Intimacy of Colossians lesson 5

The peace of God can rule in the believer life; knowing who you are in Christ with a thankful heart gives birth to this hope. Intimacy with God is the believer's way of life.

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Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Remember these commands are to the one who has become a newly created being in Christ Jesus.  Last lesson we ended with putting on the bond of perfection “love”.  Christ in me is the hope of glory.  Here in this passage one of the secrets of the kingdom of God is revealed.  Let the peace of God rule in your heart.  Far too many Christians don’t know what it means for the peace of God to rule in their heart.  They are moved from one dramatic experience to another.  Discipleship is the answer to the wavering lifestyle.  When you lay hold of the gospel.  The Father has qualified us.  The Father has transferred us out of the darkness into the kingdom of His Son .  We have been freed from sin by the blood of Jesus. The enmity between God and the believer is gone. When we have submitted to these truths the peace of God will rule in our heart.  It is the Father’s design and will for our lives to be lived with the peace of God leading us.  We keep hitting this truth… and be thankful!  Empty from complaint and full of thanksgiving keeps the open door to His peace.  No longer the emotions or intellect ruling but the truth of His word.

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The word of grace becomes so practical!  Allow the word of Christ to dwell in you richly!  One believer provoking the other believer with teachings and admonish in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  Get together with singing with the divine influence of God in our hearts. 

Colossians 3:17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Whatever you do…  Can we hear and live this word?  Whatever you do in  word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Living this simple verse keeps the peace of God ruling in our lives!

Colossians 3:18  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.  20  Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Grace is so practical it gives you instruction how to live in every relationship.  Leave the instruction in the context in which it is written.  In the family wives are to submit to their own husbands. Wives don’t leave out the second part of the command, “as is fitting in the Lord.”  If a husband is asking the wife to do things outside holiness do not submit to such foolishness. In the context of the family husband are commanded to love their wives.  Husband don’t miss the love command “ and do not be bitter toward them.  Each member has a command from God how to best proceed in the family relationship.  Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Colossians 3:21  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.  22  Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

God know the hearts of earthly fathers and leaves commands based upon His wisdom.  Dads, do not provoke your children that is no way to correct your children.  If it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance should we not rule our houses with the goodness of God in mind?  God deals with employee and employer relationships.  Serve the employer as if you were serving God Himself, with a sincerity of heart.

Colossians 3:23  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Don’t do things half hearted; serve with integrity being your guide.   D o it unto the Lord and not to men!  Caution of bad attitudes; “Well they are under paying me so I will under work.”  Serve is unto the Lord and God will reward you!

Colossians 3:25  But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

There is the law of sowing and reaping and it does not disappear because you are a believer.  Those who do wrong will be repaid for what he has done.

Colossians 4:1  Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Now God speaks to the employer; God commands the employer to walk justly and in fairness with their employees.  Let God speak to the employer, let God speak to the employee, let God speak to the spouse, allow God to help you speak to your children.  Let His divine influence overflow in every relationship of life.

Colossians 4:2  Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.  Heed the call to righteous instruction.  Do you see the theme of thanksgiving flow in your relationships with prayer leading the way?

Colossians 4:3  meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4  that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Pray that the mystery of Christ will be made clear in the church!  May “Christ in me” be the cry of every believer.  See Paul now mentioning he is in chains.  From the jail cell he is longing for every believer to walk in intimacy with God; that same intimacy will overflow into every relationship the believers have.

Colossians 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  6  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Here is what our relationship should look like with those outside of the covenant of grace.  Walk in the wisdom of God.  Let your conversation be with the divine influence of God flowing through it.  Let your words be like a preservative, giving answers to each one with the seasoned words of life.

Colossians 4:7  Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,

Little secrets are often couched in greeting and salutations.  Ministers of the gospel should be faithful, and have a spirit to serve the body of Christ.

Colossians 4:9  with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.  10  Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),

Once again the beloved brother who is faithful.  Onesimus was saved while he was a runaway slave. Now he is a minister and a beloved brother in the Lord.  Welcome those the leadership send to you.

Colossians 4:11  and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.  12  Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.1 3  For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea , and those in Hierapolis .

Leadership laboring fervently as bondservants; that Christ may be formed in the body.

