Wolf in the Fold - September 25, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

Four guys are driving cross-country together -- one from Idaho, one from Iowa, one from Florida, and one from New York.  One day, after many miles spent together, the man from Idaho starts pulling potatoes from his bag and tossing them out the window.  The man from Iowa asks, "What the heck are you doing?"  The man from Idaho says, "Man, we have so many of these things in Idaho -- I'm sick of looking at them!"  After a few more miles, the man from Iowa begins tossing ears of corn out the window.  The man from Florida asks, "What are you doing?"  The man from Iowa replies, "Man, we have so many of these things in Iowa -- I'm sick of looking at them!”  Inspired by the others, the man from Florida pushes the New Yorker out the door.

I guess he just couldn’t resist the temptation. 

Back when I was younger, we used to say, “The Devil made me do it!”  However, today I know better.  The Devil can’t *make* me do anything, especially now that I am a Christian.  Oh, he can influence.  He can nag and whisper sinful ideas in my ear, but does not *make* me.  And that got me to thinking about Judas Iscariot – the man who betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins.  What motivated him to do such a thing?  What happened to him?  Was he ever really a follower of Jesus in the first place? 

John the Apostle seems to imply that Judas never was a believer, which means he was an open target.  Without the Spirit protecting him, his heart was open to being used by Satan.

¹⁸ “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ ¹⁹ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I Am the Messiah. ²⁰ I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”  ²¹ Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”  ²² The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. ²³ The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. ²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” ²⁵ So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”  ²⁶ Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” ²⁸ None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. ²⁹ Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. ³⁰ So Judas left at once, going out into the night (John 13:18-30).

John says that Satan “entered” Judas, implying that Satan took possession of the man to accomplish his dirty work.  He was a “Wolf in the Fold.”  This concerns me.  You see, Judas worked closely with Jesus.  Paired with Simon the Zealot, the two traveled around Israel preaching that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, command by Jesus to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons” (see Matthew 10:5-8).  Yet even though Judas would experience all these things, he would betray Jesus in the end.  Satan took control of this man who walked with Jesus, and I can’t help but wonder if the same thing could happen to you or to me.

The good news is that Satan cannot take control of a Christian.  As Born Again Christians, there is a new nature within us.  God’s Holy Spirit fills us and dwells within us, keeping Satan from possessing us.  However, that does not stop the Devil from influencing us – whispering to our sinful nature and luring us away from God – which makes me wonder if my decisions and actions have been guided by the Spirit of God or if my mind has been influenced by Satan. 

Some things are easy to discern.  Lying is clearly wrong.  Sex outside of marriage is wrong.  These issues are spelled out quite clearly in scripture.  However, some life decisions are not so easy.  For example, at what point should I remove a loved one from life support?  Where is the line between Grace and Punishment for someone who has wronged me?  How should I vote in Church related issues and even political related matters?  Guidance for decisions like these is not clearly spelled out in scripture.  So we have to trust the leading of the Spirit to make the right decision.  But how do we know when we are following the Spirit or are being influenced by Satan?  No one wants to be the “Wolf in the Fold” – the one who is being manipulated by Satan.  Each of us wants to make decisions that follow the will of God.  How do we do that?

In my own life, I have found that James 3:17-18 provides some guidance when faced with making decisions.  James writes, “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. ¹⁸ And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Where things are clearly spelled out in Scripture, we follow the Lord’s teaching.  But, when we’re not clear on how to respond or how to act or what to say, James gives us some sound advice.  He points out that “jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind” (James 3:15-17).  So my advice to you is to spend some time thinking through your decision.  What effect will it have on your relationship with God and on your Christian witness?  Does your decision bring peace to a stressful situation, or will it make matters worse?  Have you considered the feelings of others, or is this truly a selfish decision on your part?  Do you see what James is trying to say here?  A choice or a decision guided by the Spirit will maintain your holiness and purity.  The Spirit will guide you in ways that demonstrate mercy toward others.  On the other hand, the Devil will influence you to selfishly disregard others and your relationship with God.  He will pressure you to put your needs ahead of others.

Although the Bible clearly teaches that a person filled with God’s Holy Spirit cannot be possessed by the Devil (Luke 11:21-22), a Christian is still open to Satan’s influence.  A Christian who prays and reads their Bible is not immune from Satan’s influence.  This is why the Lord teaches us to pray, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 5:13).  Paul instructs us to wield the “Shield of Faith” to protect us from the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16).  Peter warns believers to “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Throughout the New Testament, believers are warned to stay alert.  Believers must be on their guard.  Satan is looking for some unsuspecting victim to tear down what the Lord is trying to build up.  This is why a believer must maintain a steady defense – why they must be strong in their faith.  A believer who is not alert just might become the unsuspecting pawn of Satan.

