Colossians 1:1-14 | How wisdom & understanding leads to Spiritual Growth.

This is City Post Church. We're about three things.

Build equipped and send. All under the.

Lordship of Jesus Christ. A small church plant in Fort

Worth, TX. Who decided to do things a

little differently? Adoramos.

Ajesu Cristo. I love City Post because of the

people. It's where I belong.

We truly preach the Word. I love City Post because of the

community we've been able to build.

To do ministry like Jesus. For light to push back.

Darkness This is city post podcast again this weekend I got

to hang out with my girls and. Friday, Saturday we had a.

Great time and I was explaining to Livia and Elena that back in

the 1900s we. Would burn CDs.

Y'all know what I'm talking? About, but we would.

Yeah, we would burn. CDs.

So this was before Spotify, before Apple, before YouTube.

Even for some of y'all before Pandora, all that stuff, we

would we would go and like burn CDs.

And I remember my brother introduced me to a program

called Limewire. Everybody you know an embarrass.

Share. All right, so you had Napster,

which was the beginning of all of this, and it was steel music.

Remember, Metallica sued Napster.

Because they were stealing. Music.

And I'm like. Guys are rich, who cares?

Right, so and then all. That stuff.

But then these other programs started to come and my.

Brother like Tito is. A tech genius, he has a degree

in social work. Used it for six.

Months and says I'm out right? So now he works in tech.

But. He installed these things in our

in our computers and he would explain it to me.

He's like Rick, whatever album you want, whatever song you

want. You just type it in.

And then what it? Does is that it looks?

To all these other. Places all these other files to

see where it could. Download that song.

For you. And I'm like, dude, this is

incredible. Like.

I could download like Chronic 2001 for.

Free like this is great. Shows my age all right.

So all that stuff. And so we're downloading music.

But here's what they didn't tell us.

Sometimes when you choose to download a song.

From whatever source you. Get the song.

But you know what else you get sometimes?

A virus? Exactly.

So I'm getting my songs. I'm like, oh man, this mixed

album is going to be killer, right?

And next thing you know, like my CPU got killed.

It's not starting, it's super. Slow so all these.

Things that came with the song got infused into my.

CPU and it's. Causing it not to work or

function. The way that it should.

And guys, we're going to start going through the book of

Colossians. And the Church of Colossae and.

What happened is that. People started coming to this.

Church and knowing the gospel, but there were some ideologies

and some like false like beliefs and theology that got infused

with it. As well.

And it started causing the church not to function.

The way that it should. And what Paul's going to do in

this? Letter is that Paul is.

Going to attack. These ideologies, he's going to,

he's going to talk about how to fix it.

So let me give. Us a little bit of a back story

as we before. We dive into the book of

Colossians. So Paul is writing to this

church. In a city called Colossae.

Now the city is located in modern day.

Turkey. It's about 100 miles east.

Of a city called Ephesus. That Paul spent three years

doing ministry there. That's where we get the book.

Ephesians from It's about 350 miles South of Istanbul, so I'm

telling you this because I want you to picture the region.

That it's at it was also. Situated along a trade route in

the Lyceus Valley, so that means.

That where the city was, it was. Constant transient I I think of

schools like UTA or UNT that are transient universities.

That means that. Students go.

Study there and then they. Leave or people that live.

In that area are there for maybe two or three years.

In my case 6 don't hate right and then you leave.

So imagine this you you have a church in a city that's

constantly transient, people coming from all.

Sorts of. Places to do business there we

also know that the. City of Colossae was destroyed.

By an earthquake. And when century AD the letter

was written so Colossians was written by Paul when he was in

prison in Rome between. 60 and 60. 2AD, but we.

Also do know that Paul? Is not the founder.

Of this church. Paul did not plant this.

Church, there was another. Gentleman that we're going to.

Look at. And his name is.

Emphasis and he was the pastor of that church and.

Then Paul is. Hearing what's happening, well,

the. Heresy.

That's going on, and he decides to.

