A Pastor’s Heart

Colossians 2:20-23 (KJV) “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

Such a PROFOUND statement “…if ye be dead with CHRIST…” Oh, that all “born again” people would be “DEAD WITH CHRIST FROM THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD”. So!! What does that statement mean? I think that when we see the first word in verse 20 of our text it sets the meaning of the rest of chapter.

Wherefore: In the Greek language this word “wherefore” is an adverb used as a conjunction. It connects the statements following it to the previous subject or subjects, or to be more directly, in this verse, it is to explain about the “BODY OF CHRIST” and our duties and reasons, and why we are not in heaven, but why we “THE BODY OF CHRIST” have been left here on earth. It explains why and what we should be doing here on earth, and why we were left behind as witnesses of JESUS THE CHRIST. It explains why the MYSTERY, as Paul called it, was kept secret for thousands of years. If you remember the JEWISH people, the HEBREWS mostly believed that when the CHRIST came, that HE would at that time set up HIS KINGDOM with power and force. But, that belief was not entirely correct, or understood correctly. CHRIST came to establish a people that would include, JEWS and GENTILES together as the CHURCH, the BRIDE of CHRIST, and they were to PREACH and TEACH the GOSPEL so all would have the opportunity to become part of that LIVING ORGANISM, THAT LIVING CHURCH, THAT WOULD PORTRAY to all of the WORLD, WHO CHRIST WAS, and WHAT HE WAS ALL ABOUT. That ONLY THROUGH HIM could SALVATION be obtained, as GOD’s WORD records in the sermon that Peter brought to those people in the TEMPLE on the days after PENTACOST when he healed a known cripple as he went into the temple at JERUSALEM, in the book of Acts, so please look with me in the book of Acts, in the 4th chapter, to that account:

 Acts 4:10-13 (KJV) “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” 

So what does it mean to be as the Apostle Paul said: “…if ye be dead with CHRIST…”

The Greek word that is translated to die or to be dead in the present tense is θνήσκω, and means probably exactly what you think it means, to be dead in a present sense! The word Paul used here is a compound word where the Greek word “APO” which renders the original word more vivid and intense, which changes the meaning to, you are to surely be quite dead! Which mens no longer living, or living in, when it is added to “NAY-SKO” the common Greek word that is used for “being dead to”. So the actual meaning of this compound Greek word means “since you or dead to the things of “life” then you no longer have feelings for those particular life styles because your senses have been deadened to them. Then the two Greek words used together intensifies the normal word for dead and magnifies it, so to stress, that you litereally can’t live in those thing any more since you are dead to them.

Now then listen to what Paul says that you are dead to, or to what your senses have been deadened to, so that power of those things no longer have an allure to you or draws you to them. The “RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD” which means the fundamental, principle, basics of our senses of the FLESH. Paul then describes what he is talking about so that it is clear to his readers what he is meaning. Listen to what he says in verse 21 to help them and us to understand his point of being “DEAD WITH CHRIST” Paul uses the word IF to get them and us to begin to search our hearts so that we can really know if we have “DIED WITH CHRIST”. So he says these things:

1: Touch not: The Greek word here (touch); properly means to attach oneself to, that is, to touch (in all kinds of implied relations) it is a primary verb; properly to fasten yourself to, or (especially) to set on fire or to kindle, to light up, and to apply one’s self to,  so in the sense of to eat or devour or consume. To completely mesh yourself with.

2: Handle not: The Greek word that is used here by Paul and is translated as HANDLE is a prolonged form of an obsolete word that means (to finger); to manipulate, that is to have to do with; by implication to injure or to handle to the point of roughly examining an object. To take it into your hands and manipulate it to help you decide if you really like it or not, or to determine what the object really may be.

3: Taste not: The first Greek word here (TASTE) is a primary verb; to taste; by implication to eat; figuratively to experience (good or bad) that is to eat, or to taste; and of course metaphorically, it means to experience, to partake of, or to live in. The second Greek word that is used here and the preceding two statements is the word (NOT), and as an “adverb” here, it modifies and describes the verbs TOUCH, HANDLE and  TASTE and is an absolute NEGATION or DENIAL. Not just a suggestion, but shows the degree of how we are to TASTE, to TOUCH or to HANDLE, which is “NEVER”, flatly meaning to NEVER TOUCH, NEVER HANDLE, NEVER TASTE. When you really get down to the NITTY GRITTY of it, it makes sense, because before we were saved we did these things and already know the results of the EXAMINATIONS that Paul is talking about.  So in contradistinction to these commands that Paul gives; David the psalmist gives us the ALTERNATIVE examinations and tells us what we should be doing. Please read along with me;

Psalms 34:8 (KJV) “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Leave it up to the Psalmist to say it so eloquently, with meaning of continuely tasting at all times. I hope the CHURCH, the BODY OF CHRIST, never loses their taste for the LORD. We need to whet our appetites for the LORD everyday by reading HIS WORD, by praising HIS name, by worshipping HIM every day of our lives.

Let us now look at this next word, I realize that the (KJV) seperates it into two words but it is actually a compound word “Will Worship”: Now this word is a self-devised, external form of ceremonial service, a mode of ceremonial worship chosen for one’s self, this compound Greek word is used only once in the whole Bible. and it is made up of the Greek words (thelo) and (threskeia) which mean voluntary or (arbitrary and unwarranted) piety, that is sanctimony or a little more familiar word that we might recognize is “SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. A type of “worship based on a random choice or personal whim, rather than on any reason or on any system. Here, the Apostle Paul warns Christians not to be fooled or beguiled, we have seen that word before in this chapter of Colossians, haven’t we, means by the deceptive arguments of MEN or WOMEN. Usually these types of arguments are very pleasing to the flesly side of our life as we JOURNEY along down here on earth. But, most of the time these types of things sound true enough, but are NOT, and are only ploys of the devil. They argue for such things as LEGALISM, VISIONS, SELF-DENIAL, and other types of outward displays and actions that look good to others that are WATCHING but are not WORSHIP that is directed towards pleasing the Father but are more arbitrary so that others will think that we are religeous or in the spirit. Now, let me be quick to EXPLAIN that Paul is not talking about involuntary praises like amens, thank you JESUS, and other bursts of praises to GOD that are led by the SPIRIT OF GOD. But, voluntary utterences that magnify the person and are really saying “LOOK AT ME” and not an involuntary “knee jerk” caused by the movement of the “SPIRIT OF GOD” as we WORSHIP. These voluntary outbursts are similiar to what the Pharisees did as they sometimes would grimace and make faces and other actions to be seen as PIOUS in the sight of men, to make them seem religeous or spiritual in other’s eyes and minds. Read with me or listen attentively to Matthew 6:16-18 (KJV) where I SAVIOR JESUS says: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” I want to be very careful here because I would never want to say or imply that you, I or anyone else should “quench the spirit”. The Apostle Paul in his letter to those Christians at Thessalonica gave these practical precepts for them while they were on their JOURNEY and we can use these encouraging words while on our JOURNEY:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (KJV) “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 

