Sunday, May 10, 2015 P.M. Service – Blackrock Baptist Church
Sermon title was “Sight, Flight, and Might”
Colossians 1:10-14
10 …so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks[a] to the Father, who has qualified you[b]to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We should be a “365 seeker”–seeking the Lord daily, not just on a Sunday morning at church. In Colossians 1:9, Paul prayed that the Colossian church would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. We should pray the same–we don’t want to miss opportunities. How many opportunities do we miss? What if our thought life or our service (or lack thereof) was shown to everyone, as on a movie reel, for all our family, friends, and acquaintances to see?
In verse 9, we read about knowing God’s will so that (v.10) we’ll walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. Spend time with someone and you learn what he likes and dislikes; spend time with the Lord and know His will and walk in obedience to it.
See Psalm 1–Delight in the law of the Lord; meditate on it day and night (Ps. 1:2). Be a 365 seeker.
Walk (abide) in Christ daily, so that we won’t be ashamed when He returns — 1 John 2:28 says “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” All believers will all go through the judgement seat of Christ. Be ready!
Col 1:10 also mentions “work”. We don’t work to be saved, but salvation and works go hand in hand. Works are the evidence of salvation. Matt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Good works, good fruit only happens as we abide in the vine (Christ), see John 15.
Col 1:11 We need His power and might for endurance and patience with joy. Having joy in trial is a litmus test for the Christian. It’s easy to rejoice when times are good–the Christian has joy even in trial. We don’t just link “good events” to God’s goodness–God is good always, in all circumtances. All things aren’t necessarily good, but God can use all things for good. (See Romans 8:28)
Col 1:12 In Adam, we’re all disqualified. God qualifies us in Christ.
Col 1:13 God has delivered us in Christ
Col 1:14 We are redeemed and forgiven in Christ (see also Hebrews 10:1. Christ accomplished what the law could not do).