R1655 Looking For Jesus, Pt.2

We all could use some encouragement and will find it together today in the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton on this addition of The Encouraging Word as a doctor will continue to study in the book of Colossians will be in Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 in just a moment and also Dr. Watson wants to remind you that in this day and age we need courage. Here's how we stand strong and become the salt and light.

God calls us to be. We have wonderful resources available right now on our website. A book from Michael Anthony called a call for courage to message Dr. Wilson salt and light ridiculed visit our website and see how you can get a copy. Tewonline.org use the site.

That's TW online.org also the place to sign up for the daily Encouraging Word devotional from Dr. Don that's TW online.org now. Today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton tunes. These believers in the bottom line is, he says, look, I get all of and I realize the battle that you face and I'm using the word you what I want to tell you right out the heck is look to Jesus, just look to keep your eyes on Jesus.

Verse 15. This is why, because Jesus is the image of the invisible God is the firstborn over all creation.

For by him all things were created things in heaven on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authority things were created by him and watch the next part for him. Verse 17 he is before all things, and in Jesus all things hold together. Jesus is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything Jesus might have the supremacy of God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus and through Jesus, to reconcile to himself all things will on earth. Things in heaven by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.

Once you believers were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your sinful your evil behavior, but now Jesus, but now God has reconciled you to himself because of all things. This is being done. Look at this verse guys and breaking it down here in the middle of reading. Look at how this happens. Verse 22 through Christ's physical body which through day was the only means by which to present you holy in his side without blemish and free of accusation so that if you continue in your faith establishing firm not from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel. Would you bird and that is being proclaimed of every creature on the heaven of which I probably wrote this had become a servant. Now I rejoice.

What in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh.

What is still lacking in regard to Christ's affliction for the sake of his body, which is the church believers. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness. The mystery that is being kept hidden for ages, but is now disclosed to all believers by none to all the signs to them God's chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this ministry which Christ in you the hope of glory. We proclaim Jesus.

Verse 28 admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end, policies are labor, struggling with all of God's given energy, which so powerfully works in me. I look there's a lot of things we can say to each other in our world. There's a lot of things I like you like moms and dads and teachers and coaches and everybody we all want to give advice. I'm telling you the greatest thing we can ever say or know is to point everyone in all things to Jesus. That's what poolside so here's the question why Paul gives seven major reasons why Jesus I'm just going to give them to what you know. Pray for me as everyone of the seven is a humdinger all right. I mean this. Can you imagine so yes point number one why Jesus, why would he tell these people were facing pagans and religious people and the cruelty of the Roman empire and who are suffering with diseases and who are struggling with their children and who are struggling financially and need to find something to eat and and all the things that we go. Why would he point them to Jesus.

Number one because Jesus is the image of God, not animation this if you were here last week, so decide quickly.

Verse 15 the party starts with Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He saying here. Believers let me tell you how you going to be strong.

Look to Jesus number one because when you look to Jesus, you're actually looking to go the image of God, by the way the word the word icon. He is the exact representation abroad, but is not only the representation of God. He is the manifestation of God which means that Jesus is the full, final, and complete revelation. The making known that's the word revelation revelation is to take back the covers to make known the book of Revelation, John, a lot of people asking me to preach on the book of Revelation. Again, because it's in times it's so pretty. What is that it throws back right. But, and it shows us what God is thinking.

What God is saying about the end of the world. Jesus is the full, throwing back all that we need to know about God. You want to know that God to Jesus. The image of is the image of God he is the exactness of God because he is God case, a number two. Second reason why Paul tells them to look to Jesus because Jesus is the create a toll of all things guys watch this. Don't look to anybody else look to Jesus because he created everything, even you and and pull yeses look look to Jesus, he's he is in the image of God he is God and he is creator and number three he's the sustainer of everything.

He's the sustainer I mean look at look at verse 17 here guys jumped out. He is before all things, and the second part I think is a fantastic mood and in Jesus. What I've just spoken about this Jesus holds all things together. The heavens declare the glory of God and the expanse of the heavens declare the works of these hands because he sustains it all. Everything he maintains this delicate balance necessary for life's existence that we talked about, under God, creator, but it's specific to God. Jesus sustainer. He is the power behind every consistency in the universe. He is gravity and centrifugal force. Here's Jesus.

