Monday 26 November 2018

26/11/18 TREASURE BLOG 12 - FINDING SUSTAINING JOY IN THE LOVE OF GOD (COLOSSIANS 1:19 & 2:9)

11:43 Posted by Matthew Beaney No comments


THIS BLOG CONTAINS:


COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY 12
COLOSSIANS 1:19 & 2:9 FINDING SUSTAINING JOY IN THE LOVE OF GOD
·     We can all become discouraged, feeling that we are giving so much more than we are getting from others. Is this something that members of the group have struggled with? 
Today we will see how the incarnation of Jesus (Him becoming a man for us) is a key to replacing self-pity with sustaining joy.
Colossians 1:19  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 
1. What is the incarnation? 
Colossians 2:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. 
·     Jesus was both fully God and fully man. Jesus is eternal but, as we celebrate at Christmas, at a point in history he took on flesh. ‘All the fullness’, means that Jesus was fully God. All that God is, Jesus is. ‘In Bodily form’ points to the truth that Jesus was also fully man. 
·     What does John 1:14 say about the incarnation? 
·     In Colossians 1:19 it says that ‘God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.’ – what does this say about God’s attitude toward His incarnation? 
2. How does the incarnation give us joy? 
·     We can often feel that we are taking most of the initiative in our friendships. How has Jesus taken loving initiative toward you and how deeply are you happy about this? 
·     How does the incarnation reveal His love toward you? (Philippians 2:6-8) 
·     Jesus was a true man (whilst being God). What does this say about how He understands your struggles? (See Hebrews 4:14-16)
·     Jesus has been let down by everyone and yet He took all the initiative toward sinners like you and me. How does this help to sustain our joy and keep us taking initiative toward others? (Philippians 2:5)
·     How we should worship Him? (Philippians 2:9-11) 
RESPONSE
There are 2 ways that we will think about responding today:
1.  Rejoicing in grace
In the Greek Colossians 1:19 reads, ‘Because in Him was all the fullness pleased to dwell’. 
The incarnation – Jesus leaving heaven, taking on a human nature, in order to save rebellious mankind –  is the height of love. It was done according to God’s will and ‘pleasure’; it was motivated by His love and mercy alone. As J. I. Packer says,
‘We need to view the incarnation not simply as a marvel of nature, but as a wonder of Grace.’  
If we are feeling discouraged by how we are being treated, we are reminded here that this is a standard of love to which we are all falling short!
·     How does understanding our failure to love God and others keep us from pride and self-pity in regard to how we are being appreciated? 
·     How does understanding God’s love in Christ help us to remain full of joy and gentle toward others? 
2.   keep taking initiative in self-giving 
God’s love, whilst being a standard standard of which we all fall short, is also a challenge to pray for grace and grow in this kind of love; as Paul says, ‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…’ (Phil. 2:5) John also writes, ‘Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another’ (1 Jn. 4:11).  How will you respond to the challenge to keep growing and persevering in radical, servant, love? 



DAILY DEVOTIONAL 
WEEK 12 – FINDING SUSTAINING JOY IN THE LOVE OF GOD
MONDAY – JESUS, THE FULNESS OF GOD
Colossians 1:19  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 
Colossians 2:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. 
The original Greek behind our English translation is,
‘Because in Him was all the fullness pleased to dwell’ 
Let’s break this down:
·     Because…– Paul in the previous verse has said that we are to give Jesus ‘supremacy’ (worship, obedience etc.) and now, in this verse, he is telling us why – because He is God. 
·     In Him…– This is about the nature of Jesus. There is nothing more important than giving our minds to understand ‘Him’.  
·     All the fullness…– All that God is, Jesus is. 
·     Pleased to dwell… – It was God’s will and pleasure to come as a man. The incarnation, so He could die for sin, was God’s pleasure and will. 
‘To complete the biblical teaching about Jesus Christ, we must affirm not only that he was fully human, but also that he was fully divine. Although the work does not explicitly occur in Scripture, the church has used the term incarnation to refer to the fact that Jesus was God in human flesh. The incarnation was the act of God the son whereby he took to himself a human nature.’ (Wayne Grudem)
RESPONSE
·     Firstly,have we given Jesus supremacy in our lives and families? Do we teach ourselves and, if parents, teach our children about the mysteries of Jesus’ identity? 
·     Secondly,in Christ we see a God who acts in history. He is lovingly and, sometimes, mysteriously working in our lives and throughout the world. Do you need to reaffirm your trust that God has not forgotten you, that Jesus is actively working in your life? 

