R1652 The Final Authority

We all could use some encouragement. I will find it together today in the Bible-based teaching Dr. Don Wilton about a message called the final authority read in the book of Colossians were also heading to meet you online and TW online.org or this phone number 866-899-WORD is 866-899-WORD 967 your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Colossians.

In chapter 11 to speak to you today on the final authority is what he said to them in verse one and two. He said all, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy himself out brother to the holy and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ at colossi.

Grace and peace to you Garrett is you ready from God our father. May the Lord write this word upon our hearts. I draw your attention to that little phrase I'm about to share a lot of things with you pull see this group of believers, and I know the world that you live in.

We looked at that lost week. It was a very difficult world, but didn't face persecution.

The pagans had taken over the city of public opinion was rampant. Everybody knew better than everybody in the pervasive sorts came from Greek philosophy on one side and from Judaism, on the other side the pagan philosophies with just a flat out denial of everything that Jesus is and they were Jesus people. This was a direct assault on the very foundation of the church because as we going to discover the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the head of the church.

The pagans back to the time this was written with sighing. No, he isn't.

They denied everything about it.

They denied his humanity. They denied these deity and they denied his self-sufficiency.

You want me to summarize those three points in one, they couldn't have cared less about Jesus. So, what was their strength rooted in well their strength.

Garrett the church at colossi was rooted in really three things on the only source of their authority was rooted in the. The only source of their authority pictures look at the issue of authority number one way does it come from well we just read that great verse comes from God is not God. Plus the local pasta. It's not God.

Plus the church meeting God want you to hear the work of the church really involves one thing that is to seek to know and to do the will of God. Really, that's the work of the church.

We is to seek to know and to do the will of God. When does it come from God. Number two who is invested in. Look at verse 18 tells us about the Lord Jesus.

One source of our authority. Jesus is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead watchlist so that in everything he might have supremacy when I get to that in expounding this passage I'll expound adverse for you where it comes from God whose invested in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He's the head of the church. Number three.

What does it look like what is this only source of authority. Well let me give you an example. Go to chapter 3 in verse one. Since thing you been raised with Christ, what's this saved your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I have such an urge to break into an explanation of what that means. Where is Jesus right now. Well, he's in our hearts is God right now he's in our hearts.

He's everywhere, let me put it in the different terminology where does Jesus live when he lives in my heart. Like I've got it. I get it. He does with his he's official residence. He's in heaven. He went back to heaven. Remember all three rose from the dead, and he is seated at the right hand of God the father.

In fact, if you foster forwarding the book of Revelation.

The Bible tells us in Revelation chapter 4.

At the time of the rapture when Jeong comes into the presence of God.

He sees Jesus in God because God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit are three in one, and he sees Jesus holding in his right hand. The title deed of the earth. So if I take this piece of paper here and I was to roll it up here. Okay, the title deed he had in his hand there is Jesus, he is seated on the throne in his right hand, he's absolute authority. He holds the ownership of the entire earth, and of course these great consternation because that's God the picture is of God.

In Revelation chapter 4 Jesus in God and everybody including the angels have a real problem. What's going to happen. And because Jesus is the son of God because he paid the price he shed his blood. He is the Lamb of God slain from before the foundation of the work he has the authority from God to be the authority of God in his right hand and so the seals are open and we have the unfolding of the judgments that we read about in the book of Revelation.

So where is Jesus what the Bible tells us that he is seated at the right hand of God.

What does this look like well if our soul authority as believers. He chose the church at colossi comes from God.

It is totally vested in Jesus Christ. What is it looked like sick your mind on things that are above that's the business of the church of believers. We got to perpetually and constantly remind ourselves to turn everything to him. Why, because the world out here pulls us to look at ourselves and one another. When we look at ourselves and one another. Everything becomes discombobulated. Set your mind on things above their strength was rooted in the only source of their authority. But secondly was rooted in the only standard by which to live. This is very important. Folks look at chapter 1 and verse 10 verse 10 and we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, wow. I tell you that's a spiritual meal. That's a bowl of vitamins like you and I cannot even begin to imagine that nourishment that surpasses any human understanding. That's real strength that God tells me I can live a life worthy of him that I can please God that I can bear fruit.

That's the church with fruit barriers that I can grow in the knowledge of God, you mean I can during my lifetime as a believer as part of the body of Christ. Get to know him more, wow the more I know God, the stronger I become like marriages in the Army when I was just a pipsqueak and people would say there is this elderly couple celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary with 1/55 and that's all we just love each other a whole lot more. You know well blow me down.

It's true I draw the hold hands with my ducting right now than even see any of you it's true.

You mean I can know God more. I can fall more in love with my Savior straight so he tells us your he tells the church at colossi. Your strength is rooted not only in the only source of your authority what is authority by the way, it's the towel right to give orders to make decisions and to enforce obedience. God does that. He's got the right to give us our orders to make decisions and reinforce and expect our obedience.

That is the mark of Christian discipleship. You cannot be a disciple of Christ. If you don't follow him 100% so if this strength was rooted in the only source of their authority was the only standard by which to live wanted that mean it meant for things in their relationship with one another look at chapter chapter 3 and verse 12 this is a strength in relationship to one another. Look at verse 12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, close your selves. Are you ready for this church, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, all it gets harder. You ready for this one church.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in what's the word perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts that sonatas how do you do excuse me.