Colossians 4:14  Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.15  Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.16  Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17  And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."  18  This salutation by my own hand; Paul . Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Even to the end Paul is instructing for Archippus to take heed to the ministry.  What a heart he had for the body of Christ to walk in intimacy with God.

Intimacy of Colossians lesson 4

Christ in me the hope of glory. It is more than an idea it is a lifestyle to live by! Many false doctrines abound and the word is do not let them cheat you of your reward!

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Colossians 2:18  Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

“Christ in you” is the theme of all of Colossians; indeed, “Christ in you” is the mystery revealed in this new covenant.  Jesus Christ is the substance of the all the shadows and patterns from the old testament.  When the object of faith is squarely and exclusively in Jesus Christ the false teachers will have no voice.  Our ear will be given to Jesus Christ alone. 

Practices of the law, working the traditions of men, or faith in Christ plus another work is not holding fast to the Head Jesus Christ.  It is faith in Jesus Christ that births you into the kingdom of God .  That same faith in Christ brings His nourishing and knitting us together.  It is Jesus who nourishes, cherishes and bring a growth and increase; it comes from God!

Colossians 2:20  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations;  21  " D o not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22  which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

If it is faith in Christ alone, why would you go back to the principles of the world.  Why touch, taste and handle that which brings death. Practicing the basic principles of the world brings death even if we have a noble intent as our motive!  Subjecting yourself to regulations outside of grace will produce a wrong harvest.  For some a harvest of self-righteousness and for others the hovering hopelessness of defeat.

Colossians 2:23  These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

These things (practices of the law, men’s traditions, religious practices) have an appearance of wisdom;  it is a self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body.  They have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.  Only the cross of Jesus Christ brings victory over the indulgences of the flesh.

A  12 step program, a prayer shawl like that from the old testament, fasting more, or and other rules or regulations cannot bring victory over sin.  Jesus is the Substance; His work at the cross has the power to break every bondage sin has given birth to!

Colossians 3:1  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

There is practical instruction that keeps us walking in the victory Jesus provided!  Because we have been raised with Christ our attention need to be on those things which are above.  Christ should have preeminence in our life.  It is a command and it should be our delight and privilege to seek our Jesus! 

Colossians 3:2  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  3  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Where is your mind set?  Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth.  The devil has tried to dissuade believers from setting their mind on things above.  If you will not set your mind on the heavenly truths of grace you will be no earthly good at all.  When you were born again your life was hidden in Christ in God.  It is Christ in you the hope of glory and there is no other source of hope.

Colossians 3:4  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

What a truth!  Grace is so great we will appear with Jesus Christ in glory!  We will manifest and make plain who God is!

Colossians 3:5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Here is practical instruction in walking in victory.  By faith every day we can reckon ourselves dead indeed to sin alive unto God.  Grace came to free us from sin and join us to the Father of men spirits.  It is faith day by day.  I will not join my members to sin because I belong God!  He has qualified me, set me into the kingdom of light, and redeemed me by Christ blood.  My affection are set upon Jesus Christ!

Colossians 3:6  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7  in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

We once walked in sin but no longer!

Colossians 3:8  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

It not just the “big” sin, but when one sets their mind on the things of Christ it will change from being ruled by ones emotions; agreeing with “Christ in you” brings overcoming power in anger, wrath malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Grace changes the flow of your mouth.  What we speak brings life or death. What we set our mind on will manifest through our mouth.  Put the word of God in it; the harvest will be fruitful for the kingdom of God ! 

Colossians 3:9  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10  and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

We have put off the old man when we got born again.  We died to the sin nature!  It no longer has dominion over the believer!  We have a new man in us which was created in holiness and righteousness.  We have been called to live out of the new man.  The new man is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. 

Colossians 3:11  where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.  It not about nationality or position in society, or the abundance of your possessions.  Christ is all in all!  “CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF GLORY” 

Colossians 3:12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Therefore, as the elect of God.  The command to live in grace can only be spoken to one who has that newly created being in him.  Can you see yourself as the elect of God, holy and beloved?  That is what Christ in you is all about.  The new man has the ability to walk in tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.  The new man has the power to bear with one another, and forgive one another.  Holding on to no complaint that one may have against another.  Complaint is one of the greatest tools of the enemy.  The believer has not recognized complaint as a tool of satan that gets us off track from living in victory.  Let go of the old man put him off; walk in the new man and be empowered to put off complaint.  Put a praise in your mouth!

