Encouraged in Heart and United in Love
May 23, 2021      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Jonathan shifts his planned sermon to share a word in season out of Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1 and 2 - ‘That they may be encouraged in heart and united in love’. From this, he shows how this opens the ‘vault’ to all treasures of wisdom and knowledge - namely, Christ Jesus! He finishes with the biblical example of encouragement: reminding one another that the Day of The Lord is drawing near!

Colossians 1:28-2:3 (NIV)
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
2:1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

HE is the One we proclaim (admonishing, teaching with all wisdom)
WHY?
To present everyone fully mature IN Christ

This is “the end” for which Paul was working hard / contending / laboring

ALSO - condensing in Prayer 

This was Paul’s Goal: 
That the Saints be Encouraged in heart and United (knit together) in love
Why?
SO THAT - They could Possess the Full Riches of Complete Understanding
Why?
IN ORDER THAT - They could KNOW the mystery of God, namely Christ
in whom are hidden ALL the Treasures (“Full Riches”)
of Wisdom & Knowledge (“Complete Understanding”)

Starts with ENCOURAGEMENT
Moves to UNITING 

Encouragement = Powerful Gift 

All are called to do it - some have “the grace gift” / motivation

Scripturally How?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
- Caught up “Together with them”
- “we” will be with the Lord forever

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
- “We may live together” with Him

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NIV)
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,
2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 10:24-25
- Encouragement leading to communion / unity

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

2 Peter 3:10-14
- “found at peace by Him”

2 Peter 3:10-14 (NIV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will
be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Encouragement Leads to BREAKTHROUGH & MIRACLES

Isaiah 35:3-6 (NIV)
3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Encouragement Leads to BOLDNESS & UNITY

Acts 4:29-32 (NIV)
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Encouragement + Unity (Code)
leads to….
Possession of Full Riches/Complete Understanding (Open Door)
leads to….
Intimate Knowledge of Christ (Vault)
where ALL treasures of wisdom & knowledge dwell