TUESDAY – JESUS, THE SERVANT KING
Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 
Colossians 2:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. 
The incarnation (God taking to himself a human body) was an act of free grace. The ESV. Version translates these words,
‘For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell’. 
It pleased God to come into the world in order, ultimately, to die for us. Good Friday (when Jesus died) was the reason for Christmas. 
This points to the willing humiliation of God as He laid aside His glory, becoming a man in Christ as we read,
Philippians 2:6-8Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  rather, he made himself nothing  by taking the very natureof a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! (We will study this text more fully on Thursday and Friday)
Thomas Watson, writing of Jesus coming to earth, 
‘Christ’s taking flesh was a plot of free grace, and a pure design of love.  God himself, though almighty, was overcome with love.  Christ incarnate is nothing but love covered with flesh. As Christ’s assuming our human nature was a masterpiece of wisdom, so it was a monument of free grace.’ 
RESPONSE
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Do you see that Jesus’ glorious, eternal identity did not stop Him from serving us? He deserves to be ‘supreme’ in the hearts of all people and yet He serves a world that is in rebellion to Him; A life of Christ-likeness is one of sacrificial love. How do you express the dignity of your identity?
•    Are you Haughty? – “how dare you look down on me, treat me that way, I’ll give you what you deserve…”
•    Limp? –“It’s fine, just walk all over me, I’m not worth that much…”
•    Strong sacrifice? – “I give myself for the undeserving; like Christ I’ll lovingly serve…”

WEDNESDAY – GOD IN A BODY
Colossians 1:19  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 
Colossians 2:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. 
John speaks of the importance of the truth that Jesus was God in a body when he says,
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 1:7) 
In His human nature, Jesus experienced all of our weaknesses and temptations. He understands exactly what it is like to be a human being. He understands our lives with its joys and struggles (See Hebrews 4:14-16). 
What was the relationship between His divine and human natures? 
When I was younger I used to love the Superman films. Clark Kent (his alter ego) acted like a normal unassuming man, but, when there was need, he ran into a telephone box, emerging as the ‘man of steel’.  We can wrongly assume that Jesus was like a superman –  acting like a normal man but having all the power of God on tap. 
J. I. Packer corrects this view, 
‘The Incarnation means that the Son of God lived his divine-human life in and through his human mind and body at every point, maximizing his identification and empathy with those he had come to save, and drawing on divine resources to transcend human limits of knowledge and energy only when particular requirements of the Father’s will so dictated.’
In other words, Jesus experienced life just like you and me, and only used His divine attributes when the Father’s will allowed. Therefore, in theory, you may have been able to beat Jesus in a quiz or a running race! Therefore, for example, Jesus could honestly claim ignorance, whilst being omniscient (all knowing), of the day of His return,  
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36) 
And He got tired whilst being omnipotent (almighty) 
RESPONSE
In Hebrews we read, 
For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 216-18)
Pray and respond as God leads you from what we have just read: 
·      Jesus continues to help us – do you need help?
·      He became a man so understands – do you feel misunderstood and unsupported?
·      He suffered temptation – do you need help in temptation?

