The Supremacy Of Christ- Part #1

Nothing says Christmas like the one for poor family in Asia, getting a water buffalo is like getting a farm tractor pulled while working the milk truck getting the stand of the market. A water buffalo opened.

More importantly, it opens the door to talk about Jesus and nothing says Christmas better than that.

Join Truth Network in supporting gospel for Asia gift today@truthnetwork.com and click on the Christmas critter campaign. Do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill. Do you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that.

Do you feel like your efforts to reach God.

Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose, glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious title this message, the supremacy of Christ. I want to begin in Colossians chapter 1 where Paul I think does an amazing job of describing the supremacy of Christ. Colossians 115 through 17, Paul writes, he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or rulers or authorities all things were created by him is before all things and in him all things hold together. Was Paul trying to tell us is trying to explain that the one who stopped him dead in his tracks. When he's out when he was on the road to Damascus is the Lord and maker of the heavens and the earth which makes him the supreme ruler over all of creation pulses.

He is the image of the invisible God, which you understand this truth whenever God manifest himself in bodily form in the flesh is always to the second person of the Trinity.

Jesus is the image of God is like in a stamp imprint. He is the in the perfect likeness of God. And when you see Jesus using God as he tells that they are one not going to say some very important things in a few minutes about the Trinity is this is a very important doctrine that we all need to understand but right now to focus on the sun Jesus as the son Paul Wright is the firstborn of all creation that this is not mean that Jesus was created insipid names that he is the preeminent one. The supreme ruler of all that he has been that has been created. Like when you got a look at the heavens and you look at the earth as far as you can see, even with a telescopic beyond what we can say Jesus created all. Moreover, is the son. Jesus is the creator. For by him all things were created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. He was one versus to three confirms this truth, but in these last days, God has spoken to us by his son, whom appoint who he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the universe the sun is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful what word Jesus is the son is before all things and in him all things hold together. This is why I don't worry about who's the king who's the president of the have my preferences. I'm not a littler sleepover and I haven't lost one for sleep ever climate change. Do you know why is he just says right here that in him all things hold together. He's the one who controls the thermostat at all this up and it's clear that Jesus is both key coequal and coeternal with the father.

Let me pause for a moment address the Trinity and Reese want to do this is because some people will tell you that they don't really believe in the Trinity adamant to me that recently.

I want you to understand this after night minds cannot understand this concept that how can one God exists in three persons is to be one even though we can understand it. Dissimilar things about working on stand but were taken by faith because it's where is in the Scripture Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse four is known as the Shema, which means the equipment that word means here. It declares the oneness of God that the Jews love to recite this verse in Israel. Even this day hero Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one judge. Also, you know this. Nowhere in Scripture we find the work Trinity, but that doesn't mean that you don't see his truth from cover to cover. John one verse one and 14 says in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning and just so we know the word is verse 14 says, and the Word became flesh and made his dwelling where among us who is the Lord Jesus and the word was in the beginning, the word is God Genesis 1 don't get back to the very beginning it was.

So we see that the word, the son was in the beginning. Who else was in the beginning.

In the beginning God through the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the date in the spirit of God was hovering over the water, so in the beginning. Who do we see we see the Trinity, God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit, they are try equal and try eternal. Thus the doctrine of the Trinity is clearly established in Scripture.

Notice I don't have to have a lot of these are not the subject this text, as will the latest truth out because we need to understand who God is but but we could go to the Bible and spent a lot of time just talking about the Trinity, by the way men this is the key doctrine that separates a biblical Christianity from every other religion.

The Bible teaches that the father is God the son that she's made the properties that the other the father is God the son is God and the Holy Spirit is God, the Bible also teaches that there is only one God and we also affirm this whenever you recite the apostles great.

I believe in God the father. I believe in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord Jesus Christ, and then we say I believe in the Holy Spirit.

The reformers believe this. John Calvin, one of one of the reformers, it is impossible to praise God without also uttering the praises of the father of the son and of the spirit. One final word on the subject.

