The One And Only

THE ONE AND ONLY

Proposition: God’s Word is more convincing than any other person, or philosophy, or thing this world has ever known. The Bible says that it is “…living and more powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword…” There is ONE AND ONLY one Word of God, and there is ONE AND ONLY One Jesus Christ.

Question: How convinced are you of Who Jesus is?

Text: Colossians 1:16

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Prayer:

Illustration: There is the true story of a Japanese man who spent 28 years of his life in prison. It was not a prison of bars & locks & wardens, but a self-imposed prison of fear. He was a Japanese soldier on the island of Guam during WW2. And when the American forces landed, he fled into the jungle & found a cave in which he hid for 28 years because he was afraid of being captured by the Americans.

He learned that the war was over by reading one of the thousands of pamphlets dropped into the jungle. But he was not convinced. So for 28 years he lived in the cave, coming out only at night to look for roaches & rats & frogs & mangoes on which he survived.

Finally some natives found him & convinced him that the war was over and that it was time for him to come out of his jungle prison.

We may think, "What a waste! Imagine, spending 28 years living as a prisoner because you are not convinced there is a better life waiting for you." Yet, there are a lot of people who are prisoners of doubt and disbelief.

Transition: If we are to be completely convinced of Who Jesus is, then we must first understand the impact of God’s Word on each of us.

I. Father God was very convincing with the Words He spoke.

A. In the process of creating everything we know and see with our eyes, God relied heavily on the power of His spoken words.

1. Father God spoke the words:

a) “Let there be light…” (darkness disappeared)

b) “Let there be a firmament…” (Earth was given an atmosphere with perfect levels of oxygen and nitrogen)

c) “Let there be dry ground…” (fertile soil was ready for planting)

d) “Let there be vegetation…” (a tropical array of plants and trees decorated the landscape)

e) “Let there be stars, moon and sun…” (the vast heavens were filled with beautiful solar systems and galaxies)

f) “Let there be birds, fish, animals…” (a variety of creatures that have puzzled man ever since)

g) “Let Us make man…” (the Trinity of God created the complexity of human life)

h) God’s Word did it all. His Word was The One and Only Word ever spoken so powerfully.

i) “God saw everything that He had made (with His Word), and indeed it was very good.

B. Likewise - our words (that we speak) will also determine for us what is to become of us. We have one of two choices to make with the words we speak:

1. We can decide if we live as many of our friends and relatives do by not speaking the words of the sinner’s prayer of repentance.

2. Or, we can repent of our sins and confess Jesus as being our Lord and Savior.

Transition: Not only did Father God speak His word, but..

II. All of creation was convinced and still declares God’s Word (Isaiah 55:11 – 12)

11 It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

A. Many people are convinced of the strength and power of Mother Nature, but refuse or reject Jesus as the Lord, Master and Savior of the world.

B. Jesus is the Word of God.

C. The Word of God reaches and impacts everything and everywhere it goes.

1. produces fruit; accomplishes all God wants it to; prospers everywhere it goes

2. as a result, you are able to live in joy and peace

3. as a result, the mountains and hills will “burst into song, and the trees will clap their hands!”

Transition: Creation loves and declares the Glory of the Lord because Jesus is also the

III. “Supreme over all Creation” (Col. 1:15 – 17 NLT:)

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. 16 Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. 17 He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.