Write this letter to the. Colossians now what is happening

in this church? Paul is going to address.

What I like? To call some.

Isms when it comes to. This church here, so I'll.

Put it on the screen. There's four isms that Paul is

going to look. At throughout the book of.

Colossians one is humanism. Humanism is pretty much that you

are the center. Of the universe.

I know some of us are like well. What's wrong with that, Rick?

I like being the center. Well, when you're the center of

the. Universe, like Sheryl Crow says,

whatever makes you happy, it can't be that bad.

So that means that we are constantly looking at ourselves

and nothing else matters unless I get what I am after.

We also see like, you know, that there.

Are atheists which? Atheism means that I don't

believe in any God. But then you have agnostics.

An agnostic believes that there is some sort of God somewhere.

Up there, that's in control. Of this I just don't know who it

is. And then we also see that's

where you get Gnosticism from which?

We look at the book. Of first John Gnosticism

separates the. Spiritual and the physical

together. And a lot of that ends the

humanism and. I'm going to.

Explain why that is an. Issue here in a second.

Then he's going to address legalism, and this comes from

the Jewish. Sect where it's like.

Yes, I want you to. Follow Jesus, but you got to be

able to do the law as well. So you got to be circumcised,

you got to keep the Sabbath because if you follow Jesus.

And you don't do the law, then it don't really count.

God's not going. To be pleased.

With you, then you. Have mysticism.

Now mysticism comes a lot from the.

Greeks very. Kind of spirituality, you know,

in our time, mysticism, people that just walk around the.

Office with Sage. And you're like, what are you

doing? And you're like I'm.

Getting rid of the negative. Energy like that, that's

mysticism. Lighting candles and doing palm

readings and all that stuff where you're playing with stars

and the spirits and all that's mysticism and that.

Is actually a Greek. Concept because you're

separating the. Spiritual with the physical.

And that leads to Gnosticism. And then a cynicism which?

Says that if I follow Christ, if I follow.

God, I'm not allowed to have fun.

That means that everything is. Super serious.

Like you can't be, you can't, you can't follow.

Pleasure. Pleasure is not a good thing if

you are seriously following the Lord, and Paul is going to.

Look at all of these, because what all of these?

Have in common is Jesus. And.

So. With humanism, it's like Jesus.

Is step. One to your journey to finding

joy and the meaning of life. For yourself with legalism,

it's. Jesus and all these laws with

mysticism. It's Jesus and all of these

spiritual rituals and with aestheticism, it's Jesus, but

just don't have a good time following him.

What, Paul? 'S going to do here is say

listen all. Of this stuff, I hear what

you're saying, but the way I'm going to fight you on this.

Is the supremacy of Christ? It's Jesus is.

All. Jesus is over everything and.

Paul is going to come at this argument.

So Colossians is like Ephesians. It's split in half.

So the first two. Chapters of Colossians Paul is

going to address the. Theology piece of it he's.

Going to look at Colossians, the doctrinal piece of the supremacy

of Christ, why Christ is everything and why Christ is

superior to. All of these little belief.

Systems that you're trying to infiltrate in the church, then

chapters 3 and four are the submission of Christ.

So why Jesus is so far superior? And why we must submit to?

His Lordship. And live in a specific.

Way so the. 2nd 2 chapters are practical and he and.

He's going to. Walk us through what that looks

like. Man, I'm.

Telling you like this? Book is.

So good. Like even today as I was

learning all this stuff, like I'm like.

Learning a bunch of stuff so if y'all don't get nothing out of

it too. Bad IA lot so all right so let's

look at verse we're. Going to read verse one and two

and I will also warn Paul writes in these long chunks lots of

commas a lot, lots of like there's not a lot of periods so

we're. Going to read with Paul.

Rowe And then we're going to kind of go back and and kind of

break things down a little bit. So look at verse 1 and 2.

Paul. An apostle of Christ Jesus.

By the will of God. And Timothy, our brother to

God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and

sisters in Christ, grace and peace.

