An Old Challenge for a New Year

2023 is officially here today. We are going to take some time to look back on the year that has ended and look forward to the year that is beginning . With this message, we’re going to also take time to do an inventory of our walk with the Lord. We need to examine ourselves and see where we have been, where we are and where the Lord wants us to be.

The last couple of weeks, we have finally taken the opportunity to do some purging and some organizing, with the help of Maria and Mindy. We found ourselves dealing with a lot of things that were no longer needed. Of course, there were a few things that just needed to be relocated. In the process of our reorganization, we uncovered a few things that caused us to take a walk down memory lane. As we organized, there were some things that were retained, some things that were released and some things that were remembered.

As we read these verses from Colossians 3, I find that they challenge us, as God’s children, to do exactly the same thing. As we look at our lives, we are challenged to retain some things, to release others and to remember the rest.

Colossians 3:1–4 (NASB95)

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Some things must be Retained

As we began the process, we found several items that were important to us. We did not throw these items away but we kept them because they would be of use to us. In a spiritual sense, Paul is telling us that there are a couple of precious spiritual possessions we would do well to hang on to.

Have An awareness of our Foundation

Paul tells us that we are “risen with Christ”. The word “if” is not a statement of possibility, it’s a declaration of a spiritual reality. Paul is saying “…Since you have risen with Christ…” – Paul is discussing our spiritual position. When Jesus Christ died on Calvary, every person who would ever place their faith in Him also died that day. In a spiritual sense, we died to the penalty and the power of sin when Jesus died on the cross.

Because I am dead, I do not have to worry about being punished for my sins. The price has been paid and I have already died. Because I have died with Christ I have also been set free from the power of sin in my life.

In verse 1, Paul reminds us that we have also been raised up with Jesus. When He died, we died. When He rose from the dead, we rose from the dead as well. We must never forget that we are dead to sin and alive to a new life in Jesus! This knowledge will help us live upright lives to the glory of God.

Give Attention to our Focus

Since we have been raised to a new life in Jesus, we are told to set [our] mind on the things above. The verb “set” is in the Present Tense – Imperative Mode. In other words, we are told that we must continually be seeking those things which are above. We are told here to focus our thoughts on heavenly things, not earthly things. We are to set our minds on the things of God and on the things that bring glory to Him. A quick look at some of the verses following verse 2, gives a little insight into what Paul is talking about here. We are to pursue:

A deeper knowledge of Jesus, (Colossians 3:10)

A clean, holy life, (Colossians 3:5-9)

Godly virtues, (Colossians 3:12-17)

Holiness in our domestic life, (Colossians 3:18-21)

Holiness in our social life, (Colossians 3:22-4:1)

An effective prayer life – (Colossians 4:2)

A fruitful witness – (Colossians 4:3-6)

In other words, we are to live like Jesus lived. We are to live out the fruit of the Spirit in our lives every day. We are challenged to live out our lives with genuine spiritual values and not the values of a fallen world. As we focus our attention to these spiritual and heavenly things, we are enabled to live a holy, God-honoring life in this world.

We are to allow a heavenly perspective to govern our earthly walk! Every decision, every activity, every plan, and every purpose is to be considered in the light of eternity. Everything is to be laid out before the Lord and not considered from an earthly, fleshly perspective, but from the viewpoint of Heaven.

God’s people are called upon to become heavenly minded. This is possible because of our Lord’s presence in Heaven. From His place at the Father’s right hand, Jesus makes intercession for us and He gives us all that we need to live for Him in this world. As we enter a New Year, may the Lord help us to realize who we are and what we have in Jesus. May that realization change our walk for His glory!

Some things must be Released

As we continued in our organization at home, we came across several items that just had to go. We really didn’t have room for some of it and some of it was just plain trash. While we retained some things, other things had to be released.

In our spiritual lives, the same thing is true. Some things have to be let go. There are some things that try to attach themselves to our lives that are just plain trash. Those things need to be kicked out of our lives. Other things simply no longer have a place in our lives and those things need to be let go.

Paul tells us in verse 2, that we are to focus our thoughts on Heavenly things. While we do that, we are to avoid getting caught up in all the things in this world that would flood our minds and hinder our walk. If we allowed our mind to focus on this world, it would have no time to give itself to the things of God. Here in Colossians, Paul mentions some dangerous distractions that would hinder our walk if we allow it. Let me show you what he says we need to avoid.

Watch out for False Doctrine

In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns these believers about those who would carry them off into false doctrinal beliefs. The phrase “takes you captive,” is a great picture to describe this. The enemy would love nothing better than for God’s people to get themselves trapped in some false system of belief that takes the emphasis off Jesus. Paul tells us that the enemy does this through:

Philosophies – This refers to the wisdom of men. Man has invented some strange belief systems over the years, and every single manmade belief system is at odds with Jesus Christ. If what a person teaches is not backed up by the Word of God; that system is to be avoided by the believer.

Empty Deception – This phrase means “empty tricks”. It refers to those who deceive through trickery or through a slick message. Again, if the message is not Jesus, it is not of God. If the focus is not on Jesus and His shed blood and His resurrection, it is not of God.

Traditions of Men – Believers are warned to be careful of long-held man-made beliefs. Just because people have believed something to be true and have been taught that something is true, does not make it true. We are not to base our faith and our walk on the traditions of men, no matter how godly or worthy of respect the man may seem. We are to base our belief system on the Word of God alone.

The Elementary Principles of the World – Again believers are warned against falling away from a mature faith in order to accept a simplistic doctrine. This phrase refers to an alphabet or things in a row. It speaks of simple things in contrast to a deeper truth. We are to stay with the Bible and examine every teaching against the clear Word of God.

