1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,680 This is City Post Church. We're about three things. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,040 Build equipped and send. All under the. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,240 Lordship of Jesus Christ. A small church plant in Fort 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,400 Worth, TX. Who decided to do things a 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,640 little differently? Adoramos. 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,480 Ajesu Cristo. I love City Post because of the 7 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,480 people. It's where I belong. 8 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,640 We truly preach the Word. I love City Post because of the 9 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,000 community we've been able to build. 10 00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:28,040 To do ministry like Jesus. For light to push back. 11 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:39,150 Darkness This is city post podcast again this weekend I got 12 00:00:39,150 --> 00:00:43,750 to hang out with my girls and. Friday, Saturday we had a. 13 00:00:43,750 --> 00:00:48,910 Great time and I was explaining to Livia and Elena that back in 14 00:00:48,910 --> 00:00:52,950 the 1900s we. Would burn CDs. 15 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,600 Y'all know what I'm talking? About, but we would. 16 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,080 Yeah, we would burn. CDs. 17 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:02,080 So this was before Spotify, before Apple, before YouTube. 18 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,400 Even for some of y'all before Pandora, all that stuff, we 19 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,440 would we would go and like burn CDs. 20 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,200 And I remember my brother introduced me to a program 21 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:15,360 called Limewire. Everybody you know an embarrass. 22 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,560 Share. All right, so you had Napster, 23 00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:22,480 which was the beginning of all of this, and it was steel music. 24 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:24,560 Remember, Metallica sued Napster. 25 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,480 Because they were stealing. Music. 26 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,080 And I'm like. Guys are rich, who cares? 27 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:29,760 Right, so and then all. That stuff. 28 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,880 But then these other programs started to come and my. 29 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,840 Brother like Tito is. A tech genius, he has a degree 30 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,640 in social work. Used it for six. 31 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,480 Months and says I'm out right? So now he works in tech. 32 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:43,960 But. He installed these things in our 33 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:45,920 in our computers and he would explain it to me. 34 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,280 He's like Rick, whatever album you want, whatever song you 35 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:50,920 want. You just type it in. 36 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,320 And then what it? Does is that it looks? 37 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,680 To all these other. Places all these other files to 38 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:58,840 see where it could. Download that song. 39 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,440 For you. And I'm like, dude, this is 40 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:02,760 incredible. Like. 41 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,160 I could download like Chronic 2001 for. 42 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,919 Free like this is great. Shows my age all right. 43 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,360 So all that stuff. And so we're downloading music. 44 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,360 But here's what they didn't tell us. 45 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,960 Sometimes when you choose to download a song. 46 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,920 From whatever source you. Get the song. 47 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:22,640 But you know what else you get sometimes? 48 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,920 A virus? Exactly. 49 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,200 So I'm getting my songs. I'm like, oh man, this mixed 50 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,280 album is going to be killer, right? 51 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,440 And next thing you know, like my CPU got killed. 52 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,560 It's not starting, it's super. Slow so all these. 53 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,680 Things that came with the song got infused into my. 54 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,880 CPU and it's. Causing it not to work or 55 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,920 function. The way that it should. 56 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,760 And guys, we're going to start going through the book of 57 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,080 Colossians. And the Church of Colossae and. 58 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,160 What happened is that. People started coming to this. 59 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,880 Church and knowing the gospel, but there were some ideologies 60 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,000 and some like false like beliefs and theology that got infused 61 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,200 with it. As well. 62 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,120 And it started causing the church not to function. 63 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,760 The way that it should. And what Paul's going to do in 64 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,320 this? Letter is that Paul is. 65 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,440 Going to attack. These ideologies, he's going to, 66 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,360 he's going to talk about how to fix it. 67 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,080 So let me give. Us a little bit of a back story 68 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,240 as we before. We dive into the book of 69 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,520 Colossians. So Paul is writing to this 70 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,800 church. In a city called Colossae. 71 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,720 Now the city is located in modern day. 72 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,040 Turkey. It's about 100 miles east. 73 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,200 Of a city called Ephesus. That Paul spent three years 74 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,800 doing ministry there. That's where we get the book. 75 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:51,120 Ephesians from It's about 350 miles South of Istanbul, so I'm 76 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,040 telling you this because I want you to picture the region. 77 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,440 That it's at it was also. Situated along a trade route in 78 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:02,320 the Lyceus Valley, so that means. 79 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:07,480 That where the city was, it was. Constant transient I I think of 80 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,720 schools like UTA or UNT that are transient universities. 81 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,080 That means that. Students go. 82 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,320 Study there and then they. Leave or people that live. 83 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,320 In that area are there for maybe two or three years. 84 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:24,480 In my case 6 don't hate right and then you leave. 85 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,400 So imagine this you you have a church in a city that's 86 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,440 constantly transient, people coming from all. 87 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,440 Sorts of. Places to do business there we 88 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,000 also know that the. City of Colossae was destroyed. 89 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:43,440 By an earthquake. And when century AD the letter 90 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,840 was written so Colossians was written by Paul when he was in 91 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:52,040 prison in Rome between. 60 and 60. 2AD, but we. 92 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,600 Also do know that Paul? Is not the founder. 93 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,080 Of this church. Paul did not plant this. 94 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,320 Church, there was another. Gentleman that we're going to. 95 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,480 Look at. And his name is. 96 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,440 Emphasis and he was the pastor of that church and. 97 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,480 Then Paul is. Hearing what's happening, well, 98 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:12,200 the. Heresy. 99 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,840 That's going on, and he decides to. 100 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:18,920 Write this letter to the. Colossians now what is happening 101 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,520 in this church? Paul is going to address. 