I believe the evidence of one salvation of our notice is the presence of the indwelling spirit and one of the key roles of the spirit is to God is into what truth therefore if a man said he does not believe in the Holy Spirit.

I'm not the judge, but I had to say. There's a huge red flag concerning this salvation because of the Holy Spirit is in you, he will explain to you the truth about himself. As you study the word of God. He lifts the veil from your eyes. You believe in the Trinity obligee must believe in the Trinity helping is a category a item let's get back to the son, who is Jesus is the father saying yes. Hebrews 18 gives us the answer of the son he says your throne of God. Did you catch that the father speaking about the sun. Since your throne of God is talking to us on is forever and ever. And the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.

The kingdom of the son cigars you got to understand this, Jesus is God and we get to heaven because we want to see one and what was 90. Jesus, I guess. Where is this where were the father the son Billy.

They'll still be existing existing eternally with the sun but the Bible says that God's Spirit in the Holy Spirit is spirit so you cannot see the father in you cannot see the spirit that's as far as this lender bringing good if I get to heaven and I found is different. You think I'm losing sleep over but I believe that's what the Bible teaches an apparatus we have dull belief second Peter 116 Peter says you want people like to say that what happened is it after the events happened in Jesus life, some runners came along and made of all the stories cleverly invented them so that we would believe these things about Jesus limiting what Peter says, he said we did not follow cleverly invented stories we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his Majesty from the beginning of the gospel of Luke has been providing us with testimonies from eyewitness accounts so that we might know that what we're studying is the truth. Do you believe it to be the truth. Oddly, in chapter 1. Remember the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary is an eyewitness account from where heaven is getting better than that and he proclaim good news to Mary he said you will be with child and will give birth to a son, and your Dick given the name Jesus will be called great in the son of the most high. In chapter 2 angels also from heaven appear to those lowly shepherds with the same good news and they are that these Angels announced today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.

These anchors identify that this baby is the Messiah from the Old Testament, the Christ. In chapter 3, at the baptism of Jesus, God the father spoke from heaven saying what you my son, whom I love with you I am well pleased that the very same moment the Spirit descended from heaven and landed on Jesus in the form of a dove as a writer you get a picture of what the Trinity in chapter 4 when Jesus visited his home town of Lazarus he he he he read from the scroll of Isaiah chapter 61 and and then he sat down and he declared to everyone that was listening every in the synagogue was on him, all this religious priest and he said today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing will see declaring the great I am is here I am the Messiah and the save the world. You believe that this brings us to verses 3313 31, six, where Luke is will give us more evidence that Jesus is the one he claimed to be deity failed in human flesh. The off truck along with okay and got nothing working on this all you see it okay is not about me it's about the Lord taking his word and an opening up to to us so that we can actually see Jesus for who he really is and what I want to see tonight is I want you to see him like you've never seen before before in all of his Majesty and glory. I want you to see him as the supreme God who rules over the universe, by the way the war supreme means highest greatest preeminent transcendent unparalleled on unmatchable and unsurpassed, and I could go on and on and on are forced to describe it but this is why the highest and most important court in the United States is called what the Supreme Court when the Supreme Court makes a decision is final because it is the preeminent court in the land man. Jesus is the supreme ruler in the universe in one day.

This is going to become abundantly clear when the trumpet sounds and he appears in the sky because the policies and every eye will see him in the whole world would know.

Then who is this is his will or judge the nations in every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that what Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. This what all of heaven is waiting for this what I'm waiting for I'm just down here in this body.

This breaking down I'm getting tired I'm getting old but I will try to do this as long as he allows me to and then I will be ready. So tonight's text out to deceive the supremacy of Christ invoice in his authority in his power in his love is purpose of first let's look at his authority. Look at verse 31 look right and he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee and he was teaching them on the Sabbath and they were astonished at his teaching was word processed what authority you the Jewish people had been listening for years to the Pharisees and the scribes preach and teach somewhat with a hearing not much. You know I'm going with this is similar to what we hear in many churches today. We all expected that he come from the most sermons today are Joyce short little cute homilies that are dry.

