Jesus Is Enough - Part Six
“Therefore, There Should Be ND In The Church”
Jesus, is enough. Jesus is enough..... Jesus is enough......
That’s the message, Paul is trying to get across to the Christians in Colosse. It is not Jesus plus some thing else - is just Jesus. He is enough. He is all that we need. Nothing else matters - but Jesus......
This week 6 in our study of the book of Colossians and - man it has been an awesome study (so far) - God’s word truly and completely rocks! The Hebrew writer was right, it is “living and active sharper than any doubled edged sword...”
How bout’ a little review (you know I love review - where have we been the last 5 weeks).
In week one we talked about how Jesus’ Grace is Enough.... We said
His grace is enough to: Free us from our sins
Rescue us from danger
Brush away our tears
Reconcile us to God
Cloth us with Christ
Remove our guilt
Fill us with hope
Take us to heaven
In week two; we said that Jesus’ Lordship is enough and because he is k of k - and l of l - we said, that He‘s Got it covered.. God’s word taught us in week 2 - that;
Jesus is Savior >>> He’s got our salvation covered
Jesus is Creator >>> He ‘s got our life covered
Jesus is the Church >>> He’s got Central covered
Jesus is God >>> He’s got everything covered...
In week 3; we talked about how Jesus’ Word is enough - Listen, we don’t need anyone to give us any ‘other’ stuff about God, we got it all right in here....The bible is the FULL and FINAL revelation of God. And we also said that we need to be growing in the word, because it will help us unmask the serpent and not be fooled by false prophets, who come to us as angels of light and wolves in sheeps clothing.
During the first 3 weeks of our study - Paul was saying, “here is what you need to know - Jesus is enough” - then last week we began the study of the second half of this letter where Paul is saying - “okay here is what you need to do - with what I told you..”
And in week 4; We said that since "Jesus Is Enough, We Need To Let Go Of The World....” We talked about the four things we need to do in order to let go of the world. First we said that we need to set our minds and hearts on things above..we need to, “let heaven fill our thoughts...... And then I gave you 2 pictures to help re-enforce the next 2 steps, Picture #1 was - Phinehas - who vividly showed us, that we need to put to death - greed & sexual immorality, “Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires...” Picture #2 was Lazarus who taught us that -- we need to remove the grave clothes of old way of life - God’s word says to the Christian, “NOW is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy speech and lies....” And the final step was we need to renew ourselves - HOW? -- by hanging out with God. In week 4 we talked about taking things off...
And last week we talked about putting things on - You see, once we have taken off the old we need to put on the ‘new’ - after we have taken off the clothing of this world we need to put on the clothing of Christ - Christians are to be properly dressed they are to put on; compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love.
Yes, in the Christian life - it is all about taking off the old and putting on the ‘new.’
Listen, it is significant that as Paul wrote this letter he began by telling the Colossians and us - that Jesus is enough.... Because that makes it so much easier for us to let go of the world, doesn’t it? And if you have not really let go of the world yet - then you have not come to the point tin your life where Jesus is enough for you.
And it was also no accident, that Paul then tells us, how to let go of the world - by telling us to put to death and get rid of the things of the old life.... And it only makes sense that after telling us to take of the old, that He would exhort us to put on the new.....
And understand when we take off the old - (when we remove the nasty - the smelly clothes of the old life -- anger, rage, lies, immorality) and we put on the new (compassion, gentleness, humility, forgiveness...) - there WILL be - there WILL be a difference, What kind of difference a ‘noticeable difference’ in our lives.... (I mean we will stick out like John Rocker on the New York subway).
And there especially be a ND, in the three 4 areas of life --- that Paul is going to talk about as he finishes this letter; Listen; if you & I have truly - taking off the old and put on the new - there will be a noticeable difference in our church lives, our home lives, our work lives and in our speech.....
Todays message is called, “Jesus Is Enough, Therefore There Should Be A ND (Noticeable Difference) In Our Church......
