
And I trust, I'm praying,
I want to encourage you for the next three months
that in some way we devote ourselves
to understanding what a life of prayer and thanks looks like
and that we grow in some measure
in embracing these disciplines to ourselves.
I want to propose an experiment, as it were.
I want to see what God might do in my life,
what God might see,
what might do in our church,
what God might do in your community,
in your workplace, in students,
what God might do in your schools,
in your co-ops,
in your home school communities,
wherever you might be.
What might God be able to do
with the people that have devoted themselves
to thanks and prayer?
So for the next three months,
I want to encourage us to commit ourselves
to that in some way.
And as a way to go about that,
we've put together another study guide.
Okay, and I know that we've done this a lot,
but I want, I'm trusting, hoping, praying
that this would be an invitation for us
to participate together.
As you look through the New Testament,
you see that the churches that flourish,
that the churches that God uses mightily and powerfully
are the ones that have one heart,
one mind, one spirit.
And so this is a way for us to come together
in a united way,
to learn what God says,
and to embrace this for ourselves,
for to be part of the conversation of one another,
this fellowship for one another,
encouragement, challenging,
and embracing this together as a group.
So I want to encourage you,
I know that several of you are part of Bible studies,
I know that several of you are part of small groups,
I know that several of you have your own Bible reading plans,
and so this is an extra,
but I'm just inviting you to step in in a little way,
maybe step in all the way to embrace this together
so we can see what God might be able to do.
At the end of each of the week's lessons in the study guide,
I put together something called the family corner,
and here's a graphic of that family corner.
And all we're trying to do is have some simple questions
that kids of every age can answer
and invite them to think about the text in a way
that is familiar,
that's accessible for them,
so you can start this family conversation.
It's meant to be a conversation starter.
So even your entire family,
all the way down to your toddlers,
can be a part of this study together
as we're making our way through the scriptures.
And I want to also encourage,
I've put a key verse or two each week,
I want to encourage us as a church
to be memorizing God's word.
And there may be some of you
who might rise to the occasion
in memorizing the book.
Would some of you be willing to try to do that?
Memorize, and especially young people,
your minds are sharp,
memorizing the book of Colossians.
There are 95 verses,
and there's 110 days between now and Christmas
that we can do this.
So just a verse a day.
You can have some cheat days,
because there's some days extra
that you can do this.
And this is something I want to encourage us to do
as a fellowship.
Verse one.
Paul, an apostle,
and I'm going to say this,
and you're going to repeat it after me.
Okay?
So, Paul, an apostle.
Paul, an apostle.
By the will of Christ Jesus.
Excuse me.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus.
By the will of God.
So let's try that again.
We're learning it together.
That's okay.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus.
Okay?
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus.
By the will of God.
And Timothy, our brother.
Hey, look.
You got verse one.
It's there.
It's locked away.
You can coast the rest of the day
and pick it up tomorrow.
So here we go.
We can do this together.
And I believe this will be
a strategic exercise
for our fellowship.
I don't know about you,
but if there are two disciplines
that I struggle in the most,
it's the discipline of prayer
and making sure that it's consistent
and making sure that it's happening
faithfully, regularly, day by day.
And the discipline of thanksgiving.
I'm much more inclined
to look at the dark side of life
and say, ah!
It's terrible!
Ah!
Look at what's happening to me!
Oh!
It woes me!
It's so awful!
And the practice of thanksgiving
in helping to call attention
to the work of God
even in hard things.
Even when things don't go your way,
this is going to be good for us.
And I just want to encourage us
as a fellowship
for the next three months.
Can we do this together?
That's my prayer.
That's my goal.
And here's the promise.
The promise that's contained
in this passage this morning
is Paul will talk about
the word of truth,
the gospel that's come to them.
And listen to what happens
when the word of God comes.
It has come to you
and it's come to a whole world.
It is bearing fruit
and increasing
as it does among you
since the day you heard
and understood
the grace of God and truth.
God's word will
have its way.
God's word will
make a difference.
God's word will change us
if we surrender to it
and come to know it.
And God delights
in that work.
And I trust
that as we're doing this together
over the next three months,
we're going to see
the evidence
in our own lives,
in the spheres
in which we are,
and as a congregation,
how God can use
his word to change us.
Thanks and prayer.
All right.
Colossians chapter 1.
