31/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Baptism – Buried As Dead Men  “…having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead” – Colossians 2:12 1. The Baptism of John

“I baptize you with water for repentance.” – Matthew 3:11a

• Circumcision was the sign that God gave Abraham to mark his descendants as the people of God.  Baptism in water, in a lot of ways, is a modern counterpart.
• What is water baptism a sign of?
• When we are baptized in water, we are saying that we’re done living our old way of sin.  We allow ourselves to be “buried with [Jesus]… and raised with Him through faith.”  Also see 1 Peter 3:21.
• Baptism is the ultimate sign of Jesus as our forgiveness of sin.  Just as Jesus died and rose again, we die to our own wills in order to live for His (Matthew 16:25).

2. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

“…after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” – Matthew 3:11b

• Water baptism is a sign that we are dying to our old way of living, but when we become baptized in the Holy Spirit, we get filled with the power to live the new way that Jesus showed us.
• When we’re baptized in water, we are immersed in water as a symbol of washing away our former way of life.  When we’re baptized in the Holy Spirit, we allow Jesus to immerse us in His Spirit, so that we can have the power to live for Him.
• People were baptized in the Holy Spirit during the early days of the church (Acts 1:5, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:1-7).  Jews, Gentiles, men, and women were all baptized in the Holy Spirit.
• You can be baptized in the Holy Spirit too (Joel 2:28-29).
• If you want to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, to live a life of holiness and power before God, just ask Him and He’ll fill you (See Mark 1:8 and Luke 11:13).
• Because Jesus is our forgiveness for sin, we get to be filled (immersed, baptized) in the Holy Spirit, in order to live the new life Jesus promised us.

Crucifixion – Canceled the Debt  “He forgave us all our sins” – Colossians 2:13b 1. Our Passover Lamb

“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7

• When Jesus was crucified, something amazing happened - He took our place and died for our sins.  He became our Passover lamb, our sacrifice for sins.
• Here’s a tricky question about an ancient Hebrew custom - what was the point of sacrificing a lamb on Passover?
• The Hebrews sacrificed a Passover lamb so that their sons would be spared when God killed all the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 11-12).  Instead of their children dying, a lamb was killed.
• When Jesus died on the cross, He died in our place.  We were the firstborn that were supposed to die (because we’ve all sinned), but because Jesus gave up His life, God saw His blood instead of ours and spared us.
• Jesus is our total forgiveness.   Just like God completely spared the children of Israel, He completely spares us from sin.  None of the children of Israel were “sort of saved,” and neither are any of us who believe that Jesus is our savior.

2. He Became a Curse

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” – Galatians 3:13

• Jesus being our forgiveness means we’ve been redeemed from the curse of the law.  When Jesus hung on the cross, he set us free from the curse of the law.
• When God gave the Hebrews His laws, He expected them to obey.  When they wouldn’t obey, they’d fall under the curse of the law.
• The same goes for us.  If we vow to live according to God’s laws and fall short, we fall under the curse of the law.  See Galatians 3:10 for more.
• The only way to be set free is through believing that Jesus became a curse for us and has set us free from the power of the law.
• Jesus is our total forgiveness – He sets us free from sin, sickness, pain, torment, destruction, guilt, condemnation, and all the other curses of the law that result from our disobedience.  None of this would be ours without Jesus’s death on the cross.

3. Our Debt Is Canceled

“…having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” – Colossians 2:14

• When Jesus was crucified, he became our forgiveness by canceling our debt.
• Have any of you ever owed somebody money and had the debt canceled?  Or have you ever hurt someone and felt obligated to make it up to them, only to have them forgive you and cancel the debt you owed?
• Jesus canceled all the debts we owe God for our disobedience.
• In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who canceled the insurmountable debt that one of his servants owed to him.
• Our debts before God are huge, insurmountable, but through Jesus’ death on the cross, they are canceled.  See Hebrews 7:27.

Have a great day knowing you are completely forgiven.

John

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30/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Colossians 2:9-15For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Paul’s concept of forgiveness was big.  Forgiveness didn’t just mean that Jesus died on the cross as a sin sacrifice, so that we get forgiven but continue to live broken lives.  To Paul, forgiveness meant that Jesus died in our place and then rose again to triumph over all our enemies.  In that triumph, Jesus not only forgives our sins, but He also destroys the power of sin in our lives, freeing us from its grasp.