To you from God our Father. So in Paul.

'S letters he always. Gives this awesome introduction.

Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul is letting them know that he is the person who is writing

this letter now, Ricky. Why does Paul?

Put his name first. Why doesn't he do like?

The whole like. To whom it may concern, or dear

so and. So you got to.

Remember, in these times, this is kind of what?

You did. So if I were to write a letter.

To the city of Fort Worth, I'd be like This is Ricky Cottle,

pastor of City Post Church. Grace and peace.

Be to you city of Fort Worth. So it's just kind of a.

A way that you do. That right saying I'm.

Apostle of Christ Jesus Paul. Is not a disciple.

Christ met Paul and had a confrontation with Paul.

That changed. His life and what Paul is saying

is, is because of God's. Will that I had an.

Encounter with Christ is why. I'm I'm an apostle.

Of Christ and then. He throws in to my.

Brother Timothy. Who's Timothy?

Timothy. Was a young.

Pastor, that Paul is. Disciple in and.

What a lot of. Scholars say, is that Timothy?

Was probably. Writing down what, Paul?

Was telling out of that. Prison in in.

Roman in in Rome. So he mentions Timothy because

Timothy's with him right now. Now, who is Paul writing this

letter to? It says it in verse.

Two, as holy people. In Colosse to the faithful

brothers and sisters in Christ understand this.

Paul is not writing this to non believers.

He's not writing. This to whom?

It may concern he's not writing this to the government, he's not

writing this. To the.

People of Colossae no his focus and target.

Are the brothers and sisters those who are believers?

In Jesus Christ who responded to the gospel message, that's who

the letters going to and I think we need to be careful sometimes.

When we talk to people. Who are not believers?

And we, and we and we. Try to.

Twist and turn things. Listen, they're not going to

understand God's word because they don't have the Holy Spirit.

So what we? Have to do is we have to trust

God's. Word.

Trust the revelation of His Word and speak it the way that it's

intended. To be taught and.

Spoken to and if they don't get. It it's because the holy.

Spirit has not revealed. It to him yet.

So Paul is. Directing this line of

communication to the believers. And I think that's why it's so.

Relevant to us today because those of us in this room are

here to worship Jesus and listen.

If you're not, my prayer for you.

Is that you? Have an encounter with Christ

this morning. And that your heart.

Turned to him. It's so.

Worth it? All right, let's read.

First big chunk here verses 3. Through 6.

So this is what the word of the Lord.

Says we always thank. God the Father of our Lord

Jesus. Christ, when we pray to.

You for you. Because we have heard of your.

Faith. In Christ Jesus and of your

love. For you have for all.

Of God's people, the. Faith and love that spring.

From the hopes stored up. For.

You in heaven and about. Which you have already heard.

In the true message of the gospel that has come to you.

In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing

throughout the whole world. Just as it is it.

Has been doing among you since the day you heard it, and truly.

Understood. God's grace.

You learned it from. Pastor EI can't even.

Pronounce his name so. I'm just going to call him

Pastor E. Here our fellow servant who is a

faithful minister. Of Christ.

On our behalf and who? Also told us of your love.

The Spirit so back in. Verse three.

I love how Paul starts this letter because what Paul?

'S doing here is that. Paul is easing in before.

He drops the hammer. He's he's.

Kind of building them up. Paul loves them enough to

address certain concerns because.

That's that's what a Good Shepherd does, but before he.

Does that he's going to kind of lift them up a little bit he's

going to ease them in so if we. Look at this elaborate.

Sentence, he says. Man, I always thank God for.

You guys and verse 3. And then he says, I'm praying

for you guys. But look what he says.

When I pray for you. The Church of Colossae the.

Brothers and sisters, when I pray.

For you, there's two. Things that I'm praying for you

for not before, but because. He of what he heard.

I'm praying because I heard of two things about you your faith

in Christ and the. Love of God's people.

We see it in verse 4, if you're writing things down, these are

things that you should be circling, love for Christ and

faith in Christ and love for people.

