God Is Like Sears: He Has Everything

April, 2007

“God is Like Sears: He Has Everything”

Colossians 2:6-15

INTRODUCTION: “God is Like Sears: He Has Everything.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Most people would probably say, “Yes, I would agree,” however, why then do so many people, including Christians, often live such stressed and defeated lives today? It is almost as if they are saying, “Yes, but I don’t know if God can help me live an overcoming life. I don’t know if he will do it FOR ME.”

In today’s scripture the Christians at Colosse were being led to believe that they did not have complete sufficiency in Christ but that they had to add on other man-made traditions and philosophies in order to be complete. In this scripture Paul emphasizes that Christ had complete adequacy to meet human needs.

Today we need to know that when we have the living Lord in our lives that He has everything available to meet our needs. We often live with the idea of lack. Because we are not aware of Christ’s sufficiency, we often live impoverished lives. What can we learn from today’s scripture? I believe there are several things:

1. How Do We Know that God Has Everything?: In verse 9 the scripture says, “For in Christ all the FULLNESS (or completeness) of the deity God lives in bodily form.” Under the law the presence of God dwelt between the cherubim in a CLOUD which covered the mercy seat but it now dwells in the person of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. This was a new concept for them. We know that this is scriptural because in John 1:1 scripture says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the WORD WAS God.” Verse 14 says, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The fullness of deity dwells in Christ in bodily form. Matthew Henry says that the fullness of “the Godhead is not just divine qualities and attributes but the COMPLETE INNER ESSENCE of God that lives in Christ.” In John 10:30 Jesus told his disciples, “I and my Father are one.” So whatsoever God has--Jesus the Son has. Another scripture in Matthew 28:18 tells us, Jesus said to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ in reality--not just figuratively for he is both God and man.

2. Just What is Included in the word “everything?”: If you were to start making a list you would be surprised at all that is included. In addition to the basics of salvation, I think of the scripture where Jesus said, “My peace, give I unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. (John 14:27). This is one example that is included in the EVERYTHING or the FULLNESS of the Godhead. If you are in need of peace, then it is available in Christ. What do you have need of in order to live an overcoming life? For example, if you need peace and calmness, this is a part of the “fullness” or “everything” that is available for you. What do you need from the Lord today?

What do you need today?

Peace and calm from anxiety

Forgiveness from sin and guilt

Healing

Reconciliation

Power to live overcoming

Finances

Wisdom to handle situations

Guidance/Direction

Family burdens

solution to problems

Freedom from habits and addictions

Freedom from Depression

Comfort for grief and sorrow

It does not occur to a lot of people that the Lord is concerned about our DAILY EVERYDAY NEEDS. Sometimes people just think of salvation or the future--”When we all get to heaven, we’ll see Jesus.” He is concerned about our HERE AND NOW needs and the daily concerns and struggles just as well as our FUTURE needs.

In Colossians 2:6 our scripture says, “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught.” We know that in Jesus all of the Deity resides. Colossians 1:19 “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him...” He has everything. When we are living our life “in Christ” then we have what we need to live our lives victoriously. Matthew Henry says, “Possessing Christ, we possess all.” Paul was trying to get the Colossians to understand this but much of the time they didn’t grasp these truths or forgot the things that were really important. We are like this too.

STORY: A woman drove her pickup truck to the fairgrounds pulling a horse trailer. She was trying to back into a space. On one side was a ditch and it was a very narrow space she was trying to back into. She would pull up and then back up. Soon people began to stand around watching her. She was getting very frustrated. A man said, “don’t worry about it. We all have bad days.”