Did on convicting and powerless and this is why tens of thousands of churches are closing right now in our country. In 2020. David Kinnaman, the president of Barnett which is a research Institute said as many as 20 places back in 2020.

As many as 20% of churches could close within the next 18 months there more than 300,000 churches in the United States if his prediction is correct and you don't not available say this.

I hope it is always there churches to shut up and never open the doors again, but if his prediction is correct 60,000 churches open or close the doors.

Why is this is without the presence of the Holy Spirit in a church combined with how life was preaching. The people remain blind lost and spiritually dead. This is the atmosphere. Men in many churches. Somebody showed me a picture of a church recently right here in Raleigh look to which church it was on a Sunday morning just smile and he sent me the picture. I think it had eight people sit around and convocation is six about 508 people. This the same situation that existed at the time of Christ in the synagogues. So what did the people need to hear back then the same thing. We need here today a message from God's word man that will change your life that has power and authority of the text says that Jesus went down to compartment why he went down to the blade Capernaum is about 700 feet C level and it was a small fishing village had the privilege of going and standing right there in the city and a look at this a restored temple that we think stands a bump upon this temple that stood there 2000 years ago and it looks one of the Sea of Galilee is absolutely gorgeous and then we took a little law trip on a boat at around the Sea of Galilee never say you know what Jesus would enter Capernaum. It says right here to teach the people see this was his mission. This why came to the world to teach the gospel.

So what did he take.

He taught the word of God like no teacher they had ever hurt you know why his account with power and authority. What was the reaction. Look at verse 32 says they were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority, they had never heard anything like that. They were overwhelmed. Do you know why I believe the reason it had authority to the main reason minute, but I think it's because this Jesus knew who he was. He knew why he was here he knew what the people needed any new he was the answer. Furthermore, this most important part.

He preached from God's word.

Any rollout on the power of the Holy Spirit. Simply when you know the truth and believe the truth, you can speak with authority. The reason so many men and women who occupy today's pulpits do not speak with authority is because I don't think they know really who they are. I don't think they really understand what there and they really don't understand what the people need and didn't have the answer for. More importantly, they don't really preach God's word.

They may read Scripture that they mention the name of Jesus, but they don't have the power of the Spirit.

Do you know why because they're not really proclaiming the word of God.

I don't think they really believe the word of God is what they do.

This is very subtle's listen for the word of God. What should I say listen to the word of God. What they believe is it is a that some of this may be the word of God. They want to listen and possibly hear it. You got speak is a map mystically as they read some really inspired words or read by some human bands shall believe that God used to those human bands depend exactly what he wanted them to do to plan, use their personalities. He's the individual writing styles, but nonetheless he jotted their thoughts as they wrote Scripture does when you pick up the Bible and read it.

Your reading God's word doubly that I believe that yesterday yoga product, an increase of only one debiting what you will think that yesterday we had 24 young man who in two different fraternities at NC State 24 dinner party was yesterday. They drove it for clock afternoon. The survey and that of the building with two vulvodynia for an hour. You know what they did that, I believe, is not because we have such fancy words so that we look so attractive. Even though the is because Jim and I we open up that study with prayer. We teach about authority of God's word and we were lot of the Holy Spirit to change the lives of these men and change our lives you what happens every week. I'm not kidding. Two more guys walking if everybody of all the guys show up who been there once we have four guys and I believe it is will keep growing. Don't pray for that ministry amid the young people want to hear the truth or hunger for it. And if you listen to 67-year-old baldheaded man from Bethel they got to be hungry for some in the normal teach the truth to them. Jesus spoke upon the authority of God's word and by the power the Holy Spirit and because of this, his message was clear in convicting C cut to the core of a man's heart, and you have been cut by the word of God to the heart to the core.

