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
iii. God wants you to employ His Word
c. God’s Word breaks down fears
(Romans 15:4)
i. God wants us to be…
ii. Devoted to studying His Word in our
daily lives (Acts 17:11)
iii. Dedicated to understanding His Word in
our daily lives (Isaiah 34:16)
iv. Disciplined to applying His Word to our
daily lives
d. God’s Word broadens your future
i. Obeying God’s Word will keep you from
being mislead (Psalm 119:105)
ii. Obeying God’s Word will keep you from
making mistakes (Psalm 119:11)
iii. Obeying God’s Word will keep you from
missing out on…
1. Eternal life
2. Eternal happiness
3. Eternal peace
