The Invisible GOD

Fighting an Invisible War  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 32 views
Notes
Transcript

HOOK

Intro Story: It’s very frustrating when you’re looking for something, and you don’t find it because it was dark and you cannot see
When we do not see what is ahead of us— we felt helpless— it makes us feel that we are not in control of the things around us and that is a very defeating feeling
As much as we could we want to always be aware of the things that surrounds us because that gives us a sense of control over matters— being in control feels good! — but that not how it works in any environment specially in the battlefield with enemies that you cannot see
In a game of chess, you can only anticipate your opponent’s next move, but you cannot exactly predict what’s he’s gonna do!
In a game of tennis— you have to receive every ball that was hit back towards you by the player on the other side of the net— again you can anticipate but you cannot exactly predict what kind of ball is coming!— is it coming fast with a lot of spin, or a loft that was softly tossed over and above your head that you have to crumble backward all the way to the end of the court to hit it and keep the ball alive!
Whatever game you like playing, it requires strategy, and you will only be effective if you know what to do— thank God that in our battles in life, He gave us a war guide— a winning game plan was drawn for us— we do not have to fight back aimlessly
When Paul spoke about the need for self-discipline he said these...
1 Corinthians 9:25–26 NIV
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
Whatever life has to throw at us, we have a calibrated response— in the case of the enemy that we do not see — we respond not scientifically but biblically because…
We belong to an invisible kingdom, fighting an invisible war, serving an invisible God!
Since the beginning of October we’ve been looking from the richness of God’s Word particularly in the area of spiritual warfare— God has been arming us with His mighty weapons [not worldly weapons] to knock down strongholds of human reasoning and false arguments
We are in a battle against the enemy that we do not see— we have to learn to live with this invisible war that has been there before, and is still here today, and it will be there until the completion of our salvation
We have to remain strong in the Lord— always wear the Armor of God— Watch out for the enemy— Enrich yourself with God’ Word— Always be on the side of peace and truth— Resist temptations and sins
Keep praying in the Spirit— Praise God for who He is— Repent from sin— Ask God for what you need, and always Yield to God’s will
There’s one more thing that I wish to share to everyone out of this series: Fighting an Invisible War
In his letter to the church in Colossae— Paul offered a prayer before he jumped into his main agenda, which will be the subject matter of our discussion today
But before I read to you our text this morning— it will help us greatly if we ask ourselves, “Why did Paul wrote this letter to the church in Colosse that consist of 4 chapters— 95 verse?”
You will find the answer to that question in…
Colossians 2:19 NIV
19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Because of heresy [false teachings], the church in Colosse lost their connection with our Lord Jesus— that’s why in his letter, he made very strong statements about the supremacy and pre-eminence of our Lord Jesus Christ— Open your Bible to COLOSSIANS 1:15-20— while you’re doing that, let me give you some facts that surrounds this letter [epistle]
Colosse is a small town in Asia Minor [SHOW MAP— about 100 miles east of the vibrant and trading city of Ephesus— it’s the capital of the region]— the church in Colosse was planted by missionaries from Ephesus
Paul lived there for two years lecturing everyday— People who were visiting Ephesus on business heard the gospel, and took it home with them— one such person may have been Epaphras, who brought the gospel home to Colosse
The church in Colosse was threatened by exciting but dangerous teaching [sometimes called the Colossian heresy]— It seems that some people are trying to gain power in heaven by worshipping angels.
Paul wrote this letter to people whom he had never met personally — he gives his readers a vision of the true greatness of Jesus— the Lord of the universe— the cosmic Christ— supreme over all things in heaven and earth
Paul wrote this letter from prison [he was under house arrest in Rome]— sometime between AD 60-61— it was from a generation when people who saw Jesus was still alive
Again, the reason why Paul wrote this letter because this church in Colosse lost their connection with the Lord

BOOK

Colossians 1:15–20 NIV
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

LOOK

THE SON IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD
Aoratos is how they say it in Greek— which mean invisible— not visible to the eye— cannot be seen
Jesus Christ makes the Father and the Holy Spirit visible to people
Be careful when you listen to the unitarians who asserts the unity of God— rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity— refusing to accept the deity of our Lord Jesus
They made use of this verse to support their case that Jesus is just the “image” of God— therefore, for them Jesus is not God but only an “image” of God— they will make use of photos or your reflection on the mirror to give meaning to the word “image”, saying that your image is not you— it’s just an image!
So I did a word study on this and found out that the word image [Aoratos in Greek] was used 54 times in 50 verses in the NIV— it means representation of God— it is not the actual thing but just an image or representation— so if you stop there, it might make you think for a second that the unitarians are correct— However, you must read the entire paragraph to get the context of Paul’s writings… Paul said..
The firstborn overall creation— in him things in heaven and on earth were created— visible or invisible — whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities
And the author of Hebrew concurred and said..
Hebrews 1:3 NIV
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM
John also concurred with this teaching..
John 1:3 NIV
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER
Again, John also said something about this
John 1:1 NIV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 NIV
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
That invalidates the claims of the unitarians that Jesus is just an “image”— they’re wrong! they’re out of context! They gotta read some more!
There’s nothing outside the scope of Christ’s sovereignty— since all things [natural and supernatural] were created through Him and for Him, and they are subject to His authority
HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH
This indicates Christ’s leadership of the Church [ekklesia—people who assemble in the name of Christ]— His authority and empowerment enable the body of Christ to grow and mature
HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE FIRSTBORN FROM AMONG THE DEAD
Refers to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ— Paul regards to this as a template for the resurrection of all believers
1 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV
14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
SO THAT IN EVERYTHING HE MIGHT HAVE THE SUPREMACY
Jesus is the greatest— the creator, coordinator and conciliator of all things
GOD WAS PLEASED TO HAVE ALL HIS FULLNESS DWELL IN HIM
Paul says that all God’s fullness dwells in Jesus— every aspect of God that can poured into a human being [Jesus is 100% human] is found in Him
Jesus is the creator of everything and He is also the Saviour of all
THROUGH HIM TO RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS
Take notice of the word “himself”— that supports the doctrine that the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Son are one
We belong to an invisible kingdom, fighting an invisible war, serving an invisible God!

THE SUPREMACY OF THE SON OF GOD

TOOK

ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM
Romans 11:36 NIV
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER
John 8:58 NIV
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH
Ephesians 1:22 NIV
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
Knowing all these gives us the confidence and guidance in facing the enemy that we do not see
The supremacy of the Son of God whom all things had been created— who had been before everything and that in Him all things hold together— He, who is the head of the church—
Our creator, our savior, our leader is with us through every battle— therefore, he deserves our Endless Praise…

SING

Agape Worship Team— ENDLESS PRAISE
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more