Sunday sermon Colossians 3:15-17

Before we take of the cup and eat of the bread, I wanted to remind you church that it is important for us take to the Lord’s supper in a worthy manner.

If you are a believer, someone who has given the heart to Jesus, then you are welcome to take communion with us.

Let’s take a moment to examine our hearts before the Lord, after a brief moment of silence, I will pray us in and we will take together after reading the Biblical text that has been given us.

Prayer

Communion

Luke 22:14–20 NKJV

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Read Colossians 3:15-17

Colossians 3:15–17 NKJV

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Review

Last week we continued talking about the putting on the new man and putting off the old, or another way we could share this would be taking off our grave clothes and putting on our new grace clothes.

Last week we finalized all the garments we are to put on by putting on love, which is the bond of perfection.

The apostle envisions a man dressing his body with the flowing garments of the day, and then it occurs to the man that as beautiful and fine as his garments are, they can never be worn with comfort or grace until they are held in place by a belt. So he adds the belt: “love.” It is possible to have some of the five recommended garments and not have love, but it is impossible to have love and not have all of the five garments. Bruce calls love “the grace that binds all these other graces together.” And that it is.

The present continual imperative here to put on love is a thrust that is to be continuous in a disciples life: we are to keep putting on love over and over and over again.

May we never neglect “love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Paul says it like this church:

1 Corinthians 13:1–7 NKJV

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Church, this is the most important of the Christian virtues, and it acts like a “girdle” that ties all the other virtues together.

Love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit and the other virtues follow—joy (Col. 3:16), peace (Col. 3:15), long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, and meekness (Col. 3:12).

When love rules in our lives, it unites all these spiritual virtues so that there is beauty and harmony, indicating spiritual maturity. This harmony and maturity keep the life balanced and growing.

Colossians 3:15 NKJV

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

If right now we could put our hearts up on this screen right here, what would it show is ruling your heart?

Paul gives us yet another present imperative to let the peace of Gos rule in our hearts.

Not only does Paul says let peace rule church, but he also commands us to be thankful, but also reminds us that we are part of one body, not several.

Paul concludes his look at the virtues that should mark the lifestyle of the new man by giving three priorities.

They are the outermost garments of the new man, those which cover all the others.

The new man is concerned with the peace of Christ, the word of Christ, and the name of Christ.

We will only get to the peace of Christ today.

So after we put on the new grace clothes, Paul is calling us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts.

So what does it mean to have the peace of God rule in your heart? What is this text saying?

Know God know Peace

No God No Peace

Peace- eirēnē-(i-ray'-nay)- n. — the absence of mental stress or anxiety; especially that results from a proper recognition of salvations worth. The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. Security, safety, tranquility, and harmony.

The blessed state of men and women who follow Jesus will here on earth as well as in death.

This peace includes both the concept of an agreement, pact, treaty, or bond, and that of an attitude of rest or security.

exemption from the rage and havoc of war

The peace that Paul is talking about here is not a peace that the world can give, it is not a peace that any amount of money can buy, no realtionship can give, nothing absolutely nothing apart from Jesus can give you this. Look at what Jesus said:

John 14:25–27 NKJV

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus is sharing here Church with the disciples that peace is a gift that he gives, the world cannot give this peace.

Notice also, the opposite of peace here and that is fear.

Fear is the opposite of peace

Or the absence of conflict or war (within) a person or a country, a family, a state, a business, a school etc...

Thousands of people each year visit the Winchester Mansion in San Jose, California. This massive structure was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the gun company owner. For thirty-eight years, from 1884 until her death in 1922, the house was under constant construction. Teams of carpenters, masons and other workers were employed around the clock. Various stories have been told about the reason for this unusual practice. Most center on Mrs. Winchester’s belief that she either was haunted or would be haunted by the ghosts of those killed by her husband’s weapons unless she kept building her house. Others claim that she thought she would not die as long as building continued.

Whatever the reason, she continued ordering more renovations and construction as long as she lived. There are more than 10,000 windows in the Winchester Mansion, doorways and stairs that lead to blank walls, and some 160 rooms in total. It is estimated that she spent more than $70,000,000 in today’s money on largely pointless construction—all in a desperate search for peace that was ultimately doomed to fail.

Many people today are seeking peace through equally fruitless means. They turn to pleasure, drugs, alcohol, immorality, wealth and other dead end avenues. Like the staircases that lead nowhere in the Winchester Mansion, pursuing such paths will never bring peace. Instead we find peace when we follow the path that God has given us in His Word. Those who keep the law of God in their hearts and obey it in their actions add peace to their lives. Rather than seeking peace as an end, we should seek to follow Christ. When we do we will find that peace comes as a side effect that we receive from Him.

