from the pulpit at Donnels Creek
The Donnels Creek Church is in Springfield, Ohio. These are the sermons of pastor Matthew Pittman. Additional audio and video content can be found at regeneratis.org.
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Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Sunday Jun 22, 2025
Sunday Jun 15, 2025
Sunday Jun 08, 2025
Sunday Jun 01, 2025
Sunday May 25, 2025
Sunday May 25, 2025
Date: May 25, 2025
Lord’s Day: 21
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Delivered and Transferred
Text: Colossians 1:12-14
A quick review from last week we were in Colossians 1:12-14 and we were dealing with the end of verse 13:
“12 giving thanks[d] to the Father, who has qualified you[e] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
The phrase, “of his beloved Son,” was our focus. This is the mystery of Colossians, this word that appears frequently. That what once was hidden, “created from before the ages for our glory. That none of the ruler understood this mystery, for if they had they would not have crucified our Lord and Savior.” (1 Cor 2:6-8)
Why did the Father love the Son so much? What is the significance of this love?
We can look at the book of Matthew. We see the genealogy of Jesus back to Abraham:
After the birth of Christ, He was taken to Egypt because of crisis, likewise Abraham and Israel went to Egypt because of crisis
The very next scene in Matthew is Jesus being baptized just like Israel was baptized into the sea (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)
Right after baptism, Jesus was taken to the wilderness, just as Israel was taken to wilderness
Jesus faced the temptations (lust of eyes, flesh, pride) just like Adam and Eve
The difference? Abraham did not trust. Israel did not trust. Adam and Even did not trust. Jesus, the begotten trusted, at every point where we were unsuccessful, Jesus was successful. Jesus was obedient at every turn and trusted the Father.
How did we get in this position where we did not trust? What happened to Abraham, Moses, the Israelites and even us today that we got ourselves in a position of not trusting, not having faith and in rebellion?
This is the significance of the next phrase that we will focus on today. The beloved Son did something. The actions of the beloved Son had consequences. What were those consequences? For us specifically:
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom”
This is our phrase today that will gather our attention. We have been delivered; delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to a kingdom.
What took place for this to happen? What does this mean? How, or in what way, are we delivered?
Before we begin looking into these questions on this phrase, let us ask for a blessing for the message.
PRAY
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness.” In what way did He deliver us? What is the domain of darkness?
The word used there for dominion means authority, power or right to control or govern. It can be a ruler, human or supernatural.
In our circumstance we were under control or governed by a force. According to our text it was a dark force. A domain of darkness. A controlling governing authority of darkness.
But we must be careful in how we understand this. There is in one sense a power of evil over us and in another sense that power was just a place holder.
I can explain it this way:
A number of years ago I purchased a property and I was super excited. I made more than enough money at the time to own a home but I did not have the amount of down payment needed.
This particular individual had inherited the house from his parents, and he did not want anything to do with it. He wanted to live in Florida, so we came to an agreement. We agreed on the terms, the price and the money down needed. We would enter a land contract and after 16 years the property would be solely owned by me.
I moved in (tell the story, history, renovations, plans).
Point: I had no power. In reality, HE had let things go to the point that he had no power. I was living in that property, and I could pay him thousands of dollars but he had no power. He could not get me out of the situation that I was in. He had taken a loan on a property I was paying on. Of course, I was ignorant of what was needed legally for my protection. I could do nothing but honor the sovereign over the property (the bank). They are the ones to WHOM the debt was owed.
This is the situation here in our text. We can go back to our Easter sermon and we briefly touched on this thing called redemption.
To whom was redemption owed? To whom was redemption paid? Many would answer that this “power of darkness”, this enemy of ours we call Satan, was the one to whom Jesus paid the debt.
Before being believers, we were absolutely in the DOMAIN of darkness. We were in the area, sphere or jurisdiction of darkness. But Jesus did not pay Satan for our redemption.
We use like words ransom and redemption in salvation. These are true words. We were redeemed and we were ransomed.
But when we think of ransom, what typically comes to mind is a kidnapping like situation. To get the person that has been kidnapped we are asked to pay a ransom.
Thomas Hargrove was an American who worked for The Center for International Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Columbia. He wrote the story of his captivity in the book Long March to Freedom in which, because of his badge (CIAT), he was kidnapped by the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia).
The FARC is always looking for ways to finance their operation. Kidnapping is one and they thought they had a golden ticket in Thomas Hargrove. They took him and demanded a $6 million ransom.