102 00:05:21,840 --> 00:05:22,880 What I like? To call some. 103 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,400 Isms when it comes to. This church here, so I'll. 104 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,560 Put it on the screen. There's four isms that Paul is 105 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,160 going to look. At throughout the book of. 106 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:37,080 Colossians one is humanism. Humanism is pretty much that you 107 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:38,840 are the center. Of the universe. 108 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,080 I know some of us are like well. What's wrong with that, Rick? 109 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:46,480 I like being the center. Well, when you're the center of 110 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,200 the. Universe, like Sheryl Crow says, 111 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,800 whatever makes you happy, it can't be that bad. 112 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:56,720 So that means that we are constantly looking at ourselves 113 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:01,160 and nothing else matters unless I get what I am after. 114 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:03,600 We also see like, you know, that there. 115 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,680 Are atheists which? Atheism means that I don't 116 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,680 believe in any God. But then you have agnostics. 117 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,400 An agnostic believes that there is some sort of God somewhere. 118 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,600 Up there, that's in control. Of this I just don't know who it 119 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,600 is. And then we also see that's 120 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,880 where you get Gnosticism from which? 121 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:25,000 We look at the book. Of first John Gnosticism 122 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,760 separates the. Spiritual and the physical 123 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,400 together. And a lot of that ends the 124 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:31,960 humanism and. I'm going to. 125 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,240 Explain why that is an. Issue here in a second. 126 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:36,960 Then he's going to address legalism, and this comes from 127 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,800 the Jewish. Sect where it's like. 128 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,560 Yes, I want you to. Follow Jesus, but you got to be 129 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,760 able to do the law as well. So you got to be circumcised, 130 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,480 you got to keep the Sabbath because if you follow Jesus. 131 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,360 And you don't do the law, then it don't really count. 132 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,120 God's not going. To be pleased. 133 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,560 With you, then you. Have mysticism. 134 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,560 Now mysticism comes a lot from the. 135 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,320 Greeks very. Kind of spirituality, you know, 136 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,320 in our time, mysticism, people that just walk around the. 137 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,520 Office with Sage. And you're like, what are you 138 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:08,360 doing? And you're like I'm. 139 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,120 Getting rid of the negative. Energy like that, that's 140 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,320 mysticism. Lighting candles and doing palm 141 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,880 readings and all that stuff where you're playing with stars 142 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,080 and the spirits and all that's mysticism and that. 143 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,080 Is actually a Greek. Concept because you're 144 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,200 separating the. Spiritual with the physical. 145 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:32,520 And that leads to Gnosticism. And then a cynicism which? 146 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,480 Says that if I follow Christ, if I follow. 147 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,520 God, I'm not allowed to have fun. 148 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,320 That means that everything is. Super serious. 149 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,000 Like you can't be, you can't, you can't follow. 150 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,560 Pleasure. Pleasure is not a good thing if 151 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:51,480 you are seriously following the Lord, and Paul is going to. 152 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,680 Look at all of these, because what all of these? 153 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,520 Have in common is Jesus. And. 154 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,440 So. With humanism, it's like Jesus. 155 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,800 Is step. One to your journey to finding 156 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,640 joy and the meaning of life. For yourself with legalism, 157 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,360 it's. Jesus and all these laws with 158 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,280 mysticism. It's Jesus and all of these 159 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:18,000 spiritual rituals and with aestheticism, it's Jesus, but 160 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,000 just don't have a good time following him. 161 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,520 What, Paul? 'S going to do here is say 162 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,720 listen all. Of this stuff, I hear what 163 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,240 you're saying, but the way I'm going to fight you on this. 164 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,960 Is the supremacy of Christ? It's Jesus is. 165 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,520 All. Jesus is over everything and. 166 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,440 Paul is going to come at this argument. 167 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,159 So Colossians is like Ephesians. It's split in half. 168 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,920 So the first two. Chapters of Colossians Paul is 169 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:49,360 going to address the. Theology piece of it he's. 170 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,200 Going to look at Colossians, the doctrinal piece of the supremacy 171 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,400 of Christ, why Christ is everything and why Christ is 172 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,200 superior to. All of these little belief. 173 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,520 Systems that you're trying to infiltrate in the church, then 174 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,240 chapters 3 and four are the submission of Christ. 175 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:13,520 So why Jesus is so far superior? And why we must submit to? 176 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:16,920 His Lordship. And live in a specific. 177 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:22,760 Way so the. 2nd 2 chapters are practical and he and. 178 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:24,600 He's going to. Walk us through what that looks 179 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,080 like. Man, I'm. 180 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,400 Telling you like this? Book is. 181 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:29,760 So good. Like even today as I was 182 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,600 learning all this stuff, like I'm like. 183 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,960 Learning a bunch of stuff so if y'all don't get nothing out of 184 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,480 it too. Bad IA lot so all right so let's 185 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,880 look at verse we're. Going to read verse one and two 186 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:44,480 and I will also warn Paul writes in these long chunks lots of 187 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:48,440 commas a lot, lots of like there's not a lot of periods so 188 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,120 we're. Going to read with Paul. 189 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,920 Rowe And then we're going to kind of go back and and kind of 190 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,280 break things down a little bit. So look at verse 1 and 2. 191 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,600 Paul. An apostle of Christ Jesus. 192 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,200 By the will of God. And Timothy, our brother to 193 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,920 God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and 194 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,520 sisters in Christ, grace and peace. 195 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:15,400 To you from God our Father. So in Paul. 196 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,720 'S letters he always. Gives this awesome introduction. 197 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:21,400 Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ. 