Now, the word that is translated in the bible as church - was a Greek word that existed prior to Christ - it is the word ekklesia, which means “called out” - it was used to describe the gathering of people from a town who were called out into an assembly...
Okay, stay with me; when people have put to death and gotten rid of the old ways of life - and they have put on the new ways of life (compassion, humility, forgiveness..etc.) there will be a noticeable difference in their assemblies..Listen; when people from a town who are clothed with Jesus come together for an assembly there will be a ND.
Our text is Colossians 3:15-17, and in these verses God reveals 5 - marks of a church that has a noticeable difference......When those who have taken off the old and put on the new get together.... There are at least 5 things you WILL see: Let’s read the text;
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him....”
Before we talk about the 5 marks of a church that has a noticeable difference, let me ask one question.... HOW do we know that Paul is talking about the church here? In your outline circle the phrase, “members of one body...”
Throughout his writings Paul often refers to the church as being a body - in fact, he spends almost an entire chapter in 1 Corinthians talking about it and he has already used the term ‘body’ - 3 times in this letter to the Colossian Christians - in chapter 1 verse 24 he wrote;
“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regards to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body which is the church....”
Listen, The church is the body of Christ..... That is why the church is so awesome, so important, so special, so powerful, so beautiful -- and that is why in the church there is to be a noticeable difference....
Question; when Jesus walked this earth in a physical body was there a ND in his life...? Did He stick out? Listen, in like manner, there should also be a ND when His body gets together today. And ND #1 is;
In The Church Christ Rules....
Look at verse 15 again, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts....”
The word translated ‘rule, ’ is an athletic term. It means, “to preside at the games and distribute prizes.” In the Greek games there were judges (we would call them umpires, referees) who rejected the contestants who were not qualified and who disqualified those who broke the rules....and who gave prizes to the winners.
Paul says, that the one who is to monitor the games - the one who is to direction and control the action on the field of play in the church is Jesus Christ - in the Church - Christ rules.... And specifically it is the peace of Christ that is to umpire in our hearts and in the church.
Question; What rules your heart?
What determines what you do & how you will act in life/in the church?
What rules the heart of Central?
What things were ruling in the hearts of those in the church at Colosse?
Let me tell you, prior to Paul’s letter - there wasn’t too much of the peace of Christ going around. Why was that? Well, for one thing; fear, uncertainty and trying to measure up, was in the hearts of the those at Colosse. For you see, the false teachers had come into the church and said - “Jesus Is not Enough..you need more than the Gospel...”
These false teachers - were telling the people; that they needed to obey a bunch of man-made rules about what to eat or not eat - what to touch or not touch - and what days to make special... They were also telling them, that to be ‘really’ in tune with God, they needed some mystical experience with angels or visions...
They were telling the people, that if all they had, was Jesus then it wasn’t enough - they needed more. Listen to what Paul wrote in 2:18;
“Do not anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you (same word as used for ‘rule’ in our text with one exception, a prefix was added that means ruled against) - for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions..” 2:18
Paul is saying don’t let these false teachers rule against you - tell you that you don’t measure up - BUT that is exactly what they were doing and this craziness had made them - insecure in their salvation...
And let me tell you if people are not secure in their salvation - if they are not certain of their relationship with Jesus - some thing other then the peace of Christ will begin to rule in their hearts... Some thing else will then guide and direct the action in their lives...
Paul earlier in chapter 3, talked about some of those things that can rule in our hearts & in our churches.. anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander - and we could add things like; “Our way, Our wants, Our agenda, Our glory and ourself. All these things can rule and direct the action of our lives and our churches....
Man, I’ve seen it and it is tragic, BUT sometimes church is not a peaceful peace place --- sometimes there are a whole lot of other things ruling the body -- then the peace of Christ.
I talked to a friend just this week who - resigned after 3 years of ministry with a church because the leadership was unwilling to do the things - unwilling to make the necessary changes that would help the church come alive and fulfill it’s mission...
Some of things he said were going on there are far from the rule of the peace of Christ.
