R1652 The Final Authority

We all submit to authority at different times in our life, but what is the final authority? Let's open God's Word together and find out. The Encouraging Word This is The Encouraging Word, featuring the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton and his message called The Final Authority. As we open the Word of God together, know that we're open to you as well. We'd love to connect with you on our website, www.tewonline.org. That's www.tewonline.org. While you're there, be sure and sign up for the daily encouraging word devotional from Dr. Wilton. It's easy to do right at the base of our website, www.tewonline.org. It's absolutely free, whether you want the email version or a hard copy, we'll be glad to send to you.

You can sign up today at www.tewonline.org. Now let's open our hearts and God's Word, the Encouraging Word, the Bible itself together with Dr. Don Wilton. The Encouraging Word Please take your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Colossians and chapter 1.

I want to speak to you today on the final authority. This is what he said to them in verse 1 and 2. He said, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and Timothy himself, our brother, to the holy and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ at Colossi, grace and peace to you. Here it is.

You ready? From God, our Father. May the Lord write this word upon our hearts. I draw your attention to that little phrase. I'm about to share a lot of things with you, Paul said to this group of believers. And I know the world that you live in.

We looked at that last week. It was a very difficult world. They did face persecution. The pagans had taken over their city. The court of public opinion was rampant.

Everybody knew better than everybody. And the two pervasive onslaught came from Greek philosophy on one side and from Judaism on the other side. The pagan philosophies were just a flat out denial of everything that Jesus is. And they were a Jesus people. This was a direct assault on the very foundation of the church.

Because as we're going to discover, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The pagans back at the time this was written were saying, no, he isn't. They denied everything about him. They denied his humanity, they denied his deity, and they denied his self-sufficiency.

You want me to summarize those three points in one? They couldn't have cared less about Jesus. So what was their strength rooted in? Well, their strength here at the church at Colossae was rooted in really three things. Number one, the only source of their authority. It was rooted in the only source of their authority. Let's just look at the issue of authority.

Number one, where does it come from? Well, we just read that great verse comes from God. It's not God plus the local pastor. It's not God plus the church meeting.

It's God. I want you to hear the work of the church really involves one thing that is to seek to know and to do the will of God. Really, that's the work of the church, we, is to seek to know and to do the will of God. Where does it come from God?

Number two, who is it vested in? Look at verse 18 tells us about the Lord Jesus. It's one source of our authority. Jesus is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning and the first born from among the dead.

Watch this, so that in everything he might have supremacy. When I get to that in expounding this passage, I'll expound that verse for you. Where it comes from God, who's it vested in? The Lord Jesus Christ. He's the head of the church.

Number three, what does it look like? What is this only source of authority? Well, let me give you an example. Go to chapter three in verse one. Since then, you've been raised with Christ. Watch this, set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

I have such an urge to break into an explanation of what that means. Where is Jesus right now? Well, he's in our hearts. Where is God right now? He's in our hearts. He's everywhere.

Let me put it in a different terminology. Where does Jesus live? Well, he lives in my heart. I've got it.

I get it. He does. Where's his official residence? He's in heaven. He went back to heaven. Remember after he rose from the dead. And he is seated at the right hand of God the Father. In fact, if you fast forward into the book of Revelation, the Bible tells us in Revelation chapter four. At the time of the rapture, when John comes into the presence of God, he sees Jesus in God. Because God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit are three in one. And he sees Jesus holding in his right hand the title deed of the earth.

So if I take this piece of paper here and I was to roll it up here. Okay, the title deed he had in his hand. There's Jesus. He is seated on the throne in his right hand, his absolute authority. He holds the ownership of the entire earth. And of course, there's great consternation because that's God. The picture is of God in Revelation chapter four. Jesus in God and everybody, including the angels, have a real problem.

What's going to happen? And because Jesus is the Son of God, because he paid the price, he shed his blood. He is the Lamb of God slain from before the foundation of the world. He has the authority from God to be the authority of God in his right hand.

And so the seals are opened and we have the unfolding of the judgments that we read about in the book of Revelation. So where is Jesus? Well, the Bible tells us that he is seated at the right hand of God. What does this look like? Well, if our sole authority as believers, he tells the church at Colossae, comes from God, it is totally vested in Jesus Christ.

What does it look like? Set your mind on things that are above. That's the business of the church, of believers. We've got to perpetually and constantly remind ourselves to turn everything to him.

Why? Because the world out here pulls us to look at ourselves and to one another. When we look at ourselves and one another, everything becomes discombobulated. Set your mind on things above.

Their strength was rooted in the only source of their authority, but secondly was rooted in the only standard by which to live. Now, this is very important, folks. Look at chapter one and verse 10.

Look at verse 10, and we pray this, in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. Wow. I tell you, that's a spiritual meal. That's a bowl of vitamins like you and I cannot even begin to imagine. That's nourishment that surpasses any human understanding.

That's real strength. That God tells me I can live a life worthy of him, that I can please God, that I can bear fruit. That's the church.

We're fruit bearers. That I can grow in the knowledge of God. You mean I can during my lifetime as a believer, as part of the body of Christ, get to know him more? Wow. The more I know God, the stronger I become. It's like marriage, isn't it?

I remember when I was just a pipsqueak and people would say there's this elderly couple celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary, or their 55th, and they'd say, oh, we just love each other a whole lot more. You know? Well, blow me down. It's true.

I'd rather hold hands with my duckling right now than even see any of you. It's true. You mean I can know God more? I can fall more in love with my Savior?

Wow. That's strength. You're listening to Dr. Don Wilton, our teacher here on The Encouraging Word. Don't go away. He'll be back to complete today's message, the final authority in just a moment. But he wants you to know we're here for you. Connecting on the phone 24 hours a day to pray, to connect you with great resources. That's 866-899-WORD. Anytime, 24 hours a day, 866-899-9673. We'll connect with one of us. Happy to pray.

I'm happy to connect you to great resources like this. No one is born courageous, but everyone hopes to have courage when the time comes. This month, for your gift of $25 or more to The Encouraging Word, you will receive Be Salt and Light, a powerful two-message series by Dr. Wilton that includes a Christian's response to a nation in crisis and a Christian response to a personal attack. Plus, you will receive A Call for Courage, a soul-stirring book that will help motivate you into action. Both of these ministry resources will help you know why you should respond and how to respond when under attack. Remember, God has not given us the spirit of fear.

You can stand up. Call us at 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673. And request to Be Salt and Light and the bonus book, A Call for Courage, today. Thank you for listening, and thank you for supporting The Encouraging Word. Now is the time to spread the gospel. Such tremendous resources, and that's just one of many, online at www.tewonline.org. Don't forget about the new book of Dr. Wilton called, Saturdays with Billy, about his time as the pastor of Dr. Billy Graham.

Again, all of that's online at www.tewonline.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton. So he tells us here, he tells the church at Colossi, your strength is rooted not only in the only source of your authority. What is authority, by the way? It's the power or right to give orders, to make decisions, and to enforce obedience.

God does that. He's got the right to give us our orders, to make all decisions, and to enforce and expect our obedience. That is the hallmark of Christian discipleship.

You cannot be a disciple of Christ if you don't follow him, 100%. So, if their strength was rooted in the only source of their authority, was the only standard by which to live, what did that mean? It meant four things in their relationship with one another. Look at chapter 3 and verse 12.

This is their strength in relationship to one another. Look at verse 12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves. Are you ready for this church? Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience.

Oh, it gets harder. Are you ready for this one, church? Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in, what's the word? Perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. That's a nice how do you do.

Excuse me. All I have to do is walk outside the church and it's anything but peace. How do I live in this world in peace? So the only standard by which to live in their relationship with one another, second in their response to the onslaught of paganism. The final authority shows the church how to, the standard by which to live in response to the onslaught of paganism. How much time do we have today for us to talk about the paganism outside the church?

Anyone need a conversation on that? Anyone who doesn't see that, if you're not a believer, you won't see that because you are that. You cannot see some things except by the Spirit of God because God is holy and righteous. And it's the Spirit who convicts us of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Look at chapter 2 and verse 8, for example. Look at chapter 2 and verse 8.

Couldn't be more plain. We'll get back to this. See to it, church.

Hello. See to it, believers at Colossae. Make certain, see to it, that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition. And the basic principles of this world, rather than that of Christ, only standard by which to live in our relationship with one another, in our response to the onslaught of paganism, in their understanding of end times, anyone found themselves recently asking this question. Is Jesus about to come back again?

I think so. Well, chapter 3 and verse 4, Bible says, when Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory. He opens up the understanding that they would have related to end times and to the coming of the Lord Jesus, and to eternal life. And then finally, the only standard by which to live in their Christian conduct. Christian conduct is very important. Church, it's not just what we believe as Christians, it's how we behave as Christians. It's not just what we believe as Christians.

It's how we behave as Christians. Look at chapter 3 and verse 6. Chapter 3 and verse 6, I've got so many passages that I want to share with you. Let's go back to verse 5. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry, because of these things, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived before you gave your life to Christ. But now you must rid yourself of all such things as these.

Look at this list here. Anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. How about the next one?

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices. Look, final authority, Jesus. God, only source of their authority, the only standard by which they could live. Folks, the final authority, God, everything about God is the only solution, regardless of public opinion. It's the only solution.

There are lots of good, fantastic, great things. I want to let you know, as a Christian man, I want to point you to Jesus. The only solution. It's the only solution to everything that we face, in sickness and in health, life and in death, Jesus. It's the only solution to the church, he's telling us. And it's the only solution for the church. It's the only solution to believers, Jesus. And it's the only solution for believers, because he equips us.

He equips us to share, to tell, to invite. That's why today, if you were to ask me to bring it all together, where do you suppose we would go other than to the Lord Jesus? This is why, right now, I'm going to invite you to give your heart to Jesus. Do you understand that? That's why I'm going to ask you, wherever you are, whatever stage of life you're in, whatever struggles, before we sit down and we counsel and we talk and we help, make sure you've given your heart to Jesus. That's the beginning point.

Using a baseball metaphor, that's first base. Give your life to Christ. I invite you to give your heart to Jesus.

Would you do that? You can pray a prayer like this. Dear God, I know I'm a sinner.

I am a sinner. By faith, I put my trust in you. I receive you into my heart. Pray that prayer. Bible says, if you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, you will be saved.

You'll be so glad that you've given your heart to Jesus. Here's what I want you to do with that. You can call us.

You can email, text. If you're in worship today, you can come down to the front during the singing of a hymn, closing song. You can come.

We've got lots of people that are just, oh, what a privilege to be able to pray with you. Celebrate. It's a celebration. Look, folks, what is it that we don't go through in life? Pain, suffering, hurt, miracles, celebration, death.

What kind of world are we living in? Jesus Christ. I'm telling you, talk about the anchor holds. There he is. Begins with him, ends with him. That's what Paul's saying here. That's the all-sufficiency of Christ. Jesus.

It's all about him. Yes, you give your life to Christ, I want to invite you to become part, listen to these words, of a Bible-believing church. We're the Word of God, God's Word, where God is on his throne. We're going to try our jolly best. We're going to discuss, we're going to talk. There's nothing wrong with questions, you know.

We're all searching. But never to the point at which we don't trust God. There comes a point, my friend, when you've got to just simply trust God. Stop the fight. Back off your own perch. Give it over to him, it's trust. And he'll do it.

Stop trying to argue your way through it. I know that you are brilliant. I know you and I can be capable, but just give it to him. And I don't know why, but it's God's grace. Let's pray together for a moment. Lord Jesus, right now, people are giving their hearts to Jesus. And in a moment, people are going to respond. Coming down front in church, texting, saying I've given my life to Christ.

Going to that web page, turning to someone next to them. Lord, we're a family. Wow, do we make up of everybody from every walk of life?

What a family. And Lord added to it in this church, we're the church where everyone can invite anyone to come and encounter the living one. Thank you, Jesus, for this moment as people respond to Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray together. Amen.

Amen. If you just prayed along with Dr. Wilton and gave your life to Christ or rededicated your life to Jesus, you need to tell someone. And Dr. Don would say, why don't you tell us? You can call us right now at 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673. We'd love to pray with you.

And Dr. Don has free resources he wants to put in your hands as you make that call. 866-899-9673. Or you can meet us online as well at www.tewonline.org. And remember, while you're there, at www.tewonline.org, you can sign up for the daily devotion from Dr. Wilton, a wonderful, insightful, and very strong application of God's encouraging word, in your email box every morning. That's online at www.tewonline.org. Thank you so much for your support, your prayer and financial support is how we continue to share the love of Jesus Christ through God's encouraging word all around the world.