Moments in the life of a Pastor

Colossians 1:21- 2:3

^“21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. ²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. ²⁴ I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. ²⁵ God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶ This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. ²⁸ So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfec^] in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹ That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. 2 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ² I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Have you ever asked the question what is God’s plan for my life? Paul moves from Praise, Prayer, and Preeminence and now to God’s Plan. He starts with our Past, we were alienated, arrogant and antagonistic. Then he moves to our Present reconciled through Death and redeemed through deliverance. Now he talks about our purpose.

Colossians 1:24-2:5 answers the question, “Now that Jesus is supreme in my life, what is my purpose as a believer?”

1. STAND vs 22-23 – The AUTHOR of your life

The plan here is for you to Stand firm in the faith, what are you standing on, the finished work of the Savior “you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault” Paul is saying that we start with salvation, the finished work of the Savior, but we continue to stand in the finished work of the Savior. Paul is telling the Colossians (and us) this is reality Now –Accept it… Believe it… Live like it. Don’t let anybody rob you of your faith and your hope by getting you to accept the lie that your salvation has to somehow be earned. If Jesus’ death on the cross for you isn’t enough for you then nothing will be. Paul is not talking about losing your Salvation here as some believe. The problem with that is they are saying we are saved by the Savior and then sustained by self.  Paul is saying that the Purpose of life starts and is sustained by the Author of your life. The town of Colosse was located in a region known for earthquakes, that would dislodge and move homes. No matter how well they were built what they rested on had to be solid. Paul reminds us that in order to stand firm we need a solid foundation, the Good News Gods Word. We have to stand on the truth and when we drift away we drown. When Adam and Eve started to question God’s spoken Word they drifted away. Its not name it and claim it but God said it so I believe it. 

Colossians 1:15-22 

^“15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see, such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. ¹⁸ Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. ¹⁹ For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, ²⁰ and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. ²¹ This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”

1. CROSSROAD Vs 21-23 – He Cares

He is the start the sustainer the source of satisfaction, the substitute and Savior but the question is will you surrender your life to Him? He didn’t just create you He came to claim you.  Rules don’t reconcile us the Redeemer does. 

The Focus is to “reconcile to Himself.” The focus is always to reconcile to God. The initiative and action come from Him.

The Scope is “all things.” Reconciliation involves the whole universe.

The Result is “peace.” Through Jesus, our hostility with God can end.

The Means is “through His blood, shed on the cross.” Salvation is only through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross as our sin payment.

Seated at the right hand of the Father sitting on His throne looking at his universe Jesus sees the great galaxies whirling in space, the planets, the people, and all the minute details of every life there is nothing that he sees anywhere of which he cannot say, “Mine!” You are at the crossroad of fear and forgiveness, Chaos and care, life and death. Verse 21 says this includes you. Some of you will say Jesus can’t meet me where I am but He can. He is everything to Everybody no matter where you are at no matter what you do Jesus is for you. Because Jesus is the:

ARCHITECT – CHIEF CORNERSTONE (I Peter 2:6)

ASTRONOMER – BRIGHT & MORNING STAR (Rev 22:16)

BAKER – BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:35) 

BUILDER – SURE FOUNDATION (Isaiah 28:16)

CARPENTER – DOOR (John 10:7)

DOCTOR – GREAT PHYSICIAN (Matt 8:17; Luke 4:23)

EDUCATOR – TEACHER (John 3:2)

ELECTRICIAN – LIGHT OF THE WORLD (John 8:12)

FARMER – THE SOWER & LORD OF THE HARVEST (Matt 13:37; Luke 10:2)

FIREMAN – WATER OF LIFE (John 4:10, 14 , 15)

FLORIST- THE ROSE OF SHARON & THE LILY OF THE VALLEY (Song of Sol. 2:1)

GEOLOGIST – THE TRIED STONE & THE ROCK OF AGES (Isaiah 28:16)

HISTORIAN – ANCIENT OF DAYS (Daniel 7:9)

JEWELER – THE PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE (1 Peter 2:6)

JURY – THE FAITHFUL & TRUE WITNESS (Rev 3:14)

LABOURER – GIVER OF REST (Matt 11:28-29)

LAWYER – ADVOCATE & MEDIATOR (1 John 2:1; 1 Tim 2:5)

MERCHANT – THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE (Matt 13:46)

NEWS REPORTER – GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY (Luke 2:10-11)

PHARMACIST – THE BALM OF GILEAD & OINTMENT (Jer 8:22; Song of Sol. 1:3)

PHILOSOPHER – THE WISDOM OF GOD (1 Cor 1:24, 30)

PHOTOGRAPHER – EXPRESS IMAGE OF GOD (Heb 1:3)

PRINTER – WORD (John 1:1; Rev 19:13)

PUBLISHER – THE AUTHOR (Hebrews 12:2)

ROYALTY – KING OF KINGS (1 Tim 6:15)

SHEPHERD – LAMB OF GOD (John 1:29)

STUDENT – TRUTH (John 14:6)

THEOLOGIAN – AUTHOR & FINISHER OF OUR FAITH (Heb 12:2)

The results of reconciliation:

1. “Holy in His sight.” We are “set apart” and declared holy by God. 

2. “blameless” This word was applied to the Temple sacrifices, which had to be free from any faults or blotches. When God looks at you, He sees no blemishes!

3. “Fault Free” This is a legal term, which literally means, “not to be called in.” No charge of condemnation.