Listen - when the world comes together in an assembly - many times (and if you watched the news this week you saw an illustration of this as the Reformed party prepared for it’s convention with shouting, pushing and shoving) Often when the world comes together there are many kinds of things and personal agendas, directing the action...
BUT it is not to be so when the body of Christ gathers.... When the body of Christ assembles...there should be a noticeable difference - the peace of Christ - (knowing that we who are in Christ - are at peace with God - secure in our salvation - resting in our living hope, and trying to live as far as it depends on us - at peace with all people) - When the peace of Christ - sets the agenda, direction the action, umpires the game - there will be a ND in our assemblies - in the church...
Listen, When people walk into Central we want there to be a ND --- we want them to clearly see that it is not; anger, rage, personal agenda, opinions, pride or self glory...that is ruling Central - BUT rather the peace of Christ....
In a healthy there is a ND -- one of the marks of that difference is, CHRIST RULES!!!
A Second Mark is;
We’re Thankful
In each of the 3 verses in our text - Paul tells us to be thankful.
Picture this scene in your mind - a bunch of employees gathering for a company meeting... Do you have a visual? What kind of conversations to you hear taking place? (Do you hear employees talking about how thankful they are for their job - how grateful they are to be working for the company?) -- probably not.
When God’s people gather there should be a ND - we hear conversations full of thanks & gratitude. People grateful for the grace the saves them - the blood that redeemed them - the hope that fills them and the presence of Christ that is with them... We should hear people who are thankful to be part of the every best thing this side of heaven the body of Christ.... And Listen, when God’s people gather with that kind of spirit - God will blow them away....He will move in their life...
TESTIMONY
The Word Is At Home
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach & admonish one another with all wisdom...”
Question; Do you remember what Dorothy said - towards the end of the movie The Wizard of Oz, as she clicked her heels together, “There’s no place like? Home.
“Home” - to me that word has such a peaceful, warm, comfortable feeling to it. After a rough day at work or school - it feels so good to be home. After spending hours in a car returning home from a trip - it feels so good to be home....
After living out of a suit case, sleeping on a lumpy mattress or the hard ground it feels so good to be home.... I mean it is just so comfortable to sleep in your own bed, shower in your own shower, sit in your own chair, walk to your own frig AND do your bathroom stuff, in your own bathroom....
“Home” - there’s no place like it.... Paul says, we are to let the word of God dwell in us richly - the word dwell, “means to feel at home.” Paul says we are to have such a relationship with God - that His word feels at home - feels comfortable in our lives.....and in our church.
Question; Does God’s word feel at home in your life?
Does His word feel comfortable in your life?
Is God’s word at home in Central?
What does it mean for God’s Word to feel at home?
Okay, let’s see if we can try to figure out what this concept means to us in a practical way.
Question, Have you ever been somewhere that didn’t feel like home, that didn’t feel comfortable? Have you ever been some place where you thought to yourself, “man tod, this sure ain’t Kansas?”
Question, What makes some places feel at home and others not?
Let me give 2 very brief illustrations that I hope will help us begin to grasp the concept of the word being at home in our lives....
#1; Now, I don’t get to do it a lot, but occasionally I get to speak at places other than Central. And when I do I am not nearly as comfortable as I am here - it just doesn’t feel like home.
#2; I remember back in the Navy when we had mandatory boat parties.... I distinctly remember one that took place in down town Charleston. About 30 minutes after the meal things began to get real crazy... people drunk...standing on tables... I left pretty quick...
O.K. Stay With Me, 2 Things that make a place uncomfortable and not feel at home are; when like in illustration #1; no one really knows you, and in illustration #2, when people are not living and acting the way you do.....
So here is my point, for the Word to feel at home in our lives - #1 we have to know it.... And since Jesus Christ is the word become flesh we have to know HIM - not just know facts about him BUT know him.... (And there is a big difference... satan knows a lot of facts about Jesus....)
