Colossians 1:18 (KJV)
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
VERY BRIEFLY THIS MORNING /EVENING IF I COULD GET A BAPTIST -AMEN A METHODIST NOD AND A SANTIFIED CHURCH HALLELUJAH
I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU ON THE THOUGHT
(JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH )
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
THE WRITER OF OUR TEXT IS
NONE OTHER THAN THE
REVEREND DR PREACH BROTHER
PAUL
PAUL THE SON OF A PHARISEE
WHO WAS REARED IN TARSUS THE
CAPITAL CITY OF CILICIA
ATTENDED THE FINEST SCHOOLS
OF TARSUS WHERE HE LEARNED
THE TRADE OF A TENT MAKER
AT VERY YOUNG AGE HE WAS SENT TO JERUSALEM WHERE HE STUDIED AT FEET OF GAMALIEL
HE COULD EVEN SPEAK IN 14
DIFFERENT LANUAGES AND HAD
MASTERED 7
BUT HE STILL HAD 1 PROBLEM
AND THAT IS -WHILE TRAVELING
DOWN THE DAMASCUS ROAD WITH ALL THAT EDUCATION HE STILL
DID`NT KNOW WHO JESUS WAS
BUT AIN`T IT GOOD NEWS -- THAT
WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN TAKE
WHAT THE DEVIL MEANT FOR OUR
BAD
AND TURN IT AROUND AND MAKE
IT WORK FOR OUR GOOD
PAUL --PAUL WRITES THIS LETTER
TO THE CHURCH AT COLOSSE
WHILE UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN ROME
IT`S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HE WAS`NT UNDER HOUSE ARREST
FOR RAPE -ROBBERY OR MURDER
BUT HE WAS UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR TELLING OTHERS THAT JESUS IS LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS
SO HE WRITES THE CHURCH AT COLOSSE TO ENCOURAGE THEM IN THERE WALK WITH THE LORD
AND TO COMBAT AN EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS AND THREATENING HERESY THAT WAS ARISING IN THE CHURCH AT COLOSEE
BY LETTING THEM KNOW THAT
*JESUS IS THE DIVINE SON OF GOD
*THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE
*AND THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
AND HE OPENS THIS LETTER IN CHP 1
VERSES 1-2 WITH A SALUATION
THEN IN VERSES 3-12 HE GOES BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE IN SUPPLICATION
IN OTHER WORDS HE PRAYS FOR THE CHURCH
IN VERSE 13 HE TELLS THEM HOW GOD
DELIVERED US FROM THE DOMMAIN OF DARKNESS,
AND TRANSFERRED INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS BELOVED SON
IN VERSE 14 HE LET THEM KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS DONE ON CALVARY
WE HAVE REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS OF SIN
BECAUSE JESUS PAID OUR SIN BILL
IN VERSES 15 - 17
HE LETS THEM KNOW
-THAT JESUS IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD
-THE FIRST BORN OVER ALL CREATION
-JESUS CREATED ALL THINGS
-JESUS INHERITS ALL THINGS
-JESUS EXISTED BEFORE ALL THINGS
-AND JESUS SUSTAINS ALL THINGS
BUT WHEN HE GET TO VERSE 18
HE SAYS
JESUS IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
AND IT`S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE HE IN THE TEXT IS EMPHATIC
BECAUSE NO HUMAN BEING ON EARTH IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
THAT DISTINCTION BELONGS TO JESUS -------AND JESUS ALONE
-NOT THE PASTOR
-NOT THE DEACONS
-NOT THE TRUSTEE BOARD
-NOT EVEN THE PEW MEMBER WHO IS ALWAY RASING $10,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF HELL BUT WILL ONLY PUT 1 DOLLAR IN THE COLLECTION PLATE
JESUS AND JESUS ALONE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
IN OTHER WORDS THERE IS A LIVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
JESUS IS THE HEAD AND WE ARE THE BODY
BECAUSE JESUS IS
THE BEGINNING AND FIRSTBORN FROM AMONG THE DEAD
-AS THE BEGINNING
JESUS IS FOUNDER AND RULER OF THE CHURCH
HE FOUNDED THE CHURCH IN MATT 16;18 ON PETERS CONFESSION OF FAITH THAT JESUS WAS THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING
THE CHURCH WAS BORN AT PENTECOST
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTIZED BELIEVERS INTO ONE SPIRITUAL BODY
THEREFORE WE ARE MANY MEMBERS IN ONE BODY AND CHRIST IS THE HEAD
AS THE BEGINNING
JESUS IS THE ENGINEER -ARCHITECT- AND MASTER DESIGNER OF THE CHUCH
YOU SEE THE WORD (HEAD) REFERS TO BOTH SOURCE AND AUTHORITY
AND ALL PAUL IS TELLING US IS THAT JESUS IS LARGE AND IN CHARGE
IN OTHER WORDS
JESUS IS SAVIOR
JESUS IS CREATOR
AND JESUS AND JESUS ALONE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
