A Worshipper (Ephesians 5-6)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV)
There really is a priority to God’s instructions and design for us.  Love God with everything, Jesus said, and love our neighbors as ourselves.  These commands are equally important in our worship.  Paul describes it as walking in love…a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:3-5 ESV)
It doesn’t take much effort to stop showing our love for God and people.  Immorality, impurity, and covetousness all show our selfishness rather than our willingness to love God above all else and love people with all purity.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:6-14 ESV)
I’ve had many people talk to me about the transition from their addiction to the fruitful life walking with God.  In each conversation, one topic comes up: letting go of old friends.  Each person has told me that a part of their healing process is breaking the ties to the people who pull them back down.  Later in their lives, though, they find that they can go back to some of those friendships and pull them up.  First, though, they need to heal.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21 ESV)
Read this section again starting with “be filled with the Spirit…”  Now read it again.  That is what we try to do in a church service at Life Bridge.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.(Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV)
I’ve heard whole teachings about this and other passages like this – telling me that women have roles in their home and God’s Church that are subservient to their husband or men of the Church.  Unfortunately, that is not what Paul is saying here.  He is saying that husbands and wives can live out their faith in their current culture, even without changing the culture.  The key to understanding the passage here, in the letter to the Ephesians, is verse 21: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21 [NIV84]).  Paul is telling husbands and wives of their day to think about ways to be subject to one another, even in their current culture, because of their new relationship with Jesus Christ.  Christians serve one another.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6:1-9 ESV)
Children come to me struggling.  God says to obey their parents (and grandparents), but their guardians are pointing them to underage drinking, getting them to take illegal drugs, and even perform acts of sexual immorality with them.  Paul is not saying this is ok.  He is saying the guardians are wrong.
“Children obey your parents,” was a command given to the children of the adults in Israel who failed to go into the promised land.  Their parents knew about God’s great works, beautiful promises, covenant commitment, and laws.  They rebelled against God, so they would be dying in the desert.  Their job, before they died, was to teach their children well…and they did.  That was what their children were being told to obey.
Paul wasn’t endorsing slavery.  He was pointing both slaves and masters to a new picture based on their relationship with Christ.  They (slaves and masters) are now brothers in Christ and they need to submit to one another.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.(Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV)
Look at the “armor of God” section again.  Do you put on truth, righteousness, the good news of peace (with God), faith, and salvation every day?  They will protect you from the enemy’s attacks.  Do you pick up the word of God?  It will help you fight the enemy and set captives free.  Fight the good fight.  It’s worth every battle.
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:21-24 ESV)

A Worshipper (Ephesians 3-4)

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. (Ephesians 3:1-3 ESV)

Paul continues his letter by focusing his words toward the Gentile Christians – those without a Jewish background.  Not having a Jewish background myself, my ears perk up and eyes focus on the words.

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ephesians 3:4-6 ESV)

As I read, I am glad that I paid attention.  The Israelites used to be God’s chosen people.  They still are.  But now, I am a fellow heir – a member of the same body, and a partaker of the promise because of Jesus.  That really is good news.

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:7-10 ESV)

Not only that, when we come together (Jews and Gentiles) into one church body, we show the wisdom of God to the “rulers and authorities in heavenly places.”  The angels and the saints see the wisdom of God being played out in us.  What a powerful responsibility we have as God’s Church.

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:11-13 ESV)

It gets better.  Jesus gives us access to enter the very presence of God in the heavenly realms.  We do not need to be afraid of God’s wrath because of Jesus.  Our faith in him can give us confidence to boldly approach God.  This is why we can go to God in prayer.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV)

Look at what Paul prays for us Gentile Christians – that we will be strengthened with the power of God’s Spirit, that Christ will dwell in our hearts, that we will know (understand) the love of Christ, and be filled with the fullness of God.  What would our lives be like if we were filled with the fullness of God?

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)

Pause.  Let that sink in.  Worship.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)

The fullness of God produces unity between us and others who have the power of God dwelling within them.  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all unites us.

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:7-10 ESV)

Jesus Christ is the one who gives us His Spirit and His Power.  He is the one who gives us spiritual gifts as well.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV)

God’s church is not filled with perfect individuals.  God’s church is filled with people who have God’s Spirit, who are pulled together by God, and who build one another up until we reach maturity.  This is the manifold wisdom that rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms get to watch.

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!--assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV)

Life without God looks dramatically different from life with God.  Life with God is far better than anything we try to live without God.  When we come home to the Father through the Son and receive the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to live a life with God.  The Church equips itself to live a life together with God.  Mature believers encourage one another to walk together with God.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:25-30 ESV)

Notice the bad-good pairs here.  For each bad alternative there is a good alternative to take its place. Don’t lie – be truthful.  When angry, do not sin.  Do not steal, but do honest work and share with those in need.  Our words should not corrupt others, but build them up – giving them a gift.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31 ESV)

When we get rid of bad things in our lives, we replace them with good.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV)

How about you? Are you an active part of God’s Church, building other church-members up by speaking the truth in love?  Are you showing God’s manifest wisdom to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms?  Are you empowering one more to walk together with God?