198 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,160 Paul is letting them know that he is the person who is writing 199 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,680 this letter now, Ricky. Why does Paul? 200 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:29,320 Put his name first. Why doesn't he do like? 201 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,440 The whole like. To whom it may concern, or dear 202 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,160 so and. So you got to. 203 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,880 Remember, in these times, this is kind of what? 204 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,280 You did. So if I were to write a letter. 205 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,400 To the city of Fort Worth, I'd be like This is Ricky Cottle, 206 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,080 pastor of City Post Church. Grace and peace. 207 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,320 Be to you city of Fort Worth. So it's just kind of a. 208 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,840 A way that you do. That right saying I'm. 209 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,320 Apostle of Christ Jesus Paul. Is not a disciple. 210 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:00,200 Christ met Paul and had a confrontation with Paul. 211 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,600 That changed. His life and what Paul is saying 212 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,080 is, is because of God's. Will that I had an. 213 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,760 Encounter with Christ is why. I'm I'm an apostle. 214 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,080 Of Christ and then. He throws in to my. 215 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:13,640 Brother Timothy. Who's Timothy? 216 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:15,400 Timothy. Was a young. 217 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,520 Pastor, that Paul is. Disciple in and. 218 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:21,200 What a lot of. Scholars say, is that Timothy? 219 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,920 Was probably. Writing down what, Paul? 220 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,440 Was telling out of that. Prison in in. 221 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:31,160 Roman in in Rome. So he mentions Timothy because 222 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,440 Timothy's with him right now. Now, who is Paul writing this 223 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:35,920 letter to? It says it in verse. 224 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,960 Two, as holy people. In Colosse to the faithful 225 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,240 brothers and sisters in Christ understand this. 226 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,480 Paul is not writing this to non believers. 227 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,360 He's not writing. This to whom? 228 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,360 It may concern he's not writing this to the government, he's not 229 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:53,480 writing this. To the. 230 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,080 People of Colossae no his focus and target. 231 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,680 Are the brothers and sisters those who are believers? 232 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:04,880 In Jesus Christ who responded to the gospel message, that's who 233 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,160 the letters going to and I think we need to be careful sometimes. 234 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,520 When we talk to people. Who are not believers? 235 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,080 And we, and we and we. Try to. 236 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,840 Twist and turn things. Listen, they're not going to 237 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,440 understand God's word because they don't have the Holy Spirit. 238 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,920 So what we? Have to do is we have to trust 239 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,080 God's. Word. 240 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:31,160 Trust the revelation of His Word and speak it the way that it's 241 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:32,920 intended. To be taught and. 242 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,760 Spoken to and if they don't get. It it's because the holy. 243 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:37,200 Spirit has not revealed. It to him yet. 244 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,680 So Paul is. Directing this line of 245 00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:43,480 communication to the believers. And I think that's why it's so. 246 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:50,040 Relevant to us today because those of us in this room are 247 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,760 here to worship Jesus and listen. 248 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,440 If you're not, my prayer for you. 249 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:56,960 Is that you? Have an encounter with Christ 250 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,360 this morning. And that your heart. 251 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,400 Turned to him. It's so. 252 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,840 Worth it? All right, let's read. 253 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:08,160 First big chunk here verses 3. Through 6. 254 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:11,040 So this is what the word of the Lord. 255 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,400 Says we always thank. God the Father of our Lord 256 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,440 Jesus. Christ, when we pray to. 257 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,160 You for you. Because we have heard of your. 258 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,720 Faith. In Christ Jesus and of your 259 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,000 love. For you have for all. 260 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,480 Of God's people, the. Faith and love that spring. 261 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:32,840 From the hopes stored up. For. 262 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,000 You in heaven and about. Which you have already heard. 263 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,800 In the true message of the gospel that has come to you. 264 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:44,000 In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing 265 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,800 throughout the whole world. Just as it is it. 266 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:53,320 Has been doing among you since the day you heard it, and truly. 267 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:55,000 Understood. God's grace. 268 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,000 You learned it from. Pastor EI can't even. 269 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,080 Pronounce his name so. I'm just going to call him 270 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:04,000 Pastor E. Here our fellow servant who is a 271 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,960 faithful minister. Of Christ. 272 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:11,600 On our behalf and who? Also told us of your love. 273 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:15,640 The Spirit so back in. Verse three. 274 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,200 I love how Paul starts this letter because what Paul? 275 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:22,080 'S doing here is that. Paul is easing in before. 276 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,840 He drops the hammer. He's he's. 277 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:30,000 Kind of building them up. Paul loves them enough to 278 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,960 address certain concerns because. 279 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:36,240 That's that's what a Good Shepherd does, but before he. 280 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,640 Does that he's going to kind of lift them up a little bit he's 281 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,680 going to ease them in so if we. Look at this elaborate. 282 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,840 Sentence, he says. Man, I always thank God for. 283 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:50,960 You guys and verse 3. And then he says, I'm praying 284 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,240 for you guys. But look what he says. 285 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:57,880 When I pray for you. The Church of Colossae the. 286 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,880 Brothers and sisters, when I pray. 287 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,040 For you, there's two. Things that I'm praying for you 288 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:08,200 for not before, but because. He of what he heard. 289 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,640 I'm praying because I heard of two things about you your faith 290 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,760 in Christ and the. Love of God's people. 291 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,840 We see it in verse 4, if you're writing things down, these are 292 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,600 things that you should be circling, love for Christ and 293 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:24,560 faith in Christ and love for people. 294 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,640 And I started thinking I felt like a conviction from the Holy 295 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:31,520 Spirit, and I said, Lord, may City Post be known for two 296 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,320 things, our faith in Jesus and our love for God. 297 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,200 'S people. He doesn't say that the Church 298 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,960 of Colossae had a bomb. Ministry or an incredible 299 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,240 preacher? Or an incredible worship. 