Colossians 3:14  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Above all things… put on love!  Putting on love is the bond of perfection!  The perfect love of God covers a multitude of sins.  Christ in you is the power to live free from sin, bondages, and un-forgiveness; Christ in you is the power to live in holiness, righteousness, and forgiveness.  The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  God’s love is the bond of perfection; true intimacy with God, indeed!

Intimacy of Colossians lesson 3

Vain philosophy is a sure way to inhibit partaking in the divine inheritance the Father intend for you live in. Walking with Jesus having the preeminence is the exclusive way to live the abundant life.

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Colossians 2:8  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

The intimacy of Colossians teaches us to live according to Christ.  When the object of our faith remains in Jesus Christ and Him crucified we are living on the solid foundation of the gospel of truth.  Paul did not rebuke the Colossians but indeed he warned them strongly.  The church will do well to heed the warning of Paul via the Holy Spirit.  Wrong believing short circuits the abundant life Jesus came to bring every believer.  We must live with the kingdom of God mentality to fully participate in the benefits of the kingdom of God .  Philosophy, empty deceit, tradition of men, and the basic principles of the world exalt themselves above the knowledge of Christ.  This is how strongholds are formed and bring believers into bondages.

An example of world’s culture inhibiting the word of God from working is the mindset, if you are sick call the doctor or go to the ER.  This simple world view stands in the way of the word of God coming to pass in our lives.  The living word of God speaks to the believer the godly mindset.

James 5:13  Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.  14  Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  15  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Kingdom culture speaks differently than the worlds wisdom.  If one is sick the word instructions is clear call upon the elders of the church to be prayed over!  If the object of our faith is in the word of God we will be quick to call for the elders to pray.  Not only will the word direct our actions it will shape our expectations.  Our expectation is to be healed when the elders pray.  It is not a test to see if it works; that would not be faith.  It is a sure expectation that God’s will shall come to pass.  God’s stated will, when the elders prayer you will raised up from the sickness.  Worldly wisdom has crept into the church to such a degree many are not sure God wants to heal all the time.  Jesus earthly ministry spoke otherwise.  All that Jesus ministered to were healed; all who reached out to Jesus were healed.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Here is but one example of the philosophies of men inhibiting the truth of the gospel from taking effect in our lives.

Colossians 1:18  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

I am not anti doctors or medicine; however we are called to walk in a mindset of giving Jesus preeminence in every part of our life?  D o it the kingdom way with Jesus as the center of everything we do, including when and if we go seek medical help.  In thee church I grew up in if you were sick the first place you went was to church to get prayed for.  Many today have the mentality to stay home from church and call the doctor.  May we exalt the word of God to such a degree it changes the culture and mindsets into thoughts that are in agreement with the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:9  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;  10  and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

It is not in worldly wisdom; it is in the truths found in Christ that causes us to walk in victory.  The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus bodily; you are complete in Jesus Christ.  When you have seen Jesus and His actions and desires you have seen the Father’s will and desires on display.  Can you say it?  “I am complete in Jesus Christ!”  Living our lives from this mindset changes the way we live.

Colossians 2:11  In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

In Christ we were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands!  This is a supernatural transaction of heaven.  When one puts the object of their faith in Jesus Christ you marked as one who belongs to God.  At faith in Jesus we have put off the boy of sins of the flesh.  That is we have died to the sin nature we were born with because of the fall of Adam and Eve.  We truly become a new creation in Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:17.  The Jews had the physical make of circumcision of the flesh to prove they were in covenant with God.  The grace Jesus came with marks with a spiritual circumcision showing we belong to God.  Purchased with the precious blood of Jesus.

Colossians 2:12  buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Faith in Jesus Christ is the baptism into Christ.  The baptism into the water is a symbolic picture of what has already happened in the Spirit realm.  If the circumcision without hands has not been done the water baptism is useless.    Clearly we were raised with Him through faith.  It is a supernatural transaction of heaven that bring us resurrection power; after faith in Jesus has come, we have been commanded in the name of Jesus to be water baptized.

