WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.760 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:19.600 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.879 Well, good morning, Ontario Community Church. 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:26.000 It is great to be with you this morning as we have 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.760 just had communion together. 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:33.160 What a great reminder of who Jesus was, 00:00:33.160 --> 00:00:36.960 who He is, and who He will forever be. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:41.160 That Jesus Christ is everlasting to everlasting. 00:00:41.160 --> 00:00:45.560 He is our constant, and He does not change. 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:49.359 Today, we are continuing our sermon series 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:51.359 in the Book of Colossians. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:53.960 We've been doing an expository sermon series 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:56.359 which takes us through verse by verse, 00:00:56.359 --> 00:00:59.560 line by line of God's Word, 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:02.560 because we know that the Word of God is living, 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:06.159 and it is active, and it is so important for us 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:09.159 significant in our life. 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:12.159 We have learned how the church at Colossi, 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:16.159 this small church that the Apostle Paul never visited, 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:18.960 it was a church that was faithful to God, 00:01:18.960 --> 00:01:22.159 and exhibited the love of Christ to others. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.760 And this last week, we went further into the attributes, 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:29.760 the qualities, and the significance of Christ. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:32.359 You know, in being a Christian, 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:35.560 we go from life before Christ, 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:37.960 and we come to know the Lord, right? 00:01:37.960 --> 00:01:41.359 Or eventually, we make a decision for Christ 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:43.960 to receive that gift of salvation, 00:01:43.960 --> 00:01:47.160 to accept Jesus Christ into our heart. 00:01:47.160 --> 00:01:51.960 And in believing Christ, we are transformed by Him. 00:01:51.960 --> 00:01:55.360 This moves us to live a life in Christ, 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:57.560 to live for Him. 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:01.159 And this leads us to today, it sets up the scene 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:04.159 where we are going over the mystery 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:07.159 and the majesty of Christ. 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:09.759 Today, we're going over this mystery 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:12.759 that was revealed about Jesus Christ, 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:16.560 who is the hope of glory. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:18.960 Christ dwells within us, 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.360 and what was now hidden in the Scriptures 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:24.759 has been revealed. 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:28.759 It is now available for all who believe. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:32.359 And what I speak of is salvation. 00:02:32.359 --> 00:02:37.560 We will also talk about what it means to rejoice in suffering. 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:41.159 That's always a difficult one, but it's very important. 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:43.959 But before we go any further, what I'd like to do, 00:02:43.959 --> 00:02:46.560 I would like for us to pray together, 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:49.759 and let us ask God to be present with us, 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:53.959 to reveal truth to us, and to comfort us. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.560 Sometimes the truth can be painful, 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.360 but God is always there with us. 00:02:58.360 --> 00:02:59.960 Will you pray with me? 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:01.960 Let's pray together. 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:06.560 Gracious Father, we thank you for this opportunity 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:09.560 of bringing us all here together today. 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:13.560 We've sung praises of songs that have... 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:17.960 They may be old, but they're not insignificant. 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:19.960 They are important. 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:22.159 It is a great time for us to come together, 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:24.359 and we sing praises to your holy name, 00:03:24.359 --> 00:03:26.960 to partake of the bread in the cup, 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:30.359 and to hear from the Word of God. 00:03:30.359 --> 00:03:33.560 The name of Jesus Christ is the name 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:35.159 that is above all names, and Father, 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:37.359 may we take that to heart. 00:03:37.359 --> 00:03:39.759 We ask that you send down your Holy Spirit 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:43.960 to dwell with us as we go deeper into the Word of God. 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:46.560 Help us to understand what it means to rejoice 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:51.759 in times of trials and in times of tribulation and suffering. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:54.959 Help us to understand this mystery, 00:03:54.959 --> 00:03:59.959 how this mystery is revealed and available for all who believe. 00:03:59.959 --> 00:04:03.359 Teach us what it means to have Christ in us, 00:04:03.359 --> 00:04:08.959 and why Christ is so important for this world. 00:04:08.959 --> 00:04:11.359 We pray that there will be nothing 00:04:11.359 --> 00:04:14.560 that will hold us back from learning more about you, 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:18.360 coming to believe in you, growing in you. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:20.360 We pray that there's nothing that holds us back 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:21.960 from learning more about you, 00:04:21.960 --> 00:04:24.759 and that it will be good in your precious name. 