Colossians: Commissioned and Committed

This is the third sermon in a series of messages through the New Testament book of Colossians. This message is based on Col. 1:24 - 2:5 and looks at the Apostle Paul's descriptions of his commitment to the ministry that was commissioned by God. The video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was given can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

(sermonillustrations.com) Adoniram Judson sweated out Burma's heat for 18 years without a furlough, six years without a convert. Enduring torture and imprisonment, he admitted that he never saw a ship sail without wanting to jump on board and go home. When his wife's health broke and he put her on a homebound vessel in the knowledge he would not see her for two full years, he confided to his diary: "If we could find some quiet resting place on earth where we could spend the rest of our days in peace. . ." But he steadied himself with this remarkable postscript: "Life is short. Millions of Burmese are perishing. I am almost the only person on earth who has attained their language to communicate salvation..." Regions Beyond, Vol. 37, No. 1, p. 2.

Judson illustrates for us in more recent history what being under a commission from God and committed to the task really looks like. There are scores and scores of other fine examples of such dedication to the kingdom of God and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This morning we are continuing to look into the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Colossae and in the passage before us today we are learning about Paul’s commission from God and his commitment to that commission in relation to the people of Colossae as well as the other people in that general region.

I.          A Divine Commission

Colossians 1:25 (NKJV)  … I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

“minister” – deacon; servant, attendant, from obsolete GK word “to run errands.”

“the stewardship” – KJV, “dispensation;” NIV, “commission.” From “administration of a household or estate.”

The Apostle is reminding his readers (whom he has not met yet), that he has become a servant FOR God because he has been commissioned BY God. Damascus Road, etc. (God to Ananias, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake” Acts 9:16).

A. He was commissioned for ministry to the church.

v. 25 – “of which I became a minister…”

The word, “which” refers back to the word “church” in the previous verse.

vv. 24 – 25 “… for the sake of his body, the church, ²⁵of which I became a minister… for you…”

Also, v. 25, “… according to the stewardship (commission) from God which was given to me for you…”

Paul feels a keen sense of responsibility to the church of Jesus. Those whom he previously persecuted, but now for several years has been faithfully devoting his time and energy to promote and serve. 

We’re living in a day when people feel less and less compelled to be a part of the church and to be involved in its growth.

B. He was commissioned to fulfill the word of God.

v. 25, “… to fulfill the word of God,”

(Lenski New Testament Commentary) The Word of God" is something to be transmitted and thus to fulfill it is to give it what it wants, what it is for, namely to transmit it to those for whom it is intended.

·         The word of God he was commissioned to “fulfill” (proclaim, teach, spread), was a “mystery.”

Colossians 1:26-27 (NKJV) ²⁶ the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. ²⁷ 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.

For the false teachers (Gnostics), mystery meant that only the “spiritual elite” could understand because they have superior knowledge.

The mystery which was hidden for so long but now has been revealed is two-fold:

1) The Gentiles are to be included (and always were to be included) in God’s plan of redemption.

2) The mystical union between God and man – “Christ in you.”

This intimate union is a foretaste of coming glory.

“Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!”

·         The fulfillment of the word of God included both warning and instruction.

Colossians 1:28 (NKJV)  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The goal is to help as many as possible to reach spiritual maturity and become what God intended them to be.

(Lenski New Testament Commentary) To present every man as such does not here refer to the Parousia but to the present time: each and every believer is to stand forth so that all may see him as one who is spiritually complete and mature….

II.        A Determined Commitment

A. Commitment to the commission requires deliberate effort.

Colossians 1:29 (NKJV)  To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Various commentary authors say that Paul uses words relating to two different kinds of effort.

“labor” – a word that refers to work, vocation, etc.

“striving” – a word that refers to athletic training and practice.

Paul seems to be saying, “I am putting all the effort into this ministry that a worker puts into his work or an athlete puts into his sport.” He specifically states that he does this so that he might accomplish the goal described in v. 28.

B. Commitment to the commission brings his focus on his readers.

Colossians 2:1 (NKJV)  For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

(Lenski) In v. 28 of ch. 1, Paul’s emphasis is on bringing every man into spiritual maturity. Now he is applying the same thought to his readers and to those in the neighboring city of Laodicea.

“conflict” – NASB “struggle;” Strong’s Concordance – the word comes from a root word that indicates a “place of assembly” and by implication, the contest that is held there.

·         He desires to lead them to “perfection” also. (see 1:28)

Colossians 2:2-3 (NKJV) ²  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

This will involve them gaining knowledge and understanding of God’s mystery.

·       Gaining the right kind of knowledge, protects against false philosophies.

Colossians 2:4 (NKJV)  Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

If believers do not dig into the Word, and make every effort to hear the Word of God accurately proclaimed, they are vulnerable to all kinds of false ideas and philosophies.

You may remember that I referred to verse 4 during the series of messages I preached last year on the topic of having a Christian/ biblical worldview. There are all kinds of false ideas being promoted in churches today by pastors who apparently want to be considered “intelligent” and “up with the times.”

Big-name preachers and leaders are caving to the agendas of ungodly philosophies. (LGBT; Critical Race; etc.)

One example… (share article about a Dad in Canada sentenced to prison because he wouldn't stop referring to his daughter as a girl and using feminine pronouns for her.)

