The Role of God's Word
Introduction
“bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 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.
In Colossians 3:13-17 Paul outlines 4 spiritual motivation for godly living. It is so evident that the centrality of this living is Jesus Christ. He is the centerpiece of Christianity.
Note:
1. We forgive because Christ forgave us. v13
2. It is the peace of Christ that should rule in our hearts. v15
3. The Word of Christ should dwell in us richly. v15
4. The Name of Christ should be our identification and our authority.
Colossians 3:11 “Christ is all, and in all”
The scriptures remind us that since Christ is our life, we have all the resources needed for godly living. However, we must be spiritually motivated in 4 areas:
1. To Live for Him
2. To Obey Him
3. To Honor Him
4. To Glorify Him
Because we have experienced the grace of God, we want to live for Him.
Because we have enjoyed the peace of God, we want to obey Him.
Because we have been enriched by the Word of God and enabled by the name of God, we want to honor and glorify Him.
Now, “The Role of God’s Word”
I. ITS DWELLING v16
“dwell”- we should be in the Word and the Word should be in us; free access to all parts of our life; no locked rooms.
When we experience the peace of God we will welcome the Word of God.
This happens when we delight in God’s Word.
I Peter 2:2: “As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grown thereby,”
The word of God should have unrestricted liberty in our lives; morally, socially, mentally, spiritually, relationally, physically, etc.
Scripture should permeate every aspect of the believer’s life and control every thought, word, and deed.
Psalms 119:11
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin again You.”
W.W Wiersbe, “The Spirit of God without the Word of God is directionless. The Word of God without the Spirit of God is powerless.
Peace and thankfulness, as well as unity, love, and all the required virtues, flow from a mind controlled by scripture.
“Dwell”- to live in, to be at home; to take up residence.
Being controlled by the word is the same as being filled with the Spirit. They are two sides of the same spiritual reality.
Since the Holy Spirit is the author and the power of the Word, the expressions are interchangeable.
Meaning- to live continuously under the influence of the Spirit by letting the Word control you.
-Pursuing pure lives.
-Confessing all known sin.
-Dying to self.
-Surrendering to God’s will.
-Depending on His power in all things.
Being filled with the Spirit is living in the conscious presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, letting His mind, through the Word, dominate everything that is thought and done. Being filled with the Spirit is the same as walking in the Spirit.
Colossians 3:15-17
Galatians 5:16-17
Ephesians 5:18-21
All believer have the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit as the personal power for living to please God.
Galatians 5:16: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
“Walk”- continuous action; walking implies progress; as a believer submits to the Spirit’s control, that is, responds in obedience to the single commands of scripture, he grows in his spiritual life.
Same principle in Romans: “Romans 8:13- For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Paul teaches that the Spirit of God provides us with the energy and power to continuously and gradually be killing out sins, (putting them to death) a process never completed in this life. The means the Spirit uses to accomplish this process is our faithful obedience to the scriptures.
II. ITS DEPTH v16
“richly in all wisdom”- abundantly; highly prized and appreciated. The Word of God has to be cordially received, appropriated in it’s fullness, and translated into action.
Speaks of the VALUE of the Word of God we will discover how rich the Lord is with spiritual treasures that give value to our lives.
Psalms 119:72
“The law of your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
The Word in the heart and mind is the handle by which the Spirit turns the will.
“in all wisdom”- The Word of God will mature you; to handle and apply with spiritual righteousness.
Proverbs 8:11
“For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
Proverbs 16:16
“How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
III. ITS DIRECTION v16
The Word of God produces not only information but emotion.
A. Teaching
Instruction of truth; speaks of influence.
The Word of God has personality.
Billy Graham influenced my life;
The Word of God influenced my life.
B. Admonishing
Warning; to put in our mind; to reprove.
Psalms 19:11
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping then there is great reward.
It warns us of the consequences of our behavior; corrective function.
C. Singing
When we have the peace of God and our lives are controlled by the Word of God, our lives will be lyrical and our hearts filled with melody. Holiness and happiness go together.
There is a definite relationship between our knowledge of the Bible and our expression of worship in song.
Psalms 33 teaches that the word creates worship.
Singing the Word of God and praise of God cannot be separated.
v16 “with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace (thankfulness) in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 1:15-20 and Philippians 2:6-11 are believed to be hymns sung in the early church. Songs of praise which exalt God.
1. Psalms
Old Testament Psalms put to music; 1st century church sang psalms.
Example Psalms 44:4 “You Are my King”
Through singing, the Colossians are expressing verbally what is a reality in their hearts.
The gratitude of the church has always gone up to God in praise and song.
2. Hymns
Praises to the Glory of God.
Songs of praise which exalt God.
Ex “To God Be This Glory”
3. Spiritual Songs
They express in song what God has done for us.
Example: “Amazing Grace”
“He Touched Me”
Psalms and Hymns- EXALTATION
Spiritual songs- EDIFICATION
“singing with grace in our hearts”
Encompasses 2 ideas:
1. Sing out of thankfulness for God’s Grace.
2. Sing out of a heart that agrees with the mouth.
“Blessed be Your Name on the road marked with suffering” Matt Redmond
Spiritual Truth
It takes grace in our hearts to sing when we are in pain, or when circumstances seen to be against us.
Acts 16:22-25 Paul and Silas sang in prison.
Farther Along
Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wander
Why it should be thus all the day long.
While there are others living about us, never molested though in the wrong.
Often when death has taken our loves ones,
Leaving our home so lone and so drear.
Then do we wonder why others prosper, living so wicked year after.
Faithful till death, saith our loving Master;
Short is our time to labor and wait.
Then will our toiling seem to be nothing, when we shall pass the heavenly gate.
Soon we will see our dear loving Savior,
Hear the last trumpet sound thro’ the sky.
Then we will meet those gone on before us, and we shall know and understand why.
Chorus
Farther along we’ll know all about it,
Farther along we’ll understand why;
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine,
We’ll understand it all by and by
“to God” – praise and worship offered to Him. The fact that music is edifying, encouraging, uplifting to believers is a byproduct of its main purpose.
The Lord Himself is both the source and the object of the believers song filled heart.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14: “indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”