Colossians 2:13  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

While you were a sinner Jesus Christ made you alive; it leaves the point of Salvation at faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  All that was against us, causing us to be separated from God, was nailed to the cross; there is no handwriting of requirements against us.  Jesus nailed it to the cross. 

Ephesians 2:15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  16  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Here is Colossians 2:13’s parallel passage; it clearly portrays that the enmity between God and the believer is nailed to the cross.  The hostility has ended being nailed to the cross.  The Father is not mad at you the hostility that existed was poured out upon Jesus at the cross.  Indeed we have been brought near by the blood of Jesus!

Colossians 2:15  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

The law declared you to be a sinner; Jesus fulfilled the law to the last jot and title.  Then Jesus completed the victory with the disarmament of the principalities and powers of darkness.  The devil has no power, except the lies one buys into.  That is why it is so important to see the truth through the eyes of the kingdom of God .  The enemy of our soul, and all his minions have been disarmed and have been made a public spectacle, Jesus triumphing over them.  God made a clear way for you to walk in triumph.  The Father qualified you, transferred you into the kingdom of His Son , and gave you complete redemption by the blood of Jesus!  It is the Christ in you message that brings total and complete victory. 

Colossians 2:16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

It not about the food you eat or drink, it is not about keeping the holy days of the old testament, or recognizing the new moon or keeping of the Sabbaths, these were only a shadow of the things to come; the reality and substance is Jesus Christ!  Those trying to bring you back to the practices of Judaism are trying to rob you of the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit found in Jesus Christ alone.  Christ in me the hope of glory is where our confidence should reside.  May the object of every believer’s faith ever be Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Yes, lets walk in the intimacy found in Jesus!

Intimacy Of Colossians and Joy of Philippians lesson # 2

The great mystery reveal! Christ In Me The Hope Of Glory!

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Colossians 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight;

Last week we shared about the divine influence and oneness with God we have.  Remember it is His will for us to know His will with all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  The Father Himself qualified us to be partakers of the divine inheritance.  The Father Himself transferred us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.  The Father redeemed us with the precious blood of Jesus.  All done so we could be presented holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.  How shall we live our lives?  From the Father’s view or from some other source?  The law, the traditions of men, the world view, or the accuser of the brethren view does not matter; only one view is life giving and we must put a confidence in what the Father sees.

Colossians 1:23  if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul , became a minister.

The Father’s view of continuing in the faith, is you believing you have His grace and peace, His qualification, His transfer, His redemption and all He offers by faith in the blood of Jesus.  We must continue with the object of our faith in Jesus and the content of our faith being a refection of the promises of His spoken Word.  Bible faith is having your hope firmly established in the good news of the Gospel!

Colossians 1:24  I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25  of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

Paul seen himself a steward of the ministry God gave him.  The heart of Paul for the body of Christ is clear.  He is selfless, from a jail cell is willingly pour out his heart and life to see the will of God accomplished in the body of Christ.    

Colossians 1:26  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

The mystery from the ages is being revealed.  The mystery has been hidden from the ages and from generation.  This great mystery is NOW revealed to His saints.  God’s desires for you to know this truth of intimacy and live in the fullness of it!

Colossians 1:27  To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The riches of the glory … CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF GLORY!  Have you been declaring it over your life?  Your victory is not your doing it is the work Christ has done and is doing in you!  Keep your eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of your faith. 

Colossians 1:28  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.  29  To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Christ in you the hope of glory is how the believer is presented the perfect man in Christ.

Colossians 2:1  For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,  2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

Christ in you the hope of glory is the only way to attaining all the riches of the full assurance found in the Father and Christ.

Colossians 2:3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  4  Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

Christ in you the hope of glory is a truth worth guarding.  Understanding Christ in you is the door way to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Colossians 2:5  For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul was commending the church because they had a steadfastness that came directly from understanding Christ in you the hope of glory.

Colossians 2:6  As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,  7  rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Maturity comes directly from understanding Christ in you the hope of glory.  It causes one to walk rooted and built up in Christ.  It is how one is established in the faith; Christ in you the hope of glory produces an abounding heart of thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

It is Christ in you!  It is not the philosophy of men, or empty deceit, or traditions of men.  It is not living the basic principles of the world!  It is exclusively Christ in you the hope of Glory!

