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He Is Exulted!
I recall a story about a pastor who was concerned about some unsavory businesses that had opened near a school. His protests finally led to a court case, and the defense attorney did all he could to embarrass the Gospel minister.
“Are you not a pastor?” the lawyer asked. “And doesn’t the word pastor mean ‘shepherd’?”
To this definition the minister agreed.
“Well, if you are a shepherd, why aren’t you out taking care of the sheep?”
“Because today I’m fighting the wolves!” was the pastor’s quick reply, and a good answer it was.
Knowing that there were enemies already attacking the church in Colossae, Paul offered encouragement. By heeding his admonitions, the Colossians would overcome their enemies.
Keep Making Spiritual Progress
Col. 2:4–7: I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
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.
In the Christian life, we never stand still: we either go forward or gradually slip backward. “Let us go on to maturity!” is the call we must obey
The Christian who is not making spiritual progress is an open target for the enemy to attack and destroy.
The need for progress.
Satan is deceptive.
He wants to lead believers astray, and to do this, he uses deceptive words.
The Greek term used here describes the persuasive arguments of a lawyer. Satan is a liar.
In fact he is the father of lies.
and by his lies he leads believers into the wrong path.
It is important that we exercise spiritual discernment, and that we continue to grow in our knowledge of spiritual truth.
The nature of progress.
In order to emphasize his admonition, Paul used several vivid pictures to illustrate spiritual progress.
The army (v. 5).
Delight to see how orderly you are
The words order and steadfastness are military terms.
They describe an army that is solidly united against the enemy.
Order describes the arrangement of the army in ranks, with each soldier in his proper place.
Not everybody can be a five-star general, but the general could never fight the battle alone.
Steadfastness pictures the soldiers in battle formation, presenting a solid front to the enemy.
Christians ought to make progress in discipline and obedience, just as soldiers on the battlefield.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 states, "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."
Here, the apostle Paul challenged Timothy to be on guard against the affairs of this world lest he become influenced and confused.
The Bible is very clear in presenting our three enemies.
First, we have the desires of our human nature (which God's Word refers to as "the works of the flesh").
Second, we experience the pulls of a sinful society (often referred to in the Bible as "the world").
Finally, we face daily battles against Satan and his ever-deceiving tactics (he is referred to in the Bible as the "god of this world").
If we allow them, these deadly foes can come between us and God and separate us from Him.
They will tend to put wedges in our minds and gradually cause us to drift from the guidance and power of God's Holy Spirit and our faith in Christ.
Scriptures show these three enemies wearing and tearing away at God's work and His workers time and time again.
If we fail as good Christian soldiers, we will fail to live and uphold the doctrines of Christ in this world of sin and darkness.
If we don't recognize the enemy and prepare to meet him, he will move in and defeat us on various fronts.
If we don't learn to use our spiritual weapons of Bible study and prayer, we will allow the storms of life to overwhelm us.
A good soldier knows many battles are always looming on the horizon, so he prepares to handle them one by one.
He doesn't get confused and wonder why he must go into battle, for he is aware of his calling and expects to face the foe.
The battles in which Christians are involved are a calling, and just like a soldier is proud to defend his country, we likewise should be proud to defend the cause of Christ in this age of "anything goes" and moral relativism.
We are told in Ephesians 6:10 " to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."
Further in this passage, verse 13, it tells us, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day."
There are clear instructions as to what we are to do when the works of the flesh, the world and Satan come against us.
We must keep up the good work of faith, for "we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9).
God has tremendous promises for the good Christians who endure hardship. They are referred to by Christ as overcomers--those who endure until the end (the end of their physical life or until Christ's return).
We are told by Christ in Matthew 5 to rejoice in persecution, "for great is your reward in heaven."
In Revelation 3:5 we are told that "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name out from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
Other scriptures in Revelation tell us we are to "reign with Christ," and "eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God."
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that our bodies will be changed and made like His glorified body.
Finally we are assured in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that "we shall always be with the Lord."
The price of being a good steward for Christ may be difficult at times, but the price is worth it.
Always remember church that in life you can only take one of two roads.
The narrow road that leads to life that few ever find.
And the broad easy road that leads to destruction that is the popular choice.
These scriptures accentuate the positive and encourage us to "stick to it" and not "throw in the towel" and allow the cares of this life to overtake us.
Instead we are to focus on whatever is true, honest, pure, lovely and of good report.
Effective Christians are alert and ready.
They know the drums of battle are always on the horizon.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon each and every one of us to continue the fight for righteousness and heed the promise of Christ when He said, "Behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work" (Revelation 22:12).
There is no room for complacency or "to be at ease in Zion" in these perilous times in which we live.
May the Holy Sprit continue to help and inspire us to always keep our sense of urgency right through to the end of this age when we shall be changed from mortal to immortal in God's glorious Kingdom.
The pilgrim (v. 6).
continue to live in him
The Christian life is compared to a pilgrimage, and believers must learn to walk.
We are not of this world but we walk through this world.
1 Pet 2:11: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Paul had already encouraged his readers to “walk worthy of the Lord”.
In the Ephesian epistle, the companion letter to the Colossian epistle, Paul used the image at least seven times (Eph. 2:2, 10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15).
