I will continue our tag-team teaching through the letter to the Colossians chapter 4. I want to spend this time together to look at the three churches of the Lycus Valley in what is today’s modern Turkey. Understanding the history, culture, and biblical context of these three cities will give you not only a better understanding of Paul’s letter to the Church of Colossae but also of the churches in Hierapolis and Laodicea as mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:13. I will conclude with Christ’s rebuke to the church in Laodicea as seen in Revelation chapter 3.
We continue to learn the Father’s process of Spiritual Identity and Sonship in Colossians Chapter 4 this week. Each week the allow Holy Spirit to renew our minds, learning to live our new Spiritual Identity and spontaneously walk in Christ as Spiritually Birthed Sons of the Father. Today we read Paul’s epistles with a new Spiritual vigor of knowledge and understanding! Last week in Colossians chapter 4, our dear brother, Dwight Davis, shared a powerful message on what the Father is revealing concerning this chapter, and our Spiritual Identity of Sonship and in Christ! This week will be no different with our Father revealing who we are as Spiritual Sons to Him as our Father.
The Father has provided the Sunday message this week on “Prayer for the Father’s Perfect Will.” Also, coupled within this message the Father spoke to me about five (5) facets of the Mystery that has been and is continually being revealed to us with much of them in greater depth of understanding.
The Father has provided me with some clear direction on a major area for that fifth facet of the Mystery for us to consider with perhaps some more Spiritual decisions of obedience to Him and His perfect will.
Let us discuss some of these important things concerning the word of the truth of the gospel with our eternal love fellowship with the Father.
The Gospel of “Morality” is a hard task master! It keeps you on your knees and continually living in regrets. Just when you think you’ve mastered this gospel “BAM” an “unholy” thought comes to your mind. You curse the person out that cuts you off on the freeway. You have an argument with your spouse and you say hurtful words to them. And the list goes on and on…And before you know it, your back at the alter begging the Lord for forgiveness, vowing that you’ll do better the next time. But as your leaving the church sister so and so didn’t speak to you and so, you guessed it! You want to give her a piece of your mind! So, back to the alter you go! It’s a never-ending merry-go-round of repentance and regrets.
In Galatians 1: 6-7 Paul says to the believers
6. “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7. which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want you to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Later in Galatians 3: 6 he asks, O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
This gospel was not “another” gospel of the same kind that was preached to them (the Gospel of Jesus Christ)
The true Gospel of Christ can be declared in different ways by different people, BUT it’s truth must never be altered!
Many born again believers are on the “Merry-go-round Gospel of Morality” and attempt to get off but they are simply too afraid. Afraid that they’ll lose their identity as a “Good Christian” to themselves and to others.
My hope is that this message today, will encourage those on this never-ending ride to have the courage to jump off and live in their new identity as the Spiritual Son of the Father.
Let’s see what the Father has to say about “another gospel”.
This Sunday morning, I will continue the tag-team teaching of Colossians chapter three. I want to propose a question that most of you have never given much thought to. Does God give second chances? We live in a world of second chances: or as Merriam-Webster defines it – the opportunity to try something again after failing the first time. Articles and books are written about them. Churches and ministries are named after them, but does God really give second chances? Join me this Sunday morning as we answer that question and explore the depths of Colossians chapter three.