300 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,560 Team or an incredible facility? He didn't say any of that stuff, 301 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,480 what Paul's saying, what people are talking. 302 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,640 About what is honoring the Lord? Is that their faith? 303 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,920 In Christ, following Jesus to the tee, honoring Jesus, putting 304 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,800 Jesus first in everything, and then also. 305 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,160 The way that you love. Each other I love Jesus. 306 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,040 Mentions this in the book of John. 307 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,400 As he prays. For the believers. 308 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,160 And he says, Ma'am, my prayer for. 309 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:14,760 You is that you stay. Unified. 310 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,920 Because that's how the world. 'S going to know that you, that 311 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,160 you're mine, the love for one another. 312 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,800 And then in verse. Five, he walks this. 313 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,520 Thing out right, he says. Faith in Christ. 314 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,640 Love for God's people. And then he says, man, the faith 315 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,040 and the love, you know where that comes from. 316 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:36,520 It springs up from the hope that you have in heaven. 317 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,200 That means that the faith that I have and the love. 318 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,720 That I have for people. That's not of my own doing. 319 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,240 It has to come from somewhere. And where's it coming from? 320 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,200 The hope I have. In heaven, which is in through 321 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,960 Christ. And the way that I got that. 322 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,800 Was because I responded and I heard the true. 323 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:01,520 Message of the Gospel the. True message of the Gospel. 324 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:05,599 Is what transforms our lives. It's when we respond to it. 325 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:07,640 That Jesus came, He died. He was. 326 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,359 Buried. And then he rose. 327 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,119 Again on the third day. And because he rose again. 328 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:13,920 You. And I can now have. 329 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:15,599 Transformation. And we have the Holy. 330 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:18,960 Spirit that lives through us. If we accept Him and repent of 331 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,839 our sins, that's what's coming to us. 332 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,359 And then Paul encourages them in verse 6. 333 00:17:25,599 --> 00:17:29,000 He said man, that same. Gospel that has changed you? 334 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,080 That is giving you this faith. In Jesus and that's causing you 335 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,880 to love one another. That same gospel, listen, that 336 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,440 same gospel is. Bearing fruit throughout the 337 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,320 world, everything that we've. Talked about the. 338 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,560 Reason why you have this? Church listen, it's. 339 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,640 Working. Can I encourage? 340 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:50,120 Us real quick as a church people, the same gospel that we 341 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:51,600 preach here it's. Changing. 342 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:55,760 Lives all throughout the world. We don't realize it and 343 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,160 sometimes we kind of like fall, like, ah man, what we doing 344 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,920 doesn't even matter. You don't know whose life is 345 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,760 being transformed by what we're doing here. 346 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,520 God is using people. All. 347 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,760 Throughout the world, you and I are not going to. 348 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,360 See it but it's. Working. 349 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:17,560 It's going everywhere. Our stream, everything that 350 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:22,680 we're doing is having impact not just in our city, but in the 351 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,000 world because the. Lord is faithful. 352 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:27,520 And because the gospel. Is real. 353 00:18:30,360 --> 00:18:33,160 Just that's been doing it. And it says here and in Paul 354 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:34,640 finishes. Verse 6. 355 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:39,400 Same thing that's been doing here in Colossae from day one. 356 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,000 From the day. That you heard it. 357 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,040 From the day that you understood God's grace, it's happening. 358 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:50,000 And then this pastor, Pastor E here, he's the faithful. 359 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,440 Minister on our behalf. He's the one that planted this 360 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:54,640 church. He's the one that's been 361 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:58,120 talking. To us about you now. 362 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:03,800 He's going to get into. A a really, really thick passage 363 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,520 here. So look at verses 9. 364 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,320 Through 11, we spend most. The rest of our time here, 365 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,400 verses 9 through 11 and. We're going to walk this thing 366 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:16,280 out. For this reason, so Paul kind of 367 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:19,840 set it up, He encouraged them. He he kind of gave him a little 368 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:25,760 shout out, OK, now for this reason, this reason for the 369 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:28,480 gospel. Since the day we heard about 370 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,840 you. We have not stopped praying for 371 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,120 you, we continually ask. God to fill you. 372 00:19:34,120 --> 00:19:37,040 With the knowledge. Of his will through all the. 373 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,000 Wisdom and understanding. That the Spirit gives. 374 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,520 So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please 375 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,520 Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good word, growing in 376 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:52,080 the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power 377 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:56,600 according to His glorious might. So that you may have great 378 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:01,680 endurance and patience and giving thanks and giving joyful 379 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,480 thanks to the. Father, who has qualified. 380 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,680 You to share in the inheritance. Of his holy. 381 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,840 People in the Kingdom of. Of light. 382 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,200 That's a mouthful. But Paul has to connect. 383 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,680 All of that together. Really important that we truly. 384 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,680 Understand what Paul is saying here. 385 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:27,600 So starting out the. Same way that Paul encourages. 386 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,480 Them and saying like man we're I'm hearing these two things 387 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,400 from you guys and I pray. For you because of your. 388 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,040 Faith in Christ and your love for each. 389 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,280 Other. But the same reason. 390 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:41,880 The work of the Gospel. Is moving, but I'm also haven't 391 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,120 stopped praying. For you. 392 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,200 So not just the church. Not just. 393 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,200 Pastor E over here. Not just the work. 394 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,800 But for you? Individually as a believer. 395 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:55,640 In Christ. And Paul? 396 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:57,560 There's two things and I'll put them on the screen. 397 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,480 There's two things that Paul prays for the believers number. 