He must increase, but I must decrease. Because iniquity abounds the love of many is waxing cold, manifested by judgment of others.

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Service Notes For Sunday South Carolina 2020-10-04

SPEAKERS:

• Robin Atherton

SCRIPTURES USED:

• Colossians 1:9-14, John 3:30, Luke 7:17-22, Matthew 24:4-13, Luke 14:26, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Chronicles 7:14

SUBJECT:

• Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was continuing. He did not cease to pray for them. In other words, Paul did not give up on them.
• We, just like the faithful brethren in Colosse, have had many prayers by faithful men on our behalf, but do we cleave to and receive the blessings of those prayers? After all, they involve things that are unnatural to us, such as patience, long-suffering, giving up our will to walk in God’s will.  When we do so we can walk in those things with joyfulness.  Are you joyful?
• Do we recognize that we are not meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, but by the work that Jesus did? Do we understand that it is entirely by the operation of God at Baptism, rather than any work of our own, that we are translated into the Kingdom of God?
• The problem in this fellowship is that we know many things. You can know a thing and be full of pride, but you cannot walk in a thing and be full of pride.  The words pride and iniquity are interchangeable.
• Just as John the Baptist said, referring to himself: “He must increase, but I must decrease” so must each of us do.  It is one thing to know that truth and quite another to walk that out.  That was where John was.  He was faltering in prison and so sent his disciples to Jesus to ask “Art thou he that should come?  or look we for another?”  John already knew the answer, but he was also just a man.  Jesus did not despise John His humanity and so Jesus answered in the manner that would strengthen and perfect John in the faith.  He returned no answer to John that lift John up in pride.  He told others about how great John was.
• In Matthew 24, Jesus warns His disciples against being deceived by those who come acknowledging that Jesus is the Christ. The same is true for us. The way to avoid being deceived is through submission, particularly to those that God has established to be His authorities.
• We are in a time, much like Jesus warned His disciples of, where iniquity (or pride) abounds and there are many deceivers. Because iniquity abounds the love of many is waxing cold.  The waxing cold of love is manifested by peoples’ judgment (or writing off) of other people.  Paul did not do that with the saints at Colosse.
• Jesus said that it is only those that endure to the end, while others’ love is waxing cold, that shall be saved.
• Our devices, which we may have relied upon for years, are what leave us vulnerable to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils as Paul warned Timothy would happen. 1 Timothy 4:1-2.  In this fellowship, we know these things, but have we considered?  have we repented of our wicked ways?  2 Chronicles 7:14.