Conclusion:

This message today was primarily all about the Apostle Paul’s personal calling and commission from God, and about the effort he had exerted to accomplish that calling. But, Paul is letting his readers know that the reason for it all is really two-fold:

He wants them to truly experience genuine intimacy with Christ and the spiritual maturity that goes with such a relationship.

His passion and burning desire is for the gospel to reach all people everywhere, and he wants them to be a vital part of that mission.

I do not doubt that he desires for them to share in the commission, which was given by Christ Himself to all disciples. So, as we close today, I trust that each of us will be as committed in knowing and experiencing all that God intended for us to enjoy through the unique intimacy with Christ, and that we will make every effort to see that other people receive the same opportunity.

Colossians: The Preeminent Christ

This sermon is the second message in a series of messages through the New Testament book of Colossians. Based on Col. 1:15-23, the message focuses on the words of Paul as he describes various qualities and characteristics of Jesus, the Son of God. A video recording of the worship service in which this message was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Last Sunday we started a new series of messages going through the book of Colossians. We looked at verses 1-14 of chapter one in which the author, the Apostle Paul, expressed his prayers for the recipients. His first mention of prayer was letting them know that He gives thanks to the Lord for all that God had done and was doing in their lives. Then he shares his prayer for God to help them to increase in knowledge, strength, and obedience.

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples one day, He asked, “Whom do men say that I am?” (Mark 8:27). After they responded with some of the things they had heard, He then asked, “Whom do you say that I am?” (v. 29). You may already know that Peter responded with these words, “You are the Christ.” The most crucial question every person must answer in their own minds and hearts is this, “Who do you say that Jesus is?” 

Long ago I learned the fact that false doctrines and false religions can be identified by their beliefs about Jesus. And apparently it was one of the concerns that Paul had about the believers in Colossae. Last week I mentioned that one of the up-and-coming problems in that region was the early stages of Gnosticism, which held very faulty views of Jesus. So he is explaining several key concepts about Jesus in this very first chapter.

What are the key elements in the accurate description or picture of Christ as presented by Paul? There are three mentioned here.

I.          Jesus Christ is the exact representation of God.

I previously explained that one of the doctrines of the Gnostics was all matter is evil. Jesus could not truly be God because he had a physical body, which means he partakes of evil. There were various theories or schools of thought that tried to explain Jesus in different terms than truly the divine Son of God. For example, one view stressed the belief that the “Christ” designation “Messiah” only came upon Jesus at his baptism and then left him prior to the crucifixion. There were other variations of explanations offered. But the Apostle Paul cuts through all of the speculative theories and boldly proclaims that He (i.e. the Son – v. 13) is the exact image of the God we cannot see.

Col. 1:15 (NKJV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Heb. 1:3 (NKJV) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…

“Image” has a stronger meaning than the word “likeness.” While likeness carries the idea of resemblance or similarity, “image” also includes the idea of derivation. (Lenski)

The Son, Jesus, is the exact stamp of the Father. And it is expressed in even higher terms in v. 19.

Col. 1:19 (NKJV) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

Jesus isn’t partially God or partially divine, but He is, in fact, the full representation of God in bodily form.

Col. 2:9 (NKJV) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

“firstborn over all creation” – a phrase that, on the surface, sounds like it is saying the Son of God was created.

It is a way of saying that He is the eternal Son, eternally “born” of the Father, but He is eternal none-the-less. It also expresses the fact that He existed prior to all creation in time and rank. (Tyndale Commentary)

Paul is proclaiming the deity of Christ and establishing the fact that He is the eternal Son of God providing the exact image and likeness of the Father for everyone to witness. Really, if you want to know who God is, look at Christ. If you want to know what God is like, look at Christ. If there is anything you want to know about God, look at Christ.

Power – look at walking on the water, calming the stormy sea, healing the sick, sight to the blind and coming out of the grave.

Love – listen to him say, “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more;” look at him lying down on the cross and stretching out his arms for the whole world as he shed his blood and gave up life.

Purity/holiness – he was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.

Anger – look at him go into the temple and throw over the tables and whip the religious crooks right out of the temple area.

Christ is God acting like God in the lowly raiment of human flesh. – A. W. Tozer (Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World)

II.        Jesus Christ is the agent of creation.

The Son is not only the “firstborn of all creation,” meaning that He existed before creation, which by the way, is what John says in John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” But, this Son is the agent of everything that is created.

cf. John 1:3 (NKJV) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

The way Paul describes it, there is nothing left out. Everything that came into existence came because the Son of God made it. Look at what all is included (vv. 16-17)

Col. 1:16-17 (NKJV) ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

“consist” – old verb, to place together and here to cohere, to hold together. (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament)

He made it all. It all exists for His glory. It all holds together by His power. Rather that Jesus being some product of creation – several stages removed from the divine – He is the agent of all creation because He is divine. He existed before everything else, and He is the reason for everything else.

III.       Jesus Christ is the head of the church.

Col. 1:18 (NKJV) And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

The next element in this eloquent description of Christ by the Apostle has to do with His work in the world through His body, the church. Some have pointed out that the letter to the Ephesians and the letter to the Colossians both have a great deal to say about the church. While Ephesians emphasizes the church as the “body,” Colossians emphasizes Christ as the “head.”