Paul’s concept of Jesus as our forgiveness was all-consuming.  We are now the circumcised of God, we were buried as dead men in baptism, we were crucified with Christ, and we have been resurrected toward righteousness with Him.  Jesus being our forgiveness means that our whole life is transformed through Him.

Circumcision – Marked for God

“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ.” – Colossians 2:11

1. In the Time of Abraham…

“You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.” – Genesis 17:11

• The first time the concept of circumcision shows up is when God spoke to Abraham and made a covenant with Him.
• What was the covenant that God was making with Abraham?
• The covenant they were making was that God would be Abraham’s God and Abraham and his descendants would be God’s special people.  In addition, God was promising that He’d give Canaan to Abraham’s people.
• The sign of circumcision was a physical mark that showed who the people of God were.  Circumcision was what showed the world that the Hebrews worshiped the true God.

2. Circumcised in Heart

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh’” – Jeremiah 9:25

• God’s covenant with Abraham was marked by a circumcision according to the flesh, but God expects more - a circumcision of the heart.
• God is not so interested in what our bodies look like or what we do to ourselves physically to look different from the world.  He’s interested more in our hearts.
• Before Stephen was martyred, he called the Jews, “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts” (Acts 7:51).  God is after hearts that are marked by Him, hearts that are set apart for Him only.
• Through Jesus, our forgiveness for sin, we become circumcised in heart, by “putting off the sinful nature.”

3. We’re the People of God

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.” – Ephesians 2:19

• At one point in time, the people of God were set apart by a circumcision of the flesh.  All the special privileges that went with being people of God were only given to the circumcised Hebrews.
• No one uncircumcised could dwell with the Hebrews (Genesis 17:14), take part in festival celebrations (Exodus 12:48), or enter the promised land (Joshua 5:2-3).
• Now, through Jesus, we are no longer the “uncircumcised,” but we become the people of God, circumcised in our hearts.
• Through what Jesus did, even those not circumcised in the flesh can know the living God and become His people.
• Now we are marked as the people of God not by an outward sign but by an inward change.

Have a great day.

John

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29/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Why Should I Want Wisdom? 1. Improve Your Life

“Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 7:11

 ·        What are some worldly benefits to being smart?·        In the same way that being smart has a lot of benefits in the world, gaining wisdom will give you a much better life.·        Wisdom is a “good thing” that “benefits” everyone who gains it.·        When you have the wisdom that comes from Jesus, your life will be better.  Even your appearance will be improved (Ecclesiastes 8:1).·        Problems will seem a lot smaller because having wisdom is a source of great strength (Ecclesiastes 7:1).·        Not only that, but you won’t have as many problems in life because you’ll be making smarter choices (Proverbs 28:26).·        You’ll be able to obey God easier and won’t get into so much trouble (Psalm 119:34).·        People will notice you and praise you for your wisdom, as it says in Proverbs 12:8.·        When you have the wisdom of God operating in your life, everything becomes so much easier and better!  

2. Understand Your God

“Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”– Proverbs 2:5

 ·        When you gain wisdom, you’ll begin to understand who God really is.·        Understanding God is a benefit in and of itself.·        Though there’s no way you can ever know everything about God now, when you gain wisdom, you begin to understand Him more and more.·        We can actually know God as a person, not just know about Him (Galatians 4:9).·        While the world can never really understand God, when the Spirit of God lives in you, you can (1 Corinthians 2:11).·        It’s an incredible thing that we’re able to know and understand God, and this understanding can only come through Jesus being our wisdom. 

3. Stand Your Ground

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…”– 2 Corinthianas 10:5a

 ·        Besides improving your life and understanding God, gaining the wisdom of Jesus will help you stand your ground against deception, heresy, lies, and partial truths.·        Has anyone ever been taken in by a clever lie?·        When lies, wrong teachings, and goofy ideas take you in, you feel awful.·        With the wisdom of God in you, you won’t be deceived so easily.  You’ll be able to “demolish arguments” that set themselves up “against the knowledge of God.”·        You won’t adopt every weird new idea about God that comes your way, because you’ll have true wisdom that sees past lies (Ephesians 4:14).·        You won’t be so easily deceived into sin because you’ll see the temptation for what it is.

