Colossians 1:1-8 Sermon Notes
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peacefrom God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for allthe saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.”
Three thoughts to consider together:
I. By the Will of God; Paul was thoroughly convinced that it was God’s plan for His life that he should travel from city to city starting churches and making disciples!
In 1 Corinthians 9:16 he wrote:
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
Paul had been sent by Jesus to be His apostle to the gentile world!
What have you been sent to do?
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
Mike Rozell was a stock broker, and good at it, making a lot of money, but he was miserable. As he discussed that with his pastor he was asked what he would rather be doing.
Mike loved making pottery. His pastor told him to pray about whether or not the Lord could still provide for Mike if he changed careers…
Mike resigned and started looking for places to sell his pottery! And God provided! Eventually God led Mike to start Potters Field Ministries!
Mike decided not to limit God! And God led him into the good works prepared beforehand for him to walk in!
God designed you with a specific role in mind! Are you living in harmony with His design and purpose for your life?
II. Paul had heard of their faith and love
My wife is gorgeous. The first time I saw those deep blue eyes they literally took my breath away. But that isn’t what people hear about when they hear about Elisabet Fountain. She’s also brilliant; the smartest woman I know. But that isn’t what people hear about when they hear about her. When people talk about Elisabet what they usually talk about is her warmth and genuine love for Jesus! I can assure you that that’s what Jesus talks about concerning my wife! When God confronted Satan about targeting Job He didn’t point out Job’s wealth, importance, or intellect! He pointed to Job’s faith and love, expressed through a wise, Godly lifestyle!
” Then the LORD said to Satan, “ Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?†You see, faith is trusting Jesus actively, and love is serving Jesus actively! That’s what God commended in Job! Job was persuaded that God is there and that he’s good! So he trusted and served Him!
III. It’s born from hope!
Verse 3: We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel…Â Truett Kathy loves Jesus. He started a restaurant about 40 years ago in Fayetteville, Ga and he made a decision back then not to be open Sundays so that he and all of his employees could go to church. He did his best to be sure that all of his business practices honored the Lord, and his restaurant was successful. So successful that he expanded it to multiple locations. The opportunity to open in a mall presented itself, but he refused to open on Sundays. They rejected his restaurant. But pretty soon Chik-fil-a was so successful that malls began to make an exception to their rules just for Chik-fil-a! Mr. Kathy’s faith in Jesus and loving approach to business won out over the greed that dominates retail industry!
His anticipation of and focus upon eternal rewards brought forth fruit in this life! In Luke 18 Jesus was asked by a rich kid how to inherit eternal life, but when Jesus told him that he needed to give away all that he had he refused, because he was wealthy! The only reason Jesus told him that was that Jesus saw that the young man was possessed by his possessions! His wealth controlled his life! And you can’t follow Jesus and serve yourself at the same time! So Jesus used that event as an opportunity to teach His followers… “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.†26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?†27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.†28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.†29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.â€
It’s an issue of focus! Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also! Eternal focus produces eternal treasures! The rich young ruler went away sad, because he had many possessions!
CS Lewis pointed out that when a man is focused on heaven, earth is thrown into the bargain! But when he focused on earth, he gets neither earth, nor heaven!
Questions
What are your two addresses?
What have you been sent to do?
[are you checking off God's to do list for your life?]
What attitude in your life might be limiting almighty God in your life?
What are you doing to let Jesus guide your steps into His will for your life?
Imagine what God could do in your life, if you would only let Him lead you into His design and purpose for your life. How would it differ from your life that you lived this last year?
What do people say and hear about you?
How does your faith and your love show in your life and our church?
Why is our hope not uncertain?
Define hope. Where is your hope laid up for you already? How does this knowledge affect your life.
Who owns you? How does this ownership show in your life?
Who controls your life – God or other stuff? When has this been evident lately in the living out of your faith?
What do you focus on? What has helped you to be able to relinquish control to God in your schedule, your wallet and your stuff?
What did CS Lewis say about heaven and earth?
