|
"The Secret" Colossians 1:24-29 - "24Now
I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still
lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is
the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present
to you the word of God in its fullness— 26the mystery that has been kept hidden
for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has
chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28We proclaim him, admonishing and
teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in
Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so
powerfully works in me."
- Christ lives in you. (24-27)
* Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
- You can become mature in Christ. (28)
*Colossians 3:16 - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach
and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
*Ephesians 4:11-13 - "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to
prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the
Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness
of Christ."
*II Timothy 3:16-17 - "16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
*I Corinthians 3:1-3 - Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do
we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You
yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry,
written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of
stone but on tablets of human hearts."
- Christ's energy works powerfully in us. (29)
II Corinthians 11:23-28 - "23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my
mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison
more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again
and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was
shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been
constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from
bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger
in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from
false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep;
I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been
cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my
concern for all the churches."
|