All I have to do is walk outside the church and it's anything but peace. How do I live in this wound in peace. So the only standard by which to live in their relationship with one another. Second, in their response to the onslaught of paganism. The final authority shows the church how to the standard by which to live. In response to the onslaught of paganism will be back with more of today's message with Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment Dr. Don Wilton remind you we are here for you were connecting 24 hours a day on our website@twonline.org drop by and see the wonderful resources like hope in him. It's available right now on our website TW online.org and while you're there you can listen to see watch any of these resources from Dr. Wilton absolutely free on our website or you can download them and share them with a friend.

All the details RTW online.org now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton how much time do we have today for us to talk about the paganism outside the church. Anyone need a conversation on the anyone who doesn't see that if you not a believer you are and see that because you all that you cannot see some things, except by the spirit of God because God is holy and righteous, and it's the spirit to convicts us of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Look at chapter 2 in verse eight, for example look at chapter 2 in verse eight couldn't be more playing will get back to this, see to it church hello see to it believers at colossi make certain see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than that of Christ only standard by which to live in our relationship with one another in our response to the onslaught of paganism in their understanding of any times. Anyone found themselves recently asking this question is Jesus is about to come back again I think so well.

Chapter 3 and verse four Bible says, for when Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory opens up the understanding that they would have related to any times into the coming of the Lord Jesus, and to eternal life and then finally the only standard by which to live in a Christian conduct, Christian conduct is very important church.

It's not just what we believe as Christians it's how we behave as Christians, not just what we believe as Christians it's how we behave as Christians.

Look at chapter 3 in verse six, chapter 3 and verse 600 so many passages that I want to share with you.

Let's go back to verse five put to death. Therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these things the Roth of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived before you gave your life to Christ.

But now you must rid yourself of all such things as these, look at this list anger, rage, Mattis's Londa and filthy language from your lips. How about the do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices.

Look final authority. Jesus, God only source of their authority. The only standard by which they could live folks the final authority God everything about God is the only solution, regardless of public opinion.

The only solution they lots of good fantastic great things I want to let you know as a Christian man I want to point you to Jesus. The only solution is the only solution to everything that we face in sickness and in health, life and in death. Jesus is the only solution to the church is telling us, and it's the only solution for the church.

It's the only solution to believers.

Jesus and it's the only solution for believers because he equips us he he equips us to share to tell to invite. That's why today if you would office me to bring it all together with you. Suppose we would go other than to the Lord Jesus. This is why right now I'm going invite you to give your heart to Jesus, you understand that Twyman our SKU which ever you are, whatever stage of life urine. Whatever struggles before we sit down and we counsel, and we talk and we help make sure you've given your heart to Jesus. That's the beginning point using a baseball metaphor that's first base.

Give your life to Christ. I invite you to give your heart to Jesus.

Would you do that you can pray a prayer like this. Dear God, I know I'm a son. I am us in by faith. I put my trust in you. I receive you into my heart.

Pray that prayer, Bible says if you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, you will be saying you will be so glad that you've given your heart to Jesus.

Guess what I want you to do that, you can call us. You can email, text if you're in worship today you can come down to the front during the singing of a him closing song you can come. We got lots of people that are just what a privilege to be able to pray with you celebrate. It's a celebration look folks, what is it that we don't go through in life. Pain, suffering, lyrical celebration – what kind of world are we living in Jesus Christ continue to let the ankle holds there is begins with him ins with him.

That's what Paul saying that's the all sufficiency of Christ Jesus all about him. Yes, you give your life to Christ. I want to invite you to become part listen to these words of Bible believing church where the word of God. God's word with God is on his throne we going to trial jointly based we going to discuss going to talk is nothing wrong with Christian world search, but never to the point at which we let we don't trust God that comes a point, my friend, when you go to just simply trust God stop the fact that your own perch give it over to him it's trust and he sucks on all the usual way through. I know that you are brilliant.

I know you and I can be capable but just give it to him. II don't know why but it's God's grace. Let's pray together from an Lord Jesus right now people are giving their hearts to Jesus and in the moment people are going to respond coming down front in church texting sign off. Given my life to Christ going to that wave.

Page turning to someone next to the Lord where a family wow do we make up of everybody from every walk of water family Lord added to it in this church with the church where everyone can invite anyone to come and encounter the living one. Thank you Jesus for this moment, people respond to Jesus. Jesus name Craig. Amen.

You been listening to Dr. Don Wilton our teacher on The Encouraging Word and sour. Maybe even moments ago while he was praying you are praying along with him to give your life to Jesus Christ for the very first time or to rededicate your life to come home to being a follower of Jesus Christ. Dr. Don has wonderful free resources he want you to have if you made those decisions today. Give us a call. Our numbers 8668 died were. That's 866899673 or email us at online@tewonline.org that's T EW online.org and while you're there. It's our free will discover more about who we are as a ministry relationship to Dr. Billy Graham my read the book from Dr. Wilton about being Dr. Billy Graham's pastor these last few years, but this is fertile soil from a good place to invest your prayer and financial support.

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