The Word
Colossians 3:15-17
Introduction: The
Word, the second of the three great attributes of the New Life. Number one was having the Peace of Jesus
Christ in our hearts. Today we look at
the important role the Word of God plays in our everyday lives.
I.
The Word - - Vs 16
A.
The believer is to have a heart rich with the Word of Christ
1.
One is to let the Word of Christ dwell in his heart
2.
Note: The Word of God becomes the
Word of Christ
3.
The emphasis of Colossians is Christ
a.
Therefore the Word of God becomes the Word of Christ
II.
Three significant points
A.
These are made about the Word of Christ
1.
One: The choice is up to the believer
a.
The Word of Christ does not ‘naturally’ dwell within the believers heart
b.
The word dwell - - - to be at home or make a home, to abide
or dwell within
2.
The believers must make room within his heart for the Word of Christ
a.
He must let the Word of Christ enter his heart
b.
He must allow the Word of Christ to make a home in his heart
c.
He must let the Word of Christ dwell and abide in
his heart
3.
The believer must clean out all the old furnishings of his heart
a.
He must let the Word of Christ settle down as a permanent resident
within the heart
4.
The word RICHLY - - -
a.
The Word of Christ must dwell powerfully [richly] in our hearts
b.
The believer must not be satisfied with just a meager visit by the Word
of Christ
c.
He is to let the Word of Christ “DWELL RICHLY” within him
d.
The Word of Christ must be allowed to furnish the believers heart with - -
1.
All the wealth of the Commandments
2.
All His promises
3.
All His instructions and warnings
4.
Deuteronomy 6:6, 11:18, Pslam 119:11, John 15:7,
2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16, 1 Peter 2:2-3
III.
Why Believers Must Let the Word of Christ Dwell Within
A.
Two: Believers are to teach and
admonish one another in all wisdom
1.
This is the believers task
2.
One reason He hasn’t taken us all to heaven
3.
We are to teach and admonish one another
B.
By teaching is meant the instruction of the Word
1.
By admonition is meant the WARNING of the Scripture
C.
How can we teach and admonish others if we do not - - -
1.
Know the Word of Christ
2.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in us
D.
The answer is obvious - - We can’t
1.
Not enough to know the Christ of the Word
2.
We must be living the Word of Christ
3.
Knowing and not living is ‘HYPOCRISY’
4.
We must live the Word at home - - the dwelling place of the Word
a. In our
daily lives
b.
One must see Christ dwelling in us
E.
Worldly teaching is forbearance, not wisdom
1.
True wisdom of life is found only in - - -
a.
Word of Christ and in the Word of Christ alone
2.
1 Timothy
IV.
Is the Word Dwelling Within ?
A.
There is a way to tell whether or not it is - -
1.
Three: Are you teaching and admonishing others?
2.
Proclaiming in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs?
3.
Singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord
B.
As we walk through the day are we - - -
1.
Talking about Christ?
2.
Sharing the Word of Christ with each other
3.
Teaching each other
4.
Admonishing and encouraging and warning each other
5.
Singing to our selves and with others
6.
Deuteronomy 6:6,
11:19-20, 1 Corinthians
14:15, Psalm 95:1
Conclusion: The three choices the believer has, one, to
allow the Word of Christ to dwell inside your heart, two, our responsibility to
teach and admonish each other, three, our outward expression of the Word of
Christ. We all have missed the mark
someway. Now let us begin to get on
target.