And I started thinking I felt like a conviction from the Holy

Spirit, and I said, Lord, may City Post be known for two

things, our faith in Jesus and our love for God.

'S people. He doesn't say that the Church

of Colossae had a bomb. Ministry or an incredible

preacher? Or an incredible worship.

Team or an incredible facility? He didn't say any of that stuff,

what Paul's saying, what people are talking.

About what is honoring the Lord? Is that their faith?

In Christ, following Jesus to the tee, honoring Jesus, putting

Jesus first in everything, and then also.

The way that you love. Each other I love Jesus.

Mentions this in the book of John.

As he prays. For the believers.

And he says, Ma'am, my prayer for.

You is that you stay. Unified.

Because that's how the world. 'S going to know that you, that

you're mine, the love for one another.

And then in verse. Five, he walks this.

Thing out right, he says. Faith in Christ.

Love for God's people. And then he says, man, the faith

and the love, you know where that comes from.

It springs up from the hope that you have in heaven.

That means that the faith that I have and the love.

That I have for people. That's not of my own doing.

It has to come from somewhere. And where's it coming from?

The hope I have. In heaven, which is in through

Christ. And the way that I got that.

Was because I responded and I heard the true.

Message of the Gospel the. True message of the Gospel.

Is what transforms our lives. It's when we respond to it.

That Jesus came, He died. He was.

Buried. And then he rose.

Again on the third day. And because he rose again.

You. And I can now have.

Transformation. And we have the Holy.

Spirit that lives through us. If we accept Him and repent of

our sins, that's what's coming to us.

And then Paul encourages them in verse 6.

He said man, that same. Gospel that has changed you?

That is giving you this faith. In Jesus and that's causing you

to love one another. That same gospel, listen, that

same gospel is. Bearing fruit throughout the

world, everything that we've. Talked about the.

Reason why you have this? Church listen, it's.

Working. Can I encourage?

Us real quick as a church people, the same gospel that we

preach here it's. Changing.

Lives all throughout the world. We don't realize it and

sometimes we kind of like fall, like, ah man, what we doing

doesn't even matter. You don't know whose life is

being transformed by what we're doing here.

God is using people. All.

Throughout the world, you and I are not going to.

See it but it's. Working.

It's going everywhere. Our stream, everything that

we're doing is having impact not just in our city, but in the

world because the. Lord is faithful.

And because the gospel. Is real.

Just that's been doing it. And it says here and in Paul

finishes. Verse 6.

Same thing that's been doing here in Colossae from day one.

From the day. That you heard it.

From the day that you understood God's grace, it's happening.

And then this pastor, Pastor E here, he's the faithful.

Minister on our behalf. He's the one that planted this

church. He's the one that's been

talking. To us about you now.

He's going to get into. A a really, really thick passage

here. So look at verses 9.

Through 11, we spend most. The rest of our time here,

verses 9 through 11 and. We're going to walk this thing

out. For this reason, so Paul kind of

set it up, He encouraged them. He he kind of gave him a little

shout out, OK, now for this reason, this reason for the

gospel. Since the day we heard about

you. We have not stopped praying for

you, we continually ask. God to fill you.

With the knowledge. Of his will through all the.

Wisdom and understanding. That the Spirit gives.

So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please

Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good word, growing in

the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power

according to His glorious might. So that you may have great

endurance and patience and giving thanks and giving joyful

thanks to the. Father, who has qualified.

You to share in the inheritance. Of his holy.

People in the Kingdom of. Of light.

That's a mouthful. But Paul has to connect.

All of that together. Really important that we truly.

Understand what Paul is saying here.

So starting out the. Same way that Paul encourages.

Them and saying like man we're I'm hearing these two things

from you guys and I pray. For you because of your.

Faith in Christ and your love for each.

Other. But the same reason.

The work of the Gospel. Is moving, but I'm also haven't

stopped praying. For you.

So not just the church. Not just.

Pastor E over here. Not just the work.