A heart Amy Carmichael, the great missionary to China sit. If you have never been hurt by work from God. It is probable that you have never heard God speak to the people were shocked to the core and ugly they were divinely hurt, but you see now. Their hearts were prorated to believe the gospel in Jesus we lay it out for them. Listen, Jesus dollars but with authority, but he backed it up with what power. Look at verses 33 through 36 in the synagogue there was a man who had had the spirit of an unclean demon and he cried out with a loud voice half. What have you do with us, Jesus of Nazareth and you come to destroy us.

I know who you are, the holy one of God. But Jesus rebuked him, saying they silent and come out of him, and with the demon had thrown him down in their midst thrown him down. He came out of him, having done him no harm and they were all amazed when you do consider one another. What is this word full with authority and power. He commands even even the demons to come out and they do and reports about him spread all over the region. I guess I mean I want you to understand this. All throughout Scripture we see evidence of an unseen world.

A world where the principalities and spiritual forces of evil awaiting war day and night against God and God's people is going all over the world right now guys 24 seven receive SYC was so much evil. Right now on television and in the in Hollywood just put out evil. You can even watch it. We try to find something about it to you. Shows like Leavitt Weber Andy Griffith show guys. Jesus bore more of the brought of this war than anyone who has ever lived in a while because when he came into this world.

He put it, was a frontal assault on enemy territory. The day he was born with D-Day in this text we see Jesus come face-to-face with one of Satan's minions at Damon, who had entered a man and now he had he had had control of his managed body and with the demon saw Jesus he knew exactly what to look at what he says again he said ha, what have you to do it us, Jesus of Nazareth as you come to destroy us. I know who you are, the holy one of God's will is going only the man was speaking but he was under the control of the demon who had control of his vocal box in his talk, and he ordered out this language and everybody heard it if I was listening to what was he really saying with this war heart is an expression of disgust displeasure even hostility. In essence, he was saying why you hear this is none of your business leaders alone don't know what he wanted Jesus to get out of there. I think the demon also was filled with some fear and dread. This word also can mean dread.

This is why he has Jesus.

If you come to destroy them. That notice that he used to work the plan toward us what he do this you know why because the Bible says that at some point God is going to destroy Satan and all of his demonic forces is going to cast them where into hail the John of the Bible says that God created hail. One reason to have to send all the angels beginning with Lucifer who rebelled against him and who brought all this evil upon a world that's recruited helpful.

He did not create helpful mankind. But what's the problem if you but if you belong to Satan and you refuse God's grace and mercy all your life that you can go live in hell with them. It is will be worse than being in a concentration camp with the Nazis running it. That's the worst image of hell I can think of just how long this will last forever. Jesus says it will be a place with a warm, devouring the wicked never ceases you and ugly. That is, is symbolic of the fact that they will have it you have a guilty conscience that will never let up. You just know what you forever drive you insane but does note the pills to take this of freedom, no matter what the people were doing this sit there watching us front row seats and they couldn't believe what they were hearing ugly they were totally silence watching the conversation and listen to conversation between Jesus and make this Damon would Jesus do they jump up and down to shout the job you shackled the fall season. Pray no. He uttered seven simple words, be silent come out to him and illegally just as we spoke creation into existence. He said let it be and it was the moment he said come out that demon came out and that men failed to the ground, convulsing in a epileptic fit at any just lay there silent and unharmed is what I want you to understand he had been held captive by that demon for years and Jesus did what set him free member. Jesus said the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because I have come to us to set the captives free and have been set free from sin about him, but wanted to entangle him live in separate the pick on you up and set free gym have been set free – some of you laudably still entangled in what the Bible calls a stronghold is a sand that you tried to quit and he just can't seem to do it.

This can even happen to believers, not that your you can be possessed by a demon, but you can be controlled by sin. This got you entangle is only one who can set you free.

Was his name Jesus reset for July being a Christian is not about being religious but about having the dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living, and discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net