Colossians 3:17-21 - Wade Branch 12/25/19

Good evening, everybody is great to be here with you to worship.

And now to study God's word together, we're going to be

studying in Colossians chapter 3, verse 17 through 21.

Colossians 3:17–21

If you'll turn with me there, I don't know if Terry thought he

was funny, giving me the section on the home and how wives are to

treat their husbands husband to treat their wives and not a

parent. But he gave me a good challenge

that I think I learned a lot from.

So thank you for that and now you have to deal with it.

So we're going to go ahead and read those verses to begin

beginning. In verse 17 of Colossians

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3, it says, and whatever you do in word or deed do all in

the name of the Lord, Jesus giving.

Thanks to God the Father I threw him wives submit to your own

husband's at his as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands love your wives and do not be bitter toward them

children obey, your parents in the and all things for this is

well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers do not provoke your

children less, they become discouraged.

Okay so this is our the landscape of what we're going to

cover tonight. Now let's go back up to the

first verse. I love how this starts out he

says, and whatever you do in word or deed.

Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

So this gives us a good starting point for everything.

We're going to look at everything.

He's going to say is based on the premise of what he just said

it makes everything else. He's says, okay, because this is

on Jesus Authority and everything we do.

This is supposed to cover every area of Our Lives because it's

not something we take our godliness and were Godly and,

and one section. And we go about our work or we

navigate our relationships, another area of our life.

These areas of our lives are where we, where we ignite

godliness there, the mediums through which we involve

godliness in our lives. And that's he says, they're

everything we do is in the name of our Lord Jesus.

So that first question says, what is meant by the phrase?

Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

So it's not saying that we need to do everything in the name of

the Lord Jesus. By speaking those words, I go to

school. Today, I go to work today in the

name of the Lord Jesus and we To say those words, that's not what

it's saying. What that word that phrase in

the name of the Lord Jesus is, is it's acting knowing that

that's who are acting on behalf of he says, in word or indeed,

if that's who we're speaking on behalf of that is who were

operating on behalf of in this and in our life and that's hard

to focus on all the time, when we realize how big of a deal

that is, its kind of overwhelming.

I'm the one who speaking for God on Earth, I'm the one who is

supposed To show people what Christ is like.

And that's a big thought, but that's what second Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 5:20

5:20 says it tells us that we are Christ's ambassadors on

Earth and Ambassador is somebody who who leaves the country on

behalf of the country and goes and speaks to another country

and their representatives. It's a representative for for

the country or part of. So, our US ambassador, may meet

with a rep meet with an ambassador of China and they

discuss operations. They discuss relationships from

each side. And that's what we are for God.

We are a representative for God. We are acting on behalf of God,

here, in everything we do. And he said here, that this is

to cover anything we say, and anything we do and, you know,

it's, it would be kind of silly if you had an ambassador who

just sat around and did nothing, you just sat with his feet up

all day and didn't go make any interactions who if you had a,

you know, someone else, maybe they're their assignment was a

CIA agent. If they just sat around and did

nothing, if we have a position, And we need to stand up to our

position. It's not like we can shrink away

from this and say I know that's that's great for some people but

I just don't want to be that. We're called to be an ambassador

because no one else is going to do it.

And it's important that we do it well because because it's not

like Christ is gonna be here, picking up our pieces all the

time and physically if I go about my daily life Christ isn't

standing there, talking to everyone else going.

Okay? He was a jerk today.

He was not very kind you and he didn't do what he should have

been doing it. He didn't help you guys.

Like you should have but that's not what a Christians.

Really like a Christian shouldn't be like that.

A christ-like person is someone like this Jesus isn't there to

pick up our pieces all the time. It is.

Our job to be Christ's representative in the way we

live. And that concept of doing

everything in the name of the Lord.

Jesus is something that should govern everything we talked

about going on from here. So, carrying the name is to

summarize, it is the realization, the perspective,

and the purpose of working for him and for his glory.

So moving on to the next verse Verse 18, do the second half of

verse 17 says, do all in the name of the Lord.