·        In this world of pseudo-Christian cults, false teachers, wacky ideologies, and never-ending temptations, it’s important to have true wisdom so you can see past the deception and stand your ground for truth,

Have a really great day. Hello to Rob & Donna!!!!!!

John 

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29/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Who Should Have Wisdom? 

1. We Should

“But we have the mind of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 2:16

 ·        We should all have the wisdom of God, not just our parents, pastors, teachers, or older siblings.  If you call yourself a Christian, you have the mind of Christ and He is your wisdom.·        You’re not too young to being acting and speaking in wisdom that astonishes even your elders.·        No matter how old you are, how long you’ve known God, how many books you’ve read, or how good your grades are, we all have the same ability to be filled with wisdom.·        God doesn’t care who you are – you have the mind of Christ, so start using it! 

How Can I Get Wisdom?                            1. Ask God

“Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked…  for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge…  therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.” – 2 Chronicles 1:11-12a

 ·        Hopefully now you’ve begun to see that God wants you to move in wisdom and that if you start to you’re life will go so much better.·        Now the question becomes, “How can I get wisdom?”·        If you were to try and get better grades in your school classes, how would you go about it?  What sort of steps could you take to get smarter in school?·        God has a lot of ways you can go about getting wisdom, but the first place to start is simply asking Him for it.·        Just like God gave Solomon wisdom when he asked for it, He’ll do the same for you.  And just like God gave Solomon riches, fame, and health with the wisdom, all those will come for you too.·        You can ask God for a “spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17) and He’ll give it to you.·        God wants you to be wise, so don’t be afraid to ask for it.·        Proverbs 2:6 promises that God will give you wisdom. 

2. Read the Bible

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16

 ·        Besides directly asking God for wisdom, start reading His “manual,” the Bible.·        If Scripture is “God-breathed,” then it came straight from God, the creator of all wisdom, and you would do good to read it.·        If Scripture is “useful for teaching,” then let yourself be taught by God.  There’s no other better teacher out there.·        If Scripture is “useful for… rebuking [and] correcting,” open yourself up to be rebuked and corrected by God, so you begin to walk in true wisdom.·        If Scripture is “useful for… training in righteousness,” let God train you to walk in wisdom and righteousness.·        If you want to have a better life, if you want to understand God more, if you want to have wisdom to know truth from error, start reading the Bible. 

3. Read Proverbs

“The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline…” – Proverbs 1:1-2a

 ·        The whole Bible is good for giving you the wisdom of Jesus, but if you could pick one book in particular that focuses on issues of wisdom, which would you pick?·        Proverbs, probably more than any other book, will teach you how to live wisely.  The whole focus of the book is to help you gain wisdom in your life.·        Read even a few verses from Proverbs every day, put them into practice, and you’ll notice yourself walking in more wisdom than ever before.·        If you want a good, practical lesson on being wise, start with the book of Proverbs. 

4. Learn from Others

“Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” – Proverbs 9:9

 ·        Finally, one of the most important ways to learn wisdom is to learn it from others.·        Open yourself up to your pastor, your teachers, your parents, your older siblings, and other more mature Believers.  Let them speak into your life and help you use wisdom.·        It’s easy to read the Bible and ignore the convicting parts.  It’s easy to read Proverbs and pretend you’ve put its guidelines into practice.  But when you allow other people to speak into your life, they’ll be able to point to specific things that need changing but you’d rather gloss over.·        If you learn from others you will become “wiser still” and “add to [your] learning.”·        Jesus taught the disciples to walk in wisdom (Matthew 11:1).  The disciples went on to teach others, and these went on to teach even more.·        Christianity is built on this idea of learning from others. 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 

·        If you need wisdom, ask God for it and He’ll give it to you·        God gives wisdom generously – He’s more than ready to make you wise

·        You don’t have to already have everything figured out before God gives you wisdom.  Just ask, and He’ll give it to you.

Have a great day 

John

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28/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Colossians 2:1-5I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 

When Paul wrote to the Colossian church, he told them that he hoped they would “have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” 

In Jesus is all wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Scientists, scholars, poets, religious gurus, philosophers, and even rock legends have made claims to having the keys to intelligence and truth, but ultimately true knowledge and wisdom are found in Jesus. 

