Sermon prepared by the Holy Spirit

& Pastor Andrew T. Okai

Last Sunday in the Church Year

November 20, 2016

 

Sermon text: Colossians 1:13-20

Sermon theme: Keeping Hope Alive in Christ

 

Introduction

Grace, Mercy, and Peace...

 

Today I would like to talk briefly about hope. I was drawn to this topic as I read through the texts for this week...

 

As I began thinking about it, it dawn on me that too many Christians have become careless about their faith because they have a spiritual condition called hopelessness... a condition that is responsible for man’s careless behaviors...

 

I bet you must have heard the proverb, which says, he that is down fears no fall...this proverb suggests that a person who occupies the lowest position in life cannot fall any further, and therefore, has no fear of falling... this is what the bible calls hopelessness...

 

This is a condition that most of us, if not all of us have experienced in one way or another... we must have lost hope in our parents, children, marriage, a friend, government, in even in the church, in God, ourselves, etc.

The consequences a hopeless condition always leads to careless actions (lawlessness) E.g. the guy on death row in prison...

 

Now, I said all of this to remind us that the church has been challenged to persevere (push forward, persist, in the Lord)

James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

 

This is the point where our Lord and savior Jesus Christ comes in the scene...as the only source of our hope (after we have tested everything else...) – this is the moment when hope arrived...

 

In our second reading today, it tells us why we need to keep our hope alive only in him...

 

 

The Restorer of our Hope

Colossians 1:13 for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves

I would like us to pay close attention to the phrase dominion of darkness... (That’s the being at lowest hopeless position one can ever get in life...) – the place of nothingness...

All those who have received faith in Christ have been rescued... E.g. a prisoner whose release has been ordered while he is still sitting in prison...(Some of us are ignorantly sitting in the prisons of our experiences even after we were declared released...)

 

Look at the sides that come with it (It’s like going to the restaurant...)

Verse 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

While it is true that we have been rescued from bondage, it is imperative that we stay in him...

 

The retainer of our hope

Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

This text tells us why we can remain hopeful while abiding in Jesus... its like checking into a hotel and they give you a directory to the hotel...

Lets see what is in Christ

• All things
• In heaven and on earth
• Visible and invisible
• Thrones or powers or rulers or authorities.
• All things have been created through him and for him...

Seeing this the bar of the hope just got raised higher... this means I can hope in Jesus even beyond the grave... E.g. the gospel reading

Luke 23:42-43 then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

He is the reason for our hope

Colossians 1:18 and he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Jesus sampled his power over the grave first...

He has supremacy over everything – that includes death...

(so if my dying is in him who had victory over the grave, then my hope is built on nothing less, then Jesus blood and righteousness...