Who are you serving?
Colossians 1:23-29
When a person has a life changing experience with Christ they also:
I. BECOME A SERVANT OF CHRIST.
But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it. Col. 1:23 (NLT)
A. To fulfill His will.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Matt. 6:10 (NKJV)
B. To be a God pleaser.
Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant. Gal. 1:10 (NLT)
C. To proclaim His Message.
God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you Gentiles. Col. 1:25 (NLT)
II. BECOME A SUFFERER FOR CHRIST.
I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am completing what remains of Christ’s sufferings for his body, the church. Col. 1:24 (NLT)
A. Denying your own selfish wants.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matt. 16:24 (NKJV)
B. Two attitudes about suffering:
1. You had better be ready for it.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18 (NKJV)
2. You are to rejoice in suffering.
Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
III. BECOME A SHARER OF JESUS.
So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. Col. 1:28 (NLT)
A. Not telling is a sin of omission.
Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:8-9 (NKJV)
B. We are to tell everyone.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Amen. Matt. 28:19-20 (NKJV)
IV. BECOME DEPENDENT ON GOD’S POWER.
I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. Col. 1:29 (NLT)
