Risen With Christ

Resurrection Proclamation

Colossians 4.2-6

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[Are you a child of the Resurrection?  Have you been born again?  Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior by inviting Him to come into your life?  If you have been born again then you are a Child of the living God and you have been, already, resurrected with the Lord Jesus Christ.  The apostle Paul wrote,] 

[Colossians 3:1 ¹ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.]

[As a child of God you are an heir to His glorious kingdom and you are a child of the resurrection.  Glory to God, you are, right now, living the resurrection life!] 

[As we have worked our way through the book of Colossans we have discovered much about this resurrection life we enjoy.  We have discovered our,

• [Resurrection Renewal – Putting on the new man and putting off the old worldly man.]
• [Resurrection Relationships – What a resurrection husband, wife, child, and servant looks like.]
• [Resurrection Connection – Our direct and persoanl communication with our Heavnely Father.]

[What a wonder and glory our lives will be if we live the resurrection life every moment of every day.]

[Today we discover our Resurrection Proclamation.  The result of  living the resurection in this lost world will be that we will have many continuous opportunities to proclaim the cause of this glorious life we live in our Lord Jesus Christ.]

Our Proclamation Must Consist Of,

A.    A Commission (vs 3-4) [– Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: ⁴ That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.  – Most of us already know the great commission.  Our Lord said,]

[Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ]

[We have been taught and know that we ought to be soul-winners in this lost world.  Just as the apostle Paul expressed that he knew he needed to be a witness for our Lord in our text.  However, Paul expresses much more than just an acknowledgement of his commission in this mortal life.  Paul is expressing his hearts desire in light of the great commission given by our Lord.  Paul desired to proclaim the gospel of our Lord, which is the mystery of Christ, so much so that he was emprisoned because of his burden.  Paul had procalimed the gospel until he was put in jail for it and he still desired to proclaim the gospel message some more.]

[The apsotle Paul, through what he wrote here, reveals the catalyst for the gospel message.  Paul is revealing that there is an undeniable difference between knowing the Great Commsion and being burden by the Great Commision.  Paul is expressing his hearts desire to declare the gospel of our Lord.]

In Paul’s words we discover,

1.      Our Delight in our Proclamation (vs 4; Psalm 34.8) [– . . .  as I ought to speak. – My friend if you have been resurrected with Christ then you know something that no lost person in all the world can possibly know.] 

·   [You know the reality of the only living God. ]

·   [You know the comfort and release you have from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin; for you have been eternally and completely forgiven.]

·   [You know the wonder of being a joint heir with Christ and a child of the living God.]

[There are a multitude of attributes that I could list here that are awarded to every born again child of God that no lost person can ever know.  Religious people may study these attributes, but they are not theirs to know.]

[The Psalmist said,]

[Psalm 34:8 ⁸ O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. ]

[As a result of the incredbile blessings and riches given you as a child of God you have a lofty duty given you.  Paul said, . . . as I ought to speak.  There was a duty, and obligation that accompanied the wonder of his new life in Christ.  It was the duty of his delight in the Lord and all His promses.]

[Illustration – The Chicago Black Hawks and the Stanley Cup – Just a few days ago we saw the Chicago Black Hawks paraded through Chicago in a ticker tape parade after they won Hockeys highest award, the Stanley Cup.  We have all, even if you are not a sports fan, seen the way people are drawn into the glory of a championship won.  Even if you were not really a fan before your local team won, you almost can’t help but be drawn in by the enthusiasm of the celebration when a local team wins it all.]

[Why do the bystanders get drawn into the celebration, because its hard not to be a part of another persons delight.  My Christian friend, nothing will draw your lost family and friends to our Lord Jesus Christ as much as your delight in Christ.]

[Paul’s . . . ought to speak . . .  expresses a sense of duty, but it is a duty that pours out of his delight in the glory and wonder of what his Lord had given Him.  Understand, that Paul is in prison and a cruel prison at that. Yet Paul is still thriving and ministering to the saved and lost alike.  Why?  Because no matter how hard this life might get, it is but a moment and nothing in this life can ever change what the people of God have through the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is as if Paul is saying, I ought to procalim the gospel message because look at what I have in my Lord Jesus Christ.]

[Far too many of us have lost sight of our promises and glorious treasures through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are discouraged by our worldly circumstances and situations, so much so that there is no evidence of joy or enthusiam left in our lives.]

[Have you tasted that the Lord is Good?  Have you received the salvation and adoption provided by our Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you a joint heir with Christ?  Are you a resurrection Chirstian?  Then show your delight in our Lord and His bountiful blessings and let your delight be manifested to the entire world!  You ought to speak, with great joy, of the manifested blessings of our Lord.]

2.      Our Direction in Proclamation (vs 4; Eph 3.3-6) [–  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. – The it Paul is speaking of here is the Mystery of Christ from verse 3.  What is this Mystery?]

[Now, a mystery is something that was previously not known or not easily discerned.  The manifestation of a mystery is the revealtion of the mysterious truth.  Paul was given to manifesting a mystery.]