Jesus giving. Thanks to God the Father through

him. So that's something we do with

thankfulness. It's something we don't want to

shirk away from shy away from, is the chance that we get to be

a part of this. We get to be an ambassador of

Christ. We get to have that license if

you will. What if God said, you know, you

messed up so you can never be a part of my team.

You can never be a part of what I'm going to do on this Earth.

You know, that be disappointed. We'd be on the outside looking

in, but God tells us you get to be a part of my team.

You get to act as my Ambassador and you need to give, thanks to

God, the Father through him and everything you do.

It's an attitude of thankfulness even though it's a heavy thing,

we accept it and we're going to be doing everything we do with a

thankfulness toward God. Okay, so Verse 18, says, wives

submit to your own husband's as is fitting in the Lord.

So what we just said, Everything we do needs to be done in the

name of the Lord Jesus. So, so, starting off in wife or

wives wives need to act toward their husbands and in the name

of the Lord Jesus, let's remember that.

So we're acting on wiser to act on the name of the Lord Jesus

and the way they act and how are you how are women supposed to

act toward their husbands to submit to your own husband's as

is fitting in the Lord. So the first part, I want to

notice on that is the OWN the word own right there.

He could have said, well, I've submit to men like in statement,

but I think it's important here and what he says is that he says

submit to your own husband's, women are not an inferior being.

There is a headship crisis. Stablished God, the Father

Christ, man. And God, that's just the order

of things that God set it up in. But it doesn't mean the women or

the wife's are in any lower position, less of a any position

of lesser value. And is important to notice that

he says to submit to your own husband's.

This isn't that there's a direct commandment to submit to any

man, any situation. So I think that's an important

note as we move forward. But the overall command that's

given here is to submit. Now this is for something.

I want to focus as a universal concept because we are told as

Christians to be submissive as a whole, that's a command

throughout scripture. And I think that is the Biggest

most probably the most impactful way we can show Christ to others

in general, that is what Christ did.

He took his will and he put it aside and he came down here,

everything you see in Christ's life was a this is what I might

want, but I'm going to set that aside and do this.

I'm going to set aside everything that's perfect up in

here here in heaven. However it is I'm going to set

aside and go to my people. I'm going to set aside what I

want over and over. And so Christ attitude that he

set for us was one of submission.

And so instead of looking at like many people, look at that

as a negative thing, this submissive attitude.

It's not, it is a position of strength.

It is, I have this power but I'm going to release it.

It's kind of like gentleness. I've heard gentleness described

a strength controlled Like, like I have the ability to do one

thing, but I'm going to give, I'm going to carefully control

myself and handle this and give you the, the upper hand or

whatever. It might be.

So this concept of submission is discussed in Ephesians chapter 5

Ephesians 5:21–23

verse 21 through 23. And there is says submitting to

one another, to one another, in the fear of God, that is a

commandment for everyone to submit to one another.

So this is primarily an instruction to be submissive to

all Christians. Now I think both for this

command toward the women to be to submit to your own husband's

and the command that's going to follow, for the husband's to

love your wives. Those are both.

Those are both commands for all Christians to love your wives

and do not be. Be bitter.

Those are the love to not be bitter and submissiveness is

something we're all commanded to do anyway.

But I think these two are pointed out specifically for one

for the man and one for the woman because maybe there are

areas that we commonly fail in that one of the areas we falter

first and is maybe the husbands don't love their wives if they

feel certain way and they turned bitter.

That's a maybe that's a first reaction.

Maybe the wives first reaction for many is when their husbands

not acting. Well to I'm not going to say

admit to that. But so this, these are ways that

God is pointing out perhaps that their key areas, we need to

focus on and if we're in one of these roles as a husband, or a

wife, In Philippians 2 verse 3. We're told to do nothing from

Philippians 2:3

selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others, more

exciting. More significant than ourselves

to look at to the other to the needs of others.

As more important than our own. And I think, as we, as the

question asks, well, how does this a wife submit to her own?

