Colossians 2:10 (NLT) So you also are complete through your
union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
I. Many Christians struggle in their walk with Christ and in
their everyday life for one of two reasons:
A. Lack of knowledge (understanding).
Too many Christians accept the amazing gift of salvation but
then never grow and mature in their faith and walk with Christ. They don’t read the Word for themselves and
they rely on the prayers and faith of others to see them through. Hosea tells us that it is lack of knowledge
that causes us to be destroyed by our enemy the devil.
Hosea 4:6a (NIV) My people are destroyed from lack of
knowledge.
B. Failure to apply the knowledge they have.
James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so
deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does
not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and,
after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and
continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be
blessed in what they do.
II. God has given us all we need for life and godliness.
2 Peter 1:2-3 May God give you more and more grace and peace
as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power,
God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received
all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of
his marvelous glory and excellence.
Do we really believe it when the Word says, “God has given (past tense- at salvation) us everything (all encompassing) we need
for living a godly life.”
III. It all comes down to understanding the sufficiency of
Christ and the sufficiency of the Word.
A. Christ’s sufficiency proven on the Cross.
The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of
the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a
martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him— something that might
have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came. …The greatest note of triumph ever sounded
in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ— “It
is finished!” (John 19:30). (Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest)
B. The Word is sufficient and we need to let it dwell in
us.
Colossians 3:16a (NIV) Let the message of Christ dwell among
you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through
psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.
1. Reading the Word
We must be people of the Word. As we weren’t alive to physically hear Jesus
speak like the disciples did, we “hear” His teachings through reading the Word.
Being in the Word daily will allow the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives
through the Word. It will also give Him
something to remind us of when we are in trouble or struggling.
John 14:26 (NLT) But when the Father sends the Advocate as
my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and
will remind you of everything I have told you.
2. Meditate on the Word
Webster’s Dictionary defines meditate as: to focus one's
thoughts on. When the Holy Spirit brings
a scripture to mind, we read the Word and something “jumps” out at us, or we
are facing a difficulty we need to meditate on the Word.
The Word is full of promises and declarations about our
walk/life. (We will look at some of these a little later.) We need to meditate
on these until they become part of our spiritual DNA. They need to be so ingrained in our hearts
and minds that they are on “speed dial” when needed.
Joshua 1:8 (NLT) Study this Book of Instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in
it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
3. Study the Word
Webster’s Dictionary defines study as: the activity or
process of learning about something by reading, memorizing facts, attending
school, etc. We must be not only people of the Word, but students of the Word
as well. We must be committed to
studying the Word. Not just reading
through it quickly, but digging in and discovering the meaning and application
for our lives.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.
4. Apply the Word
We must be doers of the Word not just hearers. Applying the Word to our lives will give us
the strength, courage, power, peace, etc. we need to face and defeat the
enemy. When we know and apply the Word
we are a force to be reckoned with.
James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so
deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does
not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and,
after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and
continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be
blessed in what they do.
IV. Promises and Statements from the Word to meditate on.
A. Provision
Blessed be the Lord who daily loads me with benefits - Psalm
68:19.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33.
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly
- Psalm 84:11.
My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:19.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed
down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with
the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”- Luke 6:38.
B. Wisdom
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness
should dwell. - Colossians 1:19
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He
delights in his way. - Psalm 37:23
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that
you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for
every good work. - 2 Corinthians 9:8
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your
own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your
paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6
Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be
established. - Proverbs 16:3
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when
you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to
receive anything from the Lord. Such a
person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. - James 1:5-8
C. Protection
No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near
your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all
your ways. - Psalm 91:10,11
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the
LORD. - Psalm 118:17
There are many more promises in the Word. We need to find them and meditate on
them. Study them and make them part of
our spiritual DNA.
We are complete in Christ because Christ and the Word are
sufficient. We can depend on the Lord
and rely on His Word to guide and direct our lives.
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