Well may the Lord graciously
help and bless us this evening as we commence a meditation in
the second chapter of the epistle of Paul to the Colossians. And
this evening we'll read the first three verses. That's Colossians
chapter 2, verses 1 to 3. And they read, For I would that
ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea,
and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their
hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, and to
all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in
whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. well we should be very thankful
that the Lord in his love and mercy has granted that we have
such wonderful letters that the Apostle was influenced by the
Holy Spirit to write to the various churches so we have this letter
to the Colossians and these three verses just indicate to us something
of the Apostles concern in his very heart what a wonderful example
it is and especially as we contemplate in the next few days and in the
coming weekend to distribute those gospels and cards to many
people in the locality and also once again hold the market stall
because the Apostle Paul here says for I would that ye knew
what great conflict just note that, he had a great conflict
he had for you that's the people at Colossae and for them at Laodicea
which he hadn't been to and for as many as have not seen my face
in the flesh We see wonderfully here the burden that the Apostle
had for immortal souls. And what a good example it is
for us today. We cannot value a soul. It is beyond our comprehension. And of course in these days,
when the apostle lived, he didn't have the way of communication
that we have today. But nonetheless, we read here
he had a great conflict. That clearly means he was wrestling
in prayer for those that he'd never met, and yet those that
he was concerned about. What a good thing that is for
us to consider and to realise how important it is we can become
very self-centred and just perhaps pray for our family, perhaps
just pray for the friends we know. And yet here the Apostle,
he reaches out in a wonderful way and it is for us today are
very important and a very relevant consideration. And so as we desire
then to distribute these cards that we've been able to provide
in the Gospel of Matthew to many people, may we be very concerned
for their souls. May we indeed, as the Apostle
did, have a great conflict that there may be much blessing. The day and age in which we live
is a very sad day. And how often we spend our time
and energy in things that we know and are tangible to our
natural understanding. But here we see the apostles'
great concern for those we'd never met. but those he concerned
might come to know the things of God and he goes on to expand
it in a very beautiful way and this is what he says that their hearts he doesn't
say their minds the heart is really far more important than
just the mere mind that their hearts may be comforted He goes
on to tell us how those hearts can be comforted. We live in
a world, don't we, where there's very much to take away any comfort,
and especially any spiritual comfort. And we contend with
the devil, our great adversary, who does all he can to separate
us from the things of God. and to separate us as the Apostle
goes on to say being knit together in love love one to another love
for never dying souls how relevant it is we live in a dark day but
my friends we have a glorious light and that glorious light
shines out through the face the very being of our Saviour the
Lord Jesus Christ and so the concern is their hearts might
be comforted and what comfort there is when the Holy Spirit
comes and touches hearts and reveals to them the glorious
things of the Gospel because that's what the Apostle goes
on to say here their hearts might be comforted, be knit together
in love, and unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding."
How often people turn away from words like this, turn away from
assurance. But here the apostle desires
it. And unto the riches, which it
is, of the full assurance of understanding. Full assurance
of spiritual understanding. Something to be coveted. We're
told in the Corinthians, covet earnestly the best gifts, the
spiritual gifts, the glorious things concerning the Saviour. These are the things that we
should desire. These are the things that we
should desire for many that are made brought to this position
by the gracious and glorious work of the Holy Spirit. How we need to carefully note
these words. And unto the riches, you see
what riches there are in Christ. what riches there are in the
Trinity. We sang that hymn, that 34th
hymn tonight. It's a glorious hymn. And it
speaks to us so beautifully of the Trinity, the Father and the
Son of the Holy Spirit. What a weight blessing when the
Spirit of God leads us to give us a right understanding of the
work of the Trinity. how comforting it is, how glorious
it is. Indeed, how we should rejoice
in it. The full assurance of understanding
to the acknowledgement, he goes on, of the mystery of God and
of the Father and of Christ. It is a mystery, as we have thought
upon those last verses last week in the first chapter. And it
is a mystery. What a blessing it is when the
Holy Spirit leads us in to this great mystery. It is, as the
hymn writer says, I think, the incarnate mystery. To rejoice indeed of the birth
of the Saviour. Rejoice in His work. enjoys in
the great blessing of the Father, sending his Son and the wonderful
work of the Holy Spirit, teaching and instructing us and indeed
the whole Church of God. And so he goes on then to say,
in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. There is, you see, a spiritual
understanding. There is a spiritual knowledge. You see, you and I can read the
Word of God, take it on face value, it's good to read, it's
good to understand naturally. But what a wonderful blessing
it is when the Holy Spirit opens our spiritual understanding.
We see then the glorious mystery, and we see the wonderful treasure
that is contained in it, as the Holy Spirit leads us to understand
the whole plan of salvation, and how that was brought about,
and how we today are able to read of it. And what a blessing
when the Holy Spirit comes and applies such a truth to our soul. What does it do? It produces
comfort. Comfort to us to realise that
by the grace of God he comes and gives his church living faith
to believe these truths. Living faith to be granted a
spiritual understanding. So these things are not just
vain words. They're the life of our soul. Well, I hope tonight you and
I may realise something of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
far, far superior to anything that this world can offer because
here are eternal blessings. Let us never forget and let us
always realise the vast difference between time and eternity, natural
blessings and spiritual blessings. And my friends, may Christ indeed
be revealed to our spiritual understanding, and may it be
a wonderful comfort to us, and may this unite us together with
the whole Church of God, as the Apostle says here very beautifully,
being knit together in love, the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. Well, may God bless these comments
to our hearts and minds, so we may truly rejoice in them. And bless God that in his great
love to sinners, such words are recorded for our encouragement. Amen.