I think page 983,
if you're there,
in the Pew Bible.
I'm just going to read
the first couple of verses
as an introduction,
and we're going to see
here in just the outset
of this passage,
Paul will set forth
an example.
We're going to see
Paul's example
kind of shining through.
Just even in his
opening introduction,
what is Paul's example?
What is he calling
the people of this church to?
Notice he says,
an apostle
of Christ Jesus
by the will of God,
and Timothy,
our brother,
to the saints
and faithful brothers
in Christ
at Colossae,
grace to you
and peace
from God,
our Father.
Paul,
an apostle.
Paul was sent.
He was a sent one.
And Paul was sent
by the will of God,
and we see here
Paul's example
of being willing
to be sent by God
and willing to submit
himself to God's will.
His willingness
to hear what God says,
to listen to God's will,
to know what God
wants for his life,
to be sent out
to embrace the cost
and to do it willingly,
to submit himself
to God's will
instead of his own.
I know that Paul
is a familiar figure,
and so to kind of
do a little background
on the apostle Paul
may seem tedious
and maybe unnecessary,
but I think it's important
for us just to remember
who the apostle Paul is
before we even begin
this study.
Those of you
who remember
kind of going back
to the birth of the church
in Acts chapter 1,
here the church
gets started
because of the work
of God
through his word
in Jerusalem,
and thousands of people
come to faith in Christ.
And so from chapter 1
to chapter 7,
we kind of trace
this work of God
working in Jerusalem
to build the church
that's there.
And then there's
this figure named Saul,
and we come to find out
later that Saul
is synonymous
with Paul.
And now Saul
is instrumental
in chapter 8
of introducing
persecution
to the church.
And because of
Saul's work
of persecuting
the church
because of his love
for Judaism
and wanting to stamp
out Christianity,
God actually uses
the apostle Paul
to make the church
spread to the
uttermost parts
of the world.
It's called
the dispersion.
God uses him
instrumentally
in this seemingly
negative way
to get the word
of God
to now spread out
from Jerusalem
into the known world.
God will come
and do a work
in Paul's heart
in chapter 9,
that road to
Damascus experience
where God will
come and will
communicate
to the apostle Paul
and will lead him
to faith in Christ.
And then from
chapter 9
to the end of the book
we're going to see
the explosion
of this church
that's happening
through the life
and ministry
of the apostle Paul.
Really in many ways
the apostle Paul
is an all star.
He's a superstar
when it comes
to this missionary work.
And we see
his missionary work
that's happening
throughout the book
of Acts
but just calling
attention to
what happens
at the beginning
of his second
missionary journey.
You remember
that he has
kind of tried
to go into
Asia
and I'll show you
this map,
okay?
Actually the very
beginning of Paul's
journey,
he goes to
a little place
called Lystra.
That's kind of
in a circle
at the bottom
of the map.
That happens
to be the hometown
of Timothy.
He picks up
Timothy there
because of the
ministry of
his mother
and grandmother
and the confirmation
of the church
that was there.
He picks up
Timothy
and Timothy
now becomes
part of his
missionary team.
So the apostle Paul
wants to go
into the next
logical spot.
He wants to go
into this region
of Asia.
But remember
what happens
when he tries
to go to Asia?
The Holy Spirit
closes the door.
So he's like,
well, fine,
let's go to
Bithynia.
That's kind of
the next logical
place.
And God,
again,
closes the door
so he can't
go to Bithynia.
Instead he goes
to a place
called Macedonia.
And there he is
in Thessalonica.
That's kind of
the second town
in Macedonia
that he goes to.
And God's work
is so mighty
in Thessalonica
that the Jews
who are there
we find in Acts
chapter 17,
6.
It says,
these men,
speaking of
the apostle Paul
and his missionary
team,
have turned
the world
upside down
and have come
here also.
God's mighty
work through
this man
and his team.
So he gets
kind of kicked
out of Thessalonica.
He ends up
making his way
to Ephesus
and his third
missionary journey
and we find this
in Acts chapter 19
verses 9 and 10
speaking again
of Paul's ministry
now in Ephesus.
But when some
became stubborn
and continued
in unbelief,
let me just pause
there for a moment.
The apostle Paul
would traditionally
go into the synagogue
and here in Ephesus
he would teach
in the synagogue
for three months
and the Judaizers
who were there
were not happy.
