Monthly Archive for June, 1996

Colossians 2:2f

Published on June 30, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“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”

 

“that their hearts may be encouraged”
Discouragement can lead to attitudinal problems. The Bible attacks this problem with the principle of displacement. The principle of displacement means that we replace negative thinking with thinking about the principles of the Word of God. We displace sinful thoughts with God’s thoughts.
 
Principle:
The principle of displacement changes our attitudes so that we can live victoriously over attitudinal sins.
Application:
How many times have you cast out a sinful thought and after a while came it back into your thinking? We believe that if we will a sinful thought out of our mind that it will stay out.
The mind cannot stand a vacuum. When we cast out a sinful thought by sheer will power that thought will be sucked back into our mind when we stop willing not to do it. In order to gain victory over it we must displace the sinful thought with a principle from the Word of God. That principle must match the sin.
If we are angry then we must learn a principle that deals with anger such as Ephesians 4:31,32. This passage sets forth the principle of non-duplicity. If I do not forgive someone who has wronged me and yet I accept forgiveness from Jesus for me, that is duplicity. I need to forgive with the forgiveness with which I have been forgiven. When I do that, I execute the principle of displacement.
The Word of God is living and operative. It is able to penetrate to the very core of our being. It can change our lives (Heb. 4:12).
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Colossians 2:2e

Published on June 29, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“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”
 
The first defense against assault upon Christianity is truth. The truth of the Word strengthens (encourages) the believer.
 
“that their hearts may be encouraged”
After proper instruction in the Word, the Christian develops a spiritual edification construct whereby he will be able to face any number of challenges to his faith. If, for example, we use the promise in I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you,” then we move behind this first defense bulwark. If we fall apart and look for emotional sympathy then Satan may take us captive.
All of us have heartaches. The difference between people lies in how we handle our hurts. Some people sulk and hide themselves from people that hurt them. When they isolate themselves like that, they sink into attitude problems. They turn on their friends. They sulk and whine. They do not want to talk to anyone. If anyone attempts to communicate with them they bite their head off. They are irritable and unkind to anyone that comes along.
Are you that kind of person? Do you snarl and snap and bite? Do you turn on your friends? If you are that kind of person, you are not behind the first line of defense. You cannot orient to God and make it count for him.
Principle:
The Word of God develops an edification construct of the soul.
Application:
The heart is not encouraged by sympathy. The worst thing we can do is to sympathize with people with negative attitudes. It will confirm their burgeoning self-pity.
The best thing we can do for them is to orient them to the promises of God. That believer will never become what God wants him to be until he applies truth to adversity. Our generation of evangelical Christians go almost anywhere except to the Word of God to resolve their problems. No one but God knows the extent of the problems we have in any case. We need to call upon the resources he has given us and apply them to our situation. If we do, we will not have to constantly seek sympathy from others. We will not have to sulk as a victim. We will not have to resort to biting everyone’s head off who gets near us. We can relax. It makes no difference whether people know about our problem; God knows about it. He will honor your trust in him. We will have an impact that we never knew before.
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Colossians 2:2d

Published on June 28, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“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”
 
The first line of defense against assault upon the truth of Christianity is the Word of God.
 
“that their hearts may be encouraged”
The word “encouraged” may mean “confirmed” here. The Colossian believers were in danger of a spiritual paradigm shift. They were tempted to shift into an eclectic system of religion (Gnosticism). This caused them to enter a phase of instability. They were no longer sure of what they believed.
Spiritual instability makes us susceptible to false doctrine. No one can recover from a spiritual problem while dominated by their emotions. Enthusiasm will not protect us against doctrinal distortion. All it will do is make us like a yo-yo going up and down with every theological trend that comes along.
Principle:
The Word of God gives spiritual stability to the soul.
Application:
Are you sufficiently knowledgeable of the Word of God to recognize and cope with false teaching? If not, spiritual instability will make you susceptible to attack upon your faith.
Do you take your problems out on those closest to you? Are you unkind to everyone? If you do, then you are a spiritual casualty in God’s war against Satan. During this past week, did you take out your problems on other people? Have you become a dissatisfied member of the human race? Have you become obsessed with your problems? Did you become hysterical? If we blame everyone else for our problems we will remain in instability.
No matter what situation we may face in life, God can meet us in it if we allow him to. God has not designed the Christian life to operate like a yo-yo. He has designed stability into the Christian life by building an edification construct through the Word of God. That does not mean that we are free from difficulties and disappointments. No doubt every one of us will face bitter situations. God designs adversity in our lives to prove us.
If we try to tell everyone about the tragic plight of our lives, it would result in a maudlin mess. How would you like it if everyone you meet in church tells you about the ghastly things that happened to them each week? There would be no end to the mush: “You poor dear. Oh, I am so sorry.” This is not what God designs for his children. God purposes that a believer stand on truth first and foremost. That does not mean that God precludes compassion by either himself or other people. Compassion is a secondary value to truth in God’s program.
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Colossians 2:2c

Published on June 25, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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"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"

 

The first of four lines of defense against attack upon truth is the Word of God (previous studies).  God strengthens our hearts by the Word.

that their hearts may be encouraged

"Encouraged" means literally to call along side.  It means to call upon someone who is near at hand.  It eventually came to mean to call upon resources for help in time of need.