With Humble Hearts - September 18, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

Junior had just received his brand new driver’s license.  To celebrate, the whole family trooped out to the driveway and climbed into the car while Junior drove.  Dad immediately headed to the back seat, directly behind his son.  "I'll bet you're back there to get a change of scenery after all those months spent teaching me how to drive," said the boy.  "Nope," said dad. "I'm gonna sit here and kick the back of your seat as you drive, just like you've been doing to me for sixteen years!”

Ahhh … there’s nothing quite so satisfying as getting even, am I right?  Getting back at someone seems soooo rewarding.  Wait, what was that you said?  Did you just say “No”?  Seriously?  You disagree?

Although getting even or seeking revenge is the natural thing to do, is this the way a Christian is to respond?  Is it okay for a Christian to follow their basic human nature and seek revenge?  I mean, after all, it’s who we are, so is it a big deal if we simply follow our gut feelings on these matters?  Some people might tell you that it’s okay to follow your feelings; to do as your heart tells you to do.  However, the Bible teaches us something different.

I want to start with an example here.  Look at what happens with Jesus and His disciples during their last Passover meal together.  In John 13 we read, Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. ² It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. ⁴ So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, ⁵ and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

⁶ When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” ⁸ “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” ⁹ Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” ¹⁰ Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? ¹³ You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. ¹⁴ And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. ¹⁵ I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them (John 13:1-17).

Although this part of the story surrounds Peter’s reaction to the feet washing, it’s important to know that Judas the betrayer was present at this time.  He left the room shortly after Jesus washed his feet (see verse 30).  What makes this significant is that Jesus knew these things before Judas betrayed Him in the garden.  Jesus knew what Judas was about to do (compare verses 21-26).  Yet knowing this, Jesus still humbled Himself and washed Judas’ feet.

Jesus washed Judas’ feet.  That sure makes my life rather complicated.  It should make the life of any Christian rather difficult.  You see, our “gut” instinct would be to avoid Judas.  We would “accidentally” splash some water on his pants.  Many of us would call out his hidden behavior in front of the rest of the crowd.  Few of us, if any, would gently hold his feet in our hands and serve.

Yet Christ did.  And then He told us to do the same thing.

And He wasn’t kidding.

I know we could argue about this.  We could tell Jesus it’s too hard to resist.  Our feelings and our instincts overwhelm us.  Surely God must understand this.  We’d like God to cut us some slack, but He doesn’t.  There are just too many places in the Bible where God teaches us what sort of behavior He expects from us.

Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18).  "Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles" (Proverbs 24:17).  Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:44-45).  You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).  Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads” (Romans 12:19-20).

I could go on.  The point is, a Christian is called to be transformed; to “²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:22-24). 

I tell you the truth, the last thing we want to do for a sinful person is wash their feet.  The last thing we want to do is put ourselves in a position beneath them.  But that’s exactly what Jesus did.  Through the eyes of John, we see a Jesus who teaches us to serve others … even the antagonist.  Yet, how do many Christians respond today?  We see gloating when someone falls.  We see Christians looking for revenge.  We hear people who claim to be followers of Christ speaking about others in an unloving way.  Truthfully, it’s difficult to tell the Christian from the non-Christian nowadays, especially if you listen to the words of their mouth.

My friend, we are the Church. We represent Jesus.  We are His ambassadors in this world.  Our actions and our words should be compelling, not divisive.  We should be acting differently than the people of this world.  We do not have the luxury of following our instinct.  Rather, we should humble ourselves before the Lord and respond in ways that reflect Jesus. 

What then are we to do?  If who we are is in conflict with who God is calling us to be, how do we overcome our instinct?  Paul talks about sacrifice.  He says that God can transform us if we allow Him to change the way we think; by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).  We can be changed if, at first, we recognize that following our instincts is wrong.  We cannot trust our heart, for it is corrupt and filled with sin.  We must first accept these things, then humble ourselves before the Lord.  We must present ourselves before God and make a living sacrifice.  We recognize our old behavior is wrong, learn how God expects us to act, and then daily sacrifice those old actions and reactions that dishonor the Lord.

So … yeah, it is wrong for a Christian to seek revenge against those who hurt them, even though it is the natural thing to do.  A Christian must follow the teaching of the Lord.  Living as a Christian is not easy.  There is a big difference between knowing the path and walking the path.  If we claim to be a Christian, then we are no longer free to follow our “gut” instinct.  We are not free to follow our basic human tendencies.  We can’t simply follow our feelings or do whatever our heart desires … at least we can’t and truly follow the teachings of Jesus.  He has not given us that option.