But for you? Individually as a believer.

In Christ. And Paul?

There's two things and I'll put them on the screen.

There's two things that Paul prays for the believers number.

One is the knowledge. The knowledge.

Of God's will, informed by spiritual understanding, so he.

Prays that they have. Knowledge of his will which?

Comes through his word and then he says also in verse 10, I

pray. That you have a life worthy of

the Lord, that you're able to please.

Him what? Paul.

Is doing here is he's setting up the whole book.

Remember we talked. About the first two chapters are

doctrinal. The 2nd 2 are.

Practical. So what he's doing here is that

he is. Pretty much drawing them in now.

The Greek word for knowledge. Here, let's just eat this.

Elephant, one bite at a time. The Greek word for knowledge.

Here is actually the. Same word that you see knowledge

everywhere. The thing that Paul.

Does here though is that Paul throws.

In a preposition to intensify the word knowledge and the

meaning so when you look at the definition of knowledge.

It's it's like an. Expression or a feeling?

But because at. The end of verse 9 he ends it

with. That the Spirit gives.

He's not talking about a knowledge like book knowledge,

like I learned something. He's talking.

About a spiritual knowledge that only the Spirit of God can give

you, not just the spiritual knowledge.

So that means that it's not just an impression or feeling.

He's saying I. Want you to have a deep and

thorough knowledge of. The will of God, that's.

Only going to be revealed. To you by the word of God,

through the Spirit of God. I don't want you to have.

Goose pimples and butterflies only.

I want you to know. I want you to know God's will

because. The truth is that our.

Emotions and feelings lie to us all the time.

So when we talk about God's will for our lives.

There's going to be some things that don't make me.

Feel good. That I'm going to have to say,

Lord, I'm going to follow. You because of the.

Revelation, you gave me through your word and I hate this but.

I'm going to do it. Because you've asked me.

To do it. So what he's.

Saying is that he's saying. Listen the knowledge of his.

Will through all. Wisdom.

Not just regular wisdom, spiritual wisdom.

But then. Also understanding.

And that's that same preposition.

Right, it's the spiritual. Component to it.

So it's not understanding like you understand.

Yeah, I get it. No, it's not that.

I get it. Do you really understand?

So? So let's break this down.

Spiritual modifies the word wisdom here, right?

So how? Does it modify it?

So what Paul is talking? About the knowledge I'm

attaining. Through His word, which is

spiritual, that means that I have the ability.

To accumulate and organize principles from.

Scripture so. When I read the scripture, I'm

able to bring it in and tie it together.

Because of the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

Then I don't. Just accumulate God's scripture

and His Word I also. Have that understanding of it.

So what does? Understanding mean understanding

means I'm. Able to apply it to my everyday.

Life. So that means I'm not just

hearing from God, I'm not just learning from God, I'm

implementing. It I'm getting busy.

With it. I'm not just getting

spiritually. Fat.

I'm giving. It out and that's what Paul is

talking about here. So let me give.

You let me give you an example. So I was thinking about like how

do I? Explain this.

OK, so Genesis. One Genesis 11.

Many of us know that. Passage.

In the beginning, God created. The heavens and the earth.

Now when I read. That I could easily like, yeah,

God created stuff. Now if I have spiritual.

Wisdom. And I'm able to accumulate and

organize principles of scripture.

Then I'm able to look at a simple.

Passage like that and start. To really.

Think through it through the. Assistance of the Holy Spirit.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, so that

means that. God has.

Always been eternal. God wasn't.

Created God, always existed. And then it says that.

He always. Was there and then he.

Created things that means that he.

Spoke and when he speaks. Everything is just made.

That's where he gets the name Elohim from God, my Creator.

And when God creates stuff. It works really good.

Because if you keep reading. Genesis, he says that he looked

at it. He says it's good.

So God does not mess up, God does not create junk, God does

not do things without purpose or intention or without reason.

Elohim, how did I get? All of that from one little

verse. Spiritual.