So they kind of
pushed him out
of the synagogue.
And speaking evil
of the way
before the congregation
he withdrew himself
from them
and took the disciples
with him
reasoning daily
in the hall
of Tyrannus.
This continued
for two years
so that all
the residents
of Asia
heard the word
of the Lord.
Both Jews
and Gentiles.
Now,
do you remember
what happened
on his second
missionary journey?
How he wanted
to go to Asia?
He wanted to go
to Bithynia
and God said no?
And yet the apostle
Paul because
of his heart
to listen
to God's will
and to follow
God's direction
Paul said okay.
Then where is it Lord?
And he ends up
here in Ephesus
and God says
my plan is better
and so what's
going to happen
Paul
is this is going
to be kind of
the seminary
of Ephesus
and I'm going
to allow a number
of individuals
all across Asia
to come here
to this school
and I'm going
to send them
out across
all of Asia
and Colossae
happens to be
one of the beneficiaries
of the ministry
of Paul
to Epaphras
who would then
take that word
of the gospel
to his hometown
to Colossae
and God would
build this church
there in Colossae.
Paul refers
to himself
as an apostle.
An apostle
is a sent one.
It's one
who has been
designated
with this special
role
of sharing
the truth.
sharing the truth
of the gospel
with others.
Of course
Paul wasn't part
of the original 12.
He wasn't even
one of the replacements
there in Acts chapter 1
when Judas
needed to be replaced
but the apostle Paul
he calls himself
kind of an apostle
in kind of a distant time.
He refers to
the ministry
that God has
in his life
to reveal
his truth to him.
We find that
in Galatians chapter 1.
where Paul says
for I would have you
Galatians 1
sorry
verse 11
let's start there
for I would have you
know brothers
that the gospel
that was preached
by me
was not man's gospel
for I did not
receive it from man
nor was I taught it
but I received it
through
through a revelation
of Jesus Christ.
So while the apostle Paul
didn't
wasn't a part
of Christ's
early
earthly ministry
there was this
ministry
that God
has
to Paul
sometime later
where God
is revealing
truth
to the apostle Paul
and setting him
apart for this
separate and special
work.
It picks up in verse 15
which is the next slide
but when he
speaking of
God
who set me apart
before I was born
and called me
by his grace
was pleased to reveal
his son in me
in order that I might
preach him among
the Gentiles
I did not
immediately consult
with anyone
nor did I go up
to Jerusalem
to those who
were apostles
before me
but I went away
into Arabia
and returned again
to Damascus
then after three years
I went up
to Jerusalem
to visit Cephas
and remained
with him
15 days.
So there's this
off and on
ministry of God
in revealing truth
to the apostle Paul
in this three year
window of time.
He was set apart.
God had separated
him for a
specific task
an apostleship
to the Gentiles
as it were
and the apostle Paul
was receptive
to God's will
in his life
and Paul will
present himself
as an apostle
and I think
there's several reasons
and I'm just going
to give you a couple.
First,
I think the apostle Paul
in expressing himself
as an apostle
to this group
of individuals
wants to help
establish his
relationship
to this church
of Colossae.
Now we're going
to find this out
once we get to
chapter 2
but the apostle Paul
had never been
to Colossae.
He hadn't preached
the gospel to there
he hadn't planted
this church
and yet here he is
this rich
and deep relationship
this affection
that he seems
to have
for these people
that he's never met
and it's only because
of the connection
they have
with Jesus Christ.
He's an apostle
of Christ Jesus
and here is
a church
and this church
is a church
that is receiving
this ministry
of the word
and they have
also been brought
into community
with Paul
and of course
in community
with God
through faith
in Christ.
So Paul wants
to help establish
this connection
with this group
of believers
and second
he wants to establish
his authority
with them
that he is one
who has been
set apart
by God
to reveal truth
and to help
speak into
their situation.
Third
it helps to affirm
the legitimacy
of their fellowship.
Now here we are
at the very beginnings
of this church
movement
that's taking place
and as we know
what's taking place
in Jerusalem
and then in other places
is the apostles
are the ones
who are kind of
primarily responsible
for establishing
these churches
and yet Colossae
now happens
to be a primary
example of a church
that's been planted
apart from
apostolic authority
apostolic presence
and the apostle Paul
wants to provide
legitimacy
to this group
of believers
not because
of how it was
established
by apostolic authority
but it was established
by the ministry
of the word
and so subsequently
generation
after generation
we're beneficiaries
of the word
and the ministry
of that word
to us
and we're connected
in that way
as well
to the apostle Paul.