If you’ve ever felt like wisdom is something for the geeky kids at school, listen up today because we’re going to look at how awesome real wisdom is.
Where Can I Find Wisdom? 1. The Wisest Man to Ever Walk the Earth“in [Jesus] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:3·        Somebody tell me where some places are that you can find wisdom?

·        Paul said that all the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Jesus.  He was the wisest Man to ever walk the earth.

·        The first place to look for wisdom is in the person of Jesus.·        Jesus was so wise that he amazed people when he spoke.  See Matthew 13:54.·        Over and over, He confounded and confused all the wise men of Israel with His wisdom and understanding. See an example in Luke 20:27-40.·        The world will say that following Jesus means turning off your brain, but Jesus is the foundation of wisdom.  When He was on the earth, people were shocked by his knowledge and understanding. 2. The One Who Owns All Wisdom“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” – Job 12:13·        Job said that wisdom, counsel, and understanding belong to God.  He is the owner and creator of all wisdom.·        If you want to find wisdom, look to the one who created it.·        God is the owner of all wisdom.  He understands you, me, and all the world, past, present, and future, better than any body else.  He knows everything.·        God is the owner of all counsel.  He knows what needs to be done.  He knows how to heal your heart.  He knows how to restore relationships.  If you want good advice, it’s found in Him.·        God is the owner of all understanding.  He gets how things work.  He understands how we think and operate, and He knows how to make everything work out for Him.  If you’re confused and just don’t understand what’s going on, God has the answers.·        Scientists might say the world happened by chance, that mathematics and laws of nature control life, but the Bible says the world is founded in God’s wisdom (Jeremiah 10:12).

·        When we make Jesus our wisdom, we have all true wisdom within reach.

Just to let you know that my operation went fine, nothing sinister

just left me with a very sore throat and feeling very tired.

Have a great day and be blessed. God is so good!

John

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27/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Persuading Righteousness

1. God Desires Godliness

“Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” – Romans 6:19b

• Part of our calling as Christians is to, like Paul, persuade men and women to live righteous lives devoted to God.
• We do this not with our own energy and wisdom, but with the power of Jesus in us.
• God expects righteousness out of His followers.  If we call ourselves Christians, we must live like it.  See 1 Peter 1:15.
• God also expects us to persuade others to live righteous lives.  As ambassadors of Christ, it’s our job to show both the world and the church a clear line between right and wrong. 
• Don’t be afraid to talk about the standards God has – it’s the only way people will know what God expects of them.
• Does this sound like legalism?  Raise your hand if this sounds like being too legalistic.
• We’re not talking about legalism, where you follow a code of conduct because you think it will make you righteous.  We’re talking about living a holy life through the power of Jesus because you’ve been changed by God (Ephesians 4:24).
• By faith, God makes us righteous, and we live it out to prove what he’s done (James 2:18).
• It’s only in the energy and power of Jesus that we can be made righteous and persuade others to live the same.

Passing on the Teachings

1. The Power of Discipleship

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” – Matthew 28:19a

• Paul said that he got his power to teach and train others in Christianity, to disciple people, from the energy of Jesus within Him.
• After Jesus rose from the dead, he gave His disciples the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
• God’s plan to rescue the world isn’t through one or two amazing evangelists but through simple discipleship, taking one person at a time and training them to follow God, then teaching them to do the same.  See 2 Timothy 2:2.
• God has plans to bring His rule to the entire earth (Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8).  This is way bigger than any one of us can do out of our own energy and power.  If this is going to happen, we’ll need the power of Jesus in us!
• We need the power of Jesus in order to make disciples who make disciples, until the earth is filled with God’s glory!

Presenting to Perfection

1. You Work At It, God Does It

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” – Colossians 1:28

• Paul’s goal was to present everyone perfect in Jesus.
• Does anybody here think they’re perfect yet?
• Perfection isn’t that we never miss a basket in basketball, never get an A- in Geography, and never give in to temptation.  Perfection is being whole and complete in Jesus, despite mistakes we may make on the way.  See James 1:4.
• To be made perfect, and to present others perfect, it takes the energy of Jesus.
• Paul said in Philippians 2:12-13, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.”  It’s a partnership of us and God working together toward perfection.
• You can’t make yourself perfect.  Nor can you make anyone else perfect.  You aim toward it, but it takes the energy and power of Jesus working in you.

