The Gospel at work

Sermon notes from Sunday 11 August 2019 pm

Colossians 1 verses 1 - 14

The Gospel at work

"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel"

In chapter 3 we notice how the gospel works in various relationships - husbands and wives, parents and children, in society.  The gospel has to work in our lives.  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation."  There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.  The gospel can do that for us.  The husband and wife relationship can be seen in the lives of Priscilla and Aquilla in Acts of the Apostles.  They were saved by the grace of God, they worked together, they listened to Apollos a renowned preacher but knew there was something lacking in his ministry.  They took him to one side and showed him the word of God more fully.  We think of the family relationship in the life of the Philippian jailer in Acts.  When he got saved he brought the preachers right into his home because he wanted his family changed too.  In society and in Zacchaeus` life we see him changed when he said to Jesus "Behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." (Luke 19 verse 8)  As the gospel comes to you again how will it affect your home?  Some would say we can have too much gospel - they believe that because the Bible talks about election that God will save any way so we do not need so much preaching of the gospel.  Others would say we need more teaching and less preaching but before we can teach we need to see people saved.

The channel of the gospel.  How did this message come about in the town of Colosse?  A man called Epaphrus came into their presence (verse 7).  He came with a burden in his heart.  He had been saved by God`s grace, perhaps under the ministry of Paul in Ephesus.  He realised that he was a sinner and that sin could keep him from heaven one day.  He had a burden for the people in Colosse - chapter 4 verse 12 "Epaphras who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."  He was sold out for the gospel and he saw the need of others who were perishing.  Are you a channel for the gospel today - in your home and in your family?  Are you a channel in society, in the workplace?  You have been saved for a reason, for a purpose.  Jesus, when he gathered his disciples around him and told them he was going back to his Father in heaven, said "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."  The gospel needs legs.  Think of the maid in the Old Testament who lived in Naaman`s house.  Naaman was a great soldier, he had won many battles but he was a leper.  There was no cure for him.  He could not be comforted.  He would perish through this leprosy.  Who did God place in his home for a remedy for his disease - a maid.  She told him that if he was prepared to go to the prophet in Jerusalem he would be cleansed of his leprosy.  Are we channels today?  Paul said in Romans 10 verse 14 "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher?" 

The course of the gospel - verse 7.  As the gospel goes forward we read of the challenge and claims of it.  You are listening, taking in with your heart, then it comes to your mind.  There is a decision you need to make.  Acts 2 verse 37 - they were listening with their ears but something happened - "they were pricked in their hearts."  The same thing still happens today.  There is something happening in your heart today.  You must be aware that there is a response required.  The Holy Spirit takes the word to your heart and then it goes to your mind because you have to make a decision.  You will do one of 2 things - either reject Christ or accept Christ.  Acts 17 verse 4 tells us that "some of them believed" but it then goes on to say in verse 5 "the Jews which believed not."

The challenge that it brought.  Epaphras told of his own experience.  He took Jesus as his Saviour.  With the hearing comes the challenge.  In chapter 2 verse 13 these people were challenged about their death.  They heard they were dead in their trespasses, they did not realise there was a broken relationship between them and God.  They heard how Christ came to save them - verse 6 "they received Christ."  You have the seed of the living word of God in your heart but Satan will do all he can to rob you of that seed.  Think of Pilate as he stood before Jesus.  He was willing to release him that day.  He didn`t want anything to do with putting Christ to death.  He listened to his own conscience and said "I find no fault."  He then listened to his wife.  She told him "have nothing to do with this just man for I have suffered much by way of a dream about this man."  He loved his wife very much.  He also listened to the crowd.  Just as he was weighing up his evidence he asked "what shall I do then with Jesus?"  If you want to be saved you have to take Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.  The crowd told Pilate "if you let this man go free you are not a friend of Caesar."  Pilate couldn`t go back on his decision.  Wouldn`t it be sad if you made a decision that you could never go back on?  If God showed you your need of salvation and you said no?

There is the cost of the gospel.  The gospel is free yes but it cost Christ his life.  It cost him everything.  He was rejected, beaten, scourged, spat on, the hairs of his face were plucked off, then they crucified him on Calvary.  He hung sufffering, bleeding and dying for you and I.  The cost tonight is your all.  Will you take him as Saviour?  He will change your life, make you a child of the gospel, make you someone he can use.  Are you ready for that?  You cannot go off on your own agenda.  Making a commitment to Christ will involve everything you have.  The bible says of these Colossians "as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." (chapter 2 verse 6)  Are you prepared to take his invitation and trust him as your Saviour?  It is your invitation, will you come?