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

In The Name of Jesus
Col 3:15-17 

Introduction
Jesus is the sweetest name I know. I love to hear people talk correctly about Jesus. Do you remember hearing Kurt Warner talk about Jesus after he won the super bowl in 2000. Last year toward the end of the baseball season my friend Jim McNiel heard a baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals interviewed after the game. His name is Woody Williams he said as he began the interview "let me first give all the praise to my Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ. I love those kinds of testimonies. He was basically saying I play baseball for the glory of God and to glorify the name of Jesus. In the text Paul talks about doing all we do to the glory of God and in the Name of Jesus.

1. In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Improvements. v 15

In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Instruction. v 16

In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Itinerary. v 15
 
 
 

1.    In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Improvements. v 15

A.    Improvements In His . . Peace. v 15 a
            "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,, . . . "

Illustration N e I l A n d e r s o n D a I l y D e v o t I o n a l
Several years ago a 17-year-old girl drove a great distance to talk with me. I have never met a girl who had so much going for her. She was cover-girl pretty with a wonderful figure. She was immaculately dressed. She had completed 12 years of school in 11 years, graduating with a very high grade point average. As a talented musician, she had received a music scholarship to a Christian university. And she drove a brand-new sports car her parents gave her for graduation. I was amazed that one person could have so much.

She talked with me for half an hour and I realized that what I saw on the outside wasn't matching what I was beginning to see on the inside. "Mary," I said finally, "have you ever cried yourself to sleep at night because you felt inadequate and wished you were somebody else?"

She began to cry. "How did you know?" "Truthfully, Mary," I answered, "I've learned that people who appear to have it all together are often far from being together inside."

B.    Improvements In His . . Privileges. v 15 b
        ". . . to which also you were called in one body; . . . "

        1. The word Called is found 52 Times in the writings of Paul. ( NKJV)
            a. What is the meaning of "called".
                `1) Called on of the world to Salvation.
        2. God does the calling

Illustration Topic: Call Index: 1790 11/1988.28
There are three types of Christians who respond to the call of service:

1. Rowboat Christians -- have to be pushed.

2. Sailboat Christians -- always go with wind.

3. Steamboat Christians -- make up their minds where they ought to go and go there regardless
    of wind and weather.

C.    Improvements In His . . Production. v 15 c
        ". . . and be thankful."

        1.    He Produces Thanks.
            a.    Thanks for what He has done.
            b.    Praise for who He is.

Illustration
A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Application

Jesus makes home improvements and praise is a result.
 
 
 

2.    In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Instruction. v 16

Intro: All the church body is involved in wisdom teaching etc..

A.    Instruction from the . . Word. v 16 a
        "Let the word of Christ dwell in you . . . "

        1.    Let the Peace of God. v 15 a
        2.    Let the Word of Christ. v 16 a
            a.    The Gospel Specifically; but all of the Word.
            b.    Peace is a by-product of Truth.

        3.    The Church is told to emphasize the Gospel.
            a.    It keeps us on focus.
            b.    The Gospel brings Peace etc..

Illustration
Susannah Wesley spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children. In addition, she took each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matters with him or her. No wonder two of her sons, Charles and John, were used of God to bring blessing to all of England and America.

Here are a few rules she followed in training her children:

1.    Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul.

Illustration
I did not understand this idea but I did it with my girls. As children their will was broken to be obedient to there parents. All parents need to do this.

2.    Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak.

Illustration
Our oldest daughter has 5 children the first four (4) all prayed early in their life. The fifth (5^th) child just would not pray at meal time until recently. Now it seems he wants to pray all the time. The other day he was riding down the road with his mother and said "Mom I want us to have a baby boy so there will be 3 boys and 3 girls in our family. So can we have a baby boy "? His mother said "no we can't" and he became insistent. So my daughter said well "asked your daddy". Stephen then said "can we pray and ask God about it". Well about this time Teri thought maybe we pushed praying on this kid.

3.    Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely.

4.    To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious,
        sinful act to go unnoticed.

5.    Commend and reward good behavior.

6.    Strictly observe promises you have made to the child.

Instruction from . . Wisdom. v 16 b

". . . in all wisdom . . . "

In the last days of my pastorate at F B C Mtn. View we had some decisions to make.

Some Men met and just prayed for wisdom.

We claimed James 1:5 In the Name of Jesus and we believe God gave us the wisdom for which we asked.
 

B.    Instruction from . . Warnings. V 16 c
            ". . . teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, . . . "

        1.    This a warning as we are admonished.
        2.    How do songs admonish
            a.    God moves in mysterious ways. Psa 139:6
            b.    I surrender all, Where ever He Leads I'll go.
            c.    Lord Prepare me to be a sanctuary.

C.    Instruction from the . . Winsomeness v 16 c
        ". . . singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

        1.    Thanksgiving creates a winsome attitude.
        2.    Singing and Praise coincide with revival.

Application

Dr Ed Young of Second Baptist Church in Houston Texas recently said he thought kneeling to pray every night with your children has a very significant effect on them and you.

Our instructions are in Jesus Name.
 
 
 

3.    In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Itinerary. v 17

Introduction
Children do you understand the word itinerary. It means the detail schedule of activities.

A.    An Itinerary for Our . . Deeds.
        "And whatever you do in word or deed, . . . "

We had a single adult get saved at F B C Mtn. View about 10 years ago. He was active for a few months but since has been spasmodic. I saw him the other day and asked where you been. He had an excuse about his work schedule. He does not have an itinerary from the Lord.

        1.    How about the schedule of your deeds.

B.    An Itinerary for Our . . Direction.
        ". . .do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,. . . "

1.    What Would Jesus Do.

Illustration My friend Jim McNiel is a gifted evangelist who quotes entire books of the Bible. People ask him how he does it and he says "you know how; the Lord was pleased to gift me and it is my pleasure to give it back to Him".

B.    An Itinerary for Our . . Demeanor.
        ". . .giving thanks to God the Father through Him.."

demeanor (d¹-m¶"nr) n. The way in which a person behaves; deportment.

        1.    Paul says Thanks 3 times in Col.
        2.    Paul says Thankful 2 times in Col.
        3.    How thankful is your life style?

Illustration
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn't make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other,

"Put up a prayer, John. We're in for it!" John answered, "I can't. I've never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: 'O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'"

Illustration The story is told of a man who found the barn where
Satan stores the seeds he sows in the human heart: envy, greed, anger, hatred, lust, and so on. The man soon noticed that Satan had more seeds of discouragement than of any other kind.

He learned that those seeds could be made to grow almost anywhere. When Satan was questioned, he reluctantly admitted that there was one place in which he could not get them to grow. "And where is that?" asked the man. Satan replied sadly, "In the heart of a thankful man."

Conclusion
On "On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: James Butler Bonham ­ no picture of him exist. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased; who greatly resembled his uncle.

It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom. No literal portrait of Jesus exist either. But the likeness of the Son who makes us free can be seen in the lives of His true followers."    Larson, Craig B. (Ed.). (1993). Illustrations for preaching and
teaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. P 261

We are to live our lives In the Name of Jesus so people will see His life lived through us.
 

1. In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Improvements. v 15

2. In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Instruction. v 16

3. In the Name of Jesus We Receive . . Itinerary. v 17