As the head of the church, He gives it coherence, purpose guidance, and control. He is the “beginning” or cause/source of the church. He is the “firstborn from the dead” or the conqueror of death, through His own resurrection.

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries – Colossians and Philemon) Firstborn’ here, particularly when taken ... in the sense of ‘beginning’, implies that Christ’s resurrection, though presently unique, will be acted out by a great company of others.

“that He might have the preeminence” – so that everything should all point to Him as source/creator/author, and everything should glorify Him. He is exalted!

Col. 1:19-23 (NKJV) ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

²⁰ and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. ²¹ And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled ²² in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

All of these words and phrases emphasize different phases of the work that Christ has done in and for His church. He did it all and continues to do it all so that “He might have the preeminence!”

Conclusion:

I believe it was while I was still in Bible college that someone said, when people leave our churches after the worship service it should not be our goal for them to say, “what a great message,” or “what a great preacher,” but “What a great Christ!” I haven’t done an adequate job today describing Him as I’d like. What a great Christ we serve! What an awesome Lord and Savior!

There is a verse that will be coming up in our next message, but I want to mention a portion of it now.

Col. 1:27 (NKJV) … Christ in you, the hope of glory.

This wonderful Lord, Jesus the Christ, can live within each and every one of us through His Spirit!

Closing Song: Have You Any Room for Jesus?

Colossians: Gratitude and Growth

This is the first sermon in a series of messages through the New Testament book of Colossians. This message focuses on verses 1-14 of the first chapter and takes a look at the prayers of the Apostle regarding the Colossian believers. The first prayer is a prayer of gratitude and the second prayer is for their continued growth in grace. The worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

 Introduction:

Quite some time ago I began feeling that God was leading me to do a series of messages through the NT book of Colossians. For the next several weeks (possible 8 or so), we will be teaching through this letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to a group of believers in the city of Colossae, which was an ancient city in the modern country of Turkey. It was located inland approximately 100 miles and straight across the Aegean Sea from the southern tip of Greece.

(The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) …in the 12th century the church was destroyed by the Turks and the city disappeared. …The ruins of the church, the stone foundation of a large theater, and a necropolis with stones of a peculiar shape are still to be seen.

For our time this morning, I want to provide some introductory information, and then take a look at verses 1-14, which contain a prayer of the Apostle.

I.          Introductory Information

A. The Sender of the Letter

The opening greeting (v. 1) indicates that the letter was from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Timothy.

The letter is one of four letters that have been coined, “The Prison Epistles,” Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. So named because they were written while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. See:

Colossians 1:24 (NKJV) I now rejoice in my sufferings for you…

Colossians 4:18 (NKJV) This salutation by my own hand--Paul. Remember my chains….

B. The Recipients of the Letter

This was a church consisting of believers in the city of Colossae, which we mentioned earlier. This church was not started by Paul, and it is likely that he hadn’t visited there yet. See…

Colossians 2:1 (NKJV) For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

The church is believed to have been founded by a follower of Jesus by the name of Epaphras, who also was the one who reported back to the Apostle Paul about the conditions of the church.

Colossians 1:7-8 (NKJV) 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.

A.T. Robertson (Paul and the Intellectuals, pp. 3-4) believes that Epaphras was a convert of Paul’s in Ephesus, which we learn in the book of Acts was the location where Paul taught and preached for about two years, and…

Acts 19:10 (NKJV) … all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

The recipients are called “saints” and “faithful brethren” by the Apostle.

“saints” = “holy ones;” those who are sanctified or set apart for God.

“faithful brethren” – those who are truly believing and living the truth; not slipping away into false teaching and unbelief.

C. The Reason for the Letter

Many authors believe that Paul wrote to the Colossians to address some errors that were cropping up in the congregation. The error has been defined differently by various authors and commentaries, but it was a combination of improper emphasis on the OT Law by certain Jewish believers along with the early / beginning elements of Gnosticism, which we have talked about before during our series of sermons on First John.

Gnosticism: 1) Truth about God and Jesus can only be had by a higher form of knowledge. 2) Matter is evil – therefore, Jesus could not actually be divine because He had a physical/material body. 3) Evil, sensuality, immorality – some were like Stoics and tried to deny all pleasure to the body, while others believed the way to “overcome” it was to completely indulge in it.

Some authors completely discredit the opinion about Gnosticism and simply describe it as a local native beliefs and superstitions (See International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). Regardless of the source of the errors, the problem resulted in an inferior view of Jesus the Christ/ the Son of God. So, Paul waxes eloquent in this letter regarding the identity and nature of Christ in order to bring the readers into the truth about Him. We’ll be looking deeper into that truth next week, the Lord willing.

II.        The Apostle’s Prayer for the Colossian Believers (1:3-14)

After trying to lay the foundation for our study by sharing some brief introductory matters, let’s turn our attention to verses 3-14 which contain Paul’s prayer that can be divided into two sections.

A. A Prayer of Gratitude

It is always a good practice to begin every prayer with thanks and gratitude for what God has already done and what He is going to do.

Colossians 1:3 (NKJV) We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

1. He is thankful for their faith in Christ. (v. 4a)

These people heard the gospel through Epaphras (see v. 7), and they responded with genuine faith in Christ. How does Paul know their faith was genuine? Because of what has been happening as a result – love and hope.

