Letter Five
“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”- Colossians 4:12
As we close out these past five weeks in our series Bear Fruit, I can’t help but feel encouraged by all the next steps we have already seen so far this year in the life of True North. As a body of believers, God’s word has been alive and active as we have seen (#### insert next step numbers/stats on baptisms, dedications, salvations, etc). Needless to say, God has been moving among us in a special way!
In just one month, we have watched God’s word produce something, and bear fruit. I believe that we can continue this year with that same momentum and have the best year we ever had as a church in relation to spiritual growth. In our key verse this week, Paul mentioned Epaphras was praying for the church of Colossae to be “mature and fully assured”. This is the end result of a process of spiritual growth, something we are all a part of in some way. The increased knowledge of God and connection with Him results in maturity, which can be seen as the consistency and commitment to doing what He calls us to. Out of this maturity, confidence is produced. While we can never expect to be fully perfect in these areas until the day we are finally with Christ, I do believe as a family with the principles we have learned over the past several weeks we can move closer towards that goal with each passing day.
This is only the beginning. Let’s take on this year in a new way. Be encouraged, be challenged, take next steps, remove bad habits, get involved in community, and start a Bible reading plan. Do whatever it is God has called you to. But, most fundamentally, rely on Him with complete confidence as you do it. Walk boldly as you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do His will. Join a team, join a crew, switch teams, lead a crew, start that devotional, encourage someone else, invite someone out to church, tell a stranger about the love of Jesus. Whatever it is He has called you to do this year, do it! Few things can compare to the fruit that is produced when you are a good and faithful servant who is connected to the vine. Your good fruit will lead to an even greater abundance of good fruit in the future.
Whatever your next step may be, I pray that you find yourself walking into it with the same assurance Ephapras prayed for the Colossians. Go forward with boldness and stay focused in our pursuit as a family to grow closer to God through His word this year. Stay tuned to service as this Sunday we will shift the conversation over to how this maturity and confidence are needed as we give and receive Tough Love.
In just one month, we have watched God’s word produce something, and bear fruit. I believe that we can continue this year with that same momentum and have the best year we ever had as a church in relation to spiritual growth. In our key verse this week, Paul mentioned Epaphras was praying for the church of Colossae to be “mature and fully assured”. This is the end result of a process of spiritual growth, something we are all a part of in some way. The increased knowledge of God and connection with Him results in maturity, which can be seen as the consistency and commitment to doing what He calls us to. Out of this maturity, confidence is produced. While we can never expect to be fully perfect in these areas until the day we are finally with Christ, I do believe as a family with the principles we have learned over the past several weeks we can move closer towards that goal with each passing day.
This is only the beginning. Let’s take on this year in a new way. Be encouraged, be challenged, take next steps, remove bad habits, get involved in community, and start a Bible reading plan. Do whatever it is God has called you to. But, most fundamentally, rely on Him with complete confidence as you do it. Walk boldly as you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do His will. Join a team, join a crew, switch teams, lead a crew, start that devotional, encourage someone else, invite someone out to church, tell a stranger about the love of Jesus. Whatever it is He has called you to do this year, do it! Few things can compare to the fruit that is produced when you are a good and faithful servant who is connected to the vine. Your good fruit will lead to an even greater abundance of good fruit in the future.
Whatever your next step may be, I pray that you find yourself walking into it with the same assurance Ephapras prayed for the Colossians. Go forward with boldness and stay focused in our pursuit as a family to grow closer to God through His word this year. Stay tuned to service as this Sunday we will shift the conversation over to how this maturity and confidence are needed as we give and receive Tough Love.
Read:
Colossians 4
Ask:
Are you confident that God will provide for you in your struggles, finances, and relationships?
Would you consider yourself Mature and fully assured? why or why not?
What next steps is God calling me to this year?
What good fruit can I see being produced in my life this year?
Would you consider yourself Mature and fully assured? why or why not?
What next steps is God calling me to this year?
What good fruit can I see being produced in my life this year?
Move:
What do you think your next step is in this area?
Pray:
Father, thank you for taking these past five weeks to develop my relationship with You. I pray right now that you would give me the confidence that comes from You alone, and I ask that you would reveal to me the areas I struggle with most. Lord, help me to give these areas to you, fully and completely. Continue to reveal to me new things through your Word, and help me be obedient to put what you do reveal to me into practice. Give me continual momentum through the rest of this year to bear the fruit you have already ordained for me. In Jesus name, amen.