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:28.560 We ask all of these things in your Son, 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:32.960 Jesus the Christ, the majestic King of all. 00:04:32.960 --> 00:04:34.160 Amen. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:36.759 And last week we were learning more deeply 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:38.759 about the attributes of Christ. 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:41.860 We were learning about the preeminence of Christ, 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:45.759 which means that Christ is in all things. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.660 He is before all things and reigns supreme above all things. 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:51.560 And so now we're going to a section 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:55.560 where we're learning about the mystery of Christ being revealed. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:57.760 And we will go further in this message 00:04:57.760 --> 00:05:00.560 about the idea of rejoicing in suffering. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:03.260 I'd like to turn to verse 24. 00:05:03.260 --> 00:05:05.760 You can follow along on your screen 00:05:05.760 --> 00:05:08.360 or you can follow along in your Bible. 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:12.760 It's Colossians chapter 1 verse 24 that we're starting at. 00:05:12.760 --> 00:05:15.760 And it says in the Scriptures, 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:21.959 I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:26.560 and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:31.159 in Christ's affliction for the sake of His body, 00:05:31.159 --> 00:05:32.560 that is the church. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:36.459 And the main idea in this verse is rejoicing in suffering. 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:39.959 We start off with this very unique passage. 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:44.159 The Apostle Paul mentions that he is rejoicing in his sufferings 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.560 for the sake of the Colossians. 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:49.360 And it is interesting when we read that 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:52.160 because typically, look, when we suffer, 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:54.660 we're going through a hard time or anything. 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:56.760 Do we rejoice? 00:05:56.760 --> 00:05:58.060 I know it's hard for us too 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:00.860 and I don't think that we typically do. 00:06:00.860 --> 00:06:03.260 During the time of the letter to the Colossians, 00:06:03.260 --> 00:06:06.460 the Apostle Paul was in prison. 00:06:06.460 --> 00:06:08.760 And even though he was in prison, 00:06:08.760 --> 00:06:12.160 he was still doing the work of ministry. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:16.560 He was dedicated to the cause of Christ. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:19.960 I cannot imagine being in prison, 00:06:19.960 --> 00:06:23.060 being away from my friends or my family, 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:25.260 and still being joyful. 00:06:25.260 --> 00:06:29.460 There must be a power that comes from somewhere else. 00:06:29.460 --> 00:06:32.060 The joy that the Apostle Paul is speaking of 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:38.860 is the inexpressible joy that occurs when we know the Lord. 00:06:38.860 --> 00:06:42.259 When we receive salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:46.160 we also receive power from him. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:50.160 We receive the peace that surpasses all understanding 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:55.160 and the joy that is inexpressible and inexhaustible. 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:58.259 This all comes from the pouring of God's love 00:06:58.259 --> 00:06:59.360 through the Holy Spirit, 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:03.060 just like what's mentioned in Romans 5.5. 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:06.360 When we understand the power of Jesus Christ, 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:10.060 the power of his death, his burial and resurrection, 00:07:10.060 --> 00:07:13.160 we should get to a place where we realize 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:15.960 that no matter what happens in our life, 00:07:15.960 --> 00:07:20.160 the good, the bad, and the ugly, 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:22.360 we still have our confidence, 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:26.360 our peace, and our joy in Christ. 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:29.360 When we consider our journey in knowing the Lord, 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.460 there is transformation that exists 00:07:32.460 --> 00:07:35.860 from the beginning of our new life in Christ. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:38.860 I've mentioned it before that the ability to discern 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:42.759 from good and evil, right from wrong, truth from lies, 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:44.259 is one of the many benefits. 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:46.160 It's one of the things that happens 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.160 as you are a believer in Christ, 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:50.460 as you grow in Christ. 00:07:50.460 --> 00:07:53.259 We must consider that the ability to trust in God, 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:57.960 to rely on him, and receive strength and power, 00:07:57.960 --> 00:08:00.660 all of it comes from him. 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:02.160 Just like the famous song, 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:07.160 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:09.560 In other words, it is the confidence in knowing 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.560 that no matter what happens in our life, 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:15.060 God will give us the necessary tools, 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:17.160 and he will always be there for us 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:20.860 no matter what is happening in our life. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.960 When we face trials, 00:08:22.960 --> 00:08:25.360 when we're through the valley of the shadow of death, 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:28.160 just like it says in Scripture, 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:32.660 do you fear evil when you are going through a hard time? 00:08:32.660 --> 00:08:39.160 Who do you turn to in times of crisis? 