The Showdown

The Sunday Morning Message Outline
for April 1, 2007
Palm-Passion Sunday

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Colossians 2.13-15

And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in the cross.

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Showdown - to force an issue to conclusion
... Three times Jesus predicted what would happen when they got to Jerusalem.
... 1 John 3.8 - Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus fights on the enemy's home turf - the flesh
... God in flesh - His plan to defeat Satan/death
... To win, He must lose - To live, He must die
... God would take death into His very being through the 2nd person of the Trinity.

Colossians 2.13-15 - the Language of Victory
... Forgiveness - The record of our sins nailed to the cross.
... Disarmed principalities/powers - shows them up for what they are.
... Paul uses the image of the military victory parade.

What "powers" are you dealing with?
... Fear & Worry / memories / Depression / Addiction / Hopelessness / Significance / Money / Fear of aging and death?
... He is greater than the "powers"

"I'm taking the hit."
... Suffering - Enters it / Endures it / Experiences it
... Evil does its best to do its worst - Ultimately unsuccessful.
... There is nothing left of their power - sting removed.

Showdown - to force an issue to a conclusion
... Jesus rides a donkey - humility. Don't be fooled by appearances