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.”
She said, “You think this is bad. This is not the worst of it.”
“I forgot the horse!”
We forget the important things when we are struggling with our problems. We forget Jesus who is COMPLETELY ADEQUATE to meet our human needs. Not only does he have complete authority over sin, he is able to help us with our fears and anxieties--he is able to bring healing and health when we are in sickness and in pain. We struggle with so many things that He has come to take care of for us. He has everything. He has the FULLNESS of the Godhead bodily. How do we know that what Jesus has is for us--for me personally?
The second half of verse 9 tells us, “...and you HAVE BEEN GIVEN FULLNESS in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”
Ephesians 1:23 “and God placed all things under his (Jesus’) feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church which is his body, the FULLNESS of him who fills everything in every way.”
God fills Jesus and Jesus fills the church which is his body with ALL THINGS. (Everything). WE are the church--the body of Christ. We as INDIVIDUALS make up his body in the world today.
We need to realize that His resources are ours in Christ.
3. How Do I ACCESS the Resources?: Appropriating our spiritual privileges to the fullness can be done through FAITH and through the Holy Spirit. The HOLY SPIRIT is the agent of this enablement which is continually being provided to us. It is a CONTINUOUS ACTION.
Ephesians 3:16-19 Paul prayed, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through HIS SPIRIT in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith...that you may be FILLED to the measure of all the FULLNESS of God.”
We appropriate by living DAILY with the Lord. “In him we live and move and have our being.”(Acts 17:28). It is our DAILY walk with the Lord--not just a once in awhile thing. Allowing the Holy Spirit to make his FULLNESS real in our lives we can gain access to whatever it is we need. We can come into healing, we can start receiving in actuality what we need. If we need peace, we receive it by faith by the Holy Spirit. If we need salvation, we ask and receive by faith. “His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the Children of God.” (Romans 8:16).
The things that we need--we ASK Him. If we need salvation we ask and receive by faith. If we need healing we ASK and we receive by faith. Our receiving in reality may not come into being the minute we pray. But we know that he hears our prayer and that he begins the work. He begins to fill us with His fullness. When we are upset and loaded down with burdens and cares of life, he begins to fill us with His peace and calmness. When we need his strength, He is able to fill us with his strength for the day. When we feel alone and abandoned, He is there to fill us with His presence and to assure us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We don’t have to BEG Him--He is Glad to fill us with His fullness--his EVERYTHING. We are the church, we are the Body of Christ.
CONCLUSION: God is like Sears: He has Everything. That’s an established fact. He has the GOODS. Whatever it is you need, He has this available. Don’t get into the habit of talking lack. He has adequate RESOURCES--the FULLNESS of the Godhead bodily. His plan is that you--individuals who make up the church--the body of Christ be FILLED WITH HIS FULLNESS. You receive by asking in Faith and Receiving by the action of the Holy Spirit. We live and have our being through our daily walk and through our talk. Begin to receive by Faith the EVERYTHING--and being to THANK the Lord in ADVANCE for what it is your are in need of. BEGIN TO MAKE PLANS for your answer to become a reality.
This week--today--in what ways do you need to receive from the Lord?
Have you received His salvation?
Have you received Healing?
Do you need Peace or Joy or Comfort in your life?
1. Ask
2. Believe
3. Thank the Lord for giving you whatever you need.
Shall we pray:
