"Christ in You, the Hope of Glory" with Kevin Harvey

"Christ in You, the Hope of Glory"

Text Colossians chapter 1 vs 27
Colossians 1:27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Him we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Last week we looked at who Christ is Image of the invisible God

What He has done
Reconciled all things, presents us holy and blameless

Therefore How should we be? Wanting to please and serve and know him, praying for one another has Paul prayed for the church.

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Now I want to look at the context of this verse, it was written to a gentile audience, and Paul uses the word and a theme found throughout many others epistles, that is "the mystery" Christ in you!

Paul's call and purpose and his main goal Was to present every man perfect in Christ! Who in this life does not want to be "whole"? People in this world are turning all kinds of things to find meaning and propose,they always have and  always will.

Part of what Paul did was to warn people of empty philosophy and legalism. Ch 2 vs 8
Colossians 2:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Why?

Because in the Colossian culture, philosophy was king. Knowledge, and great wisdom was greatly valued.

So notice what Paul says in chapter 2 Encouraged , knit together in love, riches, full assurance, understanding, knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Verse 4 lest anyone deceive you by persuasive words. False hope and prayer for them is that they would see them in "good order "steadfast in their faith in Christ"

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Friends…. When we can lay hold, truly lay hold of who Christ is.... and understand what this epistle is saying to us! We will have power. Power to be the kind of people that Christ wants us to be...

And it's so simple, it's right there in front of us. And the answer is this... Chapter 2 verse 6 as you therefore you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. How did you receive Christ as Lord? ...... rooted and built up in Him and established in your faith. As you have been taught, abounding in it with Thanksgiving.

Faith is only as good as the "object of our faith can be" in other words.. Faith in Jesus! Chapter 2 vs 9-10 Four in the Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. I'm sure no matter what message you gave from the Scriptures, no matter what topic you gave him the Scriptures, it would all be pointless and moot if we do not talk about faith! I'm sorry, but it always comes down to that...

This epistle to the Colossians is a complete document and wants to be read out loud to the church. We need to look at this epistle as a complete document, you need to go home and read it over a couple of times, pray on it, meditate on it. It is a letter to you today.

For today's purpose,,, I'm giving a message from this epistle of which the main point I'm drawing out today. Is "Christ in you the hope of glory" of which part of that hope is. "Complete in him" lacking nothing!

​ My question for us today is... do you want to be "whole" perfect? Look to Jesus our Lord. Amen 

Offertory
 
God of all things, source of all blessings; accept the gifts of our hands, the thankfulness of our hearts, the praise of our worship and the bounty of our lives. We pray that this offering will be used for the building up of your kingdom of justice, peace, love and reconciliation and that you bless us and our offerings to be a blessing. Amen.

Benediction
 
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.


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God ever creating,
God ever loving,
God ever leading:
 
Wherever people are unhappy because of their work, overwhelmed by their responsibilities, or anxious about the future,
where people sit idle and feel of no use:
Your kingdom come.
 
Where people are lonely or searching for love,
where people are trapped in unhealthy, uncaring, or violent relationships, where people are in pain because of the loss of friendship or meaning in life:
Your kingdom come.
 
Where people feel pain in their bodies, in their minds or spirits,
where people seek healing or help,
where illness has eroded hope and desperation has moved in:
Your kingdom come.
 
Where people gather to make the world a better place,
where people work with science, medicine, law and the economy to improve the quality of life and society,
where any one person strives to build a better and more    beautiful world:
Your kingdom come.
 
Wherever new life has begun,
where hope flickers,
where the morning light comes after a long period of darkness:
Your kingdom come.
 
In Jesus name we pray Amen