****************************
AS OUR SAVIOR IT REVEALS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LOST SINNERS
AS OUR CREATOR IT REVEALS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH CREATION
AN AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH IT REVEALS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED SANTIFIED --FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WASH IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB
(YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT YOUR )NEIGHBOR
AND GIVE THEM A AIR HIGH-FIVE --
AND TELL THEM HE`S (TALKING ABOUT YOU AND ME)
*******************************
AND AS THE MASTER DESIGNER
HE DESIGNS THE CHURCH IN THE FORM OF A BODY
(Ephesians 1:22-23)TELLS US THE BODY FOLLOW CHRIST AS THE HEAD
Ephesians 4:15-16). TELLS US THAT THE BODY IS JOIN TO CHRIST IN SALVATION
IN OTHER WORDS
THE BODY OF CHRIST IS THE PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD
AND IS AN ORGANISM THROUGH WHICH CHRIST MANIFEST HIS LIFE TO THE WORLD
AND THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE CHURCH CAN BE FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD IN THE WORD OF GOD
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
AND THE KEY WORD IS WHOSOEVER
REGARDLESS OF HOW JACK UP YOUR PAST IS
OR HOW SHATTERED YOUR LIFE IS
GOD STILLS LOVE YOU
BUT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY IS
THE HEAD OF CHURCH SPECIALIZES IN
TAKING JACK UP PASTS
AND SHATTERED LIVES
AND USING THEM FOR HIS GLORY
IN OTHER WORDS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH SPECIALIZES IN GIVNG THE BODY A USED TO BE TESTIMONY
AND EVERYBODY HERE OUGHT TO HAVE A UESD TO BE TESTIMONY
AND IF IT`S SOMEBODY HERE WHO DONT HAVE A USED TO DO TESTIMONY
IT`S BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL DOING WHAT YOU USE TO DO
(EXPOUND ON CLOTHES)
ANOTHER MISSION STATEMENTS CAN BE FOUND IN
Luke 5:31-32 (KJV)
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
AND BY DOING SO HE LETS US KNOW THAT THE CHURCH IS A SPIRITUAL HOSPTIAL
JESUS IS THE GENERAL SURGEON
HOLY SPIRIT IS THE HOUSE SUPERVISOR
AND THE UNDERSHEPHERD IS THE DOCTOR WHO DELIVER HEAVENS MECEDINE -WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD
(EXPOUND)
AND AS THE FRIST BORN FROM THE DEAD
PAUL LETS US KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE
AND JESUS HAS THE RECIEPT
IN OTHER WORDS HE DIED BUT EARLY THAT 3RD DAY MORNING HE GAVE THE BENEDICTION STEP OUT ON RESSURECTION GROUND AND DECLARED THAT ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH IS IN HIS HANDS
AND SINCE JESUS IS HEAD AND HAVE PREEMINENCE
AND WE ARE ALL ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
UNITY IN THE CHURCH SHOULD BE REFRESHING
THAT WHY WHEN WE LEAVE THIS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION THIS MORNING/EVENING
WE ALL SHOULD LEAVE
ENERGIZED
ENCOURAGED
AND RENEWED
WE OUGHT TO LEAVE
CHARGED UP
REVVED UP
AND READY TO GO TELL A DYING WORLD
THAT JESUS IS STILL IN THE SAVING BUSSINESS
AND DON`T FORGET TO TELL THEM
CHRIST IS THE HEAD AND FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE ATONING PRICE FOR THE CHURCH
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CHURCH
LOVE IS THE MOTIVE AND POWER OF THE CHURCH
WORSHIP IS THE PRIVILEGE OF THE CHURCH
EDIFICATION IS THE RULE OF THE CHURCH
AND UNITY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH
BECAUSE WITHOUT JESUS
THE CHURCH WOULD BE A CONVALESCENT HOME WHERE MEMBERS JUST JOIN AND SIT AROUND AND WAIT TO DIE
WITHOUT JESUS
THE CHURCH WOULD BE A
FUNERAL PARLOR WHERE MEMBERS WALK IN AND OUT DEAD IN THE TRESSPASSESS OF THERE SINS
WITHOUT JESUS THE CHURCH WOULD BE A DISCOUNT HOUSE THAT OFFERS A CHEAP FORM OF RELEGION WHERE MEMBER WALK IN OUT WITH THE GARMENTS OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS
BUT TELL THEM
HE LEFT HEAVEN GLORY AND ENTERED EARTH SHAME
WORE A CROWN OF THORNS SO WE COULD WEAR A CROWN OF LIFE
HE WALK UP CALVARY`S ROAD SO THAT WE COULD WALK ON STREETS OF GOLD
TELL THEM HOW HE DIED AND WAS
PLACE IN A BORROWED TOMB
BUT THAT`S NOT THE END OF THE STORY END BECAUSE
EARLY - ---E-A-R----LY
THE 3RD DAY MORNING HE GOT UP WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS
