R1654 Looking to Jesus, Pt.1

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based Dr. Don Wilton message: looking to Jesus open got another were open with you and for you anytime our website DW online.org W online.org love to connect with you today. Susan Dr. Don Wilton you need your Bibles this morning not want you to turn to Colossians chapter 1 and verse 15.

I wish that I could say to you what is in my heart, and perhaps the Lord will allow me to do so you're going to be blessed by this passage I want to speak to you on the subject looking to Jesus. What a wonderful night. The Lord Jesus looking for Jesus the author and the finisher of our lives before I read this passage I want to tell you just a very brief story you see online the 11th 2001. I know exactly where I was and I'd like to tell you when I got up that morning, like most of us. I got an urgent phone call to have the most precious people that I have ever had the privilege of knowing in my life. Dr. Jack and Miss Christina Cleveland.

This is 20 years ago, and that's sweet and most precious mother was about to deliver her first baby and we knew that there were complications as I got into my motor car and drove down to the regional Hospital the news began to break and I arrived at the hospital, knowing full well that something was happening.

Pictures were appearing on the television.

Six. At the hospital, but my mind was focused on one precious couple. My heart was being pulled away because my nation was under attack and I'll never forget that day because that beautiful little girl Grace was born and I stood there with that precious couple is that beautiful little baby girl was picked up by the Lord Jesus and taken from their heart into the presence of Jesus.

I have a vivid and clear picture in my mind that day of his sweet mommy and a sweet daddy, a broken heart. I don't have to tell you about Dr. Jack and Miss Christina Cleveland today because those of us who are privileged to call them friends look now into the faces of three incredible sons.

They all wonderful young man that would not kill on that day, but now they all into the faces of a mother and father who have grown in the grace and knowledge and admonition of the Lord Jesus, a medical doctor.

Mother seemed to know no in in serving and giving of themselves to others.

You see, they look to Jesus, hearing Colossians chapter 1 and from verse 15 all away readily till the end of the chapter 2 verse 29 Paul looks at these people in the midst of all of the struggles and the questions and I'm putting the words into his mouth, but as God spoke through him. He looked at these people and he said here's the solution look to Jesus and I just want to say this to you. I hadn't planned to save us. As you worship the Lord Jesus today.

What is it that's in your heart what you going through. Which of your twin towers is burning right now. What will holds up in your heart you know life is unkind in so many different ways. It's unfair it doesn't seem to discriminate against old and young and rich and poor from health issues to financial issues to horrible things like abuse.

Some of you have been so badly treated someone hurt you badly didn't you been the subject of gossip racial discrimination you've looked into the face of anger and hostility you been treated so unfairly you've been accused, haven't you probably, and even sometimes when it was right and you set the record straight. I just don't seem to want to really forgive are you are just a persistently unforgiven person's like what else do you need to do to awesome someone to forgive you what morning you need to do some of you have even been to prison. What more do you need to do. You've paid your debt somebody today is looking at me in your branded like you did something 25 years ago and things will go fine for six months and then here comes again and somebody wants to expose the brand mark let everybody know who you all and pull here writing to the church colossi says the following, and I'd like to read this to you church believers. Jesus verse 15 is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together, and he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so they made everything he might have the supremacy from God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus and through him to reconcile to himself all things with the things on earth all things in heaven by making peace through his blood shed on the cross once upon a time you were alienated from God and put these in your minds because of your evil behavior, but now God has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through day to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. If you continue in your faith is established and firm not from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel. You have heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, of which I pull have become a servant. So now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh. What is still lacking in regard to Christ's affliction for the sake of his body, which is the church. I had become its servant by the commission God gave me to proceed to use the word of God in its fullness.

The ministry that is being kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to all believers to them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect and complete in Christ.

And so it is to the sin labor, struggling with all God's energy, which so powerfully works in me by the Lord Jesus calls us to see him high and lifted. Please forgive the interruption will be back in just a moment of the rest today's message but as we launch this wonderful month of celebrating making holidays and holy days. We have tremendous resources on our website. It might help you do that TW online.org is the place to go. Whether it's a daily devotional to help someone launch the year in God's word. Or perhaps after touched by the ministry Billy Graham like we have been you might not realize Dr. Don Wilton was pastor to Billy Graham for the last 20 years of his life.

He is a wonderful book called salaries with Billy that's available on the website as well that TW online.org now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton. This is Jesus and what does he see begins by just making a statement. He sees this Jesus of whom we speak is the very image of God. What you mean by that. Why does he want us to understand that when we to Jesus that he in fact is the beginning and the end. Then it him that we live and we move and we have our being. Very simply put, because what he's trying to tell us there in verse 15, is that Jesus is both the representation manifestation of God is what that means is that Jesus not only represents God to us, but as the manifestation of God. He embodies everything that God is and shows us clearly miss of the Godhead. Jesus says look at me, and you have it all you have to look anywhere else.