[Ephesians 3:3-6 ³ How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) ⁵ Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; ⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: ]

[The mystery revealed is the revealation that Jehovah God wants all men, women, and children to be saved.  All are to be partakers of the glorious salvation offered by our Lord Jesus Christ.]

[My friends we ought to demonstarted an enthusiastic delight in the manifested truth that we know through our Lord Jesus Christ.  That delight ought to make itself know through our proclamation and that manifestation ought to be directed to the revealtion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Hence, our delight in Christ ought to point people to Christ.]

3.      Our Determination in Proclamation (vs 3; Philip 1.21; ) [– Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: - Now notice Paul’s determination in his procalmation.  Paul wanted to be sure that everything in his life; every glory, every wonder, every deliverance, ever bewilderment (Joy in sorrrow and suffering) would point to the Lord Jesus Christ.  So, he prayed and asked for prayer that doors of utterance would be opened that would specifically manifest the mystery of Christ.]

[How determined was Paul in his desire to manifest Christ.  Paul said,]

[Philippians 1:21 ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ]

[Paul, wanted to speak and to be heard, but when he spoke he was determined to speak only of our Lord Jesus Christ and His glorious salvation.  Our proclamation must be determined and directed as well, pointing the lost to their only hope, the Lord Jesus Christ.]

B.     An Anticipation (vs 5; Matt 24.42-46) [- Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. – Let us never forget the glorious and wonderful promises given us by our Lord Jesus Chrst and what He has done for us.  As the born again chridren of God we are looking forward to the soon coming rapture of the Church of our Lord.  The rapture is the event that will take every born again Christian out of this world to meet our Lord in the air.  The rapture is also the event the marks the beginning of the tribualtion period and immediately following the rapture the anti-christ will appear.]

[We do not know when the rapture will occur, but we know that with every passing moment we are brought another moment closer to the presence of our Lord.  Our Lord said,]

[Matthew 24:42-46 ⁴² Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ⁴³ But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. ⁴⁴ Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. ⁴⁵ Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ]

[My friend we need to redeem the time because we do not know how much time we have.  We don’t know when the rapture will occure and we must win the lost around us before it’s too late.]

Our Anticipation must express the,

1.      Eminency of our Lord’s Coming  (Matt 24.42; 25.13; Mark 13.35-36; 1 Thess 5.6; 1 Cor 15.52; 2 Thess 2.11) [– Far too many people are living their lives as though they have months, years, decades, and more in this world.]

[Our Lord warned, ]

[Matthew 24:42 ⁴² Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ]

[Matthew 25:13 ¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. ]

[Mark 13:35-36 ³⁵ Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: ³⁶ Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. ]

[The Apsotle Paul wrote,]

[1 Thessalonians 5:6 ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ]

[My friend you think you have a lot of time to live your life.  Many live as though they have the time to live any way they please, and perhaps they will get everything right with God right before they face him, right before they die.  There are a number of problems with your presumptions.  ]

·   [You don’t know who much time you have]

[Illustration - This last week a young man, thinking he was healthy and strong dove into a flooding stream and began swimming.  Then that mighty current caught him, drug him under the water and that same day he stood before God.]

[Illustration – This last week a 30 year old man left his home, drove his car onto the expressway, was caught in a horrible accident and lost his mortal life.  That day he stepped into eternity. He did not think before he left his home that day, today will be my last day on earth.]

[Neither of these men had the time or opportunity to get things right with God, or to receive the Lord Jesus Christ before their lives ended.]

·   [You don’t know when the rapture will occur – The rapture will occur in the twinkling of and eye (1 Cor 15.52), in but a moment of time, and if you are not already born again, then your opportunity to be saved will be gone.  For there will be nothing but strong supernatural delusion for you during the tribulation period.  Why? Because you heard the gospel message and refused to receive the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 2.11).]

2.      Urgency of our Lord’s Grace (2 Cor 6.2)[ – The Bible decalres,]

[2 Corinthians 6:2 ² (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) ]

[You are here today, under the sound of the Word of God and you need to receive the Lord Jesus Christ right now.  You may not have another opportunity before you stand in the presence of God.]

[My Christian brothers and sisters, you are resurrection saints and not only should we have and hold a resurrection commission leading us to procalim the gospel message, but we should have a resurrection anticipation compelling us to redeem the time.  For we know that our Lord could come at any moment, in the twinkling of an eye.  Are you awake and watching for our Lord?  Your anitcipation reveals your vigilant heart and mind.]

C.    A Compassion (vs 6) [– Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. – While we are filled with a resurrection commission and anticipation let us be reminded to never present our Lord in harsh or cruel terms.  Our proclamation must always be accompanied with the compassion of our Lord’s grace and purificaiton.  However, due to the time and the potential content of this one verse of the Bible I will preach on this compassion next week.  For now we must know and procalim that,]

1.      [Our Lord desires to save all people – This is the mystery of Christ, that all can be saved.  Whether Jew or Gentile, Man or woman, rich or poor our Lord Jesus Christ offers the free gift of savlation to everyone.]

2.      [Our Lord will delight the saved – There is nothing like a life lived out for and with our precious Lord.]

3.      [Our Lord is but a moment away – Jesus could come at any time, are you ready?  Are you saved?]

CrossRoads Baptist Church, June 20, 2010