Husband is important to notice these Concepts as a whole to

know, how this can be implemented in a way in a wife's

life is that they are you weird to look at no one else's needs

above our own and a wife can do that by looking out for the

needs of her husband, and taking care of those.

And in many different ways and companionship, and strength, and

encouragement support. Anything you might throw in

there. It is, it is something that the

wife should be looking for and submitting to sometimes take

what she wants and set aside and do what might be best for her.

Husband that how the question as to.

How does a wife submit to her husband?

I think is important to note that says, as As is fitting in

the Lord that you don't just submit to anything.

If you're a wife, you submit to things that are proper in the

Lord. First things that are, okay,

that God wants us to do first. And from, there it is, I guess

it's a discretionary command is what can I do for him in this

situation? What can I do for him and this

situation? So it's a situational thing is

how to best submit to her own husband and taking care of him

and helping him. And I think this is also

addressed in First Peter chapter 3 beginning in verse 1.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

There it says that wives are to submit going to turn over there

real quick. Why is likewise be submissive to

your own husband's that? Even if some do not obey the

word, they without a word, may be won by the conduct of their

wives. So, what you just said there is

that if you have an unbelieving husband, even if you might not

believe the word of God Alone, maybe because of your actions,

your submissive attitude, your your godliness, you can change

him. And I think that is a critical

part of everything we've discussed here is the power of a

submissive. We'll have it your way out of

tude and changing hearts. For both the woman and for all

of us to have a submissive attitude, I don't know.

One thing that can turn someone's head faster as when

they expect you to do one thing in a selfish way and to act in

their own interest and you say no here, we'll do it your way.

I know I wanted this and it's obvious maybe by the situation

but no, we're going to do it your way.

I'm going to sacrifice on my behalf to get to let you have

the upper hand somehow and that is a beautiful thing because

people are going to say, wait what?

They can have a double. Take.

What do you mean? You're going to?

Give up something for me. I know you wanted that.

No you can have it. That's for you.

We're going to do it your way. And so as a whole this is an

attitude. I think we can all learn from

Going on to verse 19. It says husband's, love your

wives and do not be bitter toward them.

So this instruction for the husband's is to not be bitter.

Some of these things, I'm not gonna have a whole lot to say on

because I will maybe leave for the older man or someone else to

fill in these gaps because I don't have a whole lot of advice

on, but one of the things as I was thinking about these things,

why can a husband get bitter toward his wife and typically

Bitterness comes from, it seems like from a place of an

expectation that was not met for example.

If you had a friend who was supposed to be a good friend to

you that you guys had been close friends for a long time and they

betrayed you or they went, you know, they did something

contrary to you. And they kind of left you high

and dry that creates a certain feeling of bitterness that you

don't feel from anyone else. People can make you angry on the

side of the road, people can make you angry.

You're going about your daily business.

They can make you frustrated. But Bitterness comes from

something that's deeper seeded and you're angry about because

they should have done better for you.

And I think as as many men approached relationships

husband's approach relationships, they see, they

see this wife when, you know, maybe the first together is

this, the this perfect being that can't do any wrong and

they're just so overwhelmed with how great they are.

And then there's a point where they realize, hey, they're

human. But for for someone who felt

like this woman is everything that will ever need in my life

to make me happy in any way. That's a big drop off for them

to feel like, well, this person failed me this, you know, my

wife failed me on this and so maybe that's where the

bitterness comes in, where his expectations for her were so

high that when she didn't meet those expectations, he got

bitter because she should have been something else for him.

That's just some thoughts. I have maybe that's why, but I

think that speaks to the need for husbands to have wise

expectations. I guess I'm pointing.

Fingers at myself. As I'm the one who's kind of

stepping on Deck to this, but to have wise expectations, that,

that yes, you, you want to choose a Godly wife and you want

to choose, someone is going to be best for you.

But there's a point where she is human as well, and she won't be

God. She's not going to be perfect.

And, and if, if she does feel, that's just because she's a lot

like you, she's a lot like any of us.

So, to have wise expectations for marriage and for A spouse or

for anyone in our lives. I think it will be helpful in

fostering, good relationships, but the message to the men is to

love the wife, to show them like to show them love.