398 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,480 One is the knowledge. The knowledge. 399 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:09,840 Of God's will, informed by spiritual understanding, so he. 400 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,960 Prays that they have. Knowledge of his will which? 401 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:19,240 Comes through his word and then he says also in verse 10, I 402 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,800 pray. That you have a life worthy of 403 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,960 the Lord, that you're able to please. 404 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,800 Him what? Paul. 405 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,960 Is doing here is he's setting up the whole book. 406 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:31,840 Remember we talked. About the first two chapters are 407 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:33,720 doctrinal. The 2nd 2 are. 408 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,760 Practical. So what he's doing here is that 409 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,480 he is. Pretty much drawing them in now. 410 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,000 The Greek word for knowledge. Here, let's just eat this. 411 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,320 Elephant, one bite at a time. The Greek word for knowledge. 412 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,720 Here is actually the. Same word that you see knowledge 413 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:51,600 everywhere. The thing that Paul. 414 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,240 Does here though is that Paul throws. 415 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:58,640 In a preposition to intensify the word knowledge and the 416 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:02,560 meaning so when you look at the definition of knowledge. 417 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,440 It's it's like an. Expression or a feeling? 418 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,200 But because at. The end of verse 9 he ends it 419 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,840 with. That the Spirit gives. 420 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,040 He's not talking about a knowledge like book knowledge, 421 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,640 like I learned something. He's talking. 422 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:23,640 About a spiritual knowledge that only the Spirit of God can give 423 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,760 you, not just the spiritual knowledge. 424 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,640 So that means that it's not just an impression or feeling. 425 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,640 He's saying I. Want you to have a deep and 426 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,120 thorough knowledge of. The will of God, that's. 427 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:38,080 Only going to be revealed. To you by the word of God, 428 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:42,680 through the Spirit of God. I don't want you to have. 429 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,560 Goose pimples and butterflies only. 430 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,440 I want you to know. I want you to know God's will 431 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,440 because. The truth is that our. 432 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,920 Emotions and feelings lie to us all the time. 433 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,680 So when we talk about God's will for our lives. 434 00:22:57,920 --> 00:22:59,840 There's going to be some things that don't make me. 435 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,560 Feel good. That I'm going to have to say, 436 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:04,600 Lord, I'm going to follow. You because of the. 437 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:09,520 Revelation, you gave me through your word and I hate this but. 438 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:10,880 I'm going to do it. Because you've asked me. 439 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,240 To do it. So what he's. 440 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,280 Saying is that he's saying. Listen the knowledge of his. 441 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:18,040 Will through all. Wisdom. 442 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,280 Not just regular wisdom, spiritual wisdom. 443 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,600 But then. Also understanding. 444 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:25,720 And that's that same preposition. 445 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,400 Right, it's the spiritual. Component to it. 446 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,880 So it's not understanding like you understand. 447 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:32,440 Yeah, I get it. No, it's not that. 448 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,480 I get it. Do you really understand? 449 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,200 So? So let's break this down. 450 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,440 Spiritual modifies the word wisdom here, right? 451 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:42,960 So how? Does it modify it? 452 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:46,120 So what Paul is talking? About the knowledge I'm 453 00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:49,320 attaining. Through His word, which is 454 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,120 spiritual, that means that I have the ability. 455 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:55,040 To accumulate and organize principles from. 456 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,680 Scripture so. When I read the scripture, I'm 457 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,480 able to bring it in and tie it together. 458 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,520 Because of the assistance of the Holy Spirit. 459 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,600 Then I don't. Just accumulate God's scripture 460 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,840 and His Word I also. Have that understanding of it. 461 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,000 So what does? Understanding mean understanding 462 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,680 means I'm. Able to apply it to my everyday. 463 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,600 Life. So that means I'm not just 464 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,760 hearing from God, I'm not just learning from God, I'm 465 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,520 implementing. It I'm getting busy. 466 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,480 With it. I'm not just getting 467 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:29,440 spiritually. Fat. 468 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:33,320 I'm giving. It out and that's what Paul is 469 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:35,840 talking about here. So let me give. 470 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,880 You let me give you an example. So I was thinking about like how 471 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:39,880 do I? Explain this. 472 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,880 OK, so Genesis. One Genesis 11. 473 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,120 Many of us know that. Passage. 474 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,320 In the beginning, God created. The heavens and the earth. 475 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:52,840 Now when I read. That I could easily like, yeah, 476 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,760 God created stuff. Now if I have spiritual. 477 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,600 Wisdom. And I'm able to accumulate and 478 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:02,440 organize principles of scripture. 479 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:04,600 Then I'm able to look at a simple. 480 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,800 Passage like that and start. To really. 481 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,080 Think through it through the. Assistance of the Holy Spirit. 482 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:14,000 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, so that 483 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:14,840 means that. God has. 484 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,120 Always been eternal. God wasn't. 485 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:20,960 Created God, always existed. And then it says that. 486 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,320 He always. Was there and then he. 487 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,680 Created things that means that he. 488 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,560 Spoke and when he speaks. Everything is just made. 489 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,240 That's where he gets the name Elohim from God, my Creator. 490 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,520 And when God creates stuff. It works really good. 491 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,520 Because if you keep reading. Genesis, he says that he looked 492 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:40,520 at it. He says it's good. 493 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,840 So God does not mess up, God does not create junk, God does 494 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,160 not do things without purpose or intention or without reason. 495 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:53,840 Elohim, how did I get? All of that from one little 496 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:55,920 verse. Spiritual. 