God's Indwelling Word

Text: Colossians 3:16

The Indwelling Word

Introduction:

A. The editor of a well known London newspaper sent a

letter of inquiry to one hundred important men

asking them one question: “Suppose you were sent

to prison for three years and could only take

three books with your. Which three would you

choose? Please state them in order of their

importance.” Out of those replies, ninety eight

put the Bible first on their lists. The Bible is

an all-time best-seller. The readers of the Bible

have discovered that it is not just a book of the

month-it is the book of life, eternal, life

changing, and ever dependable.

B. There is no reason, then, for the surprise that

the apostle Paul told the Colossian Christians

to, “Let the word of Christ dwell in them

richly.” The word of Christ could refer to Christ

as the living Word. For as the prologue to John’s

gospel points out, Christ is the eternally living

Word of God.

C. Colossians 3 focuses on the Christian life. It

clarifies some characteristics we should remove

from our life as well as some that should be

removed from our lives. Under girding it all is

the fact that the Word of God should fill the

Christian life and we should follow what it says.

a. God’s Word should direct every aspect of the

Christians life and control every thought,

deed, and action performed through their

lives.

b. Dwell means…

i. To live in

ii. To make a home in

c. Every Christian should make a home for God’s

Word in their heart.

D. Through this Sermon Series we are going to look

into three reasons why we need God’s Word to dwell

in our lives?

The first reason is…

A. God’s Word Exposes Sin

a. Sin definitely needs exposing: (Romans 6:23)

i. Sin leads to danger

ii. Sin leads to destruction

iii. Sin leads to death

b. Illustration: "Two teenagers grew up in

Dallas. Both were rough and troublesome.

The faithful Sunday School teacher of one of

the boys contacted him ever week for a

year. But the other teacher felt that he

did not need that type of boy in his class.

The first boy was saved and is now the

director of evangelism for a state

convention of Southern Baptists. The other

boy assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

Because of the love of a teacher and the

changing power of God’s Word this young man

became a great part in the Kingdom of God.

c. The Savior’s Word definitely needs

exploring

i. Abide in God’s Word (John 8:31-32)

ii. Hide God’s Word (Psalm 119:11)

iii. Hold to God’s Word (Matthew 24:35)

The second reason is…

B. God’s Word Educates Students

a. God’s children must become students of The

Word

b. Three great reasons why you should become a

student of God’s Word…

i. Reason # 1 = The Word directs your path

ii. Reason # 2 = The Word builds you faith

iii. Reason # 3 = The Word teaches us how to

walk with God

c. God expects His children to…

a. Walk cautiously (1 Peter 5:8-11)

b. Walk faithfully (Hebrews 11:5-6)

c. Walk spiritually (Galatians 5:16, 25)

d. God equips His children so they can…

a. Realize Satan’s Schemes

-John 10:10

b. Recieve God’s Power

- 1 John 4:4; Romans 8:37

c. Resist Satan’s Power

- Ephesians 4:27; James 4:7

e. Three requests you should pray before

studying The Word

i. Pray for a greater dedication to study

the Word (John 8:31-32)

ii. Pray for a greater desire to understand

the Word (Psalm 119:33-34)

iii. Pray for a greater determination to obey

The Word (James 1:22)

The third reason is…

C. God’s Word Encourages Souls

a. Illustration: An atheist stood in one of

England’s great mill complexes, harassing

the mill workers about the inaccuracies of

the Bible and the myths and fables in the \

Word of God. An old, uneducated mill hand

interrupted him by saying that until

recently he had been a vile sinner. He was

a curse to himself, a curse to his family,

and a curse to all who knew him. Then he

heard the blessed story of Jesus and opened

his heart to Jesus as his Savior. After

that he was a happy man and a blessing to

everyone he knew. He was a new man and

lived a new life. Then he asked that if

the Bible were false, what had happened to

his soul, what had happened to his heart,

what had brought him out of the depths of

the mire and set him up before the Lord

with his feet on a rock? The atheist had

no answer.

b. God’s Word builds up faith (Romans 10:17)

i. God wants you to enjoy His Word

ii. God wants you to eat His Word