Question; How do you get to know Jesus? by reading, studying and hanging out with him and his word. (Yeah I am talking about QT’s again - we are passionate about them at Central) And understand that no one can do this (know Christ) for you - not your husband, not your wife, not your parents, and not your preacher - Listen, if you want to know Jesus you have to hang out with him yourself... That makes sense doesn’t it? That’s why it is kind of crazy that some people do not get it - You see a lot of people think that others can experience Jesus for them (I’ll let my preacher or my spouse hang out with Jesus and they can tell what it is like)... AND if that is your approach to your relationship with Jesus - let me ask you a question - Do you do that with any other area of your life? Let others experience it for you? I don’t think so.
We don’t do that with a vacation. We don’t say....”Vacations are such a hassle, packing bags and traveling. I’m just going to send someone on vacation for me. When he returns, I’ll hear all about and be spared all the inconvenience.” Would you do that? No way we want to experience it firsthand.
We don’t do that with romance. We don’t say, “I’m in love with that wonderful person, but romance is such a hassle. So, I’m going to hire a surrogate lover to enjoy romance in my place. I’ll hear all about and be spared the incoveninece.” Would you do that? A UHHHH I want to experience that myself...
And we don’t let someone eat on our behalf either, do we? We don’t say, “Chewing is such a bother. My jaws get so tired, and the variety of tastes are so overwhelming - I’ll just have someone else eat for me....he can chew it and taste it and I’ll just swallow whatever he gives me...” Besides being gross what fun would that be.
Okay, I think you see my point - knowing God - having relationship with him is something you have to do yourself....And when you know him - when you know his word; they feel at home in your life....
And understand this, we want the word to feel very at home in Central - that is why we teach it - read it, study it --- and hold each other accountability for doing it...
BUT Listen; not only are we to know the word we are to live it - we are to apply it to our lives. The bible does not teach us about forgiveness so that we can discuss forgiveness...it’s so we forgive! The bible does not teach us about peace so we can write nice sounding songs...it is so we will know a real peace in the midst of the storms of this life.....
Listen; when we know the word - and we live the word - both the word and Jesus will feel at home - And at home in our church. I mean, don’t you want Jesus to feel at home here, don’t you want our Lord to be able to walk in here, slip his sandles off - sit down and feel comfortable, “Hey these people know me, they love me and they are trying to live like me - I like it here..... ‘
Does Jesus feel at home in your life?
Do you know him?
Is there anything in your life that would make Jesus uncomfortable...
Another mark of a church with a ND is;
He’s Praised
“Sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Praising God is awesome - don’t you just love to sing to your God & King? And listen, there should be a noticeable difference in the faces of those who truly praise him. Let me explain what I mean. Just this week I was reading a chapter in a book, entitled “A Changed Face and a Set Of Wings.” In that chapter the author hit me with such an awesome truth - and it fits perfectly with what we are talking about today.
He starts off the chapter by stating an observation he has made - that people on a plane and people on a pew have a lot in common;
All are on a journey. Most are well behaved and presentable. Some doze, and others gaze out the windows. Most, if not all, are satisfied with a predictable experience. For many, the mark of a good flight and the mark of a good worship assembly are the same, “Nice,” we like to say. “It was a nice flight/It was a nice worship service.” We exit the same way we enter, and we’re happy to return next time. A few, however, are not content with nice. They long for something more.
He talks about how on one particular flight a young boy on the same plane with him was looking for just that - more.... The first thing he did when he walked on board was asked, “Can I see the pilot?” The pilot heard the question and moments later walked out and asked if anyone was looking for him - the boy immediately shot up his hand...
With a nod from his mom, the youngster entered the cockpit’s world of controls and gages and emerged minutes later with eyes wide. “Wow!!” He exclaimed. “I’m so glad to be on this plane!”
Now no one elses face on the plane showed such wonder. Most faces just showed mild contentment; travelers content to be on the plane, content to be closer to their destination, content to be out of the airport, content to sit and stare and say little....
And sometimes that is how we are in church - content. Content to sit and look straight ahead and leave when the service is over. Content to enjoy an assembly with no surprises or turbulence. Content with a “nice service.” “Seek & you will find,” Jesus promised. And since a nice service is what we seek, a nice service is usually what we find.