00:08:39.160 --> 00:08:41.860 There is strength that comes from Christ. 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:44.160 It is the indwelling of Christ within us, 00:08:44.160 --> 00:08:48.560 just as mentioned in Ephesians chapter 3, verse 17. 00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:52.860 And we'll go further into what this indwelling means. 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:54.660 So Paul is saying that he is filling up 00:08:54.660 --> 00:08:57.660 with what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ 00:08:57.659 --> 00:09:00.559 for the sake of the body of the church. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:02.860 We now go to verse 25, 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:03.860 which says, 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:05.259 Of which I became a minister 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:07.459 according to the stewardship from God 00:09:07.459 --> 00:09:09.360 that was given to me for you 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.159 to make the Word of God fully known. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:17.259 The idea here is a minister to make God's Word known. 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:20.759 It speaks about how Paul became a minister 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:23.159 according to the stewardship of God. 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:26.659 This stewardship is but a gift that comes from God's grace. 00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:30.659 The apostle Paul was called by God to become an apostle 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:32.860 and to do the work of ministry 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.259 because of divine intervention, right? 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:37.559 The road to Damascus, right? 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:39.959 Divine intervention. 00:09:39.959 --> 00:09:43.159 It can be noted that there are many times in our lives 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:45.959 where God will divinely intervene, 00:09:45.959 --> 00:09:47.459 where we can come to know him 00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:51.360 or come to fulfill God's purpose. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:55.659 Have you ever experienced God intervening in your life? 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:57.759 We don't like it, right? 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.059 Sometimes we do, 00:09:59.059 --> 00:10:00.659 but most of the times it's... 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:03.759 Sometimes there's a stranger that speaks to you 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:06.959 and somehow is speaking to you in a way that did... 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:11.559 You were saying something of a question that I had a while ago 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:13.860 and it's being answered or... 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:19.360 I'm hearing a message from a podcast or something. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:21.360 God has His way 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.159 and He can speak through to you through other people, 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.659 through situations and circumstances. 00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:30.659 The extent of divine intervention will differ from person to person. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:34.159 God had a plan for Paul to no longer persecute Christians 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:38.259 but to turn his life around where he would serve the Lord gladly. 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:40.360 And this is all because of the stewardship. 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:43.860 It is the specific gifting that comes from the Lord. 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:48.659 It is also a reminder that God calls every single one of us to come to know him. 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:52.759 We may not have such a drastic divine intervention, 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:55.360 but some of us will where God intervenes 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:58.360 and wants us to turn our life around 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:02.659 and go to him or fulfill his plan for us. 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:03.659 As we become... 00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:05.460 As we come to believe in the Lord, 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:09.759 there is much potential that lies within us to use for the glory of God. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.659 Do you use your time, your talent and your treasure for the glory of God? 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:16.759 Knowing that God gives you everything, 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:19.059 do you even give but a little bit back to him? 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:20.860 That's a question to think about. 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:24.560 It's a very difficult one. 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:27.159 And I want you to think for a moment how the Apostle Paul, 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:29.960 he was a man who was against Christianity. 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:33.960 How God changed his life. 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:39.360 The scripture mentions how God gave apostles, evangelists, shepherds 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.960 to equip the saints for the work of ministry. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:46.659 Just as God divinely intervened with the Apostle Paul, 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:50.159 so too can God intervene in our lives. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.759 Just as how God called the Apostle Paul, 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:57.360 so too does God call each and every one of us to come to know him. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:01.459 God has a plan and a purpose for all of us. 00:12:01.459 --> 00:12:07.059 It is the question of whether or not you're going to choose to follow in the footsteps of Christ 00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:11.759 and see to it that you find out what is God's divine plan for you? 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:15.259 Have you asked yourself that question before? 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:21.559 The Apostle Paul became a minister to make the word of God fully known. 