TITLE: JESUS IS ENOUGH
SCRIPTURE: COLOSSIANS 1:15-20
(Adapted from Dr. David Jeremiah devotional)
Do you ever get the feeling there is no such thing as having enough in our world? We live in a culture where there is an incessant pressure to add on to existing things. Think about all of the people who just have to add their own personal comments to a post on Twitter or Facebook. And whether you find yourself dining in a fine restaurant or sitting at a fast-food drive up window, you are always pressured to add something to your order.
• Do you want Fries with that
• Do you want to Super Size your order
• It’s as if the status quo is never enough!
There is no more tangible example of this phenomenon than in the explosive use of additives over the last thirty years. Additives are just what you think they are - they are things added to products that make them Stronger - Last Longer - or Look Better. Additives are in everything —
• From Gasoline
• Toothpaste
• Makeup
• Even the buildings we live and work in are a product of additives because Steel itself is the result of Carbon being added to Iron
Even though we often don’t think about it, we constantly put additives inside our bodies. There are - -
• Preservatives in bread and cheese to make them resistant to the growth of mold
• Food Coloring in Margarine to make it look more like Butter
• Artificial Sweeteners in soft drinks to make them calorie-free
• In our Coffee we ask for the Blue Packet or the Yellow Packet – containing artificial Sugar
And while these are all seemingly acceptable ingredients, there comes a point where adding to something actually subtracts from its value. Additives often bring damaging side effects, and with that awareness there is a growing movement to return to natural products. Companies are now making soda from real cane sugar because natural sugar is better for you than high fructose corn syrup or the chemicals found in diet soda. And nutritionists have found the natural fat found in butter is healthier for you than the additives that make up margarine. The world has begun to realize that some things are best when they are left in their natural state.
While this movement back to natural, organic roots has happened in the world of food, it has not yet fully happened in the realm of faith. It would be wonderful if people saw the Bible and the Gospel in all its rich clarity and realized that Christ alone is sufficient for salvation and for every spiritual need of the human soul. But unfortunately what happened thirty years ago in the commercial world has infiltrated the Church and has created a mindset and attitude that is an affront to God - people are bringing additives to the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
But the Bible is very clear that Jesus was and is the “Plan of Enough” as set out from God. Freshly reminded in today’s exhortation to be careful about overstatement, let me celebrate the importance of this passage just briefly before we dive into the details. COLOSSIANS 1:15–20 is the most well-known passage in the letter, and for good reason.
• It is one of the high points in the whole New Testament
• It is no exaggeration to say this is one of the greatest paragraphs in the history of the world
• It is dense with foundational and all-encompassing truth
• It is boldly Christ-Centered
• These very well may be the most important six consecutive verses in the Bible
• Here is the heart of the Christian worldview, undiluted, packed tightly into one short paragraph
Scholars and lay readers alike have long noticed as we move from VS. 9–12, transition into VS. 13–14, and then finally land into VS. 15–20, there is a shift in Paul’s language from his typically long flowing sentences, to these short, simple poetic declarations about Christ. Because these six verses have that poetic feel — like a Creed or A Hymn found in the First Century Church — some interpreters have speculated Paul adopted it from early-church worship, and perhaps adapted it for his purposes here in the letter - Perhaps. That would not be a problem if it were the case. But I see no good reason to think it more likely that someone else composed these lines other than Paul. The massive truth distilled here in such short space and simple sentences is theological genius at work, and plainly Paul, along with Luke and I would even suggest John, stands as one of the clear theological giants we know from the first-century church.
One of the problems the Colossians’ had to deal with was allowing worldly traditions to get in the way of their relationship with Jesus. They had become Christians though learning of the Gospel of Christ,
but in the absence of strong teaching and leadership, others had come along and tried to add to the message. They would teach things like –
• Yes, Jesus saves you - but you still need to follow the Jewish traditions of eating
• Yes Jesus saves you - but men still need to be circumcised
• They were also maintaining their attachment to “the basic principles of the world” - which is a trust in virtue or wisdom or love or nobility, divorced from its true source – Christ himself
Now Love - Wisdom - Virtue are good things, but when we separate them from God and cling to them as powers in and of themselves, we are worshipping the power without acknowledging the source -
• It’s like bowing down to the light bulb because it gives light
• Or making a part of creation into a person and worshipping it, instead of giving credit to the true Creator of nature – our Holy God!
• Paul is saying to these mistakes – NO, NO, NO! -- Jesus is Enough!