A few, however want more. A few come with the childlike enthusiasm of the boy. And those few leave as he did, wide-eyed with the wonder of having stood in the presence of the pilot himself... Listen; one of the purposes of worship - is to change the face of the worshiper.
You see, our face is the most public & most recognizable part of our bodies. Pictures in school yearbooks are not filled with people’s feet, but with their faces. Listen, God desires to take our faces, this exposed memorable part of our bodies and use them to reflect his goodness. Paul writes;
“Our faces, then are not covered (because of Jesus we can see God). We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him.....” (2 Cor 3:18 - NCV)
Listen, God invites us to see His face, so that He can change ours. He uses our uncovered faces to display his glory. God loves to change the faces of His children. By His fingers, wrinkles of worry are rubbed away; Shadows of shame and doubt become portraits of grace & trust. He relaxes clenched jaws and smooths raised eyebrows. His touch can remove the bags of exhaustion from beneath our eyes and turn tears of despair into tears of peace & hope
How? Through worship. God changes our face through worship.
Question, What is worship? I like the way David put it; “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps 34:3 NASB)
Worship is the act of magnifying God - Worship is enlarging our vision of God - it’s making God bigger (or rather reminding ourselves of just how big he is). Worship is stepping into the cockpit and seeing where God sits and how he works... Listen, as we draw near to God, we will see him as he really is BIG!
And isn’t that what we need? A BIG God. After all we have big problems, big worries, big concerns and big questions and we need a BIG God!!!! And we have one Worship is designed to help to see and remember our big God.
When we sing words like:
Your love O Lord, reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness, stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the ocean tide
And I will life my voice to worship You, My King
And I will find my strength in the shadow of your wings
OR - words like --
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look Full in His wonderful face
OR Like we sang today....
You are so good to me, you heal my broken heart
you are my father in heaven.
You poured out your blood, you died upon the cross
You are my Jesus who loves me
Can we really sing those words from our hearts and not have our faces changed? No we can’t!
As we sing praises to a big God - our faces change.... Now we need to understand something here - we don’t change our own faces - we simply stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and then let God do ‘God stuff’...
Hey, and one more thing about there being a noticeable difference in our faces as we praise Him... Not only does God change the face of those who worship, he changes those who watch us worship.... Let me explain... The author of the chapter “A Changed Face and A Set Of Wings”, said that after he saw the passion on the boys face - he wanted to see the pilot too? And the same thing happens during wide-eyed worship. Listen to what David said;
“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the lord” (Ps 40:3)
Understand this; Our heartfelt worship has a missionary appeal. When unbelievers hear the passion in our voice, when they see the sincerity in our faces, they may be changed. When people see us giving passionate praise to God - when they hear and see our worship - when they see the faces of wide-eyed worship... They may want to see the pilot too!
Now seekers; they may not understand all that happens in a house of worship. They may not understand the meaning of a song, or the significance of communion, but they know joy when they see. And when they see our changed faces, they may want to see God’s face......
In the assembly of the body of Christ there is to be a ND --
Christ Rules - We’re thankful - The word is at Home - He’s Praised
AND
It’s All About Him
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him....”
“Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the father every step of the way...” MSG
Do you think workers would do a better job if they signed their name to their work?
Would you do a better job if you name was place next to it? Listen, everything we do or say as a Christian represents Jesus. Therefore, we should be able to say; Jesus did that.....Jesus said that...
We are to strive never do, or say anything, that Jesus would be ashamed to sign His name to - or accept responsibility for....
In a word - In a church with a ND - it is ALL about Him!!!! All you do or say is to be about Jesus....
Because as a Christian it is no longer about self.....
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ livesin me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me..” Gal 3:20
At Central it is our desire to a body of believers where there is a ND!!!!
At Central it is our desire;
To be a different kind of church
Who effectively reaches this new world
With timeless message of Jesus and His love....
