Signed, Sealed And Delivered

TEXT: Colossians 1:12-14

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

SIGNED AND PURCHASED WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

A formal letter is made authentic by the signature of the author. Transactions are authenticated by the signatures of the parties involved. Salvation is a transaction between God and man, a covenant signed and authenticated by the blood of Jesus. Paul warned church leaders in Acts 20:28 (NLT): "So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders." God signed the letter of your purchase with the blood of Jesus. "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins" (Eph 1:7 NLT). You are bought with a great price - the precious blood of Jesus - so guard your salvation with all diligence, don't serve men, serve God (1 Cor 7:23 NLT). The Lord will grant you grace to run the race to the end, victorious in Jesus name.

SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

After a letter is written and signed, it is put in an envelope and sealed with glue. In the olden days, letters are authenticated by the seal of the King. Even today, official documents bear the seals of the authors. Believers are like letters bearing the seal of God, the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:30 tells us: "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Believers belong to Jesus, signed and sealed in God by the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Cor 1:21-22 NIV). The Lord will keep you, the devil will not pluck you out of his hand in Jesus name. Because you bear the mark of the Lord, no evil hand will touch you in Jesus name. Paul reminds us in 2 Tim 2:19 (NIV): "Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

DELIVERED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

"For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son" (Col 1:13 NLT). Every letter has an address to which it is delivered. A transaction is seen as completed when the package is received by the person to whom it is addressed. Believers have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the son of the living God. If you are a believer, your name is already written in the book of life. Phil 4:3 says: "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." If you are diligently serving God, your name is in the book of life. On the day of judgment, the book of life will be opened and other books as well, anyone whose name is not found in the book of life will end up in everlasting damnation. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev 20:12,15). You will not be cast into the lake of fire. The mercy of God will speak for you. The grace of God will keep you till the end in Jesus name.

PRAYER:

Father, deliver me from the power and kingdom of darkness, translate me into the kingdom of light in Jesus name.

CONFESSION:

I belong to Jesus; bought with his blood and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

God bless you. Shalom.