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:26.960 The path of a minister is to preach and teach the word of God, right? 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:30.159 Making that word of God fully known. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:34.659 And when we consider those who minister or those who are in ministry, 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:37.759 let us not forget the chief aim. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:41.659 It is to make the word of God fully known. 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:44.960 And all of this reminds me of the Great Commission 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:52.560 where Christ tells his disciples to go out into the world and tell the good news of Christ. 00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:54.259 Think about that. 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:58.259 Let us now go to verse 26 here where it says, 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:04.360 The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:07.960 It's the mystery of Christ now being revealed. 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:10.160 This verse speaks about the mystery of Christ, 00:13:10.160 --> 00:13:14.160 something that was hidden by God until the appropriate time 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:17.360 so that prophecy could be fulfilled. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.759 When we're considering prophecy, it's the promises of God. 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:28.459 When God's saying this is going to happen, it is going to happen, right? 00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:32.659 God saw to it that in his divine planning and timing, 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:36.860 certain things needed to be hidden until the appointed time. 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:41.860 And for those of you who are doing the God at center study, 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:45.960 you'll remember the difference between Kairos and Kronos. 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:51.460 Kairos being the appointed time, God's divine time, and Kronos, right? 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:53.860 Like a clock when it's ticking, right? 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:55.659 Those are two types of time. 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:59.659 Isn't it interesting how our English language doesn't have certain words 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:01.860 but it exists in others? 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:04.259 It's just like the word love, right? 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:09.960 Now, I love animals, but the type of love that I have for animals 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:13.060 is not the same kind of love that I have for my children. 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:16.060 It's not the same kind of love that I have for my wife. 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:22.060 If it is the same, then you really need to reevaluate the type of love that you have, right? 00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:25.660 Now, in all of that, it's still the word love though. 00:14:25.660 --> 00:14:29.759 And there's different types of love, much like there's different types of time. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:33.759 And when we're thinking about the mystery of Christ being revealed, 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:42.659 it was God's planning for the appointed time for Christ to be revealed. 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:48.259 It has even been stated that the rulers, and it's in 1 Corinthians, 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:52.259 chapter 2, verses 7 through 10, it's even been said in Scripture 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:58.659 that if anyone knew what was going to happen, Christ wouldn't have been crucified. 00:14:58.659 --> 00:15:00.460 So that's interesting. 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:05.860 That certain things in Scripture had to be hidden for the prophecy to be fulfilled. 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:09.560 And so some of you may wonder the question then, what is the mystery then? 00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:13.259 Well, the mystery can be broken down into a couple things. 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:16.160 It is that the Gentiles, us, right? 00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:20.960 The Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:24.860 the partakers of the promise in Jesus Christ through the gospel. 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:27.860 In other words, when you believe in the Lord, you are saved 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:31.560 and you are an heir of the promise of God. 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:33.060 That's something that's significant. 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:37.060 It's the revelation about who Jesus Christ is, his significance, 00:15:37.060 --> 00:15:41.560 and that salvation is now available to all who believe. 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:47.060 It is no longer this mutually exclusive salvation that is available 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:51.560 only to the Jewish system and their Levitical sacrificial system, 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:54.259 but it's now changed to belief in the Lord. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:16:00.159 I don't know about you, but the idea of sacrificing animals to atone for my sin 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:04.259 just is not the same as believing in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:08.460 and knowing that he lived, he died, and on the third day he rose again. 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:14.460 I'd much rather believe in this than following that. 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:19.759 What God has prepared for us is salvation to be available for everybody. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:21.460 It doesn't matter how old you are. 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:23.360 It doesn't matter what your skin color is. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:27.860 It doesn't matter what you've been through or what you're going through. 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:30.360 Can I get an amen for that? 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:34.659 That is the significance of Christ. 00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:40.360 That is why you hear me as a pastor say that we must all come to believe in the Lord, right? 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:43.860 How easy it is to believe in the Lord, right? 