Discovering Your Treasure Series

This Sermon From Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection

Used By Permission © 2010 www.ARLC.org

Introduction

Would you take God's precious Holy Word, and open to the Book of Colossians chapter 1, tonight. We're going to have a good time in the Word tonight, because we're just going to brag on Jesus. I begin reading, in Colossians chapter 1. I begin in verse 9: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:9-20). And then, in chapter 2 and verse 3, it says, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Tonight, I want to help you to discover the treasure that you have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many years ago, the Spanish Armada was sailing off the coast of Florida. A hurricane struck, and those ships that were laden with millions of dollars in gold and silver lingots went to the bottom, in shallow water. People knew the treasure had been lost, but they didn't know where the ships had gone down. One ship went down near Vero Beach, in Fort Pierce, there in Florida.

Many times, I've been in that water there by the Sebastian Inlet, and other places. Many times, I've been in that water, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, spear fishing— right around that area—but I didn't come up with any millions. I didn't come up with any silver or any gold. The ships were there in shallow water. Fisherman, doubtless, fished over that spot sometimes. They would hang a hook, perhaps, on a lump of gold, and curse their luck, because they had hung a hook down beneath the water on something they could not see.

Then one day, some explorers said, “The ship must be here.” They went out, and they made the surveys; they tested, and they went under. And, there it was, in shallow water—so shallow that any of us who could swim normally could have gone to the bottom. They brought up millions of dollars. There it was, but they didn't know it was there.

I believe, tonight, that many of us are yet to discover the full treasure we have in Jesus Christ. Oh, dear friend, in Him—in Jesus Christ—“are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Think of that—all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And it's all in Jesus.

Now, how can those treasures be yours? Well, there's a key verse, and I want you to see that key verse. It's chapter 1 and verse 18—look at it: “And he—that is, Jesus—is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;— now here's the key phrase, watch it—that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). I want to talk to you tonight about recognizing God's eternal plan: that in all things Jesus may have the preeminence.

I. The Sovereign Determination of His Preeminence

Now, the very first thing I want you to see is what I'm going to call the sovereign determination of His preeminence. I read verse 18. Look, if you will, in verse 19: “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Colossians 1:19). What does that mean? It pleased the Father, that in all things—verse 18—Jesus should have preeminence, for it pleased the Father that in Him—in his Son—should all fullness dwell (Colossians 1:18–19). There is a confusion of Scripture here.