STRIVING FOR WHAT? (COLOSSIANS 1:21-29)

 

STRIVING FOR WHAT?

BIBLE PASSAGE: COLOSSIANS 1:21-29

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

Lesson ideas taken from: tony evan/sermons

JUNE 27, 2021

MEMORY VERSE

Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

COLOSSIANS 1:29

 

INTRODUCTION:

Let’s ask ourselves, why am I here? (wait for response if possible) Survey said that Sunday School is one of the most neglected church services. Most Christians don’t see its significance. That’s why I’m thankful to the Lord for all who are here right now. Like I always say, I know the struggles of coming here early but you know what, this ministry will test your endurance. How far your strength will last. Sometimes, it’s a struggle because you are not used to it. If you come here just to be seen, you won’t stay or you’ll be inconsistent. If you come here for God, you’ll stay. For that, I want to recognize our attendees in our first quarter (January – March). This is not a reward; this is only for recognition (call one by one).

 

Paul’s goal which is mentioned in Colossians 1:24, “… and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:” In other words, to continue what were the things needed for the church whom Christ had started. Let’s look at the line of this verse, “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you.” His sufferings for them made him rejoice and not mourning. He rejoiced for the continuance of the ministry of the church.

 

Why was Paul doing all these things? In verse 28 says, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” He preached, taught and warned every man with all wisdom that he may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. When you say “perfect” means “complete, mature or grown up.” Let’s take note of this, “He strived in order for us to be perfect in Christ Jesus.”

 

PAUL WAS STRIVING FOR WHAT?

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  TO PREPARE US ON THAT SPECIAL DAY (COLOSSIANS 1:28)

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

 

When our life is over, and the earth is gone. You and I (We) will stand before the Lord complete in Christ. In verse 22 says, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” When it occurs? - Judgement Seat of Christ. When that time comes, we’ll stand as spiritual failure or spiritual success. A victor or a victim? It’s the job of the church to make sure you’ll get the trophy. That’s why there are ministries available in the church for us to fit in. The church is there to guide us fulfilling our goal. It’s good to be heard, “well done my good and faithful servant,” right?

 

Paul’s job is to prepare the Christians on that day complete, mature, or grown up; we’ll reach a mature age. Therefore, we’re not saved to stay babies. Do you believe that our chronological age doesn’t mean equal to your spiritual age? Yes! In Hebrews 5:11-14,

¹¹Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. ¹² For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ¹³ For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Bible scholars studied that the Christians mentioned by Paul here were 30 years of being Christians but still, they were “milk Christians” which supposed to be “meat Christians.” Milk Christians can know lot of stories in the Bible but to them, they are merely stories; there are no impact to them. Meat Christians doesn’t mean they memorize many in the Bible, but they practice what the Bible says – discerning good and evil.  When problems come, milk Christians go to their friends, social media or anyone. Meat Christians go to God in prayer and discern what is the right thing to do based on God’s Word. Even milk Christians can hear three times a week of sermon, twelve times in a month and 144 sermons in a year, they don’t practice what the Bible says. Meat Christians make themselves ready for the Word of God and open their understanding to what God wants to say and command to be done.

1 Corinthians 9:25-26 say, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

In tagalog:

Lahat ng manlalarong nagsasanay ay nagpipigil sa sarili sa lahat ng bagay upang makamit ang putong na panandalian lamang, ngunit ang putong na hinahangad natin ay panghabang panahon. Kaya ako’y tumatakbo patungo sa isang tiyak na hangganan, at hindi ako sumusuntok sa hangin.

          Are we serving aimlessly? Does our service show that we are preparing on that day?

2.  CHRIST IS IN ME (COLOSSIANS 1:27)

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Let’s read verse 27. In this verse we’ve read the word “mystery.” Mystery means not taught in Old Testament but clarifies, explains or reveal in New Testament. “CHRIST IS IN YOU,” the hope of glory. Christ did not only come to save us; he also came to indwell us. Is that amazing and very encouraging?

A pastor said, “If you’re satisfied that you’re going to heaven one day, you will not stand before God complete.” That’s not only the reason He came.  He didn’t come merely to take you to heaven; he also came to bring heaven to you - the HOPE OF GLORY.  In order to do that, He took up residence in you/us. Let’s see this scenario this way. You’ll going to meet SOMEBODY in the future who you also have with you in the present and HE’S IN YOU. I would like to quote a pastor said, “Your change comes from the inside out not the outside in.” CHRIST IN YOU! Jesus doesn’t want to just be in your life; he wants to be your life.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:16, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” This Christ in me is providing freshness and newness as we get older.

In verse 28, Paul mentioned preaching, teaching and warning every man WITH WISDOM. Where can you find these three categories, is it in the church? That’s why CHURCH is really important. Church helps you mature in Christ. The only way you’ll know you’re maturing is you’re changing. If you’re not changing, you’re not maturing.

Why strive? Because Christ is in you. That’s what He wants – to fulfill your spiritual goal on earth.