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:46.360 One of my favorite verses, you always see it on your notes, 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:49.060 is John chapter 6 verse 47. 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:54.259 Truly what Christ is saying, truly I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:56.459 It is that simple. 00:16:56.459 --> 00:17:05.259 It's not about I have to pray 10,000 prayers or I have to donate $10,000 or I have to walk 10,000 miles. 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:08.359 It's about belief in who Christ is. 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:12.559 And this is the interesting thing about the Word of God is that sometimes God, 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.259 just like in the Old Testament times, 00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:21.259 the Jewish people didn't realize they didn't make the connections about the coming Messiah. 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:24.460 And you know what else is interesting about that? 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:31.460 Think about how in 1 Corinthians chapter 18, 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:39.759 it is said in Scripture that the Word of the cross is foolishness or folly to those who are perishing. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:42.960 When we consider the fact that the Word of God is living and active, 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:47.960 God protects His Word from the fools, the evil doers, right? 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:50.259 Those who do not believe in the Lord. 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:55.259 The revelation of Christ, the truth of Scripture, it comes to those who believe. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:59.059 That's actually a great encouragement for us to believe in the Lord 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:05.559 because there's so much truth that comes from the Word of God that it helps us grow. 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:10.160 Helps us grow in Christ to know Christ better. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:17.460 How many of you have met someone who does not believe in the Lord and they open a Bible and they're like, 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:19.560 and they scoff? 00:18:19.560 --> 00:18:22.160 I can't believe that. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:25.259 It's because foolishness, right? 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:28.259 They think it's foolishness to those who are perishing 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:32.259 because God is hiding the truth of His Word. 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:34.960 He's protecting His own Word. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:36.360 Think of it like that. 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:41.059 I know it's a very hard thing because you think when you read Scripture, anybody can read it. 00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:44.659 But when you believe in the Lord, there's more mystery and revelation 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:49.159 that comes through the reading and studying of Scripture. 00:18:49.159 --> 00:18:50.059 It's very interesting. 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:56.359 The Word of God is powerful because God allows for us to read and study the deeper things of God. 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:59.259 Just as there were things that were hidden from the Jews, 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:07.960 God protects His Word from those who don't know Him and those who are against Christianity. 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:09.859 Think about that. 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:17.660 That is why sometimes when you've spoken to an unbeliever, they just don't get it, right? 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:19.759 How many of you felt that way before? 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.660 They just don't get it. 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:23.359 You're like, I don't understand why you don't get it. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:28.460 Well, it's because there's things that you know that they don't know. 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:33.860 It's a big reason and encouragement from come to know the Lord and study the deeper things of God 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:38.160 because when we seek God in His Word, we will find it. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:43.860 You want to get closer to God, believe in the Lord, study the Word of God, read the Word of God. 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.860 You'll find a closeness in it. 00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:50.460 And in all these things, I got to remind you that in studying the Word of God and reading it, 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:57.360 let us not forget the love that Christ has shown to us that we show to others. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:00.659 Let us not become like the Pharisees. 00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:06.459 They read and studied scripture, but yet very often their hearts were hardened. 00:20:06.459 --> 00:20:12.059 That is why we have to have love in all of this knowledge and wisdom from God. 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:18.159 Just like how it says in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, without love, I am nothing. 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:22.159 So you have to have that balance between truth and love. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:28.660 Verse 27 talks about the Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:36.860 It says to them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, 00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:43.060 which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:48.759 We go to verse 27 where the Apostle Paul talks about how God chose to make things known 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:55.059 among the Gentiles in the riches of the glory of this mystery. 00:20:55.059 --> 00:21:02.059 As I mentioned before, God saw to it that in his kairos, in his appointed time, 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:05.460 in his divine appointment, if it will, his plan, his purpose, 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:10.859 he would reveal Christ in the flesh. 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:13.859 Christ would dwell among us. 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:17.660 Of course, with Christ being born in his ministry, 00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:21.060 there would be the revelation of salvation. 