Our All Sufficient Christ for Our Insufficiencies (Col. 2:1-18)
Everything that looks SPIRITUAL is not!
You’ve probably heard the expression "red herring." This term was coined from a method of training hunting dogs to follow the scent of their prey. Once the dogs were following the proper scent, their trainers would draw red herrings (a stinky fish) across their paths. Initially, the dogs would be diverted by the scent of the herring. They had to be trained to ignore that scent and instead stay focused on the scent of their prey. So a "red herring" is something that is introduced which diverts our attention from what we should be pursuing. Paul’s thesis is that the key to authentic spirituality is pursuing Jesus Christ, because He alone is the Source of all true spiritual knowledge,
"In Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (see note Colossians 2:3)
We are completely sufficient, competent and acceptable to God through the wholeness found in Christ Jesus:
Paul writes in Col. 2:8-10:
"See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).
9For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].
10And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life and are complete[in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].
Song: Jesus Thou has Bought us not with gold or gem. But with Thine own life Blood for Thy diadem. With Thy Blessing filling each who comes to Thee. Thou has made us willing Thou has made us free...
Praise God that Christ is sufficient in the following areas:
1. BEST LORD - He said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. You call me Lord, Lord and you are right. Christ’s authority entitles us to take authority over the evil forces that seek to destroy, damage and derail many. He is Lord over death, hell, judgment and every opposing philosophical, political, military, social, cultural, religious, or economic power that vies for the allegiance of many.
2. BLOOD PROVIDER - The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin and provides us with the atonement by which we find full forgiveness from our past, present and future sins.
His power can make you want to be.
His blood can cleanse your soul and set you free.
His love can fill your mind and you will see.
Is best to let Him have His way with you.
His blood provides us with our redemption, righteousness and release from all that enslaves sinners - guilt, hell, unrighteousness, evil, the world, the flesh, sin and judgment.
3. BENIFICENCE, BENEFACTOR AND BENEVOLENT ONE - Christ is all working all things together for our benefit because He is kind, caring and favoring us with good things. Every good and perfect gift is from above and never wavers regardless of what the economy looks like or how volatile the stock market is. Christ bestows His helping favor on us in all circumstances.
Sometimes God blesses us by withholding things in order to help us realize that there is blessings in unanswered prayer. One girl felt envious of her beautiful sister. After 25 years, the beautiful sister had gone through three divorces and countless depression - anxiety medications to overcome her dependencies on others’ approvals of her appearance. The rather plain looking sister, on the other hand, enjoyed a loving marriage with three godly children. Sometimes God withholds certain gifts to keep us recognizing what is truly valuable.
4. BLESSED ONE - Paul wrote, "He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." (Eph. 1:3) Harry Ironside once listed 42 blessings that are imputed to the believer the moment faith is placed in Christ as our substitutionary payment for the forgiveness of our sins.
Countless blessing. We tend to forget all the blessings that we have in Christ Jesus and what God has done for us. So, what has God done for you lately? What blessings have you received? Do we see the blessings in our lives or do we think they come from our own achievements and accomplishments in life? Do we give God the thanks that He deserves?
My, challenge for us as Christians is for us to see the blessings before us and be grateful and thankful. Count your blessings especially during the difficult times in your life. See what God is doing and how much he loves you.
5. BLACKSMITH - Christ is refining, pruning, and molding us into His likeness. Those whom the Lord loves He chastens, disciplines and fashions after Christ. No son or daughter can go through life without correction, reproof, or modification.
Let us remember the words of the song:
"Have Thine own way Lord. Have thine own way.
You are the potter. I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after your will.
While I am waiting. Yielded and still.
6. BESTOWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO OUR LIVES
Jesus said, "I will send you a Comforter who will be with you and teach you and remind you of everything I have taught you." (John 16:13)
The Holy Spirit, through the grace of Jesus Christ, knows how use every negative situation to bring something positive for our greater good. The Holy Spirit helps us appropriate the fact that we are more than conquerors and allows us to overcome all human adversity and spiritual forces that seeks to degrade, defile and defeat us.
7. BATTLE FIGHTER - The Lord Jesus Christ fights the battles for us as we put on the full armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-18) Christ protects, directs and contends for us against all enemies that stand in the way of advancing His will, way and wonders.
8. BROADCASTER - Christ uses us to broadcast His word, His warnings and His welcome to billions who are living self-destructive lives. Jesus gave the great commission to us all when He said, "Go into all the world and make disciples of all the ethnic groups (all nations) teaching them to obey all that I have commanded them and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt 28:19,20)
Be apart of broadasting Christ by supporting TV, radio, internet, literature, satellite broadasts that stream the gospel of Christ to nearly 7 billion people around the globe. 98% of the world now has access to mass communication media.
9. BLOCKER - Christ blocks anything from attacking us that is outside of His will. David wrote, "Thou O Lord art a shield about me. The glory and the lifter of my head."
Ask the Lord to prevent any attacks against you or your family by putting a hedge of protection around you. Without the power of Christ’s shield we would be vulnerable to all kinds of attacks on our person, our identity or our property.
10. BREAD OF HEAVEN - Jesus said, I am the bread of Heaven. He who eats of me will never hunger and He who drinks of this water will never thirst again. Christ gives lasting satisfaction. He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with what is good. (Psa 107)
11. BEAMOANER OF SIN, SELFISHNESS AND SEPARATION FROM GOD - The Lord is slow concerning His promises, but is patient with us about His judgments not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the repentance. (2 Pet 3:8,9)
12. BEGINNING AND THE END - Christ is the Alpha and Omega. He is the pre-eminent one who has the first and the last word on everything. From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory both now and to eternity. (Rom 11:36)
13. BAFFLER OF THE WICKED - Christ fights against the forces of evil in order to see that His righteousness, justice and purposes always prevail. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
14. BIGGER THAN ANY PROBLEM - Greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world. (I John 4:4)
15. BUILDER OF THE CHURCH AND HIS BODY - Jesus said, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18)
16. BOTTOM LINE JUDGE - We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ that each one will receive their reward for their deeds done in the body. Remember that Christ is keeping account of our efforts, kindnesses and service.
As a matter of fact, I submit that the greatest things you will ever do for God you don’t even know you did them until you get to Heaven. Those are the things you do each day simply by being obedient and faithful . God will give
us a little feedback along the way since He knows our flesh is weak and needs encouragement. However, the vast majority of what God does in and through our lives we will never fully comprehend in this life. Don’t forget,
our job isn’t to know everything that is going on, it is simply to be obedient and faithful. God can use a willing and yielded vessel!