The United States government, because they do not negotiate with terrorist organizations (for good reasons), did not intervein. The American company that Hargrove worked for but him lose and left him for dead.
He was in captivity for 11 months. In the jungles of Columbia sleeping on the muddy floors of his hut with jail bars, he suffered malnutrition and illness as he endured the elements.
A hostage negotiator came in, paid for by his wife and family to begin negotiations of getting him released. Eventually, the price was lowered to two payments and then they let him go.
This is typically what comes to mind when those words redeemed or ransomed are used. In relation to the Christian faith, just like the ransom was paid to the FRC, it is seen as paid to our enemy the devil. This is not the case.
The devil is not sovereign. God is sovereign. The sin of Adam was committed against God. At the point of sin, the wage of sin had to be paid to God. Satan’s only authority was he ruled over the domain of darkness. The debt was not due to him. He did not kidnap us. We left willingly.
How do I place us in the sin of Adam. Let’s see Romans 5 for the answer to our question:
“8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:8 & 12)
We are included in this. The prince of the air, as he is described in Ephesians 2, was our ruler.
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)
You and I were not half-dead. We were as dead as Lazarus. We were past four days and in the words of the KJV, “We stinketh”.
This is the result of the fall of Adam. Being in the grasp of the devil, we, like him, were enemies of God. We were children of wrath. In the dominion of darkness.
Can you imagine if those alive knew that every unrighteous act they have committed they will be held in account? For every violent thought, for every lustful fantasy, for every deceit that was both spoken and unspoken, for every vile notion, word and deed there will be an accounting before God. For every single moment that you put your needs above God, when you have not loved him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, for when you have put off that prayer, for when you came to assembly but you really rather stay away, there will be an accounting for that.
If this was known they would be beating the doors of this building to get in because the ONLY relief is in Jesus. Jesus absorbs the wrath we deserve. He justifies and God is just through the sacrifice of His beloved.
It is in Christ that we are transferred from this domain, this area of darkness to the kingdom of light. In whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sin. This is why we meet. This is why we praise. This is why we sing. I want you to feel it. I want you know feel the weight lifted.
Jesus, the beloved Son, paid the Father the price we owed. Jesus was beloved, as we learned last week and also, as we began today’s time together, because as incarnate, born in “likeness of sinful flesh,” (Romans 8:3) he was fully faithful and believing. He was a pleasing aroma to the Father and He took our place as a perfect lamb.
For every act of unfaithfulness in your life Jesus was faithful. For all the times you had no idea you offended God, He was faithful. He absorbed ALL the wrath due to you.
He has transferred you to the kingdom of righteousness. That is where you are and that is the message we want to take to the community.
Do you believe that? Do you believe that God can transform the mess around us? Do you believe that God can transform the mess in your own family? If you don’t maybe you have not fully experienced your own transformation.
The word is passive voice which means, you are not doing it. He is doing it. He has:
“qualified (us) to share in the inheritance of the saints,” (Colossians 1:12b) and is “delivering us from darkness and transferring us to the kingdom of his beloved son.” (Colossians 1:13)
I have seen what He has done in my life. I see what He continues to do. I am certain what is seen by me is only a fraction of a fraction, but it is enough to know. As believers, you and I are forever changed.
Magnus Carlsen, the reigning world champion, who has showcased brilliant king-and-pawn coordination in numerous endgames. His ability to maneuver his king to shield a passed pawn and ensure promotion has been praised by chess analysts.
This is the process by which the king (the most important piece on the chess board) is used to protect and promote the pawn (the least important piece) to the other side of the board. In chess, when a pawn reaches the other side, it can be taken off and replaced by another piece.
Most often the queen, who is the most aggressive piece on the board, if she has been taken, will relace the pawn.
From Pawn to Queen. This is be taken from weakest to strongest.
This is the act of Jesus in your life. King Jesus empowers us.
Sunday May 18, 2025
Sunday May 18, 2025
Date: May 18, 2025
Lord’s Day: 20
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: The Mystery of God’s Love
Text: Colossians 1:12-14
Introduction: Pick and Roll celebration at Chesapeake High.
Point: There are things we desire to remain hidden, things we do not want others to see, especially when it is the entire town on television.
The tittle of this series is Colossians, the Mystery of Christ. If you have read this small book (which was your homework), you will have noticed that this word appears on repeat.
The love of our Lord was made manifest in Jesus. Paul wrote of this mystery of God’s love in 1 Corinthians as well. This mystery was so hidden that even our enemy, the devil himself, did not understand or see.
“Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:6-8
I want you to see how much God loves you. I want you to be encouraged and moved. We see this love in how much He has loved the Son. This is the mystery that is unfolding in Colossians. The hidden, mystery of Christ and we will begin to unfold this today.
Pray
Today’s focus is on 1:13-14, He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The phrase specifically of focus is the kingdom of his beloved son.
Who is this son? What is this love of God towards the son? We read popular passages like John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” What does this mean? What is the significance of the Son? Little bit later in John 3:35, “The Father loves the son and has given all things into his hand.”
Genesis 12
What we will find through Scripture is God’s unfolding hand and a mystery revealed. Today we begin in Genesis 12 with the call of Abraham (at the time Abram). His name means exalted father. When it was changed it meant, Father of a great multitude. He had no children.
We see the Abraham calling 12:1-9. Abraham was living in the land of Ur. We learn from Joshua he knew nothing of God in fact he was an idol worshipper. He leaves Ur and just goes. No GPS, trip tick, just pack up and go.
God makes three promises to Abraham: I will give you a name, I will give you a land and all the people of the earth will be blessed through you. These were the promises of Abraham.
These are the well-known parts to most believers. The famine is most often forgotten. There was a severe famine and Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt to escape and when they got there a sense of fear overcame Abraham.
Explain Text:
10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.
By the end of Genesis, the story of Abraham had unfolded enough that we see he and Sarah had grown to 70. There was again a famine, and they all met Jospeh in Egypt. Joseph had been used in a mighty way by God in the land of Egypt and held great power. Everyone got to eat, and the family was saved.
However, through a long stretch of time we read in Exodus 2 that things turned bad in Egypt:
“23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” Ex 2:23-25
God calls this man named Moses to deliver the people out of Egypt. Moses was strong on refusal. He offered God so many excuses, but God was persistent. Moses makes some great points (at least in my book).
Chapter 4 “Who is going to listen to me?” That is a good point. Consider Moses, unknown, just going to show up? How do you get an appointment with the most important person in the land being unknown? Could you do this? Could you get an appointment with President Trump? Gov. Dewine? Mayor Rob Rue?
But Moses goes. When he goes, he has a message from God to the king of Egypt:
22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” Exodus 4:22-23
Ultimately when the people of Israel leave Egypt, they go through the Red Sea escaping the elite Egyptian army. Yet these are a rebellious bunch. They can’t get out of their own way in rebellion.
This rebellion leads to a 40-year testing. For 40 years they wander in the desert, do you trust God? Over and again, they proved that they did not trust God.
The rebellion did not end there. It continued as they turned to every vile godless thing.
The prophet Hosea was given a task. It was an alarming task. The task revealed God’s message to the people of Israel.
Hosea was instructed to go marry a whore. The message, you have been this unfaithful to me. Hosea not only had to marry and have children with this woman, at one point, he had to buy her out of slavery.
But there is this little message in Hosea 11:1, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”
Hidden in all of this (and more for I just touched brief highlights) God had a son. God incarnate. God coming in the flesh. God was not simply leading Abraham out of Egypt. God was not just leading the family of Abraham out of Egypt. This family that had grown to potentially millions.
God was calling His son. We see this in Matthew. This book opens with the rich genealogy of Jesus back to Abraham. We get to the birth of Jesus and no sooner does this happen we find Joseph and Mary taking Jesus to Egypt to avoid being killed.
Herod was looking to destroy the child Jesus. Joseph was instructed by an angel to flee there and then we find this quotation from Hosea 11.
“This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ’Out of Egypt I called my son.’”
Do you see the life of Christ as Israel?
He had to flee to Egypt (like Abraham and like Joseph)
He left Egypt to go through the sea (like Israel in baptism) 1 Corinthians 10:2
He went through a period of testing in the wilderness (like the Israelites)
He faces the temptations of Adam and Eve (lust of the eyes, flesh, pride)
This is God’s son. The mystery revealed. This mystery was not devised by our Lord at the last minute. He knew before the foundation of the world.
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you” 1 Peter 1:18-20
We celebrate great things. Oh that great day that as long as I have a memory will not forget beating Chesapeake High School. The place erupted and I can remember lying in my bed hours later. The room was dark and my ears were still ringing from the victory.
We celebrate great acts of sports. We celebrate great acts in stage and screen. We celebrate great guitar and instrument playing. (Daniel Boscoe France and Rick Boals).
