R1652 The Final Authority

We all submit to authority at different times in our life but what is the final authority that's open God's word together and find out. This is the Encouraging Word featuring the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton and his message: the final authority to open the word of God together. Another were open to you as well.

Would love to connect with you on our website TW online.org that's TE W online.org while you're there, be sure and sign up for the daily Encouraging Word devotional from Dr. Wilson is easy to do right, the base of our website TW online.org is magically free. Whether you want the email version or hardcopy will be glad to send you. You can sign up today@tewonline.org pallets open our hearts and God's Word The Encouraging Word the Bible itself, together with Dr. Don Wilton Bibles and turn with me to the book in chapter 11 to speak to you today on the final authority is what he said to them in verse one and two.

He said Paul and apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy himself, our brother to the holy and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ at colossi. Grace and peace to you. As you ready from God our father.

May the Lord write this word upon our hearts. I draw your attention to that little phrase I'm about to share a lot of things with you pull Satan to this group of believers, and I know the world that you live in.

We looked at that lost week.

It was a very difficult world, but I didn't face persecution. The pagans had taken over the city. The court of public opinion was rampant.

Everybody knew better than everybody in the pervasive auto sorts came from Greek philosophy on one side and from Judaism, on the other side the pagan philosophies were just a flat out denial of everything that Jesus is and they were Jesus people.

This was a direct assault on the very foundation of the church because as we going to discover the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The pagans back to the time this was written with sighing. No, he isn't. They denied everything about it. They denied his humanity. They denied these deity and they denied his self-sufficiency. You want me to summarize those three points in one, they couldn't have cared less about Jesus. So, what was their strength rooted in well their strength here at the church at colossi was rooted in really three things number one the only source of their authority was rooted in the. The only source of their authority pictures look at the issue of authority.

Number one, where does it come from well we just read that great verse comes from God is not God.

Plus the local pasta. It's not God.

Plus the church meeting God want you to hear the work of the church really involves one thing that is to seek to know and to do the will of God. Really, that's the work of the church. We is to seek to know and to do the will of God. When does it come from God. Number two who is invested in. Look at verse 18 tells us about the Lord Jesus is one source of our authority.

Jesus is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead watchlist so that in everything he might have supremacy when I get to that in expounding this passage I'll expound adverse for you where it comes from God whose invested in the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the head of the church. Number three. What does it look like what is this only source of authority. Well let me give you an example.

Go to chapter 3 and verse one.

Since then you been raised with Christ, watch this saved your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I have such an urge to break into an explanation of what that mean where is Jesus right now. Well, he's in our hearts is God right now he's in our hearts.

He's everywhere, let me put it in the different terminology where does Jesus live while he lives in my heart. Like I've got it.

I get. He does with his he's official raisins. He's in heaven.

He went back to heaven.

Remember all three rose from the dead, and he is seated at the right hand of God the father.

In fact, if you fast-forward into the book of Revelation. The Bible tells us in Revelation chapter 4. At the time of the rapture when John comes into the presence of God. He sees Jesus in God because God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit off three in one, and he sees Jesus holding in his right hand. The title deed of the earth. So if I take this piece of paper here and I was to roll it up. Okay, the title deed he had in his hand is Jesus.

He is seated on the throne in his right hand.

He's absolute authority.

He holds the ownership of the entire earth, and of course these great consternation because that's God the picture is of God. In Revelation chapter 4 Jesus in God and everybody including the angels have a real problem. What's going to happen.

And because Jesus is the son of God because he paid the price he shed his blood.

He is the Lamb of God slain from before the foundation of good. He has the authority from God to be the authority of God in his right hand and so the seals are open and we have the unfolding of the judgments that we read about in the book of Revelation. So where is Jesus.

Well, the Bible tells us that he is seated at the right hand of God.

What does this look like well if our soul authority as believers, he tells the church at colossi comes from God. It is totally vested in Jesus Christ. What is it look like set your mind on things that are above that's the business of the church of believers.

We got to perpetually and constantly remind ourselves to turn everything to him. Why, because the world out here pulls us to look at ourselves and one another. When we look at ourselves and one another. Everything becomes discombobulated. Set your mind on things above their strength was rooted in the only source of their authority.

But secondly was rooted in the only standard by which to live.

This is very important.

Folks look at chapter 1 and verse 10 verse 10 and we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, and my please him in every way bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, wow. I tell you that's a spiritual meal. That's a bowl of vitamins like you and I cannot even begin to imagine that nourishment that surpasses any human understanding. That's real strength that God tells me I can live a life worthy of him that I can please God that I can bear fruit.

That's the church with fruit, berries that I can grow in the knowledge of God, you mean I can during my lifetime as a believer as part of the body of Christ. Get to know him more, wow the more I know God, the stronger I become like marriages in the Army when I was just a pipsqueak and people would say there is this elderly couple celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary with 1/55 and that's all we just love each other all a lot more yenta will blow me down. It's true I draw the hold hands with my ducting right now than even see any of you. It's true. You mean I can know God more.