Our text for examination opens in a powerful way. We see the word “ALL” that ties the versus together. Note the “ALLS” — five in the first three verses: -
• Jesus is firstborn of ALL creation
• In him ALL things were created
• ALL things were created through him and for him
• He is before ALL things
• In him ALL things hold together
In Jesus we find everything, “all” that god is, therefore he’s enough for us
• Jesus is not created by God - He is fully God just as God the Father is fully God
• That is why we say God the Father - God the Son and God the Holy Spirit
• That is also why Jesus was called “Immanuel” – or “God with us”
• When we place our trust in Christ, He makes us complete – we don’t need more
• We don’t need Jesus + Tradition
• We don’t need Jesus + Money
• We don’t need Jesus + the Right Clothes
• We need Jesus alone, and when He becomes a part of our lives, He is enough
Listen carefully, I’m not saying we don’t have to continue learning and growing in our faith,
through Study - Prayer - Fellowship - Worship - We most certainly do - it is part of our relationship with Jesus himself! in casting Jesus as the lord over all creation, not only is His eternal Godness in view, but also His Humanness. THE ETERNAL, INVISIBLE SON BECAME VISIBLE BY BECOMING MAN. That’s what it means for Jesus to be the IMAGE OF GOD — image is connected to incarnation — and that should be what gives us our bearings in discerning what it means to be made “in” the image of God.
• All Creation IN - THROUGH, - and FOR Jesus
• Jesus is the image
• We are in the image
• Which is at least part, if not the whole, of what Paul means here that all things are IN - THROUGH – and FOR Him
Humanity may have been created last on the sixth day, not because it was an afterthought, but God did all his creating, from day one, in view of setting up the world for man, as one of which he himself would one day enter into his world. So before the Father worked together with his Son to create all things, he already had in view what his Son would be like as his image in the created world, and he created all things in view of his Son, through the agency of his Son.
• All creation is in Jesus - through Jesus - and for Jesus
• Which means everything in your life relates to Jesus
• We often do not see how, but the problem is not with his being, but our seeing
Let me see if I can help us see this point more clearly -- It is always interesting to me when I put water in a pot on the stove, the water stays in the pot undisturbed. Once I turn the burner on, the same water I put in the pot now over boils because the excitement of the flame or the heat.
• The agitation of the water that had filled it up and is now too big for the pot to handle
• The energy in the water makes the water too difficult to contain
• That’s what Paul wants to see in the Colossians
• That’s also what God wants to see in each and every one of us!
• Hearts overflowing with thankfulness simply because of His love for us, which never ever dies away!
• This is what happens when we get to the point in our lives where JESUS IS ENOUGH
o We no longer look for stuff to excite us
o We no longer look for the next thrill
o We no longer become bored from day to day
o We no longer have to be entertained daily
o Because - JESUS IS ENOUGH
Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need -- Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him, for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world, but without Jesus, you will never be completely satisfied. If there is a growing discontent deep inside your heart — a hunger that hasn’t been completely satisfied by the People - Pleasures - Parties - Material Things - or Accomplishments — today is the day to open your heart to the idea that it is Jesus that you were made for. But you have to walk away from “less,” and ask him to become your “more.” Jesus is enough for you.
• Jesus is exactly what you and I need
• He is exactly what a hurting and broken world needs
• JESUS IS ENOUGH!
• Enough Love
• Enough Peace
• Enough Strength
• Enough Contentment
• Enough Joy
When you’re stressed out by the cares of this life – Jesus is enough.
• When your kids are having a “let’s drive mommy and daddy crazy” day – Jesus is enough
• When you neighbors are less than neighborly – Jesus is enough
• When the news from your doctor is unsettling – Jesus is enough
• When the next report of mass shootings hits the news – Jesus is enough
• When life gets turned upside down – Jesus is enough
• I want to replace every anxiety ridden dissatisfied thought with these words -- JESUS IS ENOUGH!
I know what someone is thinking right now. “Pastor, that sounds good, but we live in the real world.”
• We still foolishly turn our focus to current events — global and/or personal
• It’s hard to focus on Jesus, when what’s right in front of our noses is screaming for attention
• We still foolishly turn our attention to the Political environment of our nation that seems to embrace a lie rather than the truth
• It’s hard to focus on Jesus when it seems our nation is falling apart and screaming for attention
• We still foolishly turn our focus on the Economy and businesses closing all around us
• It’s hard to focus on Jesus when it seems our nations economy is screaming for attention
• We still foolishly turn our focus to our finances and difficulty making ends meet
• It’s hard to focus on Jesus when it seems our nation is suffering with high unemployment rate
Let me once again reassure you - Believing that Jesus is enough involves resting in God’s promises no matter what is going on around us.