So let us Christians, who are the “BODY OF CHRIST”, be “DEAD IN CHRIST” and not just say we are “DEAD IN CHRIST” but die daily to the allure of fleshly tendancies while on our JOURNEY here on earth, let us be truly “IN THE WORLD” “BUT NOT OF THE WORLD” if we are not, how in the world will the unsaved come to know to follow us to the SAVIOR, to JESUS OF NAZARETH? I will put this sermon on our Facebook page. This Wednesday’s sermon blog will be along this same line, and next Sunday’s  sermon will be instructing us how to be RISEN WITH CHRIST since we are indeed “DEAD IN CHRIST”.

Colossians 2:19  (KJV) “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of GOD.”

I remember back when I was youngster and we would be making a trip somewhere, either up here to LaFayette to see my mother’s people, or either on a trip to Florida to see my oldest brother while he was still in the Navy, or on a trip to see my sister who was in Savannah, Georgia. During the trips I and my brother Walter were always asking the question that most young children ask when on a trip with their parents, “are we there” or “when are we going to get there” and I can remember the answer that my mom would give us everytime. She would say “we’ll be there in a little while, just “HOLD ON”. Dad would not say much till we kept on, and kept on, and kept on asking the same question “are we there yet”. Then dad would say, with that low gruff voice of his “you heard what your mama said, now mind her and just “HOLD ON” and we’ll be there soon enough, so quit squriming around back there and do what we say and “HOLD ON”. Now I don’t want you to get the idea that I am saying “HOLD ON” meaning that we are holding on to GOD, for I am not saying that at all, because, of course, we don’t hold on to GOD, but HE FIRMLY holds onto us! I am sure you are familiar with John 10:27-29  (KJV) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”  

I am thinking about verses of scripture such as Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) where it says “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” and

Hebrews 4:14 (KJV) “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Jesus and the Father are not going to let go of you and no one, not even you can PLUCK you out of their HANDS, THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

Listen please, just like Peter said in his 2nd epistle in the 3rd chapter and the 9 verse: (KJV) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” He’ll still be holding onto us in that day, and we will still be with HIM! Please remember HE said: “…I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” and HE meant it.

Now what Paul was saying to those Christians at Colossae was “don’t listen to any man, or any teacher that is not teaching “SOUND DOCTRINE. Are the people teaching you, “HOLDING FAST” to the things that Paul taught. Remember what Paul taught to Timothy and Titus.

 As an example let’s look at Titus 2:1-15 (KJV) “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

So I would like to reiterate what I said a little while ago and in other sermons, let’s stay knitted together as the BODY of CHRIST and  let our part of the BODY be busy about our HEAVENLY FATHER’S business that supplies our SPIRITUAL strength and efforts so that the progression of CHRIST’S KINDOM will continue on and so that those that are lost and doomed for a devil’s HELL will SEE our LOVE, will FEEL our LOVE and will HEAR our LOVE and come to know JESUS of NAZARETH as their PERSONAL SAVIOR and be “BORN AGAIN”.

“GOD LOVES US WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE”

Collosians 2:18-19 (KJV) “Let no man BEGUILE you of your REWARD in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the HEAD, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of GOD.”

I recently spoke and wrote on “THE BEGUILEMENT OF THE CHURCH” so now since Paul has brought it up again, I will attempt to say more about the “THE BEGUILEMENT OF THE CHURCH” and how Satan wants you to lose your reward and why. He is still, after all of these years, trying to make a liar out of GOD and trying to get humans to obey him instead of being obedient to GOD. If you’ll remember, satan had declared that he wanted to take over GOD’s throne, in other words he wanted to be GOD. That’s why he was cast out of heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 3:14 (KJV) Paul is writing to those Christians at Corinth about the TRIAL that all Christians will go through and he says “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” I am very sure that you and I are not working to obtain these  REWARDS but are working for CHRIST because we LOVE HIM and HIS CHURCH, but never-the-less REWARDS are stored up in HEAVEN for us because of that work. Of course Satan can not stand to see anyone HAPPY or to receive any REWARDS for the work that they do for CHRIST’S KINGDOM, so he does his best to cause us to do and think FLESHLY THINGS so we will lose some of those rewards in hopes that that loss, will make us angry with GOD and cause us not to continue to serve HIM as we should. So, satan use men, and a lot times those that he uses are our FRIENDS and FAMILY, to discourage us and cause us to walk away from our service to GOD. Now, let me say this, very quickly, that these FRIENDS and FAMILY, are not doing these things on purpose to hurt us but are fooled or BEGULIED by satan so that the “SPREADING of the GOSPEL” will be impeded and so that lost souls will not come to believe in CHRIST or will not become BORN AGAIN, and also to cause unsuspecting CHRISTIANS to actually be found “FIGHTING” against GOD and HIS PURPOSE. Now let us look at this first statement: “voluntary humility and worshipping of angels”:

This phrase really means to, of your own free will, will bow down and worship angels instead of God the Father, Jesus, in other words, God in all of his entirety, ALL that HE is. There is nothing wrong with angels or believing that they are real, because they are real, VERY REAL, and are among us here on earth, they exist in this world for a PURPOSE, which is, as MESSENGERS, to bring us good news of GOD’s presense among us, to bring us comfort of GOD’s WORD, comfort that GOD has placed them here and around us to sometimes protect and guide us, and I believe has assigned some to each “BORN AGAIN” person, read with me:

Matthew 18:10  (KJV)  “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven THEIR angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”. They show us that GOD is REAL and that they are protecting us for HIM.