Intimacy of Colossians And The Joy of Philippians Lesson #1

Fact of intimacy... The Father qualified you to participate in Jesus' inheritance

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Colossians 1:1  Paul , an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We should stop and consider this was penned of the Holy Spirit and God is speaking even in the greeting.  Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.  You are who you are in Christ by the will of God.  God’s heart has always been for you and it always will be for you!  He chose you from the foundation of the world!  Yes the opening line in Colossians starts with the intimacy of God toward man!  Intimacy with God is found in Jesus Christ.  Oh that we would learn to meditate on the Word of God.  It is the source of life.  We live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

To the saints and the faithful brethren.  God sees you as one belonging to Him; that is what makes you saints.  God see you as through the eyes of Jesus that is what makes you faithful.  Divine influence and oneness with God belong to you.  The source of the divine influence is God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  What benefits living in Christ!

Colossians 1:3  We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  4  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;  5  because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

I love Paul ’s heart; it is full of thanksgiving for the believer; remember he is writing from a jail cell!  Some of the sweetest revelations of the word of God were written by Paul from a jail cell.  What a relationship with Jesus this man had; ministering life to the believers who were free while he himself was imprisoned.  This series is the intimacy of Colossians and the joy of Philippians.  Paul could have joy in the jail cell because his heart was for the children of God; he was not self-centered to any degree.  What comes out of your heart in your bad times?  Is it a self-centered pity party or is there a reaching out to further the kingdom of God ?  What a measuring stick; what a godly example!

Having faith in Christ and love for all the saints is what a healthy Christian looks like!  Be encouraged by the hope which is laid up in heaven which we heard by the gospel of grace.  Oh, that the church would preach the gospel found in Jesus Christ alone. 

Colossians 1:6  which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

The gospel message brings fruitfulness to those who hear and know the grace of God.  Many have heard, but those living in victory have come to know the grace of God in intimacy. 

Colossians 1:7  as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,  8  who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

Revelation in every verse, godly leadership will be faithful and have a heart for the people God has brought into their sphere of influence.  The Colossian church was commended, encouraged, warned, but not rebuked.  They walked in love; may we be a reflection of this new testament church.

Colossians 1:9  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Paul ’s prayer for the Colossian church can be our example; we can pray for the saints of God in the same way.  Not only does it teach what to pray, it reveals to us the Father’s heart for His children.  May the church be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Knowing the Father’s will in intimacy with all wisdom and spiritual understanding is the heartbeat of the Father’s desire for you.

Colossians 1:10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11  strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Intimacy with God will produce a walk worthy of the Lord.  This is not talking about the great performers of men’s own good works.  Rather, it is the fruit bearing of the divine influence in your life.  The same good works without the intimacy of relationship with the Father will only produce self-righteousness.  Intimately knowing God overflows into good works.  It brings a strengthening via His glorious power working in you.  This intimacy brings patience and longsuffering with joy! 

Colossians 1:12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

This intimacy produces a spirit of thanksgiving.  We can thank the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.  God saved us from sin to be partakers!  His intended purpose is for us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  Too many believers are still walking in darkness in areas of their lives; unable to fully partake in the inheritance.  We settle for the status quo, or accept the defeated circumstances that surround us.  The Father’s desire is to illuminate us to the understanding you are already qualified by the Father’s goodness.  Some think they can partake when they get to some mysterious plateau that is never reached.  However the text clearly says the Father has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  Know the Father qualified you already!

Colossians 1:13  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

It was the goodness of the Father that delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.  What a good God!

Colossians 1:14  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

It is all about what Jesus did for us on the cross.  We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  Rise up  child of God declare “I am redeemed”  Let the redeemed say so!

Colossians 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

The One who shed His blood is the image of the invisible God; Jesus came with the glory of the Father and want to bring the revelation of His goodness!

Colossians 1:16  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

By Jesus all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth.  Everything was created through Him and for Him!  Jesus is the exalted One!

Colossians 1:17  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.18  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Jesus is before all thing and in Him all things consist. Jesus is the head of the body, the church!  That in all things Jesus Christ may have the preeminence.  Jesus has preeminence and you’re his body!  You have an inheritance of authority and dominion!