497 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:59,480 Wisdom. Now how do I understand it with 498 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,960 the Spirit? So how do I apply that to my 499 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:03,880 life? So if I truly. 500 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:06,600 Understand that God is elohim he creates everything, everything's 501 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,040 intention and purpose that mean what does that mean for me 502 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:12,480 listen, when I am going through a really hard time, I have to 503 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:15,280 lean on elohim if I'm. Stuck. 504 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,200 I have a. God, that makes a way out of no 505 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,560 way. That means that when I'm 506 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,160 worried, when I'm, when I'm like, how's this going to work? 507 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,880 Like man, the God. That I serve created the. 508 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:29,640 Universe so that we I don't. Worship the universe, I worship 509 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:31,200 the guy. That made the universe. 510 00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:36,480 So why am I worried so much? Why am I freaking out? 511 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,120 You see, that's how. That's how you connect them 512 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:45,120 both, and that does not happen without spiritual the spiritual. 513 00:26:45,120 --> 00:26:47,640 Piece of it. So what, Paul? 514 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:49,960 Is saying is that my? Prayer for you. 515 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,520 Is that you will attain knowledge of God's will. 516 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:55,600 How am I going to know God's will for my? 517 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:57,600 Life because. You must attain it through 518 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,640 wisdom and understanding. That means that I must know His 519 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:05,800 Word and do it. And many of us know. 520 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,880 His word, but we don't. Do it so when you know his word 521 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:11,600 and you don't do it, you are stuck. 522 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,720 Like Chuck. Things don't. 523 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:18,480 Grow in your life and I'll show you here how here in a second. 524 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,120 So what he's saying? Is like this is what the. 525 00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:25,040 Spirit gives us now look. Verse 10 says so that. 526 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,240 You may. Live a life worthy. 527 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,760 Of the Lord and please Him in every way. 528 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,480 How do? I live a life worthy of the 529 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,600 Lord. What does that look like? 530 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:40,000 Being constantly in his word. And doing what he tells me to 531 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:41,840 do. It's called. 532 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,440 Obedience. So if I. 533 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,960 Live my life worthy of the Lord and I. 534 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,000 Please him in every way. Then that means that the. 535 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,520 Work that I do. Is going to bear fruit? 536 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:56,920 What kind of work is Paul talking about here? 537 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:02,600 Well, the Bible identifies a lot of spiritual fruit and people. 538 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,240 That are leading in Christ we have that in Galatians, the 539 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:06,680 fruit of the. Spirit we. 540 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:11,040 See in Hebrews 13 praising God, we see tithing or giving in 541 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:15,200 Romans 15 living a godly life, displaying holy attributes, 542 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:19,480 Being obedient to what? God has called me to do that. 543 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:23,760 Is a life worthy of the Lord? And hating my sin. 544 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:26,280 You know we. We got to start. 545 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:29,120 Addressing this whole like. Holiness of God and 546 00:28:29,120 --> 00:28:31,040 righteousness if I'm going to pursue. 547 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,040 The Lord. That means I'm going to hate the 548 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:34,680 things that he. Hates and. 549 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:37,040 I'm going to love the things that he loves. 550 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:40,720 It's going to change a lot in our lives. 551 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:45,600 So verse. 10 it says so that. You may live a life. 552 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:49,560 Worthy to the Lord and. Please him in every way bearing. 553 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,640 Fruit in every good word, growing in the knowledge. 554 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,320 Of God. You want to know how? 555 00:28:55,320 --> 00:29:00,600 You grow spiritually. Wisdom, understanding. 556 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,680 Get in His Word and do what it says and you will grow. 557 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,760 That's it. You could. 558 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:09,640 You could attend all the conferences you want. 559 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:11,480 You go to church as much as you want. 560 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:12,920 Listen. But if you are idle. 561 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:15,760 In life. You're never going to experience 562 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:19,960 true growth and maturity in Christ we've. 563 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:21,480 Got to get to work. We've got to. 564 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:26,440 Put it into practice. And then there's an outcome of 565 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:30,720 that being strengthened. With all power. 566 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,240 According to the glorious Might. So that way you. 567 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:36,520 Would have great endurance. And patience man, when I read 568 00:29:36,520 --> 00:29:37,880 this it's almost like a little. Bit of a. 569 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:40,200 Cycle in my mind, so I'll go and put the slide up. 570 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,800 Here because I. Want us to see what Paul is 571 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,640 showing us? It's almost like a a small 572 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:50,480 cycle. So bearing. 573 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:55,080 Fruit with all good work. Knowledge of God. 574 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:59,800 Which is growth so. As I am putting the knowledge of 575 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:05,040 God that I'm learning into work, I begin to grow in my faith. 576 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:08,240 So the more I do, then I go back. 577 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,000 To his. Word to learn more it's a 578 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:16,520 constant cycle I learn and I do I learn and I do and then out of 579 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:19,240 that the outcome of having the knowledge of. 580 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:24,080 God. I become strengthened in him, I 581 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,680 get the. Power that I need in. 582 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:32,080 Order for me to continue to be obedient and to do so. 583 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:36,800 If I'm weary and I'm tired and I'm burned out, that means that 584 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:41,120 I am not bearing fruit. That means that I'm missing 585 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:42,240 something. I'm trying to. 586 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:43,320 Do what? God. 587 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:47,720 Asked me to do in my own power or I'm trying to do what God 588 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:52,440 tells me to do, but my own way. And when you do things in your 589 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,920 own power and in your own way and you don't link up with the 590 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,840 spiritual, yes, you're going to burn out. 591 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:04,440 You're going to crash. But if you follow the cycle, it 592 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,920 starts to connect it all together and it. 593 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:09,520 Begins to give you strength. And I love. 594 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,160 That it says with all power here. 595 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:12,880 That means it's not on your power. 596 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:16,800 That means it's on his. Power how? 597 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,120 Else, do you think you're able to do this? 598 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:24,000 Through the power of the holy. Spirit, listen if it wasn't. 599 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:25,720 Through God's power. I would have quit years. 