4/21/13
“The Head of the Church”
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Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 1:15-23 The central character of the Bible is Jesus Christ. And the central character of the NT Book we’ve been studying, the Book of Colossians, is Jesus Christ.
Please open your Bible with me to the Book of Colossians at the second chapter and follow as I read verse eighteen. Colossians 2:18 “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Today’s sermon is titled “The Head of the Church” because I want to direct you to the One Who’s best able to control your life. Shall we pray? Can you recall the time in the history of mankind when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”? Those days were the days before the worldwide flood in which only eight people survived. Here’s Genesis 6:5 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The world before the flood was a corrupt world. It had become corrupt because of mankind’s attempt to live without God and apart from God. The world of Noah refused to allow its Creator to be its Head. And the result was disastrous. God’s principles are eternal principles. And all of His principles were designed for our good. God was the Head of mankind. Yet, humanity as a whole refused God’s authority. So, as a Good and Just God, He had to deal harshly with the world. He sent a flood. And yes, it was horrible beyond anything we can ever conceive of. Yet, can we even conceive of a God Who would not wisely respond to moral and spiritual corruption? |
Whenever we reject God’s principles we can expect Him to respond accordingly. Headship implies authority. And God is our Ultimate Authority.
Now, here’s what I’d like you to see from Scripture today. When the Head is in control, there are tremendous benefits to your daily life. Seeing Christ as your Head enables you to keep perspective and to successfully make your way through the time God has given you in this world. Let me begin with a look at Colossians from the viewpoint of Christ as the Central Character of Paul’s epistle. Here’s what you will see. First, Paul saw his place in the Church only because he saw himself under the headship of Jesus Christ. He served Christ as one of His Apostles. Colossians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ…” Paul had no place of authority nor did he even have a place of service apart from his connection to Jesus Christ. His apostleship was the authority given to him by his Head Jesus Christ. So Paul could lead and counsel and correct and even discipline those in the Church simply because he had been called into Apostleship by Jesus. Paul was one of His Apostles. Paul understood his position in life was a position designated by his Head Jesus Christ. Now you can easily see this in your own life as well “Your gifts and abilities and talents; your position in your job; even your circumstances are “of God.” He has brought you to where you are today. He has directed the world around you so that you are where you are today. You are where you are in order for you bring Him the greatest glory.” The very home you were born into; the time when you were born; the economic world of your parents that you were born into; where your family lived when you were born; your High School; even your college; even your spouse; all of these are part of the LORD’s hand over and on your life since the day you were born. |