He has apparently learned about all this through the report of Epaphras (see. V. 8).

2. He is thankful for their love for fellow “saints.” (v. 4b)

Remember, “love” isn’t primarily a feeling. It is an action that stems from genuine compassion and care/concern. They have demonstrated their faith by their love for fellow believers.

Galatians 6:10 (KJV) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Sometimes I find people who profess to be saved and to know God, but they hardly know who their “fellow saints” are, let alone being engaged with demonstrations of love for them.

3. He is thankful for their hope of heaven. (v. 5)

It seems like Paul is saying their hope of heaven is the motivation for how they are proving their love for fellow Christians. Nonetheless, it is a hope that they have acquired through hearing the Word (5b).

It is a message that has also impacted the world around them and is producing results (v. 6)

B. A Prayer for Spiritual Growth

Colossians 1:9 (NKJV)  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you….

1. He prays they will be filled with knowledge and wisdom. (v. 9)

Knowledge of God’s will

Spiritual understanding – We can assume that Paul already understands these people need “worldly” understanding in order to do their ordinary work and provide for the welfare of their families.

But, he wants them to be filled up with the knowledge and wisdom of God’s will and spiritual / godly understanding. i.e., Seeing life from God’s point of view rather than merely human perspective.

2. He prays they will walk worthy of the Lord. (v. 10)

Once an individual gains spiritual knowledge, then their lifestyle begins to change, and they begin to choose those behaviors that are “worthy of the name of Christ.”

3. He prays they will be endued with the power of God. (v. 11)

The “worthy walk” is not possible without the power God gives us to overcome our own passions and faults in order to obey Him and live a life worthy to have His name attached to it.

Lit. – “strengthened with all strength,” or, “powered with all power.”

“according to His glorious power” – a different word for power; used only for God; and it includes the idea of “dominion.”

This power will enable believers to endure whatever suffering and persecution they may face. (Written by a man who already had experienced persecution and suffering and could not only see God’s power working in his own life, but reflect on it with “joy.”)

4. He prays they will have gratitude for what God has done. (vv. 12-14)

What has God Done? Provided a spiritual inheritance (v. 12). Delivered from darkness into kingdom of Christ (v. 13) Provided redemption through the blood of Christ (v. 14).

Conclusion:

In his book, Exploring the NT, Walter M. Dunnett, Ph.D. proposes that the “key verse” for Colossians is the latter portion of v. 18 in chapter 1.

1:18b – … that in all things He might have the preeminence.

Pray that God will give us a fresh insight into the true nature of Christ, and that He will give each of us the knowledge and power to live in such a way that will portray His glory and grace to a lost world.

Closing Song: A Closer Walk with Thee

A Burning Heart

 This is a sermon that was given on Easter Sunday. It focuses on the Scripture in Luke 24:32, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" The message describes the events of this passage and makes application for believers today. A video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Have you ever experienced something so exhilarating it felt like your heart was burning inside? I'm not sure I can answer in the affirmative to that question. I suppose most of the times whenever I felt like my heart was burning, it was probably right after I ate something that I shouldn’t have eaten!! In the scripture I just read, the two disciples who encountered Jesus described their experience as “did not our hearts burn within us?”

Many years ago I read a biography of John Wesley titled, “The Burning Heart,” by A. Skevington Wood. After reading the book, we have the distinct recognition that for Wesley, a “burning heart” refers to the zeal and passion he had for Christ and preaching the gospel throughout the country. Therefore, we might assume that these disciples describe their encounter as “our hearts burned within us” because of the passion stirred inside of them by the message Jesus gave to them.

In the short time we have this morning I want to point out a few key aspects of this account in hopes that our hearts will burn with excitement and passion as we consider the truth of the resurrection one more time.

I.          The Testimony of Two Witnesses

Walter L. Liefeld & David W. Pao co-authored the Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised on the books of Luke and Acts. They highlight the fact that Jewish law required every fact be established on the testimony of two witnesses. The importance of this requirement is noted early in the Gospel as Luke records the testimony of Simeon and Anna when Jesus was taken to the temple as an infant. These two witnesses verified the divine nature of Jesus at birth. Now we have another example of Luke reporting two witnesses to the resurrection by men who were not part of the original twelve disciples.

They were not the only witnesses. The Bible says there were above 500. But, they were important witnesses.

We are not told the identity of these two, except one is named Cleopas. Some have suggested (Liefeld & Pao), that he is probably named because he would have been known by Luke’s readers. Another author suggested that he might have been the same as “Alphaeus” who was the father of a disciple named James. We do know that they were not identified with the eleven disciples.

Verse 33 tells us that they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together

I read one source that suggested they may have been part of the 70 followers of Jesus who had been sent out by Him to preach the message of the Kingdom as recorded in Luke 10:1 (KJV) After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Or, they could have been among those mentioned in verse 9, when it explains how the women “returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”

Most of us are very familiar with the frequent attacks against Scripture and against the Gospel of Jesus, but this important detail illustrates the care that God took in documenting the events of the resurrection so that it could be established on the word of two more witnesses who were not part of the Lord’s “inner circle of disciples.”