Paul was
he was an apostle
by the will of God.
Knowledge of God's will
is going to be
a huge
a huge thrust
a huge theme
through the first
couple of chapters
because
this is a church
that wanted to identify
wanted to have
that secret knowledge
that hidden knowledge
and Paul's like
hey
you don't have to
it doesn't have to
be a secret anymore
because God
has delivered it to you
it's open
he wants his will
to be clear to you
and in verse 9
we're going to get there
next week
Paul will say
we have not ceased
to pray for you
asking that you may be
filled with the knowledge
of his will
God wants his will
to be clear
to be accessible
to be known
and so Paul
becomes an example
an example
of one
who has received
the word
one who has
submitted to the word
and now he's coming
to present
that word again
to this church
but Paul is also
an example
of serving with others
and I just want to
touch on this briefly
Paul was not
a lone ranger
Paul was not
this pioneer
that did things
alone
he wasn't the kind
of guy who thought
well I'm going to
get this taken care of
because look at me
look how great I am
no the apostle Paul
understood the significance
of serving with a team
he recognized
that it wasn't
wasn't inherent
the strength
of ministry
wasn't inherent
to himself
it was a strength
that came
as he would
commit himself
to the Lord
and God would
work through
this team
notice Paul says
in verse 1
an apostle of Christ
Jesus by the will
of God
and Timothy
our brother
Timothy is this
special individual
we were acquainted
with him last fall
we worked through
1 Timothy
the letter
and Timothy
as we saw
was the kind
of guy
who had this
ability
to endear
himself to others
Paul would send
him into the
hardest situations
it seemed
and he was a
consensus builder
but also one
who knew the truth
of the gospel
and was happy
to share it
with those
he served
in Philippians
chapter 2
verse 19
to 22
we kind of get
this resume
as it were
as Paul
is commending
his disciple
his son
in the faith
Timothy
he says
I trust
in the Lord
Jesus
to send
Timothy
to you shortly
that I also
may be encouraged
when I know
your state
for I have
no one
like minded
who will
sincerely care
for your state
for all
seek their own
not the things
which are of
Christ Jesus
but you know
his proven
character
that as a son
with his father
he has served
with me
in the gospel
this gigantic
applause
of the apostle
Paul
in affirming
and confirming
this young
son
in the faith
Timothy
and likely
the apostle
Paul does this
because he knows
that eventually
there he is
in Rome
and he's
imprisoned
there in Rome
that likely
he's going to have
to turn the ministry
over
maybe to Timothy
or that perhaps
Timothy
will represent
Paul
and help
to lead this church
at some point
down the road
as he's making
his way
back home
to Lystra
there's no
details given
to us
why the apostle
Paul includes
Timothy
but it's clear
that the apostle
Paul wants
the church
to be acquainted
with Timothy
given the fact
that there may be
some relationship
in the future
the apostle
Paul was not
a one man
team
the apostle
Paul understood
the significance
of working
with others
he set the example
of God
working in
and through
others
to be a conduit
of this message
of the gospel
to the world
and then
we find that
he refers to them
as saints
he sets the example
by referring to them
as saints
and you might say
why is that
so important
in verse 2
to the saints
and faithful brothers
in Christ
at Colossae
grace to you
and peace
from God
our father
he addresses
this church
and I believe
he does this
strategically
so he can
call attention
not to something
that is inherent
to them
but is something
that God has done
for them
because as
we continue
in this
little letter
we're going to see
this was a church
that was dysfunctional
as you could believe
it was a church
that was messed up
in so many
different ways
and yet
the apostle Paul
calls them saints
and faithful brothers
to call attention
to the work of God
in their life
not a work
of their own
the word saint
may conjure up
a number of different ideas
the Catholic church
for example
has something called
sainthood
and just recently
just about a year ago
in the previous July
there's a young man
by the name of
Carlo Acutis
who is a teenager
teenage computer whiz
who was kind of
the first millennial
to be sainted
to be canonized
and there is
this process
of canonization
that will take place
in the Catholic church
to call attention
to the unique holiness
of an individual
the first part
of that process
is to recognize them
as a servant of God
and there's
a local bishop
five years after