CONLUSION:

A missionary couple returned after many years of faithful service in Africa. It so happened there was a very important diplomat also on the same ship. When the ship arrived, this couple stood back and watched as the band played and the people had gathered and there was great applause, with a huge banner that read WELCOME HOME! As the diplomat walked down the gangplank and was whisked off in a lovely limousine, this dear fellow put his arm around his wife, and he walked off with her. “Honey,” he said, “it just doesn’t seem right after all of these years that we would have this kind of treatment and here this fellow gets welcomed home that way.” She put her arms around her husband and said to him, “But, honey, we’re not home yet.”

When you get discouraged and are tempted to wonder if it really pays to serve the Lord, remind yourself that we get home (heaven), it will be worth it all.

  

Let this song reminds us….

1.   The service of Jesus true pleasure affords,
In Him there is joy without an alloy;
’Tis Heaven to trust Him and rest on His words;
It pays to serve Jesus each day.

o   Refrain:
It pays to serve Jesus, it pays every day,
It pays every step of the way,
Though the pathway to glory may sometimes be drear,
You’ll be happy each step of the way.

2.   It pays to serve Jesus whate’er may betide,
It pays to be true whate’er you may do;
’Tis riches of mercy in Him to abide;
It pays to serve Jesus each day.

3.   Though sometimes the shadows may hang o’er the way,
And sorrows may come to beckon us home,
Our precious Redeemer each toil will repay;
It pays to serve Jesus each day.

Alloy - to spoil something or reduce it in value:

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT (JOHN 9:1-41)

 

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT

BIBLE PASSAGE: JOHN 9:1 - 41

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

 MAY 30, 2021

MEMORY VERSE

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

JOHN 9:25

 

INTRODUCTION:

Let’s talk about a few about our previous lives before we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts. We know that there a lot of changes, right? The bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

You know what, I don’t know if you believe me or not but one of reasons to be thankful for when I got saved is the sensitivity of ghost or anything pertains to this kind of spirits. I saw different images and one of those was a big cat going beside me on our bed and shadows talking. I don’t want to mention all but believe me I saw a lot. That’s the reason why, I don’t watch horror movies, and I don’t like too dark room. Teacher Carol, my sister, witnessed the ritual (words only or bulong) I did, and she got scared when her arms were touched by a very cold hand and that was not mine. The Bible says, Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The night after I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I woke up in the middle of the night and my senses were active perceiving if there was something I would be hearing or feeling but thank God, NOTHING. There was something in me that led me to pray and that was my first time praying at the middle of the night. Before I just covered myself with blanket, cover my ears so that I could not hear or ran to another room if I heard or saw something but, on that time, I felt the difference. That’s why I am really thankful.

 

How about our views before? What were our views about church before? What were our views about relationship? What were our views about financial matters? (wait for responses).  What were our views about right and wrong?

 

I remember the teenager named “Lloyd Agustin.” He is a social media influencer; I don’t know him. I just watched the clip of his interview with Jessica Soho. He started with a wholesome image and right now he is showing sensual videos to earn money (Subscribe with money). He said, “Everyone has their own definition of right and wrong.”  Wow, what a kind of view. Actually, all people don’t know what’s wrong and right. We need a manual for life – Bible.  2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

What were our views about heaven and hell? Before, if you’re kind (mabait) your destination is heaven. Now we know that we are saved through faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). That’s the reason why I don’t say, “REST in PEACE” if someone dies. Because we know that if a person doesn’t accept Christ into his heart- we know the destination. For safety, not to say that and also that is what most Catholics say.

Why I say all these things? Comparing to our previous lives, is there something to shout about?

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  I WAS BLIND, NOW I SEE (JOHN 9:25, 39)

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

 

 We already knew the story, but I would like to give emphasis the blessing he had receive from the Lord Jesus. Remember this man was born blind and we know how hard to lose our sight. In Bible times, blind men are categorized as also beggars because there was no work available for blind people on those times and also mentioned in verse 8, “The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?” What Jesus did, He spat on the ground and made clay and place on his eyes. The blind man was instructed to go in the pool in Siloam and wash. This was he did and came back seeing. He was seen by neighbors and recognized him. Interviewed him what happened, and he mentioned he was healed by a man named “Jesus.” He was brought to Pharisees and asked why he received his sight. He told it in detail of what really happened. The Pharisees had argument if this was from God and also Jesus was done this during Sabbath, and they came up to conclusion this is not from God. The Pharisees asked the man what he thought about Jesus, and he said, “He is a prophet.” This made them furious. The Pharisees didn’t believe he was born blind therefore they called his parents to ask about it. The parents testified that he was really born blind, but they didn’t give further information regarding his sight because of the fear of the Jews. They would be put out of the synagogue.

“These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” John 9:22. The Pharisees called again the man and asked, “Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner (verse 24).

 

After talking to parents, the man was interrogated again by the Pharisees. In the next verses, we can read how the man defended Christ and tried to convince them with their unbelief.

³⁰ The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

³¹ Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

³² Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

³³ If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

³⁴ They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Did you notice how the Pharisees were blinded by this world.  In verses 40-41, “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? ⁴¹ Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”

They gave so many doubtful questions and we can see their unbelief. Spiritual blindness is like walking in darkness. You won’t be able to see the reality of life; you won’t see the system of the world brings. We may ask why the attitudes of Pharisees are like this but we were like them before right? All unbelievers don’t see the real spirituality.

