“FISH ON” Colossians 2:6-7
INTRODUCTION: CAMPING & TROUT FISHING IN NORTH GA
THEY MADE TROUT FISHING SEEM SO EASY WHEN IN FACT IT’S NOT EASY AT ALL!
Unfortunately, some people think becoming a Christian is the easiest thing in the world--all you have to do is… ask Jesus to come into your heart & He’ll forgive you of your sins & you are saved. That’s all there is to it.
Then, when they begin making an effort to live the Christian life, they discover that there are some "hidden" costs involved:
They are expected to… - Go to church on Sunday morning & evening - Read the Bible & pray - Giving a portion of their money - Not to mention stop sinning
FOR MANY CHRISTIANITY BECOMES A LIST OF DO’S & DON’T LEAVING ONE THINKING “I CAN’T DO THIS”!
- THEY WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN - THEY WANT TO SERVE THE LORD - THEY WANT TO LIVE GODLY
BUT IN & OF THEMSELVES THEY CAN’T! IT’S NOT LONG BEFORE THEY GET FRUSTRATED & OVERWHELMED THROW UP THEIR HANDS & SREAM “I CAN’T LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE”!
IT’S THEN THAT THEY SIMPLY WALK AWAY FROM THE FAITH! THAT FISH YOU HAD ON IS NOW OFF!
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GOD’S WORD TEACHES A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE… * ONE THAT IS ABOUT HIM * ONE THAT IS A LIST OF “GET TO’S & WANT TO’S” * ONE THAT DEPENDS ON HIS AUTHORITY & NOT YOUR ACTIONS
SIMPLY PUT…THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ALLOWING JESUS TO LIVE IN YOU & THROUGH YOU ALL FOR HIS GLORY & YOUR GOOD!
Colossians 2:6-7 Paul writes… 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
THAT RAISES A QUESTION! HOW DID YOU RECEIVE CHRIST?... BY FAITH! THEN THAT IS HOW WE ARE TO CONTINUE IN HIM.
THIS MORNING, I WANT US TO CONSIDER HOW TO HELP THOSE WE WIN TO CHRIST TO GROW IN CHRIST W/O BECOMING FRUSTRATED & OVERWHELMED & WALKING AWAY FROM THE FAITH.
I. Rooted in him. V-7 “Rooted in Him”
PAUL OFTEN COMPARED THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TO A JOURNEY….A JOURNEY WE MUST LEARN TO WALK!
Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 4:5
…make the most of every opportunity
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
- BUT HOW DO WE WALK THIS JOURNEY OF FAITH W/ JESUS? - HOW DO WE LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? - HOW DOES ONE LIVE GODLY, HOLY & RIGHTEOUS?
NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS… So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him
BY FAITH! YOU ACCEPT HIM BY FAITH THEREFORE, YOU WALK W/ HIM BY FAITH
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…
WALKING BY FAITH IS THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH WHICH LEADS US TO GODLINESS, HOLINESS & RIGHTEOUSNESS.
BUT THEN NOTICE THE WORD PICTURE HERE IN THIS VERSE! HE SAYS BE ROOTED IN HIM…LIKE A TREE ROOTED FIRMLY IN THE GROUND… - THING CAN MOVE IT - IT STANDS STRONG FOR ALL TO SEE - IT DRAWS ITS NOURISHMENT FROM THE GROUND.
- WE ARE TO BE ROOTED IN CHRIST BY FAITH… - WE ARE TO DRAW NOURISHMENT FROM HIM IN ORDER TO GROW… - WE ARE TO STAND STRONG FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.
ILLUSTRATION: Out west they have problems w/ tumble weeds!
MANY TODAY ARE TUMBLE WEED CHRISTIANS, BLOWN HERE & THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ROOTED IN CHRIST.
THEY HAVE ACCEPTED HIM BY FAITH….. BUT THEN HAVE TRIED TO GROW IN HIM THROUGH THERE OWN EFFORTS.
IF YOU ARE TO KEEP THOSE YOU WIN IN THE FAITH…. TEACH THEM TO ROOT THEMSELVES IN CHRIST THROUGH FAITH!
II. Built Up in Him: V-7 “Built up in Him”
IN THE GREEK THAT PHRASE IS IN THE “PRESENT TENSE” MEANING “BEING BUILT UP”….. IT’S AN ON GOING PROCESS.
WHEN WE ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR WE LAY THE FOUNDATION….FROM THAT MOMENT ON IT’S A CONSTANT PROCESS OF GROWING IN GRACE…LISTEN….AND WE DO SO BY FAITH!
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until of the day Christ Jesus.
GOD IS AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE! HE IS AWARE, INVOLVED & HE HAS A PLAN!
WHEN YOU THINK OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH WHAT COMES TO MIND? READING YOUR BIBLE……PRAYING…..CHURCH….SUNDAY SCHOOL…ETC.
* For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. * being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until of the day Christ Jesus.
GOD IS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE IN EVERYDAY in EVERYWAY! IT’S NOT ON THE MOUNTAINTOPS OF LIFE YOU GROW BUT IN THE VALLEYS.
THEREFORE, THE HEARTACHE….TRAILS….TROUBLE….TEMPTAIONS….SORRY & PAIN HE USEES IN OUR LIVES. THEY ARE HIS HAMMER & CHISEL!
ALL TO SHAPE YOU IN TO THE CHILD HE WANTS YOU TO BE…IT’S CALLED SANTIFICATION….IT’S A PROCESS….THAT MY FRIEND IS BEING BUILT UP IN HIM!
ILLUSTRATION: EVER BUILT A HOUSE?
IN ORDER TO BUILD A STRONG HOUSE YOU MUST FIRST LAY A FIRM FOUNDATION….THEN STEP by STEP YOU BUILD THE HOUSE.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THOSE YOU WIN IN THE FAITH….TEACH THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BUILT UP IN CHRIST….THAT IT’S A PROCESS THAT REQUIRES PATIENCE & PERSEVERANCE
III. Strengthened in the faith: V-7 “Strengthened in the faith”
PAUL, AS DID OTHERS, HAD TAUGHT THE COLOSSIANS THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD…..SUCH TEACHING THAT STRENGTHENS US IN OUR FAITH.
GOD’S WORD SAYS…
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE…. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
ON WHAT DOES OUR FAITH REST?
a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, Titus 1:2
HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH? Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… Romans 12:1-2
ILLUSTRATION: As a child I loved to watch Popeye the sailor man! Popeye was no match for Brutus. Brutus was bigger & stronger not to mention a bully. Brutus was always bossing & bullying Popeye around & steeling his girl Olive! But if Popeye ever got his hands on some spinach look-out! However, did you ever notice the strength was in the spinach?
MY FRIEND FOR THE CHILD OF GOD THE STRENGHT IS IN THE WORD!
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOU FISH ON THAT IS TO SAY KEEPING THOSE YOU WIN TO CHRIST IN THE FAITH TEACH THEM TO ROOT-IN…BUILD-UP… & STRENGHTEN IN CHRIST JESUS.
AS OUR FAITH GROWS DEEPER & DEEPER IT WILL FLOOD OUR HEARTS W/ THANKSGIVING & IT WILL FOLLOW FROM OUR LIPS.
Luke 6:45 For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
CLOSING: lady called American Airlines and asked the reservation clerk, "How long does it take to get from Dallas-Fort Worth to Frankfort, Germany?" The clerk had to wait a moment for the information to come up on her computer screen, so she said, "Just a mi nute. "The caller responded, "Thanks very much," and hung up! Most of the things that really matter in life do not happen in "just a minute". They come for those who learn to wait upon the Lord.