We are not to worship them but know that they come from GOD and are to assure us that HE IS ALWAYS with us, to keep us safe and comforted. But as I said earlier that we are not to WORSHIP them or put them in the place in our lives that is RESERVED for GOD only. These people that are teaching that you should revere or worship ANGELS are, as Paul says in these verses, “INTRUDING INTO” areas that they have no right to be delving into. They are trying to get you to place these beings in the wrong place in your life, they are sent by GOD but are not GOD. Those that would teach these things are, as Paul says: “intruding into” things and areas that GOD has not taught or led them to, and continues on to say that they are “..vainly puffed up by (their) fleshly mind.” Paul goes on to say “..not holding the head..” And of course you and I know that we are to have the “MIND OF CHRIST” we are the BODY not the HEAD. We are to WORK–WORSHIP  and WITNESS as the HEAD of the CHURCH, which is JESUS, leads us to do.

We as the BODY of CHRIST are nothing without the HEAD. We would just be floundering around accomplishing nothing, being useless. Paul, then goes on to talk about “JOINTS AND BANDS” which are the LIGAMENTS and NERVES or all of the other sensory things that the HEAD uses to control the the arms, legs, feet, mouth, ears, eyes or all of the rest of the BODY that the mind controls. They are the things that KNIT us together and cause us to work as a TEAM, as a CHURCH, if you please. The BODY without the HEAD, without JESUS the CHRIST, could do nothing, could have no increase. Brothers and Sisters we have got to work together, through the LOVE that GOD has put within us or we will accomplish nothing for CHRIST. But if we LOVE one another as CHRIST LOVED us, we will be a powerful witness for GOD,  and a GIANT of a witness for the KINGDOM, and GOD will continue to USE US. Each individual of the BODY supplying their part to cause that increase. HANG IN THERE, Brothers and Sisters in CHRIST, keep on LOVING, keep on PRAYING, keep on WORKING, and GOD will KEEP ON USING US.

Colossians 2:16-17 (KJV) “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

I just got through speaking about or writing about how that Jesus had TRIUMPHED over all principalities and powers of DARKNESS by HIS VICTORY on HIS CROSS and that since we have been SAVED or BORN ANEW by believing in that VICTORY that we also are “VICTORS” through HIS OBEDIENCE and SACRIFICE upon HIS CROSS. Paul is now going to TEACH us how that we can use that VICTORY to live our LIVES down here on earth, to accomplish the JOB, to accomplish the MISSION that HE has given us. We see the VICTORY in the lives of all of the APOSTLES, we see that their goals were the same goals that JESUS had. Most if not all of the APOSTLES of CHRIST did other things why they were here on earth, the jobs that they had everyday did not define who they were, it was just a “means to an end”. The earthly jobs that they had were to supply them with the necessary things that were needed so that they could “GO YE INTO ALL OF THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL”. Some were fishermen, some were soldiers, some were doctors, some were business men, some were technicians, some were scholars and teachers, some were what we may call common labors, but for sure, they were all “sojurners” here and had a common goal and purpose in their lives which was to “MAGNIFY” CHRIST and WIN a lost a dying world for GOD and HIS purpose. We are in a “RACE” a race to get things accomplished before JESUS comes back to get us! In a race to prepare this WORLD for the second coming of CHRIST. We have only a little while to work, to labor for JESUS, we have only a little while to do our part of “winning” this WORLD to JESUS. We have only a little while till JESUS, who is the CHRIST, splits the Eastern sky to RAPTURE out HIS CHURCH, to CALL UP HIS BRIDE. Please allow me to say this in an attempt to paint a better picture of what Paul is saying.

My earthly dad, fought in boxing matches, in the “Cotton Mill League” and was very good at it, and of course he taught all of his children how to box and protect ourselves, even my sister Sylvia. During those lessons he taught us how to “SHADOW BOX”, now those types of lessons were taught so that when the time for the “real thing” the “real match” to happen that we would be prepared to “fight the fight”. During the real match we would not shadow box but we would have a real opponent. We would have a physical “adversay” a physical “enemy” to contend with. Well!!! We as the BODY OF CHRIST are in a real match, we are in a real war, we have a real enemy, We don’t fight a PHANTOM or an IMAGINARY opponent but REAL ENEMIES, but now I want to interject here that GOD’s HOLY WORD says this “…greater is HE that is in you than he that is the world..” So, “KNOW THIS” we have all that we need to succeed, we have all of the weapons of  “WARFARE” that we need and “WE ALREADY HAVE THE VICTORY” we are not fighting for VICTORY but TOWARDS VICTORY, that VICTORY that lies just over the next hill! The VICTORY that was gained for us through “GOD’s ONLY BEGOTTEN SON” through HIS “DEATH” “BURIAL” and “RESURRECTION”

  Now let me read you some verses of scripture that the APOSTLE PAUL has written that will help us better understand this. Please turn in your Bibles or listen attentively to this scripture where Paul is explaining why he has made himself “THE SERVANT OF ALL”.

1 Corinthians 9:22-27 (KJV) “…To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. A and this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, nat as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air (OR SHADOW BOX): But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway…”(WORTHLESS, OR ONE THAT IS NOT USABLE) Surely we don’t want to become “UNUSABLE” someone that GOD can not use. That would be a misrable life, to want to be GOD’s HELPER but not be allowed to. Please, don’t become a “CASTAWAY”!!