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” – 1 Corinthians 2:4 

• When Paul preached, his strength came from God
• In the same way, Jesus is our energy to serve Him and impact the world
• You don’t have to be amazing.  You don’t need to know a lot or go to school for years or have a lot of skill – He is your energy to do the impossible

This will be my last blog for a day or two as I am off to hospital for a small operation.

Have a great day walking with the Saviour

John

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26/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Proclaiming Jesus

1. Savior of the World

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom…” – Colossians 1:28a

• We need the energy of Jesus working in us if we’re going to follow after Him and preach the word of God.  We also need His help to proclaim who He is.
• The Bible talks a lot about proclaiming who Jesus is.  If you were introducing Jesus at a boxing match, what would you say about Him?  Italian Stallion?  Beast from the East?
• When we proclaim Jesus, one thing we proclaim is that He is the Savior of the world.  See John 3:16 or 1 Timothy 1:15 if you’re not convinced of that.
• Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to save the world!
• He came to save us from the consequences of sin and guarantee us a place in Heaven.
• He came to save us from sickness and disease and bring healing.
• He came to save us from loneliness, depression, and emotional turmoil.
• If we don’t proclaim that Jesus is the Savior, the world will never receive Him and no one will be healed.
• It’s imperative to proclaim that Jesus has come to rescue the world, but at the same time, we need to be careful we don’t stop there.

2. King of Kings

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” – Revelation 19:16

• Jesus isn’t just the Saviour of the world – He’s also the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He has all authority in heaven and on earth and is the ultimate master over everything, including each one of us.
• If Jesus is in charge of everything, who should we obey – Him or ourselves?
• We need to proclaim that Jesus is the King of everything.  He’s not just the gentle lamb who died for us, but He’s also the conquering Lion of Judah who needs to be obeyed.
• Jesus didn’t come just to rescue us.  He’s establishing His Kingdom on the earth.  Paul said, “For the kingdom of
  God is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).  God’s government is not a democracy but a kingdom under His direct authority.
• When we proclaim Jesus, we need to proclaim Him as the Savior, but also as the Lord who demands our obedience.

3. Returning Judge

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead…” – 2 Timothy 4:1a

• Besides proclaiming that Jesus came to rescue the world and to be our King, we also need to proclaim that Jesus is going to return to judge us for our deeds.
• One day, Jesus is returning to judge the world (Hebrews 12:23).  If we’ve obeyed and served Him and lived in righteousness, we’ll receive a reward (2 Timothy 4:8).
• If we’ve disobeyed God, followed ourselves, and lived ungodly, we’ll be punished (James 5:9).
• Ultimately, whether life is great for you or awful, God will judge your actions and you’ll receive a just reward or punishment.
• We need the energy and power of Jesus in us if we’re going to proclaim Him as the returning Judge.

Persuading Righteousness

1. God Desires Godliness

“Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” – Romans 6:19b

• Part of our calling as Christians is to, like Paul, persuade men and women to live righteous lives devoted to God.
• We do this not with our own energy and wisdom, but with the power of Jesus in us.
• God expects righteousness out of His followers.  If we call ourselves Christians, we must live like it.  See 1 Peter 1:15.
• God also expects us to persuade others to live righteous lives.  As ambassadors of Christ, it’s our job to show both the world and the church a clear line between right and wrong. 
• Don’t be afraid to talk about the standards God has – it’s the only way people will know what God expects of them.
• Does this sound like legalism?  Raise your hand if this sounds like being too legalistic.
• We’re not talking about legalism, where you follow a code of conduct because you think it will make you righteous.  We’re talking about living a holy life through the power of Jesus because you’ve been changed by God (Ephesians 4:24).
• By faith, God makes us righteous, and we live it out to prove what he’s done (James 2:18).
• It’s only in the energy and power of Jesus that we can be made righteous and persuade others to live the same.

Have a great day.