No matter what Mrs. Winchester did to this home, no matter how much she spent church, she could not find peace.

And she is just one of millions that are seeking peace in all the wrong people, places, and things.

We try to find peace through a variety of means like:

education

career

money

realtionships

materialism

exercise

This list goes on and on and one church.

Where are you trying to find peace?

When most people think about peace they are envisioning a world without war and violence or a state of calmness. And while these are true definitions, biblical peace is deeper.

The peace referenced in Colossians 3:15 is about harmony, safety, friendliness, and contentment. It’s a picture of sleeping soundly while the world’s (and our own) chaos cycles round.

True spiritual peace is an inner force giving its host unshakable confidence in their future. The peace gifted to us by the Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse into the big picture. And as a result, we can let go of our controlling nature, set aside our anxious thoughts and rest in the knowledge that God has a plan and He’s working it all out for ultimate good.

One of the greatest examples of peace I can think of was when my mother was in the hospital back in November of 2017.

I am confidant that she knew when she went to the hospital she was facing her mortality here on earth as she knew it.

And when the doctor gave her the news that her lung had collapsed and that she was terminal, she did not fear church, she accepted that this was her time, and the peace of God remained until the end.

And within three weeks church, my beautiful mother, the best mother ever, entered into heaven.

And I stand here because of her knees and God answering the cries of a mother for her child.

The peace of God was there church, the absence of fear and conflict.

She accepted God’s will for her life and she let go.

Peace is the by-product of surrender!

Romans 8:6 NKJV

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Colossians 3:15 NKJV

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Notice that we have to allow this in our lives, because God will not force his way in.

Paul said for us to let peace rule in our hearts.

The word translated “rule” is an athletic term. It means “to preside at the games and distribute the prizes.”

Paul used a variation of this word in his Letter to the Colossians: “Let no one cheat you of a your reward or prize” ( Col. 2:18).

In the Greek games, there were judges (we would call them umpires) who rejected the contestants who were not qualified, and who disqualified those who broke the rules.

Here in Colossians 3:15a, Paul has given us an imperative to let God’s peace rule in our hearts, next week we will look at letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.

The peace of God should be“Umpire” of our hearts and our churches. When we obey the will of God, we have His peace within; but when we step out of His will (even unintentionally), we lose His peace.

Have you ever noticed when you make a decision and do not have peace in making this decision that things do not turn out well?

Umpires are the ultimate authority on the field church, they are the ones who make the call.

We must beware, however, of a false peace in the heart. Jonah deliberately disobeyed God, yet he was able to go to sleep in the hold of a ship in a storm! “I had peace about it!” is not sufficient evidence that we are in the will of God. We must pray, surrender to His will, and seek His guidance in the Scriptures.

Something else is involved: if we have peace in our hearts, we will be at peace with others in the church. We are called to one body, and our relationship in that body must be one of harmony and peace. If we are out of the will of God, we are certain to bring discord and disharmony to the church. Jonah thought he was at peace, when actually his sins created a storm!

Remember when the Jesus and the disciples were on a boat and a storm arose? Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the stern and the boys feared exceedingly because a storm arose?

Mark 4:39–40 NKJV

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Their eyes were on the storm church, on the current circumstance and not on Jesus therefore, there peace left them and fear arose.

Fear and anxiety will paralyze you church.

The opposite of peace is not war but anxiety. War comes as a result of compounded anxiety.

When a Christian loses the peace of God, he begins to go off in directions that are out of the will of God.

He turns to the things of the world and the flesh to compensate for his lack of peace within. He tries to escape, but he cannot escape himself!

It is only when he confesses his sin, claims God’s forgiveness, and does God’s will that he experiences God’s peace within.

When there is peace in the heart, there will be praise on the lips: “And be ye thankful” (Col. 3:15). The Christian out of God’s will is never found giving sincere praise to God. When David covered up his sins, he lost his peace and his praise (Pss. 32; 51).

When he confessed his sins, then his song returned.

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Anxiety is the very thing that strangles out the peace of God in our lives.

God desires us to have peace rule in our hearts, but apart from being fixed and focused on the Lord, this will not happen.

Who or what is the umpire of your heart church? Just because we are here, does not mean that we have the peace of God. Have you made peace with God?

Prayer

Announcements

Are there any announcements?

Have a wonderful 4th of July! And be safe!

Benediction

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

The Lord Bless You!

Your Mission Starts Now!

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