Let us be “REAL CHRISTIANS” those soldiers of “HIS CROSS” that will stand the test of time. That will be there when we are needed. When JESUS comes back for us, let us be FOUND obediently performing GOD’s commands. We don’t want to be found to have to be begging GOD not to destroy the world, if HE could find a certain number of “RIGHTEOUS” people as in Genesis 18 (KJV) and Genesis 19. (KJV)

The last statement made in verse 17 is: “….the body is of Christ.” All of the things that are mentioned in verse 16 are a shadow,

1. meat= Which is physical FOOD

2. drink= Which is a liquid DRINK

3. holyday= Which is a day that is appointed as a day of feast or ceremony.

4. new moon= Which is a normal, common festival that Judaizers celebrate on every new  moon.

5. sabbath days= Which is plural and means, all of the days of the week before the actual Sabbath Say. All of the daily sacrifices, ceremonies and feasts during the week days. 

But the body  “body is of CHRIST” the word body here means “SUBSTANCE” or “REALITY in comparison with the 5 shadowy things listed above. Why fight a thing that is a shadow, the “Shadow Boxing” is for training, it is to prepare you for the actual fight or match. So Paul is saying “let no man judge you” or to “call you in question” for those ceremonial things which are just a shadow of things to come, but be sure you are about the reality of the substantial things of JESUS the CHRIST. Live in CHRIST, obey HIS commandments, do all in LOVE.

Colossians 2:13-15 (KJV) “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Stick with me on this one, there is so much “spiritual meat” in th ese three verses, it is hard to get through them in one session, one sermon or one lesson. So let’s begin by taking apart these three verses, by parsing and reparsing them. So that we get the message from them that GOD wants us to have, let’s empty our hearts of all of the things that happened in the past year. Let’s forget about all of the mistakes that we have made, all of the wrong turns that we have taken while on our JOURNEY through this world of sorrow and woe, and start afresh as we head out into this NEW YEAR, and use all of the time that GOD is giving us to GLORIFY HIS SON. Let’s take the opportunities that are given to us to be the “BEST BODY OF CHRIST” that we can be. Let’s receive, into our HEARTS and LIVES, all of the instructions that GOD’s HOLY GHOST presents to us this year, and let’s remove the BUSHEL BASKET that we might have put over our LIGHT, or to wipe clean the SOOT or STAIN that has collected or gathered on our “LAMPSHADE OF LIFE” so that we can shine “BRIGHTLY” every day of this coming year, so that we are continueously giving a Bright BEAM, to LIGHT the way for those people who have never TRUSTED CHRIST as their SAVIOR or for those who have abandoned even trying to be a LIGHT for the world to use, to see their way through this sin-laden world that is full of pitfalls and perilous distractions.

Let us look first at Paul’s statement at the beginning of verse 13 of our text. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh…” Now the Apostle Paul is not talking about the actual medical procedure that is done to males very soon after birth, but is using that procedure as a simile to bring us back, in our mind, to what we were before we chose to turn from sin and turn to JESUS for our REBIRTH. Right now I want to read to us a few verses that will remind us of what we were, and where we were in our lives, according to what Paul teaches in some of his other letters. In Romans 6:23 (KJV) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Now you might be saying or thinking, surely he can’t be talking about me, I lived or I am living a good life, I love my family and my neighbor and do the best I can, but now listen to what Paul says in Romans 3:23 (KJV) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;..”  For, you see Paul is talking about how, that before we were SAVED, how that we directed our lifes toward the fulfilling of our FLESHLY desires. How we were FLESHLY minded and didn’t direct the efforts of our lives to help the spiritual lives of others. We may have helped others physically, we may have given to all of the popular charities, helped feed the poor, paid our bills, didn’t drink or carouse around but, we were not within the “BODY OF CHRIST” we had never turned from sin and turned to GOD, but then “A MIRACLE” happened! Please listen to or follow along in your Bibles with what the Apostle Paul said next in verse 13 of our text, as he is continuing to talk about YOU, ME, and EVERYONE that believes. I am going to interject the first two words of the 13th verse for clarity “And you…hath he quickened together with HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses;…” When we finally see ourselves as GOD sees us in the truth of HIS word, we don’t like what we see, and we cry out to GOD, “LORD FORGIVE ME COME INTO MY HEART AND SAVE ME” then and only then does he “quicken us together with HIM” makes us alive with CHRIST, and forgives us of “ALL” of our sins and trespasses. Have we really grasped that, have we taken the meaning of it into our hearts. HE, GOD, “The Creator of the Universe” has washed us clean and placed us together with JESUS THE CHRIST. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, PRAISE BE UNTO GOD, WE WHO DESERVE, DEATH, HELL, and the GRAVE have been placed NEXT to JESUS because we cried out to GOD and HE placed us there, we couldn’t live good enough to get there, we didn’t have enough money or position to get there, because no amount of anything exists to get us there, but as Paul said in Ephesians 2:8,9 (KJV) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: Not of works, lest anyman should boast.”

Now then, in verse 14 of chapter 2 of the book of Colossians, Paul continues to explain what GOD did to save us when we by faith believed that JESUS died for us. Paul wrote: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to HIS cross;”

You see the phrase that Paul used “handwriting of ordinances” was a hand-written decree a manuscript, a legal document or bond that said or decreed that you and I are and were GUILITY. Now, by whose hand was this decree written, because that is vitally important, I have had a lot of people write or say, Doug did this, Doug did that, Doug was mean to me, Doug said this or Doug said that. But most of the time it was because they were mad at me because of something I had said or done that they didn’t like. But that report or decree meant nothing because of who wrote it or said it.  

So by whose hand was this “handwriting of ordinances” written? It was written by someone who LOVED and LOVES us with an everlasting LOVE, it was written by GOD’s hand of course, GOD wrote your name and my name on a decree or an ordinance, that was and is legal and binding. But that report is not a good thing, it is decreeing where we would go if we died before we were saved, decreeing where we will or would spend eternity. Not because we were such a bad person but because we had or have rejected the payment that was made for our salvation, that was made for our redemption, it was the propitiation for our sins even the sin that was transferred to us by EVE’S and ADAM’S disobedience to GOD. The word “BLOTTING OUT” in this verse means to obliterate, to ERASE COMPLETELY and actually wipe away as if it had never happened. You see when GOD forgives us HE puts our sin away from us as far as the EAST is from WEST to remember them no more. Not because we were innocent but because we had received or accepted the atonement offered to us. As I said just a little while ago the Bible says that the “…the wages of sin is death…” and that “…all have sinned..” so you see all of us are “GUILTY” but we are seen as “innocent” because of JESUS’ sacrifice on the cross, “HIS CROSS”, because HE “NAILED” every sin that has ever been committed or that will ever be committed to “HIS CROSS” even though HE had never sinned.

