Forge Church

The 150 years surrounding the life and ministry of Zechariah saw nations and empires rise and fall. IN the middle of it, God keeps His promise to Isaiah that he would use Cyrus The Great to free Jews from captivity in Babylon at the end of the 70 year exile Jeremiah prophesied. God calls Zechariah from a priestly family and life to become a prophet.

Paul begins this passage with strong commands to pray, strong commands to seize the strategic moment in relating to those who are outside the faith. Then he pivots in v. 7 and begins to commend men on his team in Rome, men serving in churches in the Lycus Valley, and a woman who leads a house church in Laodicea. Many gifts and skills are highlighted, as each is honored as a bond-slave of Christ.

This Easter, please listen to this teaching comparing 2 Biblical gardens, and then the application into a 3rd garden in the Amazon. Each of us has been planted, positioned in our own growth medium, our own garden. Listen for what the Master Gardener has for you.

The ancient Household Codes that everyone in Colossae had grown up under were anchored in place by the traditions of men, and not small amounts of demonic influence. Paul does not set out to radically change households, but rather to see them transformed IN CHRIST. He addressed wives and husbands, children and fathers, slaves and masters, calling on all of them to be transformed in Christ first, then see their roles shift by Holy Spirit.

Paul shifts away from his "Put off the old" to "put on the new" and the new are a list of virtues and characteristics that reflect The Bride Of Christ. That is us, folks, The ekklesia, the Body, the church, is to be clothed in the virtues of her Savior. Here, Paul lays them out.

Again, Paul emphasizes what Christ has already done for the Colossian believers. That said, he turns to them saying...since you have died to sin, died to the old man within you, slough that off and put on the new man in Christ. Put to death the vices that ruled your behavior when you did not know Jesus.

Paul goes right at those in Colossae that would judge his Brothers and Sisters for diet and for religious practices. The self-made religion and self- abasement that was being modeled and taught by the false teachers is dismissed by Paul as of no value against temptations and immoral practices.

Paul is now directly teaching the Colossians about the results of being led astray by vain speculations. He clearly identifies the energy behind the heresy....the traditions passed down generationally, and the demonic push that the spirit world has to try to pull down the faithful in Christ. The answer to that is the triumph of Christ over all those rulers and entities that would oppose the Kingdom of God.

Paul describes his suffering for the sake of the Gospel as being on behalf of the Colossian believers. Then he points to the mystery that has been revealed in them: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." From before time began, The Father chose to hide this great discovery....that He loves Gentiles, too.

Paul aims his teaching at the false teachers around Colossae who would depict Jesus as not enough. In God's plan, he filled Jesus full of deity, and worked redemptions story for those who anchor their faith on His finished work on the cross. He is begotten, first born, risen, creator and sustainer of all. He stands supreme.