II.        The Revelation of the Divine Plan

While the previous point illustrates an important part of the story’s reliability, it doesn’t explain the cause of their burning hearts. What was the reason for their hearts “burning within them?” It was caused from Jesus “talking to them on the way and opening the Scriptures.” Luke 24:27 (NKJV) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

I have often wished I could have heard this message by Jesus as goes through the OT Scriptures explaining how they all related to Him and His mission. He explained how His suffering and death was all part of God’s plan. He explains how the coming kingdom of glory must be preceded by the ministry of suffering and sacrifice.

I imagine that He spoke of the sacrifices required in the OT Law and explained how they pointed to His own voluntary sacrifice. I imagine that He spoke of many OT prophecies and revealed how they foretold His own birth, His ministry, His suffering/death, and His resurrection/glorification.

These two men later exclaim, v. 32 - “Did not our hearts burn when He talked with us and when He explained the Scriptures to us?”

There are a lot of things that I have gotten excited about and passionate about in my life. (i.e. those events that take away sleep because of the excitement and anticipation or passion.) For example, hunting, especially deer hunting; graduations; wedding; ordination. It is normal to be excited about these things. However, I don’t know if there is anything that stirs up the passion in my heart like hearing someone expounding the Word of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I even remember times I’ve been passionately stirred just listening to someone quoting large portions of Scripture.

Ills – Rev. Percy Trueblood had large portions of the Bible memorized, but especially the book of Revelation. I had the privilege of hearing him preach while I was in Bible college and his “sermon” largely consisted of him quoting from memory many chapters from Revelation. I can still recall the anointing of the Holy Spirit that came upon him and also stirred my heart as I listened.

What causes your heart to well up with zeal and passion? I believe that one sure sign of salvation and faith is when God’s Word inspires us more than all the things in this world that clamor for our time and attention.

III.       Divinely Enabled Recognition

After these two men returned to Jerusalem they reported to the other disciples “the things on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of bread.”

(Lenski) In the conversation on the road, Jesus becomes the teacher and the two men His disciples. now in the house, Jesus becomes the “host” and breaks the bread and offers the blessing.

Some believe they had apparently seen Him break and bless bread before and that is why they recognized Him, but others say we must not omit the significance of the phrase, “their eyes were opened.”

It was something that was done to them. God opened their eyes. (see v. 31).

Lesson: We can do everything possible to show people who Jesus is and what He can do for them, but until their eyes are opened by the power of God Himself, the message will never grip them. That’s why it is so important for us to pray earnestly that their “eyes will be opened” through the dynamic power of Holy Spirit conviction.

Passion rose in them as they listened to Him expound the Scriptures, but it rose even higher once they recognized who He was so much so that they couldn’t wait to get back to Jerusalem. They had used the “lateness of the day” as a reason to ask Jesus to stay with them, but after they recognized Him and He vanished, the lateness of the day didn’t matter any longer – they needed to go tell someone what had just happened.

Your heart may have been inspired and stirred by the message that your salvation has been provided by the crucified and risen Christ. But when your “eyes are opened” and you realize that He truly is YOUR Lord and Savior, it gives a higher level of love and passion for Him and His message. Does your heart burn this morning with the truth of the resurrection? If not, then I urge you to ask God to reveal Himself anew to you.

Closing Song: Worship Christ, the Risen King

Forgiven

 This is a message that was preached for a Good Friday communion service on April 2, 2021. It focuses on the words of Jesus as he was being crucified, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

A pastor recently posted this quote on Facebook: Octavius Winslow (1808-1878) – So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself, He created the tree upon which He was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood.

I don’t think I have ever considered the crucifixion in that way before. It certainly magnifies the infinite Grace of God! I think the latter portion of the quote, “[He] nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood,” relates to the passage of Scripture I want to focus on tonight.

Lk. 23:34 records the first of seven statements that Jesus made while he was hanging on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

It is hard to imagine all that Jesus has already endured. On Wednesday night I watch the movie, The Passion of the Christ, by Mel Gibson again. It has been a number of years since I have seen it, so I decided to watch it again this year. If you’ve seen the movie, you know how gripping it is to see the portrayal of all the torture He likely endured even before being suspended on the cross.

One writer said, “He might have prayed for justice and just retribution; but his love rises above his suffering, he prays for pardon for his enemies.” (Lenski)

Let us take a few moments to consider some observations about this prayer of Jesus.

1. His prayer indicates He had not yet been forsaken. (A later statement from the cross reveals the Father has “forsaken” him.)

(Lenski NT Commentary) – His Father is with him and hears his Son say, "Father," and what this Son now utters will meet a full response in the Father's heart, for he so loved the world that he sent his own Son to die for the world, and this dying is now at hand.

The Father knows why His Son was sent to earth, and the Son knows why He came – to save sinners/rebels.

John 3:17 (NKJV) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

The Bible teaches us that there has always been 100% unity and harmony in the Trinity. There was agreement on the purpose for Him coming to the earth, and now the Son is praying a prayer that is also in agreement with the mission – pardon/forgiveness.

2. There are various people who share the ignorance.

“They know not what they do.”

We are told that the structure of this sentence in the original language would indicate that the pronouns “them/they,” specifically refer back to the Roman soldiers. I think we can imagine how the Roman soldiers would not really have any idea that they were brutally beating and killing an innocent man.