THURSDAY – WHAT PHILIPPIANS 2 TEACHES US (PART 1)
Colossians 1:19  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 
Colossians 2:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. 
To understand what we read in Colossians 1:19 and 2:9 it is helpful to read Philippians 2:5-11. Like the section in Colossians we are studying, this passage in Philippians is thought by many to be an early Christian hymn. Today we will study verses 5-7. 
Philippians 2:5-7 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very natureof a servant, being made in human likeness.
·     ‘In your relationships…’– The identity of Jesus is to inform all of our relationships. Jesus’ love must shape our ‘mindset’. 
·     ‘...Who being in very nature (form of) God…’– Prior to the incarnation (Jesus coming as a man) He was eternally with and was God. His ‘nature’ is eternally divine. As we read in John 17:5 “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
·     ‘Did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage…’– Jesus, although being God, did not use His power and rights to avoid the incarnation and the cross. 
·     ‘He made himself nothing…’– Of what did Jesus ‘empty’ (reflecting the Greek word ekenōsen) Himself? The next phrase explains the answer: Jesus emptied Himself by becoming a ‘servant’ and not by loss of anything. As Augustine wrote,"He emptied himself not by losing what he was but by taking to him what he was not."
·     ‘By taking the very natureof a servant, being made in human likeness…’– Jesus who is ‘very nature God’ now becomes ‘very nature a servant’. His emptying Himself involved Him becoming a ‘servant’; God came into the world, as a man, to serve it. 
RESPONSE
Paul is quoting this song in order that it effect our relationships. We live in a world of divisions: men/ women/ sexuality/ gender/ race/ nationality/ class/ beauty/ left/ right/ religion… much of these tensions are created because we do not know Jesus. We don’t know that God, who has every right to our love and worship (‘supremacy’) came to serve the very people who rejected Him. There is much that could be said on this complex subject, but how do you feel oppressed or mistreated and how could you ‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus’? 

FRIDAY –  WHAT PHILIPPIANS 2 TEACHES US (PART 2)
Colossians 1:19  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 
Colossians 2:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. 
To understand what we read in Colossians 1:19 and 2:9 it is helpful to read Philippians 2:5-11. Like the section in Colossians we are studying, this passage in Philippians is thought by many to be an early Christian hymn. Today we will study verses 8-11. 
Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
·     ‘And being found in appearance as a man…’– He appeared as a man, looked in every way like us, but, unlike all of us, He was without sin (Romans 8:3). 
·     ‘He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross...’–  The purpose of Jesus emptying Himself and serving us, in becoming a man, is revealed in the cross; the cross is the reason for the incarnation. 
·     ‘Therefore God exalted him to the highest place…’– Jesus, after His death and resurrection, has been glorified. The one whose glory was hidden in humiliation and death is to take the ‘supremacy’ and first place in our hearts and worship. All who know Jesus take no other opinion and are jealous that He receive all the glory and honour. 
RESPONSE
This week we have been looking at what it means to say, 
‘For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.’ (Colossians 1:19). 
We have seen that the incarnation is a key to finding sustaining joy. We can all be discouraged by the behaviour of others, and can be tempted to stop loving and serving them as we feel, “I deserve better than this!”. The incarnation, however, encourages us to keep loving and serving; we are all undeserving and have failed to love God and others as they deserve and yet God came into the world to serve us! 
The incarnation means that Jesus, in love, laid aside glory, becoming a man in order to die to save us. We are reminded of the radical nature of what it means to follow Jesus. He, as a man took up the cross to serve the undeserving, and we are called to ‘take up our cross and follow Him’. This is a call to radical loving service. 
Paul reminds us, ‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…’ (Philippians 2:5)Jesus tells us, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:13-15). God is reminding us that if we want to bear the fruit we desire to see, like Christ, we must lay aside our rights and serve God and people in love. 

Monday 19 November 2018

19/11/18 TREASURE BLOG 11 - JESUS IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH (COLOSSIANS 1:18)

11:15 Posted by Matthew Beaney No comments


THIS BLOG CONTAINS:

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY 11
COLOSSIANS 1:18 JESUS IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH
Colossians 1:18And 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.
Having spoken about Jesus’ role in the creation and sustaining of all things, he focuses on Jesus’ special relationship with His church; Paul likens this relationship to the head and the body. 
The bible uses various metaphors to help us to understand the nature of our relationship to Jesus and one another: Bride, temple, living stones, household… for example. Each illustration emphasises different aspects; in using the ‘head and body’ metaphor, Paul particularly wants us to grasp that the church is under Jesus’ authority, with whom she has a living union. We are not, principally, people who believe certain things, we are those who have experienced and continue to experience new life in Christ by the Spirit, and, as His body, the principle instrument through which He works in the world. 
Jesus is the head of the church His body
·     It’s very easy to start looking to people (elders, pastors and leaders) or even ourselves as being in charge and responsible for the church. Paul teaches us that Jesus is the ‘head’ – He is in authority – over the world-wide church and CCP. However, what does Ephesians 4:11-12, tell us about how Jesus nurtures and governs His church? 
·     Read Romans 12:4-6. What does the metaphor of ‘head’ and ‘body’ teach us about spiritual gifts and their use?
·     Serving a need is a great way to discover and use your spiritual gifts, why is this the case? 
·     In using the metaphor of the body, Paul is emphasising the unity that exists between Christ and His church; but it also points to the unity that exists with one another. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 and discuss what this says about our unity and how the Spirit creates this.  
RESPONSE
·     How are you, or could you, as a Community Group, creatively work to deepen your friendships in the group?
·     In the book of Acts, we see that the church were ‘devoted to fellowship’. When we understand the unity that already exists through Christ, we are able to live out of that identity. In what ways can we express the unity that exists in the church?
Note: In Tuesday’s devotional and at the end of this study there is more on the subject of spiritual gifts if you would like to pursue this further. 

Some further questions if you have time
Jesus is firstborn from the dead
Paul says that Jesus is ‘the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead’. As such, His resurrection is the first of what will be the experience of all Christians at the end of History – We will all receive ‘resurrection bodies’. 
Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 and discuss:
·     V.20. What is Christ’s resurrection the ‘firstfruits’ (first example) of? 
·     V.20-21. Which two men can we be ‘in’, and what is the result?
·     V.23. When will our resurrection happen? 
Jesus has and will have supremacy 
Christians are part of Jesus’ body. They have been redeemed and have the hope of resurrection. As a result, Paul says that the right response is to give Jesus ‘supremacy’ – the highest place in our hearts and lives. At the end of history Jesus will complete His victory over all sin in creation, and will have supremacy. In the mean-time, Christians are to reflect that future in their devoted and holy living. 
·     Is there any relationship, character trait, ambition or habit that you believe needs to change in order to be more suitable for Jesus’ name? (This may be better done in pairs and then pray together) 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL 
WEEK 11 – JESUS IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH 
MONDAY – JESUS IS THE HEAD
Colossians 1:18And 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.
We all know the catastrophic results of the head being severed from the body; it leads to death or, at best, paralysis. God wants us to see that the special relationship that exists between Jesus and His church is like the relationship between head and body. 
Today we will limit our thoughts to what it means for Jesus to be our head. ‘Headship’ speaks of:
1.  Dependence–Jesus’ being our head speaks of our dependence upon Him. Another way of translating head is ‘Source’– the source of the river for example; The ‘body’ is dependent up the ‘source’ for life and salvation. We have no strength or life apart from Him; He is the vine and we are the branches. 
2.  Direction - Headship speaks of Jesus, our head, working His will through the members of the body. We are under His authority and are to seek to know and obey His will. 
3.  Devotion - Your head is ‘devoted’ to you - wants the best for your body; likewise, Jesus loves each of us with equity, and wants the best for each part. Similarly, we are to be lovingly devoted to our head. As Paul says,
Ephesians 5:29-30…no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church – for we are members of his body. 
RESPONSE
Paul says something amazing when he says,
Ephesians 1:22-23And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Jesus, Lord of creation, is ‘head over everything for the church’ – For the church!In response to Jesus being our head you might like to respond in two ways:
Firstly, Delight and apply fresh faith in the idea that Jesus being your head means He rules everything for you and the church.
Secondly, Look again at our three inferences from headship: Dependence, Direction and Devotion; is there anything that God would want to speak to you about regarding any of these? 