C.S. Lewis once wrote in his commentary on Psalms that he was uncomfortable at times with God demanding we praise him. In C.S. Lewis’ words it was problematic. God seeking praise is like one seeking validation. It is like an author feigning for attention.
Then he realized, it was not this at all. Just as we recognize greatness through the moments in our lives, the wins, the solos, the feats of greatness, we appreciate them. We applaud them. We are moved by them.
When we look at this great work of God, this mystery hidden before the ages, we bow at the feet of our Lord in honor, praise and glory. It is a matter of recognition.
In the words of Paul, if the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Yet it is only through this that we are saved.
Jesus lived perfectly. He was able to do what we could not. Jesus is God’s true Israel. He is the Israel of God.
Sunday May 11, 2025
Sunday May 11, 2025
Date: May 11, 2025
Lord’s Day: 19
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: The Sound of New Birth
Text: Colossians 1:3-12
The Word of The Lord:
“3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Introduction
Where I grew up we had three creeks come together on our property. They all join together and then pass under the county road and beyond. My father liked to keep those creek banks trim so three to four times a summer it was my job from 10 years old and up to work on them.
I returned home two weeks ago for a day because at my last visit it was not going to be long before they needed to be addressed. As I was working my mind began to think back to when I was younger and what life was like with my mother.
There is one spot where there is a patch of easter lily’s. As I made my way down the creek bank, my thoughts went back to when those flowers would bloom. I would always be so excited because I could actually pick them and give them to my mom.
For a man, at least this one, it is quite an adjustment when you go from a life with one woman to life with a wife (a different woman). There are typically some adjustments/new expectations which need to be made.
One of the biggest adjustments for me was noise level. Tina’s environment is completely different than mine in this area.
I was taught to tip toe and do not wake momma up. If there happened to be a day (usually Saturday) where mom could sleep in, she did. I could get up but there better not be any slamming of the cabinets or doors or clinking of flatware on dishes or bowls. I was also very careful about how I shut the doors, and I still do it to this day.
Tina on the other hand (and this is not criticism) grew up in a loud environment. Her mother is loud. Her cousins, aunts and uncles are loud.
I think of these things because it is Mother’s Day. They teach you in school to never miss preaching about mothers on Mother’s Day.
And I will tell you this, I was going to break that rule. If it does not fit with the series we are in, I had made a resolution to stick with the text. But it just so happens, ladies who are mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, the text today deals with the new birth. So, at least this year, you will not be skipped in the sermon.
Prayer:
New Birth
There are three phrases that I want to focus on in 1:3-8. Those phrases are:
1:5 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.
1:6 Which has come to you
1:6 As it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood
These are very important because they describe something that is taking place. This thing taking place, that is being defined by Paul here, is the new birth.
The nature of motherhood in the proper in a Biblical way is to raise a family. A husband and wife (man and woman) commit a life together. Like Ruth and Boaz, they have babies and raise a family.
I know for some of you, through no fault of your own, it was not like that. Maybe there was a split in your family or maybe one of your parents passed on at an early age. But what is being described hereis the ideal; marriage and family.
There was most likely a courting process. The two get to know each other and then in time, parents get involved. This is kind of a new way of beginning a family.
As we discussed in Ruth in our second or third sermon, in older times, before even being seen in public together, the boy would come over and spend a lot of time with mom, dad and potentially the whole family. Things would be discussed like, how can you provide for my daughter? What are you plans? What is your family life like? What do you plan on doing for yourself?
Then after marriage, the husband and wife get to a place where they have children.
I focus on this for a reason. We have the believers at Colossae who:
Heard the gospel
Had the gospel come to them
When they heard it they understood it.
This is new birth. Last week I made several attempts to connect how Paul, Timothy and the church at Colossae are just like us here today. I want to build upon that concept a little.
How does The New Birth Happen?
For much of my life I was under the impression that I had heard the gospel, and it was reasonable enough for me. Then as a preacher I would go to great lengths to try and create the right mood so people would “make a decision” for Christ. I wanted it to be reasonable to others. I would give my best sales pitch. Where did we get this?
If you go back far enough there was a man by the name of Charles Finney (1792 to 1875). He was under the impression that if you use the right amount of persuasion and technique you can bring anyone to Christ. He did just this beginning in the “burned out district” of northwestern New York he went on to preach long revival meetings.
He created the nervous bench. That while he was preaching if anyone really began to question their eternal state, he would call them up to that bench and then he would really lay it on thick. This nervous bench would eventually turn into the altar call.