Wisdom. Now how do I understand it with

the Spirit? So how do I apply that to my

life? So if I truly.

Understand that God is elohim he creates everything, everything's

intention and purpose that mean what does that mean for me

listen, when I am going through a really hard time, I have to

lean on elohim if I'm. Stuck.

I have a. God, that makes a way out of no

way. That means that when I'm

worried, when I'm, when I'm like, how's this going to work?

Like man, the God. That I serve created the.

Universe so that we I don't. Worship the universe, I worship

the guy. That made the universe.

So why am I worried so much? Why am I freaking out?

You see, that's how. That's how you connect them

both, and that does not happen without spiritual the spiritual.

Piece of it. So what, Paul?

Is saying is that my? Prayer for you.

Is that you will attain knowledge of God's will.

How am I going to know God's will for my?

Life because. You must attain it through

wisdom and understanding. That means that I must know His

Word and do it. And many of us know.

His word, but we don't. Do it so when you know his word

and you don't do it, you are stuck.

Like Chuck. Things don't.

Grow in your life and I'll show you here how here in a second.

So what he's saying? Is like this is what the.

Spirit gives us now look. Verse 10 says so that.

You may. Live a life worthy.

Of the Lord and please Him in every way.

How do? I live a life worthy of the

Lord. What does that look like?

Being constantly in his word. And doing what he tells me to

do. It's called.

Obedience. So if I.

Live my life worthy of the Lord and I.

Please him in every way. Then that means that the.

Work that I do. Is going to bear fruit?

What kind of work is Paul talking about here?

Well, the Bible identifies a lot of spiritual fruit and people.

That are leading in Christ we have that in Galatians, the

fruit of the. Spirit we.

See in Hebrews 13 praising God, we see tithing or giving in

Romans 15 living a godly life, displaying holy attributes,

Being obedient to what? God has called me to do that.

Is a life worthy of the Lord? And hating my sin.

You know we. We got to start.

Addressing this whole like. Holiness of God and

righteousness if I'm going to pursue.

The Lord. That means I'm going to hate the

things that he. Hates and.

I'm going to love the things that he loves.

It's going to change a lot in our lives.

So verse. 10 it says so that. You may live a life.

Worthy to the Lord and. Please him in every way bearing.

Fruit in every good word, growing in the knowledge.

Of God. You want to know how?

You grow spiritually. Wisdom, understanding.

Get in His Word and do what it says and you will grow.

That's it. You could.

You could attend all the conferences you want.

You go to church as much as you want.

Listen. But if you are idle.

In life. You're never going to experience

true growth and maturity in Christ we've.

Got to get to work. We've got to.

Put it into practice. And then there's an outcome of

that being strengthened. With all power.

According to the glorious Might. So that way you.

Would have great endurance. And patience man, when I read

this it's almost like a little. Bit of a.

Cycle in my mind, so I'll go and put the slide up.

Here because I. Want us to see what Paul is

showing us? It's almost like a a small

cycle. So bearing.

Fruit with all good work. Knowledge of God.

Which is growth so. As I am putting the knowledge of

God that I'm learning into work, I begin to grow in my faith.

So the more I do, then I go back.

To his. Word to learn more it's a

constant cycle I learn and I do I learn and I do and then out of

that the outcome of having the knowledge of.

God. I become strengthened in him, I

get the. Power that I need in.

Order for me to continue to be obedient and to do so.

If I'm weary and I'm tired and I'm burned out, that means that

I am not bearing fruit. That means that I'm missing

something. I'm trying to.

Do what? God.

Asked me to do in my own power or I'm trying to do what God

tells me to do, but my own way. And when you do things in your

own power and in your own way and you don't link up with the

spiritual, yes, you're going to burn out.

You're going to crash. But if you follow the cycle, it

starts to connect it all together and it.

Begins to give you strength. And I love.

That it says with all power here.

That means it's not on your power.

That means it's on his. Power how?

Else, do you think you're able to do this?

Through the power of the holy. Spirit, listen if it wasn't.

