Continue The Journey Series

Introduction

I. Maybe you have recently read a book or article about so-called “near death” experiences.

A. I admit, I really haven’t read a complete book or even an article on the subject, but I know that there are many out there.

B. I have heard people relate their “experience” on shows like Oprah.

II. Typically, the folks tell us of some “life changing” message that this entity in the white light tells them to bring back to us.

A. Often during their stay in “near death land” they are told that “it’s not their time yet.

B. They are only a messenger.

III. So the messenger write a book, and their lives are forever changed.

IV. People are hungry to get answers about life.

V. People are even hungry for answers about the next life.

VI. Have you every wondered though.

A. Why is it that all these people that visit the next life visit this place of “white light, peace and goodness.”

B. Doesn’t anyone ever visit that place of no light, eternal unrest and badness?

VII. Now I am not saying that all these folks are charlatans, but consider this,

A. Why would God need a new messenger.

B. God sent Christ to offer his life “a ransom” for many, and to bring a message of life based on faith.

VIII. One thing we must do when we are tempted to believe a “new revelation;” we must be willing to compare it to what God has already said in His Word to us, and if it lines up, then maybe you can believe it.

IX. Believing new revelation is the primary problem in Collosea.

A. They had been saved through receiving the truth.

B. They had started out on the path to maturity with the truth,

C. They were looking forward to eternal life, based on faith,

D. Yet, new revelation from God was causing some to forsake the truth.

X. Whenever you hear any revelator, whether on TV, radio or in person say, “God has given me a fresh word for you today” be skeptical, be very skeptical.

XI. In our section of Colossians today, Paul says you started your walk well, now just continue the journey.

Four Steps To Continue The Journey

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

I. I am convinced of this fact, consistency in life is extremely important.

A. Inconsistency brings discomfort and loss of assurance, while,

B. Consistency brings comfort and confidence,

II. I am convinced of this fact as well,

A. Consistency in our walk with Christ is important,

B. Yet we often find ourselves inconsistent in that very walk.

III. Sometimes, walking with Christ is sometimes pretty easy, but sometimes not so easy.

A. When we get that new job; easy, but when we lose the old job; not so easy.

B. When we are healthy; easy, when we are not so healthy; not so easy.

C. When the bills are paid and our bellies are full; easy; but when the bill collector calls, and we just had beans and cornbread; not so easy.

IV. When the going is easy, we are consistent

A. When the going is not so easy, we are often consistently questioning of God, and His presence in our lives.

B. It is in these times of inconsistency that we are most vulnerable to “new” ideas about God, and “new” philosophies.

V. Paul is telling the Colossians that there are four steps in the “Continuing Journey with God.”

First, be firmly rooted:

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

I. “Firmly rooted,”

A. This is actually one word in the Greek, which means “to be established” or “grounded.”

B. The reason the word “firmly” is added in my New American Standard is because the word is in what is called the “perfect” tense.

II. A word in Perfect tense, means “an action that was completed in the past, that does not need to be redone.”

A. How many times have you prayed to receive Christ as your savior?

B. How many times have you asked for forgiveness for the same sin?

III. I know the truth of salvation, BUT, I can also say that I have asked God to save me more times than I care to remember, and I have probably asked Him to forgive some sin almost as often.

A. Paul is saying, when you first received Jesus as your savior, you were saved once and for all; nothing can change that, not even you.