Words of Encouragement

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

2305 S. Dixieland Rd. / P.O. Box 2335, Rogers, AR 72757

Sunday School & Bible Class: 9 a.m. / Sunday Worship Service: 10 a.m.

August 12, 2009

Paul’s Letter to the Believers at Colosse (continued)

“For this cause also, from the day in which we heard, we do not cease praying on your behalf, and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, for you to walk worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work and growing into the full knowledge of God; being empowered with all power according to the might of His glory, to all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for a share of the inheritance of the saints in light, who delivered us out of the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins….” Colossians 1:9-14

Though the ancient city of Colosse no longer exists – the old east-west road was moved, causing the once-important city to wane – by the grace of God the believers who once lived there are now reigning with Christ Jesus in His glorious heavenly kingdom.

Paul – probably while he was a prisoner in Rome, along with Timothy, when they heard of the faith and love of these believers in the Roman province of Asia (in modern-day Turkey) – prayed for them that they might continue in the true faith and grow in their knowledge of God.

Paul wrote to them in his letter: “For this cause also, from the day in which we heard, we do not cease praying on your behalf, and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, for you to walk worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work and growing into the full knowledge of God; being empowered with all power according to the might of His glory, to all patience and longsuffering with joy….”

Paul and Timothy continually lifted up their fellow believers in Colosse, requesting that they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will together with all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that they would use this knowledge of God rightly and live a life pleasing to Him, doing God’s will rather than following the whims of false teachers who held up another way of faith and life. They prayed that the believers there would continue to grow in the knowledge of God and be strengthened by Him so that they would endure in the true faith and rejoice in Him and what He had done for their salvation.

Paul and Timothy prayed for these believers that they too would give thanks to God the Father for graciously making them acceptable and fit to be partakers of the eternal inheritance of the saints in light – the blessings of heaven which God graciously gives to all who trust in Christ Jesus. It was God the Father who had delivered them from the rule and power of darkness – the kingdom of the devil – and translated them into the eternal kingdom of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. And, it was in Christ Jesus and for the sake of His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the world, that they had been redeemed, forgiven of all their sins and made acceptable in God’s eyes.

What Paul writes applies to all of us who believe today. How important it is for believers – for you and for me – to learn and be filled with the knowledge of God through the study of His Word! And it is not enough to just learn facts about God. We need to know Him and His ways and so be strengthened in our faith in Him and rejoice in the salvation He has provided us in His Son. Then, as a fruit of our faith in Him, we will also seek to please Him by walking in His ways.

And, in all this, we have every reason to give thanks to God the Father; for it is He who has made us acceptable for His kingdom by sending His only-begotten Son to die for us and redeem us with His holy and precious blood shed upon the cross! It is in Jesus that we have pardon and forgiveness. It is in Jesus that we have life everlasting and a place in God’s eternal kingdom. God rescued us from the rule and dominion of darkness by sending His Son to redeem us. He translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son by bringing us to know and trust in Jesus for our salvation.

Again, the point of it all is that our salvation is complete in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for us, paid for the sins of the whole world and rose again in victory on the third day. God the Father, through the death of His Son, made us fit and acceptable in His sight; and He, by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit, brought us to faith in Jesus and thus rescued us from the doomed kingdom and rule of the devil and translated us – transferring and carrying us – into the eternal kingdom of His only begotten Son!

We thank You, dear Father in heaven, for graciously sending Your only-begotten Son to redeem us and for mercifully bringing us into His eternal kingdom. Grant that we might grow in our knowledge of You and walk worthy of Your gracious calling. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

- Pastor Randy Moll 479-233-0081

Read and Study Your Bibles

In addition to attending church services, Sunday school and Bible studies, one of the most important things we can do that God might continue His gracious working in us and strengthen and build us up in the faith is to read and study our Bibles daily. We should do as the first believers and be “continuing steadfastly in the doctrine of the apostles, and in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Or, as we shall read in a few weeks in our study of Colossians, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and exhorting yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