• As we rest in God’s promises, we admit we are not God
• True rest in Jesus Christ is central to the Bible’s teachings
• If we put our trust in Jesus not in Some things but in “All” things we will find – JESUS IS ENOUGH
Most people don’t realize Jesus is all they need until Jesus is all they have.
• We have it all in Christ
• We are made alive, once being dead in sins
• We are cleansed of our sins as if we had never sinned at all
• We are remade into the image of Christ and raised as new creations in Christ
• Yes, JESUS IS ENOUGH
Paul is teaching the believers in Colossae that Jesus Christ is sufficient to meet all the needs of those who are His. Christ satisfies our thirst for wholeness. He satisfies our longing to know God, our deepest yearnings to be full. By daily communion with Christ through the means of Grace, we find full satisfaction for all our needs.
• This satisfaction enables the Christian to serve God here in this world with a heart full of fervor and dedication
• A happy heart in Christ empowers the believer to overcome sin and dedicate himself entirely to the service of his Lord and Redeemer
• It is in this dedication that brings us to the position to understand Jesus is Enough
It is heartbreaking to realize - there are so many in our churches today that struggle with this concept that Jesus is enough.
• Many precious believers are in love with the things of the Lord - but they are not in love with the Lord Himself
• Many Christian workers and ministers are in love with the Lord’s work
• Almost without realizing it, the work of the Lord becomes more important than the Lord of the work
There are prophets and teachers who hold words from God in higher esteem than the God who speaks the words they attribute as being from Him.
• People seek these words and teachings
• The more they receive, the more they want
• Before one word is digested they are craving another
• They are seeking THINGS – WORDS - PROPHECIES - TEACHINGS - VISIONS - DREAMS – but they are not seeking the Lord Himself
• Therefore, they wrestle and not able to grow into the realization that Jesus is Enough
• Always wanting more of this other stuff – but not really wanting more of Jesus
If we are honest - when the saints gather together most of the activity is focused on “one another.” This is important, but it is not the most important thing.
• Fellowship is good - but is Jesus enough?
• Gatherings are good - but is Jesus enough?
• Meetings are good - but is Jesus enough?
• Special speakers and special music are good - but is Jesus enough?
Even with Praise and Worship it is possible to sing “about” Jesus and not truly worship Jesus. Caught in WORSHIPING WORSHIP INSTEAD OF WORSHIPING THE LORD!
• With preaching and teaching it is possible to talk “about” Jesus - and not truly meet Jesus in what is shared
• In prayer it is possible to talk “about” our needs - and never actually commune with Jesus Himself
Among Christians I have discovered something.
• There is Jesus, and then there are all the things ABOUT Jesus that are NOT really Jesus at all
• Jesus Himself occupies only a small portion of what is said and done in Christian circles
• Most of what is said and done is merely ABOUT Jesus, but it is NOT Jesus
• Therefore, many in the Church never experience that Jesus is Enough because we really don’t spend time with Him
The reason the New Testament church had power was not because they spoke in tongues - or held meetings in their living rooms - or had a certain system for planting churches. The secret was they had been with Jesus.
• When we have encountered Jesus for ourselves
• When we have truly met the Savior for ourselves
• When we have had a little talk with Jesus
• We will then discover
• JESUS IS ENOUGH
--When Apostles love church planting and mission work more than Jesus -- then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Prophets love their prophecies, dreams, and visions more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Evangelists love traveling, preaching, and holding meetings more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Pastors love their church services and building programs more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Teachers love their teachings more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Preachers love their preaching more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Ministers love their ministry more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Musicians love their music more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--When Writers love their writings more than they love Jesus - then they are saying that Jesus is not enough
--But, I am Glad this morning that I know Him for Myself and I stopped by to tell you – JESUS IS ENOUGH
--Sin is helpless before Jesus – He is enough to defeat it
--We don’t need the law to save us now - we need Jesus
--Jesus is enough because of who He is
--Jesus is enough because of what He has done
--Jesus is enough because of what He is ready to do
--JESUS IS ENOUGH
--And that is the bottom line, it is what Paul is saying today
--You don’t need Jesus plus This
--You don’t need Jesus plus That
--You need Jesus
--I’ve God Jesus and that’s Enough
--My Bank Account might be low – but I’ve Got Jesus and that’s Enough
--I’ve got daily Aches and Pains – but I’ve Got Jesus and that’s Enough
--My Friends may be few – but I’ve Got Jesus and that’s Enough
--My Light Bill might be due and my Gas bill too – but I’ve Got Jesus and that’s Enough
--JESUS IS ENOUGH