600 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:28,280 Ago. There's no way. 601 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:33,120 But man like but when I when I. Plug into him and I get. 602 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:34,680 In his word. And I'm obedient. 603 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:37,080 Like you, obedient. There's something that happens 604 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,440 inside of. You it's like, like I always say 605 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:40,920 like. Creatine to the soul. 606 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:44,000 It's like your soul just. Drinks like an energy drink. 607 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:46,440 And you're able to continue. Forward. 608 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,640 Now what are the outcomes? That you get. 609 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:52,360 When you're strengthened. By what God gives you, check 610 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,840 this out I. Think this is so fascinating, He 611 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:59,360 says endurance and patience. No, no, no, no, not just 612 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:00,280 endurance and. Patience. 613 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:02,520 Read the text. Great. 614 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:06,320 Endurance and patience did. You all catch that? 615 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:09,720 Ricky, why would I need endurance and patience? 616 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:11,760 For, have you ever tried? Discipling people. 617 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:18,120 Have you ever tried to serve the? 618 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:22,600 Lord, when you're tired and you'll feel like it and what God 619 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,000 got to say and it's like, man, it's going to strengthen you. 620 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:27,040 And when it strengthens you, you're going. 621 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:33,240 To be able to endure and you're going to have patience, you're 622 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:35,960 going to last. I love that the Lord Jesus 623 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:37,840 always talks about this. He always talks about. 624 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,160 A faith that endures. That's why he talks about the 625 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:42,280 mustard seed man. It's not about a. 626 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:44,320 Faith that's going to explode. Up no. 627 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:48,240 The mustard seed grows longevity wise as well. 628 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,360 It's so that way you last and Paul. 629 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:56,920 Is saying that what comes out of this is a faith, it's an 630 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:59,920 endurance and a patience. For you. 631 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:06,440 To have it's this awesome cycle. Now he ends it with giving 632 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:12,760 joyful thanks to the Father. So when I end his. 633 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:15,800 Word. Wisdom and understanding through 634 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:21,680 spirit and then I become strengthened in my soul and 635 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,200 because I become strengthened in my soul, he gives me great 636 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:28,400 endurance and great patience and. 637 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:32,480 Because all of this is. Working verse 12. 638 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,840 Giving joyful thanks to the Father. 639 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:46,120 Man, my expression, my outcome with all of this happening is. 640 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:51,280 Worship joyful. Thanks to the Father. 641 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:54,280 Why? Because he's the one that 642 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:58,720 qualified. You love the saying says God 643 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:01,280 does not call. The qualify. 644 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:06,320 He qualifies the call. If he called to qualify. 645 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:10,080 None of us in here would be doing what we do because none of 646 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,920 us ain't qualified for this. I sure ain't qualified for this. 647 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,000 But because the Lord is. The one who qualifies us and he 648 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,320 says I've chosen you. Love that word. 649 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,199 Qualified if you study the text even deeper. 650 00:34:23,639 --> 00:34:27,840 It's almost like an umpire. What an umpire does in baseball 651 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:29,400 is that the umpire. Calls. 652 00:34:29,679 --> 00:34:31,520 What's acceptable and what's not? 653 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:35,920 He calls strikes. He calls foul balls He calls. 654 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:42,400 Fouls offsides, the umpire allows, and the umpire says 655 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:45,080 what's not allowed. And that's the same sentiment 656 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:47,000 that Paul's using. Here Paul saying like. 657 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,000 God is the one. Who says yes? 658 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,159 You could come in I'm. The one that's qualifying you? 659 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:54,280 And no, I'm have not. Called you. 660 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:59,520 God is the one that does it. And why does he qualify you? 661 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:02,480 Why does he choose you? To share in the inheritance. 662 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:05,400 Of his holy people. In the Kingdom of. 663 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:07,800 Light. So that way you could be a part 664 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:10,840 of what he's doing and. Then the. 665 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:12,800 Last couple of verses. 13 and 14. 666 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,680 For He has rescued us. From the dominion of darkness 667 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:24,120 and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we 668 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:28,160 have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 669 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:32,120 Paul is very. Black and white here. 670 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:35,720 Because because it's God that qualifies you. 671 00:35:36,720 --> 00:35:39,000 That means that you're either in the Kingdom of Light. 672 00:35:39,240 --> 00:35:41,600 Or. The Kingdom of darkness. 673 00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:43,960 We see that in First John all the time. 674 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:48,160 So there's no like tap dancing? Side to side like which? 675 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:49,920 One am I going to? Decide to jump into no. 676 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:51,520 You're either saved. Or you're not. 677 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:55,640 You're follower of Christ. Or you're not you either, all 678 00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:57,800 Jesus. Or all something else. 679 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:01,120 And and he's pointing this. Out he, he's. 680 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:03,480 Pulled us out of dominion of darkness. 681 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,320 And brought us into the forgiveness of our sins and the 682 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:10,360 redemption. So I want to end. 683 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:15,400 This is Paul talks about if you look back in verse. 684 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:17,240 Nine, it says. The knowledge. 685 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:22,520 Of His will to wisdom and understanding. 686 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:26,720 I think one of the greatest questions that many of us have 687 00:36:26,720 --> 00:36:31,200 or this generation has, is how do I know God's will for my 688 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:34,160 life? How do I know that I'm supposed 689 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:36,840 to be doing what I'm doing? How do I know? 690 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:43,760 And some stuff in. Scripture is is clear like Paul. 691 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:45,920 Says like you shouldn't sue your brother or sister. 692 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:51,760 But what if? I have an opportunity to move to 693 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:55,080 Dallas. Instead of Fort Worth. 694 00:36:55,240 --> 00:36:57,520 There's nothing in the Bible says thou shalt not move. 695 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:01,160 To Dallas for your life. Would be rough. 696 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:04,680 How do I know which I should date? 697 00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:06,800 How do I know who I should marry? 