00:21:21.060 --> 00:21:29.060 That salvation comes through belief in him and that God's grace is in abundance. 00:21:29.060 --> 00:21:30.860 It is not limited. 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:33.460 It is available for everyone. 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:41.860 It's not like God's going to run out and be like, hey, you know, you're the 12,365,122nd person. 00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:43.259 I'm sorry. 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:43.960 We got no more. 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:45.860 We got no more grace. 00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:50.059 No, God's got plenty of grace and it's in abundance to believe in the Lord. 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:52.959 You are safe and you are secure in the arms of the Father, 00:21:52.959 --> 00:21:57.359 the same God that created the heavens and the earth and created each and every one of us. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:00.059 Do you really think he'd run out of grace? 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:03.159 Grace is freely available. 00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:08.059 This should be a great encouragement for you knowing that when you have that salvation, 00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:11.859 when you believe in the Lord, you are safe, you are secure, 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:20.959 and you have a sense of that eternal security to think of this idea of the riches of glory of this mystery. 00:22:20.959 --> 00:22:24.559 It goes to show that God's grace is extensive. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:28.059 It is inexhaustible. 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:33.559 When this verse speaks of the Gentiles, it's speaking about us. 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:41.159 We are the Gentiles that to believe in the Lord, you're entering into the new covenant. 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:44.160 New covenant with the Lord. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:49.759 That God will always be with us and he will never forsake or abandon us. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:56.460 It is in being a Christian in all of this that Christ will dwell within us. 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:59.259 That's why we got to take care of ourselves, right? 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:04.960 What we see, what we think, what we hear, what we do to our body, that's why it's so important. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:10.259 Just as it's said that the Holy Spirit dwells within us in 1 Corinthians 619, 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.559 Christ dwells within us. 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:14.460 The triune God dwells within us. 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:17.859 And the word of Christ should dwell within us. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:24.359 Let us not forget that famous verse from Galatians where Paul says that it is no longer I who live, 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:27.759 but Christ who lives within me. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.660 Does that make sense? 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:33.160 There's a connection there that Christ dwells within us. 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:39.660 Paul is speaking of the transformation that exists when being a believer and living for him. 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:41.960 This should give us comfort. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.660 How many of us seek for comfort in this life? 00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:51.560 Knowing that Christ dwells within us and he's there with us in our minds and in our hearts. 00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:59.460 May we have Christ dwell in our hearts through faith and let us be grounded and rooted in love. 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:01.960 Do you believe in the Lord? 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:07.560 Do you know that there is comfort and safety and peace that surpasses understanding and joy 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:10.359 that is unspeakable in knowing the Lord? 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:15.960 Do you know that by knowing Christ, God will work in and through your life with transformation, 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:18.559 continued transformation? 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:22.460 Do you know that God will make you more like him? 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.859 Believe in him. 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:26.859 That is the most important thing. 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:31.759 As we are talking about the abundance of God's grace, 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:38.359 allow for the Lord to transform your life so that you can live a life that honors and glorifies him. 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:40.960 Verse 28. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.859 Him we proclaim, 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:49.660 warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:57.160 This now leads us where you see the Apostle Paul is proclaiming Christ and he is warning everyone 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:00.559 and teaches everyone with all wisdom. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:04.159 Just as it was mentioned earlier, 00:25:04.159 --> 00:25:09.759 to be a minister of Christ is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:15.359 Paul talks about this warning and teaching of everyone with all wisdom. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:22.359 You know, next week, we're going to delve into what those false teachings were 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:24.960 and how do we respond to that? 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:28.960 Is that directly applicable to us in the church today? 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:35.860 What do we do with these warnings that the Apostle Paul was mentioning to the church at Colossae? 00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:43.360 It can be very easy for us to fall into another gospel or something that is more complex. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:47.360 I want you to think about this for a second here. 00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:52.160 It is simple to become a Christian and us as human beings, 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:57.059 how easy is it for us to make things complicated? 