this individual's death
will investigate
their life
and will document
the different aspects
of their life
that were unique
and he'll report them
to the next person
down the road
the next part of the phase
is venerable
this is where an individual
is found to have lived
a life of heroic
Christian virtue
then you get to the
stage of being blessed
and a miracle
is attributed
to this person's prayer
it must be verified
by the church
and then finally
they're going to be canonized
and a second miracle
must be confirmed
after which the Pope
will formally declare
this person
a saint
well this is not
the sainthood
that Paul has in mind
the sainthood
that Paul is referring to
does not owe
their status
to personal
holiness
and performance
but it looks
to Jesus Christ
as the only one
who can ever merit
the kind
of standard
that God
would desire
it's not about
personal achievement
it's about the work
of God
and what Christ
has accomplished
through his perfection
he calls them saints
and faithful brothers
to draw attention
to what Christ
has accomplished
for them
in spite
of them
it's important
for a group
of believers
who were brought
up thinking
that they had
something to achieve
and maybe you've
come from that
that Christian
background
that you have
come to think
that you owe
God something
that there's
something for you
to do
in order for God
to recognize you
and to show
kindness to you
but the apostle Paul
sets the example
by helping us
understand
there's nothing
that we bring
to the table
except a heart
that is willing
to receive forgiveness
a heart
and life
that's willing
to embrace
the righteousness
of Christ
so once Paul
sets the example
now we find
in verse 3 to 8
we find his
thanks in prayer
Paul's thanks
in prayer
and I think
this is an example
too
he becomes a model
to this church
right at the very
beginning
of what's really
important
in verse 3
he says
we always
thank God
for you
excuse me
we always
thank God
the father
of our Lord
Jesus Christ
when we pray
for you
notice that
Paul's thanks
is to God
thanks in prayer
are essential
but it's important
to remember
and the apostle Paul
understood the significance
of thanks being
to God
and this was something
that was true
of the apostle Paul's life
we see this
in almost every letter
the apostle Paul wrote
Romans 1
8 to 10
first
he says
I thank my God
through Jesus Christ
for all of you
because your faith
is proclaimed
in all the world
for God
is my witness
whom I serve
with my spirit
in the gospel
of his son
that without ceasing
I mention you
always in my prayers
asking that somehow
by God's will
I may now
at last succeed
in coming to you
and then to the church
of Corinth
in 1 Corinthians 1
4
he says
I give thanks
to my God
always for you
because of the grace
of God
that was given
you in Christ Jesus
in Ephesians
1 15 and 16
he says
for this reason
because I've heard
of your faith
in the Lord
and your love
for all the saints
I do not cease
to give thanks
for you
remembering you
in my prayers
to the church
of Philippi
in Philippians 1
3 and 4
I thank my God
in all my remembrance
of you
always in every prayer
of mine
for you all
making my prayer
with joy
then in 1 Thessalonians
1 2 to 3
we give thanks
to God
always for all
of you
constantly mentioning
you in our prayers
remembering before
our God
and Father
your work
of faith
and labor
of love
and steadfastness
of hope
in our Lord
Jesus Christ
this I believe
is the secret
one of the secrets
to the Apostle Paul's
fruitfulness
in ministry
he was a man
who understood
that if God's work
was involved
that God's work
would prevail
so he submitted himself
to pleading
for God
to do the work
that only God
can do
in the lives
of those
that Paul shared
the gospel with
and he's thankful
for this church
he's thankful
for this church
in spite
of their deficiencies
he's thankful
for this church
in spite
of their theological
shortcomings
and they're significant
matter of fact
as we work
through this
the heresy
that was kind of
making its way
through Colossae
and through Asia
and through this church
was kind of like
a foundational
salvific
kind
of problem
where
we're kind of
cut across
the grain
of saving faith
and yet Paul
was still thankful
for them
they were dependent
on human tradition
this church
was bound up
in legalism
this church
appealed
to mysticism
and worship
of angels
they also seem
to have a problem
with purity
we're going to find
in chapter 3
Paul says
put to death
sexual immorality
impurity
passion
evil desire
anger
wrath
malice
slander
obscene talk
and lying
what kind of church
is this
is it possible
to be thankful
for a church