TUESDAY – THE CHURCH IS JESUS’ BODY
Colossians 1:18And 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.
The bible uses various metaphors to help us to understand the nature of our relationship to Jesus and one another: Bride, temple, living stones, household… for example. Paul uses each illustration to emphasise different aspects; in using the ‘head and body’ metaphor, Paul particularly wants us to grasp that the church and Christ are in a living union. We are not, principally, people who believe certain things, we are people who have experienced and continue to experience new life in Christ by the Spirit, and the principle instrument through which He works in the world. 
Yesterday we focussed on Jesus being our head, today we will consider what it means for us to be His body. Lloyd-Jones says, commenting on Ephesians 4:1-16, 
‘Once more we are looking at a wonderful picture of the Church. It is only as we who are in the Church have a right view of the Church that she will begin to function truly.’
Let’s allow God to teach us His vision of the church – the body of Christ – so that we live in faithful, devoted relationships rather than dismembered isolation.  Terry Virgo  writes about a humorous incident that happened to Jack Hayford, which sums up a common approach to church , 
‘A guest at his church signed the visitors’ book and beside her name indicated her home church to be “the body of Christ”. For its address, she added “worldwide”. I guess her name appeared on no one’s washing-up rota!’
Funny, but often true of many a Christian’s approach to God’s family. 
Our being Jesus’ body means a number of things including:
1.  Union with Christ – Once we were ‘in Adam’, but now, we are ‘in Christ’ with all the benefits that flow from that. As Paul says,
1 Corinthians 15:22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 
A Christian is part of a new humanity that are ‘in Christ’. As the body is joined to the head, so the Spirit has united us to Jesus. If we were to ask the question ‘what is the church?’ The biblical answer is: the church is all people who are united to Christ.
2.  Union with one another- Body speaks of our union with Christ and also one another. The Holy Spirit unites us, mysteriously, to Jesus and one another, as we read,
Corinthians 12: 12-13Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized byone Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 
As different members, we are united to one another. 
3.  Difference- Body speaks of different gifts within our unity.
4.  Inter-dependence- Body speaks of our dependence upon one another, as we use the different gifts that God provides to each. 
RESPONSE
Let’s read and respond using a couple of helpful texts:
Romans 12:4-6 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
1 Corinthians 12:21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
How does, or could your life, say of the church, “I need you”? 
God has given you gifts in order to serve the church for her health and maturity. We could list a load of gifts but, it’s better, to seek to grow in knowing and using our gifts by getting stuck in; by seeking to serve and be around other Christians you will find and grow in your gifts as Terry Virgo has written, 
‘We discover our place by accepting one another and serving one another in love, not by being preoccupied with a constant search to identify “our ministry”. As we offer our service we are appreciated, thanked, encouraged and corrected and thereby trained. Gradually, we find our particular place.’

Note: 
I’ve included further notes on the gifts of the Spirit at the end of this study if you would like to pursue this further. 
You may also like to learn more by:
Going to our blog on this subject: 
·     https://matt-beaney.blogspot.com/2018/05/spirit-filled-church-blog-4-gifts-to.html
Watching some video teaching: 
·     https://vimeo.com/263605529– The Gifts of The Holy Spirit | Prophecy, Knowledge, Wisdom.
·     https://vimeo.com/264284585– The Gifts of The Holy Spirit | Distinguishing Between Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation.
·      https://vimeo.com/264318448– The Gifts of The Holy Spirit | Faith, Healing, Miracles.


WEDNESDAY – JESUS IS THE BEGINNING
Colossians 1:18And 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 is not only ‘head’, he is also the ‘beginning’ (archē). This means a number of things including:
1.  Jesus is the ‘beginning of the new creation
Using the term ‘beginning’ Paul reinforces Jesus’ role as creator as he references Genesis 1:1, ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…’Here, Paul is particularly pointing to Jesus ‘beginning’ a new creation that will come at the end of history. 
2.  Jesus is the ‘beginning’ of the church 
The church is the beginnings of the new creation that Jesus is creating. The church are people whose lives have been renewed and who will populate the new creation. By His redemption and limitless power, He has ‘begun’ and will complete His work in us, as we read, 
Philippians 1:6Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

RESPONSE

Whether it’s creation, our salvation, or new creation – Jesus is the beginning (the instigator) and the one ‘in whom’ these things occur. Paul is assuring us that the new creation is a certain hope because Jesus is almighty and faithful. 
Hebrews 12:1-2Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer (author) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,
Jesus has begun a work in you that He will complete – He is the ‘beginning’ and He is also the finisher. 


