Let’s continue in Paul’s writings, this morning we are going to open the book of Colossians.
Remember now, Paul is in prison as he writes this letter to the church at Colossae.
The main message found in the book of Colossians is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God and the creator of all things. He holds all of creation together and is the head of the church.
His CHURCH, the Body of Christ.
Not the church that follows the writings of the apostle Peter.
Not the church that wants you to feel good about yourself.
Not the church found on the corner of Main street in just about every town in America.
But HIS CHURCH.
Colossians 1:15 ‘…who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature…’ AKJV
JESUS CHRIST our Savior and Protector.
Colossians 1:20 ‘…Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
We are not told that we have to do anything, God did it, FOR US.
This shows how Sovereign God is.
This shows us how much God loves each one of us.
Colossians 1:22 ‘…But now you have become God’s friends. This happened because Christ’s human body died on the cross. As a result, God has brought you to himself. As you stand in front of him, you are completely good and clean inside. He sees nothing in you that is bad…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
If you were to attend a man-made religion today they’d tell you what you need to give-up, what you need to stop doing, what you need to do and how much money you need to put in the offering basket … but ALL of that is different than what God tells us in this verse.
Who do you figure is lying to you?
God or mankind?
Colossians 2
vs6 ‘…Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him…’
vs7 ‘…Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
Be stronger in your FAITH that you were taught … taught and learned from the Word of God, NOT what you were taught and remembered from a man-made religion on Sunday morning’s.
Keep your FAITH and TRUST in Jesus. Allow Him to protect you and keep you safe.
This next part might be difficult for you, but it is the Word of God.
Colossians 2
vs18 ‘…Some people may tell you that you must always serve other people like a slave. They may tell you that you must worship angels. Do not let those people speak bad things against you. They like to talk a lot about the special things that God has shown them. They think that they are very clever. But their ideas only come from human minds…’
vs19 ‘…False teachers like that do not receive their message from Christ. As God’s people, we are like a body, and Christ is like our head. He is the one who causes the whole body to be strong. He helps us to work well together, like the different parts of a body. Then we can all grow properly, because it is God who is helping us to grow…’
vs20 ‘…Remember that your old nature has died with Christ. So, the powerful spirits that rule this world no longer have any authority over you. You do not need to serve them, because you do not belong to this world now. You do not need to obey their rules…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
This is the difference between the Word of God, the words that He wants us to know and share with others compared to the words spewed in man-made religions, where they try and make themselves appear wise and god-worthy.
This is why I tell pastors, open your Bible and READ His words to the people in your congregation. Invest God’s knowledge into their lives. Make them aware what God wants for them to see.
READ the words that God has laid out for them to see.
TEACH them how to know and find God.
Stop putting your own spin on the perfect Word that God has already given to us.
Just think of the wealth that mankind would give to God to help others, so they could see, compared to your offering basket that is located at every exit door, at the back of the church and passed through the seats during every service.
Pastors, take your eyes off yourself and look out at your congregation.
Those people are there for Him … NOT YOU!!!
Allow me to continue with these next 3 verses.
Colossians 2
vs21 ‘…They teach, Do not touch things like that! or, Do not eat that kind of food! or, Keep away from that thing…’
vs22 ‘…Rules like that are only about things that spoil when you use them. They are rules that come from human ideas…’
vs23 ‘…They teach you ideas about what you must do to worship God. They teach you to serve other people like a slave. They say that you must hurt yourself. You must show that you control your body. Rules like that may seem to be wise, but really they are not worth anything. They cannot stop our weak human nature from doing the bad things that we want to do…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
When Jesus Christ died on the cross, OUR SINS WERE FORGIVEN.
Period … end of story … nothing else needs to be said.
WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.
All we have to do is have the FAITH and BELIEVE that it is so.
Visit a man-made religion and we have to ask for forgiveness every moment that we are awake … and we need to tithe in the offering basket, and our sins will be forgiven.
God is PERFECT. He has given us the Word so we could find out HIS TRUTH.
All we have to do is OPEN our Bibles and READ His Word for ourselves.
Colossians 3
vs1 ‘…You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God…’
vs2 ‘…Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth…’
vs3 ‘…For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…’
vs4 ‘…Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
TRUST what God wants you to know is the TRUTH.
HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVE IN HIM.
As I said earlier in this lesson, the main message in the book of Colossians is showing God’s Supremacy and the Sufficiency of having Jesus Christ in your life.
ALLOW JESUS TO WALK WITH YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.
As the title, from my latest book, Follow in Jesus’ FOOTSTEPS.
TRUST where He takes you.
Be in communication with Him at all times.
One of my favorite verses found in Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 5:17
‘…Pray without ceasing…’ AKJV
‘…and never stop praying…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
‘…Pray at all times…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
‘…pray at all times…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…pray without ceasing…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
‘…constantly pray…’ NET (New English Translation)
How can God’s Word be any more plain?
We are to FULLY rely on Him for everything.
If and when we visit a man-made religion, we should go because we want to be in the presence of God the Father.
We want to HEAR Him speak to us.
When we leave the man-made building, we should respond HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD … not comment how good the sermon was or how the music was or the air conditioner was really working or how good the coffee and doughnuts were.
WE CAME TO VISIT WITH GOD … PERIOD!!!
Colossians 4:2 ‘…Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
This book is full of knowledge just waiting for us to learn from it.
Colossians 4
vs5 ‘…Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have…’
vs6 ‘…Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
Here is a verse we should keep in our memory always, everywhere we go.
Romans 10:9 ‘…because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved …’ AMP (Amplified Bible)
How many times throughout your year in a man-made religion have you heard this verse?
I’d bet probably not often.
OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SHARE THE WORDS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT WITH THOSE AROUND YOU.
GOD LOVES YOU … GOD LOVES THEM AS WELL.
I want to invite you to follow me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
I love ALL of y’all. I am InHIM.><)))o>
Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21st century:
Day 1 – Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5
Day 2 – 2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8
Day 3 – 1Corinthians 9-16
Day 4 – 2Corinthians 1-13
Day 5 – Romans 1-10
Day 6 – Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4
Day 7 – Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6
Day 8 – Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4
Day 9 – Acts 1-7
Day 10 – Acts 8-13
Day 11 – Acts 14-20
Day 12 – Acts 21-28
The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).
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