They obviously understood they were inflicting pain and death but may not have any knowledge of Jesus’ true identity or his message. (Although, it’s hard to see how anyone living in those days wouldn’t have at least heard about the “Prophet/Healer” from Nazareth.)

The point is, I think we can agree that these soldiers would have a limited degree of knowledge but not full knowledge. There are others who also have some level of ignorance and guilt.

Peter’s Sermon – Acts 3:13-17 (NKJV) ¹³  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. ¹⁴  But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵  and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. ¹⁶  And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. ¹⁷  Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

Paul’s sermon in Antioch – Acts 13:26-28 (NKJV) ²⁶  Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. ²⁷  For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. ²⁸  And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

Paul’s letter to Corinth – 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸  which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

(Albert Barnes' Notes on the NT) …though they had abundant evidence, if they would look at it, that he was the Messiah, and enough to leave them without excuse, yet they did not, in fact, believe that he was the Saviour promised by the prophets, and had not, in fact, any proper sense of his rank and dignity as "the Lord of glory." …we cannot suppose that they would knowingly put to death their own Messiah….

When we take all of these passages into consideration, we can understand the words, “they know not what they do” to apply in some measure to those who put Him to death as well as those who consented to His death. In spite of their lack of knowledge, they still needed forgiveness.

3. Pardon is available but not guaranteed.

In his commentary, R.C.H. Lenski clarifies this prayer of Jesus as a prayer of intercession, not a declaration of absolution. This was a sincere request/intercession from the Son to the Father. It was a clear revelation of His own spirit and motive of love, even for those who condemned Him and crucified Him. It gives us a glimpse of how thorough the sacrifice would be that He is making. If it provides for the forgiveness of such a brutal death, then it provides forgiveness for every sin.

Commentators indicate that this prayer for forgiveness is not the same thing as those times during His earthly ministry when Jesus declared, “Your sins are forgiven.” The message of Jesus and the apostles was that repentance was necessary to receive forgiveness. Every time Jesus offered those soothing words “Your sins are forgiven,” there was ample evidence of true repentance and turning from old life.

This is an intercessory prayer that their sins may be forgiven at such time when they gain sufficient knowledge to repent. Peter’s sermon and Paul’s sermons/letters provided the knowledge and the admonition to repent and believe in the pardon that was already provided.

Conclusion:

Isaiah 53:12 (NKJV) Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Octavius Winslow: So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself, He created the tree upon which He was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood.

Jesus’ prayer is for us today. We who have understood our participation in His death and have turned from sin to faith, can have assurance of the forgiveness for which He prayed.

Song: Were You There?

Will Stones Speak for You?

 This sermon was preached on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021, and focused on the passage of Scripture in Luke 19:40 "... if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." The message provides a look at other passages in which stones were used to convey important messages, then addresses the possible meanings Jesus had in mind by making the statement. A video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached may be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Not long ago I was reading again the account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem and I was especially intrigued with this verse in which Jesus declares, “If these keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Today I want to begin by considering some other places in the Bible where stones were used to communicate important messages, and then try to ascertain what Jesus actually meant by these words he uttered to the critics.

I.          Stones were historically used to convey important truths.

A. A stone pillar testified of encounter with God.

Genesis 28:18 (NKJV) Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.

Are there any “pillars” in our lives that testify to our family and friends that we have had an encounter with God?

B. A stone pillar testified of a covenant between families.

Genesis 31:45 (NKJV) So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.

C. A Stone pillar/pile testified of a divine miracle.

Joshua 4:20 (NKJV) And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.

Do we have any “pillars of stone” which testify of miracles God has done in our lives in the past?

II.        Jesus could have been using a proverbial saying.

Some commentators writing about this comment by Jesus have compared it to a text found in the OT book of Habakkuk 2:11

Habakkuk 2:11 (NKJV) For the stone will cry out from the wall, And the beam from the timbers will answer it.

In the context of this verse, the prophet is condemning the leaders of Babylon for establishing their dynasty or kingdom on violent, illegal and unethical actions.

(Carl E. Armerding, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) - Hab. 2:9-11 The first tricolon [v. 9] sets out what the Babylonians attempted: to build a house with unjust gain, to set a nest on high, and to escape the impending doom. Verse 10’s three lines present the stark disaster that such actions have produced.…

The two lines of v.11 are, in Hebrew, preceded by “for” (kî; cf. RSV) and perfectly parallel one another. The pathetic cries of the nonverbal creation at the horrors they must witness provides an antecedent for our Lord’s allusion to “stones crying out” (Lk 19:40).

(Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament) - The stone out of the wall and the spar out of the woodwork will cry, [that is to say] because of the wickedness which thou hast practised in connected with thy buildings (Habakkuk 1:2)… because they have been stolen, or obtained from stolen property.

(Adam Clarke's Commentary) This appears to refer to the ancient mode of building walls; two or three courses of stone. and then one course of timber. See 1 Kings 6:36: thus was the palace of Solomon built. The splendid and costly buildings of Babylon have been universally celebrated. But how were these buildings erected? By the spoils of conquered nations, and the expense of the blood of multitudes; therefore the stones and the timber are represented as calling out for vengeance against this ruthless conqueror.