Now, I will not forget to include the 15th verse of our text. Colossians 2:15 which says “And having spoiled principalities and powers, HE made a shew of them openly, “TRIUMPHING OVER” them in it.”

The word spoiled means that HE, JESUS, rendered the powers of and principalities, the leaders and chiefs of darkness POWERLESS. When HE died and was buried and then rose again, HE triumphed all of the POWERS that were against HIM. ANGELIC, DEMONIC, and HUMAN. You see when we obey GOD, nothing can stop us nothing can win against us, when we let GOD DO IT, and stop trying to do it with our power or for our GLORY. GOD WILL GIVE US THE VICTORY just as HE gave JESUS the VICTORY! Listen please!!! There was not only a wrongful death upon the CROSS of CALVARY but because it was “HIS CROSS” there was also “VICTORY” on that BLOODY, gruesome hill of Golgotha that day. It was not murder but it was a willful sacrifice of an INNOCENT life to pay for the sins of the whole world!!!!

If you have never been saved, trust in that SACRIFICE that JESUS of NAZZARETH made for you, me, and “WHOSOEVER WILL” on “HIS CROSS” that day over 2000 years ago, you will NEVER regret it. If you have been saved but have kind of forgot it and have wandered off the narrow path, HE still loves you, HE will forgive you, HE will bring you back into the FOLD. HE like the prodigal son’s Father, is waiting and watching for you to come back home.

Colossians 2:4 (KJV) “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.”

Now we are going to take some of these words apart so that the HOLY SPIRIT can use them to draw us closer to the LORD and to teach us how to be more aware of the fact that Satan is doing his best to destroy us as Christian and also to stop US as a vital part of the “BODY OF CHRIST”. Satan can not stand to see a church that is LOVING one another and others, or a church that is showing COMPASSION, or a church that is growing together for the GLORY of GOD! Now let’s dig into this 4th verse of the 2nd chapter of Colossians. First I want us to look at the word SAY:

Say: the Greek word used here “LEG’-O” is used instead of the many other words that mean to speak or to make a noise, or to just simply to break the silence. The Greek word  (LEG’O) means to paint a picture with words, to “LAY FORTH” words that will form a picture or thought in the heads of the ones reading or hearing it, to help them, and of course help US to continue on the path or our task. I found it very interesting that this word “LEG’-O” in it’s Latin counterpart means “I put together” or “I assemble” and is the word that, in the early to mid 1900’s, that an American immigrant named his company product after. He called that product “LEGGO’S”. I am sure you I and most every youngster in the US has used those plastic pieces to construct or build many things. It is so, fitting that Paul would use this Greek word to help this new congregation to be built, or grow, into a great witness for CHRIST. Paul knew that the Judaizers would soon be attempting to destroy the work that had begun there at Colossae. So, the Apostle Paul wanted to EQUIP these new CHRISTIANS with the weapontry or tools they needed to carry on as a powerful witness for the LORD. So that they could be able to continue the work that Epaphras had started there at Colossae, because as I have said numerous times, GOD did not save us to just sit idly by, but to work as the “BODY OF CHRIST”, to be the arms, the legs, the mouths of the head which is JESUS! Let’s look at the next part of this verse and look at the word “beguile”.

Satan was at work in that day, just as he is at work in our day and time, he is very busy at attempting to stop the great task that is given to the church to spread the GOSPEL of JESUS THE CHRIST! Because this proclamation of that GOOD NEWS is the only hope for a lost and dying world.  

The word “BEGUILE” simply means to “lie to” to decieve and cause delusions in the mind of the “BODY OF CHRIST”.

If Satan cannot stop the work of CHRIST then he tries to “dilute” it so that the witness is without POWER, and cannot accomplish the task that GOD desires. Satan has been “BEGUILING” people since the beginning of time, he has had a lot of experience in doing it, and in one place in GOD’s word, he was declared to be “the father of a LIE”. He lied, or beguiled Adam and Eve, to disobey GOD and plunged mankind headlong into sin. He has been lying and deceiving people ever since, and even tried to deceive the “SON of GOD” in the wilderness during JESUS’ temptation.  Satan lies to you and I today, he lies to everyone today to accomplish his task. To beguile all of the world so that he will have more and more company in HELL. Never listen to his lies, that is why John said to “try the spirits” in 1 John 4:1 (KJV) “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of GOD: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Never let satan “beguile” you, because he will try for sure, and he will try it just as Paul says in this 4th verse of the 2nd chapter of the book of Colossians. He will do it by using “enticing words” which by the way is used only one time in the Bible and means “using persuasive language”. Remember some of these words satan has used. Such as when he was talking to Eve in the garden of eden (KJV) “…Yea, hath god said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” and when he was talking to JESUS in the wilderness and said: (KJV) “…If thou be the Soon of God, cast thyself down: for it is written…” listen satan is BOLD BRASS and BEGUILING. Use the WORD of GOD quoting God’s Word back to him. Just a note about the Hebrew word “subtil”, it means “CUNNING” “CRAFTY” and also “BEGUILING”.

So when someone comes to you preaching or teaching things that are “TICKLING” to the ear. BEWARE!!!

Order your life by the “WORD OF GOD”. Live as the “WORD OF GOD” says live, Love as the “WORD OF GOD” says love, Give as the “WORD OF GOD” says give. “Everything that you do, do in the NAME OF THE LORD!