He is the one who keeps all entities in motion. He is the very energy of the universe to take Jesus out of what you doing right now and stand strong. Jesus is God made the universe existed outside it existed before any exists living in and sustaining it by the might and power of his grace, love and wisdom and hear these people like you and me. They go to school to go to their decisions to make money to earn the need to put bread on the table.

They listen then how many of our people are we praying with right now that all on the image I read numerous calls Robert numerous read numerous friends were hurting badly today. Number four is the fourth one was just piling on top.

I you you want to keep telling here so he is the image of God is the creator of all things. He's the sustainer of everything that I love the fourth 20 cities look to Jesus because he's the head of the church member word here just a matter of building he's talking to a local congregation of believers, but he's talking to believers, we the church, the body of Christ believers me tell you why you can be strong at 20 site you you are strong because Jesus is the head of the church.

Look at verse 18 on site God said and he is the head of the body, the church, so if he is the head of the church. Think of your own head you again here. I'm getting into dangerous waters, but you know that this little thing here. This head controls your whole body.I'm putting coming this summer, you gonna croak over this. Your head keeps telling the rest of your body what to do, how to respond. I get this one ready for this. Your head is the only means by which your body cooperates.

I brought a couple of good friends who have suffered strokes. When a person suffers a stroke.

It affects the coordination of the body because it affects the brain to see that Paul looks at believers of the church.

He said church. You don't ever want to suffer a stroke.

You want to become problematic just mess with the head and who's the head.

Jesus so when when you understand that is what you understand about the headship of Jesus means number one Jesus controls everything. Number two.

Jesus energizes everything and get this one Jesus coordinates everything he coordinates the diverse view of gifts.

So if you take us meeting like this and you look out and you think about all the gifts all the abilities even in one audience. People usually so gifted, so how do you bring that altogether to bring glory to the Lord, the head doesn't coordinates say controls energizes any coordinates. He's the very source of the church. Forgive the interruption will be back with the rest of today's message in just a moment the doctor will want to remind you were here for to pray 24 hours a day at this number 86689. That's 866-899-9673 40 connect online on our website@tewonline.org find wonderful resources opportunities to sign up for the daily Encouraging Word email from Dr. Don and more that's online@tewonline.org right now is a remarkable resource about how we can stand strong. No one is born courageous encouragement the time, listening for your gift of $25 or more to The Encouraging Word you will receive be salt and light powerful message series by Dr. Wilson that includes a Christian's response to a nation in crisis and Christian response to a personal attack. Plus, you will receive a carpet carriage as soul stirring block that will help motivate you into action.

The meaning and history resources will help you know why you should respond any how to respond when under remember the spirit of fear, you can stand on Carla 866-899-WORD at 866999673 and request to be something like a bonus like a con for courage today. Thank you for listening and thank you for supporting The Encouraging Word time is sporadic again that's is one of many resources on our website online.org now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton number five look to Jesus. Right now we've got it.

He's the head of the church to Jesus why because he is the fullness of God. Let's go to verse 19 for God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus hello wow look go down to chapter 2 chapter 2 in verse 10, which at this rate we never going to get to chapter 2 in verse 10, the court decision.

Pilots reverse nine for in Christ all the fullness of the detail of the deity lives in bodily form and you have been given the fullness of Christ, who is the head is all coming together here and I listen to my question how many of you just right now would say you know you've given your heart to the Lord Jesus, you are a Christian man, a Christian lady boy go you. You've given your heart to Jesus. Raise your hand right here because what here's what Jesus says to you, my friend believer you been given all the fullness of God. You know when you get married one of the things married couples say to each other is what's mine is yours and what yours is mine and then we spend the rest of our lives trying to do that is all. Can you imagine when you give your heart to Jesus that this great Lord says because of Jesus. Everything that I am is yours. That's strong. That's church strong. That's why you can say greater is he that is in me then that there were two.

I am in Christ and when he talks about all the fullness he is the fullness of God. Yet these people are colossi were in the community where there were so many pagan gods and religious beliefs, and they believe that the foreign power was assigned to different deities was counter spread out among the guards you get a little dab of it over here and you get little dab it out of there. Do this and you don't do that and you read this and you don't wear that and you stand up for you. Sit down or you listen you that you this fullness comes to you from Jesus said look to me because this is what I've given you. I am the fullness of God. Number six. Why look to Jesus.