Why is Scripture study so important? “Faith is of hearing, and hearing through the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). God the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to nourish us and keep us in the true faith. He uses God’s law to reveal and convict us of the sin in our lives, and He uses the Gospel to comfort and assure us of God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sake of Messiah Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross in our stead, so strengthening our faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit also uses the Scriptures to lead us and guide us through life by teaching us how God would have us live and in which way we should go. Again the Bible tells us: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

The Adult Bible Class will continue on Sunday with its study of Revelation. In particular, the topics of the binding and loosing again of Satan, the reign in heaven with Christ of believers who have gone before us and died in the faith, and the final judgment will be taken up in the study of Revelation 20-21. In preparation, read those two chapters from the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Catechism Class is just beginning its study of the Apostles’ Creed, which summarizes the teaching of the Apostles recorded for us in the Scriptures. Students are encouraged to read through the Apostles’ Creed and consider the three parts of this creed and summarize them. Also consider that our faith is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ being the Cornerstone. The Bible tells us: “So, then, you are no longer strangers and tenants, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God, being built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone, in whom every building having been fitted together grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22). Why is it so important that our faith be built squarely upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets? Why is it so important that Jesus Christ and the redemption He won for all be the cornerstone? What happens to buildings which are not built on a good foundation or are only partially on the foundation?

Sunday School Classes will continue with their study of well-known Bible narratives and lessons. The Sunday School kickoff will be on August 30, with a special opening, new classes and a potluck dinner following the worship service.

The Sunday Sermon will focus on suffering as a Christian and is based on 1 Peter 4:12-19. Should Christians expect an easy and trouble-free life in this world? Why might Christians suffer? Is there a right reason and a wrong reason to suffer in this world? Can there be blessing in sufferings endured for Christ and the truth of His Word? To whom do Christians commit themselves when they face suffering, trouble and persecution? Read 1 Peter 4:12-19 to find the answers.

What do we believe about the Scriptures? Consider the following summary statements and look up the supporting Bible passages:

Word of God

We believe that each and every word, as well as the entirety and whole, of the Holy Scriptures was given by inspiration of God and is therefore the true and unerring Word of God (II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16; I Corinthians 2:13; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Samuel 23:1-2). We also believe that the Word of God has not been lost or corrupted, but has been faithfully preserved by God down through the centuries as a witness to all the nations (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; I Peter 1:25; Matthew 24:14,35). We believe that it is still accurately recorded in the Hebrew Masoretic and Greek Majority (or Received) Texts, and that it can be read and studied in faithful Bible translations, such as Luther’s German Bible, the King James Version, the New King James Version and other accurate translations of the Bible. We reject and discourage the use of texts and translations of the Bible which are unfaithful – which change, add to or take away from the the Bible – and thus corrupt the Word of God (Deuteronomy 4:2; Jeremiah 23:28; Matthew 5:18-19; Revelation 22:18-19).

Since all of Holy Scripture is God’s true and unerring Word, we teach that the Bible is to be the source and judge of all Christian Doctrine. What is not in accord with God’s Word is not to be taught as Christian Doctrine (Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 23:28-32; Psalm 119:128; II Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 17:11). The Bible is also its own interpreter; thus, passage interpretations which are not in agreement with other clear passages of Holy Scripture are to be rejected (II Peter 1:20-21; Isaiah 8:20). We teach that the Bible is to be diligently studied and heard; for it reveals to mankind the only way of salvation, which is through faith in Christ Jesus, and it guides the Christian in living according to God’s Holy will (John 5:39; 20:31; II Timothy 3:14-17; Psalm 119:105).

Remember to pray for our congregation and all its members that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word; for Ron Wellander, who is home but ill again; for Dave Brown; for Tonny Mayer; for any others who have been sick or suffering among us; and for the soldiers we have adopted.

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at randy@mollfoto.com.

Offerings last Sunday were: $780.00.

“Then, brothers, having confidence for the entering of the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, which He consecrated for us, a new and living way through the veil; that is, His flesh; and having a Great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our body having been washed in pure water; let us hold fast the confession of the hope without yielding, for He who has promised is faithful. And let us consider one another, to incitement of love and of good works, not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves, as is the custom of some, but exhorting, and by so much more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:19-25

[Green's Literal Translation (LITV). Scripture quoted by permission. Copyright 1993 by Jay P. Green Sr. All rights reserved.]