I read to you just a little bit ago out of the book of 1 John the 4th chapter and the 1st verse so here now is the 5 verses following it. 1 John 4:2-6 (KJV) “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Colossians 2:3 “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Let’s look at some words that Paul has used here in these two verses of scripture. I always try to picture in my mind what Paul is doing at the time he is writing these letters, try to see maybe where he is at and what the circumstances are as he is writing or as he is dictating to someone else who is actually doing the penmanship. Paul is probably sitting in some dank dark jail as he serves the LORD or maybe on some lonely island in a storm, huddled under some bare shelter, or in some other dire situation. So let us first look at some words in this first verse where Paul was writing to those Christians at Corinth. The first word I want to look at is “UNSPEAKABLE”  

The Greek word that was translated “UNSPEAKABLE” means, that which cannot be told out to the end; what cannot be told in detail, or related. Paul is wanting these Christians to know that this person, this JESUS the CHRIST, is no ordinary person but is GOD HIMSELF in the flesh, who has came down from heaven above to help HIS people, to deliver them, to comfort them, to be near them in there time of need. In the Bible in the book of Matthew in Matthew 1:23 says: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us.”  The word unspeakable means “Indescribable” which really “reminds me of the candy bar named “PETER PAUL MOUNDS”, because back in the day, when I was still a very young boy, this company’s advertisement used that word “indescribable”. It is fitting isn’t it that the man that concocted that formula and started that company was an “imigrant” from a far country, who had come to this new nation to realize his dream. Which brings me to the book of Luke where the greatest gift ever, the most “UNSPEAKABLE GIFT” was prophesied to happen in Luke 1:26-33 “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, name Nazareth, To a virgin expoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever: and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” GOD came to HIS people and became flesh so that HE could deliever them by becoming the propitation for their sins and the sins of the whole world. The word:

Gift: Suggests and means that they and we did not earn it, that we were not even thinking about GOD at the time. It was not any sense of duty that brought GOD to this sin-laden earth but it was HIS GREAT LOVE that moved HIM to come and deliver HIS people from there sins. The Bible declares in:

Romans 5:18 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righeousness of one the FREE GIFT came upon all men unto justification of life.” JESUS HIMSELF said in the Gospel of John in:

John 4:10 “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

A gift is something presented to you without payment from you, a present that you did not earn or buy but it did cost something to the one giving the GIFT and in this case it cost GOD HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to come and die a horrible death upon the CROSS so that you and I and that ALL (WHOSOEVER WILL) could be SAVED.

Have you received this GIFT, just as we celebrate CHRISTMAS with the giving of gifts, you don’t just leave the gifts unwrapped and laying around but you open it and take unto your self. You must receive this “UNSPEAKABLE GIFT” into your heart and do with it as GOD would have you to do.

Now in this next scripture which is in Colossians 2:3 “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The first word I want us to take note of in this verse is the word “HID”. Which says to me, that we have to open it so that we can see what this GIFT is, in our lives today when we celebrate CHRISTMAS, we don’t just leave the presents unwrapped or tossed in a corner or thrown in a drawer somewhere, but we open them and use them for what they are intended for. What is HID in GOD? The word HID does not mean that it is placed somewhere so you can not find it, but that it is placed as a treasure, so to keep it safe till you dig it up, or unwrap it, to see what it is. The word “TREASURES” simply means “WEALTH”. We search or work for wealth most of lives but the Bible says that “ALL” the “TREASURES” all of the “WEALTH” that is worth having is in JESUS. All of the “WISDOM and KNOWLEGE” that you will ever need has been given to anyone and everyone who wants it, who is willing to SEEK it. The Bible says to “SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND”, so may I offer to you these suggestions or these options of what we must do with this “GIFT”? First:

We most “OPEN” this GIFT: We must open our HEARTS and receive JESUS in as our SAVIOR. HE is available and ready to save you from your sins: He is availble and ready to “change your life”, OH!! The pain and shame we bear needlessly because we delay coming to CHRIST. Reach out this day and “OPEN” your HEART to JESUS and receive HIM today as your SAVIOR. 

Secondly, after you have been saved:

We must OBEY: We must obey GOD and be about doing ALL that HE has commanded US to do. And, of course the greatest commandment, the greatest task that HE has given us, is to LOVE, to LOVE GOD, to LOVE ourselves, and to LOVE others. When we obey these commandments all of the others just fall in line right behind them. Remember 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of GOD, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not greivous.” Then last but not least:

We must OFFER our lives to HIM: We must offer our lives as a LIVING SACRIFICE unto GOD to be used of HIM. When we offer our lives to HIM, it is only our reasonable service. Listen please, think of it this way, SACRIFICE for SACRIFICE, HE gave is life for you, and, you give your live to HIM.

Whereever you are at, whatever you are doing, or whenever, “LIVE FOR HIM” GOD has all you need, “WISDOM” “KNOWLEDGE” “STRENGTH” “PROTECTION” “LOVE” and “COURAGE”

COLOSSIANS 2:7(KJV) “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Rooted: (Which means to become stable) to put down roots into the fertile soil of the “WORD of GOD”, and “Built Up” ( Which is a compound Greek word, made up of (epi or upon) as to build upon, or to build thereon) you see, when we are saved and become “borned again” we are given the FOUNDATION within us to build upon, when GOD saves us, HE does not expect us to remain as just a Foundation, but fully expects us to erect a life on that Foundation that will remain stable, so it can be used by others to lead them to “HIM” or of course lead them to JESUS the CHRIST! I, in my life, have seen many foundations started, but they never went any further. I have seen, out in the country, in residential city areas, in failed subdivisions, or any city neighborhoods, Foundations that never had anything placed on them, Foundations that were taken over by weeds and vines and never became the home that they were planned for. Foundations that were bare and useless, no signs of life or movement, no signs of the Family that was hoped for, no signs of the growth that was planned. Such a sad site, but the same things happen in the Foundations of Faith when people get saved and never move from that spot. They remain just a Foundation, they never build on it and create a life of service for JESUS. Now let’s look at the next phrase.