This could be my favorite point, but I got one more often it because Jesus is the reconciler for all sinners to how many of you I'm I'm ready getting carried away with how many of you right now would really say before God that you sent Ray Jan thank and evaluated before.

If your hand was not because you just too big to do it. You just send all of us and come short of the glory of God. Anyone here today that in a sense you are living a life under accusation. Are you feeling accused are you living in bondage because of something you did listen, my friends, listen Paul saying look to Jesus because he set you free. You are no longer accused some of us go through life dragging this thing behind us all the stuff we did all the sin all the mistakes all the wrong things we said we may stop we made the wrong choice render the wrong place. We did the wrong thing.

We sinned against God, I once was and what Jesus does is he just cuts that dirty old box. You have to go through life dragging all that stuff anymore. You're free you without accusation. Fantastic unbelievable so he closes with one more.

What's the number seven is look to Jesus in verse 27 because Jesus is our hope and our glory trapped in verse 27 Roth and he said to them, God's chosen make known among the Gentiles, glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, our hope of glory.

Our hope we would. Where would this life be if we didn't have real hope you're not being with our young people for years 2027 years. We went to prisons all over America and always remember that means happen many times but always remember a man one time in a big old ugly prison and he had a life sentence and we shared Jesus and the young people saying there's is fantastic and I remember my brief conversation with this man because he talked to me afterwards he gave his life to Christ and we were able to talk to the inmates and never forget that particular man. He said you know' said I got a good consecutive life sentences for kids three life sentences you want me to roughly translate that for you. He was 40 years old. He was telling me what it was, which he did. He said I will never get out of prison. I'm in prison paying the price for the race. Marla then he looked at me with tears running down his cheeks and he said you know whether I'm on the inside of the outside today I gave my heart to Jesus and I have free guys that's our hope in our glory. It speaks to me now, but I'm going to go ahead and say this. It also tells me that I can look forward to eternal life with Jesus that big mystery that thing called death that's going to happen to everybody. The Bible says when you absent from the body you present with the Lord that fantastic. Would you just bow your heads with me for a minute as our band comes and joins me just just for a few seconds here today just while just before anybody leaves.

I know you got a gun pickup beautiful children get lunch ready and we got all the things that life, we gonna leave here when I go back out there into this wonderful crazy challenging exciting. Not so good sometimes. Sometimes flat out awful. I am aware you are. We all have a life to live, but that will soon be tossed.

You know what Paul was saying, it's only what's done for Jesus you give your life. Jesus trusted him can only tell you I've given my heart to Jesus in this little will that we live in is made all the difference to me and you do the same thing because he treats us all site doesn't do something for one of us and not for another he loves, and I want to invite you today to put your faith in your trust in Jesus. That's the starting point would you pray this prayer with me today. I'm telling you, if you are right on the edge just do this. Pray this prayer from your heart.

Jesus will save and heal reconcile you to God, your life will never be the same again. Pray this prayer dear God, I know that Jesus is God. I believe that Jesus died for me on the cross because of must that he was raised from the dead that he's alive because of I can be saved from us and reconciled. I can use my sin. Jesus right now and I put my faith in my trust in you. I pray this prayer in Jesus name, perhaps praying along with Dr. little moments ago. It's time you know for a change of direction. It's time to rededicate your life to Jesus come back into the family of God.

It's time to start afresh and become a follower of Jesus we have wonderful free resources. Dr. Wilton. Once you have given your life to Christ are ready to rededicate your life you'll call us at 866899 word jot the number down stored in your cell 866-899-9673 will connect you with when I was 24 hours a day. Happy to talk and pray with you.

Happy to help you connect wonderful resources that resource right now on our website or call for courage and be salt and light is a powerful reminder of how we can take a stand, even when the culture is pushing back against us is Jesus followers and watch God through his love and his truth change those around us. Perhaps there members of your own family or your neighborhood or people you work with it.

We can pray with you that we are seeing God do remarkable things for the power prayer member. We here at 86 689-996-7324 hours a day. That's 866-899-9673 or online@tewonline.org The Encouraging Word sponsored by The Encouraging Word ministries and your generous financial and prayer support. You want to discover more about what it is to be and encouraged us discover it online@tewonline.org.org