I can fold more in love with my Savior. Why straight. You're listening to Dr. Don Wilton our teacher here on The Encouraging Word. Don't go away. Hope you like to complete today's message. The final authority in just a moment, but he wants you to know where here for you connecting on the phone 24 hours a day to pray to connect with great resources. That's 86689 anytime 24 hours a day, 866-899-9673 will connect with what I was happy to pray. I'm happy to connect to great resources like this now wind is blowing courageous courage when the time comes this month for your gift of $25 or more to The Encouraging Word you will receive BSL and light were floats you series by Dr. Welch and that includes a Christian's response to a nation Christ and Christian response to a personal attack. Plus, you will receive a call for parents as soul stirring book that will help motivate you into action. The resources will help you know why you should respond and how to respond when under remember God not given us the spirit of fear, you can stand on call 866899 word that's 899-9673 request to be something like a bonus, for courage today. Thank you for listening and thank you for supporting The Encouraging Word now is sporadic. Such tremendous resources and that's just one of many online@twonline.org don't forget about the new book of Dr. Wilton call Saturdays with Billy about his time as the pastor of Dr. Billy Graham again all that's online@twonline.org now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton so he tells us he tells the church at colossi. Your strength is rooted not in the only source of your authority what is authority by the way, it's the all right to give this to make decisions and to enforce obedience. God does that. He's got the right to give us our to make decisions entering force and expect our obedience. That is the mark of Christian discipleship. You cannot be a disciple of Christ. If you don't follow him 100% so if this strength was rooted in the only source of their authority was the only standard by which to live. What did that mean it meant for things in their relationship with one another look at chapter chapter 3 and verse 12 this is their strength in relationship to one another. Look at verse 12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, close your selves. Are you ready for this church, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, all it gets harder.

You're ready for this one church. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in what's the word perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. That's a loss how do you do excuse me. All I have to do is walk outside the church and it's anything but how do I live in this wound in peace. So the only standard by which to live in their relationship with one another.

Second, in their response to the onslaught of paganism. The final authority shows the church how to this standard by which to live. In response to the onslaught of paganism.

How much time do we have today for us to talk about the paganism outside the church. Anyone need a conversation on the anyone who doesn't see that if you not a believer you are and see that because you all that you cannot see some things, except by the spirit of God because God is holy and righteous, and it's the spirit to convicts us of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Look at chapter 2 in verse eight, for example look at chapter 2 in verse eight can be more plain will get back to this, see to it church hello see to it believers at colossi make certain see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than that of Christ only standard by which to live in our relationship with one another in our response to the onslaught of paganism in their understanding of in times anyone found themselves recently asking this question is Jesus is about to come back again I think so well.

Chapter 3 in verse four Bible says, for when Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory. He opens up the understanding that they would have related to in times into the coming of the Lord Jesus, and to eternal life and then finally the only standard by which to live in a Christian conduct, Christian conduct is very important church.

It's not just what we believe as Christians it's how we behave as Christians it's not just what we believe as Christians it's how we behave as Christians. Look at chapter 3 in verse six, chapter 3 and verse 600 so many passages that I want to share with you. Let's go back to verse five put to death. Therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these things the Roth of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived before you gave your life to Christ. But now you must rid yourself of all such things as these, look at this list anger, rage, malice's longer and filthy language from your lips. How about the do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices. Look final authority. Jesus, God only source of their authority. The only standard by which they could live folks the final authority God.

Everything about God is the only solution, regardless of public opinion. The only solution they lots of good fantastic great things I want let you know as a Christian I want to point you to Jesus.

The only solution is the only solution to everything that we face in sickness and in health, life and ended Jesus is the only solution to the church he's telling us, and it's the only solution for the church.

It's the only solution to believers. Jesus and it's the only solution for believers because he equips us he he equips us to share to tell to invite. That's why today if you would cost me to bring it all together with you. Suppose we would go other than to the Lord Jesus.

This is why right now I'm going invite you to give your heart to Jesus, you understand that I'm going to ask you where ever you are, whatever stage of life urine. Whatever struggles before we sit down we counsel, and we talk and we help make sure you've given your heart to Jesus.

That's the beginning point using a baseball metaphor that's first base. Give your life to Christ. I invite you to give your heart to Jesus. Would you do that you can pray a prayer like this. Dear God, I know I'm a son.

I am us in by faith. I put my trust in you. I receive you into my heart. Pray that prayer, Bible says if you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, you will be saved you be so glad that you've given your heart to Jesus is what I want you to do that, you can call us. You can email, text if you're in worship today you can come down to the front during the singing of the hymn closing song you become weaker. Lots of people that are just what a privilege to be able to pray with you celebrate. It's a celebration look folks, what is it that we don't go through in life. Pain, suffering, lyrical celebration day. What kind of world are we living in Jesus Christ continue to let the anchor holds areas begins with him ends with him as foot pole sign that's the all sufficiency of Christ Jesus all about him. Yes, you give your life to Christ. I want to invite you to become part listen to these words of Bible believing church where the word of God. God's word with God is on his throne we going to trial jointly based we going to discuss going to talk is nothing wrong with Christian world search, but never to the point at which we let we don't trust God that comes a point, my friend, when you go to just simply trust God stop the fact that your own perch given over to him it's trust and he, all the usual way through. I know that you are brilliant. I know you and I can be capable just give it to him.

II don't know why but it's God's grace. Let's pray together, ferment, Lord Jesus. Right now people are giving their hearts to Jesus and in the moment people are going to respond coming down front in church texting thing. I've given my life to Christ going to that wave. Page turning to someone next to them. Lord, where a family wow do we make up of everybody from every walk of what a family Lord added to it in this church with the church where everyone can invite anyone to come and encounter living. Thank you Jesus for this moment is people respond to Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray together. Amen. If you just prayed along with Dr. Wilton and gave your life to Christ to rededicate your life to Jesus, you need to tell someone that Dr. Don would say, why don't you tell us you can call us right now it 866-899-WORD that's 866-899-9673 would love to pray with you and Dr. Don has free resources he wants to put in your hands as you make that call 866-899-9673 or you can meet us online as well@tewonline.org remember why you're there@tewonline.org you can sign up for the daily devotional from Dr. Wilton, a wonderful, insightful and very strong application of God's Encouraging Word in your email box every morning. That's online@tewonline.org.

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