Colossians 1:15-21

We look at this Son and see the God who

cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see
Gods original purpose in everything
created. For everything, absolutely
everything, above and below, visible and
invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels
everything got started in him and finds its
purpose in him.

 He was there before any of it came

into existence and holds it all
together right up to this moment.
And when it comes to the church, he
organizes and holds it together, like a
head does a body.

 He was supreme in the beginning and

leading the resurrection paradehe is
supreme in the end. From beginning to
end hes there, towering far above
everything, everyone. So spacious is he,
so roomy, that everything of God finds
its proper place in him without crowding.

 Not only that, but all the broken and

dislocated pieces of the universe
people and things, animals and
atomsget properly fixed and fit
together in vibrant harmonies, all
because of his death, his blood that
poured down from the cross

 You yourselves are a case study of what he

does. At one time you all had your backs
turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of
him, giving him trouble every chance you got.
But now, by giving himself completely at the
Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought
you over to Gods side and put your lives
together, whole and holy in his presence.

 You dont walk away from a gift like that! You

stay grounded and steady in that bond of
trust, constantly tuned in to the Message,
careful not to be distracted or diverted.
There is no other Messagejust this one.
Every creature under heaven gets this same
Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this
Message.

1. Everything finds its purpose in Him

2. He holds everything together in Him
3. There is room for everybody in Him
4. Everything gets fixed and placed in Him
5. You are brought into Him via the cross
6. Expect the enemy to distract and divert
your attention AWAY from HimDONT QUIT!

 Case study: The popular one

3 References to Demas in New Testament
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,
greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas,
Luke, my fellow laborers. Philemon 23,24
Written by Paul during his first imprisonment in
Rome. He was chained but visitors came and
went.

 Colossians 4:10-14 Where Demas stands alone

In this first imprisonment Paul knows hes going
to be released and he is. But he gets arrested
again as Nero steps up persecution.
The church was in grave and difficult
circumstances. Paul saw his future in terms of
glorious deliverance, Demas felt pressure to
quit.

2 Timothy 4:6;9-10
For I am already being poured out as
a drink offering, and the time of my
departure is at hand.
Be diligent to come to me quickly;
for Demas has forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and has
departed for Thessalonica