He’s Right - September 11, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

So it seems that these four ministers had a series of theological arguments, and three were always against the fourth.  One day, after the usual 3 to 1 vote, the odd pastor out decided to appeal to a higher authority.  "Oh, Lord!" he cried.  "I know in my heart that I am right and they are wrong!  Please give me a sign to prove it to them!"  As soon as the minister finished his prayer, a storm cloud moved across the sunny sky right above the four pastors.  It rumbled once and dissolved.  "A sign from God!  See, I'm right, I knew it!" said the fourth pastor, but the other three disagreed since storm clouds can form on hot days.  So the pastor prayed again: "Oh, God, I need a bigger sign.”  This time four storm clouds appeared, rushed toward each other to form one big cloud, and a bolt of lightning slammed into a nearby tree.  "I told you I was right!" cried the minister, but his friends insisted that it all could be explained by natural causes.  The Pastor was getting ready to ask for a *very big* sign, but just as he said, "Oh God...," the sky turned pitch black, the earth shook, and a deep, booming voice said, "HEEEEEEEE'S RIIIIIIIGHT!”  The minister put his hands on his hips, turned to the other three, and said, "Well?"  One of the other pastors shrugged and said, "So.  Now it's 3 to 2."

Some people are so stubborn.  They simply will not believe, no matter what might happen.  This kind of reminds me of a group of people who heard God speak to Jesus one day.  Some believed.  However, some thought it was just thunder (John 12:28-29).  Apparently, they still needed convincing.  Some of them doubted that the words of Jesus were true.  So God shouts, “He’s right”.  And yet in John 12:37-38 we read, ³⁷ But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. ³⁸ This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”

John says these people refused to believe the message of Jesus because God blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts (John 12:40).  In other words, God was not going to force them to open their eyes or open their hearts.  If these people were going to be this stubborn, then God was not going to intervene.  I mean, think about what these people had seen and heard.  Many of them witnessed Jesus shout the name of a dead man and watch him come back to life.  Many saw Him feed the crowds, heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and help the lame walk again.  Some even watched Him calm a storm and walk on water.  And here, God had just spoken from Heaven confirming that the words of Jesus were true.  Yet they would not believe.  What more could Jesus do to confirm the truth?  But instead of shrugging His shoulders and walking away, Jesus persists.  He shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. ⁴⁵ For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me” (John 12:44-45).  It seems Jesus sincerely wants these people to open their hearts and believe.  It seems like their rejection is a big deal; as if their very life depended on trusting and believing in Him. 

So, have you ever wondered why Jesus is such a big deal?  Why is it so important that a person believe in Jesus and trust in His message?  Why did Christians back then and Christians today insist that Jesus is our Savior?  And what exactly does He save us from in the first place?  What’s out there that is so terrible, that it took the death of Jesus to save us? 

Jesus often spoke of a future time when people would be cast into outer darkness (compare Luke 13:28).  In another conversation, Jesus said that the wicked would be thrown, “into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:50).  What does all of this mean?  It means that a time is coming when, “cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

Jesus ends this conversation in John 12 by saying, ⁴⁶ I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. ⁴⁷ I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. ⁴⁸ But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. ⁴⁹ I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. ⁵⁰ And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

One day, humanity will face a Day of Judgment.  God will put an end to wickedness, selfishness, and deceit.  However, in His mercy, God sent Jesus to offer His life as a ransom BEFORE that day arrives.  A Day of Judgment is coming, says Jesus, but He has come to spare us from this terrible Day of the Lord.

Listen, I want to make this as clear as I possibly can.  When the Lord takes the Church away, those left behind will face a horrible future.  There will be religious persecution, financial persecution, and political persecution.  A man who is empowered by the Devil will be in control of everything.  And eventually, God will unleash severe judgments upon him and all who worship this Antichrist.  Eventually, earth and the sky above will be destroyed.  But even then, many will not believe.  Even after Jesus reigns on this earth for a thousand years, some still will not believe, and because they reject Jesus and His message, they will be cast into a lake of fire for the rest of eternity.

The future of this world and its people is darker than anything we have ever imagined.  Yet in His mercy, God sent Jesus with a message of peace.  By accepting Jesus as the Messiah (the Savior) and by believing His message, we are saved from the disaster that awaits us.  That’s why the words of Jesus are such a big deal.  That’s why it’s important for you and me to accept Jesus as Savior.  Because of Him, we are spared from living a nightmare.

Today we are living in the day of grace; the time between the Cross and the Second Coming of Christ.  Right now, Jesus is offering to save us; to spare us the Day of Judgment.   That’s why Jesus and His message is such a big deal.  It not a matter of you finding your way to Heaven, as some religions suggest.   It’s a matter of accepting the Man from Heaven God sent to save.  This is why we call Him Savior.