There are many, even today that have glowing things to say about Charles Finney. He did some fantastic things in the abolition movement. He was key in setting up the underground railroad and was president of Oberlin College here in Ohio.
But there are some who reflect on what they say was 500k souls saved during his ministry. By all accounts this number can’t be trusted.
Towards the end of Finney’s ministry there were some people who followed him from town to town after he had moved on. They came around three to four weeks after to take note that an exceptionally high percentage of “converts” had fallen away.
This phenomenon was so popular in culture that Mark Twain referenced it in his story The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (read and explain).
This continued to develop over time up until the current time. There came along a movement in the late 90’s and into the 2000’s called the speaker sensitive movement. It was just a logical extension of trying to create an atmosphere where someone would make a decision to follow Christ.
Tina and I was a part of a church for quite a while that there would be some bands that would be jealous of the technology they were using. The light show would rival a small Pink Floyd concert.
I loved it. Please do not misunderstand, I am not throwing those people under the bus. Many or most of them are well intentioned as I was. I thought that was the way to go. Create an atmosphere where people can easily commit to Christ
This use of emotion is not the cause of new birth. What we have with the church of Colossae is a man named Epaphras heard Paul’s message in Ephesus and became a believer. He took that message back to Colossae and planted a church.
Did Paul use the trappings of that culture or did he use the word of God? Did Paul use the fog machine or the word of God?
Is this new birth? I say no, it is not.
John 1:11-13 it says that Jesus, “Came to his own and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Well, what is this? How are people born again? It is not something they decide to do. It is unlike starting a family.
Earlier we referenced a man and a woman, the court and after a while they engage to become married and then they marry. This is their will. They begin a family; this is their will.
The new birth is not like that. The new birth is not the result of the will of man or the will of the flesh.
The new birth is of God. This is confirmed time and again in the book of John. John 1:13 is the beginning of this message ringing throughout the remainder of the book. But let us not limit ourselves to John.
Paul defines this in 1 Corinthians 2:11-14, “So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
This is the new birth. Without this step by God we are hopeless. How does it come about?
How does it happen? Romans 10:17 the very word of God. We brought it up last week and here we are again, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.” This is how it happens. Now do you understand why God’s word is sharper than any two-edged sword?
God’s word is powerful. It reigns supreme. My word is not like God’s word. There are times my word cannot make a dog obey.
There is a spot just in front of my office that the dogs like. I have no idea why they like it, but they do. They paw at it and dig at it. I fuss at them. They leave but they come back.
This week I found Jo pawing at it. She will eat a clump of mud, and I give stern words to her. She looks at me and backs up. She takes a few steps away. Soon as my back is turned, she goes right back. “JO! What are you doing?”
My words are powerless. God’s words calm the sea. God’s word creates the heavens. God’s words stops storms. God’s words raise people from the dead. God’s word creates light out of darkness.
This is new birth. God shown in our darkened hearts. That is how you came to Christ you know? This is it. John 1, “Not by blood or the will of man but of God.”
This is how it worked for those in Colossae. It is what happened to everyone involved with this letter and to us, it is just stipulated with the people of Colossae:
1:5 Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.
1:6 Which has come to you
1:6 As it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood
And this has happened in Colossae and it has happened here at Donnels Creek. The Spirit taught us with wisdom of God.
What we also share in this room is age. Paul, a man of faith, and Timothy, also a man of faith, both had spiritual maturity. Paul was much older than Timothy. Bu they were mature in the faith and they were looking over this young group of believers.
One of the strengths of this body is its age. It is true. There are many seasoned believers here who have seen a lot of life. You do not have to be old chronologically to be mature in the faith. We have both. We have people who have been in the faith for decades.
We have some younger believers, some who are new to the faith. And they need us. They need our prayers. They need our encouragement.
Here Paul is addressing the church and says, “We are praying for you.” What are they praying?
They be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding
They live a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him
They bear fruit in every good work
They increase in the knowledge of God.
They may be strengthened according to His might
They may have endurance and patience and joy and thankfulness
Can we do that? Can you think of people here who need (list above individually)? We have options or we have opportunities! We have options of complaining that they are not mature or we have an opportunity to pray that they mature in their faith.
They are not getting this support outside of here
How will God provide more, if we do not pray for those who are here now. This is prayer beyond illnesses and needs and thanksgiving. This is prayer that salvation be brought to completion. It is praying like Paul and Timothy were praying for these believers.
Sunday May 04, 2025
Sunday May 04, 2025
The Word of The Lord:
“3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Sunday Apr 27, 2025