698 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,800 Thou shalt not marry him. He's terrible. 699 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:15,000 Thus saith the Lord. She will be a pain in your side. 700 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,360 There's nothing. In the Bible, that points. 701 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:20,640 That out there? Is something that says what? 702 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:22,240 Does light have to do with darkness? 703 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:25,800 How do we know? Well, I want to give you just 704 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,320 three things. And one with this how do we 705 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,920 discern God's will? So based out of Paul what he 706 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:35,360 showed us. In colossians #1 it's the 707 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:36,760 counsel of God's. Word. 708 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:41,440 So if I have. Spiritual wisdom and I am. 709 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:45,240 Trying to pour into to my like if I'm trying to make a 710 00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:48,400 decision, the first thing I'm going to do is I am going to get 711 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:52,280 into God's Word and I'm going to read that thing the Bible. 712 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:55,960 Says in Psalms, For thy word is a lamp unto my feet. 713 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:59,600 And a light unto my. Path that means that God is 714 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:02,520 going to illuminate my. Steps, but he's also. 715 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:05,080 Going to show you. My future, he's also going. 716 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:08,280 To show me my future. And you cannot. 717 00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:12,120 You cannot. Look for your. 718 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:15,120 Future will if you're not willing to get in God's will 719 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:18,360 right now. So the way that. 720 00:38:18,360 --> 00:38:20,240 I know is number one. I'm going to. 721 00:38:20,240 --> 00:38:23,040 Read his word. I'm going to study his word. 722 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:24,600 I'm not going to be picking and choosing. 723 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:26,520 I'm just going to. Dig in his word. 724 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,680 And then #2 how do I know God's wolf from my life, The comfort 725 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:34,080 of God's peace, so I don't just have the counsel of His. 726 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:38,360 Word, but God gives us a. Peace in our souls and in our 727 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:41,480 lives. So listen, if you're missing 728 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:45,000 peace on a decision, then you don't need to go. 729 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:49,240 Then you need to wait. It might not be right now, it 730 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:53,880 might be just later. So it's not, I think it's not 731 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:54,800 that you get. Peace. 732 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:57,600 It is the lack thereof of peace that you need. 733 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:03,120 To pay attention to SO. When you have. 734 00:39:03,120 --> 00:39:07,160 God's peace, that's everything. The love of Jesus. 735 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:10,840 Says in John 1420. 7 Peace I leave. 736 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:13,000 You my. Peace I give you. 737 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:17,240 Not as the world gives. Not as the world gives. 738 00:39:17,240 --> 00:39:20,120 Do I give to you? Let not your hearts. 739 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:23,400 Be troubled. Or let them be afraid. 740 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:25,520 How do you know we got God's peace? 741 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:28,720 Your hearts are not troubled and you're not afraid. 742 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:32,240 I got God's word, but I also have. 743 00:39:32,240 --> 00:39:36,480 God's peace in my life, and sometimes you have to wait. 744 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:45,360 You know, I remember growing up as in ministry, it was a 745 00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:50,960 decision that I had to make when I felt called a pastor and I was 746 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:54,680 like 2013, but there was something in my life like I 747 00:39:54,680 --> 00:39:59,800 didn't have a piece about it. Now I also remember going to the 748 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:03,080 University of North Texas, moving to Denton and I I made a 749 00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:04,640 decision. I was like, man, I am going to 750 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:05,920 plant my. Feet in Denton. 751 00:40:07,080 --> 00:40:09,160 I'm going to move to. Denton I'm going to lock in in 752 00:40:09,160 --> 00:40:10,880 school. I'm going to find a. 753 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:15,760 Church up here. And then that's it for the next 754 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:16,960 two years. That's what I'm doing. 755 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:18,960 I'm locking in. I'm going to get my. 756 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:22,920 Degree I started. Visiting churches and I didn't 757 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:26,760 have a piece about it. Then I met this girl named 758 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:29,520 Rachel. Messed up all my plans. 759 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:36,240 Next thing you know it man, I'm traveling to Arlington serving 760 00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:37,360 at my home. Church. 761 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:44,840 I had peace there. Now Fast forward 2015, when I 762 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:46,200 really felt. The God, the call of. 763 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:49,400 God on my life and I felt God saying I want you to. 764 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:52,880 Pastor. And it was time for me to. 765 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:55,880 Go. I felt peace there. 766 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:59,400 So worried I was like Oh my. God, what are they going to do? 767 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:00,880 Who's going to take? Care of the kiddies? 768 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:02,960 No, that didn't bother me one bit. 769 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:06,360 Why? Because I had peace, but also 770 00:41:06,360 --> 00:41:09,440 had the wisdom and the understanding that God was going 771 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:11,240 to make sure everything was taken care of. 772 00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:15,120 Then the last thing here, and we'll close with this, the 773 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:19,240 confirmation of others. And I think if we want to 774 00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:21,080 discern God. 'S will for our lives. 775 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:25,040 We need to surround ourselves. With spiritually. 776 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:31,920 Mature, faithful Ogs that have. Done this a long time, now 777 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:32,840 going. To your friend like. 778 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:34,920 Going to your friends is important, but going to those 779 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:37,560 who know you best. Your family members. 780 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:41,040 Those who are locked. In with who? 781 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:43,240 God. Is and what God is? 782 00:41:43,240 --> 00:41:46,880 Doing and asking them. Do you see this? 783 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:48,560 In me is this a? Good. 784 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:53,400 Idea I'm praying through this. Can you pray with me about it 785 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:57,320 and listen when you have? The counsel of God's Word, the 786 00:41:57,320 --> 00:41:59,760 comfort of His. Peace and the Confirmation of. 787 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:03,920 Others God's will will be revealed to you. 788 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:07,440 In a way that doesn't make any sense, but you're going to know. 789 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:12,840 You're going to know so my. Prayer for you guys today. 790 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:17,120 Is the same for Paul. I'm praying for you and I'm 791 00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:20,120 continually asking God to fill you with the knowledge. 792 00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:23,560 Of his will through all the. Wisdom and understanding. 793 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:26,600 That the Spirit gives. So that way you may live a. 794 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:31,160 Life worthy of the Lord. And please him in every way. 795 00:42:31,280 --> 00:42:33,800 Let your work bear fruits. He's going to strengthen you 796 00:42:33,800 --> 00:42:37,960 with his spirit and he's going to give you great endurance and 797 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:39,560 patience. To keep. 798 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:43,880 Going in Jesus name, Amen. Let's worship together.