John

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25/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Preaching the Word of God 

1. Convicting the World

“our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction…” – 1 Thessalonians 1:5a

• One area where we definitely need the energy of Jesus working in us is in preaching the word of God and bringing conviction on the world.
• Paul said that he brought the Gospel to the Thessalonian church with “power,” “the Holy Spirit,” and “deep conviction.”
• We’re called to preach the word of God and convict the world of sin, but that conviction can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit.  You can’t convict people – only God can.
• Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, “will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).
• We need to speak the truth, but do it in the energy and power of Jesus, not in our own strength.
• When we speak the truth, we need to trust that God will convict people. We don’t have to argue with them or convince them of the truth.
• Our job is simple: just preach about Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).  He’ll do the rest.

2. Challenging the Church

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” – 1 Corinthians 1:17

• Whether preaching to the pagan world of Rome or challenging the Christians in his church plants, Paul was clear that he came in the power of Jesus and not just his own wisdom or strength.
• We have a calling from God not only to speak the truth to the world but also to challenge the church to really live for God.  Both of these require the power of God to be effective.
• Has anyone here ever been challenged by another Christian to live more godly?
• When the power of God is behind a challenge, it’s a lot more effective than otherwise.  Check out 1 Corinthians 2:4.
• God expects us to speak up at church and urge our Christian brothers and sisters to live for God (1 Timothy 5:1).
• Don’t be rude, but don’t be quiet either!  Stand in the power of God and challenge the church!

Have a great day.

John 

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24/07/2009 by John Marsden.

Colossians 1:24-29Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. 

Every morning, you eat breakfast and give your body the energy it needs to get to work or school.  You go to office, classes, think hard, talk to friends, and then you start to get tired again.  So you refuel around lunchtime and get the energy you need until dinner, when the process repeats itself. 

If we want to accomplish anything for God and be used by Him to impact the world, we need some major sources of nutrition coming into our lives.  If we want to do all He’s called us as individuals to do, we need a high-energy diet. 

Paul understood that the way to get the power to serve God was to, as he wrote, “labour, struggling with all His energy which so powerfully works in” us.  It’s only when we allow Jesus to work through us that we can gain the energy we need to accomplish what He has for us.  It’s only through Jesus’ power that Paul was able to teach, exhort, preach, and disciple others in the faith.

Havea great day

John

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23/07/2009 by John Marsden.

A Life that Honors God 1. This is the Point

“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” – Exodus 15:2

• When Moses and the Israelites were miraculously delivered out of Egypt, this is what Moses sang to God.
• How do you think God felt when Moses said this about Him?  He felt great.  He was being honored, which is what He’s after.
• God deserves our praise.  He deserves to be honoured by our lives, and this is the point of letting our lives be directed by Jesus.  Paul said to “do it all for the glory of God” in 1 Corinthians 10:31.
• In everything we do, we’re to bring honour to God (Colossians 3:17, 23).
• Habakkuk 2:14 promises, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. God wants the whole earth to be filled with His glory and bring Him honour.  Also see Psalm 48:10, Psalm 66:4, and Psalm 69:34.
• Deuteronomy 6:5 says to love God with “all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  All of life is meant to be focused on God, and in doing this, He gets glory.

A Life that Produces Good Fruit 1. Fruitful in Character

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit…” – Colossians 1:10

• When you live your life with Jesus as the center, you’ll be fruitful in character, you’ll be able to “live a life worthy of the Lord and… please him in every way” as the verse above says.
• Being fruitful in your character means that you’ll develop a godly attitude toward life.  You’ll be known for your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
• In the same way that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33), letting Jesus be the center of your life will produce fruit of godly character.
• God’s goal is to make you more like Himself (Romans 8:29, Colossians 3:10).
• On the flipside, if you’re not aiming toward a life of godly character right now, then you have a serious problem.  Jesus even said that if your fruit is bad, you are bad (Matthew 7:15-23).

2. Fruitful in Impact

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

• Besides developing godly character, a life centered around Jesus will produce good fruit in terms of impact on the world.
• Jesus promised that if we remain in Him, we’ll bear “much fruit,” but if we leave him, we won’t be able to do anything.
• What do you think it means to “remain” in Jesus?
• Remaining in Jesus simply means you stay connected to Him in the same way that a branch is connected to the vine it sprouts off from.  All your life, energy, strength, sense of purpose, and direction needs to come from Jesus.  This is “remaining” in Him.
• Jesus said that when we bear “much fruit” it would bring God glory (John 15:8).  He chose and selected us to bear fruit, not to just wander through life (John 15:16).  He wants us to make an impact in our families, friends, schools, jobs, and cities.

