The Pre-eminence of Christ by Pastor Edmund Chan, Covenant EFC

(My sermon notes, as-is)

Colossians 1:18 

…He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

A. The God We Need to Know

When you understand God as the one, the only one, your life will change.

Colossians 1:16 "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him."

The prepositions found in the above verse "by" (Him), "through" (Him) and "for" (Him) are philosophically provocative.  

Science and Philosophy cannot explain the cosmos. Only theology can. The energy that holds the universe (the outer and inner space) together is Jesus: Everything was created by Him, through Him and for Him. He alone holds the universe together. He is in control. He knows what is going on in your life. He is not going to say "Ops! I didn’t know that was going on in your life. Nevermind I have all eternity to apologise to you." Everything we lose comes with so much gain for the purpose of drawing us closer to God. 

God is far larger than what we think of Him.

Do we go from HAH? to Hm… to AHA! to Wow… to WOW!! in our knowledge of Him?

B) The Life You Need to Live

Doctrine and Behaviour are held together by God. He wants first place in our lives. He wants pre-eminence and not prominence.

The surrendered life says "we cannot do anything". Focuses inward. Obedience.

The Committed life "we can do something". emphasizes on competence. Outward. 

Jim Elliot’s prayer: Give me no wordly success that will distract me from You.

Keep nothing back from God because it is not worth it. He will supply you with something more.

C) The Changes We Need To Make

We feel all charged up during a retreat or camp or service but once back in our lives, our own reality we feel less than charged up. The missing link between a Breakthrough Weekend Retreat and our own reality is a walk with God alone/ time alone with God. 

It’s the invironment vs environment. The invronment can change the environment.

Remove and replace principle:

Gotta remove things that affect our relationship with God, anything that stands between you and God. If it’s time to stop, it’s time to stop. Shouldn’t today be time? Enough is enough. Time to say Jesus is first in everything, and the fire of revival will come.

I have been pondering upon a question I heard in the movie, In Her Shoes. "What does hold you together?" Ben asked Rose, who was stumped by the question. Flippantly Ben said, "For me it’s law, politics, the Sixes and good food."

A close friend was tearing just as the service was coming to a close. She revealed that God is dealing with her, breaking down her pride. I gave a BIG long hug. I remembered how tough it was last year. She said, now you are a clay fit for the King. Gosh, I looked at her, and was lost for words, feeling a lump in my throat. She continued, now God can mould and fashion you.