And another scripture it says to bear with them and understanding

and to dwell with him and understanding so to really get

to know them because that will help to not have a ridiculous

estimation for them. They're not going to be gone.

Let's get to know them how they are.

Let's get to know them in the different ways.

That That will help us interact better.

So, to dwell with him in understanding, instead of being

bitter and to love, that's the instruction.

Going on in verse 20, it says children obey, your parents and

all things for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

So the instruction to Children is to obey and that's funny.

I had one Cole was younger. He had to write like children

obey your parents in the Lord. For this is right.

Honor, your father and mother for this is the first

commandment with promise Cole got in trouble for doing

something that you shouldn't have done.

I think he, he, you know, my parents knew he was going to do

something, but he told me wouldn't.

But he did anyway, whatever went on it.

Did something. And he had to write like 150

times that whole scripture out, and I just remember pages and

pages of that. But the beautiful thing with

this scripture is it something the child can do to glorify God?

You know, we can wonder, how can I really make God happy?

How can I make God? Feel something that's, that's a

fascinating thought and for a child for someone who's

underneath the parent underneath their roof, it's as simple as

doing what they say and it doesn't feel like that's a big

deal, but Odds is, it makes him happy.

And that's all we need to know. I think to really soak in that

awareness, that it's that simple.

And I can do that today and I can't access God in that way.

I can get to God in a way that will make him happy by by

obeying my parents because for because God sets up parents, as

kind of the first authority figure in our lives to where we

learn Authority. We learn, we learn how to

ultimately handle God. By the way, we handle our

parents by The way we submit to our parents, by the way, we obey

them and show respect to them. And so it is important that we

take that picture going to set up as God the father and learn

how to interact with that presence with our Earthly

fathers, in our Earthly mothers. And there's another scripture.

We're told in the fusion 6 verse 2, it says to honor them we're

told the children on your parents and and the best way to

do that regardless of whether they are in the Lord whether

they're not is to obey them because honoring them Obeying

them shows them honor. Now, as this question States is

ever permissible for a child to disobey his parents and this is

where the Ephesians 6 verse 1 and 2 comes in is yes, I

Ephesians 6:1

believe. So, if that parent is asking the

child to do something that is contrary to what God wants, God

is always the primary head in our life.

He's the primary figure of authority and so while a parent

may be the head of the child the primary Authority is God now.

In the situation that you have a parent wanting a child to do

something, contrary to God's, will the child is still honoring

the parent by doing what God wants, even if they're not

obeying the parent because of the wrong instruction, they're

getting they're still honoring their parent because as as their

parent, it is their job to prepare them for God.

And so if that child Will obey. God first that is an honor to

the parents in reality, whether the parent is Godly and realizes

it or whether the parent is ungodly and doesn't realize it.

The highest honor that can be given is to First obey, God.

I don't know if I made that clear, but we can honor our

parents and all things regardless of whether their

instruction is wise or unwise. Verse 21, fathers do not provoke

your children less, they become discouraged.

I was I was I was talking to Frank about this.

He said that his favorite description of it is to

exasperate, don't exasperate your kids, don't harp on them in

a way that that kind of Beats them down the bludgers them and

doesn't it doesn't help them grow.

Because as a parent the job of the parent is to nurture and to

raise up a child to build them up and not to take hits at them.

not to take body shots that hopefully make them stronger,

it's to build them up and one of the things he said is that

Parents shouldn't say something to a child that they can't

respond to like name-calling or blood during comments.

That really don't the child is like, what do I say to that?

How do I respond? I can't like improve with with

ridiculing comments. I can't be better with with the

grading comments. So I guess the words he

suggested were to give words that children can respond to and

Obey and improve upon. And this this instruction was

given as I understand as he was telling me from a culture where

the parents had authority to do really too much, they have the

authority to even give or take the child's life.

And so they had to be reined in. They had to learn to wield that

power in that control with, with a Godly attitude instead of a

domineering one. We thank you for listening to

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