Through God's power. I would have quit years.

Ago. There's no way.

But man like but when I when I. Plug into him and I get.

In his word. And I'm obedient.

Like you, obedient. There's something that happens

inside of. You it's like, like I always say

like. Creatine to the soul.

It's like your soul just. Drinks like an energy drink.

And you're able to continue. Forward.

Now what are the outcomes? That you get.

When you're strengthened. By what God gives you, check

this out I. Think this is so fascinating, He

says endurance and patience. No, no, no, no, not just

endurance and. Patience.

Read the text. Great.

Endurance and patience did. You all catch that?

Ricky, why would I need endurance and patience?

For, have you ever tried? Discipling people.

Have you ever tried to serve the?

Lord, when you're tired and you'll feel like it and what God

got to say and it's like, man, it's going to strengthen you.

And when it strengthens you, you're going.

To be able to endure and you're going to have patience, you're

going to last. I love that the Lord Jesus

always talks about this. He always talks about.

A faith that endures. That's why he talks about the

mustard seed man. It's not about a.

Faith that's going to explode. Up no.

The mustard seed grows longevity wise as well.

It's so that way you last and Paul.

Is saying that what comes out of this is a faith, it's an

endurance and a patience. For you.

To have it's this awesome cycle. Now he ends it with giving

joyful thanks to the Father. So when I end his.

Word. Wisdom and understanding through

spirit and then I become strengthened in my soul and

because I become strengthened in my soul, he gives me great

endurance and great patience and.

Because all of this is. Working verse 12.

Giving joyful thanks to the Father.

Man, my expression, my outcome with all of this happening is.

Worship joyful. Thanks to the Father.

Why? Because he's the one that

qualified. You love the saying says God

does not call. The qualify.

He qualifies the call. If he called to qualify.

None of us in here would be doing what we do because none of

us ain't qualified for this. I sure ain't qualified for this.

But because the Lord is. The one who qualifies us and he

says I've chosen you. Love that word.

Qualified if you study the text even deeper.

It's almost like an umpire. What an umpire does in baseball

is that the umpire. Calls.

What's acceptable and what's not?

He calls strikes. He calls foul balls He calls.

Fouls offsides, the umpire allows, and the umpire says

what's not allowed. And that's the same sentiment

that Paul's using. Here Paul saying like.

God is the one. Who says yes?

You could come in I'm. The one that's qualifying you?

And no, I'm have not. Called you.

God is the one that does it. And why does he qualify you?

Why does he choose you? To share in the inheritance.

Of his holy people. In the Kingdom of.

Light. So that way you could be a part

of what he's doing and. Then the.

Last couple of verses. 13 and 14.

For He has rescued us. From the dominion of darkness

and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we

have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul is very. Black and white here.

Because because it's God that qualifies you.

That means that you're either in the Kingdom of Light.

Or. The Kingdom of darkness.

We see that in First John all the time.

So there's no like tap dancing? Side to side like which?

One am I going to? Decide to jump into no.

You're either saved. Or you're not.

You're follower of Christ. Or you're not you either, all

Jesus. Or all something else.

And and he's pointing this. Out he, he's.

Pulled us out of dominion of darkness.

And brought us into the forgiveness of our sins and the

redemption. So I want to end.

This is Paul talks about if you look back in verse.

Nine, it says. The knowledge.

Of His will to wisdom and understanding.

I think one of the greatest questions that many of us have

or this generation has, is how do I know God's will for my

life? How do I know that I'm supposed

to be doing what I'm doing? How do I know?

And some stuff in. Scripture is is clear like Paul.

Says like you shouldn't sue your brother or sister.

But what if? I have an opportunity to move to

Dallas. Instead of Fort Worth.

There's nothing in the Bible says thou shalt not move.

To Dallas for your life. Would be rough.

How do I know which I should date?

How do I know who I should marry?

Thou shalt not marry him. He's terrible.

Thus saith the Lord. She will be a pain in your side.