If you listen to certain high profile preachers in our day you hear the very things Paul warned the Colossians about being taught in many pulpits. We are to avoid false doctrine at all costs. We are to run from it, regardless of the package in which it is presented.

Watch out for Foolish Demands

In Colossians 2:16-17; 21-23, Paul also warns believers to watch out for people who would place them back under the Law. Jesus came to deliver us from legalism and from the harsh, impossible demands of the Law. Christians are to stand in the liberty they have been given in Jesus Christ. Paul is telling these believers that no man has the right to be their judge. If they have been saved by Jesus, they have been delivered from the demands of the Law and they enjoy great liberty in Jesus.

The whole point of these verses is this: true spirituality does not consist in the keeping of man-made, external rules; but in a personal, faith relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. What you do or do not do is not what makes you a spiritual person. Spirituality comes from knowing Jesus and allowing Him to live through you.

Fleshly Deeds – In Colossians 3.5-10, Paul lists several common sins of the flesh and admonishes believers to get rid of them from their lives.

Immorality – This word is translated from a Greek word that refers to any type of sexual expression. Paul is telling us that any sexual activity that takes place outside a marriage relationship is a sin and must be put away from our lives.

Impurity – This word looks beyond the acts of the body into the very thoughts of the minds and the motives of the heart. Not only is the outward man supposed to be clean, so is the heart and the mind.

Passion – This speaks of “wicked passions.” It has the idea of lusting for forbidden things. God has marked certain things as being off-limits; this kind of lust seeks out those things and longs for them.

Evil Desires – It speaks of a mind that longs for forbidden things. The person with this kind of mind usually doesn’t commit evil on a physical level, but they live in a fantasy world where their most wicked thoughts are acted out in the heart and mind.

Greed – This word means “to have more.” It refers to the unquenchable desire to possess more than one has been given by God. It is a refusal to accept what you have as the gift of God. It is the placing of things ahead of God and of His will for your life. That is why it is called “idolatry.”

Anger – This word refers to a deep, smoldering, bitterness. It is an anger that dwells in the heart and makes the angry person hard to deal with. The angry person will tend to lash out in both words and deeds.

Wrath – This word refers to anger that boils over. It speaks of sudden, explosive outbursts of anger.

Malice – This is anger mixed with a desire to do harm to the focus of the anger. When malice is involved, the angry person strikes out to do damage to another person.

Slander – The word sometimes is translated blasphemy. It can refer to slanders directed at God or at other people. We slander others when we insult and belittle others. This happens in gossip and when we put others down behind their backs.

Abusive Speech - It speaks of words that are thrown around in an attempt to hurt and wound someone. This usually happens when people say things they should not say in a moment of anger.

Lying – When we lie to one another, we are using the tools and tactics of the devil. This characteristic has no place in the life of a child of God.

If any of these things are in your life, they need to be thrown away. They will hinder your walk with God and cripple you spiritually.

How can we be victorious over the sin in our lives? One step we can take is to starve the fleshly appetites. Do not feed the anger. Do not feed lust. Second, we can overcome by crowding it out. We can fill our lives with positive things so that evil has no room to flourish. When we fill ourselves with the things of God and the Word of God, sin cannot gain a foothold in our hearts.

Some things must be Remembered

As we continued our reorganization, we opened a large tote. On top were several things that didn’t matter and they were discarded. As we dug deeper, we discovered some things that caused us to take a trip down memory lane. We found pictures of our children when they were young and cute. That was a good opportunity for us to stop and remember the blessings of the Lord.

These last two verses of our text serve as reminders of some important spiritual truths today.

Death has taken place.

We are reminded again that we have died to sin and to the influence of this world. One of the surest ways for the child of God to enjoy spiritual victory in his or her life is for that person to understand that they are crucified with Christ. If we can get a grip on that truth and consider ourselves dead to sin, we would grow deeper in the things of the Lord.

A Deposit has been made.

When we were saved, we were given a new life in Jesus. This new life gives us the “divine nature.” This new life guarantees the believer’s eternal security. Because we are hidden in Jesus, we are in protective custody and none of our enemies can attack us or take us out of Jesus.

Deliverance will come.

Paul closes by reminding us that this world is not the best there is. We may have to deny our flesh down here, but it will be worth it all in glory. We might have to battle Satan here, but we will enjoy victory there. When Jesus comes, our faith in Him will be vindicated and we will be glorified with Him.

Right now, every believer in this room battles the world, the flesh, and the devil. Each of these enemies does everything they can to hinder us and to cause us to fail. One day, the battles will be over. This flesh will be changed and remade in His image. We will leave this world with its sin, its evil, its problems, and we will go to the land of perfection to be in the glorious presence of our Redeemer forever.

One day we will go home. One day we will see the Lord Jesus Christ. One day that hope will become a reality and we will be in His presence. That is what we need to remember as we fight the good fight of faith.

Conclusion

That’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? But, as we enter this New Year, we need to take a good, hard look at our lives and at our walk with the Lord.

Are there some things in your life that need to be Retained? Does your focus need to be adjusted?

Are there some things in your life that need to be Released? Do you need to lay down some of the things mentioned in this message?

Are there some things in your life that need to be Remembered? Do you need to take a trip down memory lane and nail a few things down today?

As we look at our lives, we are challenged to retain some things, to release others and to remember the rest.

Whatever the needs may be today, you should listen to the voice of the Lord and do what He is telling you to do. Let’s seek to make 2023 the best year of our lives for the glory of God!