Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Thanks for Additional Memories
Col. 1:5 b - 8

Introduction

1.    Thanks for Additional Memories of . . Hearing the Gospel. v 5 b

2.    Thanks for Additional Memories of . . Sharing the Gospel. v 6 a

3.    Thanks for Additional Memories of . . Serving. v 7-8

4.    Thanks for Additional Memories In the . . Spirit. v 7-8
 
 

A.    Thanks for the . . Foundation of their Hearing. v 5 b (1)
            ". . . of which you previously heard in the word . . . "

        1.    They heard correctly through A Messenger from Paul.
        2.    Before the Gnostics and false doctrine

B.    Thanks for the . . Fabric of their Hearing. v 5 b (1)
            ". . . heard in the word of truth, the gospel

        1.    The word of truth.
        2.    The "gospel". There is a connection.
        3.    When people get away from the truth they don't say much about the gospel.
        4.    Evangelism goes out the door for social ministries,

ILLUSTRATION
Hearing is very important. This week my daughter Teri Christa and I went to Memphis for an appointment at the Shea Hearing Clinic. They have done some amazing things for people.

They gave Teri and I the normal hearing test and then they gave us a test where they fill the ear cavity with pressure to measure the action of sounds in your ear drum. Then they gave me a test where they put a gel in my ears and then and piece of wire from which they can measure how sounds are absorbed in your bone structure.

This was the most extensive hearing testing I have ever had. The bottom line for Teri and I is that we have hearing loss because of nerve damage. It is Hereditary and at this point in time their is not a cure. That is not pleasant news. There are possible implants in the future for me and maybe medicine for Teri. But its in the future.
 

Application

You know what is worse than not hearing physically? It is no spiritual hearing. There are people who do not have spiritual hearing. The are spiritually deaf. But there is good news as the Lord gives hearing to those with this disease.

Sixteen (16) time in the New Testament it repeats ". . . "He who has an ear, let him hear . . . "
 
 

A.    Sharing what has been . . Imparted. v 6 a
            ". . . "which has come to you, just as in all the world also . . . "

        1.    It came to them because someone shared.
                a.    All the World = Hyperbole

B.    Sharing what has been . . Increased. v 6 a
            ". . . it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also . . . "

        1.    The earth is constantly producing; so is the gospel.
        2.    The "word" is the only seed that will grow in any climate and in any kind of soil.

C.    Sharing what has been . . Internalized. v 6 a
            ". . . since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

        1.    If a person sincerely wants to know and is willing to submit to the Lord they will be saved.
        2.    The Lord will allow anyone to know of His Grace.
        3.    He will even prepare their heart.

Illustration
Last Tuesday Night we had six people going out to do survey work. We have several questions to ask and then we ask if we can share a Bible truth. Ron Webb and Don Abbey went together and Don lead a person to the Lord.

Application

How great it is to share that since Don has only been a Christian for about 21/2 years. Ron just has been a trainer for about a year. The are sharing their faith and it is a great memory to share about their sharing.

Don and Ron Thanks for sharing your faith.
 
 

A.    Serving As A . . Fellow Servant. v 7 a
        ". . . just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, . . . "

NT:4889 sundoulos (soon'-doo-los); from NT:4862 and NT:1401; a co-slave, i.e. servitor or ministrant of the same master (human or divine): KJV-fellowservant.

NT:4862 sun (soon); a primary preposition denoting union; with or together

NT:1401 doulos (doo'-los); from NT:1210; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):

Illustration
Writer Philip Yancey notes that toward the end of his life, Albert Einstein removed the portraits of two scientists -- Newton and Maxwell -- from his wall. He replaced those with portraits of Gandhi and Schweitzer. Einstein explained that it was time to replace the image of success with the image of service.

B.    Serving As A . . Fellow Servant. v 7 b
        ". . . who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, . . . "

NT:1249 diakonos (dee-ak'-on-os); probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands; compare NT:1377); an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties);
KJV-deacon, minister, servant.

Some want to make this word sometimes translated deacon apply to women because this word is used of Phebe's service in Rom. 16:1 "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: KJV. If that is correct then we need to do the same for the governmental employees spoken of in this passage.

Rom. 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. KJV

Illustration Service, Rendered to Christ: Palm Monday
Palm Monday The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride.

He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. "I'll show myself to them" he thought. But they didn't notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind. "Throw your garments down," he said crossly. "Don't you know who I am?" They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move.

"Miserable heathens!" he muttered to himself. "I'll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me." But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market place.

"The palm branches! Where are the palm branches!" he shouted. "Yesterday, you threw palm branches!" Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother. "Foolish child," she said gently. "Don't you realize that without him, you are just an ordinary donkey?"

Just like the donkey who carried Jesus in Jerusalem, we are most fulfilled when we are in the service of Jesus Christ. Without him, all our best efforts are like "filthy rags" (\reference{Isaiah 64:6}{Isaiah 64:6}) and amount to nothing. When we lift up Christ, however, we are no longer ordinary people but key players in God's plan to redeem the world.
 

Application

The donkey in that fable did not serve as a Fellow Servant nor a Faithful servant. He served as a Selfish Servant.
 
 

A.    The Holy Spirit . . Informs. v 8 a

        1.    This is the only time the Holy Spirit In Colossians.
        2.    Paul Informed through Epaphras.
        3.    Many times God uses people to Inform.
        4.    Information must agree with the word of God.

B.    The Holy Spirit . . Inspires. v 8 a

        1.    Do you thing Paul was inspired as he heard?

Illustration
Last week 2 friends of over 40 years came by to see me. They are both singers and they went into Phil's office. I told one of them to just pick a song and start singing. He did and Phil and McNiel harmonized and really made a good sound.

It was beautiful. I sensed the Spirit of the Lord as they sang. When they finished Jim McNiel said I felt the Spirit, I said amen! How did Jim and the rest of us feel God's Spirit? He is in us and we are in Him.
 

What has the Holy Spirit Informed you about recently? At the Pastor's breakfast last month the pastor of 2^nd Baptist Church West Plains announced a need for property. The church needed to relocate and he asked us to pray some one would give them the property they needed.

In a matter of weeks he was reporting that 5 acres had been given to the church. It was an answer to prayer. The Spirit lead him to ask and God answered.

What is the Holy Spirit Inspiring you to do?
 

1. Thanks for Additional Memories of . . Hearing.
 

2.    Thanks for Additional Memories of . . Sharing.
 

3. Thanks for Additional Memories of . . Serving. v 7
 

4.    Thanks for Additional Memories In . .Spirit. v 8