What are the resources to help in time of need for the Christian?  Here someone comes alongside to teach us what we need in times of difficulty.  It is not the person per se but the truth that the person brings that encourages us.  It is the truth that stabilizes us in difficulty. 

PRINCIPLE:

Truth stabilizes us in times of difficulty.

APPLICATION:

From the inculcation of truth we mount a counterattack against sham or counterfeit ideas.  When we call upon truth or utilize truth when things fall apart around us, we will experience God's peace.  We will demonstrate to a lost world that not only does Jesus Christ save us eternally but he saves us in time.  That is entirely apart from personal resources.  He saves us by the Word of God.  How much time have you spent behind this first line of defense?

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Colossians 2:2b

Published on June 25, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“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”
 
We continue the study of the first of four lines of defense against attack upon the Christian faith. The first line of defense is to orient to the Word of God.
 
“that their hearts may be encouraged”
This phrase can mislead us if we read it with the understanding of people in the twentieth century. Most of us interpret “heart” to mean emotions and “encouraged” to mean emotional support. Neither of these meanings convey the idea of the first century.
The stabilizing principle during times of attack upon our faith is that our “hearts may be encouraged.” The word “heart” does not refer simply to our emotions. It has nothing to do with the idea behind Valentines Day; it does not mean romantic and sentimental. We often hear the expression “He means well; his heart is in the right place.” In other words, he bumbles through life but he means well. He is sincere but wrong. The word “heart” is never used in this sense in the Bible.
When the Bible uses the word “heart” it refers to the entire person. The heart is the mind, emotion, will, spirit, memories, attitudes — the complete person. When tragedy comes to our lives generally the first thing we do is stop thinking and begin to operate emotionally. We throw tantrums and become hysterical. Hysteria means we stop using the thinking part of the heart.
Principle:
The Christian life involves the complete person — mind, emotion and will.
Application:
A strong attitude or orientation is the result of strengthening the complete person. The Christian must draw upon the resources for the complete person to live the Christian life. Attitude sins devastate relationships. They make us judge other people. We enter antagonisms because of these attitudes. Attitude sins cause instability. Instability makes us operate as a psychotic person who does not know he is psychotic.
The Word of God establishes our “hearts” by orienting us to God’s way of thinking for the complete person.
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Colossians 2:2

Published on June 25, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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"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”
 
Paul here expresses that his desire was for the spiritual welfare of the Christians in the Lycus Valley. His concern was always first and foremost their spiritual maturity. He did not design his ministry around their health, wealth, success or prosperity. His concern was for spiritual prosperity. Four lines of defense protect the believer from the enemy’s counterattack assault. The first relates to truth.
 
“that their hearts may be encouraged”
This phrase indicates the first protection from assault on truth. The first defense for the Christian when his faith is under attack is to personally orient to God’s Word. We find how to cope with adversity and frustration in this principle. This is our first line of defense.
Principle:
While under pressure to question our faith, orientation to God’s Word  is our first line of defense.
Application:
What should we do when we face adversity? Scream and fall apart? Find someone with a sympathetic ear? We will never liberate ourselves from Satanic attack without getting behind this first line of defense. God fortifies our hearts with the Word first.
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Colossians 2:1c

Published on June 24, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“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“
 
“and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh”
 
Paul cared deeply for those he never met or personally evangelized. He never visited Colosse or Laodicea. He cared for them by praying for them and writing the epistle of Colossians.
 