THURSDAY – JESUS IS THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD
Colossians 1:18And 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.
I don’t know if you’ve ever spent ages setting up a row of dominoes only to have the strange pleasure of watching them fall down as one domino knocks into the next. The chain-reaction that knocks them all down begins by pushing over only one, the first, domino. Likewise, Jesus, in His resurrection, is the first of an unstoppable process that will result in the physical resurrection of all Christians and all creation. 
Paul uses this term ‘firstborn from among the dead’, what does this mean?
1.  ‘Firstborn from among the dead’ infers that Jesus has died for us. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Central to our appreciation of Jesus must be His death for us, as Paul says,
‘But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death’ (Col. 1:22).
2.  Paul is declaring that Jesus has risen from death; He is alive! His resurrection is a declaration that Jesus’ was telling the truth and that His offering (of Himself) was complete and victorious. As John Stott wrote, 
‘The resurrection was the conquest confirmed and announced. We are not to regard the cross as defeat and the resurrection as victory. Rather, the cross was the victory won, and the resurrection the victory endorsed, proclaimed and demonstrated. ‘It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him’, because death had already been defeated.’
3.  Firstborn also means (as we saw in verse 15) that Jesus is ruler over the church. This is true but it’s also something that we are to recognise and submit to.
4.  It means that Jesus is the first one who has undergone resurrection; at the end of history we will all receive ‘resurrection bodies’ and live with Him in a restored creation. As we read,  
1 Corinthians 15:49, 51-52And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall webear the image of the heavenly man…Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed –  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
RESPONSE
All Christians share in this great hope of resurrection and restoration. Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our amazing future. Take a moment to meditate and pray out of this text. Ask for the Spirit’s grace to live in joyful expectation of this great hope. 
1 Corinthians 15: 20–23But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.


FRIDAY –  SO THAT IN EVERYTHING HE MIGHT HAVE SUPREMACY 
Colossians 1:18And 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.
Pauls uses the phrase ‘so that’ to link Jesus’ death and resurrection to His receiving supremacy in everything! How can Jesus’ death – an apparent failure – lead to such a victory? 
Supremacy now
Paul, in writing to the Colossians, is inviting them to honour Him as supreme right now. They were to choose to remain faithful to Jesus as their Lord, God and Saviour. They were to remember His identity and His death for their sin, and so live lives of loving devotion. 
Supremacy in the future
Paul is also reminding them of Jesus’ future supremacy. He is Lord and God, but creation is still saturated with sin and rebellion. Adams’ rebellion led to creations’ downfall, however, Jesus’ death for sin will, ultimately, lead to the Kingdom of God in it’s fullness in all creation. 
Paul summarises how Jesus wins such a victory. Read this slowly and carefully, it’s quite complex, 
Romans 5:15-19 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!  Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!  Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.  For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
In summary, Paul compares Adam to Jesus. Both of them effect the whole of creation and all of mankind as their representatives; Adam’s ‘one trespass’ led to sin effecting everything and all people; however, Jesus’ ‘one righteous act’ is leading to the restoration of all things and all people who have received Him as Saviour. 
RESPONSE
This week we have seen that His people, the church, are joined to Him as ‘head’ to ‘body. We see that this was made possible through Jesus’ death for sin. We have also seen that Jesus’ resurrection is harbinger of our hope of resurrection and recreation. We enjoy a great victory, but the final, fullness of Jesus’ victory is yet to come in the restoration of all things. Let’s end this week’s studies by allowing Jesus’ future ‘supremacy’ to fill our vision by looking at a few visionary verses from Revelation. 
Revelation 22:1-5
‘Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city…’
Note: This is a vision of the finished victory of Jesus. God’s presence will fill the people of God and the earth, which has become the temple of God.
‘…On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations…’
Note:This symbolism speaks of How Jesus’ death for sin brings the restoration (‘healing’) of all that was broken in the Fall.
‘…No longer will there be any curse…’ 
Note:Jesus, by His death and resurrection, will restore all that was cursed by God for our sin (Gen. 3:17). 
‘…The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city…’
Note:Jesus victory restores the presence of God in the earth (See 1 Corinthians 13:12). 
‘…And his servants will serve him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light…’
Note:In that new era, we will will serve Him unreservedly; Jesus’ victory will remove all of our residual rebellion. The phrase, ‘His name will be on their foreheads’ also has something of this idea of belonging completely to Jesus. At that time, the prophecy of Jeremiah will be completed,
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) 
‘…And they will reign for ever and ever…’ 
Note:This envisions our hope of the restoration of the earth and our living with God in perfection. At that time, as Paul says, Jesus will have ‘supremacy in everything’. This is a supremacy that is guaranteed by His great power, his love and His resurrection.    


ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
Colossians 1:18And 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.
As His body, Jesus gives gifts to His church so that we can do His works. Church has been traditionally seen like sitting in an airliner or cruise ship; we sit, get carried to heaven whilst we enjoy inflight entertainment. God has spoken to us prophetically, many times, about seeing ourselves more as a sailing ship- all hands on deck, responding to the wind of the Spirit. It’s an image, like that of ‘head’ and ‘body’ that teaches dependence on God and interdependence on one another. 
i) WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT?
‘We may define spiritual gifts as: A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.’ (Wayne Grudem)
There is no such thing as an exhaustive list of gift, as Sam Storms says,
‘I’m inclined to believe there are potentially as many gifts as there are needs in the life of the Church and in the experience of individual Christians. So, look for a need and meet it. Find a hurt and heal it. Be alert to the cry for help and answer it. Listen for the voice of God and speak it. Identify someone’s weakness and overcome it. Look for what’s missing and supply it. When you do, the power of God— the energizing, enabling, charismatic activity of the Holy Spirit— will equip you, perhaps only once, but possibly forever, to minister hope and encouragement to those in need. So, if you’re still wondering what your gift(s) might be, act first and ask later.’ (Sam Storms, Spiritual Gifts)
ii) AS PART OF THE BODY, WE ALL HAVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS
By God’s grace we are not only saved, we are also gifted to serve Him, His people and the world. 
Romans 12:4-6For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us… 
See also 1 Corinthians 12:7 and 1 Peter 4:10
iii) START USING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO FIND YOUR GIFTS!
Human development from a baby to maturity is a great illustration of how each of us, and the whole church, matures as we use our gifts. A baby begins life without any understanding of what the various parts of its body are for. Through constant experimentation and the occasional bump and scrape he finds out what each member is best used for. Likewise, we discover and learn to use our gifts through experimentation. 
As we have already referenced, a ship is also a good metaphor for this process. Imagine that you were stuck on a sailing ship on a long voyage. Imagine you had no training and so were clueless on what to do. I guess that you might go to the captain and ask if there’s anything that needed doing; you might see someone struggling and so help out; you might see a mess and clear it up… but, inevitably, if you get stuck in, you will find your ‘gifts’. You’ll come to realise that you are no good at navigation but you are great at cooking! 
Finding your spiritual gifts is like a bit like this – you seek to serve and love people in word and deed and in so doing you discover who God has made you to be. We find and develop our spiritual gifts primarily through being prepared to serve a need - discovering and developing our gifts as we serve. 
‘If we spend less time searching to identify our spiritual gift(s) and more time actually praying and giving and helping and teaching and serving and exhorting those around us, the likelihood greatly increases that we will walk headlong into our gifting without ever knowing what happened. God will more likely meet us with His gifts in the midst of trying to help His children than He ever would while we’re taking a spiritual gifts analysis test.’ (Sam Storms, Spiritual Gifts)

RESPONSE: FAN YOUR GIFTS INTO FLAME
God says to you today, 
2 Timothy 1:6-7I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Read through the lists in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 28, Roman 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Peter 4:10-11; what do you consider to be your top three spiritual gifts? (I’ve included a brief summary of each gift at the end of this section) What step do you need to take to start serving? 
One who is lazy, fearful, prideful (haughty and easily offended) will not progress in using gifts. If you want to glorify God, love people, are prepared to make mistakes and persevere, you are the kind of person the Spirit CAN AND WILL USE! 
A LIST OF BIBLICAL GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
HOSPITALITY: ‘ Love of strangers’. Providing and open house and welcome to those in need of food and lodging.  
TEACHING: The special ability to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the Body in such a way that others will learn.
HELPS: The special ability to invest their natural talents in the life and ministry of other members of the Body of Christ.
SERVING: Identifying the unmet needs involved in a task related to Gods’ work and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired goals. (We must remember that everyone is told to serve Galatians 5 v 13)
PROPHECY (spoken, sung can be received as a picture, dream or vision): Prophecy is declaring the immediate word of God to the church or an individual for edification and insight. 
EVANGELISM: Sharing and teaching the church to share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women become Jesus’ disciples and responsible members of the local church
EXHORTATION and ENCORAGEMENT: The special ability God gives some members of the Body to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement, counsel or admonition to other members of the Body in such a way that they feel helped, healed, directed, inspired etc.
GIVING: The special ability God gives certain members of the Body to contribute their material resources to the work of the Lord with exceptional liberality and cheerfulness. (We must also remember that everyone is told to give cheerfully, 2 Corinthians 9)
LEADERSHIP: This gift does not refer to a particular official position but to anyone who gives a lead or example. Literally means “he that is placed in front”. 
MERCY: The special ability God gives to certain members of the Body to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals, Christian and Non-Christian, who suffer distressing physical, mental and emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds that reflect Christ’s’ love and alleviate suffering.
WORD OF KNOWLEDGE: A supernatural revelation of facts about a person or situation which is not learned through the natural mind, but is a fragment of knowledge freely given by God, disclosing truth which the Spirit wishes to be known about a person or situation.
WORD OF WISDOM: Saying what God sees in a particular situation, applying God’s wisdom to that situation to resolve it. It can include showing how a word of knowledge or prophecy may be best applied.
HEALING: The gifts of healing are the actual events of healing themselves which the sick person receives.
MIRACLES: Some would suggest that this gift specifically refers to the driving out of demons – a power confrontation with the forces of darkness. It would also refer to miracles other than healing.
DISCERNING OF SPIRITS: The ability God gives some members of the Body of Christ, which enables them to know with assurance whether certain behaviour purported to be of God is in reality divine, human or satanic.
TONGUES: The gift of speaking for self-edification, in language (human or angelic) unlearnt by the speaker in which the conscience mind plays no part.
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: God given inspiration to speak in the language of the hearers, the dynamic equivalent of what was spoken in a ‘public tongue’. 
FAITH: Faith is the mysterious surge of confidence when facing a particular situation or need, giving a certainty that God is going to act.
ADMINISTRATION: This word was known in Paul’s time to have a sense of steering or directing and was drawn from the role of a helmsman in steering a ship. Not necessarily a formal position that is in mind but rather the activity. 
CELIBACY AND MARRIAGE: Both are presented as gifts from God. The gift of celibacy enables people to continue to devote themselves to Christ and his service in a way that married people cannot.
PASTOR: The ability given to certain members of the Body to assume long-term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers.
APOSTLE: The special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ which enables them to assume and exercise general leadership over a number of Churches with an extraordinary authority in spiritual matters that is spontaneously recognised and appreciated by these churches.

Note: 
I’ve included further notes on the gifts of the Spirit at the end of this study if you would like to pursue this further. 
You may also like to learn more by:
Going to our blog on this subject: 
·     https://matt-beaney.blogspot.com/2018/05/spirit-filled-church-blog-4-gifts-to.html
Watching some video teaching: 
·     https://vimeo.com/263605529– The Gifts of The Holy Spirit | Prophecy, Knowledge, Wisdom.
·     https://vimeo.com/264284585– The Gifts of The Holy Spirit | Distinguishing Between Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation.
·      https://vimeo.com/264318448– The Gifts of The Holy Spirit | Faith, Healing, Miracles.
Powered by Blogger.