 

Is the man having something to shout about? YES, AMEN. He can’t keep it into his heart; he needed to tell or even shout the amazing thing happened to his life.

 

How about us? Has there something to shout about? Could you say, Amen, I was blind but now I see.

2.  THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD (JOHN 9: 1- 7)

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him (JOHN 9:1-3)

What you notice to the disciples’ behavior regarding the blind man? Do they see the need of the man? No, they didn’t see the need; they saw the sins. Sometimes, we are like the disciples; we don’t see the need of people by ignoring the Holy Spirit telling us to share. Instead, we see the reason why we don’t.

JESUS DOESN’T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU; HE STILL GIVES WHAT YOU NEED

Charles Spurgeon says, Jesus will soon show a different way. He won’t dwell on the theological puzzle, but on actually helping the man. “It is ours, not to speculate, but to perform acts of mercy and love, according to the tenor of the gospel. Let us then be less inquisitive and more practical, less for cracking doctrinal nuts, and more for bringing forth the bread of life to the starving multitudes.”

Jesus said that the man’s blindness – essentially a birth defect – was not caused by some specific sin on the part of the man or his parents. The works of God should manifest in him.

Jesus knows everything going on in our lives. He knows the ups and down; He knows the pains. He knows our every need.

In verse 4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Instead of focusing on the man as a theology problem, Jesus saw him as an opportunity to work the works of God. Jesus sensed an urgency to do this while it was still day – the time of His earthly ministry.

“Whenever you see a man in sorrow and trouble, the way to look at it is, not to blame him and inquire how he came there, but to say, ‘Here is an opening for God’s almighty love. Here is an occasion for the display of the grace and goodness of the Lord.’” (Spurgeon)

The night is coming when no one can work: Jesus understood that opportunities for service and doing good don’t last forever. Jesus knew that healing this man on the Sabbath would bring greater opposition from the religious leaders who already wanted to silence and kill Him. Yet His compassion for the man drove Him to do it anyway.

Have you ever thought when your life ends? How many years left to our lives? We don’t have a forever opportunity. This lesson is a great reminder how we should see a soul. The Lord Jesus thinks in a different way, and we should see what’s the need. Don’t lose the opportunity.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world: Jesus is the light of the world and apart from Him, there’s darkness; He’s the main source of light. Just as His sons and daughters, the Bible says in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Our light should not be hidden under a bushel. The question is where do we lead the people around us? Your words, your actions and your lifestyle. Do they see Jesus in you? Can we say, as long as I am in the world I will let my light so shine before men?

3.  YOU HAVE FOUND THE SON OF GOD (JOHN 9: 35-38)

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

 

In verse 34, the man was casted out from the synagogue. Commentaries describe the “cast out.” “The casting out of this man meant his excommunication from his religious rights in Temple and synagogue.” (Morgan) The religious leaders treated this man terribly. They abused him (they reviled him). They insulted him (You were completely born in sins). They rejected him (they cast him out).

The man experienced rejection but later the rejection becomes a blessing. The excommunication of the blind man – difficult as it was – turned out to be a good thing, because he would shortly be far more connected to Jesus.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF GOD? Jesus called on the healed man to fully believe, and he did (Lord, I believe). When the healed man declared his loyalty to Jesus by not denying Him before the hostile religious leaders, he was rewarded when Jesus revealed more of Himself to him (You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you).

-      “The question ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ is a summons to commitment. The Greek pronoun su (‘you’) used with the verb makes the inquiry doubly emphatic. It demanded a personal decision in the face of opposition or rejection.” (Tenney)

-      Jesus dealt with this man differently than most. He met his physical need first, then allowed him to endure persecution, then called him to a specific belief. It’s good to remember that God may work differently in different lives.

-      Some manuscripts have Son of Man instead of Son of God. Both terms point to God’s Messiah, the One who should be believed and trusted.

 

AND HE WORSHIPPED HIM: The religious leaders said, “You can’t worship with us at the temple.” Jesus said, “I will receive your worship.”

ü  When the man worshipped Jesus, Jesus received the worship. This is something that no man or angel in the Bible does. The fact that Jesus accepted this worship is another proof that Jesus was and is God, and that He knew Himself to be God.

ü  The formerly blind man showed an increasing awareness of Jesus.

-      Jesus is a man (John 9:11).

-      Jesus is a prophet (John 9:17).

-      Jesus is my master, I am His disciple (John 9:27).

-      Jesus is from God (John 9:33).

-      Jesus is the Son of God (John 9:35-38).

-      Jesus is who I trust (John 9:38).

-      Jesus is who I worship (John 9:38).

CONLUSION:

Let me ask you, aren’t you blessed? Are there enough reasons to shot about the Saviour?

I know personally the struggle of sharing the Lord Jesus Christ and I believe you feel the same. The situation is like you’re trying to drag the people go to Jesus in faith. But what motivates us – it’s our purpose. We’ll just go, and God will do the rest. If you don’t like going, let’s remember Matthew 28:19-20. The encouragement words at the end “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. (Sing the song)