You don't have to go anywhere else but these people to know is that Jesus Christ is the beginning of the he's the first the lost team him that the fullness of God is. In other words, what he saying is that Jesus is the full he is the final and he is the complete revelation of God. He is the unanimous testimony of Scripture. It is that Jesus Christ is the one who does it all. Somebody say amen I love. I want you to bow your heads with me. Every head bowed, and I feel led to do something this morning. If you need special prayer. I'm going on askew wherever you sitting in the hangar wherever you sitting in the auditorium. If you need special prayer in the name of Jesus I got Oscar just quietly get up from your seat and come and stand here with me if you need special prayer for any reason. If you have somebody that needs special prayer.

I'm going on askew to come and stand here just stand here looking toward me. In Genesis just come down just stand there, you're praying today for a son that you love your praying for daughter, praying for healing.

You have a special prayer for this country you're praying for whole yourself. I don't need to say a whole lot God is going to say to you just get up and come Paul looked at the people at colossi, he said look to Jesus and he began by saying this is who God is. This is Jesus, the lost verse, verse 29 is what God is speaking to me about this in posted on labor. He was speaking about himself struggling with all God's energy, which so powerfully works in me with every head bowed, Lord Jesus, I don't know why I suddenly did this today really believe that you told me to do. There is nothing in me anymore than the laws in whole anymore than they was in Billy Graham any more than they was or is in any person, because we are all sinners saved only by the grace of God. But one thing I do know Lord I do know that you called me to serve in this place today I'm instrumenting your hands, Lord, standing here today in Genesis, in celebration people, Lord, in nursing homes worshiping by way of television those on Facebook goes live streaming right now. Perhaps Lord someone in a faraway country that we hear from regularly through The Encouraging Word broad cost maybe someone being persecuted right now. Maybe someone about to get a knock on the goal by the Taliban. I don't know Lord, but you do someone living in a country where they can't even speak the name of Jesus and share what you are in America today. Lord, it's so much more than that because we are a people Lord we want so badly to be whole and happy and content. We want to be kind and gracious. We want to serve you, Lord, we we know that you forgiven us. And if these any person today who has not yet repented of their sin and receive the full forgiveness the reconciliation made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Lord I pray right now that they would just simply trust you pray that prayer be born again of the spirit. But the Lord Jesus. Right now there were people standing, people, Lord, who have every kind of circumstance people.

Lord have lost babies who've miscarried people Lord who is struggling with finances. People who use marriages are right on the age of breaking apart people Lord who have physical needs people Lord, whose lives are on the edge Lord someone today is been diagnosed with cancer or with some stage of some sickness that is just affecting their lives, someone Lord, who for years has had the baby health issues. Someone today who just struggles to walk down the road, Lord God, we want them to Jesus. Right now I hold out my hands in the name of the father the son and of the Holy Spirit.

And I pray in Jesus my pray in Jesus name that the Lord Jesus.

Each one of us as we look to Jesus, we would that we are seeing the final and complete revelation of God that Jesus on the unanimous testimony of Scripture you all represent patient of God embodiment of all, God is for God so you only begotten of the father grace and truth upon us as a people trying to help me as I slide your spirit by your divine power and surround God on surround prayer we cry out to you to give the Lord Jesus. We love you today. We love you and we look to you. You are the author and the finisher of our lives.

You are Jesus Emanuel you well you are God with us. You are God in us, and there is none like him to the forgive us all God, for we have sinned against you race us and restore to us the joy of your salvation. May we as a people and proclaim the name Jesus. May we be so and life in our tasteless world take us Lord Jesus unless it has become different makers for Christ Lord is the band begins to get ready to play as the pianist on business. Get ready to play as people go back to their seats. Today we just simply worship you Lord Jesus, as we pray this prayer together. In Jesus name and for his sake alone. Amen, amen Mitch stand together as these go back to their seats, our Savior's mighty my senior so such powerful teaching Dr. Don Wilton, the pulpit now would you open your heart to what he wants to share as he steps into the studio next. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why did you pray this prayer with me right now.

Dear God, I know that Arneson and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart. In Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. Perhaps you just pray along with Dr. Wilton. Moments ago re-dedicating your life to Christ giving your life to Jesus for the first time Dr. Wilton has wonderful resources. He wants you to have absolutely free to help you grow in your faith. Just call us at 866-899-WORD and share your decision 866-899-WORD 9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org G it's operated while you're there, you will discover opportunities you might have at this unique time to invest prayerfully and financially in the ministry of Encouraging Word are excited to announce that a friend of the ministry to challenge Allerton additional $300,000 by December 30. This challenge is in broadcasting center and donations of this challenge, please call 89999963 tell them that challenge the encouraging side. Consider getting involved in this unique time. This is a ministry bearing fruit since share that with discover more tewonline.org you can call for brochure on who we are at 866-899-WORD 9673 just know we would love to connect with you