8/4/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, the believers in the church at Colosse were facing a great danger. False teachers had been telling them that Jesus was not enough. False teachers came into the church and said, “We know you’re Christians, but that’s not enough. There are things that you need to add to your Christianity. Things that will make you more spiritual than just knowing and loving and serving Jesus Christ.” The same kind of dangers face us as Christians today: saying that Christ is not sufficient or that Christ is not enough.
The false teachers in Paul’s day, as the false teachers of our own day, were teaching Christ plus legalism, Christ plus mysticism and Christ plus asceticism. But Paul has made it clear that we, as Christians, are complete in Christ. The moment you were born again, you were placed in Christ, and Christ is the fullness of God. You draw from that fullness, and you have that fullness. It is because Jesus went to the Cross and rose again that we possess eternal life. Yes, the results of the Cross are life, change and growth. Is Jesus enough? Absolutely! Blessings- Pastor Joe
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7/28/2024 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, at this point in the book of Colossians, Paul is concerned that the believers are not led astray from Christ. The danger in Colossi was real; false teachers had come into the church and were trying to substitute Paul’s teaching with human reasoning, Greek philosophy, Jewish legalism and eastern mysticism. That teaching was pulling the believers away from Christ so that they were looking to other things to meet their spiritual needs. So in Colossians, Paul sets forth the sufficiency and adequacy of Christ in the life of the believer.
Colossians 2:10 says, “And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Another word for filled in him is complete. You are complete in Christ! Hence, when you become a Christian, you have everything you need. Now you grow and you don’t grow by addition. You grow by appropriation by knowing Him, loving Him and walking in Him. You don’t need human philosophy, psychology, Greek mysticism, Jewish legalism or what the cults have to offer. You have Christ. But all you need to do is discover who Christ is, what Christ has done, what He has made available to you and what you have “in Christ.” Then start to appropriate what is yours “in Christ.” Beloved, you are complete in Christ! Blessings- Pastor Joe 7/21/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, For Paul, real riches were found in the believer’s full assurance of God’s character and their personal salvation. Many lack full assurance about the character of God and are unconvinced that He is really good and loving. Others lack full assurance of their salvation and wonder if their Christian life is for real. Great freedom and confidence comes when we come to this full assurance.
Years ago before I became a True Believer I went to confession and asked the Priest if I was going to heaven. His reply left me searching. He said, “I don’t know, nobody knows.” Wow! That certainly was a lack of assurance. But Scripture says in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” Beloved, we can have the full assurance of our salvation and of God’s goodness. I pray that you and I will rest in this full assurance! Blessings- Pastor Joe 7/14/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, today’s study contains what I consider to be the key verse for the Book of Colossians. Colossians 1:27 says, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Yes, because Jesus resides in us, we have an incredible hope of glory.
Therefore, whatever trial or difficult circumstance you may be facing today, remember that Christ is in you to help you through this trial and furthermore we have waiting for us a hope of glory! I would also like to thank all of you who participated and helped with this year’s VBS. The kids had a great time learning what Psalm 56:3 says and means in their lives. Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” This very simple truth applied to our lives will bring peace and comfort even during the most difficult of circumstances. Commit it to memory and use it frequently! Blessings- Pastor Joe 7/7/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, as continue in the Book of Colossians we remember the theme of the Supremacy of Christ. Two weeks ago we learned that Jesus is the Creator and that we were made through Him and for him! Jesus gives our lives purpose and direction.
This week we look at who we were, which was lost; who we are, which is in Christ; and how we continue which is in the faith. The enemy wanted to confuse the Colossians and lead them astray through false teaching. Thankfully, Paul, through the Holy Spirit helped set them back on track. Beloved, if you have gone “off track” then get back on the road with Jesus! One last thing. VBS decorating starts after second service. Please pray for a fruitful week of ministry with the kids and strength to serve with a joyful heart! In Him, Pastor Joe 6/30/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenGood morning beloved, this morning we will be taking a break from the book of Colossians and studying a portion of scripture from the book of Romans. Paul was exhorting the Believers in Rome to deny themselves in their relationships with each other and he pointed to our greatest Example, that of course being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In our servanthood unto the Lord, may we bear each other’s shortcomings, may we be united even when we do things in different manners, and may we be truthful in all we say and do. God bless you, Pastor Jimmy Rosas 6/23/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenBeloved, the Bible says in John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” This truth permeated the heart of a prominent Russian nuclear scientist named Boris P. Dotsenko.
Growing up in Siberia during World War II, Dr. Dotsenko faced very harsh and difficult circumstances. That made him very curious, and he often asked himself questions about the meaning of life. One hot and humid afternoon while at his grandfather’s home recovering from pneumonia, he found a copy of the Gospel of John, began reading John 1. Those words struck his mind with great force, for they completely contradicted everything he had been taught. Years later he found another Bible in an unlikely place, in the study of his professor, Dr. Jakov Frenkel, a world-renowned Russian scientist. Eventually, Dr. Dotsenko went on to become one of the leading rocket and nuclear scientists in the USSR. In that role he was asked by Russian officials to meet with Canadian scientists and to report on their activities. As he unpacked his luggage in his hotel room in Edmonton, he found a third Bible, one placed there by the Gideons. He opened it to John 1:1, and spent virtually all his time reading that Bible, and soon thereafter he prayed, asking Jesus Christ to become his Lord and Savior. Dr. Dotsenko is one of many scientists who are convinced that All things are made by him, and without him nothing has been made that is made. Blessings- Pastor Joe 6/16/2024 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, as we continue our study through the Book of Colossians, we must remember that Paul is praying from prison. He is locked up and certainly has the time but also the incentive and acknowledgement that the Lord hears our prayers!
Prayer is powerful and necessary for our survival as believers. We remember that great promise found in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As Paul prays, he combines his prayers with thanksgiving. Beloved, we have many things to be thankful for. Whether in prison or at home may we pray without ceasing as we acknowledge our tremendous need of our Savior. He is sufficient! Blessings- Pastor Joe 6/9/2024 0 Comments Pastor's PenBeloved, as a young man growing up, I would relish the day that I got to take home my report card. Most of the time I would bring home a good report card. My parents would look it over, sign it, and then return it to me so that I could give it back to my teacher. I think I may even have some of my old report cards.
My Dad would say, “good job! It seems that you are going to school not just to look at the girls and eat your lunch!” True enough though I did participate in those two things my Dad mentioned. Here in Colossians, Paul is writing the Colossians a letter in response to a report he heard about them. Epraphas brought to Paul some information concerning the Colossians and overall it was a good report, though there were some thing that would be addressed. This leads us to ask the question concerning our Christianity: how would our report card read? My prayer is that we would each have a good report of faith, hope and love in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for those in our lives! Blessings- Pastor Joe 6/2/2024 0 Comments Pastor’s PenGood Morning Beloved! Today we start studying a new book of the Bible, the Book of Colossians. The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians to combat a heretical teaching which had crept into Colossae namely Gnosticism.
The method which Paul used to combat this heresy was to focus on the supremacy of Jesus Christ. In fact, that is the theme of the Book of Colossians, the Supremacy of Christ. My prayer is that as we study this book together it will solidify our believe that Jesus is all we need. He is to be the passion and purpose of our lives. I look forward to spending the next couple of months together as we unfold this glorious book of Colossians. May all glory go to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is supreme! Blessings- Pastor Joe |
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