Hey, Starting Feb. 7, I will be preaching from the Book of Colossians.  So please share your insights as God speaks to you from Colossians.  I would lvoe to hear from you.

Philippians 3

Phil. 3:3,4 – It is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh… Paul means that we Christians have had our flesh stripped away – not physical flesh – but our fleshly desires.  Christ changes us and gives us new desires for Him and not the world.  We worship God by His Spirit and we do not glory or “take pride” in our flesh, human efforts, or human attainments.  We glory in Christ Jesus who gave everything for us.  Where do you place your confidence today?  In self? In what you can do?  Or in Christ?

Phil. 3:7-11 – Everything else is a loss compared to knowing Jesus Christ.  Nothing compares to just knowing Christ.  As humans, we like to puff ourselves up through human achievement and success.  We like to count our successes as our gain.  Paul says, “No.  It is all a loss compared to knowing Jesus Christ.”  It is not about what you can do, or even what you can do for Christ.  There is nothing greater than knowing the One who gave his life for you.  That is the greatest gain.  Everything else pales in significance.

Phil. 3:12-14 – Paul did not feel as though he had arrived, but wanted to continually press on to take hold of Christ.  To forget what is behind involves a couple of things: One we can’t rest on our laurels.  Do not let past victory or success cause you to become satisfied with your life and faith in Christ.  Press on!  You haven’t arrived either.  Neither let your failures hold you back.  Repent and receive God’s forgiveness, and do not let guilt hold you back.  Press on.  Press on in Christ.  He has called you upward.

Philippians 4

Phil 4:4-7 – Great section of scripture.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything. Instead pray about everything.  As you pray give thanks to God – remember, He is near.  Present your requests to the Lord.  And as you do this, God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds.

Phil. 4:8 – What are you thinking about these days.  Paul warns about our thought life.

Phil. 4:10-13 – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  Great verse that is often quoted.  Look at the context.  Paul is talking about learning to be content in all situations whether he has a little, or has a lot.

Phil 4:14-19 Philippians were great givers.  They were sharing in the minisry of Paul through finances.  We share in the kingdom when we give to the kingdom.  Their gifts of faith were seen by God and credited to their “heavenly account.” (v. 17).  God honors our giving.  It stores up treasures in heaven for us.  Paul believed that God would supply all of his needs and the needs of the Philippians as they were faithful to Him.

Colossians 1

Col. 1:4 How would you like to have a faith and a love that is “heard of” by others?

Col. 1:6 – May the Gospel bear fruit here in the Golden Isles – the fruit of changed lives and heart for the sake of Christ.

Col. 1:9- 13 – Great prayer to pray for yourself and others.  1. Ask God to fill you with knowledge of his will for you life as he gives you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  2. As you come to know his will, pray that you would live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him.  This is not trying to earn your salvation, it is simply a desire to please the One who saved you.  3.  How do we please Him?  Pray that you would bear fruit for Him in everything you do.  Ask to grow in intimacy and greater relationship with Him, and seek His power to fill and strengthen your life.  God’s strength will give you endurance and patience.  Again we do not earn our way with God, as Christ has qualified us for His kingdom and given us an inheritance (v. 12).  For Jesus has rescued us from dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves in whom we have redemption for the forgiveness of sins.

Col. 1:15-20 Jesus is supreme and over all.

1.  He is the image of invisible God.  He reveals God to us. (v. 15)

2. First born over all creation.  This means he is first, pre-eminent.  He was not born.  He is just over all. (v.15)

3. He is creator of all things, therefore over all things including every other throne or power in the universe.  He reigns! (v. 16)

4. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.  Again this is His pre-eminence.  He has first place, and he sustains the universe.  He not only created all things, but they only continue by his grace and his power.  (v. 17)

5.  He is the head of the body, the church.  Jesus rules his church.  We subject ourselves to Him.

6.  He is the beginning and first born from the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.  Jesus rose from the dead so that we one day might rise as well.  He has begun a new race, a new breed of people who can be redeemed from sin and from death and rise up with Him.  His defeat of death through his resurrection grants Him supremacy over all. (v. 18)

7. All of God lives in Jesus.  He is fully God even though he was fully man. (v. 19)

8.  Jesus has reconciled all things to himself through his shed blood.  Peace is available through the blood of Christ.

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