Follow Me - September 4, 2016 sermon

By Pastor Greg

A man hadn't been feeling well, so he goes to his doctor for a complete checkup. Afterward, the doctor comes out with the results.  "I'm afraid I have some dreadful news," the doctor says. "You're dying, and you don't have much time left."  "Oh, that's terrible!" says the man. "Give it to me straight, Doc. How long have I got?"  "Ten," the doctor says sadly.  "Ten?" the man asks. "Ten what? Months? Weeks? What?!"  "Nine..."

Not only was this man’s time very short, but the same could also be said about any one of us.  We have no idea how much time we really have here on earth.  We never know when we will take our last breath.  Even the Church has no idea when the Lord will call us away.  We don’t know when the Church will be raptured.  It could be very soon.  Which means our opportunity to share the Good News with the people of this world is limited.  We don’t have all of eternity. 

Jesus has said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”^[1] (Matthew 9:37).  He also pointed out that the time to minister in this world is limited (compare John 11:9); a lesson His disciples needed to learn.

After Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the young donkey, some people began asking for an opportunity to meet Him.  John says ²⁰ Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration ²¹ paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” ²² Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. ²⁴ I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. ²⁵ Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. ²⁶ Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me ^[2] (John 12:20-26).

What Jesus says here seems way out of place.  You would expect Him to say, “Sure, have them pop by sometime.”  But instead, He starts talking about His death, which just seems a bit odd.  Actually, Jesus was not answering the Greeks, nor was He answering Philip and Andrew’s question.  He was teaching the disciples an important lesson.  He reminds them that soon He will be gone, however, the people of this world are still going to come.  They will still want to know what Jesus did or what He said.  The people of this world will have questions, and very soon the disciples would need to answer them on their own.

Jesus knew His death would do far more than redeem humanity.  Jesus understood that through His death, the number of “kernel’s” (disciples) would grow.  History confirms this.  From this small group of followers would come explosive growth.  3,000 people became believers in one day (Acts 2:41).  The New Testament ministry of these “kernel’s” reached far more people than Jesus did while He walked this earth.  None of this would have happened had Jesus disobeyed the Father’s will.

Jesus turns to His disciples and calls them to the same kind of obedience.  He looks at them and says, “If you are going to follow Me, then you will need to lay down your life as well.”  Jesus teaches them that following Him will involve a cost.

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it”^[3] (Luke 9:23-24).  This is not merely a lesson for the disciples who lived back then, but a lesson for every follower of Christ.  It applies to individual Christians and to each local church as well.  To bear much fruit (to lead the lost to Jesus), a Christian must be willing to make sacrifices in their life.  Serving the Lord must become the greatest purpose in their life.  Doing His work must become their highest priority.  This is what it means to serve Jesus; to love doing the work of the Lord greater than life itself (compare John 12:25).  To make this kind of sacrifice is to honor the Lord.  These are the disciples God will honor.

I know, I know.  That kind of fanaticism troubles you.  And I’m sure you will point out that God is content with your 10%. I’ll agree that God is happy with what little of ourselves we have to give.  But, if you want your life to be making a difference for the Lord, then you cannot be a spectator.  You don’t get to carry the Stanley Cup just because you were in the arena that day.  Fans don’t receive a Super Bowl ring.  It is the participants who receive the highest honor.

The Bible teaches us that “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father”^[4] (Colossians 3:17).  The Lord does not expect all of us to do the same thing, not does He expect us to serve in the same capacity.  But to truly be a disciple, He expects us to surrender our lives to Him, not just surrender our heart.  When we surrender our heart, we become saved.  When we surrender our life, we become servants.

The Lord reminded the disciples that soon He would be gone, and the ministry would continue only if they gave their life to Jesus.  Today, the Lord is asking the same thing.  Today, Jesus is asking believers to surrender themselves to His will.  The Lord is looking for Christians willing to be used wherever they might be.  He is not asking all of us to give up our careers and become a pastor.  However, He is looking for faithful followers who put Jesus first in their life, ready and willing to give Him the glory through their words and through their deeds.

Our time is short.  We have a limited amount of time to reach our classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and friends.  A believer who has surrendered their whole life to Jesus makes use of every opportunity to serve the people of this world in the name of Jesus, to help the people of this world meet Jesus, to answer their questions about Jesus, and tell them about the grace of Jesus.

The clock is ticking down.  Every day we draw closer and closer to the Lord’s return.  Then it will be too late.  When the Church is taken away, our neighbors and friends who do not know Jesus will endure terrible trials and tribulations.  However, right now, the harvest is plentiful.  Will you and I commit our lives to reaching these people before it’s too late?  Or will we sit idly by and watch them wither and die.  I say, it’s time to get to work NOW!

---

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Mt 9:37). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Jn 12:20–26). Carol Stream, IL.

^[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Lk 9:23–24). Carol Stream, IL.

^[4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Col 3:17). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.