00:25:57.059 --> 00:26:02.960 You find sometimes, and I don't mean to take a jab at people in their professional careers, 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:09.359 but there are some people out there where they love to use big words that you don't understand what it means 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:16.659 and they use these big words to kind of flex their muscles, their intellectual muscles, right? 00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:25.059 Well, in the same way, very often when we are considering false gospels or another gospel that is contrary to Christ, 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:31.159 it is taking the simplicity of just believing in Christ and adding more things. 00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:37.960 Well, you need to believe in the Lord and do this and do that, and don't forget these three things too. 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:42.059 You start adding, like, wait a minute. 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:47.460 The Bible tells me that I must believe in the Lord and be saved. Why are you overly complicating it? 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:55.559 And so that's one simplistic way of looking at how people try to make complex the gospel of Christ. 00:26:55.559 --> 00:27:03.360 We must remember that in the proclamation of Jesus Christ, we teach the truth of Jesus Christ and His Word. 00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:06.259 It is about what the Word of God has to say. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:13.059 We teach and preach the Word of God so that people can know the Lord, grow in Him, and do good in His name. 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:16.360 The other side of this, right, you have Paul talking about teaching. 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:25.059 There's the warning about telling people what is false, what is untrue, what is contrary to the truth that exists in Christ. 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:27.759 And you know what's so interesting? I've always found this very interesting. 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:35.759 Is there so many warnings of false prophets, false teachers, right? False theology as it were. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:42.859 It's important to know that these false teachings, we'll just call them teachings, 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:51.859 that existed in Scripture help equip us to discern right from wrong, good from evil, truth from lies. 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:57.559 Because sometimes you'll find patterns in things that were taught. 00:27:57.559 --> 00:28:01.759 Right? Things that were taught back then, you're like, wait a minute. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:07.359 There's a movement that's teaching this, just like how it was taught here. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:10.959 Or, huh, that's interesting. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:16.960 Why is this being taught there? It's just like in Galatians where it says, 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:24.360 if we or an angel from heaven teach anything that's contrary from the Gospel of Christ, let them be accursed. 00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:29.759 Well, an angel from heaven is very specific, right? 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:35.259 An angel from heaven revealing something in addition to Scripture. 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:37.559 That makes your mind think for a second here. 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:42.559 And I only bring up this example because of patterns, right? 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:49.559 To help equip us to know the difference between truth from lies, right from wrong, good from evil. 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:51.859 That comes from God. 00:28:51.859 --> 00:29:00.259 So the Bible is full of these warnings and we need to at least consider it and use it to discern good from evil and right and wrong. 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:06.659 And as I mentioned before, I will say it again, to believe in the Lord is the beginning of your salvation story. 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:12.259 You become a child and you begin on a journey to become more mature in Christ. 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:22.660 Be encouraged to read Scripture, to study Scripture, to be in the church, to be in Christian community where we can bear one another's burdens. 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:30.160 Do you realize that in times of crisis where you might have friends or families who they may not agree with what you're doing? 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:36.759 Or there may be a crisis that you are experiencing in your life, your church family can help be there for you. 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:44.460 I know in my own experience when I was a teenager and I was rebellious, my church family kept me in line. 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:46.259 At the time I hated it. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:49.660 But when I look back at it, I'm like, you know what? 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:52.160 Maybe they weren't so bad after all. 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:58.960 They were loving me, but they were being encouraging and they had the firm grip at the same time. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:03.860 And the same way when you're going through a trial or a tribulation, we help each other up. 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:12.259 So yes, read your Bible, study your Bible, but also be in Christian community where we can help one another, bear one another's burden and celebrate. 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:22.160 And when things happen, when someone gets married, when a new child is born, that's part of the beauty of the local assembly, the church. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:32.660 And also extend the love of Christ to others in the community in doing so become more mature and do good in the name of Christ. 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:37.660 May you be able to give an account for what you believe in and who you are in Christ. 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:42.460 May you be able to give an answer to those who may question you. 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.360 Right? 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:46.460 Because there's a lot of people out there that have all these questions. 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:53.660 And may you grow to the point, it is my prayer that you grow to know the difference between right and wrong, right? 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:59.660 Between good and evil, between false teaching and true teaching. 