1 Kings 6:36 (NKJV)  And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams.

The words in v. 11 are not intended to be understood literally, but as a proverb pronouncing a witness against evil and the cry for justice. In a similar way, Jesus’ words should not be understood literally, but as a proverb, to emphasize the fact that there are always witnesses to God’s divine intervention and there will be testimonies of the same. God will be praised, and He will receive glory. He may have to use extraordinary means to accomplish it, but it will happen.

III.       Jesus could have been making a sober prophecy.

There were obviously people in this crowd that day who connected what they were witnessing with the prophecy of Zechariah,

Zechariah 9:9 (NKJV) "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

For the present moment they viewed His journey as the fulfillment of prophecy and rejoiced for the soon arriving kingdom of God, which meant, in their minds, the overthrow of Roman control and oppression. But the religious leaders were having none of it! Jesus did not fit their stereotype of Messiah and He had to be stopped. They couldn’t tolerate the “noise” of the crowd because of the message it conveyed.

Some have stated that they knew they could not make the crowd be quiet, so they implored the Lord to quiet them. But Jesus doesn’t answer in the way they hoped. But what is the real significance of Jesus’ words?

(R.C.H. Lenski NT Commentary) – Jesus speaks prophetically of a time when "these" shall, indeed, cease their acclaim, and when the lifeless stones shall, indeed, "yell" with piercing shrieks when not one stone is left upon another in Jerusalem itself. That yelling will be the voice of judgment for rejecting the Messiah-King.

Lenski sees a prophetic element to the words of Jesus. He proposes that Jesus is warning them about the pending destruction of Jerusalem referred to in this same context when Jesus states, “Not one stone will be left upon another.”

Luke 19:43-44 (NKJV) For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, ⁴⁴ and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

It is possible for the crowds and even individuals to cease their acknowledgment of Jesus as Messiah and Savior, but it will be to their own detriment and judgment. After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, those stones literally did testify of God’s judgment. They showed to the world that judgment is the only option when God’s kingdom and salvation is rejected.

Conclusion: Who will offer testimony? You or the stones?

You and I are not standing with the crowd watching the Lord ride into Jerusalem. But we still have the choice to accept Jesus for who he is or reject Him. We have the choice to acknowledge Him with testimonies of praise, or we can keep quiet. Am I going to testify, or will God have to recruit the “stones?” Are you going to testify, or will He have to be praised by the “stones?”

We still have some time and I think it would be appropriate right now for a few people to stand up and testify and praise God. I’m not asking for long, drawn out hospital stories. I’m looking for someone who will stand up and tell us what you think about Jesus. Someone who will stand up and tell us how great God is. 

Closing Song: Stand Up and Bless the Lord  

Born to Die

 This sermon was given on March 21, 2021 and was on the theme of self-denial in observance of the season of Lent. It was based on John 12:24 "... unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone..." The message focused on the example of Jesus as He steadily walked toward the cross, and on His call for disciples to die to self-centered desires. A video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

I have not said much yet this year about the season of Lent, leading up to Easter. It is a period of time when many churches and people emphasize the need to reflect on the events in the life of Christ prior to His crucifixion. It is a time for us to personally apply His journey to our own lives as we seek to draw closer to the Lord.

At the beginning of this month, I received an email from Focus on the Family that directed me to an article written by Dr. Paul Tripp, author, teacher, and pastor of Tenth Presb. Ch. in Philadelphia. I want to share some quotes from his article here.

“It is important to remember that at the end of Lent stands a tomb. From the moment he was born, Jesus was marching to his death. He had to be willing to suffer and die in order for redemption to be accomplished and applied. Death was his job description. Death was his destiny.” (Meditating on the Death of Christ - Focus on the Family)

Today, we will be reviewing some of the statements of Christ during His journey to the cross and making some applications to our own spiritual journey that includes the necessity of our own death.

Dr. Tripp continues, “What I am going to say next may surprise you; it may even discourage you… At the end of Lent is your death, as well… Death is the motif of this season of remembrance. It is the motif not just because of the death of Jesus, but because, during this season, we hear again another call to die.”

In a very real sense Jesus was “born to die.” It was His mission. It was His destiny. Likewise, every individual believer is “born to die.” It is the call from Jesus to those who would choose to follow Him.

I.          A Principle from Nature

John 12:24 ^(NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

In the context of this statement, we read that Jesus had been at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Following that, the passage gives brief details about the triumphal entry and the praise that the people were giving to Him. Then, we read of the Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to worship at the Feast asking for someone to lead them to Jesus.

When Jesus was advised by Philip that the Greeks wanted to see him, Jesus responds in an unusual way. Instead of savoring the popularity and glory He was getting, He immediately turns their focus onto His approaching death. To do this, He uses a basic principle from the world of nature – in order for a seed to accomplish its primary purpose, it must fall into the ground and experience a death in order to produce more life and to produce a harvest. Seed corn and other types of seed grain have one mission – they are “born to die.” And, when they die, they produce a harvest of grain that is useful and essential for multiple purposes, including nourishment.

Ills. – Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, et. al. martyred in 1956.

II.        The Example of Our Lord

I quoted earlier from the article written by Paul Tripp in which he states that Jesus was “marching to His death,” and “death was His destiny.” Now, in the truest sense of the word, every individual ever born is marching toward death immediately after birth because death is the curse upon the entire human race as a result of sin. Yet, Jesus is unique. He is not the same as every other human being. He is the Son of God – a man who had not inherited the sin nature and therefore did not have to die.