Principle:
Christians care deeply about those they never meet.
Application:
 
Do you care about people you have never met? Do you care about the church in other parts of the world? Do you keep in touch? It is possible to fellowship at a distance through personal support and information. We can pray for others who are at a great distance from us. Now in the day of the internet, we can contact many of them at a moment’s notice.
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Colossians 2:1b

Published on June 23, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“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”
 
“what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea”
The church in Colosse and Laodicea routed by false doctrine caused a “great conflict” in the person of Paul. Their distortion of truth caused him personal anguish. His care for the church went to the extent of agony to his person. His agony was over their comporting with apostasy.
The word “conflict” means the contest for a prize at the great Greek national games. Generally the word portrays any struggle or trial that may involve peril. Paul indicates that his agony for them is “great.” He wants them to know how much he cares. In the next verse he gives the purpose for telling them how much he cares–that their hearts might be “comforted.” Evidently this invasion into the church greatly hurt the church in the Lycus Valley as well.
“For” in the phrase “for you” is a term of substitution. Paul was in agony and conflict on the behalf of the Colossians and the Laodiceans. Whenever a church reverts into false doctrine it renders great pain to leadership. Instability in truth leads to an unsteady Christian life.
Laodicea, like Colosse, lay in the Lycus Valley on the Lycus River. The city situated on a trade route enjoyed prosperity. There is no book of the Bible written to the Laodiceans. However, Paul did write them (Col. 4:16). Jesus warns the Laodiceans of lukewarmness because of her riches (Rev. 3:14-19).
Paul carried a burden for both the churches at Colosse and at Laodicea neither of which ever met him personally. He was a churchman in the finest sense of the word. In II Corinthians 11 he cataloged the things he suffered for the church. In verse 28 he writes, “Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” He knew how Satan loves to invade and ruin churches.
If we are truly burdened for Christians, we will minister to them, ” For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Heb. 6:10). A church needs both obstetricians and pediatricians. People require the loving care of a pediatrician after they become Christians.
Principle:
Christians should carry a burden for the church.
Application:
Do you care about the household of faith? Are you willing to give yourself for the church? It may at times cause great personal pain but the church is worth it.
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Colossians 2:1

Published on June 22, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“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”

 
A great danger threatened the church in the Lycus Valley. A false doctrine known as gnosticism (incipient) invaded the churches there. This doctrine violated the person of Christ holding him as a phantom and not a real person. Other doctrines of concern were legalism and carnal asceticism. All of these ideas threaten Christianity and vital Christian living. It was a great counter attack by Satan to violate the church of the Valley.
 
Evidently this attack made some “in roads” into Christianity and believers in Colosse and Laodicea succumbed to this attack. Gnosticism took many spiritual prisoners. Many doubted their salvation. They fell victim to the Satanic counterattack. Those more mature became discouraged, disoriented, depressed and scattered because of it.
In this chapter Paul argues that Christ supersedes all these false doctrines. He is totally adequate for anything we might face.
“For I want you to know”
Whenever Paul uses this phrase it indicates a statement of importance. Invariably, the thing that we should know is the very thing that we do not know.
Here Paul wants the church to know how much he cared for them, “I want you to know that I care about you.” Although he was an author, missionary, church planter, evangelist and teacher, he had a pastor’s heart.
“But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us” (I Thes. 2:7,8).
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (II Cor. 5:14,15).
The motivation for others-orientation is the love that Jesus has toward us.
Principle:
A great value to God is for Christians to live for others.
Application:
By nature people love themselves. We naturally turn inward. When a person comes to Christ he acquires a new heart for people. God commences a great outward orientation toward others when we begin the Christian life. We love others because Christ first loved us.
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Colossians 1:29

Published on June 21, 1996 in Colossians. 0 Comments
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“To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
 
“To this end”
 
The word “end” refers to “maturity” in verse 28. Paul made one of his personal goals in life to develop mature believers.
 
“I also labor”
The word “labor” means to work to the point of exhaustion. Paul expended his strength to make believers mature in Christ. He knew something about how to work hard.
“striving according to His working”
Paul’s labors involved “striving” or struggling (2:1; 4:12). This word means to agonize like an athlete in the heat of competition (I Cor 9:25; I Tim. 6:12). He viewed ministry like an athletic contest that required great exertion. He strove like a marathon runner who sprints to the finish line with great agony. It means to compete with every ounce of energy we possess. Paul contended with many difficulties in his work.
“which works in me mightily”
God works in the apostle “mightily” to enable him to facilitate the maturity of believers. If we are to mature believers in ministry it will require the power of God. God will have to provide the operating power. Paul did not use his own natural power in ministry. It was not his talent, gift, education (considerable though it may have been) or his methodology (he was a master strategist). His power lay in drawing upon God’s strength.
Note these passages where God works in people:
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (I Cor. 15:10).
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20,21).
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20,21).
Principle:
God expects us to work hard but not in our own strength.
Application:
We are not susceptible to burnout if we operate in God's strength. God does not call upon us to use our own puny power. The robust words “labor” and “striving” require God’s “working” and that “mightily.” Paul gave himself to a ministry whereby he put his trust in God’s power. So many authors today would claim that Paul was a workaholic. Here is a man who did not spare himself. He never reached a point of burn out because he rested on the power of God. The more we labor for the Lord the greater measure of help God gives us. We can expect it from him (Eph. 3:7).
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