Stablished in the FAITH: The word stablished means to stabilitate or “MAKE STABLE”. Even a foundation can become weak and unstable if we never build on it, if we have nothing built on our foundation, that foundation can begin to crumble and fall apart and become very unstable, we must always build on our Foundation of Faith, and not let it become unstable. Listen my brothers and sisters in Christ, without the stablization of “building upon” that Foundation, it will crumble and erode away. Now, I am not saying that you can be lost again but that your salvation can become nothing but “powder” and “dust” and there will be no power there to make you a “witness” for the LORD. So, by FAITH we need to “stablish” our Christian lives. We need to allow the “HOLY SPIRIT” to take the WORD OF GOD and build some flooring, some walls, some roofing on that Foundation, so that we can become a “POWERFUL” witness for JESUS. So we can live our Christian lives with “POWER” and strength and become a real laborer for the “BODY OF CHRIST”. Now, please listen to what the Apostle Paul says next.

Abounding Therein with THANKSGIVING: The Greek word here that is translated “ABOUNDING” means to SUPERABOUND in quantity or quality. To be in “EXCESS” not to just do something but to be superfluous at doing it. To cause to SUPERABOUND or to excel, to love MORE, to work MORE, to worship MORE so that there is plenty of results to go around. To go OVER and ABOVE that which is expected of you, to be better than you are supposed to be. PLEASE never forget this, “YOU CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD”, not in monetary value, not in laboring, not in loving, not in having compassion, not in anything. GOD gave till it HURT!! GOD GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO BE SACRIFICED ON THE CROSS for the propitiation for our sins. YOU cannot out GIVE GOD!! But you can attempt to be as LOVING and as CARING as HE is. You can try to, at least give and care as much as HE does, by FAITH, to SUPERABOUND in FAITH. And do it with THANKSGIVING. The word THANKSGIVING means: Gratitude; active grateful lanuage to GOD, as an act of WORSHIP, not only in WORD but in ACTION. Living a life of THANKFULNESS, loving HIM with ALL YOU GOT!!!

Are you living that kind of life, am I living that kind of life, is our CHURCH or our BODY OF CHRIST living that kind of life? “WE SHOULD BE” We should be building on that FOUNDATION, so that our community can be strengthened, caring and loving. So that we can be an example of Christlike people LIVING for GOD.

Colossians 2:1-3 (KJV) “For I would tht ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Love will always get you where you want to be, LOVE is the “stitches”, or the glue, the “MATTER” that holds a LOCAL CHURCH together. In one place in the Bible the Holy Ghost led the writer to say, that LOVE covers a multitude of sin, LOVE is what keeps a group, a team, a couple together. It is what keeps friends together, it is the warmth, happiness, the good feeling that is present when you are together. Did not the HOLY GHOST also say “Where 2 or 3 are gathered together, there I am in the midst of them.”

GOD is LOVE, and so when WE come together it is like putting a bunch of sparks together and it becomes like a bon-fire. The warmth from that LOVE just flows in and out and among you all, or us all, if I may use that phrase. The warmth of the LOVE just draws everybody together and causes others to want to come and gather with you so that they also can feel that WARMTH. There AIN’T nothing like it!! Remember that this world, is a cold dark place without the LOVE of GOD in the midst of it. Kind of like bisquits! Have you ever taken some flour and put it in your mouth, it is not really very palatable by itself. But, if you take that flour, some milk and other ingredients, and kind of mix and pat it together and then put in the oven and heat it up, you have a really tasty morsel of food that will sustain you when you are hungry, and by-the-way, the WORLD is a hungry place, it is hungering for what GOD has for them, I think sometimes we have forgot the meaning of some words and take them for granted, like the word hunger which means: a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by the lack of food. Doesn’t that sound like a fit discription of the world today. The world is just going to and fro with no power and finding no comfort for their pain, and WE, as the BODY of CHRIST have that FOOD, we have what they NEED. Each one of us as the unique part of that BODY, when gathered together with the other unique parts, make a BODY that can supply all the needs of the WORLD. You see the word “knit together” is a compound word that is put together by using the Greek word “SUN” a preposition, and the Greek word BIBAZO which translated into our language today means to “drive together” to cause things and even people to “UNITE” or mesh together. In Psalms 133, Please listen to what David says about HARMONY and UNITY, the KJV translates the Hebrew word here as “UNITY”, and I believe rightly so, but many of the other translations of the Bible translate it as “HARMONY”. Both translations are great and mean the same thing. The verse says: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

This Psalm was sung by the Jewish people as they came together to worship in the TEMPLE. The JEWS, for so long were very tribal, very distant from one another and GOD had promised them that HE would be there in the TEMPLE with them, when they met HARMONIOUSLY there to worship HIM. It is so JOYOUS and AWE inspiring to see GOD’s people fellowshipping together, LOVING one another and being HAPPY in the presence of one another. It is like the whipped cream and cherry on the top of a milkshake. And most of all it pleases GOD, to no end, to see HIS children, spreading HIS LOVE among one another. MT Zion of course is where Jerusalem is and in the background is Mount HERMON, which is the highest peak in Israel, and it is said that there is so much DEW on Mount HERMON that the mountain can not contain it but it “puddles up” and spills over and runs down to JERUSALEM. Dew is so refreshing, so LIVING, it sparkles in the sunlight and gives such emanance that David would liken it to ETERNAL LIFE. OH that the CHURCH would be like MT HERMON and with so much LOVE within it that that LOVE would puddle up and run out and fill the communities, the cities, the states, the countries, and YES even the whole world with LOVE, like the mountain fills JERUSALEM and the surronding valley’s with the DEW! 