Colossians 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,  20  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

It pleased the Father that in Jesus all the fullness should dwell!  All things are reconciled to the Father by Jesus Christ and the blood he pour out on Calvary .

Colossians 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight;

You were once separated from God yet Jesus has reconciled you in the body of His flesh to present you holy, and blameless, and above the reproach.  YET NOW JESUS HAS RECONCIL D .  Sweet intimacy that bring us near to God!

Lifestyle of Praise and Worship lesson 4

The lifestyle of praise and worship open the door to the supernatural.

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John 4:20  "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."  21  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem , worship the Father.  22  "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  23  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  24  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

This has been our theme verse in this four week series.  We are indeed connected to God Spirit to spirit because of Jesus.  The Father is seeking the worshiper!  We have been brought into the kingdom of God to worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

Hebrews 13:10  We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11  For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.  12  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.  13  Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.  14  For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  15  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

We have an altar; Jesus came full of grace and truth.  From this altar we have a right to worship.  Jesus died outside the camp so you and I could be brought in.  Coming to the altar of grace should give us the perspective of the kingdom of God .  This world is not our home we are looking for the city whose builder and maker is God.  Because of these truths let us offer the sacrifice of praise.  Let praise and worship of God be the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

You have purpose!  It is a God ordained purpose.  You are chosen, a royal priesthood, a hold nation, you are His own special people!  The purpose is for you to proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Put the praise in your mouth, put the sacrifice of praise into your mouth, do it!

Psalm 145:1  I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever.  2  Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.  3  Great is the LORD , and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.  4  One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.  5  I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.  6  Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness.  7  They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.  8  The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.  9  The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.  10  All Your works shall praise You, O LORD , And Your saints shall bless You.  11  They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power,  12  To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

Psalm 145 is a great place to learn to praise and worship.  Open the word and put it in your mouth.  Declare it line by line.  Go ahead shout it as we have learned we should.

Psalm 150:1  Praise the LORD ! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!  2  Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!  3  Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!  4  Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!  5  Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!  6  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD . Praise the LORD !

Do you have breath; this call is for you to come and worship and praise Him!  Remember one of the words in the Greek for praise: to rant, to rave, to shout and be clamorously foolish before Him. 

Acts 16:16  Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.  17  This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation."  18  And this she did for many days. But Paul , greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour.  19  But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.  20  And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;

Testimony time: Paul and Silas lived a lifestyle of praise and worship.  Paul   cast the demon out of this slave girl and it brought him and Silas into the courtroom.

Acts 16:21  "and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe."  22  Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.  23  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.  24  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.  25  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

The crowd testified against them  the magistrates had their clothes tore off and beat them with many stripes.  Then they threw them in jail with a strict command to the jailer keep these two men secure.  Think of it, stripes on their back in the deepest part of the jail with shackles on their feet.  Human nature might complain “Oh God  why are you doing this to me.  I was serving you and obeying you and now look I’m beaten with stripes on my back…  Paul and Silas did not lean on their human natures.  They knew they were new creations in Christ and allowed that new creation to dictate their actions.  At midnight Paul and Silas begin to pray and sing hymns, and now they had the attention of all the prisoners.  When the bad stuff happens and you have praise and worship in your mouth you will have the attention of those who are in bondage!

Acts 16:26  Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.  27  And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.  28  But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, " Do yourself no harm, for we are all here."  29  Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  30  And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and they got a SUDDENLY!  An earthquake that was so precise it broke open the prison doors and everyone’s chains were loosed.  It time for the church to surrender to praise and worship; oh that every chain and bondage will be broken as the saints worship!  God gave Paul a word to speak to the jailer “ D o yourself no harm, for we are all here.”  Paul and Silas worshiping brought the warden to his knees asking how to be saved.  Could a lifestyle of praise and worship bring people to you begging to know the way to salvation? 

Acts 16:31  So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."  32  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.  33  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.  34  Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Paul and Silas now preach Jesus Christ and the jailer and his whole family was saved.  What if Paul and Silas had complained instead of praying and singing hymns?  What will happen when we trade in our complaint for a lifestyle of praise and worship?  It will open the door to the supernatural.  God needs our cooperation to perform His works.  Those living a lifestyle of praise and worship open the door to God’s will performed.

JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY

I have found His grace is all complete, He supplieth every need; While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet, I am free, yes, free indeed.

Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found the pleasure I once craved, It is joy and peace within; What a wondrous blessing, I am saved From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found that hope so bright and clear, Living in the realm of grace; Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near, I can see His smiling face.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell, How its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well, Springing up within my soul.

Lifestyle of Praise and Worship lesson 3

We are called to worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Daniel was man of worship!

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John 4:20  "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."  21  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem , worship the Father.  22  "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  23  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  24  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The Father is seeking worshipers!  Every believer has been connected Spirit to spirit with God and can choose to worship.  Know, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:14  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15  What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

The only bible defined way to pray with your spirit is found here.  When one prayers in the unknown tongue that one is praying with their spirit.  The conclusion is I will pray with my spirit (in the unknown tongue) and I will pray with my understanding (with the known tongue).  I will sing with my spirit (the unknown tongue) and I will sing with my understanding.  Paul declared he thanked God he spoke in tongues more than them all.  Part of worshiping is praying and singing with the unknown tongue.  It is not gibberish as some have suggested.  The scriptures declared it is speaking the mysteries and wisdom of God.  

1 Corinthians 14:26  How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Worship is a lifestyle; when you come into fellowship with other believers the normal should be sharing psalms, teachings, having a tongue, having a revelation, having an interpretation.  All this should be done with a heart to edify the body of Christ.

Psalm 95:1  Oh come, let us sing to the LORD ! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.  2  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  3  For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods.  4  In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also.  5  The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.  6  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.  7  For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:

Put it in your mouth sing it, shout it!  Do it with thanksgiving God is great and worthy of all  our joyful praise.  Let us worship and bow down before the Lord our maker.  Hear His voice!

Psalm 138:1  I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.  2  I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

True worship comes with a surrendered heart!  Worship Him for His loving kindness and truth.  God has magnified His word above His name.  Praise and worship with the word of God in your mouth.

Daniel 6:3  Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4  So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.  5  Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this D aniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."  6  So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King D arius, live forever!  7  "All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel had an excellent spirit and had been a man of worship since his youth.  D aniel had found the favor with the king, even as Israel was in captivity because of their backsliding.  The other administrators who also served the king were jealous and plotted D aniel’s demise.   D aniel’s trouble came because he was a man of worship.

Daniel 6:8  "Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." :9  Therefore King D arius signed the written decree.  10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem , he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11  Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.  12  And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter."  13  So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah , does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

The other administrators set a plot and the king was brought into the plan through trickery.  Daniel enemies knew he practiced a lifestyle of worship to His God!  The decree to only worship the king was made and Daniel was not moved!  As was his custom he went into prayer 3 times a day.  Daniel was devoted to worshipping his God; Daniel lived a lifestyle of worship.

Daniel 6:14  And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on D aniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.  15  Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed."  16  So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you."  17  Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

The king had a heart for Daniel but the decree was irrevocable.  Notice the king giving Daniel an encouraging word “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you”.  In the lion’s den Daniel went.

Daniel 6:18  Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.  19  Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.  20  And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to D aniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, " Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"  21  Then D aniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!  22  "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."  23  Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take D aniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

The king spent a sleepless night wondering the fate of Daniel. However, the man of worship was delivered; God had shut the mouth of the lions.  It all happened because Daniel believed in his God.

HE BROUGHT ME OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY

My heart was distressed ’neath Jehovah’s dread frown, And low in the pit where my sins dragged me down; I cried to the Lord from the deep miry clay, Who tenderly brought me out to golden day.

Refrain:
He brought me out of the miry clay, He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,A song of praise, hallelujah!

He placed me upon the strong Rock by His side, My steps were established and here I’ll abide; No danger of falling while here I remain, But stand by His grace until the crown I gain.

He gave me a song, ’twas a new song of praise; By day and by night its sweet notes I will raise; My heart’s overflowing, I’m happy and free; I’ll praise my Redeemer, Who has rescued me.

I’ll sing of His wonderful mercy to me, I’ll praise Him till all men His goodness shall see; I’ll sing of salvation at home and abroad, Till many shall hear the truth and trust in God.

I’ll tell of the pit, with its gloom and despair, I’ll praise the dear Father, who answered my prayer; I’ll sing my new song, the glad story of love, Then join in the chorus with the saints above.