like this
and Paul says
yes
it's
it was not
a model church
but Paul is able
to be thankful
because he's thankful
to God
that's the key
he's thankful
to God
you see
the apostle Paul
knew
that what was
happening
in Colossae
was not
Epaphras' work
it was not
Paul's work
it was God's work
and so as God
was working
in the hearts
and lives
of these individuals
the apostle Paul
could thank God
for that work
and he could
entrust the matter
to God
to know that
when God
begins a work
that God will also
complete the work
so he could be thankful
for this church
to God
in spite of all
the deficiencies
because he knew
that God was going
to continue
to carry it through
but notice
he's also thankful
for the word of God
he's thankful
for the word of God
we see that
in verses 4 to 6
notice
since we heard
of your faith
in Christ
in the love
that you have
for all the saints
because of the hope
that is laid up
for you in heaven
of this you have
heard before
in the word
of truth
the gospel
which has come
to you
and is increasing
in the whole world
it's bearing fruit
in increasing
as also does
among you
since the day
you heard
and understood
the grace
of God
in truth
did you catch that
the apostle Paul
it's easy to see
that at the very
beginnings of this
we would tend
to run to
well Paul
is celebrating
this work of faith
he's celebrating
this love
for the saints
he's celebrating
this hope
for heaven
and we would say
well look what God
is doing in this church
and that is true
we need to understand
though
that God is doing
this work
through his word
that he doesn't
credit
that Paul doesn't
credit
the people
so much
as accrediting
the power
of the word of God
to bear fruit
and increase
as it always does
faith is anchored
in Christ
they do have love
that pursues
the saints
they do have hope
that looks forward
to heaven
these qualities
are true
but the apostle Paul
wants to draw attention
to the progress
of the word
the power
of that word
to do
the work
that's intended
to do
you've heard
this before
and Paul
draws attention
to the significance
of hearing
notice that in verse 4
Paul is thankful
that they heard
that he heard
of their faith
in Christ
in verse 5
this church
had faith
love
and hope
because they
heard the word
of the truth
of the gospel
in verse 7
they learned it
it was made known
they heard it
from Epaphras
in verse 8
the apostle Paul
draws attention
to hearing
of the church's
love
for him
in the spirit
all of these
significant things
that the apostle Paul
is hearing
because it's a
it's a work
that happens
through the
ministry of the word
of God
maybe you've heard
the famous quote
of Francis Assisi
it's accredited him
he says
preach the gospel
at all times
and when necessary
use words
have you heard that before
meaning
let your actions
speak for themselves
the apostle Paul
would say
that's not enough
the ministry
of the word
is not only
important
it's essential
the ministry
of the word
is vital
it's only
through the ministry
of the word
can God
ever change
a life
Romans 10 17
the apostle Paul
will say
so then faith
comes by
hearing
and hearing
by the word
of God
so this
this church
was changed
yes
but it was changed
by the ministry
of the word of God
and that's what
the word of God
does
that's what it
will always do
to a life
that has submitted
itself
and yielded itself
to the work
of the word
in their life
Peter will say
in 1 Peter
1 23
having been born again
not of corruptible seed
but incorruptible
through the word of God
which lives
and abides forever
for all flesh
is like grass
in all its glory
like the flower
of grass
the grass
grass withers
the flower
falls
but the word
of the Lord
remains forever
and this word
is the good news
that was preached
to you
it's the word
of God
that will change
it's the word
of God
that will
help to
provide this
regenerative
work in our life
to draw us
to spiritual
life
in him
the gospel
is dynamic
and this church
is a beneficiary
of that ministry
of the word of God
just like the rest
of the world
has been
and I love how
Paul puts it
to Timothy
in 2 Timothy
chapter 2
verses 8 and 9
when he says this
remember
Jesus Christ
risen from the dead
the offspring of David
as preached
in my gospel
for which I am suffering
bound
with chains
as a criminal
but the word
of God
is not
bound
what an encouragement
the apostle Paul
is stuck in prison
he's chained
to the walls
or in prison
somehow
he is unable
to get out
he's unable
to spread
the message
of the gospel
but that doesn't matter
because the word
of God
is unleashed
the word of God
can't be hindered
the word of God
will have its way
and our confidence