Despite His prerogative to avoid death, He journeyed toward death because that was His mission and purpose. He was “born to die,” and He frequently spoke about it even though His followers did not understand His words. Consider these passages in which He clearly defines His earthly destiny.

Matthew 16:21 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Matthew 17:22-23 (NKJV) Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, ²³ and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

Matthew 20:18, 28 (NKJV) Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, ²⁸ … the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Mark 9:31-32 (NKJV) ³¹ For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day." ³² But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Luke 22:22 (NKJV) And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"

John 12: 27, 32-33 (NKJV) Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ³² And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." ³³ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

These verses along with many others show us that Jesus knew his earthly destiny was death. Disciples were focused on the coming earthly kingdom of God, so they completely missed the significance of Jesus’ words about His death until after it was completed.

A little more than a month ago I spoke on the passage that says, “His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.” Although there were other meanings implied in this phrase, it also indicated that He knew what was awaiting Him, but He was determined to go. Jesus clearly understood that without His own death, His mission to save humanity from eternal destruction and ruin would not be possible.

There is a Christmas song titled, “Ring the Bells,” which include these lyrics, “Born to die that man might live.” That clearly was the truth about Jesus.

III.       The Call of Our Lord

Another quote from Paul Tripp I read earlier was this, “At the end of Lent is your death, as well… Death is the motif of this season of remembrance. It is the motif not just because of the death of Jesus, but because, during this season, we hear again another call to die.”

I’ve already mentioned the fact that every human being immediately begins marching toward their own death after their birth because sin has caused death to come upon the entire human race. But there is another death the Bible speaks of for every follower of Jesus. It is a spiritual death to self and selfish passions.

It is a paradox really. The Bible tells us that we are already “dead in trespasses and sins” and we are “made alive” through faith in Christ at the moment we are “born again.” Yet, after that moment of new birth, we are called to die. It is not a death leading back into sin and disobedience, but it is a death to the nature of sin which seeks to promote our own desires, passions and interests rather than God’s.

Paul Tripp – By God’s redeeming plan we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection. In that way your moment of belief is a death and a resurrection. But there is more. Now that you are united with Christ, you are called to a very specific surrender, that is, dying to self. 

Matthew 10:38 (NKJV) And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Luke 9:23 (NKJV) Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Luke 14:27 (NKJV) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

In his book, Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman has a chapter that focuses on these words of Jesus calling His disciples to “take up their cross” daily and follow Him. In this chapter, he expands on the message by reminding his readers that the challenge is not intended to be one of comfort and ease. It is not intended to make the life of a disciple appear glamorous or comfortable.

Far too often pastors, churches and Christians try to win unchurched and unsaved people by making it sound as appealing as possible. But, Kyle Idleman says if Jesus would have had a slogan for public relations campaigns, it might have been this: “Come and Die!” Jesus never sugar-coated the message. The truth was simple – becoming His follower required a deliberate choice to surrender one’s sovereignty and self-rule.

I want to wrap up the message by sharing some quotes from both Tripp and Idleman because I can’t think of a way to say it any better than they do.

(Tripp) We are called to die to that life where we did what we wanted to do, when we wanted to do it, and how we wanted to do it. We are called to die to setting our own rules and living however we please. We are called to die to our rulership of our own lives. We are called to let go of our self-appointed sovereignty, living as if we’re the only master that we need, and to surrender ourselves and all we have to another master. We are called to die to our desires for our own comfort, pleasure, and glory and give ourselves to seek the glory of the King and the success of his kingdom. We are called to die to our own righteousness and find our hope, help, and comfort in the righteousness of Jesus given over to our account. This death that I have just described is a process of daily scanning our lives to see where things still live in us that should not live, then praying for the strength to die once again.

Like the death of Jesus, this death is not a defeat, but a huge and glorious victory. For everywhere [we] die, [we] will be resurrected to new life in that area. 

(Idleman) When Jesus says, “Take up your cross…” the word “take” indicates that dying is a choice we make. Idleman also wrote about a friend who came to Christ through the witness of someone who asked him the question, “If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?”

My friend explained to me that when he accepted Christ, he knew that when he died, he would receive eternal life, but no one told him that when he accepted Christ, he was making a decision to die right then. He got the message that when he died, he would go to heaven to be with God, but it was ten years later before he understood that death starts now.

Conclusion:

It is a wonderful experience to be born again. It is joy and a blessing to know the new life in Christ after being bound and dead in our sins. But the moment we are born, we are called to die. We are called to die to selfish desires every day in order to fully obey and follow our Master. The Bible describes the dying as both an event and a process. There is a moment of full and total surrender of our will to the will of God, but there are daily decisions to die as God reveals areas that hinder the continuing control He requires over our lives.

In these days leading up to Easter as we think and meditate upon the journey Jesus took, let us seek the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives revealing any areas that need to be sacrificed on the altar so we can continue being a genuine follower of Jesus. We all need to add a simple request in our daily prayer time before the Lord. “Lord, show me how and when you want me to die to self today.”

The closing song is a testimony of surrender to the life of a true disciple:

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken