ONE MASTER: LORD JESUSColossians 1:13-29

Introduction: Worship is to the Lord God only

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

Isa 55:22 And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.

How come many people and churches, including us, are worshipping Jesus in our day?

“Majesty” Jack Hayford, 1978

Majesty, worship His majestyUnto Jesus, be all glory,

honor and praise Majesty, Kingdom authorityFlows from His throneUnto His own, His anthem raise

ChorusSo exalt, lift up on high

the Name of JesusMagnify, come glorify

Christ Jesus the KingMajesty, worship His majestyJesus who died, now glorified King of all kings

How come people during Jesus’ time worshiped Him?

Mat 2:11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Mat 14:32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”Mat 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.Luke 24:51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

How come, even in Heaven, Jesus our Master will be honored and glorified?

Rev 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

How come Paul declared that Jesus is the Lord/Master God highly honors and all will

worship?

I. JESUS IS OUR LOVING MASTER

Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.

I. JESUS IS OUR LOVING MASTERA. Jesus is loved by God from before time - John

17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

A. The Love Jesus shared with His Father, He wants to share with us - John 17:26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” Cf. John 11:5 (Lazarus), His disciples (John 13:1), John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20)

C. Jesus’ love in us and our love for one another identify us as the Master’s followers

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you . . . 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. Cf. John 15:12

John 15:9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

The Importance of Obeying our Master’s to Love One another, even our enemies

1Cor 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

II. JESUS IS OUR REDEEMING MASTERIn the Old Testament, the Lord God Himself is presented as the Redeemer –

Deuteronomy 9:26 I prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord God, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Cf. Neh 1:10 Exodus 15:13 “In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation. Cf. Deut 7:8; Isaiah 40:1-3In the NT, God accomplished Redemption, through His Beloved Son, Jesus our Master . . .

II. JESUS IS OUR REDEEMING MASTERA. Jesus redeemed us by paying a terrible price –Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of

darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son 14 in whom we have redemption . . . 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross . . .

1Pet 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

II. JESUS IS OUR REDEEMING MASTERB. Jesus redeemed us for blessings - Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. . . 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself . . . 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. . .

Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

III. JESUS IS OUR SUSTAINING MASTER

A. Jesus is the Pre-Eminent Master of All Creation - Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation*. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

III. JESUS IS OUR SUSTAINING MASTER

B. Jesus is the Pre-Eminent Sustainer of All Creation - Col 1:17 God’s Son was before all else, and by Him everything is held together. CEV

And all things continue because of him. ERV, ICBholds it all together right up to this moment. MSG

Heb 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.

IV. JESUS IS OUR GLORIOUS MASTER OF THE CHURCH

A. Jesus is the Lord of the Church - Col 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Is Jesus truly Lord, Master, or No. 1 in churches today? Have we not replaced Him with

moralism, personalities, denominational distinctive, strategies and methods, and other things? What is the pre-occupation of churches today?

IV. JESUS IS OUR GLORIOUS MASTER IN THE CHURCH

B. Jesus is the Hope of the Church and Creation - Col 1:19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself . . . whether things on earth or things in heaven. . . 25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

B. Jesus is the Hope of the Church and Creation

Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

CONCLUDING APPLICATION

1. Jesus is our LOVING Master

2. Jesus is our REDEEMING Master

3. Jesus is our SOVEREIGNMaster

4. Jesus is our GLORIOUS Master

Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

If Jesus is this Kind of Master, how then should we and the church respond?

A. Let us proclaim Christ – Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.1cor 2:2 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Cf. 1Cor 1:232 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

If Jesus is this Kind of Master, how then should we and the church respond?

B. Let us be Purposive in our Ministries – Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

Illustration – 1Cor 10:31

If Jesus is this Kind of Master, how then should we and the church respond?

C. Let us persevere in accordance to God’s Power made available to us in Christ – Col 1:29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Cf. Phil 4:13

“Majesty” Jack Hayford, 1978

Majesty, worship His majestyUnto Jesus, be all glory, honor and praise Majesty, Kingdom authority Flows from His throneUnto His own, His anthem raise

ChorusSo exalt, lift up on high the Name of JesusMagnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the KingMajesty, worship His majestyJesus who died, now glorified King of all kings

QUESTIONS FOR TABLE DISCUSSION

1. How do we preserve and especially promote the Christ-centeredness in our preaching/teaching and ministries in our churches and denominations?

2. How do we promote the Lordship of Christ in PCEC constituencies and in our country.

CLOSE YOUR DISCUSSION w/ PRAYER