in the word of God
is what will
allow us
to enjoy
the benefits
of that work
in our lives
in that work
in our families
in the work
wherever we are
God does his work
through his word
and finally
we find Paul's
thanks for the spirit
his thanks for the spirit
verses 7 and 8
says
just as you learned
it from Epaphras
our beloved fellow servant
he is a faithful
minister of Christ
on your behalf
and has made
known to us
your love
in the spirit
Paul is rejoicing
to God
because he sees
the evidence
of the spirit's work
in the lives
of these individuals
by the way
it's a work
that only the spirit
can produce
the fruit of the spirit
is love
joy
peace
it's a work
of God
in our life
and as the apostle
beloved apostle
John will say
in his letter
in 1st John
chapter 4
7 and 12
he'll talk about
the significance
of love
in confirming
and establishing
us
as a people
of God
beloved
let us love
one another
for love
is from God
and whoever
loves
has been born
of God
and knows God
anyone who does
not love
does not know God
because God is love
and in this
the love of God
was made manifest
among us
that God sent
his only son
into the world
so that we might
live through him
and this is love
not that we
have loved God
but that he
loved us
and sent his son
to be the propitiation
for our sins
beloved
if God
so loved us
we ought also
to love
one another
no one
has ever
seen God
if we love
one another
God abides
in us
and his love
is perfected
in us
this love
in the spirit
this spirit
empowered
love
of this church
is showing up
and the apostle
Paul is celebrating
that work
in their life
because he knows
that God
is the one
who's done it
I want to pray
for us
I want to close
in just a song
and a challenge
and then I'll dismiss you
Lord
thank you for
Paul's example
today
Paul's example
of knowing
your will
and surrendering
to it
and his desire
to lead
with thanks
and praise
and prayer
God I pray
that we would
learn from
his example
and that we
would use
this little
letter
to the
Colossian church
to challenge
us to be
those kinds
of people
so that we
can also
enjoy the
benefits
the benefits
of the ministry
of your word
to us
and that
message
of your word
that is
shared
with the people
around us
God I pray
that you would
do your work
that we would
be humble
humble servants
of yours
bowing before
your will
seeking to
to know
your will
for us
and following
after it
in Jesus name
amen
would you sing
together
praise the
father
praise the
father
praise
the
son
praise
the
spirit
one
God
of glory
majesty
praise
forever
to the
king
of
king
!
I encourage you
just to
close your
eyes right
now
and just
have a
time between
you and the
Lord
so go ahead
close your
eyes
I just want
you to consider
these words
praise the
father
praise the
son
praise the
spirit
three in
one
what does
that mean
how does
that show
up
obviously
it shows
up as we
praise the
Lord together
in song
but it's not
meant to be
contained here
it's not meant
to stay here
it's meant to be
part of the
everyday process
of life
as you're
praising God
with all
that you are
apparently the
average person
spends about
two and a half
hours a day
on social
media
and the
average adult
watches about
three hours
of TV a
day
the average
daily gaming
time is
one to two
hours per
day and
that's probably
really conservative
you add that
up that's about
six and a half
hours a day
now I know
that not all
of you it's
not reflective
of everyone in
this room
but I wonder
if we were
willing to give
up an hour
of that time
each day
we think we
need to veg
out
just recharge
I wonder if
we can find
real refreshment
real peace
with God
in his word
and that's what
I'm going to
encourage us
for the next
three months
for the next
three months
each day
that you're
going to say
God I give
you
I give you
a portion
a very
meager portion
an hour a
day Lord
and I'm
going to
tune my
heart
to your
word
and I
trust that
you will
work with
us
through
Colossians
as we
seek to
cultivate
together
this heart
of thanks
and prayer
and watch
what God
might do
oh Lord
I pray
that your
spirit
and your
word
and your
presence
would be
clear to
us
God I
pray that
you'd
help us
to press
in
forgive
us
God
for the
deficiencies
of our
own lives
the
inconsistencies
and Lord
I pray
for myself
in the next
three months
Lord help
me
help me
to
understand
the
significance
and the
privilege
of spending
time with
you
and the
power that
comes
through
prayer
and through
thanks
and I
pray
that you
would bless
me
and bless
this
fellowship
with seeing
the mighty
work of
God
among us
in Jesus
name
amen
God bless
you
trust you
have a great
week
go in
peace