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:08.860 I pray that this church becomes a beacon of hope for the community and that people will have a relationship with Christ and they'll grow in that maturity. 00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:16.959 And it is in maturity that we are able to live our lives better because look, God is molding us and he's making us more like him. 00:31:16.959 --> 00:31:19.559 Of course, we're going to live life better. 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:22.059 And people notice that. 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:28.159 You go in Target or you go in Walmart and people are like, there's something very different about that person. 00:31:28.159 --> 00:31:29.859 I don't know what it is. 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:37.659 And then you, next thing you know, you believe in the, you start going to church, you believe in the Lord, you get baptized and you're like, 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.960 Okay, I figured it out. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:41.360 You know, it was that. 00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:47.160 And the thing is we as Christians can do amazing things in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:50.960 It is a call for us to build up the saints for the work of ministry. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:54.960 Let us be that church, that beacon of hope for others. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:59.560 And finally, we have verse 29. 00:31:59.560 --> 00:32:06.060 For this, I toil struggling with his energy that he powerfully works within me, right? 00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:14.359 The apostle Paul is saying that through proclamation, the warning and the teaching, all of this is in preparation. 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:15.259 Listen to this. 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:20.759 It's in preparation to present everyone mature in Christ. 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.659 Okay. 00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:25.960 Because when you believe in the Lord and you're a new baby, you are presented to the Lord, right? 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.559 You're saved. 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:28.059 You have the new life. 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:33.960 But here it's talking about being presented as mature. 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:36.460 This is what Paul is toiling over. 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:41.759 He's struggling with all of his energy that Christ may work within him. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:47.559 And notice that Paul is a saved man who is continuing to do the work of ministry. 00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:55.360 He is continuing to work for the cause of Christ because Christ is working in him. 00:32:55.360 --> 00:33:00.059 This is much like how in the book of Philippians, many of you know this verse, right? 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:05.259 Philippians 4, 13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:16.159 Well, the apostle Paul learned that even in prison, he has learned that the grace of God, it abounds in every circumstance in the good and the bad and the ugly. 00:33:16.159 --> 00:33:19.559 And in all of these things, it is through Christ. 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:25.460 He give Christ gave Paul the strength to continue to do in the work of ministry. 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:29.059 What an encouragement for us to know as we're closing here, 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:37.559 that when we speak of suffering, trials, tribulation, depression, even whatever it is you're going through, 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:42.759 that we have Jesus Christ who dwells within us and he is our hope. 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:49.859 It is Christ who gives us the strength to face any challenge or any difficult day in our life. 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:56.659 In all of this, it goes from the mystery of Jesus Christ to the majesty of Jesus Christ. 00:33:56.660 --> 00:34:05.560 If you do not have a relationship with Christ, I encourage you to believe in the Lord and be saved, be transformed, be comforted, 00:34:05.560 --> 00:34:15.260 receive that peace that surpasses all understanding, receive that joy that is inexhaustible because God gives his grace in abundance. 00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:26.559 And if you're going through difficult days, may you turn to the Lord, may you ask him for strength, for comfort, for guidance, for wisdom and understanding in any situation. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:34.960 For it is Christ who dwells within us. He is the hope of glory. Let us pray. 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:41.759 Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us this opportunity again to come together and go deeper in your word. 00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:45.059 May we take to heart the message from this morning. 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:51.159 You Father God, you sent your son Jesus Christ to change the course of history. 00:34:51.159 --> 00:35:07.559 You had a plan all along and that plan was hidden as the great mystery and how privileged we are to know about that revelation, the riches of your grace and that salvation comes through faith in him. 00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:13.960 We thank you for sending your son that all who believe shall not perish but have everlasting life. 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:27.559 May we learn today that strength comes from you and that with Christ dwelling within us, we can endure and do all things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength. 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:30.559 May we learn how to do these things in you. 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:35.360 Be with us as we sing this final song together. 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:47.059 Let us lift up a shout of praise and may we thank you God for who you are, for all that you've done and all that you continue to do. 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:50.760 We thank you Lord. We thank you so much. 00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:58.760 It is in Jesus's everlasting and eternal name that we pray and we all say together, Amen. 00:35:58.760 --> 00:36:11.160 Thank you for tuning in to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. For more about our church and how you can get involved or support our mission, please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:29.159 May God's blessings be with you.