A Worshipper (Ephesians 1-2)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1-2 ESV)

Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus from his prison cell, yet continues to worship and praise God.  He knows that God continues to work in him and through him, even from behind bars.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV)

I wonder sometimes what Paul would think about from his prison cell.  Would he struggle with the fact that he did nothing wrong to deserve his imprisonment?  Did those thoughts remind him that he was in good company – since Jesus did nothing to deserve death, yet received it.  Was Paul reminded that he did deserve imprisonment or death because of the things he did before becoming a Christ-follower?  He did, remember, help put Christians in jail or even stone them to death.  Yet God’s plan, through Jesus, was to make us right with God again.  That’s why Paul worshipped.

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV)

You see, theology can sound wordy and even technical, but it really is just an understanding of God.  Paul understood his mistakes, his rebellion, his sin.  But Paul also understood that God went to great lengths to overcome all that.  Paul was grateful to God.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV)

Paul wants others to see how great God is, too.  That’s why his prayers are for their wisdom, their hope, and their vision of Christ.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV)

He wants them to see that this big, Glorious God has gone to great lengths to provide a way back for them.  This way, through Jesus, is offered in spite of their rebellion.  This way is offered as a gift.  Gift means grace.  As Paul teaches and reminds them, he teaches and reminds us as well.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:11-18 ESV)

He takes some time to speak to the Christians with a Gentile (non-Jewish) background.  He reminds them that they have come a long way through the grace of God.  They are no longer far away from God.  They are not strangers to God anymore.  Now, they are a part of Christi’s Church.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)

How about you?  Have you come home to God through the way provided by Jesus?  Are you being built together with others into a dwelling place for God?  Are you a part of God’s Church?

A Worshipper (Colossians 3-4)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 ESV)

Worshippers are able to see beyond today to look forward to tomorrow.  Worshippers are able to see the cup of water as half full, half empty, and be grateful for the cup, the water, and our God who provides it.  Worshippers see that there is more to this life than just this life.  Worshippers set their minds on the things “above.”

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5-10 ESV)

Perhaps the most important thing we can do in worship is to see the universe, the world, and people as God sees them.  We look at life as God designed it.  We make God’s priorities into our priorities.  We live as God wants us to live.  This is lifestyle worship.

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:11-14 ESV)

Lifestyle worship is about more than just avoiding bad.  It includes doing good.  We choose to listen to God.  We choose to follow God.  We choose to walk with God.  When we do, we worship.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:15-16 ESV)

Our worship spills over onto the ones around us.  They see it in us.  They experience it.  They even ask questions about it.  When they ask, we are ready to share the reason for the hope that we have.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 3:17- 4:1 ESV)

Perhaps the most powerful truth about worship is that we can always do it.  It doesn’t matter what circumstances we are in.  Married or single, male or female, alone or with others, working or playing, learning or relaxing, free or (like Paul) in jail: we can worship.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison--that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:2-6 ESV)

Even from his jail cell (or house arrest), Paul was able to worship.  Not only that, he was able to help others worship as well.  He wrote letters.  He mentored teachers and sent them out.  He talked to, taught, and encouraged people face to face.  Paul never stopped.  He just kept worshipping.

Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions--if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. (Colossians 4:7-14 ESV)

You can see it in the list of people he trained and sent out.  Paul walked together with God and helped others do the same.

Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord." (Colossians 4:15-17 ESV)

How about you?  Are you fulfilling the ministry you have received in the Lord?

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. (Colossians 4:18 ESV)

A Worshipper (Colossians 1 & 2)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Colossians 1:1-2 ESV)

Today we begin a journey through the last two prison epistles (letters) from Paul.  Colossians and Ephesians are big enough books that we will be covering two chapters a day.  I know that is more aggressive than our normal reading schedule, but I think it’s worth the time.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing--as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. (Colossians 1:3-8 ESV)

Reading letters from Paul in prison, we gain an insight into what he considers to be important.  Prayer is clearly at the top of the list.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14 ESV)

Go back and read that paragraph again.  A whole sermon or sermon series could be put together just from the outline of this section.  What a prayer – filled with knowledge and wisdom and strengthened with all power - Paul really does care about people walking together with God.  We can only do that through the grace, wisdom, and power offered to us through Jesus.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

I love Paul’s descriptions of Jesus.  They are some of the clearest, most complete, unambiguous descriptions of our Lord and Savior.  He also clearly describes what changes for us because of Jesus.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23 ESV)

Paul pauses for a moment to reflect on his current situation.  He is in prison.  At this point, he may be sitting in Rome.  That means this isn’t his first imprisonment.  He has been beaten.  He has been shipwrecked.  He’s been bitten by a viper (snake).  Yet, Paul rejoices.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. (Colossians 1:24-2:5 ESV)

He rejoices in the suffering because he knows he is a part of a much bigger plan.  He is Christ’s ambassador.  He is an essential part of Christ’s Body: The Church.  He especially rejoices because he is seeing the fruit of his labor – more and more people are walking together with God.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Colossians 2:6-10 ESV)

Colossians 2:6 is one of those verses worth writing down, putting in front of ourselves, and memorizing.  We need to continue walking in Christ, who is our savior and Lord.

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:11-15 ESV)

Everything changed when we were baptized.  We were “circumcised” removing and throwing away the ways of our “flesh.”  We died and were made alive.  We were forgiven.  We were reconciled with God.

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations--"Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (referring to things that all perish as they are used)--according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:16-23 ESV)

How about you?  Do you beat yourself up with good-sounding rules, or do you trust in and walk in Jesus?