In Ephesians 4:16 the Apostle Paul used the same Greek word as he was explaining how the BODY of CHRIST was fit together with JESUS as the HEAD of that BODY, but the HOLY SPIRIT chose to translate it with a different English word. Well, listen or notice as I read that verse to us: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Can we let these verses that Paul has written, spark our imagination to the point where we will let it paint a picture in our minds of what Paul is talking about. Look at it this way, or in a similiar way. Think of  the size of the task, or JOB that GOD has given us to complete, the JOB of “GROWING A CHURCH” as the BODY of CHRIST. NOW, picture 1 person trying to accomplish that task, very daunting isn’t it. NOW, again, picture that person or BODY multiplied by even just 30 or 40, let me paint or draw that picture to help us picture it better. We, if my math is correct, as a picture of a person, who is now over 200 feet tall, about 70 or 80 feet wide with legs that are over 60 feet long with a stride of 50 or 60 feet and which would now make our reach, now also magnified to about 120 feet. Now, don’t go to thinking that your PASTOR has finally gone all the way and forever looney, but realize that I have just described a GIANT, which could now be more able to take care of and accomplish the great awesome task that GOD has set before us. Now, this body that I have just described, towers over the work that we are sent to do. WE can now, with less steps, with less reaches, with less volume in our combined voices, take the message of CHRIST out to our community and to, YES, even the whole world. Listen, my brothers and sisters in CHRIST, with our combined efforts we become this massive WITNESS for CHRIST and, our community, and our WORLD can better see the NEED to be SAVED and the NEED to JOIN the BODY to make it EVEN MORE effective in it’s outreach.

Colossians 1:22-29 (KJV)  “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sigh: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of GOD which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” 

This would be a good time to look at the word that the Apostle Paul used here, RECONCILE: which means “restoration to DIVINE FAVOR” because when ADAM and EVE decided to choose to believe satan, the serpent, and disobey GOD, all of mankind was plunged into sin and death that comes along with it, and because of that we have also chosen not to obey GOD, because the bible in the Book of Romans says: “…ALL HAVE SINNED and COME SHORT of the GLORY of GOD” and also that the WAGES of that SIN is DEATH, then GLORY to GOD the Bible also says BUT!!!! BUT!!!! THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE “THROUGH” JESUS THE CHRIST OUR LORD. (Romans 6:23) (KJV)  Listen folks you won’t get there by “being good” or with “righteous living”, if you’ll remember the Word of GOD in Isaiah 64:6 (KJV) says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquites, like the wind, have taken us away.” NO!! Your righteousness will not get you to heaven or get you to becoming “BORN AGAIN”, the only way that can happen is by your “HEART FELT BELIEF” or “FAITH” in the shed blood of the SAVIOR JESUS. The Apostle Paul started out that 6th Chapter of Romans with these verses, let me read Romans 6:1-6 (KJV)  “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dad to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucifiec with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” I surely know and I am aware that there or those that preach different and present a different gospel, but please read along with me, to what GOD’s holy scriptures say in Romans 3:22-28 (KJV)  “Even the righteousness of GOD which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

The Bible talks about the “latter days” that will come, that men and women will want to heap to themselves, or to continually pile up PREACHERS and TEACHERS that will tell them what they want to hear, to TICKLE their ears with LIES and PROMISES that will make them feel good, and feel that they are OK because GOD loves them, but listen to me please, GOD loves us all and always will, but we do not become saved and “BORN AGAIN” till we call upon the name of the LORD with saving FAITH, always remember this that the abundance of LIES and FALSEHOODS will never equal the truth, you can continue to pile up a huge stack of good sounding stories and tales, but the truth, and GOD’s WORD is the TRUTH, one word about JESUS will extinguish all of the LIES you can pile up. Listen to what Paul says in verses 21 and 22 of our text. “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now HE has reconciled in the body of HIS flesh through death, to present you HOLY, and BLAMELESS, and ABOVE REPROACH in HIS sight.” Do you feel HOLY? Do you feel BLAMELESS? Are you ABOVE REPROACH? The answer of course is NO! NO! A thousand times NO! We ARE NOT, but because of JESUS’s  sacrifice upon the cross, and the shedding of HIS precious BLOOD we are SEEN that way, we are SEEN as righteous when we accept HIS  SACRIFICE and BELIEVE IN HIM. There is an old song from the 1960’s, don’t know whether you have heard it or not, but that makes no difference, it was not a GOSPEL song nor a church HYMN, it was titled “TELL IT LIKE IT IS”. And I hope that when I preach or when I teach, that you can KNOW, beyond a shadow of doubt, that I don’t beat around the bush, but I “TELL IT LIKE IT IS” I am no one’s toy or puppet on a string, but I have been “CHARGED” by ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF to preach HIS MESSAGE. I have been “Charged” or commanded to be “IN SEASON” or “OUT OF SEASON” in other words, to preach HIS WORD whether it’s popular or not, whether people like it or not. I think we as preachers and teachers of the BIBLE have to preach and teach that HELL is REAL and is HOT, and that HEAVEN is REAL and is SWEET. That GOD does not send us to HELL or HEAVEN but has provided everything we need to escape that damnation, but we must make that choice, HE will not force it on us. We must choose JESUS of NAZZERTH and HIS SACRIFICE for the atonement of our sin, and we must also choose to follow HIS example and HIS directions to LIVE for HIM.

In verses 26 and 27 of our text, Paul talks about the “MYSTERY” that has been hidden since the beginning of time. Please listen as I read those 2 verses “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to HIS saints. To them GOD willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is “CHRIST IN YOU, the HOPE OF GLORY.” My brothers and sisters in  CHRIST, we have no HOPE except that HOPE that we have placed in JESUS’ “BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS”

The JEWs thought HEAVEN and SALVATION was just for them, but that was the MYSTERY that was HIDDEN from the beginning of time, but the CHURCH is made up of JEWS and GENTILES alike, just as JESUS said in John 3:16 (KJV) “…WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH…” those that have trusted in the SAVIOR, JESUS, JESUS of NAZZERTH, who was sent to be the SAVIOR of WORLD. I am going to read you a couple of last verses and if you remember last Sunday I ask you to look at one of those verses because I would use it this Sunday Morning.

Ephesians 5:32 (KJV) which goes right along with the 26th verse in our TEXT and it says: “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning CHRIST and the CHURCH.” 

My hope is that you have trusted in this JESUS as the sacrifice for your sin, and believe that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead. For the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD:” My hope is that you would respond to the HOLY GHOST, if you have never been saved, call upon HIM and HE will save you. Place your “HEARTFELT” FAITH in JESUS’ atonement and you will receive all of HIS promises.

Maybe this is the day you would like to step back on the right path and follow JESUS.

Maybe this is the day you would want to follow Jesus in Baptism.

HE is waiting for you, waiting for you to decide!