There's nothing. In the Bible, that points.

That out there? Is something that says what?

Does light have to do with darkness?

How do we know? Well, I want to give you just

three things. And one with this how do we

discern God's will? So based out of Paul what he

showed us. In colossians #1 it's the

counsel of God's. Word.

So if I have. Spiritual wisdom and I am.

Trying to pour into to my like if I'm trying to make a

decision, the first thing I'm going to do is I am going to get

into God's Word and I'm going to read that thing the Bible.

Says in Psalms, For thy word is a lamp unto my feet.

And a light unto my. Path that means that God is

going to illuminate my. Steps, but he's also.

Going to show you. My future, he's also going.

To show me my future. And you cannot.

You cannot. Look for your.

Future will if you're not willing to get in God's will

right now. So the way that.

I know is number one. I'm going to.

Read his word. I'm going to study his word.

I'm not going to be picking and choosing.

I'm just going to. Dig in his word.

And then #2 how do I know God's wolf from my life, The comfort

of God's peace, so I don't just have the counsel of His.

Word, but God gives us a. Peace in our souls and in our

lives. So listen, if you're missing

peace on a decision, then you don't need to go.

Then you need to wait. It might not be right now, it

might be just later. So it's not, I think it's not

that you get. Peace.

It is the lack thereof of peace that you need.

To pay attention to SO. When you have.

God's peace, that's everything. The love of Jesus.

Says in John 1420. 7 Peace I leave.

You my. Peace I give you.

Not as the world gives. Not as the world gives.

Do I give to you? Let not your hearts.

Be troubled. Or let them be afraid.

How do you know we got God's peace?

Your hearts are not troubled and you're not afraid.

I got God's word, but I also have.

God's peace in my life, and sometimes you have to wait.

You know, I remember growing up as in ministry, it was a

decision that I had to make when I felt called a pastor and I was

like 2013, but there was something in my life like I

didn't have a piece about it. Now I also remember going to the

University of North Texas, moving to Denton and I I made a

decision. I was like, man, I am going to

plant my. Feet in Denton.

I'm going to move to. Denton I'm going to lock in in

school. I'm going to find a.

Church up here. And then that's it for the next

two years. That's what I'm doing.

I'm locking in. I'm going to get my.

Degree I started. Visiting churches and I didn't

have a piece about it. Then I met this girl named

Rachel. Messed up all my plans.

Next thing you know it man, I'm traveling to Arlington serving

at my home. Church.

I had peace there. Now Fast forward 2015, when I

really felt. The God, the call of.

God on my life and I felt God saying I want you to.

Pastor. And it was time for me to.

Go. I felt peace there.

So worried I was like Oh my. God, what are they going to do?

Who's going to take? Care of the kiddies?

No, that didn't bother me one bit.

Why? Because I had peace, but also

had the wisdom and the understanding that God was going

to make sure everything was taken care of.

Then the last thing here, and we'll close with this, the

confirmation of others. And I think if we want to

discern God. 'S will for our lives.

We need to surround ourselves. With spiritually.

Mature, faithful Ogs that have. Done this a long time, now

going. To your friend like.

Going to your friends is important, but going to those

who know you best. Your family members.

Those who are locked. In with who?

God. Is and what God is?

Doing and asking them. Do you see this?

In me is this a? Good.

Idea I'm praying through this. Can you pray with me about it

and listen when you have? The counsel of God's Word, the

comfort of His. Peace and the Confirmation of.

Others God's will will be revealed to you.

In a way that doesn't make any sense, but you're going to know.

You're going to know so my. Prayer for you guys today.

Is the same for Paul. I'm praying for you and I'm

continually asking God to fill you with the knowledge.

Of his will through all the. Wisdom and understanding.

That the Spirit gives. So that way you may live a.

Life worthy of the Lord. And please him in every way.

Let your work bear fruits. He's going to strengthen you

with his spirit and he's going to give you great endurance and

patience. To keep.

Going in Jesus name, Amen. Let's worship together.