A Life that Grows 1. Grow in Knowledge of God

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” – Colossians 1:10

• When Jesus is our life focus, we’ll naturally grow in our knowledge of God.
• Why is it important to keep growing in your knowledge of God?
• As you grow in knowledge of God, you’ll love Him more and find it easier to obey Him (Psalm 119:10, Psalm 119:33).
• Besides the positive things we get from knowing God more, if we don’t keep growing in our knowledge of God, He’ll give us over to darkness (Romans 1:28).
• To grow in knowledge of God, go to Him.  In 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul said that God “made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.”  Knowledge of Him comes from Him.  Also see Proverbs 2:1-6.
• Reading the Bible will help you grow in knowledge of God.  Paul calls the laws of God, “the embodiment of knowledge and truth” in Romans 2:20.

2. Grow in Strength

“being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” – Colossians 1:11

• Besides growing in knowledge of God, how else will you grow when Jesus is your focus in life? One other way you’ll grow is that you’ll grow in strength.
• What are some ways that you need to be strong as a Christian?
• The first place where we need strength is in staying holy.  A life focused on Jesus will have the strength to remain holy and pure.  In Romans 12:1, Paul talked about offering our lives as holy sacrifices to God, consumed by Him.  That is a life focused on Jesus.
• God clearly expects us to live holy lives (1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 6:19, and 1 Thessalonians 4:7) and He will “strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy” (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
• The second place where we need strength is in reaching out to others.  God expects us to be witnesses and ambassadors to the world (see Acts 1:8 and 2 Corinthians 5:20).

3. Grow in Joy

“…and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” – Colossians 1:11b-12

• Raise your hand if there are ever times where you feel like you’re lacking joy?
• We all have times when we get mad at our parents, we snap at our best friends, or we whine about our teachers, but God wants us to grow in joy above all those.
• When you give Jesus the right to your life, you’ll grow in joy.  Life won’t be such a drag because you won’t be trying to run things your own way but will be happily surrendered to God’s will for you.  See Romans 15:13, Psalm 51:12, and Hebrews 12:2.
• Godly joy remains even in the midst of difficulties, like Paul, who said, “in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
• Real joy will help you continue living for God.  See Jude 1:24 and Nehemiah 8:10.
• Real joy comes straight from God (Psalm 16:11, 1 Chronicles 15:27, and Luke 10:21), so it makes sense that when Jesus is directing our lives, joy comes out.

A Life that Never Gives Up 1. Endurance

“…so that you may have great endurance and patience…” – Colossians 1:11b

• The Christian life is hard – just shout out some of the things we have to endure as Christians.
• When Jesus is the center of your life, you’ll be able to endure those things and not give up.
• Paul was a guy who understood how to endure.  He wrote, “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it” in 1 Corinthians 4:12.
• What was his secret to keep going when he could endure no more?  He wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20).  It is when we make Jesus our life focus that He can keep us “strong to the end” (1 Corinthians 1:8).

2. Patience

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” – Ephesians 4:2

• Endurance is hard.  Another tough character trait is patience.  Raise your hand if you’ve got this one down and don’t need to work on it at all.
• We all have those times when we want to be anything but patient, but when Jesus is in charge, patience will begin to develop in us.
• All great men and women of God have had to develop patience: just think about Abraham (Hebrews 6:15), King David (Psalm 40:1), and King Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:13), to name a few.  Or Noah, who patiently built a boat and waited for the rain.  Or Moses, who waited patiently as a shepherd until God called him to lead His people out of Egypt.  Or Jesus, who was a carpenter for most of His life before doing only 3 years of actual ministry.
• Just like the farmer who trusts that God will make the seed grow in its proper time, when Jesus is your focus, you can patiently trust God to do things in His time.  See James 5:7-8.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” – Colossians 2:6-7 

• Only in rooting our lives in Jesus will we be built up in Him!
• In focusing on Him we’ll be strengthened in the faith we were taught!
• When our lives are based in Him, we’ll overflow with thankfulness!

Have a great day.

John

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