What Channel Are You On?

Scripture Read: Colossians   2:9  For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10  and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11  In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12  having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14  having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Application

Faith again shown as the channel. The way I received identification in His resurrection is through faith. The object of my faith is the power of God, but faith is still the channel. This is how the rest of my walk must function. The only way to see the power of God in my life is through faith. It is not my faith that is the issue, it is the power of God that is the issue. However, my lack of faith in that power may restrict and control what I am able to experience of it. So, the question I must ask myself is how am I doing with my channel. Am I placing myself in the place where God must do it if it is going to get done? Is the vision I have one that I can easily attain? This is not a way to be lazy. It is not saying to God I will do nothing so you will have to do it. This is stating: Lord this vision is from you. I will do all I can to see it happen, then you must carry me the rest of the way. Each time I place myself in that position, I am going to see a widening channel that will allow me to see and experience more of God’s power. Remember though – the vision must be His, not mine. If it is mine I have no right to expect Him to complete it. Help me Lord to widen my channel. Thank you God for your faithfulness. I love you

Don't Leave Grace

Scripture Read: Colossians   2:4. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 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 on Christ.

Application

I received Christ by Grace through Faith. Is Paul exhorting us to continue in both of these? I understand and have always seen how faith fits into this formula, but not how grace works. I am to walk by faith and allow Him to produce more of the same. But grace is God’s work toward me. It must mean that I am to continue to acquire all that I have via God’s work toward me. This takes away all ego. I am not mature because of how I have worked to grow, but how much by faith I have allowed God’s work to grow me. This makes sense. The fruit is the Spirits’. He can reproduce it in me, but it is His work. Only through faith can I see this fruit. Once again we see faith as an action word. It involves effort. Knowledge of the Word is illuminated by God (His work) and through faith I believe it. I must ask the question - have I been trying to hard to produce this sanctification? I must acquire it via faith. It will feel the same as far as effort, but with a different mindset. Help me Lord to continue to walk in Grace through Faith. Thank You for Your love and kindness oh God.

Responsible for all

Scripture Read: Colossians   2 1. I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2  My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Application

Two items touch me here. Again the emphasis on the idea of possessing “full” knowledge. Maybe I need to do a study on this idea of fullness. Perhaps this is where the church has failed most. We owe it to those we have been called to serve to place before them all of the truth, even the parts that make us uncomfortable. What the people do or don’t do with that truth should not be our focus. Yes we can be concerned, but it should not dominate our focus. We must see beyond results and consider our responsibility to enlighten in total. That is our part. The growth or lack there of is That person’s and God’s concern. The other item I find interesting is notice the name of this fellowship – Laodicea. Is it possible that this is why they are so rebuked in Revelation. Did this fellowship settle cheap in it’s desire to know you Lord? Are we responsible for producing many lukewarm fellowships because of our inefficient way we teach the truth? Lord protect me from this mistake and teach me how to immerse the disciples you give me in the whole truth.

Vision

Scripture Read: Colossians 1:24-25  Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.   I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- 26  the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28  We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Application: This passage just leaped out at me. This is the scriptural version for the vision that God has given me. The world can no longer afford to receive only portions of the Word (Usually those that are most important to the teacher to support his particular view concerning something) We, as believers, owe it to the world to teach the Word in fullness. More and more each day I feel the weakness I have for self serving dissipating while the urgency to follow God’s lead becomes stronger. I feel myself losing control of my destiny while I am pushed and moved by a force I cannot see. My own desires do not seem nearly as important as they used to, I sense a much more important purpose than I had ever imagined before. Please God, continue this work and grant me the grace to see it through. I am excited to see a single focus evolving in my ego, I pray that I can continue to maturity. Thanks God.

? ? ?

Scripture Read: Colossians   1:21  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- 23  if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24  Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25  I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness-- 26  the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28  We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Application: Again, this concept of God putting on flesh is hard enough, but that He also died is beyond me. How can He that is one and eternal become temporal and experience separation (death)? I am still convinced we have terribly underestimated the sacrifice of Christ. I am disturbed Lord by how much I take what You have done for granted. I do not do this consciously, but I do it. I want to keep before me this incredible truth. The death of your body. Please Holy Spirit continue to open my mind and heart to this truth. What did you mean when you stated that God had forsaken You? Did Jesus the Son separate from the Father. Or did Jesus the divine separate from Jesus the man? Was relationship broken or just fellowship? How did sin penetrate He who is perfect? What did You mean when You Forbade Mary from touching You. What did You do when you ascended after the sacrifice? Help me to continue to learn. I want to know You in depth – not just the surface stuff. I do not want to know to appear smarter – but to know You so that I might be wiser and bring You the honor that is due You. I love You. Thank You for your death – thanks for sparing me from having to experience the wrath that You took.