SEVERAL THINGS THAT JESUS IS IN COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 1 (CON’T)
Col 1:13-29
Morning Meditations 1/28/16
He is the Head. 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
The words “He is the head” is a present indicative verb. This means that Jesus is the Head right now. Well, it would be wonderful is some preachers would discover this truth. It would be wonderful if the deacon’s would be open to this truth. It would be wonderful if many of the members of churches would see the light on this truth. Some preachers think every idea that they come up with is from the Lord whether they have prayed about it or not. The deacons think that the pastor should be challenged at every stage of his leadership. They say, “We want what is best for the church. And we must be ABLE to do what the preacher is suggesting.” All that is rationalism and is clearly human viewpoint. That kind of thinking is assuming that God will not lead the church to do the impossible. Then the people say, “I believe that everyone should have a say.” All of this is the reason New Testament Churches are in such a mess today. Paul says in Colossians, “And he is the head of the body, the church.”
Do you know why Jesus is outside the Laodicean church? “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20). The word “Laodicea” means the rule of the people. A good old-fashioned democracy!!!! The Church is not a democracy. I heard Dr. James Crumpton say, and I agree, it is a theocracy operated according to democratic principles. There is too much going on in the church today without the Head even being consulted. In all our sincerity we come up with a project and do it and go to the Lord and say, “How did you like that? We did good for you didn’t we?” He had absolutely nothing to do with it! That is simply the flesh trying to do good and do something for Jesus. It won’t work. It is wood hay and stubble. The flesh doesn’t like to hear that. Human wisdom can find a good answer to refute that. Jesus is just a Figure Head in most churches.
Paul goes on to say in our present text: “That in all things he might have the preeminence.” The word “preeminence” means “to hold first place.” The verb that precedes this is “He might have.” It is an aorist middle subjunctive verb. The aorist tense is a point of time divorced from time and perpetuated forever. God has at a point of time, divorced from time and perpetuated forever, exalted Christ as the Head of the Church. The subjunctive mood means that it is only potentially recognized by the Church. The Church needs to recognize that it is possible to act independently of the Head. It is a constant battle to keep Christ as the Head of the Church from our standpoint. The preacher can take the Head’s place. The deacon’s committee can take the Head’s place. Other committees along with the local body in the business meetings can take the Head’s place. What happens when we do not allow Jesus to be the Head? He is outside the Church. Hopefully, He knocks wanting back in. He either has the preeminence or He does not stay. How do we know He has the preeminence? Who gets the credit? I hear a lot of people saying, “This is what we are doing down at our church.” And they are right. They are doing it. A lot of preacher’s swell up like a “poisoned pup” when they are introduced in a meeting as being the pastor of this great growing Church. Well, you say, “How is he to respond?!” Well, if the Lord is the one who is building this great church, he should be on his face offering a prayer of Thanksgiving. He should not be like Herod and accept the glory (Acts 12:20-23). God will give him wisdom to give Christ the preeminence.
Incidentally, if a pastor is following the leadership of the Holy Spirit and keeping Christ as Head in his personal leadership, and the people are following that same leadership, it will seem like the people are nothing but “yes men.” And there are people in the church that will be grieved that there is never any opposition to the preacher’s ideas! Well, the pastor IS the God appointed leader (Acts 20:28).
Well, if the above is true, why should the church or committees even have a say? Let me give you an example: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus” (Acts 13:1-4). It is all there. Jesus was the Head and directed the first foreign mission effort. The preachers and the church body were allowed to put their hands on those whom Christ had sent. Isn’t it wonderful that the Lord would let us endorse what He is doing? You say, “They were sent out of the church. The church was the authority!” That is not the LAST WORD. The last word is: “So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost...” Why is it so hard for us to allow Jesus to run His Church and have the preeminence?
The flesh and Satan is the answer to that question. Both are responsible. The wisdom of this world says, “God gave us a brain to use. He wants us to use it in His work.” Have you discovered that something has happened to that brain since God gave it? I’m sorry, if you want God to cut you some slack right here, it is not going to happen. We are a bunch of dummies who have not discovered how perverted our minds have really become. God’s way is: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”(Phil. 2:5). Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” There are many other verses that could be given. Satan also deals with our minds to get us to avoid the Headship of Christ (Acts 5:3).
Repentance is a man coming back under the authority of the throne. I don’t know who said that but he is right. The Word of God is the expressed will of the throne. When we are saved, it happens because we recognize that we are wrong. Our thinking is wrong. We say, “God you are right about me. I am wrong. Please forgive me.” I am afraid a lot of Christians have taken back their repentance. They evidently think that now they are saved they can think right. Salvation did not enable you to think right apart from His thinking. Jesus said, “...for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). I simply ask you a question at this point. “How much is nothing?”
Col. 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