We are to walk in Christ the same way we originally received Christ—by faith. The gnostic teachers wanted to introduce some “new truths” for Christian maturity, but Paul denounced them.
“You started with Christ and you must continue with Christ,” Paul wrote. “You started with faith and you must continue with faith. This is the only way to make spiritual progress.”
How were you saved?
How were you born again?
By the Spirit of God.
The tree (v. 7a).
rooted
Rooted is an agricultural word.
The tense of the Greek word means “once and for all having been rooted.”
Christians are not to be tumbleweeds that have no roots and are blown about by “every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).
Nor are they to be “transplants” that are repeatedly moved from soil to soil. Once we are rooted by faith in Christ, there is no need to change the soil!
The roots draw up the nourishment so that the tree can grow.
The roots also give strength and stability.
This is in reference to the church
The English word "church" found in the New Testament is used to translate the Greek word "ekklesiai" which in general can refer to any assembly of people.
When used in the New Testament to refer to believers the term "ekklesiai" refers to that group or assembly of people who belong to God as a result of being redeemed from sin through the death of Jesus Christ.
THE PILLAR OF TRUTH
The apostle Paul when writing to Timothy described the church in this way:
(1 Timothy 3:14-15) I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; {15} but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
The church is called by Paul the pillar and support of the truth.
All people desiring to grow in the knowledge of the truth and learn more about God should find a local church that honors and teaches the Bible and begin to benefit from the teaching ministry which is offered there for them by God.
THE BODY OF CHRIST
When describing the exalted position of Jesus the apostle Paul explained that the church was the "body of Christ" with Jesus as it's "head".
(Ephesians 1:22-23) And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, {23} which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
This description emphasizes the relationship that each Christian and local church has to Jesus.
The church is a living organism consisting of people related to a living Savior Jesus Christ who rules over them and works through them from His place in heaven.
Those who wish to draw closer to Jesus Christ and experience His working in their lives will want to come into association with a local church connected to Him by faith.
PASTORS, TEACHERS, EVANGELISTS
The apostle Paul explained in scripture that gifted people have been given to the church in order to bring the members of Christ's body to a place of maturity and fruitfulness in service:
(Ephesians 4:11-13) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; {13} until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Those wishing to grow in the Christian faith and become fruitful in service to God need to recognize the important role that the local church has in this process.
Each believer needs to become a part of a local church which has people in it who have been called by God to the important biblical roles of Pastor, teacher and evangelist.
God has raised up these people to build up and equip the church and without benefit of their ministry the believer will fail to grow and become fruitful.
A MINISTRY TO ALL PEOPLE
The local church is a valuable resource to any who are seeking to grow closer to God and who want to learn more about the Christian faith.
Any person in this category should feel free to visit a local church in their area and take advantage of the teaching and counseling ministry that is offered there in part for them.
Those who are seeking God are always welcome in the local church and should never hesitate to visit during the regularly scheduled services of the church.
For the Christian the local church is essential and without it the believer will not grow or become fruitful for God.
Some Christians mistakenly conclude that they can live the Christian life independently from the local church.
God's Word is clear in instructing believers not to forsake the assembly of the brethren.
We urge any who have made a decision to follow Jesus Christ to make it their top priority to search out a biblically sound local church becoming a participating member as soon as possible.
The building (v. 7b).
and built up in him
Built up is an architectural term.
It is in the present tense: “being built up.”
When we trust Christ to save us, we are put on the foundation; from then on, we grow in grace.
The word edify that is found often in Paul’s letters simply means “to build up.” To make spiritual progress means to keep adding to the temple to the glory of God.
How do we grow?
By feeding on nourishing Word of the living of God.
It is milk for babes and meat for the mature.
The school (v. 7c).
strengthened in the faith as you were taught
It is the Word of God that builds and strengthens the Christian.
Today, Christians who study the Word become established in the faith.
Satan has a difficult time deceiving the Bible-taught believer.
It the most ancient temptation:
Did God really say?
If we don’t know what God really said then we will fall for this tactic.
The river (v. 7d).
overflowing with thankfulness
The word abounding is often used by Paul.
It suggests the picture of a river overflowing its banks.
Our first experience in the Lord is that of drinking the water of life by faith, and He puts within us an artesian well of living water
But that artesian well should become a “river of living water” that grows deeper and deeper.
The image of the river flowing from the sanctuary getting deeper as it flows, probably is what Paul had in mind.
Sad to say, many of us are making no progress—our lives are shallow trickles instead of mighty rivers.
Again, Paul mentioned “thanksgiving”.
A thankful spirit is a mark of Christian maturity.
When a believer is abounding in thanksgiving, he is really making progress!
How deep has your river run?
What is your deepest running relationship right now?
Is your relationship with God a river or a stream that dries up if the heat gets too much?
By reviewing these pictures of spiritual progress, we see how the growing Christian can easily defeat the enemy and not be led astray.
If his spiritual roots are deep in Christ, he will not want any other soil.
If Christ is his sure foundation, he has no need to move.
If he is studying and growing in the Word, he will not be easily enticed by false doctrine.
And if his heart is overflowing with thanksgiving, he will not even consider turning from the fullness he has in Christ.
A grounded, growing, grateful believer will not be led astray.
By Pastor Rudy
By Pastor Rudy
